Cottontail Farm
A diary of life in rural western Pennsylvania
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Kitchen stuff, crafts, the fox skeleton
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
A king cake, sweet potato stew
Yesterday after dinner I got the bright idea to try making a King Cake, what with today being Fat Tuesday and all. I'd never eaten one before but have decorated probably 100s of the things back in my bakery days. It seemed like something to do with the evening and some rattling around in the cupboards revealed we actually had all the ingredients. I used this recipe but cut it half since we didn't need two cakes. We didn't have any tiny plastic babies or colored sanding sugar so I made the best of it.
I'm very happy with how it turned out. This is after we all had it for breakfast, there was an ice storm last night so Mr. H. had a snow day on account of the roads and cold (the low tonight is 2 degrees).
I've plated some up to take to my dad tomorrow as well as my inlaws if the roads are better.
Monday, February 15, 2021
A meat free Lent, wish us luck. Also Winter
In no way am I a praticing Catholic, we have discussed this before, but now that Mr. H is going to Catholic school I'm trying to make a supporting effort at home. Lent starts on Wednesday and I've decided to forgo meat/fish for the 40 days. Since today marks day 15 without alchohol I figure why not be as miserable as possible?
So no meat starting Wednesday. Husband hasn't protested this decision but I can tell he's a little alarmed by it. I've assured him that he will still get meat with his dinners.
It's actually a treat in a way, like sending myself to a vegetable cooking camp.
Here are some things to look forward to:
Sunday, February 7, 2021
What's new?
Unfortunately this is the only amaryllis to bloom this year but it is pretty.
What's new? Not much honestly. Just putting one foot in front of the other and getting through the days until Spring. It's been bitter cold here.
The wool blankets have come out.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
The best honey cardamon & groundhog's day cookies
We have friends who are going through a very tough time right now. They live states away and there is nothing to be done ease the pain of their loss. I don't know what to do but want to do something so I baked.
This is a Martha Stewart recipe. We've never had them before and they are fantastic.
The dough was a bit fiddly to emboss with the bee press. I suppose having the dough at near freezing would have helped.
I'm also going to make Groundhog's day cookies tomorrow. 'Tis the season and all.
I love these cookies and have been making them every year since about 2005 when my (not yet) husband and I went to Punxsutawney with my sister and (not yet) brother inlaw to celebrate the holiday. This is where the cookie cutter came from, a little souvenir shop on Main Street, Punxsutawney, PA.
Cookies will be baked, packed and mailed. I don't know what else to do. But I know that something, anything, is better than nothing.