Cast Iron: Peach Kuchen in 12" Dutch Oven

Cast Iron:  Peach Kuchen in a 12" Dutch Oven

You might ask:  "What the heck is Kuchen?"   The German origin word means "cake"  I have tried several versions.  It can be a raised yeast dough or traditional cake form...  I chose the cake form today.. very much like a fruity coffee cake.  I mean, it's cinnamon and peaches... can't go wrong there!!!  

My husband's family has deep German roots, with some members coming to America in the 1700's.  The family name was Americanized but they do love their desserts!! 

Peach Kuchen

Dough:

1/2 c. Sugar

2 c. Flour

3 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 TBS Shortening or Lard

Mix with a fork until all the ingredients are incorporated.

To this add 1 egg, plus enough milk to equal 1c.... whipped.

I pressed the dough into the bottom of a 12" Dutch oven, making a well by pushing the edges of the dough up the side of the oven.  Any fruit will work, preferably fresh, but these were canned peaches as I didn't have any fresh on hand.  After the fruit is placed in the well add the following:

Topping:  Whisk 1 c. Sugar, 3 heaping TBS of flour, 1 tsp of cinnamon...  top the fruit and to the top of that add 4 TBS of cold butter thinly sliced around the topping.  Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes until nicely brown and the topping is bubbling. 

Cool slightly and serve with your favorite brand of vanilla ice cream.  I love Tillamook Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.  Or you can use cream or whipped cream...  Whatever floats your boat!

Traditions: Carrying On

Traditions:  Carrying On

Another successful harvest.  YEP... harvest.  Despite the best efforts of those who seek to rape the resources, trespass, poach and generally give hunting season a bad name, the requisite 2 bucks were harvested... a few pheasants.  It's all about managing the resources and respecting property owners rights.

Coming up on the 3rd generation of hunting in this area, and it's all about the adults teaching their kids HOW to hunt, selective hunting, and having great quality family time.  Grandpas, Grandmas,moms, dads and friends all work to teach the next generation. 

Daralyn, Orrin and Leona
Love those smiles!

Next generation Justin

Breaking bread with a long time friends son.

Next generation Haiden learning from Grandpa Rick and friends. 

Genealogy: CATCHING THE PAST The Things We've Handed Down

Did you ever just have one of those days??? 
Tried to share this on the sister page on Facebook, seems that they are now censoring anything that someone will get their panties in a wad over!   So we'll try GOOGLE! 

FAMILY: Remembering Mama

Velma Mae Hascall Cross

Later years, mom didn't like to have her picture taken so much.  Thanks to Kyong Hui.... my lovely sister in law who I believe may have talked her into this one. 

There are so many things to remember, how she loved to do her "handywork"  Knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, embroidery.  It was sad when she couldn't see well enough to do a lot of it... and the arthritis in her hands kept her from creating the beautiful things that she would always "put away for good"  How I hate that phrase, but it was a sign of that generation.  Don't break out the new stuff until you have totally worn the old stuff to rags. 

Mom loved to write... she would keep her diaries, and write poems.  She loved to write down lyrics to her favorite songs, and that was a great view into the things that she really felt deeply.  Each time I come across something she "put down" on paper...  I love to see her handwriting.  She learned to write when it was an actual part of your schooling.  PENMANSHIP...  now the schools want to do away with cursive writing... what are they thinking. 

I miss her every day. 

This is one of her poems that she "put down on paper"  I cannot find where it is copied from anywhere else, I believe it to be her original work. 

  Just Life and Motherhood

by Velma Hascall Cross

I am unlike a mother Robin

When babies grow and leave the nest. 

For she has time from spring to spring

To do nothing but rest. 

To raise two families of children

Is just a hard old row to hoe

For poor old mother

Is always on the go. 

She wishes just for some time

To call her very own.

To just sit and read and daydream.

Just some time to be alone.

But I love being a mother

Also my husband's wife,

Rewards you reap (their love)

For such is Motherhood and Life.

I will never see one of these that I don't think of my mom! She had a whole flock of them that she fed with an old metal bucket full of wheat.  Mama and all the tiny topknot babies just bobbing along like chickens.

 Today is the anniversary of her passing, and although I'm sad, she gave me so many good skills and hopefully some common sense that I can't be too overwrought. The best tribute to someone who is gone is to remember the good things and live your life. I SO empathize with Mary Ann Low s post.... what we wouldn't give for just one more hug, or one more conversation. I am a little crazy because I have one sided conversations with mom all the time. Just the way it is.





HUGE Diamond Rio fan....  This makes the rounds of the social media, saying it was never released since it is "controversial".   NOT true. 
Enjoy! 

https://youtu.be/6uUwpnLlmrE

CAST IRON: Making Of A Main Dish D.O.G. Logs

CAST IRON:  Making Of A Main Dish  D.O.G. Logs

Every year it is a challenge to come up with a dish that will leave you totin' home an EMPTY Dutch Oven.  This year I jokingly called the dish D.O.G. Logs.  (short for Dutch Oven Gathering, not the 4 legged variety)  To me, the biggest compliment to the cook is an empty pot.  Not a crumb left!!  Any honors or prizes are just icing on the cake so to speak. 


Start off with a 2:1 mix of burger and sausage.  I used organic grass fed beef and Hill Meat Breakfast Sausage.  3 lbs. of one,  and 1 1/2 pounds of the other. 

Burger and Sausage in a BIG @SS BOWL!!

Then chop up 2 large green bell peppers, and 2 large yellow onions.

Here is where you can get creative with other additives (hot peppers, spices etc....    I use the KISS principle... Keep It Simple Stupid... LOL!

Next toss in a half pound of seasoned croutons of your choice.  (Stovetop envelopes in the LARGE size (yes Costco)  And 10 eggs.  I love my egg lady.  Free range organic chicken eggs with the nice YELLOW yolks... not the anemic looking eggs from the big producers. 



I got busy and almost forgot to take a picture of these beauties from Rare Ruby Homestead. 

Next begin mixing the ingredients, taking care not to OVER mix.  Just enough to combine everything evenly through.   It is tempting if you've had a hard day to take the troubles out on the loaves, but it only makes them tough.  Save it for the bread!! 

Next is the bacon weave.  Most of us practiced it in elementary school with colored paper.  Place 6 strips of bacon on a large strip of wax paper.  Weave 6 strips across the opposite direction.  Take the meat mixture in handfuls and smoosh (technical term) the meat mixture on top of the bacon weave making it about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick.  Take a brick of Cheddar (LOVE Tillamook) and make a long 1x1 inch (or larger) strip of cheese to load the center of the loaf. 



Pick up the edge of the wax paper and begin to make your roll (similar to a jellyroll)  When you are finished rolling, tuck the loose bacon ends into end of the roll, patting until the roll is even and uniform.  I placed LARGE celery ribs in the bottom of the oiled oven hollow side down.  Celery adds some flavor and keeps the rolls off the bottom of the Dutch.  Some of the lesser grinds of burger could leave you with a soupy/greasy bottom of the oven.  Give the loaves some air space between so the heat can circulate. 

A 16" Dutch will hold 3 of these rolls.  I placed the 4th roll in a 12" and plunked (technical term) it on top of the 16".  Load them with briquettes and let it cook for about an hour and 10 minutes.  If it starts smelling "done" before that, give it a check.   

All cooked up and ready for the judges to tie into this gastronomic meat bomb. 

And the judges verdict???  







Flaming Biskit strikes again!!!  Woo Hoo!!  Some of the most legal fun you can have!  

 

Traditions: Springtime = Rendezvous

Traditions:  Springtime = Rendezvous

For the past 16 years, we have enjoyed the annual Wenaha Muzzleloaders Rendezvous.  Deep in the farthest North Eastern corner of Oregon, the Rendezvous is held on the site that used to be the local log mill in Troy, Oregon.  There are several ways to get to Troy, all of them steep and crooked. 

Taken from Flora Grade on 4-10-15 

The mill site is just south and west of the bridge at Troy, on the Wenaha River, just before it joins the Grande Ronde.  After the passing of one of the founding members, "Griz" (Pete Frisby(sp)) the area was officially renamed "Griz Flats"  There is a signpost pointing the way on the west side of the road, just past the Troy bridge. 

Griz Flats is a beautiful spot that holds many years of fond memories for blackpowder families throughout the Northwest.  During quiet times, wildlife is the order of the day.  When the front stuffers load up for matches and Rendezvous, they move off and return as soon as quiet descends.  Traditions.  They give us roots, and even though we may grow wings and fly; the quiet of a beautiful spot full of memories will draw us back time and again.