Busy November

November is the pause with which

We set our minds adrift...

 

I had such a fun time blogging each day in October!  It was fun to try to be creative each day and look forward to thinking of things to make and things to do, and then to blog about.  I must admit, I kind of miss it....  But, I have been busy since October!  I had friends come to visit me and to go to the Quilt Festival in Houston.  We had such a great time!  And, last weekend was the Nutcracker Market in Houston and my sweet husband took me back downtown for the Harry Connick, Jr. concert on Saturday night (it was fantastic!!!).  I have gone into Houston more in the past week, than I had in months and months!!

Around the House

Sweet Potatoes taste so much better when you grow them  yourself :)

I love it when it is time to bring out part of my

Turkey Collection!!

I got this pretty little Turkey recently.  I also love putting bittersweet around during Thanksgiving.  I got a great bunch of it in Houston last weekend.

I have been collecting Turkey salt and pepper shakers for a few years.  I have added other "Old" Turkeys when I find them.  The two salt and pepper shakers in the front (both have black on them), are my oldest antique turkeys.  I got both of those, at different times, in Round Top, Texas during the big antique weekends held each fall - so much fun!!

 

Gardening Around

Okra and green beans from my garden.  I made a big pot of vegetable soup, that included

these veggies, last week.

Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower

Lantana and Sweet Potato Vine are happy that the weather has cooled off!!

Green Beans - I was hoping the green beans would be ready for Thanksgiving...doesn't look like it has

enough time...

Pretty little eggplant.

Sugared Cranberries

Last year my friend Paula and I taught a canning class at the Houston Arboretum.  It was SO much fun!!!  One of the ladies in the class told us about these sugared cranberries.  Apparently, a restaurant in Houston makes these as a little appetizer for the tables while you are waiting.  She said they were fabulous!  Paula went there and agreed they were fabulous.  Well, Paula made some last year for Thanksgiving (or Christmas...) and gave me a sample when I was visiting her one day.  A week or so ago, I noticed fresh cranberries at the grocery store and picked up a couple of packages.  I love to make cranberry bread, but haven't had the energy (sinus infection) or the time to make it.  Yesterday I got to thinking about the sugared cranberries, and decided to give it a go!

I made the sugar syrup yesterday and let the cranberries soak overnight.  Tonight while I was watching TV, I coated the cranberries in raw sugar and a little regular granulated sugar.

Lots of little cranberry sugar jewels :)

While I was trying to take a picture of the cranberries to show you how pretty they are, my husband suggested putting a little mint on for contrast.  He braved the dark garden to pick me a little mint

(he is a sweetie!).

 

Sugared Cranberries

2 cups regular sugar

2 cups water

* Bring sugar and water to a simmer in a sauce pan over medium heat.  Heat until the sugar melts (just a couple of minutes).  Remove from heat and allow to cool (this is simple syrup).

* After it cools add one bag (12 oz). washed and picked over cranberries.  Discard any that look soft or not right.  You need to wait until the syrup has cooled or the berries will burst.  Refrigerator over night.

* The next day, drain berries from sugar syrup (but do not rinse).

* Coat a few berries at a time with turbinado sugar (raw sugar).

Then dust with regular granulated sugar - this helps them not be so "wet".

* Let dry for a couple of hours.

Enjoy!!

 Going to Houston

Arkansas Black Apples

It is fun to go downtown into Houston.  It is amazing that we live so close, but really seldom go downtown.  The traffic is terrible....

When I do go, I love to go to the big HEB Central Market grocery store.  Lots of fun hard to find grocery items.  A great bakery and fabulous produce department.  I found these fabulous Arkansas Black Apples there.  I love them, and not just because I am from Arkansas, but because they taste good and make great apple sauce.

Nutcracker Market Craziness!!  But, so much fun :)

More shopping of every kind than you can imagine in a huge building.  Hundreds and hundreds of vendors.  This was about the 10th year in a row that I have attended.

Across the street from the grocery store is an upscale shopping area.  I love the big red bow :)

Macarons!!  Heaven in a bite :)

Both of our favorites were goat cheese and honey - you wouldn't think that would be a good combination, but it is beyond delicious.  It did take us several days to eat them all....

The Harry Connick, Jr. concert was fabulous!!  We saw him last year, and I really wanted to go again.  It was a much different show than last year,

and I loved them both!

 

 

My sweet Cocker Spaniel - Trixie.

She is full of love and my constant companion.

 

I hope that your November is off to a good start!

~ Joeby