questions need answers and a rant

I have several things I need some information on and thought I would ask those of you reading this for any answers you might have.

Question #1
 I ran into a spice mix a week or so ago in an article I read, it sounded interesting and I thought I would give it a try. It is  a blend of Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Cumin and black pepper, called Garam Masala
It is very good on sauted carrots, and I added it to muffins tonight.

My question....  what other ways can this be used?  if you use it, how?

Question #2

One of the quick/easy desserts for our family is a recipe called 

Norwegian Apple Pie

I got this recipe from my mother-in-law between 40 - 50 yrs ago. (wow, writing that seems like such a long time, yet living is doesn't seem that long).   Anyway, I think she got it from 1 of 2 publications that she read either Capper's Weekly or Prevention

The recipe I have gives only the amounts of ingredients, there is no method and I was wondering if anyone else makes this. 

As you can see this has been well used. 

It makes a really nice crusty top and a custardy inside with no pastry crust.  

If anyone recognizes this recipe I would appreciate any info you have for me. 

Question #3

This one is a computer question

Several days ago I downloaded a rather large file labeled Lace_for_manual_sock_machines.

I don't recall the MB but it was large.  I have a 2019 HP Chromebook X2. for the next couple of days, I was constantly getting a notification that it was syncing the file. 

It got to the point that I deleted the file hopeing it would stop trying to sync.

It still wanted to sync and was constantly giving me that notification 

I tried shutting down and leaving it over night and all the next day before powering up again and I am still getting this notification.  

when files are deleted on this machine they are deleted permanently so it isn't trying to sync the file in the recycle bin. 

If anyone has any help to get it to stop trying to sync I would appreciate it. 

Questions are done.

on one of my previous posts I took a photo at dusk of the wind break canvas that I had put up on my chicken pen.  I thought I would take a couple better photos and show you what I was talking about. 

The chickens have been enjoying being outside even in the chilly weather as long as they are out of the wind.  Their nice fluffy down coats hold body heat well, as long as the wind isn't blowing up their fluffybuts

Now a rant

The government helps farmers cover the costs of complying with their regulations.  When you are able to sign up some land for the program Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), they require you to seed the land with a perrenial cover crop - grasses or others.  Once you turn in your paperwork, they will repay some of  your expenses to plant the seed.  In other years we have gotten our reimbusements within a month, 2 at the most. 

This year we were able to sign up some land along the sides of a creek to help stop erosion.  We were able to get the parcel planted to the required seed mix this past spring.  And had the paperwork returned for the reimbursement by June of this year.  We waited several weeks, then started calling every month or so to see how their paperwork to release the money was getting done.  We were told every time that the paperwork was backlogged, or that the person working on it was behind, or the person was new......  well, this morning we were told that the system has been shut down in Washington and has been for over 2 weeks and they don't know when it will be opened.  

Due to the China trade tarrif wars, grain markets have been down, and because of the crazy cool, wet weather, harvest has not yet been finished.  

We have bills to pay, with less income available, and the reimbusement payment would help. 

I contacted both state senators and our representative by email, but have not yet received a reply.

Will have to wait some more I guess.

Granola Recipe

In answer to a comment on Jess!'s  Tat-ilicious blog, here is my recipe for granola

Brown Sugar Granola

1 C brown sugar
1/2 C butter or margarine
1/4 C apple juice or water
1/4 tsp salt
5 C rolled oats
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 C nuts or seeds ( I use 1/2 C ground walnuts & 1/2 C ground pecans )
1/2 C dried fruit (optional - I do not use)

In a large nbowl, mix oats, cinnamon, and nuts/seeds.  In the microwave or on the stovetop, melt butter, sugar, juice and salt.  Simmer 2 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.  Add to the dry ingredients and stir until oats are coated.  Turn onto a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper*.  Bake 7 - 10 minutes at 375 or until oats start turning golden-brown^ at the edges.  Let cool until dry and crunchy.

*do not skip the parchment paper or you will be scraping granola off your pan for a half hour!  the parchment paper can be saved and re-used.
^ Watch closely the last several minutes.  You'll have pale, chewy granola if you take it out too soon, but it will scorch quickly if you wait too long.

I found the ground nuts at the Fleet Farm store an hour down the road.  The grocery store carries chopped nuts, but not ground ones.   I was surprised, as I didn't expect to find them at a farm supply store. 

I need more time, i have too much thyme

no pictures tonight.

yesterday morning it was drizzling, the temp was about 23 and it has been cold enough so the ground was below freezing as well, so the nice drizzle was freezing on everything. I had a good hold on the door knob as I left for church or I would have gone down the front steps on my fanny. As I pulled up to church, I watch a gentleman get out of his pickup, if he hadn't had a good grip on the steering wheel, he would have been on the ground as his feet flew out from under him.

today when my boss got to work, he got out of his car and fell. it is not good here and now today we had snow on top of the ice.

I needed groceries for thanksgiving but wasn't too fond of having to drive 30 miles to the grocery store in the dark after work.

I was able to get to the grocery store this afternoon. DH had to go to town for parts so picked me up at work.

I am making the stuffing and a dessert for Thanksgiving dinner at the neighbors.

I have a realllly good stuffing recipe handed down in the family. it is so good that sons-in-law have requested my stuffing. (I will put in the recipe below)

anyway, while at the store gathering ingredients, I stopped at the spice isle and decided that since I didn't know how much thyme I had in the cupboard, I would get some.

when I got home after work - stayed until 7:15 to make up for taking off the time in the middle of the day. I discovered that I had 1+ little jars of thyme. soooo I have too much thyme, but not enough time to get everything done.

Dressing/Stuffing
5 quarts of dry bread cubes (one 1.5 lb loaf of bread will make about 3 quarts of dry cubes
1 1/2 Cups melted butter
4 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3 tsp seasoning salt (our family has always used Beaumonde, I think it is sold by Spice Islands)
1/4 tsp thyme (can use a bit more)
1 clove garlic finely chopped
grind all giblets (raw~can leave these out)
grind or shred 4 large carrots, 4 large celery ribs, 1 large onion
4 1/2 Cups of water or if not using giblets, chicken broth use more or less depending on how moist you want it.

place dry bread in large pan. sprinkle spices onto cubes and pour melted butter over all, mix well. Add ground meat and vegetables, mix well. pour over liquid and mix, but be careful not to stir the bread into mush.
bake in the over for 20 -30 per quart until interior temperature is 180 degrees. can be cooked in a crock pot for 1 hour on high then 4-6 hours on low, be sure to check temp in center is 180 degrees.

you might be interested in the dessert I am making.
it is an old recipe for

Tomato Chocolate Cake
butter & flour 2 9" cake pans

1 pound of tomatoes, peel and seed, puree and measure 1 1/4C

4 oz of sweet baking chocolate
1 Cup brown sugar
1/4 Cup milk
3 egg yolks divided
cook chocolate, br sugar, milk and 1 egg yolk in double boiler stirring occasionally over hot water until smooth and slightly thick.

2 Cups cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
8 tablespoons butter softened
1 Cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 egg whites
sift flour with baking soda and salt
cream butter & sugar until light.
add remaining 2 yolks beating each time until fluffy.
add tomato puree, vanilla and chocolate mixture beating thoroughly.
Stir in flour.
Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry, fold into cake batter and pour into pans.
bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes until almost done, do not over bake!
cool on wire rack, remove from pans and frost with tomato frosting

Tomato Frosting
1 medium tomato peeled and seeded, puree and measure 4 1/2 tablespoons puree

1/2 Cup butter softened
4 egg yolks - extra large
1 tablespoon cognac or brandy
3/4 Cup powdered sugar

beat butter until smooth, add egg yolks beating after each.
add tomato puree and liquid, then add powdered sugar.

frost bottom layer, then add top and frost top and sides.
keep cool, do not refrigerate

I ran across a different version of Tomato Frosting with cream cheese on the Internet last week which I think I may use instead of the one above calling for liquor since this will be served to children as well as adults.

I have a few other interested recipes as well,

chocolate potato cake
chocolate sauerkraut cake - you would never know - most people think it is coconut
and a World War II eggless, milkless butterless cake

if anyone is interested in the above recipes, let me know and I will post them.