Christmas Count Down

I'm exhausted from cooking and cleaning for Thanksgiving and did not want to start on the Christmas decorating  yet.  This weekend was more about relaxing than anything else.  A few pine branches in the wood basket was just a start.

A few years back at an after Christmas sale I bought these adorable red sparkling berries.  They fit nicely on top of my lamps and add a festive look. Again,  not a lot of effort.  I'm still relaxing.

 A little egg white and granulated sugar make ordinary fruit a little fancy. But enough for one day.  I'll do a little more tomorrow.

Cranberry Nut Bread

We love our cranberries here in New England and will bake and cook with them all through the holidays and beyond.  Cranberry Nut Bread is a fall favorite.  It is quick, simple and delicious.  Try it and I'm sure it will become one of your fall favorite's too. Here is the recipe.

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 1 egg well beaten
• 1 1/2 cups cranberries coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a 9 by 12 inch loaf pan.  Mix together flour,sugar,baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium mixing bowl.  Stir in orange juice, oil, orange peel and egg.  Mix until well blended.  Stir in cranberries and nuts.  Spread evenly in loaf pan.  Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool on a rack for 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool completely.  This is an Ocean Spray Cranberry recipe.  Go here for more cranberry recipes.http://www.oceanspray.com

Congratulations to Postcards From the P.P. on winning the Dedham Pottery flower vase.  Please email  me and let me know where I should ship your thank you gift.

Veteran's Day..... Lest We Forget

In Flanders Field

by John MacRae 

In Flanders field the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the Dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Cranberry and Orange Chutney

My sister-in-law made this delicious chutney years ago as Christmas gifts for the family.  If memory serves me well,  I believe she also made beer bread to go along with the chutney.  We all loved it and I have been making it every year since.  This cranberry and orange concoction is delicious served with your Thanksgiving Day meal and  then spread on your left over turkey sandwiches. I think it screams holiday! Here is the recipe.  Enjoy!!

• 3 small oranges, seeded, coarsely chopped, peel and all
• 4 cups cranberries
• 1 cup chopped tart apple, not peeled
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup orange juice or apple cider
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tbsp. cider vinegar
• 3/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp. ground clove
• 1/2 cup bourbon (optional) I always use it 

Mix all the above ingredients in a heavy pan, simmer until cranberries pop.  About 20 minutes.   The mixture should look like jam. 

Dedham Pottery Give Away

Blogging was just a word that I heard people say, but had never really experienced myself.  That is until one afternoon in late June when I happened to google something and I came upon what I now know as a blog.  How interesting this person's life was,  how delicious her recipes looked and how clever her craft ideas seemed to be. Well one blog led to another and another and so the story goes.

It took me all summer long to get up enough courage to create From Beyond My Kitchen Window.  I'm still not sure if my blog is as clever or as tastefully assembled as some others, but I have enjoyed every minute of trying to make my blog a reflection of who I am , what I enjoy cooking and where I like to go on a Saturday afternoon.

Thank you to all the wonderful people who share their amazing ideas and lives through their blogs.  Blogging is a great vehicle to meet caring, kind, giving and supportive individuals who for an hour or two a week through their computers invite you into their lives.  So this give away is just a small token of gratitude for all of the kind comments and supportive words  you have written on my blog.

A few weekends ago a friend and I went to the Potting Shed to buy a thank you gift for the give away.  Dedham Pottery is something I have loved for over twenty-five years. Each piece is hand made and takes about a week to finish.  I hope that whoever is lucky enough to win the flower vase will enjoy it as much as I do.  To read about the history of Dedham Pottery go here.www.harelooms.com

If you are already a follower your name will be entered in the drawing twice. If you are not yet a follower but  would like a chance just to win, you can join and your name will be be entered once. The drawing will take place next weekend. Good Luck and Thank You!!!

When Life Gives You Lemons......

You make Ina's Lemon Bars of course,

FOR THE CRUST

• 1/2 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

FOR THE FILLING

• 6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 cup all purpose flour

Confectioners sugar, for dusting
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

For the crust, cream the butter and the sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixed fitted with the paddle attachment.  Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed.  Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball.  Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2 inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2 inch edge on all sides. Chill.

 Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned.  Let cool on a wire rack.  Leave the oven on.

For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour.  Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set.  Let cool to room temperature.

Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners sugar.

Fruitlands Musuem

Fruitlands Museum in Harvard Massachusetts is set on 210 acres of woodlands,  pine barrens , swampland and meadows. Situated on the property are several small building which house some very unique exhibits.  There is an Art gallery as well as an Indian Gallery, Shaker Gallery, and The Fruitlands Farmhouse.

Included on the  property is a small thoughtful gift shop and restaurant which is a treat to visit after you finish your tour.  The grounds are also used for weddings which are celebrated in a large

 snow white tent overlooking stunning farmland vistas. 

 Artfully placed throughout the trails are Massachusetts sculptor Joseph Wheelwright's  Tree Sculptures.

The sculpture pictured above is called Pine Man and is twenty five feet tall.

 The below photo is of a figure called  oddly enough, Cherry Figure.   It stands in at thirty feet tall.

If only you could experience these nature inspired masterpieces in person.

Smoke Jumper is one of my favorites because of it's soulful eyes.

Another view of this breathtaking tree sculpture .

Here is one of the smaller trees in the exhibit,  it is called Shiva.

Again another view of Shiva.   If you look close enough you can see it's face.

This ominous looking figure has the misfortune of being named Predator Tree.

 There is the oddest granite sculpture located just outside the Art Gallery.  This different piece is called Fox Face.   I really can't decide if I like it or not.  Do you have an opinion on this unique piece?

Hopefully you  have enjoyed my photo gallery of this talented sculptor's work.  Sadly, the exhibit ends at the end of October.  I have been lucky enough to see these wonders quite often. One of my sons works part time at the restaurant and I visit The Fruitlands Museum whenever I get the chance.