Memories and Cinnamon Rolls

What does a grandmothers bread recipe, 2 granddaughters, 2 great-granddaughters, and 2 granddaughter in laws make? Sweet, precious memories!!

Friday morning my cousin Joy pulled up with a bowl of dough, her 2 sister in laws, and 2 nieces.We knocked out 8 pans of cinnamon rolls!

Shelle, Austyn, and Hannah--it's been so much fun meeting and talking to these girls in "the real wold", outside of Facebook! They are amazing women!! Lots of laughter and smiles come with them!

I have always looked up to Joy. She's little older than me,and she and my other older cousins tolerated me following them around quite persistently.  It's been fun getting to know her as an adult, and it's quite comical to find us very different but alike in many ways too.

She has this beautiful calm spirit to her. The same one that her mom has, and that my grandmother had.

Joy and Avery

She understands that the smell of bread dough and pipe tobacco can make your heart ache, lost recipes can make you bawl, and why it's so very important to have cottonwood leaves stuck in your cookbook.

She's one of my very favorite people on this planet and we are ALL blessed by her.

Tristen and his Dutch Adventure

Tristen has added TORTS to his Dutch varieties!

He had been hinting around here and there about them, and we finally asked fellow bunny exhibitor, Briony, if she had any.

Briony didn't have any for sale, but she WAS going to Indianapolis for ARBA Nationals, and said she'd be happy to bring him back a pair if we wanted. We have never purchased anything from nationals and the thought was very exciting. It's a chance to purchase rabbits from breeders from all over the country, and from the "big" names you only see way back on pedigrees or through national club newsletters.

She came home with Snickers, who came from Ohio, I believe. She has been bred and HOPEFULLY will have a litter the first week of December

And Rusty, who came from Michigan, who is with Tristen in the above picture. He's a very cute little Jr Buck.

So far he's had great luck with them! The little tort buck won Best of Breed at BOTH shows in Kinsley last weekend, and also won Best Opposite Sex at the Sunflower show we were at this past weekend in Wichita.

I will say that I am totally, head over heels, obber, doober in love with the personality of the Dutch breed and they make a WONDERFUL breed for kids. There is a HUGE difference from any other breed we have ever have.  The Dutch we have in our barn DEMAND attention, love their human, and get a bit urked when you don't stop and admire them. They are almost annoying when you water them as they stick their heads out the cage door and just refuse to move until they have had their fill of nose rubs.

And as of this weekend, all Dutch does..and many  Havana does...have been bred. Breeding this time of year can be pretty hit and miss, but we are crossing our fingers some babies land in the nest boxes in a month!

A Post Of Diffrent Sorts

I'm still working on Tristen's post. Since the time change I haven't been able to get out to a picture of him since it gets dark so early. Its coming, I promise!

But first off, I wanted to write about a deep dark secret I have. Ok. *GULP*. Here goes.

I have eaten rabbit.

And I like it.

The show we went to last weekend is a favorite, for lots of reasons, but one is that we really enjoy the meals served. One of the woman always has some sort of rabbit dish. The past 2 years it has been rabbit enchiladas, and the year before that was the BEST rabbit and noodles EVER, complete with homemade noodles.

Basically, domestic rabbit tastes exactly like chicken, and you can not even tell a difference when it's in dishes such as the above.
And the honest truth, one that we try really hard not to talk about to our "non" rabbit friends, is this:  If you are going to raise and show rabbits, you have to have a good cull program. There is just NO way you can keep them all.
Some people sell them, some go to zoos to feed other animals, others pet them out, and some use them to feed their families. None are wrong and it's a personal choice, as long the animal is always respected.

Here are some facts about rabbit meat:

Rabbit is lower in % of fat than chicken, turkey, beef, and pork.

The office of home economics, state relations of the U S Department of Agriculture has made extensive test and have stated that domestic rabbit meat is the most nutritious meat known to man.

Rabbit meat is all white meat.

A doe rabbit that weighs 10 pounds can produce 320 pounds of meat in a year.

Other people are just more comfortable eating a monster sized plate of beef and bean nachos!  And that is ok too!! =)

Windy Plains RBA Way Out West Show

Every rabbit breeder...well, ANY person that shows ANY animal...dreams of winning Best In Show. Its the entire goal  of getting up before the sun, packing up rabbits, and grooming a rabbit more than most boys groom THEMSELVES in a month.

To dare to even THINK of winning Best In show is HUGE. To dare to dream of winning TWO Best In Shows at a double show is just down right silly.

But---can you guess what Jacob did today?

He won Best In Show. TWICE.

We were super excited to head to this show this morning! First off, it was only 45 minutes from us, which is the shortest amount of time we've ever driven. And it was a double show.  Second of all, we had all woken up with the feeling it was just going to be a good day.

Jacob was THRILLED when he won Best of Breed with Jagger, and Best Opposite with Anna, a black doe in both shows. Which I will say is very unusual for the SAME 2 rabbits to be picked in the same order for 2 shows.

So, Jagger gets put up on the table for the Best In Show judging, and the judge goes through the bunnies, and he never looks at him again. Usually you can tell the ones that have a chance, as they go back and look at them a second, and sometimes even a third time. THAT'S when it gets exciting. So, without even a second glance, Jagger was announced as the Best In Show winner for Show A.

Jacob, Jagger, and Judge Robert Caldwell

After this, Jake put Jagger back up to be judged for the Best in Show Show B judging, knowing the odds of even placing again for really slim. What were the odds? Really?  Anyway, the judge goes through them, and he goes BACK and pulls Jagger out. I look over, meet Jacob's eyes, and he's trying REALLY hard not to smile.  The judge teases us when announcing the 2nd runner up. He walks towards Jagger,  LOOKS AT HIM, and lays the award check BY THE RABBIT NEXT to Jagger. UGH!!  Talk about a tease!! I was pumped when I thought Jagger was 2nd runner up! So when Jagger was announced  as the BEST IN SHOW for a SECOND TIME, I was: 1. stunned 2.excited 3. laughing 4.clapping  5. trying not to pee my pants  all within about 2 seconds span.

Jacob, Jagger, and Judge Vic Vogts

 

To say it was an amazing day is an understatement. And I haven't even mentioned how Tristen did!! I think he deserves a post all to his own! Stay tuned! =)

Some Gave All -- Lt. Donald G. White

Donald White was my fathers uncle. My grandmothers brother.


He was reported Missing In Action on February 23, 1943 at the age of 24.  His story has always haunted me. From the empty grave at the cemetery, to his uniform hanging up in our local museum, to the stories handed down through the generations of my great grandmother waking up, with very eerie nightmares, the night his plane went down....his story is one of a true American hero, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.


Here are some tid bits I have found about him.


October 7, 1942.
Dear Folks,
Well, I've been around quite a bit since I last wrote you. On Monday before graduation they called us out at 1:30 p.m. and asked us to volunteer to get twin engine time if we wanted to fly P-38s. so I volunteered, and they sent us over to Williams Field that same afternoon, and we graduated in our overalls on the flight line during lunch hour the next day.
We got back to Luke Field Saturday, and the rest of the fellows had already been sent on to the different places, and we got sent out of there Saturday evening.
We drove up to March Field Monday afternoon, and Tuesday afternoon they gave us orders to report here at Glendale and we are going to fly what is said to be the best airplane in the world. This is about five or six miles from Los Angeles and Hollywood. We will leave for Muroe Lake, about 60 miles northeast of here, for six weeks training, and then be sent back here to patrol the coast. My friend Webber and I are in the same squadron.
How is silo filling this year? Are you going to get the silo as full as you did last year?
Must close now. Will mail you the wings sometime this week, Mom.
Love, Don

"Don was born on February 12, 1919, the eldest child of Harry and Ruth White. He grew up in Comanche County, attending Sunnyside country school, and graduating from Coldwater High School with the class of 1937. After graduation he became involved full time in the family farming and cattle operation. Don enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserve in January, 1942, and a month later entered pre-flight training at Santa Ana, California. He was graduated from Luke Field at Phoenix, Arizona, in September, and received his second lieutenant commission. He then volunteered for training in the P-38 fighter plane, and received his training on the west coast. On December 15, Don flew to Honolulu, and from there, joined with other members of the 339th Fighter Squadron, being formed in New Caledonia. On February 23, 1943, while on a mission to accompany bombers on a raid over Bougainville, his plane was hit, and he was listed as missing in action. Don was 24 years of age. Each family member remembers him in different ways, but always... with love. -- Ruth White and Family, Comanche County History

And then this one:

The Western Star , February 26, 1943.
LIEUT. DONALD WHITE MISSING IN ACTION
Has Been With Fighter Squadron Since December. Mr. and Mrs. Harry White of Coldwater received the following telegram Wednesday morning from the War Department: Washington, D.C. Feb. 23. "The Secretary of War desires me to express our deep regret that the Commanding General, United States Army Force in South Pacific area, has reported your son, Second Lieutenant Donald G. White, air corps, missing in action. Additional information will be sent when received. THE ADJUTANT GENERAL."
Lieut. White enlisted in the Army Air Corps February 11, 1942, and after completing his training left the United States December 15 for combat duty. His parents and many friends here anxiously await further word from him. 

This man was gone for 36 years before I was born, but I take my boys to his stone at the cemetery when ever we are out there. I don't want to ever forget him, and I don't want THEM to ever forget him.

For The Love of PUMPKIN!

Our family loves pumpkin. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin muffins. Pumpkin cakes. Pumpkin Rolls. Pumpkin dips. Pumpkin cheesecake. It goes on and on and on.  Year before last, I sent my husband to the store to pick up a "few" cans since they were on sale.  He brought home 15, so I would have a stockpile.  Pumpkin ROCKS.

Anyway, I love baking this time of year! And this past week have made 2 different pumpkin recipes I wanted to share.

Though the recipe says BARS, my men have just been gnawing off HUNKS of this cake and slapping it on a plate. I made it last night, frosted it at 8ish this morning, and it's already half gone.

Harvest Pumpkin Spice Bars

Bars

4

eggs

2

cups granulated sugar

1

cup vegetable oil

1

can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

2

cups  flour

2

teaspoons baking powder

2

teaspoons ground cinnamon

1

teaspoon baking soda

1/2

teaspoon salt

1/2

teaspoon ground ginger

1/4

teaspoon ground cloves

1

cup raisins, if desired

Cream Cheese Frosting

1

package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/3

cup butter or margarine, softened

1

teaspoon vanilla

2

cups powdered sugar

1/2

cup chopped walnuts, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease bottom and sides of 15x10x1-inch pan with shortening. In large bowl, beat eggs, granulated sugar, oil and pumpkin until smooth. Stir in flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger and cloves. Stir in raisins. Spread in pan.
2. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 2 hours.
3. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth and spreadable. Spread frosting over bars. Sprinkle with walnuts. For bars, cut into 7 rows by 7 rows. Store in refrigerator.

The second recipe I am in love with comes from one of my favorite blogs I follow called Mennonite Girls Can Cook. I love this blog and have printed off LOTS of recipes from here. Run!! Don't walk!! and go check this blog out!!
I made these for our annual Achievement banquet for 4-H, just because I had the stuff already on hand, and was too lazy to go to the store and get something else to make. I only ended up bringing home 4, which we all enjoyed for breakfast the next morning!! I will say I do need to play with these a little, to get my middle filling JUST RIGHT. I seem to be putting too much batter in first, therefore causing my filling to be more up towards the top.  In the middle or not, they are still delicious!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Filling:

• 8 oz. / 250 gr cream cheese
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons sugar

Muffins:

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon ginger

Topping:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions:

1. For filling...combine cream cheese, sugar and egg in small bowl and mix well until smooth.
2. In large mixing bowl, combine oil and sugars.  
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Mix in pumpkin puree.
5. Combine all the dry ingredients; add to batter and mix just until incorporated.
6. Grease muffin puns.
7. Put a spoonful of batter in the bottom of each muffin well (less than 1/3 full).
8. Drop a rounded teaspoon of cream cheese filling in the center of each muffin.
9. Top with remaining batter, spreading to cover cream cheese completely.
10. Sprinkle with crumb topping.
11. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
12. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.”  Jim Davis

THESE BOYS!!

This weekend I tortured..err...took my boys out to take some pictures. The leaves are just beautiful right now!

This picture makes me laugh every time I see it. HE was laughing so hard he could hardly stand up, after sticking the pumpkin up his shirt, so he looked pregnant. I guess you just had to be there.

Pictures+13 year old boy+a pumpkin=complete torture.

And this one isn't MINE, but she IS CUTE!! And she never ONCE gave me lip about having to take pictures. She's not speaking sentences yet either, though. =)