Special order of posies, given as Christmas gifts

Are you missing the garden these days?  Us too!   Gail's been busy ordering perennials & shrubs.  And today, the mail lady brought seeds :)

Lunch!

Kynda, Barb, Gail, Cheryl

What are you doing to make it through these cold dreaming-of-spring January days?   We thought maybe lunch at Panera would be a good way to touch base during this off-season.     We missed Sue and hope she's feeling better!


Gail showed up bearing gifts--an embroidered pillow, an armillary sundial for the garden, and a box of melt-in-your-mouth caramels with the recipe attached.

We know you'll want to see the recipe for these beautiful caramels, so here it is:

Gail's Caramels

1 cup butter
1 lb. (2 1/4 cup) brown sugar
dash salt
1 cup light corn syrup
1 15 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 candy thermometer!

Prepare the pan first.  Line a 7 x 12 glass plan with foil and then butter it.

Melt butter in heavy pan.  Add sugar and salt.  Stir in corn syrup.  Add milk, sitrring constantly.  Cook and stir over medium heat to firm ball stage (245 degrees) 12-15 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour hot caramel in the foil-lined pan and cool completely (overnight in the fridge).

Using a thin, sharp knife, cut into 15 x 5 rows.  These will fit nicely in 4" x 4" pieces of wax paper.  Twist ends.

These are delicious!  And they make such a sweet gift for your friends when you go to lunch :)

Bouquet Garni

Have you been using your spices and seasonings from  The Farm kitchen?  We know a lot of you stocked up for the winter.   If you didn't, be sure to put those on your list for your first 2011 spring visit.  We'll be reopening March 1st--eight weeks from today! 

  

Bouquet garni  is one of the staples that we keep in the The Farm kitchen and in our kitchens at home.  We've been using the same recipe for years and it comes in so handy for seasoning soups, stews, roasts, etc.   A little bundle of herbs, full of healthy natural flavors and no salt.  Makes the house smell wonderful on these cold winter days. 

Bouquet garni, french term meaning "garnished bouquet"

So what's cooking in your kitchen these days?  We wanna know!