Tapioca Pudding

Since a gal  was so kind to think of me on her luxurious vacation to the Dominican Republic by buying me a very special bottle of vanilla I had to think of the perfect recipe to try it in.  I knew to get the full bang of the taste test I wouldn't use it in baking the first time.  It was narrowed down to Rice Pudding or Tapioca Pudding.  Those recipes would allow for me to add the vanilla at the end and wouldn't cook or bake away.  Rice Pudding was ruled out because it has cinnamon and nutmeg, I was afraid they would take away from the vanilla.  Tapioca Pudding it is.  As a matter of fact I am also trying a new recipe for it.  Usually I stand at the stove 1-2 hours stirring until the tapioca is done and looks clear.  I found a recipe that uses the crock pot with NO stirring.  It has been cooking about 2 hours and looks like it is close to the next step.  Then it will cook another 45 minutes, ready to put in bowls and refrigerate.  I like either the small tapioca pearls or the large.  The large are fun, they look like fish eyes.  It was one treat when my mom made it that I spent more time playing with the fish eyes...if you are the only kid left at home you find whatever for entertainment.   Back to the vanilla.  I started getting it in Mexico many years ago, like 30 plus years or if I know someone is going it is a request I always ask.  I like the clear vanilla just because I have a few recipes that call for it.  One of these days I am going to try and make my own, looks very simple.  Toni brought me a vanilla with the consistency of oil and it is clear.  This is exciting because I have never used this kind or ever noticed it in my travels.  Speaking of travels, getting fewer and farther between.  These animals present a problem of just taking off on a spur of the moment, 

Here is the recipe I used today and the review on crockpot Tapioca Pudding and D.R. vanilla.

I will NEVER make Tapioca on the stovetop again!  This crockpot recipe is amazing!  Perfect consistency.  All I did was take a peek once in a while.  The vanilla, it is wonderful.  The minute I opened the bottle I knew it had to be good.  Thanks Toni!

Farm eggs make the pudding a beautiful creamy yellow color.
 See the little fish eyes?

Tapioca Pudding:   To celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

In a crockpot put:
6 cups of milk, 3/4 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of tapioca, Cook covered, on high for 2-3 hours or until tapioca is clear. 
Beat 2 eggs and temper with 1 cup of the hot tapioca mixture.  Stir back in the tapioca in the crockpot and cook another 45 minutes covered.
Turn off the crockpot, stir in 2 tsp. vanilla, pour into serving bowls and refrigerate until cold.
I will NEVER make Tapioca on the stovetop again!  This crockpot recipe is amazing!  Perfect consistency.  All I did was take a peek once in a while.  The vanilla, it is wonderful.  The minute I opened the bottle I knew it had to be good.  Thanks Toni!

As I set here sipping Maple Tea I have been thinking of what a great week we had last week.  Our grandson was on spring break from college and it seemed like a spring break to us too!  We were lucky enough to go on a long hike and a short walk with Kent.  The hike was on the back hills and following the pipe line looking for deer sheds.  Before we even started I knew if a shed was found it would only be a bonus to the already loved time for a hike together.  The first time we took Kent on the same walk was when he was 3 years old.  That little guy walked every bit of the way, he didn't want carried.  Even back then he was hungry to learn about everything in the woods.  What I saw on our hike last week, he has gathered more information about those hills and animal habits.  He took us to a spot I had never been, a spring on top of the hill!  It was still partially froze but enough open water for the dogs to quench their thirst.  We had mentioned we should have brought water since not often is there a place to get drinks on top of hills.  Kent told us, I know a place there is water.  I thought, yeah, maybe after we start down out in the valley where a little spring runs.  I was wrong and surprised.  Well, we didn't find any sheds but we saw plenty of signs buck were around where we were looking.  Tucked back in the woods is a cleared spot where the PA Game Commission had planted pine trees.  I learned.....deer like to bed down around them and......buck usually lose their antlers near where they bed down.  Actually between Kent and the husband I learned a few things that day.  Do you know bear awaken by temperature change and not daylight getting longer?  Now ya know. 

That is what a buck does when he rubs a tree to mark his territory.

The secret little watering hole at the top of the hill.

Moss slowly covering a rock.  There are many rocks on top of
the hill.  It looks like an explosion just scattered them every where.

The men looking for sheds and telling stories.   Kent is always interested in what it was
like when Dick was young.  Always carry a pistol, ya never know!

Brown, gray and that beautiful blue sky.  What a color pallet.

The next day Kent rode to Rochester with us.  After my appointment which took all of 45 minutes we headed to our favorite stores, the guys Field and Stream and Dick's Sporting Goods.  They were in disbelief when I said....leave me off at Macy's.  We all got our shopping in and the next stop was at Mendon Ponds.  Even with a light rain it was worth the walk and feeding the birds.  Along a path they fly right down and eat out of your hand.  We went prepared with a bag of sunflower seeds.  The first time I was there our friends took us.  Some know Marcia and the beautiful pictures of scenery, birds and animals she took.  They are to be treasured.  Marcia was so excited the day we went, she loved sharing what she loved.  We are hooked on Mendon Ponds and will be going back.  They have a rescue bird sanctuary called, Wild Wings, it is very close to Honeoye Falls.  Unfortunately both times we have been there is the day it is closed.  One more reason to take a ride to Mendon Ponds.

Because someone does not like birds, gramp had to feed them.

There is a little wild bird setting on his hand eating.

Two different walks, the first on the Clara Hills.  Everything is still brown and gray with a few shades of green mixed in.  The pines, ferns, moss and grass around the springs are the only color to be seen.  Unless you want to include the beautiful blue skies we had last week.  What a great week to enjoy the great outdoors.  The next walk was on a groomed trail, signs telling what kind of tree was what and the do and don't rules of the park.  Both were beautiful in their own special way.  I'm just fond of good old "Wild Woods" of Clara.

The next stop was the Brewery in Honeoye Falls for an early dinner.  Lucky us we were the only ones there (always good to go between lunch and dinner hour).  The gal said, follow me you can set in front of the fireplace since it is such a damp day.  Again, perfect!  Great food, beer and my favorite, coffee.  Dick tried a couple new beers from the Great Lakes Brewing Co., liked the first but the second one not so much. 

The final stop, Wegmans.  For some reason I can not drive past one!  I  love that store, from Williamsport, Hornell, Corning and Erie I stop at them all.

The last few days have been a learning experience for me.  Yes, at 66 years old I am still learning.   I found there are many willing to "Pass it On". 

It's All About Maple

Maple Walnut Brownies

I admit it, extra maple glaze drizzled on my piece.  I just didn't
want to throw the last little bit away.  Shhhh

Maple brownie, maple tea and read a wonderful book that our dear
friends gave us,  People Who Live at the End of Dirt Roads.
 It hits home for us.

Friends are great, near and far.  An "over the hill"  friend posted a recipe for these Maple Brownies on my homepage.  I have a feeling from all the talk of my love for Maple Syrup he knew I would try this.  Which I did and it is now filed away for the cookbook.  The brownies are delicious, not an over sweet brownie but bursting with maple flavor.  The maple glaze adds just enough sweetness.  If you don't like walnuts leave them out.  We prefer the extra crunch they add to a brownie.  So if you are looking for a quick desert this is it.  I bet a big scoop of Maple Walnut Ice Cream and maybe an extra drizzle of Maple Syrup on top would make this a winner for that extra "wow".  The recipe is from the King Arthur Flour site:  I like to share what I make so I doubled the recipe, it turned out fine. 

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups (5 1/4 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup (5 5/8 ounces) brown sugar
1/3 cup (3 1/4 ounces) maple syrup
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon maple flavor
1/2 cup maple Flav-R-Bites®, optional (never heard of them, left out)
3/4 cup (3 ounces) chopped walnuts

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8" square pan.  I used a 9 x 11 cake pan.

Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside. Melt the butter and brown sugar together in the microwave or over a burner; remove from the heat and stir in the syrup. Allow the mixture to cool to lukewarm. Stir in the eggs one at a time, then the maple flavor. Stir in the dry ingredients, and finally the Flav-R-Bites and walnuts.

Pour into the prepared pan, and bake for 25 minutes, just until the edges pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven, and cool before cutting and glazing. Yield: sixteen 2" brownies.

Maple Glaze

1 cup (4 ounces) glazing sugar or confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 to 2 tablespoons milk or cream

Whisk everything together, adding more liquid if necessary to make a pourable glaze

Today was all about reading a good book which is my second go around for it.  I like the book that much, it reflects so much of how I grew up and how I feel and think now as I go down the road looking at memories from my past.  It's nice to see other people think as I do, guess there are more wandering minds in this great big country we live in, even in the world.  I have three FB friends that are from Norway, France and Euphratis.  What do we all have in common?  We are housewives, love to cook, the outdoors and of course knit and crochet.  That is how we met on line, posting of recent projects.  One thing led to another and we go back and fourth about the weather, projects or about our life and what is going on in our countries.  I know for sure, we are the same for the love of life.  So often we think of people in other countries different than we are, in my case we are all quite alike.  I would love to meet them personally to see how they live and the beauty of their countries, maybe learn a few of their knitting and crocheting techniques.  With the world in evil times, especially Americans traveling it will not happen.  I will be satisfied with enjoying their pictures and posts. 

Today is boiled dinner day, the last of the season.  We woke up to a light snow on the ground, March 6th.  The week is predicted to be in the 50s and 60s, bring on the change of our eating pattern.  Every change brings excitement for the foods we love.  The forever maple season, wild leeks, trout season and of course asparagus from the garden.  Maple is already in full swing with local producers offering all you can eat pancake breakfast on the weekends.  Last year we went to Hamiltons on Collins Hill in Ulysses.  It was a great breakfast that they also gave samples of their maple products.  Very nice, clean and friendly place.  This is where I buy my maple tea, a product of Canada.  Wild leeks will soon be showing their green, maybe within two weeks.  Then we will be having our "Spring Tonic" as Vernie Howard use to call it.  Vernie was Virg Howards dad.  Let's see how many of Vernie's kids I can name.....Virg, Vince, Hank, Joe, Ella, Aola, Jackie and Yvonne.  If there are more I didn't know them.  When I was 16 and just bought my 90 Bridgestone motorcycle Hank (he was about 32) jumped on the back and said take me for a ride!  Now this guy was well over 6', broad shouldered, good looking and.....drunk!  What a sight, his arms flailing as he was singing as loud as he could.  I was so lucky, made it down Honeoye St, up Academy and literally dropped him off at his dads.  Looking back I feel I was pretty darn good balancing that bike and keeping it upright with Hank on the back.  Good times and this memory just jumped into my thoughts from leeks, spring tonic to Hank Howard, now that is a trip of the memory!

Take time, do the unusual, enjoy the ride and always "pass it on".

We All Love a Treat

A little ice hanging on.  This is the first time in 17 years little
Clara Creek did not freeze over.   

 Every morning that I do the chores I find myself thinking....why don't you come out and visit the hens and horses every morning.  Friday morning was one of those clean, clear, fresh smelling mornings.  A thin layer of snow had fallen overnight and it just added to the fresh beauty here in the valley.  All was quiet with the hens clucking from their coop and a lone Red Tail Hawk calling from it's perch near the edge of the woods.  He/she was either trying to scare up a breakfast or calling for a mate.  Every year since we have lived here a pair have nested and raised their young mid way up the hill behind the barn.  So far none have taken a hen, at least I don't think so.  I  blame a missing hen on coyote or fox.  Last week our oldest hen died, it was old age.  She had been looking her age for quite a while.

Nothing better than having Smokey and Gracie standing at the gate hoping for a treat.  This morning was their lucky day, a carrot.  They remind me of biting into a nice piece of chocolate the way they roll that carrot around in their mouth.  I also had a few old slices of bread for the hens.  Our animals are so use to getting a treat we feel guilty when we don't take them something.  The hens love their treats as much as the horses or even me.  I love my sweets, candy, cookies, pie and cake that is. 

The horses like their hay for the day put in the pasture.  If the wind is blowing, rain or a snowstorm we hay them in the barn.   I believe they actually pout when they can't eat in the wide open space of the field.  They will stand just outside their stalls and only after we leave for the house will they go inside to eat.  Friday, no wind, rain or snow, they were happy horses.  They should be, I say they live at the Barriot (barn+Marriot).  Once they eat their grain it is a race to see who gets what pile of hay.  Smokey is the boss and he gets first dibs on what pile is his.  He actually will eat for a few minutes and then chase Gracie away and start eating hers.  She will go to his and all is ok, it's the same every morning and night.  It takes about 45 minutes to grain, hay, water and take care of the hens.  Just enough time to clear my mind, feel refreshed and ready for the day.  I can't imagine living in a confined area where I could hear neighbors talking and smell their meals cooking.  We did for years but now it just wouldn't be right.

 

There are the girls waiting for their treat.  They will

soon be one year old and already have went above

and beyond the call of duty.  Eggs are plenty from

these Black Australorps.

 

 

Friday night fish tacos.  Fresh guacamole and homemade black bean
and corn salsa topped with chipotle sauce made last August.  A glass of
wine for me and a bottle of beer for the hub.  It's an easy fix and clean up!