How do You Use an Apple?

How exactly do you USE an apple?

Just curious.

I usually just eat them.

I thought it was funny :-P

Jalapeño Jelly

I've been holding on to this recipe for a long time. I haven't gotten a chance to make it yet, but it really makes my mouth water!

One of the ladies at one day brought in the yummiest treat!  She made jalapeño jelly at home and brought it in with stone ground wheat crackers and cream cheese spread.  It wasn't the healthiest thing in the world, but it tasted just wonderful!

I haven't gotten to try the recipe myself, but I wanted to save it so that I don't forget it (and I figured I'd share it with you!)

♥ 1 large green bell pepper
♥12 jalapeno peppers

♥1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

♥1 pinch salt

♥4 1/4 cups granulated sugar

♥4 ounces liquid pectin

♥4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
 
1.Combine the green bell pepper and 12 jalapeno peppers in the container of a food processor or blender. Process until finely chopped. This can be done in batches, if the peppers do not fit.


2.Transfer the peppers to a large saucepan, and stir in the cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the mixture through at least 2 layers of cheesecloth, and discard pulp. You should have about 1 cup of liquid.

3.Return the liquid to the saucepan, and stir in the salt and sugar until dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When the mixture comes to a rolling boil (one that cannot be stirred down), boil for one minute, then stir in the liquid pectin.

4.Stir in the remaining jalapeno peppers, and ladle into sterile jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal jars in a hot water bath. Refrigerate jelly after seal is broken.





If you get to try it before I do, make sure you tell me about it!
 
 
 
 
P.S. Along with the jalapeno jelly, she also set out a platter of tomato slices soaked in balsamic vinegar.  Balsamic tomatoes on top of cream cheese crackers?  Who know that would be so tasty?!?
Give that one a try, too!

Happy Homemaking!
♥ Bethany

Tweet Tweet!

Happy Homemaker Me has moved to a new level:  twitter!

I still feel pretty shaky on these new legs, but I'd love for you to hop over and help me out!

@HappyHomemakerB

Don't you love it?  HappyHomemakerME is one character too many.  When I originally signed up, it said, "Welcome, HappyHomemakerm!"  And I was so confused.  Did I actually miss the "e" when I was signing up?  Oh No!!!

But no matter how many times I tried to correct it, the e wouldn't show up.  Oh well.  Hopefully HappyHomemakerB isn't too hard to remember, since I am Bethany after all!

If you have a twitter account, please let me know!  I feel pretty measley with just 3 people to follow right now.  I'd love to add you!

And I'd really appreciate any support in figuring this whole thing out!

Apparently, I'm a very wordy gal!  140 characters?  That's IT?!?

:-)

♥Bethany

p.s. I have the day off today!  Which is wonderful since I'm sick and wouldn't be much good to anyone anyway, but I'm excited just the same.  My goals for the day:

♥ Create at least 5 items to put on Etsy

♥ Do some laundry

♥ Write at least one handwritten letter

♥ Do some reading

♥♥♥Drink lots of tea (that's not quite a goal of mine as much as it is Dr. Handsome Man's orders :-) )

Have a wonderful day!

Missing Seagulls

Do you want to know how I know it's been too long since I've lived near the ocean?

I miss seagulls.

Seagulls.

They used to be the bane of my existence.  A nuisance.  An all-around pain-in-the-butt way to detract from a gorgeous day spent at the beach.

I used to laugh at people who thought seagulls were pretty.

"You know they're scavengers, right?" I'd ask scoffingly.  "They're disgusting.  They're annoying.  They have no pride--they steal food right out of your hand!"

And yet, when I was at the beach for a church youth group beach day on Saturday, I--Bethany Elise-- took pictures of seagulls.

There is something about them, though, if you wash away all memories of being pooped on from above, or the pathetic "Caw" as they swirl around looking for their next victim holding a sandwich.

Something pretty.

Something forlorn.

A lost pride.

I feel for seagulls.

A bird with such beautiful markings should be reserved for something majestic.

And yet, they roam the sands looking for left-over bits, contenting themselves with scavenging.

And I am the ridiculous person at the beach that little me would laugh at.  I think seagulls are pretty.

Seagulls on the prairie
always seem ridiculous to me
Why confine themselves to my left over french fries
When they can sail the winds above the sea.

Have they like humans forgot their pride?
They give up their seagullity for an easy ride

They're now common crows
with a forgotten past.
The sound of the sea
is myth at last.

--Jessica Callele

My New Favorite Cookie: Vanilla Chai Spice

Can you tell that I made these for Christmas?  :-)

Vanilla Chai Spice Cookies

♥1 stick unsalted butter, softened
♥1/2 cup sugar
♥1 large egg
♥1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
♥1 3/4 cups flour
♥3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
♥1/2 teaspoon fresh ground cloves
♥1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
♥1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
♥1/2 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and mix well. Add to the wet ingredients and mix just until barely combined. Using your hands, use a kneading motion inside the bowl so that the dough starts to come together. Flour your hands if the dough is sticking to you. Divide into two parts, flatten into disks, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Take out one of the disks and roll out to 1/4" thick on a floured surface. Using a small, scalloped cookie cutter, cut out cookies (I used a miniature Wilton Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut out the middle of half the cookies) and bake for 8 minutes, until edges are just slightly golden brown.

Cardamom Cream
♥1 stick unsalted butter, softened
♥1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
♥1 teaspoon vanilla extract
♥1 teaspoon cardamom
♥1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
♥1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine ingredients in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment until soft and smooth. Transfer to a piping bag with plain tip about 1/2" in diameter (or, if you don't have one, just use a zip-loc bag and cut a corner off like I did). Ice in a side to side motion to get the pattern--I loved the way it made my trees look!   Sandwich cream in between two cookies.

These cookies are very rich, so the smaller you cut them out, the better.  Of course, my Handsome Man didn't complain about the large ones I made!

Handmade Giveaway

A friend of mine changed her status on facebook to let all of her friends know that she would send something handmade to the first five friends who commented on her status.  I thought it was a really fun idea, so I'm doing the same!

Visit Happy Homemaker Me's facebook page and be one of the first five people to comment.  I love sharing my handmade things, and I think this is a fun way to begin 2011.

No strings attached!  I have cute things in mind that I'd love to send to you :-)

♥Bethany

The Problem with Real-Life Friends

Oh no...

I'm sick.

I woke up with a sore throat and a terrible cold.

And it's all Stacey's fault!

This is the problem with blog friends who are your real-life friends.  They get you sick.