Wood Fire Cooking Part 1

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share with ya'll the latest cookbook I've been reading on Woodfire Cooking. This book is really informative on how to successfullY bake in a dutch oven. It never occurred to me that you can cook more than soups in the dutch oven pot; hence the name dutch oven haha! So.. in summary it's done by placing a rack inside of the dutch oven and placing the dutch oven on the woodstove. Ya... that's right you can bake on top of the woodstove! It seems to be a slightly easier method of baking than wrapping your food in leaves and covering it with mud (though it sound fun for a time) Haha! So... anyway stay tuned for more details on how to successfully bake caseroles, pies, cakes etc. on top of you wood stove.

-Dana

Sewing Party At My House!

Dana insisted I post this. Don't get the idea that I'm any less of a man for sewing napkins. I think every boy ought to be taught basic clothe mending skills by his mother. Besides, we needed more hand towels, and since I refused to purchase more; I thought it only fair that I convert our flat sheet into more towelets.

The Slaughter

Warning! Photo shown below not for the faint of heart (or stomach). I had been invited to watch and learn the butchering of a goat. I now know the basics of removing the hide, the entrails, and sawing it in half. Although I'll avoid butchering any animal, at least I now know I could butcher a deer if I shot one while hunthing.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub Wash Clothes In A Tub

I caught Dana washing her clothing in the bath tub; and with a stick, no less...

Its amazing the fun a couple can have washing their clothes by hand. I do believe many a family are missing out on this fun activity. This is an event the whole family can enjoy! And its great exercise!

Yes, that is an adjustable paint roller pole. Its the best laundry stirring tool available.

A new way to eat your oats!

For those of you who know how much I love collecting various recipes I thought I would post my latest discovery, being this fabulous Apple Baked Oatmeal; which we absolutely love! This recipe came from my new friend Shelly, and I decided to create the apple part to make it an apple cinnamon oatmeal. It's a special blessing to me since the baked oatmeal recipe I used to have got lost in cyber space when my computer crashed. Shelly happend to pass on this recipe just when I was wishing I had it.

APPLE BAKED OATMEAL

2 sticks butter, melted

1 c brown sugar

4 eggs beaten
6 c quick oats
4 t baking powder
2 t salt
2 c milk
3 apples sliced thin (peels left on)
1-2 slices lemon (juiced)
1/8 cup of sugar or enough to your taste
2 tsp cinnamon
local honey (as a topping when it's served)
Cream together first 3 ingredients. Add remaining ingredients: mix; and set aside. To prepare apples, slice them thin and sautee in a large fry pan adding sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice cooking over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Pour oatmeal mixture into your baking pan, then top with your cooked apples.
Bake in 2 9x13 inch pans.
Oven temperature: 350 Time: 30 minutes
Yield: makes enough for a family of about 12.

New Employment

We have been greatful to the Lord while here in Missouri because Dana has had improved health.

The lack of pain and swelling Dana's sterno-clavicular joint has suffered since we left from Arizona has me thanking God when I think of it. She has endured a lot in the past 2 years with this ailment. It has not dissapeared all together, and just last night she was struggling with it again.

Because the period of time she has been out of pain has increased, we thought it best she get a part time job. She landed a job within walking distance from our apartment. She works as both a server and a hostess at Arris' Cafe & Bistro.

Think Of What He Did

He took insults to build us up,

Spit in his face to show us the truth,

A crown of thorns to renew our minds,

Stripes on his back to carry our troubles,

A spear in his side to reveal our hearts,

Nails in his hands to guide our actions,

And a nail in his feet to ensure our way.