September Days

"You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."--Desmond Tutu

     Last Monday evening we attended the State Fair.  As always there was a wide variety of things to look at and grab our attention.  My favorites are the animals, the home arts (which has to include the quilts) and of course since I am a member of a family of ice cream lovers, we loved the tent sponsored by the Utah Dairy Council.  We were able to go and have all the ice cream we wanted for $3 each.






Lemurland of Madagascar

 

 

Dairy Farmers of Utah Butter Cow-sculpture of butter

wood carved fish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chili is one of my favorite meals in the fall when the days start to cool off a little.

 

 

Chili

1 lb. lean ground beef                                   1-14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes                       

1 medium onion, diced                                               1 ½ Tbsp. chili powder

2 cloves garlic, minced                                               1 tsp. cumin

½ cup green pepper, diced                                         ½ tsp. black pepper

½ cup celery, diced                                                     1 tsp. salt

1-4 oz. can diced green chiles                                    1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

2-15 oz. cans red kidney beans , drained                 1 cup tomato juice or beef broth

1-15 oz. can pinto beans, drained

1-8 oz. can tomato sauce

Brown ground beef, onion and garlic in a medium skillet.  Add green pepper and celery and cook for 2 more minutes.  Put beef mixture in crock pot and add all other ingredients.  Cook on medium for 4-6 hours.  You can also cook chili in a heavy pot covered, on low heat on the stove for 2 – 3 hours stirring every 15 minutes.  If you like your chili a little spicier, add more chili powder, cumin and black pepper.

 

 

     Out of all the things that are made in my kitchen, my family requests cinnamon rolls the most.   The secret ingredient is instant potato flakes.  I make the dough in my bread machine but it can be made with a bread mixer just as easily.  I use dental floss when cutting the individual rolls.

 

Old Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls

 

1 ¾ cups water                                                ½ cup sugar

1 egg                                                                ¼ cup margarine

4 ½ cups flour                                                 1 tsp. salt

½ cup powdered milk                                      1 Tbsp. yeast

½ cup potato flakes

Combine and mix ingredients in bread mixer.  Let dough rest on an oiled counter for 15 minutes.  Punch down and roll out to 18” by 15”.  Brush with melted butter.  Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.  Roll up and cut int 12 to 18 rolls.  Place on a large jelly roll pan (greased or lined with parchment paper).  Let rise for 30-45 minutes.  Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes.  Let cool for 3-5 minutes before frosting.

 

Frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar                         3 Tbsp. butter

3/4 tsp. vanilla                                      1-2 Tbsp. cream or milk

 

 

 

Fresh pear salad is really tasty this time of year.  I just layered the following ingredients:

seven lettuce mix

sliced pears

craisins

feta cheese

bacon crumbles

chopped pecans

Top it off with a little raspberry vinaigrette.

 

 

  I just finished reading this book.  From what I hear, it's a little different from most of David Baldacci's other books.  It mostly takes place in a small mining town in Virginia.  I enjoyed the strong characters, especially that of Lou.