Easy Peasy Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Every year, my family looks forward to the days of fall when we go to our favorite larger grocery stores and find our Duncan Doughnuts Pumpkin Spice Coffee. 
 
OH. MY. It is a seasonal delight.

But . . . for that last 2 years, it has been quite the challenge to find it before OTHERS who evidently also find it and hoard it for the cold Ohio winter like squirrels hoarding nuts.

What's a Pumpkin Spice Coffee lover to do?

Well, leave it to my dear friend, Balinda ~ who also knows that "necessity is the mother of invention" ~ to bless our family with the answer . . . Add pumpkin pie spice to your coffee!!!

This is so easy and you will LOVE it.

 

You Will Need:

~ drip coffee maker
~ your favorite drip coffee
~ powdered pumpkin pie spice (I use Frontier)
~ measuring spoon (for heaping TBs, we like ours strong)
~ any extras you prefer (sweeteners/creamer/milk)
~ a generously sized mug

 

Directions:

1) For every 2 heaping TBs of coffee you use, add 1 ts of pumpkin pie spice powder; I put my spice in the middle of my spoons of coffee, it seems to blend better.

2) Brew coffee as usual

3) pour into your mug, add any extras you prefer; we use coconut sugar OR sucanat and yummy, gorgeous, sweet milk from a local farm.

 

 This coffee is to yummy that I

had to post this picture

again :-D

4) Enjoy.

So now, our problem is salved forever!

Let me know how much LOVE this homemade pumpkin spice coffee. 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Rosemary Biscuits with Lavender and Honey Butter

My family doesn't eat as much "regular-type" bread as we used to. These days, we eat more of my homemade Ezekiel Bread and THE Man eats my homemade Paleo Bread. 

BUT . . . on those days (Sundays ~ our "grace" day ~ or holidays) we like really make the yummy treat of a wheat flour bread rock! :-) 

One of my favorites is rosemary bread, biscuits or scones (which you can make with this recipe) and lavender and honey butter.

For the biscuits~

You Will Need:

~2 c. bread flour (for a light, fluffy rise)
~2 c. whole wheat OR coconut flour
~4 ts. turbiano (Suger in the Raw) OR coconut sugar
~1/2 ts. sea salt
~2 TB. baking powder
~1 ts. cream of tartar
~1-1/3 c. milk (rice milk OR almond milk works well, too)
~3/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
~1 TB chopped fresh rosemary OR slightly crunched dried rosemary
~whisk
~spatula
~med-large mixing bowl
~medium mixing bowl
~cookie sheet (OR loaf pan for bread OR cast iron skillet for scones)

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 400* (f)
2) Using the whisk, in the med-large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients
3) In the smaller bowl, combine all the other ingredients EXCEPT the rosemary
4) In small amounts, add the wet ingredients to the dry
5) Stir in the rosemary
6) Pinch off chunks of the dough and roll to about 2" in diameter
7) Place onto cookie sheet
8) Bake 10-12 minutes 

**NOTE** You can make a small loaf of bread OR scones from this recipe, just use an 8"x3" loaf pan OR a cast iron skillet for the scones.

Lavender and Honey Butter~

You will need:

~homemade butter (roughly 1 lb.)
~1 TB. honey (local is best, especially if you have allergies)
~1 TB. slightly crunched/ground-up dried lavender flowers
~wooden spoon
~small mixing bowl
~air-tight container

Directions:

1) blend butter, honey and lavender flowers together
2) store in an air-tight container . . . OR . . . roll into a cylender and wrap in waxed paper, chill and then cut into slices onto a pretty plate to serve . . . OR . . . put into butter molds for pretty shapes

Enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homemade Herbal Chai Recipe

When the cold winter winds blow outside, there's nothing like a delicious hot drink, a snuggly sweater and a cozy warm home. A favorite drink of mine is a nice, hot herbal tea or chai tea.

 I love it when my tea pot whistles 

at me '-)

As much as I enjoy chai, and as much as I enjoy a toasty warm herbal tea or other hot drink in the evening, I have had to give up drinking chai in the evening because of the caffeine in most chais. Well . . . NOW I can enjoy that same warm, wintery taste of chai in an HERBAL blend!

And you will love this blend, too . . . 

You will need:

~cinnamon stick
~orange peel
~fennel seeds
~ginger root
~licorice root
~cloves
~mortar and pestle OR small hammer and paper towels
~fillable tea bags OR tea ball
~air-tight container

Directions:

1) with your mortar and pestle (or use a hammer with the cinnamon stick between two paper towels), crunch up a small cinnamon stick into small chunks
2) put small amounts of the cinnamon stick, orange peel, fennel seeds, ginger root, licorice root and cloves into the tea bags. Experiment a little with the amounts you like for your own perfect flavor

 Use heat-sealed tea bags . . . OR . . . 

muslin, reusable tea bags . . . OR . . .

 use a tea ball

3) make as many tea bags as you want and store them in an air-tight container for future use OR use your tea ball and make each serving as needed (**tins of homemade tea bags make great gifts**)

I like to use an old mint tin to keep

homemade tea bags in my purse ~ 

that way, I can have my own favorite teas

anywhere I go

4) TO USE: steep tea bag or tea ball for in a mug of hot water for 10 minutes, discard used bag 
5) enjoy  

 Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Busy, Thankful Thanksgiving

We are plenty busy this year, at Thanksgiving. However, all the preparation will be worth it when family gets together to enjoy our small feast and to enjoy each other's company. 

So very, very thankful to have my family with me for the day, as DD#1 lives just far enough away from us that the drive and everyone's work schedules make it difficult to connect in person. Oh, how I miss that beautiful face.

In the meantime, I am going to post the links to 2 of my favorite past Thanksgiving offerings that you may have missed: 

~Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclaimation

and

~the REAL story of the First Thanksgiving from Those Who were There. These are excerpts from the actual diaries of Gov. Bradford and Edward Winslow.

Enjoy and share these pieces of history so that they won't be forgotten.

REMEMBER and be THANKFUL for all that God has done for you. THAT is what this holiday is all about.

From our house to yours ~ God's richest blessings upon your household and our great country . . . Kim<><

Homemade Spiced Pumpkin Latte Mix

I have already given you my Spiced Chai Latte Mix, now I want to show you what I did to give that recipe a great fall kick.

Dress up your canning jar mixes by cutting

out pretty fabric squares, lay them 
over the lid and under the ring, 
then screw it onto the jar.

You know, you HAVE to have pumpkin . . . everything . . . in the fall on into winter, right? So, I decided to modify my recipe and do that "pumpkin thang" to it. :-D

You will need:

~1 c. coffee ~1 ts. cinnamon ~1/2 ts. cardamon ~1/4 ts. Frontier powdered pumpkin pie spice ~1/8 ts. ginger ~whisk ~small mixing bowl ~air-tight glass container

Directions: 

1) whisk to mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
2) carefully pour into air-tight glass container

To use:

#1 ~ use 1/3 c. per mug, fill with hot water, stir thoroughly to mix.

#2 ~ if you are making a pot of coffee and want something with a little kick, especially on a chilly day or night or around a camp fire, add a heaping TB of chai mix per scoop of coffee to your coffee maker. A great taste treat!

And as an extra treat ~ enjoy your spiced pumpkin latte with a batch of pumpkin chai cookies. 

Yes . . . I know . . . you're welcome. ;-) 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<>< 

Yummy Herbed Butter

Back in 2010, I wrote a blog post "Butter vs Margarine" and I gave you my easy-peasy homemade butter recipe. Today, I'm going to go a step farther and give you some ideas to use that homemade butter (or store-bought butter) to make some yummy herbed butter.

Herbed butter can add whatever little extra yum you want ~ you can add lots of zesty herbs for real pizazz or add just a touch of a simple light-tasting herb to add that little bit of interest to your rolls and bread. 

You will need:

~1-1/2 sticks of butter OR 1 c of rolled butter OR homemade butter ~ softened
~sea salt
~small bowl for mixing
~mixing spoon
~various herbs OR herb mix of your choice (see below)
~plastic wrap 
~air-tight container (preferably glass)

Directions:

1) use soft, warm butter
2) blend herbs completely through the butter
3) roll butter either into a long bar or into a ball
4) wrap in plastic wrap
5) chill for at least 1 hour before use

Now . . . for the Herb Blends . . . 

**My favorite is my own all-time, absolute favorite herb blend. I use this in/on nearly everything. :-) Add an extra pinch of sea salt.

**Combine 1/2 ts sea salt, 1/4 ts coarse black pepper, 1/2 ts. thyme, 2 ts. sage. This mix is especially good on turkey or chicken ~ as you spread it, it melts into the crevasses of the warm meat. And don't forget to spread a little on your dinner rolls.

**Combine 2 ts dill and 1 ts rosemary. So good on chicken or fish.

**Rosemary. Also great on chicken or fish all by itself. 

**Garlic. Simply mix in 1 minced clove or 1/4 ts garlic granules. Blend well. So good on hamburgers.

**Cilantro butter ~ oh yeah! Blend in 2 TB cilantro, 1 TB lime juice, 1/4 ts sea salt. Another good one on hamburgers. Or spread on a tortilla, then spread a thin layer of guacamole, sprinkle a little Jack cheese over it, roll up and you have a great little Southwest appetizer or snack.

**1/4 ts lemon balm and 1/4 ts lemon juice. Great with fish and seafood dishes, and on corn fritters and hush puppies with your seafood.

**1/4-1/2 ts dried marigold petals, chives and parsley. Try this blend with chicken, eggs and potato or other veggie dishes.

**1/4 ts basil, 1/4 ts thyme, 1/8 ts parsley, 1/4 ts dill. So yummy spread on hot homemade bread or melted over your favorite mixed veggie dish.

**Basil and garlic OR my favorite herb mix and garlic. Spread onto thick slices of homemade bread, put on a cookie sheet or stone and bake for 10 minutes at 350* ~ best garlic bread EV-ER! 

**And don't forget honey butter!! Mix a TB of local raw honey into your butter. Mmmm . . . your rolls have never tasted better.

Use your imagination and create your own blends. Let me know what you come up with.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Scottish Mulled Cider

The cold weather months bring their own kind of comfort & yumminess with them, don't they? Everything from stews & soups to warm drinks.

If you love cider drinks this mixture will quickly climb to the top of your Favorites List. This is the taste treat of authentic Scottish Mulled Cider ~ 

You will need:

~8 c. apple cider
~1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
~1 pinch of ground nutmeg
~8 4-6" cinnamon sticks, + a few extra
~1 ts whole allspice
~1 ts whole cloves, + a few extra
~8 orange wedges, with rind
~cheesecloth
~string

Directions:

1) In a saucepan, mix the cider, brown sugar & nutmeg.
2) In the cheesecloth, put in the cinnamon, allspice & 1 ts of the cloves; tie with a string
3) Add the bag of spices to the cider mix & bring to boiling. 
4) Once it boils, reduce the heat, cover & simmer on low for 10-15 minutes.
5) While the mulled cider simmers, stud the orange rinds with 2-4 whole cloves.
6) Once cider has simmered, take out the spice bag & throw it away.
7) Serve mulled cider in mugs with one of the clove-studded oranges in each one; you may also wish to serve with an extra cinnamon stick in each mug.

Enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><          

Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Unless you homeschool and teach your children accurate history, then it's been a long time since many of us were in school and studied the writings of President Abraham Lincoln. Or maybe you, dear reader, are not a citizen of the United States of America and have no idea of the beginnings of this national holiday. Tomorrow, we celebrate one of our most-loved holidays ~ Thanksgiving. In most homes, is it a day of family get-togethers with yummy, traditional American foods like turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, corn, rolls; desserts of many kinds but tradition holds out for pumpkin pie ~ with emphasis on the turkey and pumpkin pie with a little bit of football for good measure. :-)

But the greatest emphasis for the day in our family ~ and many other Americans on this holiday ~ is that of THANKFULNESS. Thankfulness for our great country and the freedoms will have enjoyed during our 236 year history and hope to keep ~ but mostly, the recognizing from WHOM they come from. Almighty God. THE One True God of heaven and earth. Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer of all.

To Him, we are eternally grateful for all He has done for ourselves and for our great country.

In remembrance of the celebration of Thanksgiving Day, here is the Proclamation that President Abraham Lincoln wrote on October 3rd, 1863, establishing the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving to God Almighty for the blessings He has bestowed upon our great nation . . .

 A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful
fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are
prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of
so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart
which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes
seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been
preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected
and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military
conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested
the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and
coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased,
notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the
consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the
Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me
fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the
whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are
sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and
Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions
justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national
perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or
sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the
Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to
(/insurance)
the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-
three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours . . . Kim<><

Thanksgiving 2011

Just a quick glimpse of our little family Thanksgiving. With my mom having passed in September & my brother having Thanksgiving with his daughter's family, it was "just us" this year. And you know what? It was wonderful. Fun, lots of laughter, lots of good food, a little football, a little yawning after all that turkey ~ it was a great day with our family & our soon-to-be son-in-law . . .

Here's a shot of our table. I didn't use my china this year, but instead I used an old set of dishes that were my family's when I was growing up. My parents gave it to me when they got a new set of "everyday" dishes, years ago, because I always liked them so much. They are yellow print, so I thought it went well with the fall table cloth.

Here's THE Man (& Maggie) waiting for DD#1 & her fiance' to arrive.

A little after meal chatter.

THE Man . . . The heart of our home. (In front of our "Wall of Fame.")

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#47~ Thanksgiving

PASSAGE: "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters . . . He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me." ~II Sam. 22:17, 20

"But to you who revere My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing on its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall." ~Malachi 4:2

LESSON LEARNED: There are times that I almost (almost) feel sorry to those who have grown up in a Christian family. Not that I wish ill on anyone or rejoice in a life of sin, but I can't help but think that it may be just a little harder for them to understand real repentance from a life digging their own way to hell and a life that has done a complete 180 degree turn around. I may be wrong . . . but it's an observation. There may even be a hint of jealousy on my part ~ once a group of friends and I were sharing our testimonies, one friend said, "I was basically a good kid, accepted Jesus & got better." To which I replied, "I wish I had your testimony."

I often tell people that I have lived two utterly and completely different lives in my one lifetime. I am truly a sinner saved by grace and when I gave my life to Jesus & felt just like that little calf who was set free and went out leaping with joy . . . and I am thankful.

And in this season of thankfulness, I appreciate the heritage of our great country and the humble, God-ordained beginnings and I celebrate right along with the rest of the country. But I am also most thankful for the Lord's saving grace. I'm thankful that He truly "reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters." That "He rescued me because He delighted in me." He delights in you and me . . . who were in our own way: "the worst of all sinners" (I Tim. 1:15-17).

Oh the joy! Oh the wonder! Oh the Thanksgiving!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The 1st Thanksgiving ~ from Those Who Were There

In the year 1620 ~

"About the 16th of March a certain Indian came boldly among them, and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand, but were astonished at it...His name was Samoset; he told them also of another Indian, whose name was Squanto, a native of this part, who had been in England and could speak English better than himself. After some time of entertainment, being dismissed with gifts, in a little while he returned with 5 more, and they brought back all the tools that had been stolen, and made way for the coming of their great Sachem [chief], called Massasoyt, who about 4 or 5 days after, came with the chief of his friends and other attendants, and with Squanto. With him, after friendly entertainment and some gifts, they made a peace which has now continued for 24 years...

"After this he returned to his place, called Sowams, some 40 miles off, but Squanto stayed with them, and was their interpreter, and became a special instrument sent of God for their good, beyond their expectation. He showed them how to plant their corn, where to take fish and other commodities, and guided them to unknown places, and never left them till he died..."

In the year 1621~

"Thus their peace and acquaintance was pretty well established with the natives about them...

"After this they had many greetings from various Sachems and much firmer peace. Even the Indians of the Island of Capawack sent to declare friendship; and Corbitant himself [a chief who was slow to warm up to the English but trusted Massasoyt] used the mediation of Massasoyt to make his peace, but was shy to come near them for a long time after.

"After this, on the 18th September, they sent out their shallop with 10 men and Squanto as guide and interpreter to the Massachusetts, to explore the bay and trade with the natives, which they accomplished, and were kindly received...They returned safely, and brought home a good quantity of beaver, and reported on the place, wishing they could have settled there. But it seems that the Lord, Who assigns to all men the bounds of their habitations, had appointed it for another use. And thus they found the Lord to be with them in all their ways, and to bless their outgoings and incomings, for which let His holy name have the praise forever, to all posterity.

"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to prepare their houses for the winter, being well recovered in health and strength, and plentifully provisioned; for while some had been thus employed in affairs away from home, others were occupied in fishing for cod, bass, and other fish, of which they caught a good quantity, every family having their portion. All the summer there was no want. And now, as winter approached, wild fowl began to arrive, of which there were plenty when they came here first, though afterwards they became more scarce. As well as wild fowl, they got abundance of wild turkeys, besides venison, etc. Each person had about a peck of meal a week, or now, since harvest, Indian corn in that proportion; and afterwards many wrote at length about their plenty to their friends in England, -- not feigned but true reports."

~~From: Of Plymouth Plantation ~ Bradford's History of the Plymouth Settlement 1608-1650


"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent 4 men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They 4 in 1 day killed as many fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some 90 men, whom for 3 days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed 5 deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

~~Edward Winslow; From Mourt's Relation ~ full title: A Relation or Journal of the Beginning and Proceedings of the English Plantation Settled at Plimoth in New England [note original spelling], by Edward Winslow, although William Bradford wrote most of the 1st section. Written between November 1620 and November 1621.

Have a blessed & happy Thanksgiving!

Kim<><