The Calendar

Yesterday I found an interesting recipe that I had never heard of......Dutch Baby Pancakes.  Well, let me tell ya..........they are delicious, says the guy that lives here.  Not only delicious but so easy it is almost sinful for something this good to be so quick and easy.  Tradition is to squeeze fresh lemon juice and sprinkle confectioners sugar on top as soon as it comes out of the oven.  This is how we had it but I see endless possibilities with this Dutch Baby.   As I type Dick is on his second piece.  Fruit fillings, jams, maple syrup and even pudding would be good too.

Just out of the oven, a few lemon juice drops
with confectioner sugar.

Before the sugar and lemon.

Happiness to see the Dutch Baby doing its thing.

Ready for the oven.

So good!  Recipe at the end of the blog.

Last week at the Amish grocery store they handed my husband a calendar, actually two of them.  Everyone knows two are a necessity for a house and barn.  That is years ago two were needed.  In the last few years we have not hung a calendar in house or barn.  I can remember writing important "stuff" in each square and on some of the squares drawing lines with an arrow pointing to what I had written that wouldn't fit in the little square.  Then there were cancellations, reschedules and last minute things, more lines and more arrows.  Our calendars looked pretty sad and it took quite a talent to follow lines and arrows but it worked.  Very seldom was something missed that had been documented on the calendar.  When the kids were old enough and had something exciting they wanted to remember they would even write on the calendar.  I also had 3 letter abbreviations that only I knew what they were.  Oh, the memories when the little Amish gal handed Dick the calendars, she was so filled with pride.  They are beautiful too, nice size and full of wildlife pictures as each month goes by.  For the first time in a long time my kitchen will have a calendar and one for the cabin!  

Years ago so many businesses gave out calendars we never lacked for one.  Now, very rarely and if they do they are usually the little tiny self stick ones.  No room to write reminders but useful to make sure of what the date is.  Who needs a calendar when we have a smartphone, tablet or computer close at hand.  We know instantly day, date, time, weather, etc.  Progress is good but the calendars made me smile.

There they are packed full of wildlife and birds.  A new picture each month.

 The cabin update. It has been too cold to work on the insulation.  Four 4' pieces and the ceiling will be done and then the walls.  Once it is insulated the work should move right along with a little heat.  We are lucky to have a great friend that gave us an electric cook stove for the cabin.  We measured the spot and it will fit perfect with room for the counter top to run along side of it.  How lucky can we get to have such a wonderful friend that thought of us.  Water will be another concern, the original spring went dry.  We need to find a "spring guy" that knows what to do.  Above the spring house it is a lush green in the summer so we are thinking it is still there just needs to be dug into.  Springs are touchy and if you don't know what you are doing and dig wrong it will reroute and you lose it.  So, if you know a good "spring guy" let us know.

An overnight snow has left the world of Clara, clean
fresh and beautiful.

It looks like we have a measurable amount of snow moving in at Cook'n by the Creek the next couple of days.  I have plenty of yarn for socks and a little stuffed doll baby to finish.  Nothing better for me to be snowed in with a few fun projects during the winter.  Then there is youtube which I have been enjoying some mighty fine rustic, country style cooking shows.  If the snow prediction is right we will be pulling out the snowshoes and x-country skis.  Time to get in shape, we have been setting around long enough or at least I have.

Dutch Baby Recipe:
Melt 3 TBSP of butter in a 10 inch skillet.  I used cast iron.  Make sure the handle is oven safe.
In a bowl:  Mix 3/4 cups flour, pinch of salt and 1 TBSP plus 1 tsp of sugar.
Add to flour mixture:  3 beaten eggs, 2 tsp vanilla and 3/4 cup of milk.  Beat until no lumps are left.
Pour into the skillet that has been on low heat with melted butter.
Put in 400 degree oven and bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown around the edge.
Remove, drizzle a little lemon juice and sprinkle confectioners sugar on top.  Slice and eat warm.