Jun112010

Fresh Strawberry Pie

By Country Gal | June 11, 2010 | Posted in Cooking and Food, Gardening, Harvesting, Pies | Tagged , , | Comments (9)

Strawberry Pie Thanks again to the goodness of friends (love you Stan and Dorothy!) we picked another huge strawberry patch this week.

This time, though, it was the end of the season and the berries were much smaller and not as numerous.

They were, however, really tasty! :)

After picking, we followed tradition by taking some of the biggest and nicest berries, washing them and then dipping them first in sour cream then brown sugar.

Delicious.

Then the kids started hulling (it only took part if one movie this time!) while I made the crust for our fresh strawberry pie.

I hesitated to share this recipe since I thought everybody in the world had a fresh strawberry pie recipe. But I was wrong.

I discovered friends a few weeks ago who had never heard of it. Poor things.

So in their honor- here is one of our favorite summertime treats.

Fresh Strawberry Pie

1 – 9 inch baked pie crust
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons corn starch
2 Tablespoons white corn syrup
strawberry jello
1 quart fresh strawberries

Combine water, sugar, corn starch, and corn syrup in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup of strawberry jello.

Cool, then add the strawberries and mix gently.

Pour into the baked and cooked pie shell. Refrigerate.

Serve with whipped cream.

You can get fancy with the strawberries and set them up nicely – but with five kids who don’t really care what it looks like as long as there’s a lot of it – I normally don’t take the time.

This is also delicious with fresh raspberries or fresh peaches. Just substitute the appropriate flavor of jello.

Enjoy!

I’ve linked this post up at Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

By Country Gal | Posted in Cooking and Food, Gardening, Harvesting, Pies | Tagged , , | Comments (9)
Jun102010

My Daily Bread

By Country Gal | June 10, 2010 | Posted in Deep Thoughts | Tagged , , | Comments (3)

I have a picky eater.

And I mean picky! He will dissect a casserole bit by bit to identify all the parts before taking minuscule bites so as to avoid eating something he doesn’t like – say onions.

I wish I could always serve what he wants. It sure would make life easier if I never put anything green on the table.

But as a mom I know he eats to eat certain things – all my kids do.

To have a balanced diet they need to eat a variety of foods. I know that everybody likes dessert – but you can’t always eat dessert, sometimes you have to eat vegetables – green leafy vegetables.

Not everything on the table is pleasant or even liked – but it’s important – that’s why I serve it.

How much more does my heavenly father know what I need every day.

Matthew 6:11 says “Give us today our daily bread“.

Max Lucado said it well: “Some days are three cookie days. Many are not. Sometimes our plate has nothing but vegetables – twenty-four hours of celery, carrots, and squash. Apparently God knows we need some strength, and though the portion may be hard to swallow, isn’t it for our own good?

Most days have a bit if it all. Vegetables, which are healthy but dull. Fruit, which tastes better and we enjoy. And even an Oreo cookie, which does little for our nutrition, but a lot for our attitude.”

Every day I can trust my heavenly Father to fill my plate with exactly what I need – both the things I like and the things I don’t care for.

All are important.

All come directly from the hands of my loving God, my Abba Father.

Yet I am often a picky eater when it comes to my daily bread. I pick it apart and complain about the “onions” in my day.

I pray often for the dessert in life. “Lord, bless us and make everything be okay. Just smooth out the wrinkles so everybody is happy – okay?!”

I rarely – if ever – have prayed “Lord send me a day full of the Brussels spouts of life so my character will be molded into your image!”

Maybe that’s why the Lord taught us to pray saying “Give us this day our daily bread...” He knew that God’s choice was always the best one.

I guess it’s time to start eating those onions with a smile!

By Country Gal | Posted in Deep Thoughts | Tagged , , | Comments (3)
Jun092010

Chocolate Macaroon Bars

By Country Gal | June 9, 2010 | Posted in Chocolate, Cookies and Bars, Cooking and Food | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

chocolate macaroonsMy husband loves macaroons – and I can’t blame him! The rich combination of coconut and sweetened condensed milk is heavenly!

So I was very excited to find this recipe for a chocolate macaroon.  Oh my! Let’s just add some gooey melted chocolate and walnuts to the coconut!

It went together fast and disappeared fast!

I loved them best hot from the oven while the chocolate was still melting and the coconut was toasted and crunchy.

Chocolate Macaroon Bars

1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup butter softened
2 eggs, divided
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips
1-1/3 cup flaked, sweetened coconut, divided
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, butter, and 1 egg until mixture is crumbly. Press firmly into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan. In medium bowl, combine condensed milk, 1 egg, and vanilla extract; stir in the chocolate chips, 1 cup coconut, and walnuts.

Spread over mixture in baking pan. Top with remaining coconut. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool completely in pan before cutting into bars.

Are you hungry yet? :)

By Country Gal | Posted in Chocolate, Cookies and Bars, Cooking and Food | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)
Jun072010

In Which We Meet Chuck Norris

By Country Gal | June 7, 2010 | Posted in Community, Memories, Weather | Tagged , , | Comments (5)

Yes, you read that title correctly – Chuck Norris. This is the real Chuck Norris – as in the Walker: Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris.

He was in Iowa stumping for my man for governor – Bob Vander Plaats. He was scheduled to speak at a rally in Council Bluffs – and we had volunteered to help.

But the day didn’t start out so well.

We had had epic storms the night before with a new storm coming through every 2 hours all night dumping more rain. By the time we woke up we had almost 6 inches in the rain gauge and could see flooding all around us.

But a little bit of rain wasn’t about to stop us – we were heading out to see Chuck Norris!

FloodWe had several detours trying to get around flooded roads. The trip became a mental game as we tried to remember where all the low bridges were and which roads were likely to be covered.

It was overcast and cool until we hit Council Bluffs.  Then the sun burst out from behind the clouds as if it knew that Chuck Norris was coming to town!

Then the heat and humidity started to climb. I could feel my hair frizzing.

We found the venue easily – almost by accident – and got to work. We put out signs, set up tables, and greeted people.

The excitement mounted as we saw the police escort pull in and the word spread that “Chuck Norris is in the building”.

A staffer pulled me aside and said I could slip my family back for a picture with Chuck and his wife if I wanted.

If I wanted?! Hmm…let me think about that…a family picture with Chuck and Gina Norris and Bob and Carla Vander Plaats?!

Oh yeah! We hurried back there as fast as we could before someone changed their mind!

We each got to personally meet the legend and his beautiful wife.

I shook Chuck Norris’s hand.

Really I  did – and my arm still works!

I think I said something really profound like “Wow – you’re Chuck Norris!”

Then we were all posed together and had our picture taken by a professional photographer – my entire family dressed in Bob Vander Plaats for governor t-shirts, with my hair frizzed and my face red from the heat.

It just might be our Christmas card!

(I wish I could show you the picture – but it hasn’t been emailed to us yet!)

The rally went really well – people were very responsive to Bob’s speech and the place erupted when Chuck Norris took the stage!

Chuck Norris
He stayed around after his talk and signed autographs until everyone had one. This guy is one class act! Seriously – Chuck and Gina are 2 of the nicest, most personable people I have ever had the privilege of meeting.

(That’s my son Matt with the legend himself!)

Meanwhile – I was passing out Vander Plaats for Governor yard signs like candy!

Later as the crowds dwindled and their car was leaving lot to catch their flight – Gina Norris saw my husband in the parking lot, rolled down her window and said, “You’re got some great kids!”

Oh my. Oh my. Oh my!

All seven of us were beaming as we got in the van to head home!

What a day it had been!

By Country Gal | Posted in Community, Memories, Weather | Tagged , , | Comments (5)
Jun042010

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

By Country Gal | June 4, 2010 | Posted in Chocolate, Cooking and Food, Muffins & Scones | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

chocolate chip muffinsWe went a little overboard buying ripe bananas last fall. Our freezer was so full of them that banana split muffins were a weekly occurrence  on our breakfast table. (You can read that story by clicking here.)

We had so  many of them that the children have revolted.  Too be honest – I’m not sure I ever want to see them again!

It was time for a new muffin.

My quest for a yummy – somewhat healthy and must have chocolate – addition to our breakfast table yielded these little delights.

There were almost like eating a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast and the oatmeal helps me to pretend they are healthy.  (I’ve always been good at make-believe!) :)

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 – 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats
1 – 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used melted butter)
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed and divided)
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup nuts(I used walnuts – but pecans would be wonderful also)
1 – 1/4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium bowl combine the oatmeal and milk; allow to stand for 15 minutes.  Grease or line muffin tin with paper liners.

Stir egg, oil, 1/2 cup brown sugar, chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup nuts into the oat and milk mixture.

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the oatmeal mixture to the flour mixture, stirring until just moist.

Fill each muffin cup 2/3 fill.

Combine the remaining brown sugar and nuts, sprinkle on top of the muffins.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

These are heavenly right out of the oven – but they do freeze well and heat up nicely in the microwave.

Yum! We were so ready for these!

I’ve linked this post up with Lisa over at Stop and Smell the Chocolates and at Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum.

By Country Gal | Posted in Chocolate, Cooking and Food, Muffins & Scones | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)