Collectibles...

More treasures that belonged to my grandfather and his older brother

Here is some information I found on line about these games.

Author: Clemens, Rev E.J.

Date: 1893
Short Title: Box Cover: Dissected map, United States.
Publisher: Clayville, N. Y.: Rev. E.J. Clemens

Clemens' Silent Teacher. Dissected Map of the United States and of Each State in Counties. Manufactured by Rev. E.J. Clemens, Clayville, N.Y. Jigsaw puzzle that uses a Colton Map of the United States. Map is two sided. On top side is a map of the United States. The bottom side is an advertisement for Sherwin Williams.

      Looking at the Indian Territories, the Dakotas, the Dominion of Canada seems strange when looking through the pieces of these old maps. 

 

The very first jigsaw puzzles were dissected maps. Map puzzles were made throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and continued to be produced into the 21st. In the United States, G.N. Tackabury, McLoughlin Brothers, Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers were all early mass producers of map puzzles.

 

The Lotto game is by Mc Loughlin Bros, New York who also printed childrens ABC linen and oil cloth  school books.

The back of the box was marked as a gift to my grandpa and his brother by an aunt and uncle

From the person collection of the Gourmet Farm Girl

Healthy Eating...

Grilled Chicken Salad with Rosemary and Thyme
 The Gourmet Farm Girl 

2-4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Mixture of Salad Greens
Fresh Fruit
Feta Cheese
Sliced Red Onion

Mull together the following dried spices:

1 t Garlic

1 t Thyme                                                                               

½ t Rosemary

1 t Parsley

½ t Sea Salt
1 t Cracked Black Pepper

Sprinkle each Chicken breast with the spice mix and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil; grill on medium to high heat till cooked through; 10-12 minutes.

Remove from heat and wrap in foil to keep warm

Plate up a mixture of lettuce and spinach; pour your favorite dressing on top of lettuce or Gourmet Farm Girl Vinaigrette; garnish salad with fresh fruit, raspberries, strawberries or grapes work well with this.

Cut chicken into strips and place on top of salad; add your favorite cheese or a healthy choice for this salad is Feta Cheese.

Finish with a sprinkle of black sesame seeds or flax seeds and ENJOY!

Makes 2-4 salads

Collectibles...

Look at these beautiful oil cloth school books that belonged to my grandfather. I found some information about these treasures on line...

6 ¾” x 4 ¼” NOAH’S ARK, Father Tuck’s “Dolly Dear ABC” Series, original and Copyright 1899, by Raphael Tuck & Sons Co. No.#2320. Very rare and in oilcloth. Also says Artistic Series Trademark on back.

McLoughlin Bros., Inc. was a New York publishing firm active between 1828[1] and 1920. The company was a pioneer in color printing technologies in children's books.[2] The company specialized in retellings or bowdlerizations of classic stories for children. The artistic and commercial roots of the McLoughlin firm were first developed by John McLoughlin, Jr. (1827-1905) who made his younger brother Edmund McLoughlin (1833 or 4-1889) a partner in 1855. By 1886, the firm published a wide range of items including cheap chapbooks, large folio picture books, linen books, puzzles, games and paper dolls. Many of the earliest and most valuable board games in America were produced by McLoughlin Brothers of New York. In 1920 the corporation was sold to Milton Bradley & Company. McLoughlin ceased game production at this time, but continued publishing their picture books.

Father Tuck’s Nursery Rhymes, untearable Linen, ABC’s, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons Co, early 1900’s, original, little wear from age.

From the Gourmet Farm Girl's personal collection

Spring Salad!

Butter Lettuce and Spinach Salad with Fresh Raspberries and Blue Cheese

The Gourmet Farm Girl

Easy and delicious salad to make…

You can use any combination of lettuce and spinach; however I especially like butter lettuce for its delicate tenderness

Mix lettuce and spinach leaves together in a large bowl; top with Blue Cheese crumbles, toasted pine nuts, bacon bits and raspberries, cover and keep refrigerated till ready to serve and pour Gourmet Farm Girl Vinaigrette Salad Dressing over and ENJOY!

Good Morning...

The Tests of Time...

The last Sunday of March 2010  

Faith makes it wholly possible to quietly endure the violent world around us, for in GOD we are secure.

Helen Steiner Rice

by The Gourmet Farm Girl

Different twist on a basic...

Cheese Producers...

  

                 Cheesy Meatloaf                                                                              

By The Gourmet Farm Girl

1 pound lean ground beef

1 sm. chopped onion

2-3 T ketchup

1 egg

1/2 c. milk

½ c. dried bread crumbs or panko crumbs

½ t. dried mustard

½ t. salt

½ t pepper

1t. Worcestershire sauce

¼ t. garlic powder or 1-2 small cloves chopped

Or 1 1/4 teaspoon of Farm Girl's House Seasoning blend

Mix all together with hands (or a large spatula)                                                         

Spray a glass loaf pan with cooking oil

Place half the meat mixture into the dish and top with 3 slices of provolone or mozzarella cheese; spread the other half of mix over the cheese and bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes; remove from oven and place 3 more slices of cheese on top and return to oven till cheese melts; 1-2 minutes

Garnish with chopped parsley

Makes 6-8 servings

 ENJOY!

Cheese Producer in training...

The Big Guys...

These guys are getting ready...

It won't be long now...the corn stubble from last year will soon be turned under

Spring 2010

by The Gourmet Farm Girl

Family of the Past

My grandmother (dad's mother) is the little girl in the front row, next to her mother and little brother.

The third boy on the right is her older brother.

The Gourmet Farm Girl's family album

Martini Plum Parfait’s               

The Gourmet Farm Girl

This is a beautiful looking dessert and it tastes delicious too.

Plums are available most any time of the year; the season for Plums is June thru November. Plums are picked when they are ripe and will not get any sweeter. We tend to think of plums around the holidays for Plum Pudding. Here is an idea for using plums any time of the year.

10-12 medium size plums (red or purple plums work the best)

½ cup red currant jelly

½ cup packed brown sugar                                                              

1 orange peel strip or 1 t dried orange peel

1 cinnamon stick

1-1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream

1 t vanilla extract

¼ cup powdered sugar

Chilled martini glasses

Make 4 servings

Slice and pit the plums; chop into large chunks. In a large sauce pan heat the plums, sugar, jelly, cinnamon and orange peel on medium heat; reduce heat and let simmer for 10-12 minutes till tender; stir on occasion

Remove from heat and pour into air tight container; refrigerate till cold

How to Make Real Dairy Whipped Cream

The Gourmet Farm Girl

Chill a metal bowl in the freezer till ice cold.            

Remove bowl from freezer and add the heavy cream; with an electric mixer begin to beat on medium speed, gradually adding the powdered sugar while mixing; add vanilla and turn up to high speed and continue to whip until thick and creamy

  

 When ready to serve parfaits; remove the orange peel and cinnamon stick from the plum mixture and place 4-5 tablespoons into martini glass; top with a few fresh chopped pieces of plums and cover with a cloud of whipped cream; top with 1-2 more tablespoons of plum sauce and garnish with cinnamon stick, decorative cookie and a few slices of fresh plum.

ENJOY!

My Grandpa's New 1947 Farmall C Tractor

This is the first tractor I ever drove. It is still being used on the farm today. It is quite small compared to modern farm equipment, but this little guy still has his role pulling hay wagons.

During WW II tractors were not manufactured in America. The order for this tractor was placed in 1945. My dad recalls as a young boy waiting patiently on this new arrival for almost 2 years.

THE GREAT MAN SHOWS HIS GREATNSS BY THE WAY HE TREATS THE LITTLE MAN

Photo's from the Gourmet Farm Girl personal collection

Simple days and simple times...we still can have them, remember that the surest way to make yourself happy is to make someone else happy!

Enjoy life for being what it is...

The Gourmet Farm Girl

                                     

Chicken Chimichangas with Fresh Guacamole
The Gourmet Farm Girl

Instead of Taco’s try this delicious recipe for a different meal.

2 large chicken breasts
1 pkg. soft tortilla shells
2-3 teaspoons taco seasoning                                     
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1-2 Tablespoons water
1-2 Tablespoons oil
Shredded lettuce
1 medium chopped tomato
1 small jar chicken gravy or make a small amount of chicken gravy
1 pkg. shredded cheddar cheese (Mexican blend)
Sour cream
1 ½ quarts peanut oil (vegetable oil will work; I prefer peanut oil for frying)

This recipe makes 4 Chimichangas

Fresh Guacamole
The Gourmet Farm Girl                                          

2-3 fresh avocados

Juice from half of 1 lime or more if desired
2 T chopped red onion
3-4 T chopped tomatoes
2-3 T chopped fresh cilantro or 1 -1/2 chopped dried cilantro
Pinch of garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste

Place the avocado, lime juice salt, cracked pepper and garlic in food processor and pulse till creamy, remove and add the onion and tomatoes.

Cover with plastic wrap, make sure to press the plastic wrap down on top of the guacamole to prevent air from turning it brown, set in refrigerator till needed.

Chimichangas

Step one:

Cut chicken into thin strips and on medium heat in a heavy skillet cook with the oil, taco seasoning,water and  cumin till cooked through and tender

While chicken is cooking chop lettuce and tomatoes; set aside

Pour gravy in sauce pan and warm on low heat.

Step Two:

Place several large spoonfuls of the chicken on top of the soft shell and add 2-3 Tablespoons of cheese; begin to roll the shell and tuck the edges as you roll. Secure with a couple of tooth picks if necessary, it should stay in place, lay seam side down until all shells are filled and rolled.

                                                                               
Step three:

Heat peanut oil to 350 degrees (use a candy/fat thermometer if needed to adjust heat) Place the rolled tortilla into the oil holding it together with tongs; hold in place till the Chimichanga fries for a few seconds and does not unroll. Move gently to the side and place another in the oil to fry.

When golden brown; remove from oil and drain on paper towels

Plate on a bed of lettuce, top with the gravy, cheese, chopped tomatoes, and more lettuce

Garnish with the fresh Guacamole and a side of sour cream; serve with refried beans or Spanish rice and don’t forget the nacho chips for dipping in the guacamole.

ENJOY!

It is now SPRING!

Good Morning...

from The Gourmet Farm Girl

I hope you have a beautiful day...and always remember, true wealth is what you are, not what you have!

Beautiful Sunset...

The view from my office window...

Gourmet Salts

The Farm Girl's Gourmet Hamburger with Hawaiian Sea Salt

  By The Gourmet Farm Girl

If you and your family like hamburgers this is great way to step it up and add some extra flavor... now that the weather has allowed us to fire up the grill this is even more tasty!

If you do not have the privilege of having your own farm raised beef just make sure it is quality hamburger.

Let’s talk about salt… I have also been researching about salts and the unique flavors that can enhance food.

Grandma always made a point to let us know that salt was not added to her dishes but I must admit I like salts…and if granny only knew about the delicious effects of these salts I’m sure she would have agreed.

Start with FRESH for this sandwich…    

1 lbs Hamburger

Leaf lettuce

1 small Red onion

2 Avocados

2 ripe tomatoes

Swiss, provolone or your favorite cheese
Hawaiian Red Sea Salts (can be omitted)
Fresh baked deli hamburger buns

Shape hamburger into a quarter pound size patty (or less) sprinkle with the salt
Remember to let your patties sit at room temp before grilling

Grill to your liking and place a piece of swiss and provolone on each burger to melt before removing from heat, plate the burgers and tent for a few minutes with aluminum foil

Slice buns in half and spread no salt butter on each side and place under broiler for a few minute to toast

Here is the fun part; lay a piece of lettuce on the bottom bun and place burger on top
Stack up the rest of the vegetables according to your liking.

The avocado replaces mayonnaise and is much healthier with its omega 3
Adjust salt if needed

Makes 4 burgers

The forcast for today is a high of ... 67!
and lots of sunshine...

Soon we will be out getting the grass mowed and working in the garden.  

My three have always loved to mow the yard,

even when it only blew bubbles! 

With Love... mom! 

Watching Georgie enjoying the Warmth of Spring...

Ahhh...the morning sun!

He just noticed me...taking his picture

See ya...