Month: January 2015

Hat for Kristie

wyranchwife2 Comments

I started this hat with really no one in mind. I used sons fabulously soft wool and knew that it would be a great gift no matter who I decided to give it to. Heck, I almost kept it myself.

The pattern was super fun and it knitted up quite nicely. I am beginning to have quite the collection of Addi Turbo Needles and it is so nice to find a pattern, then be able to grab yarn and the needles right out of my room. I don’t even have to go shop.

Although when you throw in a needle every time you shop from Amazon, they add up quickly. Let’s just say Amazon.com is my greatest friend. When you live an hour and a half from the nearest Walmart and even further from a good yarn store, you begin to order everything you can online. I can have it delivered free and I don’t even have to get outside.

Anyway, Kristie tried on several hats that I had made over Christmas, but this one looked really good on her. I thought the green went wonderfully with her eyes and her hair. Hopefully she agrees and will wear it when it gets cold. Here at our place we wear hats everyday. If it’s not to keep the cold out. It’s to keep the wind out. So making hats is not only fun, but functional and we love them.

/home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/880/58518633/files/2015/01/img_08531.jpg

The Perfect Anytime Ham!

wyranchwife4 Comments

My Aunt Jo makes the most amazing ham. We have had the privilege of eating her delicacy since we were little. At every major holiday she would make this monster of a ham. When she would arrive with that ham, we would all peak into the kitchen to see if we could get a little bite.  Her ham on my mom’s rolls! Oh it takes my breath away!! The rolls melt in your mouth and then that warm, sweet ham. Oh my goodness, you are truly missing out.

It is amazing. I absolutely love it.  It is wonderful the first day, amazing the 2nd on leftover rolls, and positively decadent in ham and potato soup.  However you decide to use up the few leftovers you will have, you first must make it.  You will not be disappointed.

We happend to be at the grocery store yesterday and picked up a nice spiral sliced ham. I cooked it with Aunt Jo’s recipe today for lunch.  We were not disappointed. It is mouthwatering!!

Christmas Cranberry and Pineapple Ham

IMG_0994

  • 12 lb. ham, uncooked
  • whole cloves
  • 2 ½ cups brown sugar, packed and divided
  • 1 ⅓ cups cranberry juice cocktail
  • ½ cup honey
  • ¼ cup cider vinegar
  • 2 ½ tbsp. all-purpose flour, divided
  • 3 tbsp. prepared mustard
  • 1 can pineapple slices
  • maraschino cherry, halved
1.Remove the skin from the ham; place fat side up. Score fat in a diamond design and stud with cloves. Place ham fat side up on rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer, making certain end of the thermometer does not touch fat or bone. Bake at 350 degrees for 3.5 – 4 hours
2.Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, cranberry juice, honey, cider vinegar, flour, and mustard in a saucepan Mix well. Bring to a boil and com one minute. Coat exposed portions of ham with remaining brown sugar. Place pineapple rings on ham securing with toothpicks. Leave tip exposed for cherry halves. Pour hot cranberry sauce over the ham, bake an additional 30 minutes or until thermometer reaches 160 degrees. Let rest before slicing.

The best Gift Ever

wyranchwife4 Comments

As you well know, I love to cook. I especially love to cook soups and stews. This Christmas I was shopping for my father at Dillards near my parents house. Actually I was shopping for my mother for my father. He sent me to find her the perfect gift. And like me I knew a pan would be perfect.

I found myself in the kitchen section looking for a pan for my mom when I happened upon the most glorious sight I have ever seen. I am pretty sure a light was shining down on this pot. You know like the light on the Christmas tree in the movie Christmas Vacation.

This pot was made by Biltmore and it is fabulous. To be quite honest I’m not even sure how big it is, at some point I am going to fill it up just to see how much it holds. I know it looks like a small witches cauldron. But more beautiful. Oh yeah, much more beautiful.

I bought that baby and quickly told my husband that he had just purchased me the best present ever. He was thrilled with his purchase. I mean some women like jewelry or other type gifts. Give me a cooking item and I will love you forever. I know I am weird. I like those girly things, but I cook every day. The cows could care less if I have a diamond bracket on.

I used it to make ham and potato soup and it worked fabulous. Washed up so easily. The best part, I put 5 pounds of potatoes and close to 8 cups of water and it was maybe 3-4 inches in the pot. Not even close to the half way mark! I am dying to cook a large pot of stew soon. Now that I back in Wyoming and it is like -6 outside. I think it will happen soon.

The smaller pot is my usual soup pot. It holds about 4.5 quarts. We are going to eat soup for like a year if I fill that new pot to the top.

 

Don’t you just love pictures that you can see the photographer and all the background in.  Well there I am.

 

 

/home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/880/58518633/files/2015/01/img_0991.jpg

/home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/880/58518633/files/2015/01/img_0990.jpg