Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Do you have one of these?  A giant, enormous, leafy mass that makes me feel guilty every day for not using it.....Every Day?  If you don't you need to plant one.  I feel so old fashioned when I make this pie or this new favorite of mine, the Galette.  (Fancy name for a lazy pie.)  Rhubarb stuff just seems so pre chocolate chip.  You know, when there was a time that raisins were the cookie addition of choice.  Chocolate chips were so indulgent!  The pioneers used rhubarb.  BUT......so do I!  I love it!  My kids are warming up to the idea of eating "Celery Pie" as they call it, but you know every time I taste it I'm in heaven!

Strawberry Rhubarb pie is my mom's favorite dessert.  I served a rendition of that pie on Monday night to some neighbors, and I heard a lot of yummy sounds.  Monday nights dessert was by far my favorite incarnation of Rhubarb loveliness.  It included some blackberries, and blueberries, and was AMAZING!  I didn't put it in a pie pan, but I left it as a free form, rustic pie or Galette.  Served with some homemade ice cream and we were happy people.  I'm sharing my favorite new recipe here, and I'm hoping someone will try it out and be converted to my way of thinking.  Rhubarb is the best!

Berry Rhubarb Pie

pie dough for a double crust (Come on and make it homemade.  It is sooo much better!)

My Favorite Pie Crust (this makes enough for 4 single pies, 2 double crusted pies, or 2 Galettes.)

3 c. flour

1 1/2 c shortening

1 T. sugar

1 t. salt 

1 egg

1/4-1/3 c. water

1 T. vinegar

3 T. cornstarch

Combine flour, cornstarch, salt and sugar.  Cut in shortening.  I actually like to use Manteca Lard  a lot of the times.  My sisters friend Makita gave us this tip a few years ago and it make delicious pie crust!  Mix egg, cold water, and vinegar.  Blend into flour mixture until it forms a ball.  Try to handle the dough as little as possible.  Makes 4 single pie crusts.  I always make the whole recipe.  If I have dough left over I just plop the dough ball into a Ziploc and put it into the freezer.  All you have to do is thaw and roll when needed.  

Berry Rhubarb Filling

4 c. rhubarb chopped

1-2 c. chopped strawberries, or blackberries or whatever berry you have.  Frozen would work too.

1 1/2 c. sugar

3 T. Clear Gel or cornstarch or flour  (Clear Gel is my fave!)

Stir the fruit together and let it sit until it starts to juice a bit.  Don't worry, the sugar doesn't have to be completely dissolved.

For the Gallette I rolled out half of the dough into a large circle.  Just do your best.  I then transfered it to a large silver cookie sheet.  I poured all the fruit mixture in the middle and folded the edges of the dough up around it.  It turned out soooo pretty I thought, and way easy.  Bake at 375'F for 60- 75 minutes.  Until the pie or gallette is browned and the juices are bubbling out.  Serve warm with cream or vanilla ice cream.  

My Mama's Lasagna

Lasagna assembled, but not baked yet.

There are a few things in this world that I think my mom makes the best.  She makes the best gravy on the planet, the best Dilly Rolls, the best Sunday Dinner, and the best dang Lasagna in the world.  I love it!!  When I was a kid Spaghetti or Lasagna for dinner was a huge treat.  Usually it meant that company was coming over, or it was a special Sunday dinner.  My mom would make a homemade spaghetti sauce that made the entire meal.  It would simmer and bubble for an hour or more, and always tasted so wonderful.

Baked and ready to eat!

A few weeks ago a friend of mine called and asked if I had a good Lasagna recipe.  I do, but it has never made it to the blog until now.  There is another lasagna somewhere amongst my posts, but it is way to labor intensive, and when all is said and done........it just ain't worth it!  This is the lasagna recipe to end your searching.  Of course it is always better with a big yummy green salad, and some hot Great Harvest Sourdough bread, but again I may be a bit biased.  Don't hate me for that.  I hope you enjoy my mother's lasagna.  I know my family does!

MaryAnn Garner's Marinara Sauce

1 lb. hamburger fried with 1 chopped onion (drain fat)

1 lb. Italian Sausage fried with hamburger (my mom doesn't add sausage.  She hates it.)

1-2 qts. stewed tomatoes (I use 2)

2 small cans tomato paste

1 t. dried basil or a bunch of chopped fresh

1 t. dried oregano

1/2 t. cinnamon (secret ingredient.  Don't add if you're making lasagna.  Only for spaghetti.)

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 c. sugar (this is my addition.  My mom doesn't add sugar, but I think it cuts the acidity from the tomatoes)

1/2-1 c. cream or half and half (this is another Lisa addition.  I only use it if I'm using the sauce for spaghetti.  Not lasagna.)

Bring all the ingredients to a simmer for at least 1 hour.  Serve over spaghetti or make lasagna from it.

Lasagna

1 recipe marinara sauce

1 12 oz. box of lasagna noodles cooked (Sometimes I am lazy and just place dry noodles in the lasagna.  I will usually add 1 c. of extra water to the sauce for the noodles to absorb.)

16 oz. cottage cheese

2 eggs mixed into the cheese

Mozzarella cheese 

Fresh spinach leaves (optional)

pesto sauce in the cottage cheese (optional)

In a 9x13 inch pan place a thin layer of sauce.  Top with 5 or 6 noodles.  Layer the cheese mixture over the noodles, and then top with sauce.  Repeat 2 more times.   Sometimes I put a layer of spinach in the mix too, or I will put in 1/4 of a cup of pesto into the cottage cheese mixture.  Just some ideas.  Cover your lasagna with foil and I usually bake my lasagna for 60 minutes in a 375' F. oven.  The last 15 minutes I will take off the tinfoil and sprinkle with the Mozzarella cheese and bake until melted and bubbly.  Let the lasagna sit for 10 minutes to firm up a bit.  Serve with a delicious salad and warm bread.  Yummy! 

Summer Treats

I love my kids too!

I know my mom loved me.  Oh she still does, but want to know how I knew that?  She made me these fabulous treats all the time.  Sometimes there is nothing better than a graham cracker frosted with chocolate frosting.  There was one summer many moons ago that my little sis, a few cousins, and a few neighbor friends all tried our hand at the migrant worker job.  We were cherry pickers.  It was a long summer of real early morning for not a lot of pay, but we had a blast just being together.

Every morning we would wake up at the crotch of dawn  and head down the road to the designated meeting site.  From there, a million little kids would load into the back of pickups and continue on our journey to the cherry orchard.  I'm sure there were some laws about children working or riding in the open bed of a truck, but we wanted to be cherry pickers.  I remember it being pitch black, but still haveing a ball.  We'd laugh, and joke and in the back of the truck as we drove down the highway.  Finally when we made it to the orchard we could see the trees were full of bright cherries.   I remember thinking, "This is awesome!  There are tons of cherries.  We're going to be rich!"  But my excitement was quickly doused by a more experience cherry picker who told us newbies that the trees we were salivating over hadn't been shaken yet.  What the...........we had to pick all the clinger-on-ers off the already shaken trees.  There were like 2 cherries left on each tree and we had to fight for them. After one long and not very fruitful day, my sister and cousin LeAnn decided they were tired of the sparse cherry trees and they ventured over to the un-shaken trees.  There buckets sure filled fast, but boy did they get in trouble.  "Cheater never prosper!!"  They learned quick the wrath of Mrs. Barker.

It was long days.  We'd pick from 3 am until midnight, only to have to walk home uphill in the snow 12 miles.  Just kidding.  We'd pick from 6 am until lunch and then we'd sit in the shade of a cherry tree and open our sack lunches.  Every day my mom would fix something delicious, but there would always be a baggie full of chocolate frosted graham crackers.  It was one of those rare and beautiful moments when food tasted so wonderful.   You know like when a tuna or even a Spam sandwich tastes like it came directly from heaven after freezing and skiing all day.  Those chocolate frosted delicacies never tasted so good as under the cherry trees.  My mom even packed extras after the first day.  The cousins ate them, and the friends ate them, and me and Hollie loved them.  They gave us the energy to finish our cherry picking.  So that's how I know my muther loved me.  She frosted a million grahams to get us through our migrant worker stint.  I remember the day I got paid for picking 300 tons of cherries.  $31.36 to be exact.  I was proud and I saved that money forever.   OK, I actually spent it at the Little Store in Pleasant View buying penny candy, and yes it was worth it.  I'd probably have worked for free as long as my mom made me chocolate frosted grahams.

This is what happens when the red headed 10 year old gets your camera.  Notice it says, "J Loves L".  You'll have to imagine who that might be.  And it's not James loves Lisa:)

Happy Mother's Day Sugar Cookies

Here's a post that I wrote over a year ago, but the topic I felt was very relevant.  Sugar cookies!  I had to post this recipe again because they are down right delicious and secondly because we have made the cutest sugar cookies at the bakery the last few days.  Since I was the froster extraordinaire on the bakery goodies I figured anyone could replicate my style and design.  Ok, there is no style or design, just a yellow frosted flower sugar cookie with chocolate sprinkles in the middle.  Sunflowers for your Muther!!  I even got our big manly baker Ryan to say the word cute.  Sometimes that's a hard one in a boy mind. So I hope you enjoy these cookies.  I'm going to go frost a few hundred more now thanks!!

  I got the recipe from my domestic goddess cousin Lindi, who got it from her good friend Debbie (who by the way is my friend too.  We had debate together at Good Old Weber! Grand Old Weber.  Here's a toast to you!!  Can you hear the school hymn in you mind.  Sorry.)  and Debbie sold her soul I'm sure to come up with this recipe.  It is amazing what a little bit of lemon extract can do to a cookie.  These are delish, and delightful.  I served them at an 8-11 year old Achievement Day Talent show, and James took the rest to Bishop's Training.  I think they called him to be a bishop because they needed a baker in their midst to provide refreshment :)  Here is the recipe, and sorry Lindi and Debbie it isn't a new one for you, but thanks again for it.  It is my favorite!!

Debbie to Lindi to Lisa Sugar Cookies

2 c. Crisco
3 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 t. vanilla
2 t. lemon extract
Cream together

8 c. flour
1 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
12 T. milk
Mix together until smooth.  Roll out with a rolling pin and use cookie cutters.  Bake in a 375'F oven for 8-10 mins.  (I actually baked for 7 mins.)  Cool and frost.

Frosting

1 1/2 cubes butter
2 lbs. powdered sugar
3 t. vanilla
milk to thin

Dilly Rolls

It doesn't matter how long I've cooked or how many different things I try, there are a few things my mom makes that I think are the most amazing recipes in the world.  I have tried many different recipes for some of the items, but I still come back to my dear old mummy's way.  In my opinion there is no better recipe than my mom's for Chocolate Chip cookies, Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with it's touch of cinnamon, Lasagna, gravy, and most importantly Dilly Rolls!  

Whenever I saw these lovely rolls being made, I knew it must be a special occasion.  They aren't made everyday.  Not even every Sunday.  Only special Sunday's when a grandma and grandpa were coming over, or an old lady Christmas dinner, or one special Christmas I remember when both my Grandma Roberts, and my Grandpa Garner were there.  They were divorced before I ever came along, but I remember thinking they might get married again if they could be nice to each other at Christmas:)  The fact that my grandpa's "other" wife was there too wasn't going to burst my bubble.  It was actually the last time I saw my grandpa before he died, and lets just say, that Christmas was wonderful.  My mom has a picture of the Christmas dinner table set with favorite cousins from Twin Falls there, my aunt Jill, my grandma and grandpa and Dilly Rolls!  It really was a special occasion.

My mom gets requests for these rolls from all of her siblings every Christmas.  She's the Dilly Roll queen.  I made them one Sunday years ago when I invited J's mom and dad, and his grandma and grandpa Bingham over.  I remember Grandma Bingham loved them and had to take one home in a napkin.  That is the ultimate compliment.   When someone stuffs their purse with a little treasure in a napkin:)

Since it was conference this weekend and J didn't have to go to church all day, I decided to cook all weekend long.  It got old, all that cooking by Sunday night, but I was so happy when I took a lovely roast beast sandwich on a Dilly Roll with mustard and salt and pepper to bed with me.  I giggled the whole time I ate it.  I always double the recipe because to me the leftover's are what is really important.  I need a sandwich for breakfast the next day as well as a late night snack.   I hope you like them as much as I do, and hopefully they'll appear on you next special dinner table.  

My Muther's Best Dang Dilly Rolls

1 c. cottage cheese

1 egg

1 T. butter

1/4 t. baking soda

Place these ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it is the temp. of formula.  In another bowl add:

1 T. yeast

1/2 c. warm water

1 T. sugar

Add the cottage cheese mixture to the yeast and then add:

1 T. dried minced onion

2 t. dill seed (not weed)

1 t. salt 

2 1/4- 2 1/2 c. of flour

Mix until combined.  It is a sticky batter.  Grease 12 muffin tins and spoon the batter in.  Let rise until their a good size.  Bake in a 350' F oven for 12- 15 mins.  When the rolls come out of the oven, brush the tops with melted butter with a little bit of salt added.  These make the best leftover roast beef sandwiches.

I Beat The Peach Raper

Beauties!

She's pretty dang cute too!

Tis the season for the best dang peaches this side of Brigham.  My ma and pa moved a few years back from our ancestral home to a lovely home on the hill.  I have to admit I hated their moving, and I still can't find anything at my mom's new home, but dang it, I love the peach trees that came along with the purchase.  Wasn't it the Reverend Mother who said to dear Maria, "When the lord closes a door, he always opens a window."  This window that was opened has the lovely scent of peaches wafting through it, and large orange orbs full of juiciness, starring right at you.  If I can't have the pool anymore, at least I can have some peaches.  

Those three little trees that my mom has are amazing.  They produce the biggest, most beautiful peaches, and are just loaded to the hilt.  These few weeks in late Sept. and early Oct. are a peach lovers delight. 

 I have been dying to blog about the peach raper for months now, and the day has finally come.  I am writing it down for posterity.  Last year my mom had been monitoring the progress of the peaches and they were a little slower than the previous year.  It was actually Oct. by the time the peaches were absolutely ready to pick.  Seriously they were beautiful.  Humongous peaches, that I'm sure would have been at least a size DD bra cup.  They were that big.  My mom was leaving town the evening of Oct. 2nd for a few weeks and had told me and my sis-in-law K to come the next morning and pick to our hearts content.  She then proceeded to tell us that a friend of hers was going to come the next day or two and clean up the rest.  K and I had it planned.  We were to meet at the peach tree at a certain time and pick, and tell stories, and giggle like school girls as we picked our treasure.  Then the world came to a complete standstill.  

I got a phone call just a few minutes away from my mom's house the next morning and it was K calling asking where the peach trees were.  What?  K knew exactly where they were and I thought she must be having one of those pregnant lady moments.  "K they are right in back, down the rocks.  You know the trees with the huge orange things growing on them."  I said.  Her response to me was, "There are only naked trees Lisa.  There isn't a thing on any tree or any peaches even on the ground."  How could this be?  K must be blind.  I don't know, but this could not be true.   I started to cry and then I said a few swear words. ( I'm sorry, but those little four letter words sometimes just get the best of me.  I'm really working on this.  I'm really trying to act like a bishop's wife.)  There were supposed to be peaches galore for us, but now there was nothing.  

I got to my mom's and we inspected and sure enough there wasn't even a squished peach in the grass.  If I hadn't seen the peaches the week before I would not have known those three little trees contained peaches.  Those poor little peach trees had been totally stripped and raped by my mothers good for nothing moochy friend.  (I am getting all worked up about this just remembering.)  I called my mom, but since they were in-flight to a sunny lovely location all I could do was leave a teary message, and travel home wishing I had just had a bad dream.  To find out, the nasty woman had come immediately after my parents left the night before and took every last peach.  They even vacuumed the grass of all traces of peaches.  We figured there were at least 15 bushels of peaches on those trees, and I hoped she choked on her peach crisp, and peach cobbler, and fresh peaches with 1/2 and 1/2 since I wasn't going to get any of those things that year.  

We put a friend ban on my mom this year.  She could have nothing to do with the peach raper, and everyone would feel better all the way around.   I know my mom felt liberated!  Or at least I felt a little bit of justice, or was it revenge?  I don't care, but the peach raper gets no peaches this year.  I picked 5 buckets the other day and I have been enjoying every moment of canning them, and eating them fresh, and all sorts of peach loveliness.  There's going to be a large sum of peach posts over the next couple of days thanks to these beauties.  Thanks mummy dearest for the lovely organic peaches, and for all the help picking.  It's such a treat!!  Your the best and I love you're stinking guts!  So be on the lookout for the peach raper.  She seems nice, but there is an evil side to her.  She doesn't like to share....... but two can play that game.  (Just kidding- I'm sure she's got 300 quarts left over from last year so she doesn't need any this year right?Good way to justify huh!)

Happy Mother's Day to My Muther

I don't think my mom likes Mother's Day because she always seems

to be out of town on that day. I could be wrong, but wouldn't you take it as a sign that she doesn't like the day? Actually it is their Anniversary this week and they're enjoying Hawaii. Lucky ducks. So since I can't sing "Mother I love You, Mother I doooo!"

in sacrament meeting for her today, this post is a tribute to her, and to

show her what she's missing out on treat wise:) and to let her know I love her!

I actually love Mother's Day, more for everyone else than just for me. I love to tell everyone, "Happy Muther's Day, you muther!" Doesn't that sound a little scandelous?

In a good way of course. I also love the way my kids treat me on Mother's Day. My favorite card still is one that Jake made me a few years ago at school.

Each page had a different way he loved me written down and why. On the last page it said, "I will always remember you........." and the kids had to fill it in. Jake wrote, "I will always

remember you when I am on my mission. Crap it is making

me cry right now. It was just a little reinforcement that maybe

I am doing something right as a mom. So happy Muther's Day to all you little muther's out there. But especially to my mom!! I love her guts, and

I think she is and was the best mom ever!

I'm going to list the things my mom taught me, and why I am greatful. First off thanks for teaching me how to make gravy! When I got married it was the only

thing I new how to make, but I can make a mean, lump

free gravy everytime. Every Sun. it was my job to stir the

gravy, as my mom made it. I even got to do this at her house last Sunday.

She would test and stir, and all the while I was learning

from her example. I don't ever remember

her saying, "Now you add this, and do this, and then do that." it was always

just example. Good Mom!

Next is how to keep a clean home. Ours was always spotless, and

I still leave my microwave for her to clean when she comes to

visit. She just does a great job, and is always willing

to help out. I think about her clean house daily. Especially when mine isn't so clean, and I'm trying to be more like her everyday. She could have company drop by at anytime, and not feel a bit sheepish for the mess. There never is one!

I learned a love of serving others through

my mom. I remember all the hours spent at my

grandma Barker's house while my mom put her mom's and her grandma's hair in pin curls. She did it weekly for as long as they were alive. She even did it for their funerals.

She was always doing compassionate service through church, and making dinner for many a sick person in the ward. Every Christmas for years there was

an old man who loved her Praline Pecans, and she

would make him a huge batch for him to share with his family. He always wanted to pay her for it, but she woudn't take it. She just did it out of kindness.

I learned a love for older people through

my mom too. Every Christmas when my dad was

the bishop, she would prepare a special Christmas dinner for

all the widows in our ward. It was always a highlight of the season. I think there were 14-15 little old ladies in our area, and my mom would make

the most deluxe dinner for them. Red table

cloth, Christmas dishes, red stemware,

and a dinner you'd die for. I loved serving the food to the ladies, and seeing them all gussied up. They would tell stories, and I'm sure it was the

most wonderful night of their year. We loved this little tradition!

There are so many other qualities that my mom has that I try

to emmulate everyday. I am thankful for her generous

nature, willingness to talk, willingness to give advice, and also the willingness to

not give advice sometimes. In some circumstances that's

important too. She is always proud of you, and lets me know I;m doing a good job.

I wish you a Happy

Mother's Day mom!!! I love you, and all that you've done for me and my little family. I may have not been your favorite person for quite a few years

growing up, but you are mine now!! I love you and I

hope Hawaii is wonderful, and when you get home I've got some flowers to plant for you!! You're the best!

Here's the treat she's missing. It's probably a good thing

though since we're always on a diet. My mom's favorite dessert is Stawberry Rhubarb Pie, but I must say she may like these little love cups a bit too. The Clawson's are getting them today though. I love the Clawson's too! They are Lucious Lemon

Cupcakes. I have found a new favorite, and I'll bet you $10 they'll

be your favorite too. It's a simple enough

recipe. Just a white or yellow cake mix, but it's what you do after that, that is impressive. Make a batch of Lemon Curd.....the recipe is off the box of

cornstarch. It's just a Lemon Meringue filling, or I guess you could make lemon Jello too. After the cupcakes are cooled you fill a ziploc bag full

of the lemon goodness and stick it into the top of

the cupcake and squirt about 2 T. of the filling in. It works best with a big frosting tip. Then frost with the frosting. They are sooooooo dang good.

And perfect for a lovely little Mother's Day brunch, or dinner!

Again I love you Mom!!!

Lovely Lemon Cupcakes

1 box white or yellow cake mix made according to directions

2 t. lemon zest in cake batter

Make a double batch of lemon curd off the back of a box of cornstarch

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz cream cheese

1 cube butter

1 pkg. powdered sugar

zest of a lemon, lime and orange

1 c. stabilized whipped cream

1 c. cream whipped,¼ c. powdered sugar1 t. gelatin dissolved in ¼ c. cold water. When bloomed melt over low heat on the stove until melted. Drizzle into cream as you are whipping.

To assemble cupcakes pipe cool lemon curd into the top of the cupcakes. About 2 T. Make cream cheese frosting and then fold in ½ c. lemon curd, and the stabilized whipped cream. Pipe on the top of the cupcakes.