Blog

December 25, 2011 - The Jar of Jelly

To others’ eyes, it may not look like much; “It’s just a jar of jelly” some would say, “Wrapped up in festive ribbons and some seals To make it look more Christmassy and gay.” But you for whom it’s meant will find, I know, All that is packed within the little jar, You will translate...
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December 24, 2011 - Cookie Palooza 2011

September 30, 2010 Hi Angela P, Where in SW Michigan do you live? I live in Lawrence, but work in Kalamazoo, and am interested in learning more about starting a small hive for my own honey. I have to do a LOT more research on it though. But, I am also interested in meeting someone...
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December 23, 2011 - A Favorite Recipe for Fruitcake

My Grandma Lovey was fun. Lots of fun! When she passed away, I got custody of her recipe box. That’s kinda funny in itself because she wasn’t all that great of a cook. For example, if she would make cinnamon rolls, they would turn out burned. My dad told me that the worst thing he...
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December 22, 2011 - I Cheat a Little at Christmastime

We love eggnog. Traditional eggnog typically consists of milk, sugar, raw eggs, and spices–usually nutmeg and/or cinnamon. I’ve never made it myself, it seemed so hard to make. Then I found a recipe in our local fundraiser cookbook and it was called Effortless Eggnog. Well that sure drew my attention! I had to try! How...
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December 21, 2011 - I’m a Lumberjack and I’m Better Than Ok!

I grew up in Massachusetts, a couple towns over from Sturbridge, home of the famous Old Sturbridge Village. For those of you not familiar with it, it is a living history museum much like Williamsburg or Old World Wisconsin. It is one of my favorite places to be, and also where my husband and I...
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December 18, 2011 - Peppermint Marshmallows!

Ha! Peppermint marshmallows!! I about cried when I saw these on the store shelf. Are they really new? The bag says so. I don’t usually like marshmallows, only in certain things–smores, hot cocoa, and church windows. Church Windows have been a staple Christmas goodie in our house since I can remember. Mom would make rolls...
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December 16, 2011 - Baked Sausage Parmesan Penne

You may ask what Baked Sausage Parmesan Penne is? Well to honor the inspiration, it is Penne al forno Salsiccia Parmigiano in Italian. You probably will not find it on a table in Italy, but this is America. One of those days where dinner was sneaking up and I did not want to go the...
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December 15, 2011 - The Week of Waiting is Over

I am admittedly a person that does not like to wait for things to be ready to use. A day is fine–this past week (or rather 8 days) has been filled with anxiety. This may be why I haven’t tried making wine…or why I make hot process soap. Instant gratification. Last week, I started infusing...
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December 14, 2011 - Gift Basket Goodies and Tags

Christmas is just eleven days away! Are you ready? All of the cookies baked, all of the fudge cooked and poured? We all know I’m giving frozen cookie dough this year, but there are a few on my list who don’t really need or want (huh!!) cookies or fudge. I looked through Farm Bell’s Gift...
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December 13, 2011 - Making Brandied Cookies with Grandma

One of my favorite traditions for Christmas is my grandma’s brandied cookies. Every year, she fills a Christmas tin with those cookies and ships them off to me. Nothing says CHRISTMAS quite like them, as they’ve been in my family since my great grandma, who started the cookie tradition. My grandma, who is inching her...
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December 12, 2011 - Quick Christmas Treats

Growing up, one of my favorite treats mom would make around the holidays were her Chocolate Pretzel Snaps. I would always look forward to her making them. Not only could we spend some quality time together in the kitchen, but I could snack as I made them, as there were only three ingredients. These pretzels...
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December 10, 2011 - Cranberry Banana Jam

It’s the time of year for cranberries! Buy a bunch now and put them in the freezer. Or, better yet, turn those glowing berries into jam and save your freezer space for something else. This year I made Cranberry Banana Jam. No pectin! And it’s great on toast and pancakes and ice cream. If you’re...
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December 9, 2011 - Spice Tea (made with Tang)

I love a nice mug of hot, spicy tea on a cold day. It warms my innards (and my hands if I hold the cup just right) and makes my tongue happy. I learned this recipe for hot spiced tea when I was in Girl Scouts. It was made out of Tang. (Yes, hide your...
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December 8, 2011 - The Best Preserving of All

What does it mean to be a “strong woman”? I hear that term bandied about by others, and I’ll admit it, not infrequently in my own head. Always this illusive objective. Why is it always that adjective? And what does that say about me? My favorite picture of my grandmother is this image of this...
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December 7, 2011 - Cranberry with a Kick

Everyone loves a good drink–teas, coffees, hot cocoas. Some even like a little happy added in. Homemade infused vodkas make great hostess gifts at Christmas time…or for that person that just loves unique drinks. I have one of those people in my family–the same one with expensive frappacino tastes. While I could very well head...
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December 6, 2011 - A Different Way I’m Giving Cookies This Year

I’ve been mixing and freezing cookies for a few weeks now, getting ready for my bake-a-thon. And what do you suppose happens? The oven is on the fritz. On the fritz!! It started acting up half way through roasting the Thanksgiving turkey and finally gave out that weekend (with a little persuasion from a man...
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December 5, 2011 - An Attempt at Baking Enlightenment

In yoga, it is often said that to maximize the benefits of practice, we should endeavor to “work toward our weaknesses,” which is why I am determined to become a better baker. Through practice, I feel certain, I will somehow gain some spiritual insight into why oh why I have so little patience when it...
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December 4, 2011 - Chai, the Caffeine Free Way

I love chai. I once had a huge cup of really good chai from a Starbucks at a rest stop somewhere in Pennsylvania on the way back from Philly to Indiana. It was delicious. It also had so much caffeine that I could have run beside the car all the way across Ohio. Oh. My....
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December 2, 2011 - Easy Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

I used to do this every year with the grandchildren. We also did it with 75 kids in the school cafeteria when I worked at an elementary school.The hardest part was to keep them from eating all the candy instead of putting it on the houses! First, make the Royal Icing. How to make ROYAL...
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December 1, 2011 - At Grandmother’s House

Just about every family around here has had a touch of the flu. Speaking of germs, when we were kids visiting at Grandma’s farm, there was a big tin bucket with a dipper in the kitchen. She did not have running water so she would go out to the outside pump and get every bit...
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November 30, 2011 - December 2011 Monthly Contributor Giveaway

Farm Bell Recipes blog contributors are eligible (and automatically entered!) in a giveaway each month in which one contributor will be drawn (by random.org, using the days of the month that posts run) to receive a prize. Each month’s prize (and previous month’s winner) will be listed here, in a blog post on the Farm...
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November 29, 2011 - Homemade Pasties from the U.P.

If you’ve ever been to Michigan’s U.P., you’ve surely tried a pastie…or at least seen a sign! I grew up in the U.P. and I know I’m home when I see my first sign on the northern side of Mackinac Bridge. There is quite a debate as to where the pasty originated from–some say Cornwall,...
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November 28, 2011 - The Battle for Christmas Cookies

Every year, there’s a battle for Christmas cookies. It’s not the kind of battle you’re imagining where there’s a plate of cookies and everyone’s scrambling for the last one. No, it’s a battle of wills to get a certain kind of cookie made. Every Christmas I spent living under my parents’ roof, Mom would turn...
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