Family Resources Kid's Resources
Family Support
The Parlor Join us on our message boards for conversation, introductions, support, encouragement and chit chat. Stop by and introduce yourself Here!
Recipes
Tea
Crafts
Garden
Forums
Christmas Gifts from Your Kitchen
Nuts and candy make wonderful Christmas gifts for that hard to buy for person, or as an
addition to gifts you may have crafted or purchased. Family and friends love homemade
treats! We have many easy and delicious recipes you may try this year, and ideas for how to
package your goodies when finished.
Chocolate Billionaires
Ingredients:
1 14 ounce package caramels
3 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup coursely crushed crisp rice cereal
1 tablespoon shortening
2 cups semi sweet or milk chocolate chips
In top of double boiler over low heat, melt caramels with water. Remove
from heat and stir in pecans and cereal. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto
lightly greased waxed paper. Chill until firm. Melt Chocolate chips and shortening in the
double boiler or heavy saucepan and dip candies until coated. Place on wax paper and chill
until set. Store in airtight container. Makes about 4 dozen candies.
Swedish Nuts
Ingredients:
1 cup whole almonds
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 egg whites
1 cup sugar
dash salt
1 cup pecan halves
1 cup walnut halves
Spread almonds on a cookie sheet and roast at 325 degrees until lightly browned,
about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally; cool. Melt butter in oven in a 13x9x2 inch
baking pan. Beat egg whites until foamy; add sugar and salt, nad continue beating until
stiff. Fold in all of nuts; spread mixture in baking pan over melted butter. Bake at
325 degrees for about 30 minutes or until mixture is browned and all the butter is
absorbed, stirring and turning every 10 minutes to cook evenly. Makes about 4 cups.
Cinnamon Nut Mix
Ingredients:
2 cups whole almonds
2 cups pecan halves
6 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. ground cloves
2 egg whites
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large saucepan, cover almonds and pecans
with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 1 minute.
Drain well. In a large bowl combine the next 6 items. In a medium bowl, whisk egg whites
until foamy. Add nuts and stir until nuts are well coated. Pour nuts into sugar mixture
stirring until well coated. Spread evenly on a greased baking sheet. Stir occasionally, baking
25 to 30 minutes. Cool on baking sheet. Store in airtight container. Makes about 4 cups.
Mocha Walnuts
Ingredients:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups walnut halves
In a large saucepan, combine first 6 items, mixing well. Cook over medium heat,
stirring constantly, to soft ball stage (238 degrees). Remove from
heat and stir in vanilla. Add nuts, stirring to coat. Spread nuts on a
buttered baking sheet. Cool and break into pieces. Store in airtight container.
Makes about 4 1/2 cups nuts.
Sugared Peanuts
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 cups shelled raw peanuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
Coarse Salt
In a large heavy pan place peanuts, salt, sugar and water. Bring to a boil.
Continue to boil until all liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Watch carefully.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread nuts on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle
with coarse salt. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven, stir, and bake 20 minutes
longer. Cool. Store in airtight container. Makes about 4 1/2 cups.
Note: Raw nuts usually are found in the produce section this time of year.
About the author
Brenda Hyde is a wife and mom to three living in the rural midwest United States. She
is editor of Old Fashioned Living.com and Regional Foods Editor at StandBesideHer.com
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing