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October 30
Oh for those sunny, warm days of summer! I yearn to relax in my hammock and read a book, drinking ice tea and basking in the heat.
Alas, it is late October in northeast Kansas. Our weather recently has alternated between bright blue skies and drizzly gray, brightened only by the fall colors in the trees and grasses.
With the late October weather comes Harvest Festivals and Halloween. I'm not a big fan of Halloween (there is too much gruesomeness associated with it for me), but the kids have fun dressing up and overloading on candy. I like hayrack rides, bonfires, and apple or pumpkin pie with my coffee. That has to be enough to tide me through!
About me:
My name is Theresa, aka "Tree" to some longtime friends and a few relatives.
I'm a (mostly) stay-at-home-mom of two. My passions include my family, my faith, and living in a simple manner that respects the blessings we have been given.
October's Bright Blue Weather
O SUNS and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather;
When loud the bumble-bee makes haste,
Belated, thriftless vagrant,
And Golden-Rod is dying fast,
And lanes with grapes are fragrant;
When Gentians roll their fringes tight
To save them for the morning,
And chestnuts fall from satin burrs
Without a sound of warning;
When on the ground red apples lie
In piles like jewels shining,
And redder still on old stone walls
Are leaves of woodbine twining;
When all the lovely wayside things
Their white-winged seeds are sowing,
And in the fields, still green and fair,
Late aftermaths are growing;
When springs run low, and on the brooks,
In idle golden freighting,
Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush
Of woods, for winter waiting;
When comrades seek sweet country haunts,
By twos and twos together,
And count like misers, hour by hour,
October's bright blue weather.
O suns and skies and flowers of June,
Count all your boasts together,
Love loveth best of all the year
October's bright blue weather.
Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885)
October's Bright Blue Weather!
Hubby's birthday is on Halloween. With kids, it's difficult to find time on October 31st to celebrate a birthday. Some years, well, he just misses out. This year we are celebrating a day early with one of his favorite meals. We add mashed potatoes, green beans or corn, bread to sop up the extra gravy, and iced tea (never sweet when Hubby is the guest of honor!) to make a perfect family meal.
Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon each salt, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder and pepper
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1-1/4 cups buttermilk, divided
- 4 beef cube steaks (4 ounces each)
- Oil for frying
- 1-1/2 cups 2% milk
In a shallow bowl, combine 1-3/4 cups flour, baking powder and seasonings. In another shallow bowl, combine egg and 3/4 cup buttermilk. Dip each cube steak in buttermilk mixture, then roll in flour mixture. Let stand for 5 minutes.
In a large skillet, heat 1/2 in. of oil on medium-high. Fry steaks for 5-7 minutes. Turn carefully; cook 5 minutes longer or until coating is crisp and meat is no longer pink. Remove steaks and keep warm.
Drain, reserving 1/3 cup drippings; stir remaining flour into drippings until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and remaining buttermilk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with steaks.
Makes 4 servings. Credit for the recipe goes to Taste of Home.
Eagle Brand Perfect Pumpkin Pie
This is the ONLY pumpkin pie that I ever want to make. It really is Perfect!
- 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin (about 2 cups)
- 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust
HEAT oven to 425°F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust. BAKE 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1-inch from crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. We like real whipped cream!
