Sweetness...

My Kilner™ Pot Filled With Hickory Nut Pie Filling

It was a perfect day to preserve some hickory nut pie filling for the pantry. This stuff is so delicious, and I can use it to make pies, tarts, or simply use it as a topping for homemade vanilla or butter pecan ice cream. In fact, last time I did this (it's been a few years now), I made four pints and it was all used as ice cream topping!

First Batch Out Of The Canner

I had more than enough nut meats to make two double batches of pie filling. Each batch took seven cups of nuts. When all was said and done, there were a total of 15 full pints, and two half pints of these gifts  from our trees last year. Don't worry, I let the squirrels have most of this year's harvest. We share.

Lined Up Like Soldiers On The Shelf

 

By late afternoon, all the jars were sealed and cooled, and I could put them on the "pie filling" shelf in the pantry. Usually I preserve these fillings in quart jars, which are pie sized, however, because not all the jars will go toward pies or tarts, putting the hickory nut filling in pint jars was more prudent. 

 

The two smaller jars are going to Teresa and Kim at work to try. I can always share larger jars if they love it, and I have more nuts to be able to make more filling if needed. It's almost time to make hickory syrup again, too! Maybe next week, if I get my sewing done. For now, I'm just going to enjoy looking at more farmhouse goodness on our pantry shelves.

Today's Project...

I'm using this photo from 2018 to show you what I'll be doing today. It's Hickory Syrup day at the farmhouse! Likely by the time you read this (if it's still morning), the kitchen will be filled with the wonderful sweet aroma of hickory syrup being bottled. 

Once it's all bottled, I'll water bath it so the jars will all be safely preserved for the usual short time they remain on the shelf. Our sons are already excited at the prospect of bottles heading their way, and depending on just how many I do today, I may have a few for sale. If so, you'll find a purchase button that will appear in my right sidebar tomorrow.

I'm working early today because it's supposed to get into the 80s by this afternoon, and I want to be finished - with all the canning and cleanup done - by then. So, as much as I'd love to chat more with you today, I really must run. I'll see you again tomorrow!

It's That Time Again...

Brynwood Needleworks - Hickory Nuts!

It's my favorite time of year again. Autumn has arrived, and with it, the hickory nuts are starting to ripen and fall. I brought out my favorite English china covered dish to show you what I picked up off our lawn yesterday.

The sun was shining, and as I was bending over to pick up all these hickory nuts, more were dropping out of the tree!! I'll be going out every day now, to pick up the ones I can find. The squirrels will be fine, too, because they're better foragers than I am, and there are still lots of nuts for them in the wild raspberries that grow around the base of the tree. 

I'm going to let these dry for a while before I shell them. I'll be putting them onto baking trays to help them in the process, and will be adding more as I pick them up. I can see what I'll be doing this weekend!

 

I'm also going to be adding fabric yardage in my Etsy shop this week. It will all be $8/yard. I need to make some room in my fabric studio, as I work toward combining two studios into one. I really want to create a beautiful, restful guest room in my fabric studio, so I'm motivated. I'm going to add lots of fabric, so be sure to check the shop over the next few weeks.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Taggart

One more thing...Huge apologies to Tag's friends and fans. It's all my fault. I forgot to let him use my computer to write his usual Tuesday post. 

 

Truth is, I was in Green Bay at a specialist for a doctor's appointment on Monday. It was a long day, and I came home with new medication that kind of spaced me out. I'm so sorry that I flat forgot about his Tuesday post. So I'm apologizing to you and to Tag. I promise to do better in the future.

Cookies Delayed Are Not Cookies Denied...

Brynwood Needleworks - Chocolate Chip/Hickory Nut Cookies

 

I finally got around to making those chocolate chip cookies. Check out my "Recipes" link in the menu bar to find the recipe I used. The only changes I made to the original recipe were to chill the dough for a couple of hours before baking, and I upped the oven temperature to 380º. 

I'm very happy with the results, and they were a definite hit with Handsome. I'm (no-contact) dropping a container for Andy and Shelly today, because it's always good to share cookies! I'm thinking that it's about time to make more hickory syrup, too! I'm going to add that to my list for the next week or two.

Brynwood Needleworks - Tag Fetching

 

Of course, I'm still stitching on my borders, but Tag's been a little stir crazy as I've been preoccupied with other things. So, first thing yesterday morning, I took him out to stretch his little legs a bit. He was happy to be fetching, but not as enthusiastic as when Bella's around.

We were out for a little while, and then he settled nicely in the house. It was good that I got him out, too, because it started raining last night and is expected to continue all weekend. He's not so thrilled about fetching in the rain. I think it will be just right for him to sleep at my feet while I'm stitching the whole weekend.

I read something yesterday that I really liked. Don't look at staying inside as punishment. Consider it a treat that you're able to take some time for yourself and your family. Slow down. Reflect. Count your blessings. We're all going to come out on the other side. Think of this as a little time out. Not the punishment kind. The kind where you can be the best you when it's all over. 

Stay home. Stay healthy. Stay strong.

I'm praying for all of us.

This Tool Is Awesome!...

Shelling Nuts

 

Last Christmas, Andy and Shelly gave me this beautiful nutcracker for shelling my hickory nuts. This year is my first year using it, and it's awesome!!!

I have 15 gallons of nuts to shell, and I've hardly made a dent in the first bucket. It's really efficient! Look. I already have one full jar!

At this rate, I'm going to end up with a boat-load of nuts, and shells. I can see lots of cookies, breads and syrup in our future!

Don't mind the corgi in the background. He'll be back on Tuesday to tell you about his newest gift.

 

A New Farm Treasure...

Hickory Syrup

 

You may have noticed lately how I've become slightly obsessed with the whole process of canning. (Understatement of the year, I know.) I recently found a group on Facebook where I've made new friends and found great knowledge and inspiration. The group was created by Marisa McClellan who wrote the book, Food In Jars (among others). Her group is of the same name.

A new (to me) friend in the group is Mary Marshall. She writes the blog Cooking With Mary and Friends. She has posted some magical canning recipes, including the one I recently told you about (Christmas Jam). It's a big hit around here.

 

© Cooking With Mary and Friends image

Over the weekend, I found her latest group contribution from her blog...Praline Syrup. (Click on the link for the recipe.) I immediately decided I'd make this recipe using hickory nuts, which I mentioned in the discussion. Another member shared that she'd made hickory syrup, and I went from there.

  

Dried Hickory Shells and Nutmeats

When I spent so much time last fall and winter cracking hickory nuts, I only had one thing in mind when I saved the shells (and nutmeats I couldn't pry out of them). I figured I'd use the shells in summer campfires, or when grilling spare ribs.

As luck would have it, I never did anything with them over the summer, so they just continued to dry out in a clean 25 gallon plastic container. When we started talking about the process of making hickory syrup, I decided to bring the container inside and give it a try.

 

Finished Hickory Hill Farm Hickory Syrup

 

Eight hours later, I have six pint jars, and seven 1.5 ounce sample bottles of the most tasty, beautiful golden brown hickory syrup to show for my first effort. I've barely made a dent in my tote full of shells. 

By my calculation, I have enough to make at least twenty more pints of syrup...and that's just from last years shells. That's not even counting the fifteen gallons of hickory nuts from this year that I'll be shelling for their meats.

I'll definitely be making Mary's recipe for Praline Syrup, and I'll spend free time this winter making more Hickory Syrup, too. I'll be ordering containers today, and plan to share this golden nectar in my shop. I'll have larger bottles or jars available, as well as small sampler jars.

They'll be listed up in my shop as soon as the new containers arrive, and I'll be sure to let you know so my blog friends get the first chance to purchase some. If you know you'd like to have some, you can send me an email to reserve a pint or jar. More goodness from Hickory Hill Farm, thanks to a little help from my friends.

Tuesdays With Tag - I'm A Poet...

Tag Under The Hickory Tree

 

"Under the spreading hickory tree The handsome corgi stands; The corgi, a mighty dog is he with short and stocky legs; And the muscles of his brawny butt are strong as iron pegs."

Handsome and Sturdy

"His hair is full, and gold, and white, His face is like the tan; His brow smells like he rolled in stuff,

He finds where e're he can."

Brynwood's Taggart

 

"Week in, week out, from morn 'til night

You can hear his..."

 

 "Tag! You're mangling Longfellow's poem! Stop that right now."

"I'm just gettin' started, Mom! You're no fun!"

 

I guess I have to stop changin' the words to the Village Smithy poem. It just seemed appropriate since she keeps draggin' Bella and me to the hickory trees twice a day to pick up nuts. Bella's enjoyin' the hunt so much that she even runs down to the tree when she's supposed to be doin' her business. She comes runnin' back with a nut to give to Mom every time! sigh

 

Mom's gonna be really busy crackin' nuts this winter. She's just about ready to let the squirrels have the rest. Almost, but not quite. If you're lookin' for me, I'll be under the branches of the hickory tree...with the other nuts.

I'll see you again in seven. 'til then...  

"Chase A Dream - Or A Squirrel".

Let The Games Begin...

Hickory Hill Farm Hickory Nuts

The squirrels have started foraging in the yard. That means one thing. The hickory nuts have begun falling, and I'd better put on my sensible shoes if I want to harvest any of them for cookies and cakes this winter.

We had storms last night, so many of them were on the ground in front of the farmhouse. Andy was on his hands and knees picking them up in the treeline between our properties...that's where the squirrels are right now, and he already filled a five gallon bucket! Those old trees are really producing this year, so I may have a little grace period before the squirrels move down the hill to the trees I pick.

So, game on, squirrels! I'll be out there every morning to see whether or not I can beat them to those precious nuts. (Don't worry. There are always lots of nuts I can't reach in the trees - or find in the grass - so they'll have plenty to carry them through the winter.)

 

Hickory Hill Farm Lavender Jelly

 

I also harvested more lavender from my garden yesterday morning, and made another small batch of jelly.

 

I told my sister, Di, that I wasn't happy with the color of the last batch (yes. I added food coloring). She told me that the McCormick "Neon" set has a purple, so she got some for me. I used it in this batch, and love the resulting color.

 

In case you're wondering about the green "thingy" in the bowl with the lavender flowers, it's an herb stripper. My same sister is a Pampered Chef consultant, and she sells these. (I'm not being compensated in any way for this endorsement - nor is this a solicitation asking you to make a purchase. I only posted this in the event you wondered what the tool is, and/or you wanted one for yourself. I know you guys. Someone would have asked.) 

 

There's a whole selection devoted to herbs and preserving tools. This tool easily pulls the leaves, buds or flowers from the stem of any herb. (If you're interested in checking out any of these tools, HERE'S the link to Di's business page for them.) 

 

I won't be doing any more canning until I purchase apples. I want to make applesauce - and maybe pie filling. That won't be before Sunday, and probably next week. I want to make my apron - and I  already need a few for orders - first. Oh, yes. I have to get out into the yard for my daily contest with the squirrels, too!

Hickories...

Fond du Lac History At Home Series

 

I did something really fun yesterday afternoon. I went to a lecture at the Fond du Lac Public Library. It was one in a series of History At Home lectures. This one was especially close to my heart, about hickory trees!

Front Yard Hickory Tree (behind the red maple)

It's surprising how much information you can learn in one short hour! Our speaker, Mr. Kevin DeCramer, had a wealth of knowledge about the hickory population in the State of Wisconsin, the history of this legacy tree and even information about the actual nuts. 

These trees live to be three hundred years old, have long taproots (which make transplanting difficult), and if I planted seedlings tomorrow I wouldn't live long enough to see them bear their fruit (nuts). One other thing was that hickory trees also produce a syrup that rivals maple trees, however, you don't tap the trees to get it. The bark is the source for the syrup! Such attributes make these trees even more precious to me. 

We had dinner with Andy and Shelly last night, and they told me that we actually have a few more hickory trees on our property than I originally thought. I'm going to do a little exploring this weekend to locate the other trees so I can keep track of our "crops" through this fall. I'll definitely be making the rounds once the nuts begin to mature.

Surprises At The Farm...

Brynwood Needleworks - Christmas Gifts from Andy and Shelly

I hope all of you had a restful and happy Christmas celebration. Our festivities began last Wednesday with one of our sons and his family, and will conclude today with a visit from my best friend and later, our other son and his family.

We had dinner with Andy and Shelly on Thursday evening. The meal they prepared was delicious - and we always enjoy their company. We got a tour of their home, and we exchanged gifts. We were so tickled with the gifts they chose for us.

Brynwood Needleworks - Christmas Gifts from Andy and Shelly

They asked Shelly's mom (who used to live in our farmhouse), about the nutcracker she used to shell those hickory nuts. They knew that I got blisters using a conventional nutcracker to shell the nuts I'd taken back to Florida, and wanted to give me some relief.

Janet said the nutcracker she uses is still available at True Value Hardware, so off Andy went and got one for me! I literally jumped out of my chair to hug him when I opened the box! They also gave me a big bag of nuts in the shell so I could practice!

In addition, there were more gifts from the farm. They gave us two more bags of shelled hickory nuts, a painted saw blade (I love the bluebirds and barn scene), and a large jar of honey from the hives just above our farm.

We gave Shelly one of the cork Grab and Go Clutches that I made, and also gifts they can share - a fuel card for Andy to help defray the cost of plowing our yard out this winter, and a gift certificate for a local restaurant where they can share a nice meal on us. We were so humbled by their generosity - they are both so giving - and we look forward to reciprocating in the coming years.

Brynwood Needleworks - Christmas Gifts From Our Neighbor

Yesterday, there was a knock at the door and one of our neighbors here on Hickory Road came up to welcome us to the neighborhood. Mary Jane wrote the sweetest note in the card she gave us.

Brynwood Needleworks - Christmas Gifts From Our Neighbor, Mary Jane

 

It was tucked into a beautiful basket filled with her homemade treats for us - and a fragrant bottle of hand cream for me. She must have a fly on the wall here. I've been going through hand cream like crazy in this drier air! 

 

We're looking forward to getting to know Mary Jane and our other neighbors better when the weather gets warmer. Once the farmhouse is finished, we'll invite all of them to join us here for a party to celebrate. We think 2017 is going to be a great year. 

 

Happy Boxing Day, everyone!

 

This Season's Harvest...

Brynwood Needleworks - 2016 Hickory Nut Harvest

 

I've finished shelling my 2016 harvest of hickory nuts. I also added the small ziplock bag of nuts that Shelly gave me when we first arrived at the farm. 

 

Here's how my harvest breaks down this year...One 3/4 full five gallon bucket of nuts (in the shell and husk) yielded almost 1-1/2 quarts of shelled nuts. I saved the husks and shells which will continue to dry out, and they'll be used either in the grill, smoker or our fire pit to add their hickory smoke to our cooking. (I'm not going to count hours expended or blisters earned.) 

 

The rest of the yield from the three hickory trees on our near our property will be left for the resident squirrels to feed them through the winter. I'll enjoy watching them romp and play in the snow, fortified by the nuts they'll collect yet this fall.

 

All in all, I'd say I did pretty well. Prior to purchasing the farm, it never even occurred to me to collect the fruit of the hickory trees. 

 

Thank you to those of you who shared treasured family recipes with me for their favorite uses for hickory nut meats. I'm looking forward to trying them! 

 

 

Thanks, also, to those who commented on my farm dress patterns yesterday. I will definitely rethink the tights/boots decision. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this. I also read the comment(s) asking me to share how I actually make clothing. So, when I start sewing up my dresses and aprons, I'll share the process with you. 

 

Making your own garments isn't scary. I've done it for many years, and it's a very satisfying process. I'd love to share how I choose fabrics, cut, and assemble those fabrics into a finished garment, so that perhaps others will have the confidence to make their own outfits. I'll plan now to even create a few step-by-step videos for you. I know. You can hardly wait, right? Same here!

A Wooly Day...

Brynwood Needleworks - Wools and Threads

 

I drove to Menasha yesterday to visit my go-to shop for wools and threads...Primitive Gatherings. It was sunny and beautiful when Tag, Bella and I took our drive along the east shore of Lake Winnebago. 

I actually lived on the east shore of the lake during high school, driving to and from Fond du Lac every day to work or school. I was surprised to see how much it's changed since the last time I passed that way. 

 

Farm fields are now populated with McMansions and new businesses. The "scenic overlook" that used to offer an unobstructed view of the lake from its high vantage point, is now a nice place to have a picnic, without the view. Mature trees now grow from the picnic area all the way down to the water's edge. There's no "view" to be seen. Oh, dear. How so much has changed over these many years.

The reason I went shopping was for one (or two) colors of wool and Valdani #12 thread I needed. I came home with a few other wools and the threads I needed to complete the last two blocks in my Wooly Critter Sampler quilt. 

When I got back home, I sat with the sun pouring in our kitchen windows to choose the wools for Block Eleven (or was this Twelve?). I'll set it up today and I'll begin stitching right away...after I pick more hickory nuts. (I've got quite a harvest going. If only I could reach those high branches!)

Oh! One more thing before I close today...WE HAVE TWO MORE SQUIRRELS! They're little, gray squirrels, but I saw them running around the front yard - and yes, they're after those hickory nuts, too. I'm so tickled that we have more squirrels - believe me - I'm willing to share. 

Seeing them playing in the yard was the perfect end to a wonderfully, wooly day on the farm.

Nature Called...

Brynwood Needleworks - Hickory Nuts

Nature called...but not in the usual way this term is used. I awoke yesterday to the sun rising over the horizon east of the farm. The skies were clear and it was going to be a beautiful day. Bella and Tag were anxious to get out and have their breakfast, and I took a shower and got dressed. We had plans to meet my aunt and uncle by 9.

My uncle is going to be painting the rooms in our farmhouse (he's a retired painter), so the three of us went to pick up the paint I chose while Sherwin Williams is having their 30% off sale. I was purchasing 15 gallons of Repose Gray and 5 gallons of Ibis White, so I didn't want to miss the discount! We made a few other stops and headed back to the farm to unload the truck, and then we headed our separate ways for the rest of the day.

I took the dogs outside and decided it was much too perfect a day to spend inside. I changed clothes, grabbed a large bucket and went to collect hickory nuts, while the dogs snuffled in the grass and explored our property. There was a nice breeze and the land is beginning to smell like fall. I savored every minute.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hickory Nuts

When my bucket was nearly full, we went back to the house, parked in the sun coming through the open windows in the kitchen, and proceeded to open up the green and brown cases hiding those precious hickory nuts inside.

Bella was more interested in this process than Tag, so she spent most of the time watching me remove the outer husks. I'd open them in a few moves, toss them into a waiting shopping bag on my left and with the other hand, place the moist nuts into a bowl on my right.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hickory Nuts

As I went through these motions, I let my mind wander. The clean, nutty/almost citrusy/earthy fragrance of the outer husks wafted up as the autumn sun warmed my shoulders.

I thought how much Mom would have enjoyed watching me as I worked. Sis told me that she remembered shelling hickory nuts with her grandmother when she was a young girl, and how she loved the taste of them.

I thought about the pioneer women who would have performed this same act as they harvested the bounty the land provided for them. As I collected the nuts from our trees, I noticed that we also have small, sweet, wild grapes growing in the same hedgerow. (I'll remember those for next year!)

Brynwood Needleworks - Hickory Nuts

Sis told me that after the still moist nuts are removed from the outer husks, they used to lay them out on trays to dry. This allows the shells to harden. No need to bake them. Just let them harden so the shells can be stored to crack later.

My bucket yielded nearly seven pints of whole nuts. Friends have shared their favorite family recipes with me that will used the nut meats. I'm looking forward to trying the cookie and cake recipes that have been sent to me, and sharing them with my family.

There was only one sad note to this otherwise perfect day. Handsome and I have been watching the resident red squirrels as they prepare for winter. One particular squirrel has amused us as he'd run across the yard, stick his nose into the grass - and his butt in the air - to bury nuts he'd shelled under the largest hickory tree. He liked to run across the end of our road between the hickory trees and the pear tree in our south tree line. I mentioned earlier in the week that I figured I'd be competing with him to collect my own harvest.

Sadly, as I drove out to meet my aunt and uncle, I found him on the road just past our driveway. He wasn't there when I came home last night, and there were only a few cars that came down to the end of our road to the farm late yesterday. Someone must have accidentally hit him on their way in or out. I stopped the car, actually said how sorry I was that he was gone, picked him up, and gently placed his body into the tall grass on the side of the road.

I haven't seen the other squirrels at all since. I'm hoping that they'll be back to entertain us, and collect the hickory nuts that are still clinging to the high branches of the trees....and I hope they steer clear of the road. I'd much rather enjoy their antics.