August PPP - Tomato Pie

I have to admit that the first time I hear the name of this pie I winced. Tomato Pie? Well it isn't a sweet pie. It is a wonderfully savory pie. I first saw it over at the Joyful Adobe. It looked so good I had to give it a try. It is well worth it!


I also tried a whole wheat crust. I wasn't satisfied with the results so I won't post that recipe yet until I like it myself.


Fresh Tomato Pie

Pastry for a 2 crust pie
Fresh tomatoes (skins removed, seeded and sliced thin)
Salt
Pepper
Basil (I used fresh and would use lots of it, maybe a couple of big handfuls)
you can also use dry basil, about a teaspoon should do
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cups shredded white mozzarella

Prepare your pie crust.
Prepare the tomatoes and dry them between layers of paper towels. I would recommend drying them as much as possible. The more water you can remove the better the end result will be.
Layer the sliced tomatoes in the pie crust till it is full.
Season with salt and pepper.
Chop up the basil and sprinkle it on top.
Mix the mayo and the cheese and spread on top of the tomatoes.
Cover the pie with the remaining crust, crimp the edges and make slits in the top.
Bake at 400 deg F for about 45-50 minutes.
Cool for about 20 minutes. (if you use a stoneware pan it takes a lot longer to cool)



***Changes I would make next time***

I would leave the top crust off. That would let more steam out. I didn't use near enough basil. I have adjusted the measurement above to account for that. I might even spread pesto in the bottom of the crust before I put the tomatoes. That sounds yummy!

100% Whole Wheat Bread Machine Bread

I have been playing with this recipe all summer and think I have it now. This is so easy to make and has saved my bacon over and over again when I was too busy to make my regular big batch of bread.



1 1/2 cups milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp ground flax seed (optional)
2 tsp salt
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp yeast
1 Tbsp gluten (optional)

Put everything in your bread machine in the order given.
Set your machine or the whole wheat setting and push start.

When the batch is almost ready to bake (that is about 1 hour remaining time on my machine), I pull the dough out and form it into a ball and put it back. Then it finishes rising and bakes perfectly. If I don't do that it still forms a good loaf but often gets a little high and sticks to the top of the machine. That isn't my favorite thing. :o)

How To Prepare for Sewing

One of my bestest frineds at Quilt Guild brought in this quoat for us. We all laughed so hard we were dieing. It was great!

Does this describe your preparations for sewing time?!?!?



(an excerpt from: Singer Sewing Guild: A Complete Reference Guild to Sewing first published in 1949)

"When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Go through a beauty ritual of orderliness. Have on a clean dress. Be sure your hands are clean, fingernails smooth --a nail file and pumice will help. Always avoid hangnails. Keep a little bag full of French chalk near your sewing machine where you can pick it up and dust your fingers at intervals. This not only absorbs the moisture on your fingers, but helps to keep your work clean. Have your hair in order, powder and lipstick put on with care. Looking attractive is a very important part of sewing, because if you are making something for yourself, you will try it on at intervals in front of your mirror, and you can hope for better results when you look your best.
Again, sewing must be approached with the idea that you are going to enjoy it, and if you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as you should. Therefore, “spruce up” at the beginning so that you are free to enjoy every part of any sewing you do. "

I have not laughed so hard in months! French chalk? Maybe some French Chocolate. My favorite is the "... you can hope for better results when you look your best." Hey when I am in my sewing room in full sewing mode, I don't care who comes to the door, they better not bother me. hee hee

I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did!

OK OK!!! This post deserves a give away. I don't know what yet, I will think of something tomorrow but post your comments. I what to hear you all giggling. I will pick a lucky giggler and send her something really fun. You have until next Thursday to post a response and let me know your favorite bit.

Ok I have a plan and it is coming together so here is a hint as to part of the give away.

My niece Rebecca and I came up with this give away. A wonderful red lipstick is the perfect give away to help you "make yourself as attractive as possible" hee hee. And Rebecca assures me that this Apple Berry lipstick is one that is designed to look good with all skin types. What is even better is that when you buy a Apple Berry lipstick from now till December something they will give all of the profits to the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation. They provide monies to breast caner research and to break the cycle which fights domestic violence.

So the give away is a lovely Apple Berry Lipstick and some French Mint Chocolates from my good friend Rachel's Bakery Shop AND a little sewing treat, all to fit in a lovely Mary Kay bag.

You get an entry for posting here and you can get an additional entry for the drawing by going to Rebecca's Mary Kay site and registering there.

One Left

Oh My Goodness.
I just checked out my Sassy Apron Pattern box and there is only one left.

Someone ordered a dozen more of them and that all but wiped me out.
I don't know when I will be able to get another printing of them made. I hope it will be soon.
Soooo.... If you were thinking you would like to get one then now is your last chance.
Thank you to everyone that made this a success!
I would love to see pictures of you finished aprons!

Sorry this is sold out now.

If you missed out on this first edition pattern and would like get one let me know. If there is enough interest I will see if I can get a second printing done soon.

Summer Swapping Goodness

I have a lot to catch up on. This summer has just been too busy.
I participated in several swaps this summer and I am so late in posting my thanks for the goodness I have enjoyed.
First off is the fabric I received in the Fabric Scrap Swap hosted by Tracey. I have to say that I was more than spoiled by my two partners.

I got this lovely package of "scraps" from Katy in England. Look at those little dolls. They are so much fun with such lovely ribbon on them. I love it! The fabric scraps are simply delicious too.


I got this big bunch of lovelyness from Debye. I feel most spoiled!! This is full of the best of the best scraps. I have so many fun projects in mind right now. I keep getting both packages out and loving on them. They are too fun and I know that I was so spoiled to get them.
These two talented ladies also have wonderful Etsy stores that you should check out; C Berry Baby and I'm A Ginger Monkey.

Next I received a wonderful Fourth of July Apron from the Summer Flirty Apron Swap hosted by my friend Shawnee. I forgot my partners name and as soon as I remember it I will post it here so she get due credit for her wonderfulness.

She sent me a box full of 4th of July goodies. It was so much fun to get so many fun things for myself.

Thank you Partner!
Next I was involved in the Four Season's Quilt Swap - Summer Session. My partner was an early bird and I received my "Different Views of Summer" Quilt in the first week of the swap. It came right in the middle of my family reunion and went right up on the wall for all my sisters to see but didn't make it to the blog due to my faulty memory. So I am posting in now, very late.

Isn't that just too much fun?!
Look at the little details here. She quilted all around each picture. It is so fun and bright and red. I love red.


My very talented partner was Lori-Lyn.
I also made a quilt for this swap.

I made if from fabrics that I dyed and called it "Here Comes the Sun". It was a lot of fun to make. I loved the idea of it so much that I made one for myself from real vintage and contemporary prints I have in my scrap pile.

I just need to finish it. (Right! Like that will happen!)
I also participated in the We The People swap hosted by Tracey. In that swap you get to vote on what the swap will be. We all made Totes. I was excited about that challenge. Here is the Tote I got from Marcel. It is so wonderful! I use it everyday now. It has a jillion pockets inside and out and was stuffed with wonderful stuff that I forgot to photograph. Thank you Marcel!!

Finally I have already received my Apron for the Fall Sassy Apron Swap! My wonderful partner Leah made me a Snoopy Apron. How appropriate for Lucy to have a Peanuts apron. hee hee. I love it. It is so bright and fun and it doesn't have any naughty Lucyness on it. Thank you!

Basil Pruning Tutorial ... Really!

One of the tastiest treats from the garden has to be fresh pesto.
You can get my recipe for fresh pesto here.
With this goal in mind I planted some basil in my garden a couple of years ago.

What a pretty little basil plant. I put it in my garden and watered it and weeded it and waited.

This is what happened. (obviously these aren't the actual pictures at that time but they do illustrate my point.)
There wasn't enough basil there to make a good spring roll let alone a cup of pesto.
I decided that there must be some secret to growing basil that I just wasn't allowed to know because it sure didn't work for me.
Then.... last year at the Baker's Creek Spring Garden Show I met a lovely man selling gorgeous plants that let me in on THE SECRET. I didn't have to sell one of my kids to get it either. hee hee I just just had to look pathetic which I did to the best of my ability. Then I bought several of his basil varieties and had the best basil patch ever.
Here is THE SECRET. . . . . . You have to prune it. Easy hugh!?!
Here is how.
Look back at the picture of the cute little plant. See how it has two leaves? That is important. On a basil plant the leaves grow in twos opposite each other. As the little plant sends up the stalk it will grow two more leaves.

You need to go to those two leaves and prune about one inch or so above them.

Here is another example on my purple plant.
When you cut the stalk the two nodes at the leaves grow branches. On those branches will be two more leaves. Cut there and you will grow four more and so on till you have a bush big enough to make a gallon of pesto. Happy thought. :o)
Here is what my little plants looked like after about three or four pruning.
I pruned them way back this week and they are even bigger now.

Good luck with yours.

Vintage Scalloped Potato Recipe

My mother has talked about her mother's scalloped potatoes for years. Scalloped potatoes is not something I do well. They are not my favorite way to have potatoes because they often go horribly wrong and have no flavor. Well...... Those days are over! I gave my mother's memory a try. Mom never made these potatoes for me, she just told me how good her mother's were and basically what she did.


Grandma Wood's Scalloped Potatoes (in true grandma Wood recipe form)

Wash and thinly slice some potatoes.

Butter the pan.

Layer the potatoes in a thin layer on the bottom of the pan.

Sprinkle with flour seasoned with salt and pepper.

Repeat layers till your pan is full.

Pour milk over the potatoes making sure they are covered.

Now here is where I added my bit.

Sprinkle the top with some Parmesan cheese.

Top it off with some cream.

Bake in a hot oven till they are done.
(When are they done? When they are bubbly, brown on top and the potatoes are tender.)

My dear friend Vea invited me (and the other Prairie Hens) over for a Tea Party this week. It was so much fun. That should really happen a lot more often! Big girls need parties too. I am on the quest now for grown up girl parties now.



The party really was quite simple but made us have so much fun. She fixed us lunch with sandwiches, veggies and dip, cookies and Lemon Aid. It was delicious.

The best part of the party was that she and her daughter Natalie had also planned a water party for the kids. They had pools, sprinklers, and food too. They thought the party was all about them. hee hee. I loved it. We had our grown up fun in total peace.

THANK YOU VEA!

I am looking for sponsors for some prizes for my Fall Sassy Apron Swap. If you have an Etsy Store or Website that deals in something related to aprons, kitchen items, flirty fun stuff, or foodie things. I am looking for at least three sponsors. If I get more I might consider running some giveaways here at My Byrd House.

You help me reward my good swappers and You get free advertising here and at the Sassy Apron Swap.

You can contact me at byrhouse1(at)windstream(dot)net or leave a comment with a link back to you please.

Oh, If you are wanting to donate something to give-away here it can be anything to do with home and family and wonderful craftiness.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

I have always loved a good bowl of oatmeal and am so thrilled to see so many varieties on the shelves now. I just don't like the sugar they add to the mix. I would rather be in control of that part of it.

A Friend of mine clued me into a great oatmeal mix that you can make from home. It is made with few ingredients that you just might have at home already.


Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
(one serving)

1/2 cup old fashion oats
1/2 water
1/2 cup milk
pinch of salt
1/2 apple
2 tbsp nuts
Cinnamon to taste

I put the oats in the blender and give them a quick pulse. Then I put the oats, milk, water and salt into my saucepan and heat on Med-high. I stir constantly as I bring it to a boil. Remove from heat when it starts to thicken up. It will thicken more as it cools.
I put the nuts and the apple in the blender or food processor and chop fine. Then stir the nuts and apple into hot oatmeal. I sprinkle with cinnamon and stir it all up and eat it all up.
You can add some honey, brown sugar, sucanant or stevia if you want it sweeter. I like it just the way it is and like it best with a Fuji apple because they are so sweet.

Old Red Barn Quilt...

Old Red Barn is giving away this scrumptious quilt.



Yes giving it away. If you want a chance at it go to her blog and read all the juicy details for yourself. This quilt makes me weak.

Missouri Peach Pie - PPP

Peaches have to be one of my favorite fruits. Thus one of my all time favorite pies is Peach Pie.

On the way home from the Zoo last weekend I found a road side fruit stand with fresh Missouri peaches. I had to have some. We made Jam and saved a few for pie.

Missouri Peach Pie

Pastry for a 2-crust pie

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 tbsp. flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

5 cups sliced, peeled peaches

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)

2 tbsp butter

1. Combine sugars, flour, cinnamon and salt.
2. Sprinkle peaches with lemon juice and almond extract.
3. Add sugar-flour mixture to the peaches and mix gently. Pour into a pastry lined 9" pie pan. Dot with butter. Adjust top crust and pinch the edges. Cut vents.
4. Brush the top of the pie with cream and sprinkle with sugar. (this is optional but makes a pretty pie.)
5. Bake at 450 deg F for 40-45 minutes, or until juices are bubbly and the crust is golden.
6. Serve slightly warm with vanilla ice cream.

Fall Sassy Apron Swap Time

Yes it is that time again. I have started the sign-ups for the Fall Sassy Apron Swap.

For more information and how to join, go visit the Sassy Apron Swap Blog.

Reunion Fun

OK I have a spare minute this morning to post some of the fun we have been having.

On day one we had some Old World activities for the kids. Each family got the assignment to come up with an activity booth to teach the children something about life in the Middle Ages. It was so much fun. We had Alchemy, Spinning, Heraldry, Shield making, Tunics, and Folk Medicine. Here are some of the photos of the fun we had.


My niece Rebekah is a chemist and she taught the kids about Alchemy. Her booth was always full. She told what basics of chemistry they did know back then. It was so much fun. My sister Mary also was in this booth and she did sun reactive dyes with the kids. I forgot to get a photo of that.

You can see here that she let the kids do experiments. It was really fabulous!


My booth was the Folk Medicine. I am into herbs and so I had several samples of the herbs that they would have used back then and what they used them for and what we use them for today.
They kids loved the fact that the top property of most of the herbs and spices back then was to prevent flatulence. The all giggled. We took some especially fragrant herbs like, mint, lavender, rose petals, and such and made little sachets to wear around our necks. We talked about how most people didn't bath and that you would have these handy to sniff and especially stinky times. They also ward off bugs like lice.


My niece Anna had the kids making Shields. She had lots of information about crests and what the symbols stood for. All the kids had fun painting them. I even noticed many of the adults painting their own that afternoon.

My sister Lil and her husband Doug brought natural fibers and taught the kids how to make yarn with drop spindles.

The kids had so much fun and kept bringing me their bits of string to show me what they made.

My sister Anne (who was in charge of all the activities) and her daughter Rebecca had a booth where the boys could make tunics and the girls made flower garlands for their hair. The boys got to design the front of their tunics with crayon drawings that they ironed in.


The last booth the kids got to go to was Grandma's Nursery Rhymes. Most of our nursery rhymes come from the middle ages and were political statements about their times. The kids had to recite any rhyme they know to her to get a bag of sugared and spiced nuts from her. They were so tasty!

The smart grand kids stuck around and got more nuggets of wisdom from grandma.

My sister Jeanne and her daughter Alisa also had a booth where the kids were making family crests. They are still being finished and are really great but I forgot to take a picture of that.

Here are some more photos of the corsets I made. We have to show off the funness of it all!

I don't know just what Josie was doing that day but she did look impressive.



Jeanne, Alisa and Amanda looking lovely. I have to tell you that I actually made Jeanne's for her last year and she has lost enough weight that she took the back of the corset in 6-8 inches. I am very impressed!


Here is a view of the back of the corsets.


Josie and Jeanne in their loveliness. They made their own skirts.

This one is one of my favorites though. This is little Hannah and it is her 6th birthday today. She is my littlest princess.

Reunion 2008

Since 1999 my family has had a reunion almost every year. The last several have been here in the Midwest so we would be close to my parents. This year is right here.
The theme of the reunion is The Knight's Quest. We all get to dress up in Renaissance festival cloths and play all day.
I contributed to the fun by making corsets for all the women that wanted one.
Here are just a few.

I am off now to George Washington Carver National Monument with the kids. I think we are late. Blogging takes so long.