Cinnomon Sugar Cookies .....

Mrs. Fields Cinnamon Sugar Cookies (copycat recipe) Topping: 3 tablespoons white sugar 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon Cookies: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup white sugar 1 cup salted butter, softened 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon for topping. Set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, soda and salt. Mix well with wire whisk and set aside. In a large bowl, blend sugars with an electric mixer set at medium speed. Add the butter, and mix to form a grainy paste. Scrape sidesof bowl, then add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture and blend at low speed just until combined. Do not over mix. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll each ball in cinnamon-sugar topping. Place onto ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Immediately transfer cookies with a spatula to a cool, flat surface. Yield: 3 dozen

General catching up news ... Angel

Another week gone by without a post, not good! anyway I am back, been very busy with George and his medical stuff. We have been to see the eye doctor twice in the last 2 weeks for treatment, just another round of ongoing injections and lazer, all to combat this wonderful desease called Diabetese. Without this treatment he would have been blind by now. Going blind is just not an option for George right now. We had a visit to the Clinic thrown in there somewhere as well. His insulin doze has been upted as well. Offically he is on leave from the 14th which was yesterday for 6 weeks, that would be the longest holiday ever for him but as usual he is working on something, meaning our trip up to the farm will start later. we were due to leave today but now he has a few urgent things he needs to attend too.

Now we will be leaving in the morning for a quick trip, off load and head straight back to Sydney. Actually I am not complaining about that at all cause now I get to take more stuff up. This trip will be all the 6x9kg LPG gas bottles, a lovely old cast iron garden setting some of his wood working machines, another box of medical supplies, a tube of art and school supplies for the secret stash and a box of reference books. George will question me on that ... why the books? ... I just know it. He's lucky I am not aking the book case as well, I would if there was space trust me. Every corner of the cottage has got something stashed away, it's going to be quite a shock to him when I need to unpack so he can lay the carpet in the bedroom. But then If only the cupboards were built it could all have a home, well that's my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Another batch of butternut is dying in the dehydrator ATM and just to proof cats are useful. This is Angel, she turned out to be a boy on closer inspection, a stray arrived here with his bags packed and not leaving. It took a while for all the other cats to accept him and for him to get comfortable with us. Angel is the kind of cat that does not liked to be picked up unless you hold his back legs up close, even then his tail is smacking from side to side. This could be the reason he was dumped. Not to crash hot on strange kids either.

I am sure you agree Angel was doing a great job guarding the butternuts! Until nexttime Rina

Chooks, chicken stock and more ...

A while ago I mentioned Hubby was converting an old washing machine into a chook plucker, well I am still waiting!!! It was a curbside find and here We was hoping the motor still worked but the pump might not, no such luck it was the motor. His other problem was getting the drum out, the machine won. Then my mate Alby had to buy a new washing machine for his wife, the pump had packed up on their machine, which was lucky for us! Now all he needs to do is get started on it. The chooks have grown to small turkeys again and so I decided no more "Off with their heads" and we did it the old fashioned way. Thank the Lord there were only 11 birds left. We processed 8 birds on Sonday. The skin would have been tough anyway so we skinned them instead of plucking them properly. Worked great. Got 20 good sized meals for my freezer. ATM the stock pot is full of carcasses cooking away. while the first batch is cooling.Had this brilliant idea to fill up large muffin trays with stock and freeze them and fill a ziplock bag, taking out just what I need. And with the second batch fill a few bootles.

Never give up ... crocheting a rag rug ...

I did it , success atlast with the pumpkin, butternuts work better. Dehydrated them until they were dry enough to crack. The reason I wanted them so dry was so that I could put them through the blender and make pumpkin powder/flour, what ever you want to call it. Well it must be true, Hubby says I am like a dog with a bone when I start something, never give up until I succeed. Now to carry on and prepare the other 6 butternuts I bought..The last of the Japs I will just cook and put in ziplock bags for the freezer, ready to make pumpkin scones or something. Great idea using the oven to dry your pumpkin LeLoup thanks for the comment.

What do you do with all that stale bread, hubby likes Helga wholegrain and I like white toast, and when you buy 2 for $6 , you end up with a lot of bread. I used to dry it for the sheep but they have lost out. I made bread crumbs instead not just ordinary bread crumbs but with a little home dried and ground chilli in it. now that should put a zing into the next crumbed lamb cutlet or fish fillet.

My mission to recycle just about anything I can lay my hands on. A rag rug has given a new lease of life to some old sheets, table cloth, hubby's old Yakka work shirts, old jeans and a hidious pair of green pants. (what was she thinking when she bought those pants)Cut it all into strips, and rolled the balls, and started with the smallest lot first. I thought making a round rug would be the way to go maybe next time I would go for an oval shape. Keeping to 3 rows of one colour has worked out fine, increasing 1 stitch every 14 stitches on every second row. Just keep checking that you don't end up with a wavy row. Then skip that increase row. I am on my last row Atm. The rug is going to the farm after a good wash and dry. It sure is heavy!!

I can see myself going through the linen cupboard soon for more fabric yarn to start that oval rug, a little more colour coordinated. My mate Alby brought a whole bag full of old towels, his wife throw out, they should come in handy for the inside layers for pot holders for the sewing ladies. Yep I am still going with those sewing classes on Thursdays at the community center.