Life really can be a picnic!

Everyone loves a picnic! This blog is about some of the things I love the most, and the term "picnic" just about covers them all. First of all, a picnic has to include food; simple food that is easy to fix. Next, you need someplace fun or different to visit; a nice, peaceful location. And of course, you always need to take along a good book to read and a well-used quilt to spread everything out on. So, there you have it! Easy recipes, good books, fun quilts along with some interesting, down-to-earth places to visit. You can even take your family or a friend or two if you want.



Thursday, March 29, 2012

Closing in on April!

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."--Thomas A. Edison

     I can't believe Easter is in two weeks.  Just when I think it's going to be Spring the weather turns and it's cold again.  Hopefully, there are sunny days ahead.  Here are a couple of recipes to help us feel warm inside. 
     Start a new Easter tradition and make Hot Cross Buns for your family.  They are delicious!  I have been making this recipe that I found on Allrecipes.com for about 7 years. You can use raisins instead of the currants but I really prefer the currants.  I also like to smear the icing all over the top and not just in a cross shape.


HOT CROSS BUNS

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon instant powdered milk
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 3/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg white
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 3/4 cup dried currants
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons milk

Directions

  1. Put warm water, butter, skim milk powder, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, egg, egg white, flour, and yeast in bread maker and start on dough program.
  2. When 5 minutes of kneading are left, add currants and cinnamon. Leave in machine till double.
  3. Punch down on floured surface, cover, and let rest 10 minutes.
  4. Shape into 12 balls and place in a greased 9 x 12 inch pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place till double, about 35-40 minutes.
  5. Mix egg yolk and 2 tablespoons water. Brush on balls.
  6. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack.
  7. To make crosses: mix together confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and milk. Brush an X on each cooled bun.               


     It just isn't Easter unless you have some Deviled Eggs on hand.  It's a great way to use up some of those colored eggs.  For even more variations go to tasteofhome.com.

Deviled Eggs

6 hard-cooked eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. vinegar
1 tsp. mustard
1/8 tsp. salt

Cut hard-cooked eggs in half lengthwise and remove yolks.  Mash yolks with a fork.  Stir in mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard and salt.  Stuff egg whites with yolk mixture.  Garnish with parsley or paprika.

Italian-Style Deviled Eggs
Prepare Deviled Eggs as above, except omit mayonnaise, vinegar and mustard.  Add 3 Tablespoons Italian dressing to mashed yolks.  Stuff egg whites with yolk mixture.



     This is a fun quilt for April.  Since we're still waiting for the tulips to appear in our yards we can at least experience them in fabric form.  This quilt is called Tulip Trellis.  It was another one of those free patterns I got in the mail.  Yeah!  We love free!

    
    

     I read the book Christy by Catherine Marshall when I was in High School (We won't say just how long ago that was.)  It was one of my favorites.  It was also one of the things that inspired me to get my teaching degree.


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