EVO Brewery Tour

Today my husband and I drove in to Salisbury where the Evolution Brewery is located.  We went to the 1:30 p.m. brewery tour and my husband came home happily with a growler filled with his favorite brew.

I enjoy taking tours.  I love learning how things come into being.  I was not disappointed!  I learned that beer is made with 4 essential ingredients: barley, hops, water, and yeast.  We followed the hops on the journey it makes from beginning to end.  Absolutely fascinating!

The EVO Brewery even has a restaurant as part of its facility.  The items on the menu sounded wonderful, but we skipped this part as it was a bit out of our budget for today.  Perhaps another time!

Buying a Canner

 This year I am going to invest in a canner, not the pressure ones, just an old-fashioned hot water bath canner.  I missed strawberry season completely!  I will not miss blueberry season.  It has been a long time since we canned any produce.  We used to make jellies and relishes.  Then, life got very hectic and canning was forgotten. 


This morning I was searching on Amazon and found the canner I am going to get.  I like the Granite Ware  products and this one has all the added bells and whistles of equipment included.  Since I am a Prime member, there will be no shipping charge and the canner will arrive in 2 days.  Prime membership is expensive and not something I would usually splurge on, but I have a 6 month free student trial membership. So why not put it to use.
 

Here is the link for the canner - $38.75
http://www.amazon.com/Granite-Ware-0718-1-Enamel--Canning/dp/B002KHN602/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1373636295&sr=1-3&keywords=hot+water+bath+canner

Perfectionist

I have often been told that I am a perfectionist.  People say this word as if it is a bad thing!  I don't think wanting perfection is a bad thing; I think that not being able to cope when things don't turn out perfect is a bad thing. 

I have been taking graduate classes recently to add an English Language Learner endorsement to my teaching license.  I have carefully looked at the course syllabus and the rubrics for grading.  I have taking notes and turned my assignments in early. 

My husband said, "Honey, do you always have to get an A?"
 I responded, "No, I don't have to get an A, but I do have to do my best!

Then an idea popped into my head - I am not a perfectionist.  I just don't do half-assed.  So, I even made up a poster with this saying on it.  I feel liberated!

Renaming behaviors

I am now through chapter 2 in the book, Raising the Spirited Child.  I am trying to identify the behaviors that my four year old exhibits that just drive me nuts.  He is defiant!  If you tell him to stop doing something he has to do it one more time.   If we put him in time out he throws a tantrum with ear splitting screams, slams his bedroom door,  and declares he hates us or that we don't love him.  He is very manipulative.

Here goes-
My son is hyper spirited.  He is stubborn focused.  He is defiant determined. 

 WOW! These are all labels that do fit him and they fit him in a positive way.

The BEST Oatmeal Cookies

This is one of my very favorite cookies.  They are soft but with a crisp edge.  They taste great warm from the oven and even days later.  My husband loves to frost his with vanilla icing for an extra special treat.  The recipe makes 4 dozen decent sized cookies, but I am hard pressed to keep them in the house for long.

Here is the recipe -

Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup of butter softened
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon
3 cups quick cooking oats

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a cookie sheet.
2.  Cream the egg, butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla with a mixer.
3.  Measure and stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  Then add a little at a time to the egg mixture and continue mixing.
4.  Stir in the oats by hand.
5.  Drop by rounded tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet.
6.  Bake for approximately 11 minutes.  Let cookies rest on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool.

Happy 4th of July

In the United States, we celebrate Independence Day, better known as the 4th of July.

The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson.  On July 4, 1776 Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence and proclaimed that the 13 colonies no longer belonged to Great Britain.  They were then a new nation - The United States of America.  This document was signed by 56 delegates.

If you travel to Washington D.C. you can sign a miniaturized photocopy of the Declaration with quill and ink at the Jefferson memorial.  You an also visit Constitution Gardens which honors the men who signed the Declaration. The memorial has 56 stones.  Each stone has engraved the signature of one of the signers as well as his hometown and job.  The original Declaration of Independence was lost, but many copies had been made.  One very famous signed copy, now thought of as the Declaration of Independence, can be seen in the dimly lit hall of the National Archives building.

                                                                       humans
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

So today, I will give thanks for my life , for my freedom, and for being able to do the things that bring me joy.  I will have a picnic with my family.  I will go canoeing with my daughter down the river.  I will through a ball to my son.  And I will hug my husband.

Happy 4th of July!

Broccoli Ham Quiche

The hens are laying eggs daily and I needed to find some other ways to use them up besides the same old, "Would you  like eggs for breakfast?"  Yesterday I examined two different quiche recipes and and chose what in my opinion was the best of both for my own version.  I have to say it was absolutely yummy.  My daughter even had three slices.  Here is my version -

Broccoli Ham Quiche
Instant Mashed Potatoes (prepared)
2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup of cheddar cheese
3/4 cup of honey ham from the deli sliced into thin strips
3 eggs
1 cup of milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray.
2.  Make instant potatoes according to directions on box.
3.  Spread the mashed potatoes into a thin layer covering the bottom and sides of the pie plate.  This serves as the crust.
4.  Bake in oven for 30 minutes.
5.  Layer the broccoli, ham and cheese on top of the potato crust.
6.  Mix the eggs, milk, salt, peper, and nutmeg until frothy. 
7.  Pour the egg mixture over the broccoli, ham, and cheese.
8.  Bake for another 40 to 50 minutes until the egg mixture has become solid and not runny.