The Stone Rabbit

A New Christmas Treat.....Appearance: Fail Taste: Wonderful!

 

 I have LOVED Ree Drummond ever since I first started blogging and discovered her blog, THE PIONEER WOMAN.

She is funny, smart and talented beyond belief in so many ways!

She has turned her blog into a wonderful business.   She has written cookbooks and childrens books....has a line of kitchen products....and her latest endeavor is the restoration of an old building in a small Oklahoma town that she's turned into a deli and gift shop.  A journey to this business of hers is definitely on my bucket list!

 

 

I have made a few of the dishes from this particular book of hers....among them the cinnamon rolls!  They turned out great and I'm terrible at making such dishes.

Yesterday, I decided to try making this pie.....where you roll out the crust, put the filling in the center, then fold the edges of the crust up to the top of the pie....it's a rustic look and I love it!  I had visions of of taking a few of these to our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gatherings!! 

I used the recipe for the flakey pie crust that's  also included in this book.

Just look at Ree's beautiful finished pies!!

 

 

So, here's the first one I made.

I'd call it a tad more than "rustic", wouldn't you? :)

Disregard how nasty my pie pan looks....it's ancient.  There have been a lot of pies made in it over the last 30+ years.  I'd like to call it seasoned.

Actually, Ree bakes her rustic pies on a baking sheet, but by the time I'd wrestled the pie crust around, there were lots of holes in it....the juice from the filling was oozing out...and I fear I'd have an oven fire if I just plopped it on a sheet.  Thus, I contained the oozing mess in pie pans.

I also added fresh cranberries to the fruit mix.

 

 

 Here's my second attempt.

By then I'd wised up (I thought) and lined the pan with foil...hoping to  make the clean up easier.   The edges of the first crust were pretty well adhered to the pan by the time the baking process was complete....a real challenge to remove a "slice".

However, on the second pie there was just as much "crust sticking" going on.....and, sadly, trying to remove the pie from the foil (in one piece) didn't happen.  I ended up just peeling the foil off as best as I could and piling the "pie" in a dish.....it took on the look of a cobbler.

 

 

 

I have to say, while the finished dishes were  not worthy of an entry in a fair because of how sad they looked, they were definitely "blue ribbon material" in taste!!  Such a flakey crust....and the filling was  yummy!

 

So.... I will practice working with the crust recipe.  It's not gonna happen until after Christmas cuz I need to bake some of my "go to " dessert recipes .  They are the ones I have repeated so much over the years that I could make them in my sleep!!   Well, now that's an exaggeration!!

 

 

 

This morning, THE STONE RABBIT, Twiggy and I have been wrapping presents!!  I don't know why I procrastinate doing the wrapping, but I always do!  

Thankfully, that's all done.  Now we are gonna pop a couple of things in the oven to cook while we take a little nap and recharge .

 

Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND for a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their Pink Saturday shares!

Merry Christmas to all of you!!

DANA

 

A Great Fall Surprise!

 

What do you do when a nice neighbor brings you a HUGE bag of fresh picked apples? 

 

 

You make a batch of apple crisp!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT wanted me to tell you that he was my "assistant" in the kitchen today as we created this yummy crisp!!  It's a family favorite treat. . .so it didn't last too long!  Fortunately, we have lots more apples to make a few more treats over the days ahead!!  

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great fall weekend....which includes a wonderful Pink Saturday, too!

Please visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares!

DANA

 

Something Else Beat Me to the Last of My Tomato Harvest!!!

 

Last evening THE STONE RABBIT and I went out  to harvest a few more of the cherry tomatoes from the plant in the pot. . .our first ever attempt at "farming".  :)

 

 

I soon realized something had stripped all of the leaves from the upper part of the plant.  Taking a closer look I saw THESE THINGS chomping away on one of our red jewels!!!  I was startled, to say the least, as they really do blend right in with the plant.

 

  

 

After posting photos on Facebook of these critters, I  was quickly informed they are called horned tomato worms!!  Someone else shared that they eventually turn into large, beautiful moths.

Since our plant was nearing the end of its life-cycle,   we decided to help these worms/catepillars out with their life-cycles and leave them alone.  However, NEXT YEAR I will be on the lookout for them and I will not let them snarf down too many tomatoes before I do something about it!  :)

We did pick a few green ones that the worms hadn't nibbled on.  They are in the window sill. . .hoping they will turn red in a few days!

 

 

We hope you are having a great PINK SATURDAY!  Be sure you visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares!

DANA

 

National Chocolate Cake Day!!

 

My friend Karen reminded me last Wednesday that it was National Chocolate Cake Day!!!    How about that!  It was National Chocolate Cake Day AND our Wednesday night group run!!  Definitely a great reason to bake a cake!!

We have such a fun and devoted group of fellow runners!!  In the warm weather, when we are running in daylight, our meeting place is a local crushed chat trail, but when it's dark at 6:00 p.m. ( October-March)  we have to move our run location.  That's when we head to a nearby stretch of road that has a wide asphault trail running beside it. . .and it's illuminated by street lights.  It also has two VERY challenging hills.  So we get in 3-4 miles plus some hill work on most wintry Wednesday evenings.

We were missing a few of our regulars Wednesay night. . .but those who attended were rewarded with CAKE!  :)

 

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT was so happy to finally have some yummy dessert in the house!!  Chocolate cake is one of his all time favorite treats!

 

 

And speaking of "treats", be sure to "treat yourself" by visiting Beverly of HOW SWEET THE SOUND!   There you will find a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their Pink Saturday shares!!

 

Happy PINK SATURDAY !

DANA

 

A Birthday Daytrip!

 

What a fun packed time I had on my birthday!!  Two of my friends and I headed to a small town about an hour and a half north of Kansas City. . .Jamesport!!

 It's hard to survive as a small business these days. . .and even more so in "out of the way" locations such as Jamesport.  However, this community has done that for a long time now. . . keeping many of those old buildings alive with antique stores, speciality shops, restaurants and several other businesses.

We enjoyed browsing in a few of the antique shops. . .

 

 

 

 

and we loved checking out some of their specialty stores.  This building houses a candle, gift and home decor shop....The Jamesport Candle Co.

 

 

 It was so awesome to watch the owner "pour" a batch of peach scented candles.  While he was filling the containers, his wife gave a great presentation about the process of candle making!

 

 

 Just down the block from the candle store is this yummy frozen custard shop called WHOLLY COW!

 

 

The owner is the daughter of the candle store owners!!

In this photo she had just made a fresh batch of frozen custard and was creating my chocolate malt!

 

 

I ate every single bit of it, too!!  DELISH!!

 

 

 

And speaking of eating. . . they also have a great bakery in Jamesport.  Actually, I believe there are other places that sell baked goods.  This bakery is attached to the place where we ate our lunch!!

I bought these cinnamon rolls to bring home and. . .

 

 

I caved and purchased FRIED PIES!!

After all.......it was my birthday!!

 

 

A big part of the charm of this town are the Amish in their buggies.  The clomping of the horses hooves is truly amazing. . .something we don't hear very often in the Big City.

 

 

Besides food. . .I bought two candles at the candle shop and I bought some great gray wool at SUE'S SOFT STUFF. . .a sweet shop that features yarn and wonderful handcreated items.   I will use the wool for witches hair once I start working on my fall sales!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT said he'd model some of the wool for me. . .just to make sure it will work on the witches.

I think it's a definite YES!!

 

 

I hope you have a great PINK SATURDAY!!  I know you will if you visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!    She will have a large group of others who are ready to share with you this weekend!!

 

DANA

The Farmers House. . .a very special market.

 

Recently I made a stop at a wonderful market called THE FARMERS HOUSE.   They actually have two locations in Weston, MO.  I stopped at the one on highway 273.

The Farmer's House is an organization whose mission is to "provide a variety of opportunities for youth and adults with developmental disabilities in both an urban and rural farm setting."   They put that mission into action :  

1.  through the Markets they learn small business skills such as inventory, stocking, working a cash register and customer service.

2.  through The Seeds of Change Garden they are exposed to the vocational skills of planning, planting, nurturing and growing garden produce to sell at the Market.....plus they learn healthy eating choices.

3. through The Flour Sack Baking Program they receive training in food planning, preparation, packaging and sales.

4. through The Farm to Fork Catering program they learn safe food handling and service .  They cater events from box lunches to weddings!

The Market was filled to the brim with wonderful food and gift items.  I am a tshirt nut....and I absolutely fell in love with this one!  I also purchased an apple pie for my husband's father's day gift AND some apple butter!

THE STONE RABBIT is looking forward to his little share of the pie on Sunday!! 

  

 

 

 

Hope you have a great PINK SATURDAY and a wonderful FATHER'S DAY, too!!

Please visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for a long list of other bloggers who have great shares for you this week!

DANA

 

A NEW PINK TREAT!!

 

Many of my old blogging pals might recall my LOVE for Hostess PINK Cup Cakes!!!  Sadly, when the new owners started making yummy Hostess treats again they seem to  have OMITTED those PINK treats!  

Every time I pass a Hostess display, I search the shelves for the PINK cuppy cakes. . . .and so far, I've not found them.   HOWEVER. . . 

 

on a recent trip to "BIG LOTS" I found THESE tempting little goodies!!  OMG. . .I was so excited I had to rip into that box before I made it home!!

 

While I personally don't think the cake part tastes like the TWINKIES that Hostess used to make, the chocolate covered, cream filled concoction is mighty tasty to me. . .especially since I've been suffering from HOSTESS PINK CUPPY CAKE WITHDRAWAL!!

All I can say to the Hostess folks is:  KEEP EM COMING, cuz THE STONE RABBIT and I like them!!

 

 

 

Hope you have a great PINK SATURDAY!  Please be sure to visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!  Once there you will find lots of other bloggers with their weekly shares of PINK!!

 

DANA

 

 

 

It's Apple Time!

 

My friend Fritzi asked me recently if I wanted some apples as she had an abundance!  I couldn't say "yes" fast enough!!

We gathered the apples from the ground that had fallen off the tree during the night, then we spent the afternoon visiting!  What a double treat for me! 

 

 

The apples are small so it takes quite awhile to get enough peeled and sliced for a pie, but I did it!!!  I used to be really good at making apple pies, but I don't do it very often anymore, so it's hit or miss as to how my crust will turn out.  Fortunately, my husband doesn't care.  He still loves them no matter how sad they look.

 

 

This morning I decided I'd better get to work on some more of those apples, so I made another pie!!   I do have to say this crust turned out really good this time. . .it was a hit.

THE STONE RABBIT pointed out that there was no PINK involved in my post so far. . .so we fixed that with this little sign!!

 

 

I hope you have a great PINK SATURDAY!  I know you will if you visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  There you will find lots of other bloggers who are sharing their PINKS with you this weekend!!

Also, a huge thank you to Beverly for keeping the PINKIES connected for so very long!!

 

DANA

 

 

Stretchhhhhhing Out the Birthday Celebration!

 

While yesterday was my birthday, I am still on a roll in the celebrating department!!  This morning I ate birthday cake for breakfast. . . THE STONE RABBIT told me I should do it!!!  So I did!!

 

Later I met up with Bonnie (here) and Marian (following picture) for a great day of hitting the Legends Outlet Mall . . . to have lunch and to shop !!!

But FIRST they had presents for me to open. . .

lots and LOTS of presents for ME!!!  Wow!

AND Marian had found me an extra special pointy PINK hat and birthday crown to wear!!

 

 

I think I was telling them I hadn't been so tickled about a birthday celebration since I was 7 years old!!!  Or maybe I was telling them I needed to lose 7 pounds.....or maybe I was telling them I felt like I was 27 again. . .I don't know....it was something about a 7!  I remember....I was telling them I wanted to keep celebrating for 7 more days!!

 

 

We took this at one of the first shops we stopped at. . .I love it that they are such fun to hang out with!!

 

 

 

 

I forgot to take a picture of what we ate for supper but we dined at Coldstone Creamery. . .so you know it was yummy!!

It was a very full and fun day . . .  and now I must link up to Beverly's PINK SATURDAY party and get some rest.  I'm going to run 5 miles tomorrow as part of our half-marathon training plan.  I hope I can wipe out some of those extra celebratory calories I enjoyed today!!

Be sure you visit HOW SWEET THE SOUND as there will be a lot of other bloggers ready to share their pinks with you again this weekend!!

 

DANA

 

 

The Visit with My PINKIE Pal!!!

 

Last Pink Saturday I shared that fellow PINKIE Jeanne, of Backyard Neighbor, was going to be in our town . . .and we were gonna meet up for a swell visit and a flea market and lunch!!!

Well. . .that all happened and we had such a great time!!!

The flea market was held in front of the shops in Greenwood, MO, a wonderful little town known for its antique stores.  

 

 

 

Jeanne (on the left) is shown here with Patty, one of my pals.  

 

 

She found a bargain with this great old blanket.  Bonnie was saying something like:  "YES, Jeanne, you NEED that!!!"  :)   And I guess she did cuz she bought it!!  :)

 

 

We were shopping the outdoor flea market by 8:00 a.m.  It was HOT and muggy, so this indoor shop with it's A/C turned on felt great to us!!  I'm telling you how muggy it was cuz that's what happened to my hair do!!  It melted!!!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

At this point we'd been working hard at antiquing and bargain finding.   Patty and Jeanne decided to take a little break when they spotted those amazing wicker chairs!!

 

 

We ate at the Tea Room located in the Greenwood Antique Mall. . .and it was terrific!!

 

 

 

Jeanne enjoyed her yummy dessert . . .

 

 

 

and so did I!

 

I hit the jackpot on "finds" that day.  It's so much fun when that happens!!   Here are just a few of them!!

The fabric piece will be great as a table-covering. . .and I LOVE that country red tiered metal piece!!  I can see it used in so many ways.  Right now I have it in the middle of my dining room table, atop a great patriotic runner.  It holds an Americana looking candle and some red, white, and blue florals (muted colors).  A huge crow stands next to it (I found that at another flea market some time ago).   The crow sports a little 48 star flag.

I have a "collection" of patriotic glasses going. . .so when Bonnie spied four more I begged her to split them with me. . .and she did!!  AND when I spotted that awesome MUTTON BUSTIN' ribbon in patriotic colors. . .and for only $3.00. . .well I snatched that up, too!!

That's not all I hauled home, but I'd better keep the rest hidden from my husband for awhile!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

I can tell I'm going to have a hard time keeping the MUTTON BUSTIN' ribbon. . .THE STONE RABBIT has taken quite a fancy to it!!     He was really happy it didn't say BUNNY BUSTIN'!!  :)

 

 

My visit with Jeanne was so short, but so very much fun!!!   She's just as sweet in real life as she appears to be on her blog!!  

Now, for lots more PINK SATURDAY fun, just visit Beverly of HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  She will have a long list of other bloggers who are ready to share their PINKS with you this weekend!!

DANA