camping for mother's day weekend

We have a computer back.  But not all my pictures.  I will figure this out as I go but blogging might be interesting for the next couple of days.

Over Mother's Day weekend, I wanted to go camping.  So my boys and I went.  The Tall Short Person had to work.  We found a small little state park about 2 hours away.  It was very quiet and kind of strange but we had a good time.  I could not have asked for more.

I have been working on letterpress business cards for family lately.  There is not much to take pictures of because i am sending proofs back and forth, having people decide on paper colors, and ink colors.  But I got to order ink and paper today.  I am downloading Adobe Illustrator (for the how manyeth time?) so I can do one more mock up.  Then I am ordering plates.  The paper is already on its way.

I will get to print next week.  Life is pretty exciting.  Or maybe I just like simple things.

computer down

Yes.  Really.  Our main computer is down again.  The little one I am working on right now is missing an application I like to use on the photos.  We just found that out tonight!  We are supposed to have the other computer back on Wednesday.  Let us hope.  Also, let us hope the computer is ready when I am not around because I have priced the new model I wish.  Different needs now so very different computer is a want.  

I need to stay out of the computer store!

from my garden

I have been coming home to needing to care for Small Mister.  My Beloved is working on knives and it is my turn to care for Small Mister.  Earlier this week, we had errands to run which we could walk to.  He likes being outside.  Today there were no errands but there was the garden.

We dug.  We pulled weeds.  We barely made dent in what needs to be done but Small Mister pays attention longer then what might be expected.  Especially when there are bugs or worms.

Or Grandmomma finds new, interesting vegetables.  I had an eggplant over winter and this is what I found today.  I gave two away and I am going to try to use the rest before they get wilty or mold.  The tomatoes are starting to come in as well.  I picked the first small cherry tomatoes last week.  The romas are green and ripening.  I have more then I wish to think about currently.  Especially since there is still kale, chard, and carrots.  

And flowers.  I am enjoying my flowers.

I do enjoy the gardening.  It slows me down.  And we are outside.

pecan pie

This has been on my board.  Then the please was added.  Pecan Pie :).  PLEASE.  With a please that big, what can you do?  Even if it is April?

I had never made on before so I found  a recipe for a pecan tart by a baker I trust.  I changed it to pie.  I took a suggestion from another cookbook author and prebaked the crust.  That seemed to help a lot.  Since  I was making the cassoulet at the same time, I used my little convection oven.  I was surprised how well it worked.  

So now I have a pecan pie recipe.  I might try others but this is quite good.  It got the seal of approval from the Tall Short Person who was the one who put PLEASE on the board.

pecan pie

1 cup flour

8 tablespoons butter

a pinch of salt

2 tablespoons water

2/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons molasses

2/3 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 egg yolk

2 tablespoons very good scotch

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 tablespoons melted butter

2 cups pecan halves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a small bowl, put 1 cup flour and a pinch of salt.  Mix.  Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse corn meal.  Sprinkle with two tablespoons water and mix together.  It should come together in a ball.  Especially if you press a bit.  If not, add another tablespoon of water.

On a floured surface.  Turn out the dough.  Bring together and knead three times (I am not kidding, less is more).  Roll out into a circle.  It will be less then a 1/4" thick and a bit fragile.  Fold it into quarters and transfer to a pie pan.  I had a 9" pie pan.  Spread out the dough.  Patch any holes.  Cut off the over hang on the edge (make pie crust cookies) and flute.

Bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.  My day was such that I let my pie crust cool.  Remember, I was also making cassoulet.  I think that was a day I made granola and bread too......  Just a normal Sunday.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a bowl, mix all the other ingredients together but the pecans.  Place the pecans in the pie crust and spread evenly around.  Pour the custard mixture over the pecans.

Put the pie in the oven.  Bake about 40 minutes.

The pie will be puffed and brown when it come out of the oven.  Maybe even bubbly.  Let cool so it will hold together when you cut it.  If you do not, it is not like I did not warn you.

The Tall Short Person was very happy with this.

cassoulet

This is such a horrible picture of the cassoulet but I think it gives the impression of how fast this was served and eaten.  I think the smell alone started to drive my family crazy.  This made a lot.  But for how much work it was, that is a good thing.  I am told that I can make this again.  Especially with the mashed sweet potatoes and apples.  There was a pie afterward too.  That is coming.

cassoulet

Note:  adapted from local milk

confit pork shoulder, meat strained from the fat

seasoned white beans

tomato wine sauce

1 pound meaty bacon

duck confit, meat strained from the fat

Dice the bacon.  Cook it until crispy. 

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large heavy casserole, put a layer of beans.  Sprinkle a layer of bacon.  Sprinkle a layer of pork conift.  Spoon a layer of the wine sauce.  Repeat, ending with layer of beans.  Lay duck legs over the top.  Put in the oven for bake for another hour.

In the original recipe, there was extra stirring, fat, and bread crumbs.  I simplified and this was awful tasty.  I served it with the mashed sweet potatoes and apples.  A small plate went a long way because it was so rich but lovely.

Well worth the work.