Providing helpful information regarding our feathered, feline, and canine friends while also sharing fun stories. And locally we provide pet sitting services.
‘Tis the season for baking. At least for me, and I think in general. It’s a great way to celebrate the holidays, spend time together, and of course, eat yummy treats. I try to plan my holiday bake-off when I have several days off. But alas, that won’t happen till after Christmas. However, I decided to make something small, one of my favorite desserts. And it’s based on an Italian Cream Cake recipe I found on the web.
Italian Cream Cake and Italian Wedding Cake are used interchangeably as well, because they are one and the same. But are they Italian desserts? No one knows for sure, except they are typically made in the southern United States. Furthermore, the most popular time to bake them is during the holidays. Additionally, you can try making this with a box cake mix. Though, I made this one from scratch.
Ingredients for Italian Cream Cake
2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 sticks of butter softened
3/4 c Truvia
1/2 c brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
5 eggs
1 c buttermilk
14 oz of flaked coconut toasted and divided
1 1/2 c chopped pecans toasted and divided
The frosting for Italian Cream Cake is usually either cream cheese, whipping cream, or cream cheese with whipping cream. Although, I’ve also seen a recipe with buttercream frosting.
However, instead of using the recipe from the internet, or any varieties of it, I just made cream cheese with whipping cream, sans the butter. Yet I added other key ingredients to make it more Italian Cream Cakey.
8 oz cream cheese softened
2 c whipping cream
1/4 c Truvia
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
remaining toasted coconut
1/2 c remaining toasted chopped pecans
Instructions for Italian Cream Cake
Preheat oven to 350.
Liberally spray 3 9-inch cake pans with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
Stir flour, baking soda and baking powder together.
Then in a large bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter, Truvia, brown sugar, vanilla and almond extracts. And beat until creamy.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one.
Next, mix the dry ingredients by turns with the buttermilk. And once all of it has been incorporated, mix on high until completely blended.
Add in 1/2 of the toasted coconut and 1 c of toasted chopped pecans by hand. The mixture will be thick.
Then divide the batter evenly between all 3 pans; it comes to almost 2 c apiece. And bake 22-28 mins or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely on cooling racks.
For the cream cheese/whipping cream frosting:
Beat the cream cheese until creamy.
Next, add the whipping cream, a cup at a time. Beat thoroughly after each cup.
Then add the Truvia, vanilla and almond extracts, and remaining pecans. And mix well.
After you’ve turned your first cake out onto a platter, line the plate with wax paper strips. (This will hopefully make clean-up easier.) Frost the cake between the layers. Likewise top with the final layer, frosting the top and sides. In addition, press the remaining toasted coconut on the sides of the cake. And voila, you’re done.
Photo by George Dolgikh @ Giftpundits.com on Pexels.com
Dogs account for the bulk of pets in the United States. And according to the American Pet Products Association pet statistics (APPA), dog owners spend ~ $1400 annually on their pets. While cat owners spend ~ $900 annually. These numbers represent medical, food, services, gifts and supplies. Also, the average that was spent on gifts last year on both cats and dogs was ~ $300 combined per a survey by TD Ameritrade. 51% of pet owners reported buying Christmas gifts for their pets last year, while 56% affirm they will do so this year. And ~ 80% of pet owners buy gifts regardless. With that in mind, we’ll look at some pet gift ideas for Christmas.
We too have gotten our dogs gifts for Christmas over the years. Like bones or rawhide. But this is the first year I’ve bought costumes and special toys, intended as gifts for my cat and even chickens! Have I gone off the deep end?
Many companies joined the ‘pet gift’ bandwagon, like Target and Walmart, stocking their shelves in hopes of competing with online retailers. Which makes sense in light of the fact that during last year’s lockdown, many people adopted pets as pandemic companions. Again, American pet owners spent a whopping $99 billion on their fur babies last year. Moreover, that included medical, food, services, splurges on gifts, plastic surgery, and even the pets themselves.
Dog Gift Ideas
There are numerous gift ideas to get your pooch, but these are just a few that I’ve come up with:
I’ve been seeing these dog beds on my Google feed for a few days. They advertise that they support better sleep, superior comfort and anti-anxiety. And it sells on Amazon.com.
Ok, this is similar to a frisbee, but a lot more durable. And it’s not intended to be a chew toy, but with the Zogoflex it’s made out of, it can endure tugging, chewing, fetch, etc. Also, it’s gentle on your dog’s mouth.
Cat Gift Ideas
Similarly, there are a number of items you can find for your kitty. However, just like with your doggy, these are just a sample of what I found:
A self cleaning litter box with crystal litter that’s supposed to eliminate odor 5X more effectively than traditional litters. What cat owner wouldn’t want that?
These are just what they sound like, and they’re the right size for your feline friend. This is Itty Bitty’s favorite toy, other than my hand and her backpack.
You could get your companion pet a treat or treats, however make sure it’s something they can eat. Although, if your pet has a weight issue, like they’re on the chubby side, you might want to skip the treats and get a toy instead.
Other Pet Gift Ideas
There are loads of sites out there, Amazon.com the most popular. However, Chewy is gaining ground, and they have amazing customer service. Along with the sites are numerous choices on gifts for your fur babies: Santa hats, reindeer antlers, sweaters, and clothing in general, if they can tolerate it. And make sure the clothing isn’t tight or restrictive. Though, you could go all out and send your pet to the pet spa. That is, if they don’t have separation anxiety.
Gift Ideas for Backyard Chickens
My last suggestions are for any pets you might have in your backyard. Chickens and ducks are not demanding, but they are curious. And they like to eat. So if you have some chickens and you want to splurge on them, you can get:
Attach a xylophone to the coop at their level. And see if one (or all of them) will develop an ear for music. *Mine never did, but that was a long time ago. So maybe I’ll try it again.
Hang cabbage from the ceiling/rafters of the run. Chickens love cabbage, and it takes time for them to eat it this way, because it’s a challenge. It also stimulates their natural foraging instincts.
There are a lot of gift ideas for your fur or feather babies, either online or in-store. And you don’t have to spend a ton to get them. Your pet loves you no matter what, and more than anything, they want to spend time with you.
Recently I shared when to cull roosters and Pekin ducks. And I also covered how to process roosters. So now you may be wondering how to process Pekin ducks. In the last post about ducks, I mentioned that in our backyard, it’s similar to processing chickens, which basically means we don’t keep the skin on.
We don’t bother de-feathering either our chickens or our ducks, because it’s a lot harder than just skinning them. Yes, the skin does taste great. But when I buy chicken from the grocery store, I usually just buy it skinless anyway, so this isn’t any different. Except we’re doing the work.
If possible, remove the feed from the duck you’ve selected ~12-18 hours before you plan on processing it. However you can still allow it to have water.
Instructions to process Pekin ducks
Hang the duck upside down in the kill cone
Hanging it upside down, with the blood rushing to its head, ironically calms it down. Also, our kill cone is attached to the designated ‘killing’ tree, one that’s out of view of our backyard animals.
Because our chickens fit nicely into the kill cone, they don’t necessarily need to be tied to the tree. Although the duck is bigger, so securely attach the duck’s legs with twine, rope, or wire. We used rope.
Cull the duck
Some people shoot their ducks, break their necks, use a hatchet, etc. But it’s important that you have everything you need before starting, because, once again, ducks are bigger and tougher than chickens.
After you’ve done the deed, let the blood drain out for a few minutes, knowing that the body will convulse, but it truly is dead. And when the duck has stopped moving, take it out of the cone and cut off the head, assuming you didn’t use a hatchet to do the deed.
Periodically change your gloves as they get soiled and covered in duck juices.
Pluck the feathers off of the breasts and legs, giving you access to the skin
Once the feathers are off, starting at the breast bone, with your sharp knife, fillet breasts off of bones until you get to the drumsticks
Then slice around the hip, exposing the pelvic joint; and cut through the pelvic joint, which will detach the drumsticks from the carcass
Also, there isn’t enough meat on the wings; they’re scrawny, so leave them alone
Next, cut bottom part of the legs off
And finally, cut the legs off at the hip joint
Finishing up
Put everything you’re not keeping into the 5 gallon bucket to bury when you’re finished
Then rinse the meat off with a hose before putting it in the metal bowl
And with clean gloves on, bring the bowl to your kitchen and package the meat
This doesn’t have to be elaborate freezer packaging; you can just wrap it in plastic wrap for now
Then refrigerate or chill the meat
Chilling the duck meat for ~24 hours will help the muscles relax and tenderize; after 24 hours, you can decide on whether you’ll cook it or freeze it
Next, return outside to clean up
Bring the knife inside; lay it in the sink and spray with a bleach spray. And once you’re back outside, rinse all of the blood off of the work table, and then thoroughly spray it with your bleach spray. Leave it like that for ~ 10 mins before rinsing.
Detach the kill cone and bring it inside to run it under hot water. After 10 mins, rinse the bleach spray from your table and clean the knife as directed by the manufacturer. Clean the cone with dish soap and hot water.
So that’s how you process Pekin ducks. But if you prefer trying to keep the duck whole, rather than in pieces, then try this site. And here are some alternative instructions in the event you want to keep the skin.
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After Thanksgiving many of us are tired of turkey and stuffing, especially if we’ve had it for a few days. I know when I was younger there was little variation with Thanksgiving leftovers. However, as I got older, and started having holidays at my own home, I didn’t want to waste the food. So I experimented. Below will be a recipe for easy turkey pot pie with Thanksgiving leftovers.
Maybe you had a big turkey this year too. Perhaps every Thanksgiving you get a big turkey. But I try to plan accordingly, so I don’t end up with a lot of leftovers, because I don’t like the waste. Sometimes I feel like I was raised during the Great Depression. Between my dad and my maternal grandparents, being frugal is ingrained in me.
I know I could give what’s left to my chickens, (before it’s spoiled) though, that still seems wasteful. And this year when we bought our bird, we had to go to 3 different stores. Not by choice, by necessity, unfortunately. But we couldn’t find anything smaller than 19 lbs, which means a lot of leftovers.
Anyway, this really is an easy recipe. Mostly because the turkey is already cooked. I based it off of chicken pot pie, but I just substituted turkey for chicken and added mashed potatoes.
Ingredients for Turkey Pot Pie using Thanksgiving leftovers:
3 c shredded or cubed cooked leftover Thanksgiving turkey
3 c leftover Thanksgiving mashed potatoes or fresh mashed potatoes
1 1/2 c cooked green beans or mixed vegetables
10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
2 refrigerated pie crusts
Instructions for easy Turkey Pot Pie with Thanksgiving leftovers:
Preheat oven to 425 and grease 13″x9″ pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Then melt some butter in a dutch oven or 4 1/2 quarts size pan before adding the turkey. Stir and add the potatoes, veggie, and condensed soups.
Also, you can add salt and pepper to taste at this point, if you want. But I feel like it already has enough, since it’s leftovers, and plus the condensed soups. However, it’s up to you.
Next, pour or spoon the mixture into your prepared pan.
And unroll the refrigerated pie crusts, one at a time, and cover the mixture.
One crust will cover ~ half of the pan; the other will cover the other half. Though, it won’t look perfect. But if you want it to be perfect, you can make a crust.
One of my refrigerated pie crusts wasn’t cooperating at first, as you can see in the center.
Using a fork, prick the pie crusts thoroughly to allow steam to escape, and put the pot pie into the oven.
Bake at 425 for 15 mins; then lower the temperature to 350 for ~40 mins.
Add foil to the edges of the crust when it gets golden brown to prevent it from burning. The pot pie is done when the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
There are other ways to make new meals out of your Thanksgiving leftovers. I still had plenty of turkey even after making the pot pie. So I bagged up the rest and put it in the freezer. And one of these days I’ll make soup. Or maybe chili. Check this out for more ideas.
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The weather is colder, leaves litter the ground, and stores are busier as people get their turkeys and the trimmings. All of which indicates Thanksgiving is right around the corner. And whereas it’s a time of feasting with family and friends, you have to consider your pets and Thanksgiving, like what treats, if any, you give them.
Also, some of you will stay home and spend the holiday with family at your own homes. While others will travel. But what about your pets? Do you board them or take them with you? Below are some tips to keep your pets safe and hopefully stress-free this Thanksgiving.
Pets and Thanksgiving Food Risks
First, I’m going to cover foods to avoid giving your pets, like dogs and cats. Although, if you have a bunny, check this out for a list of things to avoid, as well as treats that are safe. So don’t give your pets:
The stuffing could contain raisins or grapes, let alone the other ingredients. And if your fur baby eats any, it can cause kidney failure in cats and dogs.
Also, while we can eat onions and garlic, they’re toxic to your pets.
Don’t let your pet have chocolate or raw eggs from cake or cookie batter. And avoid letting them have desserts which could contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in chewing gum, because it’s toxic to your fur babies.
Uncooked yeast ferments the carbohydrates in bread dough, producing carbon dioxide and ethanol. When your pet eats raw dough, it continues this process in their stomach. And your fur baby becomes muddled, bloated, and has impaired coordination, the result of alcohol poisoning.
Poultry bones are small and brittle, making them especially dangerous to your cats and dogs. Whether the bones break or not, they can get stuck in your pets’ GI tracts. Or break a tooth, perforate their intestines, or cause an intestinal blockage. None of which are good, and all would require a vet visit.
If, on the other hand, you have backyard chickens and want to get rid of that turkey carcass, go on ahead and give it to them. It won’t bother them one bit. Actually, any leftovers you have, except dessert, should be fine. They’ll eat it all. See this for more details on what your backyard birds can or can’t have.
Thanksgiving Treats that are Safe for Pets
If you’re disposed to feed a feast to your pet, first there are a couple of requirements. DON’T substitute treats for their regular food. And a good rule of thumb to follow is to give your pet no more than 10% of their daily caloric needs.
For instance, our dog Sophie weighs 30 lbs, and her daily caloric intake is ~600. So we shouldn’t give her treats in excess of 60 calories. Thus, her total treats shouldn’t be more than 60 calories combined.
But for your pets on Thanksgiving, you can either buy them their own special treat, or you can offer them:
You can give your pets fresh, plain cranberries in moderation. Though canned cranberry sauce is too sweet to give to them, while dried cranberries often have added sugar. Although, your fur baby might not eat plain, fresh cranberries, so try cooking them (without sugar) and combine them with pumpkin.
Apples are a great snack for your fur baby, but again, moderation is key. And be sure the pieces aren’t a choking risk, and remove the seeds and core.
pumpkin
Canned pumpkin is better than fresh pumpkin, because it’s cooked and has a higher concentration of fiber. But, if you get canned pumpkin, make certain it’s NOT pumpkin piefilling.
Both cats and dogs can have plain, green beans. However, cats need their veggies cooked since they lack an adequate way to break down plant cell walls.
***If you think your pet has eaten something on the ‘Do Not Eat’ list, call you vet or a local clinic ASAP. Signs of pain/suffering include an immediate change in behavior, lethargy, pain, vomiting, or loose stools.
Even if you have the calmest fur baby in the world, there’s still a lot to look out for and to be aware of when mixing guests and pets. Below are some tips for your pets to have an anxiety-free time.
Guests can stress our pets
When we have company, our cats hide in our bedrooms. And when we had Mabel, our bunny, he would also hide in my room, but under the bed.
Both cats and dogs experience stress when company visits their homes, however it’s for different reasons. Dogs are territorial, while cats don’t like things happening outside of the routine. But, if you’re already aware that your pet is nervous with a crowd, then put them in a separate room, closed off from access to guests, with some toys.
Or you could put your pet in a crate with their favorite toy, if you think someone might disturb them, to protect your guests. If your fur baby is very upset by company, talk to your vet about alternative solutions to this issue.
Just as our pets can get anxious by strangers in their home, our company can get nervous around our pets. Or the types of pets we keep, and exotic pets are no exception. So keep your company and exotic animals firmly away from each other.
With that in mind, if any of your guests are immune-compromised or pregnant, inform them about any and all pets, especially any exotics you may have.
If your pets get on well with company, this is even more important, because in the confusion of people coming and going, your pet can step out the door with no one the wiser.
Be sure that your fur baby has the most up-to-date identification, especially a microchip with current, registered information. That way, in the event they do manage to get out, they’re more likely to be reunited with you. If your pet isn’t microchipped, talk to your vet about it.
Watch your pet around decorations and plants
Don’t leave your pet alone with a burning candle, because accidents happen, and it could lead to a fire. Also, when it comes to decorating with plants, there are many that are harmful to pets. So it’s best to keep all plants and table decorations away from your fur babies.
Traveling with Your Pet at Thanksgiving
Now if you’re traveling with your pet, there are other things you need to take care of, such as:
making sure your fur baby’s vaccinations are up-to-date.
restraining your pet while driving, either in their carrier or a secure harness.
and finally, never leave your pet alone in the car.
If you’re like me, with 20-something backyard birds, 5 or 6 ducks, 3 cats, one that’s still intact and lives in the house, and 1 female dog, who’s also still intact and lives in the house, you might be trapped to your home. And thus, pets, because they all have a lot of different requirements.
But it’s ok, because I love them. However, I’d like to hear about you and your pets around the holidays. What do you do? Do you take your pets with you or do you board them? Or get a neighbor to keep an eye on things?
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As soon as October arrives, it seems to me as if we’re in a race to get to January, because everything starts speeding along. First there’s several birthdays, and then it’s one holiday after another. Not to mention we lose daylight, so the days seem shorter. But don’t get me wrong, this is my favorite time of year. However, the thing I enjoy most is the taste of fall.
TASTE OF FALL
Well, what does that mean, you might ask. To me the taste of fall is pumpkin, allspice, ginger and cinnamon. And the smells and flavors can bring back memories of childhood holidays. Maybe individually. Or perhaps a blend of them. After all, some of my favorite recipes contain these very ingredients. So I want to share them with you.
Pumpkin Muffins
This is not my own recipe, and I’ve had it for 10+ years. Although I can’t tell you whose recipe it was originally, because I got it out of a library book and failed to get that relevant info. However, this is great to make and eat when warm, right out of the oven. And rather than raisins, you could substitute chocolate chips, if you’d prefer.
Ingredients for Pumpkin Muffins:
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 c sugar
3/4 c raisins
1/2 tbsp each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 c can of pumpkin
1/2 c vegetable oil
1/2 c water
The recipe doesn’t call for it, but I also added ~ 1/4 c of shredded coconut.
Instructions for Pumpkin Muffins:
Preheat oven to 375; and then line and grease 2 muffin pans with cupcake liners and non-stick cooking spray.
Combine the first 9 ingredients into a large bowl and make a well in the center of the mixture.
Next, beat the eggs and remaining 3 ingredients together.
Then add the egg mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring until moistened.
Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling 2/3 full.
And bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Finally, remove from the pans immediately.
You can either eat the muffins as is, with nothing on them. However, I usually melt some butter and dip the tops of the muffins into the melted butter and then in some sugar. Another option is to make a glaze, using some milk and powdered sugar until you have the desired consistency, drizzling the glaze onto the muffins.
Pumpkin Sandwich Cake
This is another one of my all-time favorite taste of fall recipes, and consequently I make it almost every Thanksgiving. And just like the recipe above, I’ve had it over 10+ years, however I have no idea where it came from. Possibly a magazine. Furthermore, this is a rich dessert, with the ganache frosting and cheesecake type filling. Though it isn’t very sweet, just rich.
Ingredients for Pumpkin Sandwich Cake:
3/4 c flour
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1 c granulated sugar
3/4 c canned pumpkin
1 c whipping cream, divided
1/2 c powdered sugar
4 oz of cream cheese
1 c semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions for Pumpkin Sandwich Cake:
Preheat oven to 375 and spray 2 round standard cake pans with non-stick cooking spray.
Then line the bottoms of the pans with wax paper and lightly flour them.
In a bowl, combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt; and then set aside.
In a second bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar until thick, ~5 mins.
Next, beat in pumpkin, and add the flour mixture, and beat until combined.
Then spread the batter into the pans, and bake 16-18 mins. (They will be thin, and this is normal.)
Cool ~ 10 mins.
Filling: in a chilled mixing bowl, beat 1/2 c whipping cream till soft peaks form; set aside.
And in another bowl, beat cream cheese till smooth. Then beat in the powdered sugar, and fold in the whipped cream.
Next, turn out one cake onto a platter, and spread the cream cheese filling on top of that layer.
Then turn out the second layer on top of the cream cheese layer. The cakes will sort of resemble large pancakes.
Now it’s time for the ganachefrosting.
In a small saucepan bring the remaining whipping cream just to boiling over medium-hi heat. Then remove from heat, and pour over the chocolate chips in a medium bowl. DO NOT STIR. Just let it stand for 5 minutes.
After 5 mins, stir until it’s smooth, and then cool for 15 minutes. If the frosting is too thin, chill for 30 minutes; if it’s too thick, add some milk.
And finally, spread over the tops and sides of the cake and sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice. Chill 1 hour before serving and store in the refrigerator.
I started making pumpkin cheesecakes, alternately for Thanksgiving and Christmas, in the late 1990s when I first had a slice at a cafe outside of Nordstrom’s in the Galleria Mall in Dallas. It was divine, a combination of one of my favorite flavors and that distinct taste of fall. Also, I’ve gotten different recipes out of magazines and cookbooks, but I never made the same recipe twice until a couple of years ago. It was a Southern Living recipe, was pretty easy to make, and it tasted wonderful.
Gingerbread Loaf
My fourth taste of fall has the right blend of ginger, molasses, and sugar. Plus, it can be served for breakfast or as a dessert to complement a meal. And it reminds me of gingerbread cookies, which I love, because they’re not too sweet.
The recipe comes from Betty Crocker’s Best Christmas cookbook, 1st edition, published in 1999. Also, the recipe is originally intended as muffins, however I make it into a loaf. See below for instructions on how to cook as muffins. Moreover, if you choose to do that, you can melt butter, dip the tops of the muffins into the butter and then into sugar. Or make a glaze and drizzle over the muffins.
Ingredients for Gingerbread Loaf:
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c molasses
1/3 c each of milk and vegetable oil
1 egg
2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp each of baking powder and ground ginger
1/2 tsp each of salt, baking soda, and cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
Instructions for Gingerbread Loaf:
Heat oven to 350, and grease 1 standard loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Beat brown sugar, molasses, milk, oil, and egg in a large bowl, using a spoon. Then stir in the remaining ingredients just until the flour is moistened.
Next, pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, and bake 45-55 mins or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Then cool for ~ 10 minutes before turning out. And you can serve warm if you want.
**If you make muffins, raise the oven temperature to 400 and only cook the muffins for 18-20 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
This is my final best-liked, taste of fall recipe, and it too includes ginger and cinnamon. But I started making this a couple of years ago when I subscribed to receive Taste of Home magazines. It’s their Vanilla-Glazed Gingerbread Scones recipe from their October/November 2019 issue. And, even though I haven’t had it long, I still have made this particular recipe several times.
Ingredients for Gingerbread Scones:
2 c all purpose flour
1/4 c packed light brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp cold butter
3/4 c heavy whipping cream
1 large egg, room temperature
1/4 c molasses
1 tbsp maple syrup
Glaze:
1 c confectioners’ sugar
1/4 c heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash of salt
1/4 c of minced crystallized ginger
Instructions for Gingerbread Scones:
Preheat oven to 400. In a large bowl, whisk the first 6 ingredients. Then cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. In another bowl, whisk cream, egg, molasses, and syrup until blended; stir into crumb mixture just until moistened.
Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake until golden brown, 12-15 mins.
Glaze: In a small bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla and salt; stir until smooth. Then drizzle over scones and sprinkle with ginger. Serve warm.
What is your taste of fall? Are there recipes that you make over every year, because they remind you of the season? Or because your family just loves them so much? I’d love to hear about them.
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Recently I mentioned ways to make a bakery style cake when making box cake mixes. And usually those tips work great for most, if not all, cake mixes. However I also noted that October is Smith family birthday month, and at the end of the month we celebrated my youngest’s birthday. She wanted a red velvet cake, therefore I needed to know how to make a red velvet cake mix better.
I could have made her cake from scratch, but I’m busier than I think I’ve ever been before. Thus time was and is precious. So as long as the cake tasted good, I was fine with using a box cake. Consequently I did a little research, knowing ahead of time the add-ins and switches I was already planning on making and then discovering a couple of new things. The following is the recipe I used for my daughter’s birthday cake.
Ingredients for a better red velvet cake mix
2 boxes of red velvet cake mix
1 cup of melted butter
6 large eggs
1 c of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 1/2 c buttermilk
2 egg yolks
1 large package of instant chocolate pudding
1 tsp vanilla extract
handful of lightly floured chocolate chips
Originally, when I was in the planning phase of this birthday cake, I wanted to make it a 2 tier cake like the last cake. However, when I went to the grocery store, there were only 2 red velvet box cakes left. So I bought those and 1 box of Duncan Hines dark chocolate fudge. With this recipe you can either make a standard double layer round cake, a 13 x 9 inch single layer cake, or cupcakes.
Instructions for a better red velvet cake mix
Preheat the oven to 350
Grease your pans with non-stick cooking spray
In a large bowl or stand mixer, blend your first 9 ingredients together, starting on low speed
Increase your speed to medium, scraping the sides of the bowl
And beat on medium speed a minute more, a little bit longer if using a hand mixer
Next, stir the lightly floured chocolate chips into the batter
Then pour 5 1/3 cups each of the batter into your prepared pans
Remember, it’s important to measure the batter of your hacked cake mix, because if you don’t, your cake might overflow!
Bake 30-35 mins or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean
Allow the cake(s) to cool ~10 minutes before turning it out, and a further 2-3 hours or overnight to completely cool before frosting
Furthermore, I made the cream cheese frosting, while Hannah decorated the cake and cupcakes.
It’s interesting to note that a lot of people, when doctoring their red velvet cakes, choose instead to make yellow cakes and add food coloring. There are many tasty ways to hack a box cake. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post.
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Not long ago, I posted a recipe for marinated duck. You probably guessed that the duck came from our backyard. And if so, you would be correct, because we have Pekin, mallard, and hybrid ducks. But I never covered when to process Pekin ducks. Or even how to cull them. However I get to that in another post.
Processing Pekin ducks is different than chickens, because it isn’t based on the seasons. When I discussed culling roosters, we found out chicken people typically cull and process their birds in the fall. But again, that isn’t the case with ducks.
Due to their large amount of feathers, waterfowl are generally slaughtered at 3 different times during their life cycle. And this is because it’s easier to pluck their plumage when there are no immature or pin feathers. So this is around 7, 12 1/2, or 18 weeks for ducks. Unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Best Times to Process Ducks
Pekin ducks put on weight faster than chickens, so you don’t have to worry about meat. But if you’re planning on plucking the feathers, then the best time to cull them is when there are no pin feathers. Again, that’s when the ducks are 7, 12.5, or 18 weeks old.
However I mentioned that there are other conditions that could come up, prompting a desire for marinated duck. For example, at some point, you might have an excess of drakes compared to ducks. Or you could have an abusive drake, who needs to go. Which is what happened with us in both cases.
Two Pekins and a mallard made up our original ducks that we bought from Atwood’s, during the lockdown, last year in May. Though, after my husband incubated some eggs, we ended up with a surplus of drakes. 2 more to be exact. Kirishima was the most senior drake. But he was also the most aggressive. And we thought that, after mating season, he would calm down, however that didn’t happen.
When to Process Pekin Ducks
You can cull a duck at any time you want or whenever circumstances demand it. Furthermore, duck meat can be eaten at any age (of the bird), but, as expected, it’s more tender the younger the bird is. And just as with processing roosters, we don’t de-feather. Rather we just skin the birds, which is the easiest method. However then you mainly get the breasts. So if you prefer a whole bird that also looks nice, skinning your duck won’t be an option.
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Recently I posted a recipe for making a bakery style cake, but I didn’t include the recipe for the frosting. Most of the time my go-to frosting is made from whipping cream and Truvia. However, when my daughter and I made the baby shower cake, we needed a frosting that was going to hold up to decorating as well as taste good. And buttercream was the best option. So here is an easy homemade buttercream frosting.
Ingredients for Homemade Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
2 cups of softened butter
~ 4 cups of powdered sugar
3 tsps of vanilla
4 – 6 tbsps of heavy cream
Instructions for Homemade Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
First, put the softened butter into a mixing bowl, and with a mixer, beat it until smooth.
Next, mix in the powdered sugar, blending in about 1/2 cup at a time into the butter.
Then add the salt and vanilla until well mixed.
Finally, combine in the heavy cream until the frosting is the perfect consistency.
When I was looking up information on buttercream recipes, most, if not all, of them called for a lot of powdered sugar. But when I made, first the chocolate buttercream and then the vanilla buttercream frosting, I realized I didn’t really need as much as all of the recipes were calling for.
Also, if your frosting is too thin, that’s the primary method of thickening it. But that’s not the only way, if you don’t want a sickly sweet frosting, and your icing needs more weight.
Although, if you don’t mind your cake being very sweet, then by all means, add as much powdered sugar as you want. But be sure your frosting is spreadable.
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In July of this year (2021) we got a new member of our household. She’s an Australian Shepherd Mix. The ‘mix’ is part miniature Aussie. And she’s about 7 1/2 months old. I briefly mentioned her before, however not in any detail. So, without further ado, I want you to meet our newest pet: Sophie!
Not that we didn’t have enough animals to keep us busy. But there was still a hole to be filled for my husband and middle daughter, because our last dog passed away around the beginning of last year (2020).
For the longest time the only kind of animal we had was a dog. And it was usually the same kind of dog for the past 20 years. But obviously not the same dog. And since our Sheltie, Moses, died last year, Paul and Hannah have wanted another one. Even though we have enough animals to go around.
At first Hannah looked through ads or Googled similar animals to Moses. However that soon proved to be cost prohibitive. Think thousands of dollars.
When Paul and I first married, he already had a Sheltie. So we got another one, which was the runt of the litter. But she only cost us ~$350. Then when both of them passed away, (due to old age and an accident), we got Moses. Again he was the last of the litter. And we got him for the swinging deal of $200. That was in 2006.
Fast forward to present day, and we realized quickly that the cost of dogs is definitely not the same. It seemed like every dog we were interested in or called about had AKC papers. Although we could care less about such things. Because we would’ve been interested in another runt without papers. What do breeders do with those dogs?
We toyed with the idea of getting one from a shelter. However we weren’t certain we’d be able to find a dog that would match our home: We have chickens, ducks, 3 cats, and an 11 year old. And we also had a bunny at the time.
Several months and a scam later, one of our neighbor’s connected us to an older couple. They had Sophie originally and very likely realized they couldn’t take care of her or meet her energy requirements. So they asked our neighbor, their friend, if they knew anyone who wanted a dog.
And that’s how we acquired Sophie. The only stipulation her previous owners charged us with was that we kept her name the same. Thus we left her name untouched.
Being an Aussie, she has boundless energy, from 5 am till 9 pm or later. She’s definitely rarin’ to go before the sun rises. And she can outrun any of us. Additionally she’s an exceptional acrobat.
Also, she likes to scare the birds, including my chickens and ducks. But her best friend, other than Hannah, is my kitty, Itty Bitty. They play with each other. And often times they can be seen napping near one another.
Sophie is easily trained when food is at stake. So far she has learned to beg and dance for her dinner. No, just kidding. But seriously, she can walk across the room on 2 paws. All for food. And she’s also house broken.
Though there are other things she picks up on. For example, when my kids play with her: They’ll end up playing hide and seek after they throw her ball or toy. And after a couple of throws, Sophie realizes the kids are disappearing. Which makes her hesitate to run after her toy. Or she tries to keep an eye on them.
She’s certainly a lot of fun to watch. But she has way more energy than I do. Since she’s supposed to be a work animal, I’ve joked that Paul should put her to work. Then she’d be worn out by bedtime. And he said he was going to make a comic out of that. One where she’s mowing the lawn.
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Chicken Girl 