Fifty-Nifty States... Fall in New Hampshire

 Introducing the Belknap Mill.  Built in 1823 and is the oldest unaltered brick textile mill.  It was also one of the first mills to convert from weaving to knitting during the Civil War.  It is now called the "Official Meetinghouse of New Hampshire."

 New Hampshire also hosts a pumpkin festival each year.  I was pleasantly surprised when I ran across two recipes that I had forgotten about.  At church Harvest party these two recipes were shared...delicious and easy to make.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread

• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Beat all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Makes 1-1/2 cups

This was served with a platter of mini bagels and a variety of breads.

Pumpkin Honey Butter

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup honey 3 tablespoons canned pure pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1. Place the butter in a mixing bowl, and whip on high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 1 minute.
2. In another bowl, stir together the honey, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice until well mixed. Add the honey mixture to the butter, and whip on high with the electric mixer until the mixture is fluffy and smooth, about 1 more minute. Chill the pumpkin butter for several hours or overnight to blend the flavors.

This can be served on pancakes, toast, biscuits...

How to Carve a Pumpkin to Make a Pumpkin Soup Bowl

I thought this idea was cute...not a big fan of pumpkin soup, but I did like the sound of a stew or salad served from it.


One more picture for today...this is Blow Me Down Bridge in Cornish, NH.



Happy Fall, Y'all!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes....Christmas in Connecticut

 I love this movie....! The movie begins with Jones on a raft (been there for 18 days) waiting to be rescued.  While waiting he dreams of his first meal..."steak and baked potato, asparagus in hollandaise sauce, chocolate cake, and ice cream"....after being rescued and sent to a hospital his first meal has to be milk with an egg in it.  He says, "All I get is milk,milk, milk.  Every time I yawn I am scared I will moo."

 Meanwhile Elizabeth Lane writes regular articles called "Diary of a Housewife" for a magazine in which she details her life on her farmhouse with beautiful scenery, husband and baby, antique finds, and lots of mouth-watering recipes...In reality she lives in a New York City flat, is single, and can not cook!  Yes, you guessed it.  Her boss and Jones end up invited to spend Christmas with her!

Felix, her friend and Hungarian restaurant chef/owner attempts to help her out.  At one point he tells Lane that she better stick to writing rather than cooking.

"Better you cook on the typewriter."

She has an elaborate Christmas menu planned...I found a few of the simpler menu items, went to my OLD Betty Crocker book...Here you are....

Candied Sweet Potatoes

2 pounds sweet potatoes

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3 tbl. butter or margarine

3 tbl. light cream or milk

1/2 tsp. salt

If using fresh sweet potatoes, prepare and cook.  Cut each potato crosswise into 1/2 inch slices.  In medium skillet, combine all other ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly.  Add sweet potato slices; stir gently until glazed and heated through.

Cranberry Orange Relish

Finely chop 4 cups cranberries and 1 large orange (peel and pulp), in blender.  Stir in 2 cups of sugar.  Cover and refrigerate at least three hours.  Excellent served with turkey or baked chicken.

Russian Dressing

(For green salads)

Mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup chili sauce, and a few drops onion juice.  If desired, add 1 tsp. lemon juice.  Makes 3/4 cup.

I left out a lot about the movie...I will probably watch it   way before Christmas....maybe even this week...and enjoy your stay in Connecticut!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...Alabama

We will start our state recipe tour with Alabama.  Seems like Alabama is known for its bass, pecans,  blackberries, and lots of barbecue.  Yum!

White BBQ Sauce

2 cups mayonnaise

1 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tbl. lemon juice

3 tbl. black pepper

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients.  Refrigerate at least 8 hours. Brush over chicken, turkey, or pork during the last few minutes of grilling.  This sauce is also great as a dipping sauce.

Now for a sweet treat...

Alabama Mud Cake

1 (20) can crushed pineapple, with juice

1 can cherry pie filling

1 pkg. devil's food cake mix

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup mint chocolate chips

1/2 cup butter (use the sticks)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour 9x13.  Pour pineapple with juice in bottom of pan, spreading evenly to make the first layer.  Spread cherry pie filling over the pineapple, then spread the cake mix on top.  Sprinkle with mint chocolate chips and pecans.  Distribute the sliced butter evenly over the top.  Bake for 40 minutes.  Allow to cool.

Hope you enjoy the first part of the tour!

Thanks for visiting!

Recipe Challenge...Fry Dip

Here goes....I am going to attempt to share a recipe with you all every day this month. I admire people who blog daily. It takes a lot of dedication! I hope I can do this. Some of the recipes will be "tried and true" and others will be ones that we are looking forward to try!

My first recipe was found online. Fry Dip is very popular in Utah. This blogger claimed that you would never use catsup again after trying this. That is exactly what my daughter said after trying this.

FRY DIP

2/3 cup mayo

1/3 cup catsup

1 tsp. mustard (gives it some zip)

Mix and enjoy dipping your french fries!

This recipe was found on the blog-Family Favorite Recipes-the button for it is on the side of my blog. She has a lot of wonderful ideas.

Thanks for stopping by to see us.