Lilly's Home Blog

Friday, February 6, 2009

Apple Pie Tarts

34. Yesterday I found frozen pie crust in the freezer...can't remember when it got pushed to the side. Pulling it out of the freezer, I decided to make a pie today. Although it was only enough for a one crust pie I started to consider my options, though not liking any of them. What I really wanted was a slice of apple pie. But that would mean making another batch of crust for the top layer. Now, what could I make...apple pie with a crumb topping...apple dumplings...hmmmm...how about mini apple pie tarts! Yes. Sounded like a plan and not nearly the amount of work as a pie.

Apple Pie Tarts

1 pie crust, roll out into a 12x14 rectangle.

2 apples, peeled and cut into small pieces

1/3 cup sugar

cinnamon

2 Tablespoons butter

lemon juice

milk or water/flour

Cut pie crust into 6 equal parts for a large cup muffin pan or 12 for a small cup muffin pan. Line muffin tin with paper baking cups or lightly grease. Fit pie crust squares into muffin cups loosely.

Divide apples between the six cups evenly.

Sprinkle sugar over apples and sprinkle with cinnamon. Dot with butter and squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon juice over apples.

Roughly turn edges of dough toward center of tarts covering apples loosely. Brush tops with milk or water and sprinkle sugar over top.

Bake in 350º oven for 30 minutes or till tops are browned and

apples are bubbling.

Serve with ice cream or whipped topping. Or eat them just as they are.

This was so easy and it was just enough to take care of my apple pie craving.

"Pies are made of butter and love." ~ Norwegian Proverb

Monday, February 2, 2009

The Simple Things

33. Do you know of anyone who has a birthday that is celebrated on a holiday? I know a few and three of them happen to be my siblings. The chances of this happening in the same family is very slim but it sure has made for good trivia over the years.

So, I have three siblings, all older than myself. A brother and two older sisters.

My brother was born at Thanksgiving. Being that Thanksgiving is on a different numbered day each year, he celebrates his birthday on Thanksgiving every so many years.

Next, my oldest sister was born on February 14th, Valentines Day.

And my sister closest to me in age was born on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day.

My birthday is in December...the 14th that is. It could have been on Christmas Day but as my mom always said, I have always had a mind of my own. Maybe I was in a hurry...or just plain stubborn.

When each holiday/birthday would roll around, we would celebrate with a cake! My memories remind me of the round, two layer homemade cake with white frosting and maraschino cherries dotting the top and sides. We would love to pick the cherries off and eat them first...or take a bite of cherry and a bite of cake together! If you ever stole a cherry you were always found out because of the red indented mark it made in the frosting. And yes, mother, I was the one who would steal the cherries out of the jar...that you had hidden in the refrigerator. Guilty!

Here are pictures of my siblings and myself with our mom

and with our dad, and the birthday cake. (I'm on the far left)

It is the simple things in life that make the most impressionable memories. A simple hug, a homemade cake, a hand written card. These things speak loudly.

I remember recently being in a party supply store and a mother trying to make her little one happy with the basket full of supplies for the 5 year-old's party. His repeated words of "No...I want those!", could be heard throughout the store. I realized, it isn't the "stuff" that makes the memories...it's the people you spend time with that make the memories special. All it takes is a simple cup of coffee or a phone call. Not a big elaborate celebration or major spending spree! Just be available and give your time...don't try to impress or be something that you are not, just honest and real. And by all means, love!

The memories of my father holding me...it felt as though I were 100 ft. off the ground and the gentle touch of my mothers cheek. Being able to sit on her lap for hours on end to hug, kiss and sing together. Thanks mom, and dad for the simple things in life!

"The best things in life are nearest:

Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes,

flowers at your feet, duties at your hand,

the path of right just before you.

Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain,

common work as it comes,

certain that daily duties and daily bread

are the sweetest thing in life."

~ Robert Lous Stevenson

Friday, January 30, 2009

Doilies

32. Doilies are a treasure to me, mostly the ones my mother and mother-in-law made. I have made a few and know the tedious work that goes into creating each little stitch. My collection began when I was in college and would go to local second-hand and antique stores searching in their boxes of linens. This beautiful one has the word BREAD stitched into it.

I found this in one of those boxes and tried to act calm. I asked the clerk what he wanted for it...being that it was so "useless"...he said $1.00...and I just about hugged and kissed him. I quietly walked out the door after handing over my precious dollar, (because in college every cent was important) and smiled all the way back to the dorm.

As a young teen I would see my mother crocheting away with her DMC cotton string and tiny needle and my what beautiful creations she would make...

like this one.

Just look at the tiny detail...she doesn't use them any more around the house so I scooped them up. I have doilies in just about every room. They are art! plain and simple!

As I got older I began making doilies for my own home. These are glass covers. I found the idea in an old doily book and came up with my own pattern. You use them in the summer to catch the liquid that forms on the outside of the glass, so as not to use a coaster or have a water ring on your table. They work so well and I love them.

This doily I received from a missionary from Romania. The couple had dear Romanian lady friends who would make them doilies to give to their American friends...I love it! If you notice, the cotton thread is very thick.

My mother-in-law would crochet tablecloths. Not really for any reason other than the enjoyment of the task. Once when we visited I commented how beautiful and she opened a drawer that was full! I gasped! She just laughed and said, "I don't really need all of these and nobody really wants them...would you like to have them?" Would I like to have them? You don't have to ask twice! She loved the pineapple shape design. But what an artist she was. I miss her but have her lovely art to remember her by.

Another joy of mine is finding old doily patterns and pattern books. These are coaster covers that I adapted from an old pattern. They fit on the "Thirsty Stone" coasters. Sometimes the coaster design just doesn't match the season or your room decor...these are great cover ups.

Doilies are works of art, though some people think they are dated and unusable...I can always find a use for them.

"Chains do not hold a marriage together.

It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads

which sew people together through the years. "

~Simone Signoret

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Painting On A Canvas

31. So today I was playing at painting...acrylics on canvas, that is. I've had an enormous canvas that was just sitting in the garage...so I got the itch and an idea. I love painting fruit and really enjoy looking at the master painters work in museums. How they make everything look so real like a photograph. One of my favorite painters of still life is William Hughes from the 1800's. His paintings are absolute masterpieces! The painting of "Bird's Nest and Fruit" is one of the most awesome paintings.

Each of us begins each day with a blank canvas...waiting for some type of medium to be applied. How do you start out your day...cup of coffee, a jog around the neighborhood, a prayer, being jumped on by your kids or licked in the face by your dog, or do you have to make your bed perfectly before doing anything else...everyone has their own routine. Life hands us a variety of options and tools to work with. Some of us have more priviledges than others but at the base level...we are all the same. We start out with life, breath and our will.

How we will respond to our family, people we rub shoulders with on the street or job and everyone we call friend. Do we look for opportunities to encourage or is our focus directed mostly to ourselves?

Every circumstance we experience is an opportunity to add color and shape. What do people see in us when they are around us?

Allow beauty to be seen in you everyday...on your canvas of life.

"Art is a collaboration between God and the artist,

and the less the artist does the better."

~André Gide

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Mushroom Strudel

30. So my journey through my favorite cookbook, "The American Country Inn and Bed and Breakfast Cookbook", continues...

It was time to prepare dinner, so I looked in the refrigerator:

I had a few shallots,

left-over phyllo dough from Christmas,

2 containers of mushrooms,

ground meat,

sour cream,

and carrots.

What can I do with that...hmmm. I pulled out my cookbook and started to look through it. Swedish Meatballs were at the top of my list, till I saw this recipe for "Mushroom Strudel"and just had to try it.

I made mini meat loaves, rice, julienne carrots and peas and the "Mushroom Strudel". It was so yummy and as I was going through the process, I realized how easy it would be to make mini mushroom strudels for appetizers. Here is the recipe:

The Governor's Inn Mushroom Strudel

The Governor's Inn Ludlow, VT (pg 392)

6 cups minced, finely chopped mushrooms, tops and stems

1 tsp salt

¼tsp curry powder (I added ½ tsp)

6 Tablespoons Sherry (I substituted with Apple Cider)

¼cup chopped shallots

¼cup butter

1 cup sour cream

3 Tablespoons dry bread crumbs

❅ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅

1 16oz package frozen phyllo dough, (1 packet thawed)

½cup butter melted

1 cup dry bread crumbs

sour cream

chopped parsley

Sauté the mushrooms with the seasonings, Sherry, and shallots in butter until the mushrooms are wilted and the liquid is gone. This will take about 20 minutes over medium-low heat. Allow to cool.

Add the sour cream and dry bread crumbs. Refrigerate overnight (or transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool over a bowl of ice water.)

Unwrap the phyllo dough carefully. Place a sheet of dough on a large breadboard (or parchment paper). Brush with melted butter and sprinkled with bread crumbs lightly. Repeat until you have 4 layers. Spoon half of the mushroom mixture onto the narrow end of the dough. Turn the long sides of dough in about 1 inch to seal the filling; then roll the dough up like a jelly roll.

Brush the completed roll with butter and sprinkle with a few more crumbs.

Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper).

Mark with a sharp knife into eight equal slices.

Repeat the above process using the remaining mushroom filling. Bake in a 375° oven for 40 minutes. Garnish with a small dollop of sour cream and chopped parsley. Serve hot.

Makes 16 slices.

Optional individual mushroom appetizers. Layer the phyllo dough in the same process then cut the dough in 8 equal squares. Place dough in muffin cups ruffling the dough to fit. Fill with mushroom filling. Bake 30-40 minutes. Garnish and serve hot.

It turned out beautifully and tasted sooooo gooood!