Nine Patch

 

This recipe was a clever way to use up leftover hotdog buns. Sure, you have to wake up around 2:00 a.m. to start it (or 4:00 if you set the cooker on high), but I’ve always been an early bird.

 

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

 

5 cups bread, cubed

6 large eggs

1 cup half-and-half

1 cup shredded cheddar

1/2 pound cooked, crumbled bacon

1/2 bell pepper, coarsely chopped

 

Line sides of 2.5-quart slow cooker with foil. Coat with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat eggs and half-and-half with whisk. Stir in bacon, bell pepper and half the cheese. Fold in bread; stir to coat. Spoon mixture into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 4 to 5 hours or on high 2 to 3 hours, until the center is nearly set. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; cover and cook another 10 minutes, until cheese melts. Use knife to loosen and remove foil before serving. Feeds 4 to 6 people. 

Four Magnolias

 

“With each passing year, I feel greater love for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for His merciful Atonement. His supreme sacrifice, securing victory over death and sin, is the most consequential contribution of all human history. Understanding His divine gift is for me an open-ended heavenly tutorial that will continue beyond the grave. The powerful compassion of the Savior in forgiving sin and in healing the wounds caused by the sins of others is a most miraculous manifestation of the love of God. My desire is to offer hope for those seeking forgiveness for very serious sins and to offer comfort to those seeking healing from the anguishing wounds caused by the serious sins of others. Healing and forgiveness are each found in their fulness in the atoning love of Jesus Christ.” – Elder Neil L. Andersen

Arrowhead

 

There are similar block patterns from the mid- to late-1800’s, but I believe the first block with this name and look was published in 1941. I suspect that pattern was a series of printed templates the reader was expected to trace and use to hand-cut (with scissors) bits of fabric before sewing them together. In 2011, Anita Grossman Solomon published a simplified method for constructing this block in Quiltmaker Magazine. Anita’s idea was to stack two pieces of fabric and then rotary-cut them in half, diagonally, twice. Then, each triangular piece would be sliced two more times and the colors swapped to create the finished design. I didn’t use a pattern for this block. Instead, I started with two 11” squares of cotton and ended up with two identical 8” finished blocks. I’ve got plenty of civil war reproduction scraps to play with, and I suspect when I’m done, all my blocks will nest together.

Autumn Stars

 

This dish just says autumn to me. I like to use red, orange and yellow peppers, and let it stew all day. It’s the perfect foil for wet and windy weather.

 

Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

 

2 pounds Italian sausage links (You can also use bulk sweet Italian sausage.)

3 bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced

1 large yellow or white onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves minced garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 cups marinara

 

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high 4 hours, or on low 8 hours. Serve with a sturdy pasta, like gemelli or penne. It’s also delicious with roasted potatoes.

Churn Dash

 

I’m expecting eight for Thanksgiving. On one hand, it’s a relief I’m not feeding at least twice that many. I can buy a small bird, and the side dishes will be more manageable. On the other hand, eight people won’t justify the five+ pies I’d like to make for dessert. There must be pumpkin. If I don’t make pumpkin pie, Heather will say I did Thanksgiving wrong and must start again. There should probably be apple, too. That’s already more pie than eight people need, and I haven’t mentioned mincemeat, pecan, blueberry or lemon meringue. I just had an epiphany: I can make two kinds of pie – say, apple and mincemeat – in one pie plate. I’ll fill half the bottom crust with apple filling; the other half with mincemeat. I’ll cover my hybrid pie with a top crust, seal and flute. Apple and mincemeat have identical baking directions. If anyone objects, well, that can be my pie.

Four Rail Fence Blocks

 

I got this recipe from a friend who likes really sweet smoothies. It calls for three whole tablespoons of sugar, but I never actually make it that way. Honestly, with all the lactose and fructose in there, why would you need sucrose? If you try this recipe, I’d suggest making it without any sugar first. Taste it, and if you feel it needs to be sweeter, just add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup instead.

 

Peach/Strawberry/Banana Smoothie

 

1 1/4 cups milk (We use 2%)

1 cup frozen strawberries

1/2 cup frozen peach slices

1 small ripe banana, sliced and chilled

3 tablespoons granulated sugar (Honestly, just skip the sugar)

 

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 large or 3 small servings. When we’ve been out of milk, we’ve used the same amount of O.J. But then it’s a peach/strawberry/banana/orange smoothie.

Lucky Thirteen

 

A couple in their mid-sixties was celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary in a quiet restaurant. Suddenly – POOF! – a tiny fairy appeared in the middle of their table. “You’re such a lovely couple,” she exclaimed. “I’d like to give each of you a single wish.” The wife knows exactly what her wish will be. “I’ve always wanted to travel the world with my darling husband,” she said. The fairy waved her magic wand and – POOF! – in the wife’s hands were two tickets to an around-the-world cruise. The fairy turned to the husband. “Well, this is all very romantic,” he said. “But a chance like this doesn’t come by every day. I’m sorry, but my wish is to have a wife who’s thirty years younger than me.” The fairy looked genuinely disappointed, but a wish is a wish. She waved her magic wand and – POOF! – the husband was suddenly ninety-two years old. – Author Unknown