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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie ~ my secret recipe ....



This little pie and another one just like it went camping with my dh and his friends. It is a big hit with these fishermen out in the wilderness ! My dh's friend even told his wife it was better than hers...oh, my ! Since this pie went camping, I bought throw away pie pans and bought containers at the bakery to fit the pie. This is a ten inch pie container shown. Great for traveling and putting in a cooler.

The bottom crust was homemade, but I cheated for the top crust... it is Pillsbury in the dairy case and it is not bad tasting if you are in a hurry to make a pie and do not want to make up your own pie crusts.

2 1/2 cups 1 inch sliced rhubarb- I peel my rhubarb first of the outer layer since it is stringy

2 1/2 cups sliced strawberries

About 1/2 cup crushed pineapple , drained ~ my secret ingredient ...sh , don't tell anyone

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cup sugar depending on if you want it really sweet or tart tasting

4 tablespoons of flour

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 tablespoons of butter , cut up in little slices to put on top of filling before you place the top crust on it.

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Mix together the sugar, flour and nutmeg in a bowl and add to the fruit and lemon juice. Put the mixture in a prepared ( with a pie crust ) pie pan. Let the crust hang over the edge about an inch or an inch and a half or so. Place pats of butter on top of the filling and and then place the top crust on carefully and take the two edges of the crusts and fold under and pinch together so the filling doesn't seep out . Cut a few slits in the middle of the pie crust. You can add a cut out dough strawberry for decoration as I have done.

The pie will be in the oven at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, depending on your oven. Place on a rack to cool. I place some foil around the edge of my crust so it doesn't burn and take it off about ten minutes before the pie is done so it browns nicely.

Pie crust ~

for two crusts

2 2/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening ~ I use some Crisco and real butter mixed to make one cup
7 to 8 tablespoons of ice cold water ~ I put ice cubes in a bowl of cold water
I add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a tablespoon of the water
Also, I add about 1 1/2 tablespoons of powdered sugar to the flour and salt.


Mix together the flour , salt and powdered sugar. Add the shortening/butter mixture throughly. Add a tablespoon of water one at a time and mix until it is moistened and dough almost cleans the side of the bowl. Gather dough into two balls. Shape one into a flattened round on a lightly floured covered piece of wax paper. Lightly flour top of dough with flour and place another piece of wax paper on top and flatten with a rolling pin until it is two inches larger than the pie pan. Place carefully into pie pan.

Repeat the process for top crust. And then flute the edges of the crusts together as I mentioned above. Place a 2 to 3 inch strip of foil around the edge of the crust so it doesn't burn.

This pie is really good !

Have a fun day !

Hugs,
Linda

Monday, May 17, 2010

Do You Like Heinz Ketchup ?

This is where it is made in Pittsburgh. And yes, they are lowering the sodium content in the ketchup, so I hope it tastes the same !



Some photos of The Strip District in Pittsburgh. You can click on the photos to enlarge them.



I couldn't resist buying a package of assorted biscotti cookies from this vendor. And they are fresh and delicious ! I bought one coconut macaroon cookie and it was the best I have ever eaten.!



Assorted flavors of Italian breads sold in The Strip District and it is so good ! You can see my reflection in the glass while I was taking this photo.



Fresh fish and seafood to be had also, along with free ice to pack it for the ride home. This was taken in Wholeys. www.wholey.com


A few photos of a beautiful old church built in 1891, I believe, located in the Strip District also.






I went to Pittsburgh over the weekend to visit with my sister and walk the Heartwalk in North Park for Allegheny General Hospital. After the heartwalk, my sis and I went to The Strip District in Pittsburgh. Right on the North Side , near the Strip District, is the Heinz Ketchup Plant.

Saturday mornings are packed full of vendors on the sidewalks, and it is just an awesome way to spend a few hours taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of ethnic foods and the array of shops !

My sis and I had lunch at Pamela's Diner there. I had a chicken salad and it was huge and delicious ! I could not eat all of it. We could have split one.

On Sunday we had breakfast on the North Side of Pittsburgh, not far from McNight Road, at a place called Kelly's Diner. Vases of fresh flowers on the tables and the breakfast was great !

Pictures below of my sis during the heartwalk and a view of downtown Pittsburgh from North Park.




I had a great weekend ! (( Thank you, sis ! ))

Pittsburgh is a wonderful big city !

Okay, now it's back to cleaning and cooking, etc..............

Hugs,
Linda

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Pennsylvania Countryside Ride


This photo is to the entrance of The Open House Shop off of I-80 exit 78( Brookville, PA. ) on Rt. 36 north about 1 1/2 miles on the right just passed the Quilt Shop that is on the left. The little Yorkie is named Bailey. This website will give you the details and some photos of this shop ~ http://www.gailsprimitivegatherings.com/theopenhouseshop.htm

This little shop is filled to the brim with lots of goodies. Antiques and vintage finds from furniture to buttons, prim towels, longaberger baskets and pottery, good smelling melting tarts (for your potpourri burner) that scents up the shop with a wonderful aroma and olde outside decor, some of which is shown in the photo.

Below is two photos of some *supplies* at the Bulk Country Store that is located at Farmers Inn in Sigel, PA. just 10 minutes from I-80, Exit 78 going north on Rt. 36 ~ turn right in Sigel at the blinking light and go two miles down Rt. 949 towards Clear Creek State Park. www.thefarmersinn.com

The Farmers Inn has a wonderful homestyle food restaurant with a buffet on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, mini golf, a driving range and a wildlife zoo plus Amish furniture and the Amish style bulk food store. And MORE !



This food store has a wide variety of bagged candy, some good *sodey pop* from Kutztown Soda Works, Mrs. Miller's jellies and jams, cheeses and more.



The photo below is of a quilt fabric and gift shop located off I-80, Exit 53 in Knox , PA. only 1/4 mile north. This building was once a General Store way back in 1895.



I found a few goodies at the Open House Shop and at a couple other little antique shops in the area, but it is too dark now to take photos of them. I love finding goodies to tuck in the wall pockets I have been making lately.

This was a very pleasant Saturday afternoon ride with the dh and even the rain held off until we got home this evening.

May your weekend be wonderful !

Hugs,
Linda

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Vintage Antique Collections



These are a few things that I collect (that collect dust) ! The chickens/roosters were gifts from three different people and are not vintage. The silver colored pie plate came from an antique store in Connecticut. The crock holding the rolling pins and wooden spoons is not a vintage piece. I embroidered the pocket that is on the green checked towel. I have redone this grouping. I should have taken before and after photos. Prior to this look, I had a small quilt hanging from the bar on the shelf and the cupboard top was so cluttered with stuff that it looked messy.



It is difficult to take photos in my dining room with the light and the big dining table in the way. The lamp shade was bought in the quaint little town of Black Mountain, NC in a little prim shop.



This is part of my newest collection that I started. Olde brushes and vintage whisk brooms. I just love the tiny whisk broom hanging on the side of the broom box. The box was made by Sweet Liberty Homestead. On the little shelf is two green wax frogs made by my friend. They are a honeydew scent.



The shelf was a two dollar find in Connecticut and I repainted it. On the bottom shelf is a grass basket that was made by a lady on the street in Charleston, South Carolina. ( it's holding the pears ) The little teapots are McCoy and Hall. I have redone this shelf also. Looking at some of the prim blogs has inspired me to dust :o) and rearrange a few things.

Hugs,
Linda

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Sneak Peek ~ April TDIPT Update Tonight



TDIPT Mercantile will be updating tonight between 9 and 10 p.m. It is hard to believe it is April already !

For April's offering, I have made two prim pockets filled with *needfuls*. I had so much fun making these pockets! The inspiration for the pocket is from Piney Creek Primitives with lots of my own touches. The labels are from Yankee Lane Primitives and the lantern lights are from Samplers Country.

My dh and I went to a huge antique mall the other day and of course, I am always looking for little items I can use for my dolls, etc. I didn't realize how much a sock darner went for ! Yikes !

Right now I am melting one of my friend's tarts in my tart burner.. oh, I wish you could take a whiff of this blueberry cheesecake tart .. instead of the homemade lasagna I am making for dinner, I should have made a big thick blueberry cheesecake instead ! :o)

I am so ready for the warmer weather and sunshine and right now the daffodils and crocus look so pretty after having had all that snow and cold weather.

May you have a Blessed and Joyous Easter. Jesus is the reason for this season, too !

Hugs,
Linda

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Strawberries ....



This prim bunny will be listed on ebay this evening. Tucked inside the rusty wire basket that I made are some ripe, sweet prim strawberries from Ol' Mc Ornery's garden.

I have noticed strawberries are now in the grocery stores and just look so yummy , but I haven't bought any yet.

Here in Pennsylvania we had brilliant sunshine, totally blue sky and warmer weather than usual today, and it was just wonderful !

I didn't get a chance to enjoy much of it, though, as I finished up making the bunny, taking photos, and listing her on ebay.

I had to delete my last post because of some pervert's lewd comment. Most of it was blocked out but had the words DVD and sex on it. It would be nice if people like this would play in their own backyard !

May you all have a warm and wonderful week ! Spring starts on Saturday !

Hugs,
Linda