Summertime Jam Series~ Farmer Boy Tomato Jam

~Farmer Boy Tomato Jam~

Adapted from Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls & Little House Cookbook

SERVES: 2 PINTS

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ripe tomatoes
• 1½ cups light brown sugar
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger 
• 2 half-pint jars

Preparation

1. Add the tomatoes to a blender or food processor. Pulse several times to crush the tomatoes.
2. Transfer the tomato puree to a medium skillet set over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, lemon zest and juice, and ground ginger. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick and jammy – this will take about an hour. 
3. Ladle the jam into the jars and seal. Process in water bath canner with boiling water for 10 minutes. The jam is delicious right away, but tastes even better after a few weeks. Shelf life is good for up to one year. Once opened use within 2 months.

Oh my this one is delish! 

A perfect jam for crackers and cheese, 

on BBQ Chicken or spread out on toast. 

ENJOY!!!!

If Wagons Could Talk....

For our outdoor challenge this week back at Dripping Springs Ranch, Freckles and I roamed our friends property. Years ago it was a Horse Ranch... yet no longer keeps horses anymore. The land is filled with old oak trees, woodpeckers,deer, wagons and wagon wheels scattered everywhere. Several horse stalls, buildings and tractors were also on site... Just no longer a working ranch...kinda sad!

We enjoyed watching the Mama deer and her baby grazing through the grass fields amongst the oak trees. We were unable to get too close without them running off. And unfortunately I don't have a camera to take distance shots. If you look real close at the picture below you'll be able to see the Mama deer on the right of the trees.. 

 

Our friends home was the old ranch house...
 and no those are not bullet holes.
They are woodpecker holes...
They put the acorns in the holes to make it easier eating them...

 

The neatest part of our time there was climbing into the old wagons.

 I wonder what the wagons went through, where they have been...

So much history ..

If only wagons could talk...

 

This old tree was filled with holes and acorns in the holes.
Some woodpeckers have surely been busy here.
 It was really fun to see...
There were holes throughout the whole tree!

 

I just thought... How funny ...
 If wagons were to talk they would also reveal
 that two crazy gals were jumping all over them..That would be us!

 

It was a fun day pretending we were on
The Little House On The Prairie...
We will surely go back to play soon!
Wishing you a Happy week!

Corn Husk Dolls

Freckles is continuing her studies in American History.
She has been studying The American Girl, Kirsten during 1854.
We decided to make corn husk dolls.
Of course I had to make one with her too!
These dolls were made by Indian& Pioneer children.

~Directions~

Pick up dried corn husks at the super market in
the Mexican food, produce section or craft store.

Soak the dried corn husks in warm water for about
10 minutes to soften them, then blot them dry.

Take four corn husks and place them on top of each other.
Tie a piece of string

about 1 inch from the flat edge of the corn husk.
Round the flat edges using the scissors.

Hold the tied end and fold the husks down over the knot.

Use a piece of string to tie a neck about 1" below the fold.
This will be the head.

Roll another husk, lengthwise, to make a long tube.

This will be the arms.

Tie the ends of the "arms," about 1/2" from the edges.
That will make the wrists and hands.
Slide the arm section up under the neck.



Tie a string tightly below the arms to hold them in place and to make a waist.
Place 5 pieces of corn husk around the dolls waist with the straight edge up.
Tie the corn husks close to the top around the doll's waist to make a skirt.

If you want a boy doll use only four pieces around the waist.
Then divide the hanging corn husks into two parts.
Tie three pieces of string down the corn husks to form legs,
one piece at the thigh, knee, and ankle.

Now, your child has a sweet dolly to play with.
Freckles played with her doll in her doll house.
They are quite happy in their new home.

Have a Happy Fall Weekend!!!

Prairie Dress

I finished Miss Freckle's prairie dress just

in time for The Farm over the weekend.
She picked this apple red calico fabric
to match her gingham bonnet.

In history we have been studying

The American Girl, Kirsten from 1854
as well as the times of Laura in

Little House on The Prairie.

The dress was perfect.

She absolutely loved to dress the period.

She was as beautiful as a rose!

I have more pictures to share from the day at The Farm...
Be sure to check back the fun filled day!

Crisp Autumn Mornings

Crisp Autumn mornings are just perfect with a little cup of love.

I take my tea with two lumps of sugar goodness and a bit of cream.
Quiet moments are spent with a cup of tea,
a devotion or a magazine and a little yummy cake.

Miss Freckles made these scrumptious maple cakes
from her Little House Cookbook...
they are just perfect paired with a cup of hot tea.
We are sharing the recipe with you here.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Use mini muffin tins for bite size yummies
or a regular tin for larger ones.

Dry Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon ginger

Wet Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Put dry ingredients into a bowl and mix.
Combine wet ingredients in another bowl and whisk together.
Add wet & dry ingredients, mix quickly,
just until thoroughly blended.

Grease muffin tins and fill them, using two tablespoons,
one to scoop the batter, the other to push it off into the tin.
Bake for 12 minutes,
or until cakes are a light golden color.
Let cool.

Maple Icing:
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup maple syrup

Blend sugar, butter, salt and vanilla.
Add maple syrup and beat until completely smooth.
Decorate each cake by dipping the top of each
into the icing and giving it a twist.
Turn right side up, while the icing is still moist,
garnish with a variety of toppings.
We kept ours plain...
which is also yummy!

Enjoy your Autumn morning!

Pioneer Days....

Long ago children in the Pioneer days either home schooled
or walked miles to get to a small School House to do their studies.
Some schools had lovely little desks, McGuffy readers,
more books and slates to do their writing.

They would work on Bible verses, History, Reading,
Writing and Arithmetic.

Children of all ages were in one big class room.
Some of the older students would help out the
younger ones when they needed it.

There was much to do in a school house.
On cold days they would have
to keep it warm by making a fire.
Keep the chalk board clean and the floors swept.

There was even a little bit of time
for a little play out in the school yard.

More work and chores would have to be completed
even after school, when they got home.
Children would help by making butter.

Making useful items.

Making many, many candles
for their evening light.

Make more butter !!!

And... help with washing the clothes on wash day.

A Pioneer child's day is a very long day....
That's what Freckles learned this week
when we attended a local Pioneer Day.
She loved it though....
She said she could certainly live like that.