Windy Ridge Chronicles

Pumpkin Festival

2nd annual Windy Ridge Pumpkin Festival.

 

 

Dad & Chad happened to be working on the cabinets in the main house so they came in for coffee & pumpkin bread.

Cobblestone

Part of the Cobblestone Collection is up.  We snapped photos of the beautiful Shayla in the nick of time. They are going back to Idaho today. Thank you girls.

 

 

Great for Christmas portraits & special occasions but comfortable enough for every day.  Stay tuned, much more to come.  Tiny black boots by See Kai Run.

One (of many) good thing about shooting at my mom and dad's home is the baked goods.  I took one bite of this Apple Coffee Cake and it was so good that I had to take down my grandma's china and snap a photo.  Everybody stops in the middle of snacking and takes pictures, right? That is normal.  If you have apples, put them in this recipe.

 

APPLE COFFEE CAKE

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
• 1-3/4 to 2 cups chopped peeled tart apples
• TOPPING:
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons cold butter
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, mixing well after each addition. Stir in apples. Transfer to two greased 8-in. square baking dishes.
    For topping, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in nuts; sprinkle over batter. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely.  PLEASE SIP SOMETHING HOT WITH THIS.

Homemade jam

 

Landon made the jam & I labeled the jars nice & pretty.   Landon thoroughly enjoyed the whole jam-making process.  Works for me because I thoroughly enjoy eating it.

 

Cinnamon Huckleberry Jam

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound fresh huckleberries or blackberries (about 1 quart)
  
• 3-1/2 cups sugar
  
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  
• 1 pouch (3 ounces) liquid fruit pectin

DIRECTIONS

Crush huckleberries; measure 2-1/2 cups and place in a large saucepan. Add the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and cloves; bring to a rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Quickly stir in the pectin. Return to a full rolling boil; boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. 
Remove from the heat; skim off foam. Pour hot jam into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Adjust caps. Process for 15 minutes in a boiling-water bath. Yield: 4 half-pints.

Catch of the day

Yeah, that's what I am talking about!

and then we ate it. We have a rule at our house...if you kill it, you eat it.  This recipe is for you Taj since you were asking.

Pamesan & Herb Encrusted Sturgeon

Ingredients:

• Kirkland Signature parmesan & herb encrusting blend (in the spice section at Costco)
• Grated parmesan cheese
• 3 eggs beaten
• Fresh lemon
• Home made alfredo sauce

Directions:

Mix encrusting blend & grated swiss cheese in a bowl.  Dip sturgeon fillets in egg then coat with the encrusting blend.  Pan fry in a ton of butter over medium heat until sturgeon is flaky.  Drizzle with fresh lemon and home made alfredo sauce.

This would be good for any kind of fish and chicken too!

NOTE: Levi caught this monster, NOT Riley.  Happy now honey?

Brownie cupcakes

Taj baked these yummy little cakes for us last night.  I finished off the rest before I went to bed, thanks sis!

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup cold brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 teaspoons cider vinegar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• MOCHA FROSTING:
• 3 tablespoons milk chocolate chips
• 3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles

Directions:

In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, coffee, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients; mix well.
    Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool.
    For frosting, in a small microwave-safe mixing bowl, melt chips; stir until smooth. Add butter; beat until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and coffee. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes. Top with sprinkles; gently press down. Yield: 1 dozen.

Pannukakku

This simple old Scandanavian recipe is one of our favorite breakfast recipes.   Landon whipped up a batch for us this morning with home made cinnamon & sugar whipped cream.  Great served with syrup or berries & cream.

Pannukkaku (Finnish oven pancake)

4 eggs
2 c. milk
1-3 tbsp. sugar
3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
4 tbsp. butter

Beat eggs. Add milk, sugar, flour, and salt; beat well. Pour batter into a 12- inch heavy frying pan, which has been heated in a 425 degree oven with the butter. Heat the pan until butter sizzles. Bake for 20 minutes in a 425 degree oven until the pancake is puffed and nicely browned. Serves 6-8.

NOTE: Do not use a Teflon pan, then pancake will stick to the surface.  We usually use a glass 9 x 13" pan or individual baking dishes (as pictured)

Serve with jam, fresh or cooked berries or fruit or cinnamon and sugar, etc. Can be served for breakfast, lunch or as a dessert. ENJOY!

White Christmas

The first white Christmas in 17 years! We slept in, then opened stockings & gifts.  The boys got sleds & mittens for Christmas so they were very excited when it started snowing shortly after the gifts were opened.

I made this hearty breakfast casserole for Christmas morn. It was a hit.

Rancher's Breakfast Casserole

6 cups shredded hash browns

1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

1 cup fully cooked diced ham (or bacon)

6 eggs scrambled

1/2 lb ground breakfast sausage cooked

1 envelope country gravy prepared with 1 cup water & 1 cup heavy cream

Combine above ingredients & spoon into indivdual baking dishes. Garnish with cheese & diced green onion.   Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

This can be prepared the night before so perfect for Christmas morning.