Monday, September 30, 2024

Is It Really Fall?

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Beginning Fall on the Front Porch

Good Morning, is it finally FALL!?!

**This is a repost of years gone by----would you believe 8 from 2016..sometimes it's fun to look back!
I think I had 4 readers then... smiles enjoy!


Slowly I have been starting to do Fall as temperatures have finally gone down in Chicagoland. Yesterday was spent in the garden, pulling up done plants, 
and trying to find our pumpkins and squashes. 
Not the best year--all my pumpkins are very small,
except for two FairyTales (one in a tree) which are not even a bit orange yet.



So last June, I found this NEW great greenhouse garden frame for $4.00 at a craft store discount aisle,  I showed it in an early post here: Somethings Old….
 I thought this would be great for a REDO vignette for Fall, with the rich rust coloring on the metal.


I wanted to use different things this year on the refurbished porch, 
I thought this would be a great addition for cool Fall nights, an OLD kerosene lantern.
Here is a closeup of my Grandfather's watchman's lantern cleaned up from an early post:


I confess the garden-shed frame was tucked away behind the settee on the porch all summer. The porch was a mess, undergoing new railings and stairs---with NEW 'out of stock' materials since May---holding up the whole show for almost six months--that's a YELP story for another day.



Still not 100% done, the porch is ready to style a bit and use now.
 We bought the larger pumpkin at the local grocery store, as ours were too small. 
The gourds are from years past; dried and left natural grown in our own, GREEN, garden. 
 Everytime I walk by, I fiddle with the gourds, and occasionally 
find a walnut stored in there by one of our local squirrels.
Do they really think the corner of the stairs and my Fall vignette is a hiding place?
 I did spray the gourds with some Johnson's Wax-Pledge when they were fully dry to enhance the color and seal in the dustiness of the gourds.


Here's our Zinnia's--oops we found out they were Sunflowers in July. I picked one of the dried blossoms and used it for the 'GREEN' element in the front.
Another sprig of smaller sunflowers was put in the back. 
Adding a few pinecones and that is pretty much it. 
I'm sure this will change when my Fall bins are delivered by hubby, from upstairs in the garage.


The craft wood Scarecrow was from a painting project I taught at Michael's back in the 1990's. I taught free-hand painting without patterns---back then, which was out of the norm. 
Somewhere I have a photo  of 14 of these all painted differently by the students.
This scarecrow is a favorite of the Grandbaby as the arms move up and down. He has long since lost his "Pumpkins for Sale" wired sign. My gosh, he is OLD and vintage now.


A straw hay bale waits over in the corner with the houseplants, for a pumpkin or two or three--
they are really small!
The pensive angel tile was a NEW rescue from 'HomeGoods' two seasons back.


The one plant that was very happy outside this summer was my Rosemary--I'm wondering where on earth I am going to keep it in the house this winter. It smells so good.


Here's a  view of the entire seating area--with a lightweight throw REDO
 for those cool nights-perfect color for the porch from GoodWill-$2. 
I added smaller mums in the summer planter box.
 Granpa's OLD lantern and a stoneware candle pot from my potter days, probably from the 1980s finish off the table top. A REDO antique crate serves as a table between the chairs. 




So Finally---beginning Happy FALL

from my front porch to yours.

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions or posts. Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

And Always, Thanks for stopping by, 

Sandi








Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Family Favorite Fall Pumpkin Apple Spice Muffins

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Fall Pumpkin Spice Apple Muffins  

Every year I repost this recipe because it is just that good, the scents in the kitchen just send you into Fall Heaven and....

It's that time of year again. Time to sit down, pour a cup, and have a tasty muffin made with fresh seasonal ingredients and whole wheat/grains. 

This is a recipe I have adapted for the way I cook, homemade, healthy and as farm-to-table as possible. 

Though, it all begins last fall with the GREEN homegrown and sometimes farm bought fresh pumpkins and squash we roasted in the oven and froze in bags, for use all season long. (Canned pumpkin can be used)

DIY Fresh squash/pumpkin is high in fiber, low in calories, and high in flavor. For roasting, slice your pumpkins in large chunks, pile skin side-up in roasting pans, add 1/2 to 1 cup of water in bottom of pan, cover with foil or lid, and roast 1-2 at 350  degrees, until fork easily inserts and all the 'meat' is the same color or cooked through. 

You can chop in a blender or chopper at this point or just measure scraped pumpkin flesh into bags, mark and freeze. Use for soups, breads, cakes, brownies, muffins, throughout the year. 

With fresh apples in season also, I opened a defrosted bag of pumpkin and drained the excess water off. This leaves the best part...which I chopped up in the food chopper until smooth. 


Assemble your dry ingredients. I chose Crisco for this recipe instead of butter, though there are saturated fats, it has no cholesterol.  I'm having dairy sensitivities, right now so am not using butter.  But this recipe works well with butter or any oil for that matter, as it is measured after melting. I use use flours from Hodgson Mills.


Lots of spices, flours, and oatmeal measured into first bowl.


 I made a double batch which still worked perfectly.


Bowl #2 holds the eggs, pumpkin, chopped apples, and vanilla. Mix well.
Fold the wet ingredients of the two bowls together. 
Do not beat, this is a quick bread, so just combine. Add applesauce if extra moisture is needed.


You get 12-18 muffins depending on your pan size. I also baked two round coffee cakes from this double-batch, which I froze. This recipe freezes well.


 Here they are before puffed up in baking. The coffeecakes took about 35-40 minutes at 375 degrees.

  
Here is the fresh muffin, still warm on the plate.


 The texture is excellent with big chunks of fresh apple and raisins in this batch. 
You can't tell this is made with whole wheat flour and rolled oats, it is so tender.

Fall Pumpkin Spice Apple Muffins  makes 12-18 muffins (single batch)

1st bowl
1 cup of unbleached flour (I use Hodgson Mills or Cerasota)
1 cup of whole wheat flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour (Hodgson Mills) as it is ground finer than whole wheat but with the same benefits. Makes great pancakes, too.)
1 cup of long-cooking rolled oats (trusty old Quaker Oats)
1 1/2tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp  ground allspice
1/2 tsp cardamom (this is the secret to this recipe)
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2nd bowl
3/4 cup of melted stick margarine, butter, or crisco cooled.
1 cup of packed brown sugar (light or dark)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup of roasted fresh pumpkin drained and blended smooth or canned
1 apple-cored and loosely chopped
(up to 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce if needed)
 
heat oven to 375 F. Line or butter/flour 12-18 muffin tins holes.

In large bowl whisk together flours, oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cardamom, clove, salt, raisins or cranberries, and nuts. (I add everything together---dusts your nuts and fruit at the same time.)
 
In second bowl whisk together cooled melted shortening/butter/oil, brown sugar  and vanilla, whisk in eggs until frothy and blended, then stir in pumpkin and apples. 

Gently, but thoroughly mix this into the dry bowl ingredients,  folding until well incorporated. 
Do not over-mix. If batter is too thick, add up to 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce. (Dense (whole wheat or multi grain) flours are subject to dryness which can effect the moisture content of your recipes as can weather, so applesauce is the perfect consistency to add.)
 
Fill muffin cups to desired fullness, bake at 375F for 25-30 min, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the tops are a bit crusty. These are very moist muffins.

Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then finish cooling on rack.
These are tasty, moist, and freeze well. 
The original recipe called for a crumble on top, or I have lightly frosted with cream cheese frosting or a dusting of cinnamon and sugar, but plain is excellent. 



ENJOY! and thanks for stopping by,

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.


Thanks ALWAYS for visiting!

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. Please don't use my photos without my permission.




 Sandi Magle


OldNewGreenRedo







Sunday, September 22, 2024

A Glimpse of Fall in our Kitchen

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It's been hard to think Fall when your temps are in the high 80's and 90's for the last 6 weeks here in Chicagoland. Actually it has been HOT since the second week in June. 

 I think we had 3 days of 70's last month and no rain for weeks. Today it finally rained. I put a few dried Hydrangeas in my transferware. I may still switch this out when I find my brown cottage pieces.

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Right now this container is an old porcelain tea canister I found last summer. It has transfers on all four sides...and in my favorite blue and white.  

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I have a few old this and that Fall items,  and this may change later.

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This was my cookbook counter in 2022, I try to  coordinate tablecloth in soft fall tones. 

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Then the Rex begonia I thought was dead from being chewed on,--but revived when I brought it inside. Bugs and critters have been voracious this year. The one this year is recovering also from being chewed on.

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I  love to add something natural, and here are some gourds and mini pumpkins. I only have three pumpkins this year. They just couldn't get going in the heat. Illinois is one of the top producers of pumpkins...I wonder how the crops are this year.

I have a few thrift store Halloween things that will go out soon, not before October 1, though. We have some large Skellies for the yard, which will be fun.

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The Mandillas were very happy this summer with the heat, I have 5 to bring in this year. This one is on the end of the cabinet and still in full bloom---and twining away...and a Happiness is Homemade sign. 

Honestly the seasons "HALLOWTHANKMAS"
are so rushed in the stores now...it's crazy. Life flies by and the stores are already loading up for Christmas. UGH!

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We have many a gathering here with family all year. We are having Thanksgiving this year, but not much else.

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I love Sunflowers...and pulled out a faux bush, now that they are done in the yard. The real ones are left for the birds, upside down Goldfinches are the most fun to watch.

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Normally if I serve buffet style off the island. I can't remember what it was like when this kitchen didn't have the island. It functions so well...and this little end I always have something Happy going on! 

Right now it is 'Harvest' for sure. Antique pickling crock, enamel coffee pot, grandmother's crocks a few gourds and peppers for color.

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The sink is seldom empty, and here is the basil I need to process for the refrigerator and freezer. I need to buy garlic, olive oil and pine nuts to make pesto, this afternoon.
I still have to dry a huge crop of Sage and Majoram. Also, need to dry the Thyme and Parsley plants.

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The busiest place in the kitchen is our coffee station....pumpkin spice is always nice!


Staples, actually some need filling...I don't have a walk-in pantry like some bloggers, but this works for all those essentials.

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The workaholic in the kitchen the toaster/convection oven. Use this constantly for two people...it's perfect. Plus throws off less heat in the summer. Now we turn the stove oven on for dinner and taking the chill off.

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I'm going to refresh this shelf this week, maybe with some pops of orange and yellow, or I might bring out some transferware. Depends on how much energy I have.

Almost everything is inherited or thrifted in our home.
 I love the hunt and let's face it, old stuff was made to last!

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Last bit of clean counter---more staples...in our family antique blue jars. My mom-in-law's Kitchen Aide. Love it, except it is so HEAVY! My old mixer went to my kids.

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Since my kitchen was clean enough to share and
now I'll go mess it up and making PESTO!

If You enjoyed this post please FOLLOW IT in the upper right hand corner, to get just one email of each AD-Free post.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.


Thanks ALWAYS for visiting!

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.
Thank you for your cooperation,

I will post at the following Link Parties, I hope you visit them.


 Sandi Magle


OldNewGreenRedo





Saturday, September 14, 2024

Playing with Paint: September #1

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I've been PLAYING WITH PAINT on this in the mornings...very slowly, not my usual mode of operation. But, it's so relaxing and clears my mind. 


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 Here is the stage I'm at now, at day three of painting.  I haven't been worrying about the background and I've been concentrating on building up layers. This is a painting and not a photograph, so you edit and add where your composition takes you.

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This is the color study I shared before during my Mather Watercolor classes in August. Right now, I'm not worrying about anything other than building up layers...
This is much moodier than my new painting, I hope to capture some of this in my layers in the future.

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My color wheel from my paints. I probably should have made one just for this painting, but that would seem so limiting, I do refer to this constantly.

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My working Palette. I'll give you a list of the colors I've used  so far:

Lemon Yellow
Cadmium yellow Medium
Cadmium Red Light 
Carmine
Thalo red 
Sap Green
Foliage Green 
Yellow Green
Purple 
Prussian Blue
Burnt Sienna
Burnt Umber
Paynes Gray
Watercolor resist

My reference photos which are very bright because we have had such brilliant sunshine this summer. 

               


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Reference photo
Working from nature is always a challenge, as of course Nature is perfect.

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reference photo

These Mandilla had drooped but I watered them again and again, and they are still going wild.


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Reference photo

Early in the morning they seem to follow the sun. Note the white throats...I used resist on 

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Dahlias...are amazing, you wait so long for them to bloom. Mine have tons of foliage to produce these few blooms.

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I started with light washes of lemon, on the pot, yellow green on the baby tears and the leaves to the Mandilla. The Mandilla are Carmine, Cadmium light with brown under tones from mixing a bit of green for shadows. The white streaky stuff around the stems is where I had resist shich is now removed.


You can see how the mixing space has become very dark, watered down,  layers/washes are applied, and some is lifted to try and give the petals highlights.

I also haven't attacked the centers which will be much darker with yellow/gold highlights.


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The opposite of the Mandilla at the bottom are the Dahlias with two layers of reds applied, Thalo and Carmine. I've added a bit of purple to a light wash to start enhancing the depth in the petal bases. The resist has been removed on the petal tips and in the buds, so I'm working carefully now. The greens are just in the early stages.

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The tones in the study are not as bright...but I'm doing the flowers in the sunshine now. 

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Mixing pan with Thalo, Purple and some Prussian blue, I think. Purple is very strong...so I'm trying to be restrained in adding it.

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I think this was with three layers of color, I still have to deepen the petals to make them not appear so flat. I've done three layers of washes for the leaves, these will need deepening. and more leaves/deep washes in the background.


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Balancing out the reds ...is a challenge, totally different and then with all that green in opposition. 
I may do another study, just to see how I should use the darks for the backgrounds?

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The container got a second layer of  Cadmium Yellow Medium

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I'm really glad I have labeled my pans...makes life easier to do these posts.

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I'm pretty sure this is Burnt Sienna, Cad Yel Med. and maybe a bit of sap green, I used in some of the leaves in first wash. The yellow at the top is being used for shadows on the pot.


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The pot is very flat now---I will add dark to both sides to make it appear rounder. In real life it is LEMON YELLOW.

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Working on the baby tears...I seem to do here and there. I think they will really pop when I do that lower right corner. So far, they are a mix of Lemon Yellow, Yellow Green and a bit of Sap Green.
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That's all for today, lots of other things have to get done around here.

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I can't wait to see where this goes next! I'm considering using whites for veinings...as I've washed the leaves almost too much?  

Do I know what I'm doing, not necessarily!

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Thanks always for visiting. 
I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!

I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown. 

Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog 
without my permission. 
Thank you for your cooperation, 

Sandi