Homemade Fruity Mincemeat and Mincemeat Cobbler

Wait a minute. . . .Before you say "Yuck" (I've heard it before). . . .Read on. . . .This just might be the recipe you need for your Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner! . . .Truly delicious. . . .and contrary to it's name, there is NO meat in it. . . .only luscious fruit and spices. . . .nothing smells more like the Holidays than this simple Fruity Mincemeat recipe.

I canned 7 pints of Mincemeat this weekend. . . .for little expense. . . .We had garden left-overs of apples and green tomatoes, so that's the basic ingredients I used. . . .(You do know tomatoes are fruit, don't you?). . . .You can substitute the green tomatoes with more apples and/or pears. . . .This recipe can be cut in half or one-fourth, too, if you'd like to make just enough for the Holidays. . . .Easy to do. . . .

I gathered the last of our green tomatoes a week or so ago. . . .We were to have a cold snap and I was worried the frost might get them. . . .waste not, want not. . . .making do.

I picked lots and lots of green 'Tommy Toes". . .but any green tomato will work. . . .

(If you don't use green tomatoes in your mincemeat, omit this step)

Wash and drain green tomatoes.

Cut into large or small chunks (I like mine chunky--a personal choice)

Sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon Salt and let stand for 1 hour.

Drain.

Pour boiling water over the tomatoes

Let stand for 5 more minutes.

Drain.

 

Now, we're ready:

 

 

Fruity Mincemeat

8-10 cups prepared Green Tomatoes
(Substitute Pears or Apples for Green Tomatoes, if desired)
6 cups Chopped Apples
Juice from one Orange
Grated Rind of Orange
Pulp of Orange chopped (optional)
1 pound Seedless Raisins
1/2 cup Butter
3 1/2 cups Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 cup White Vinegar
2 Tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp. Ginger
1 Tsp. Nutmeg
1 Tsp. Ground Cloves
Mix all ingredients together and cook until
mixture is boiling hot and cooked through.
Pour into hot jars, leaving a 1" headspace.
Seal and process in a water bath for 20 minutes.
Makes approximately 5-7 pints.

Don't want to can? Allow mincemeat to cool after cooking,
pack in freezer containers, and freeze.
Don't eat sugar? Try Stevia in place of the sugar.
 

While I was letting the mincemeat cook down and thicken, the whole house filled with the smell of spices and fruit. . . .John peeked in the back door to see what was going on. . . .'WHAT smells so good? Can I taste?"

I promise you. . . .Everyone will want a taste. . . .

There's an abundance of recipes for cookies, breads, pies, and bars using mincemeat. . . .But, our favorite is a simple cobbler that I often bake during the winter--especially at Thanksgiving or Christmas. . . .I came up with the recipe on my own. . . .So far, everyone has loved it. . . .even those who say they don't like Mincemeat (as in John years ago--til he tasted this treat). . . .

Fruity Mincemeat Cobbler

from The Country Farm Home

1 Pillsbury Refrigerator Pie Crust
1 pint (2 cups) Mincemeat
1 large can pears, drained and cut in chunks
1-2 Tablespoon Cornstarch, depending on how thick the mincemeat is
Butter

Combine Mincemeat, Pears, and Cornstarch in a Mixing Bowl.
Pour into an 8x8 square or 8x10 oblong
Dot top with  plenty of Butter
Roll out Pie Crust and cover Mincemeat.
Trim and Cut a few slits on the top
or
Roll out Pie Crust and cut in strips.
Weave a lattice on top of the Mincemeat
Bake at 350 degrees until fruit is bubbly and crust is golden brown.
Serve warm with Whipped Cream or Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

 Another option--and one I enjoy--is to top Homemade Pumpkin Bread Slices with Mincemeat straight from the jar. . . .and a little Whipped Cream. . . .Yummmmm. . . .

 

How long is it til Christmas?
 

. . .from my farmhouse kitchen to yours. . .

 



Country Sundays--'Operator. .Information'

 

"Operator
Information
Give me Jesus on the line
Operator
Information
I'd like to speak to a friend of mine
Oh prayer is the number
Faith is the exchange
Heaven is the street
And Jesus is his name
Operator
Information
Please give me Jesus on the line

Operator
Information
Won't you tell me why
Tell me why
Operator
Information
Don't try to tell me
What number to call
My mother used this number
When I was very small
And everytime she dialed it
She always got 't call the
Operator
Information
Please give me Jesus on the line. . . ."

 

The Manhattan Transfer 1976

Click here to:
Hear it, Sing it, Spread the Cheer on This Country Sunday

 

Have a simply Wonderful day!

 

 



There's a Wagon on Our Table!

A wagon on the table? Oh, My. . . .

Let me show you why this happened. . . .Look at this vintage photo my Dad (The Farmer) shot in 1950. . . .

Back in the day, farmers used all kinds of trailers to get their cotton to the gin. . . .Wooden wagons were often built at the farm shop. . . .I remember these wagons--since they stuck around well into the 1960s. . . .

When I spotted the little Vess wagon at a Missouri antique market, my mind immediately went to those wooden wagons from the past. . . .It looks so much like them, don't you think?

I loved it!. . . .I rarely buy anything that I don't look at the price first. . . .It has to be a good deal. . . .But, this wagon was coming home with me no matter the cost. . . . turned out it was on sale and I ended up spending very little. . . .Can't believe the seller no longer wanted such a cute wagon. . . .and well-made, too.

Fall décor for me might incorporate a few pumpkins and gourds. . . .but the majority of my Fall decorating is with Cotton. . . .After all, it's what we're all about. . . .And, as the Farmer's Daughter, my heart races at the sight of it. . . .Between you and me, spending time IN the fields, walking the rows of white, white, white is my favorite Fall thing to do. . . .Our cotton this year has been gorgeous. . . .

My one regret is that I didn't think ahead and collect enough Cotton to offer for sale at Our Old Country Store. . . .This would have been the perfect year to do that. . . .and I usually have requests for it. . . .

Alas, the fields were picked Monday and Tuesday. . . .No more Cotton for this year. . . .But, I will definitely make a note for next year. . . .

Now, let me ask you, is this not the perfect addition to our Farmhouse table?. . . .Feels like Fall to me. . . .

. . . from my farmhouse to yours. . .



 

*********

 

If you'd like to see photos of the actual Cotton Pickin', click on:

A Cotton Pickin' Day

at Facebook

 

And at Our Old Country Store, don't miss: 

Homespun Angel for the Holidays

 

 



A Wonderful Farm Dress Find, A Potpourri of Tidbits, and A Blog Break Update

I love this worn, torn and stained farm dress I ran across in some of my wanderings this past month. . . .
It says so much without actually speaking any words. . . .

An everyday, cotton work dress. . . .so simple and plain. . . .yet, with a little 'spice' of added rickrack. . . .So typical of Delta farm wives. . . .There's something comforting in it for me. . . .a feeling I'd like to curl up in the lap of this unknown woman. . . .to be cuddled. . . .safe and secure. . . .

It makes me smile. . . .and brings back sweet memories. . . .

Hi Everyone! I've missed you all!
It's been a while, hasn't it?
Unfortunately, I'm still on 'Blog Break'. . . .
but wanted to share the farm dress with you. . . .and 'what's happening at the farmhouse'
My goodness! I get more excited over an old, worn out farm dress than a brand new fashionable one. . . .Well, that's just me. . . .loving the plain and simple. . . .the things with wear and flaws. . . .sort of like me, when I think about it!

I thought I'd remind you that I've done some posting on Facebook this past month. . . .

I shared a family recipe for my famous (famous with my family and friends, that is ) Crispy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. . . .Now I know there's jillions of oatmeal cookie recipes, but I love this one because anything can be added to the basic recipe--raisins, coconut, pecans, dried fruit, a little pumpkin, butterscotch chips. . . .It's endless. . . .Just leave the chocolate chips out of the recipe and you have the basic dough. . . .make additions from there!
You can find the recipe on Facebook.

 

We harvested our apples. . . .

 

 

I revealed a very unique scarecrow from the past. . . .notice the 'details'. . . .so funny. . . .

I've started gathering vintage bed covers. . . .for what?

Slipcovers for the two living room couches!

Once the weather gets colder, I'll start stitching them up.

And at Our Old Country Store, I began something new. . . .

In the future, I'll be sharing a few of my designs, ideas, and patterns along the way--
all those things that keep my creative juices flowing. . .

 

 

Last week there was a free Cotton Pickin' Wool Folk Art Pattern. . . .

 

 

I also had a brainstorm--out of necessity--on how to make Five Looms from Two

 

 

and How to Strip a Shirt in Five Minutes,

  

as well as updates on a new item for sale.

 

Yes, I've been busy. . . .

awfully busy. . . . 

with the farm and working as John's right hand (wo)man. . . .

Whew. . . .He can be a slave driver!

But, we're working through the list--little by little.

And, we enjoy doing it together. . . .

John's such a dear anyway. . . .truly a special blessing.

 

Yet, I do miss blogging and have found a little comfort in the quick Facebook posts

and the occasional posts at Our Old Country Store.

So, if you get curious about what's going on here at The Country Farm Home,

hop on over there and find out!

I'd love to hear from you!

 

 

I WILL be back to blogging at The Country Farm Home as soon as possible. . . .

and will try to hop in every now and then with a few updates.

 

Hope all is well with you. . . .and You're having a wonderful Fall.

Til next time. . . .

 

. . . from my farmhouse to yours. . .

 

 

 

Taking a Break Blues

I'm singing the blues today. . . .It's not a song I can say I'm enjoying . . . .

but one that's become necessary--"due to circumstances beyond my control". . . .
and believe me, I've tried my hardest to control those circumstances!

 

 

This summer has been a long and complicated one. . . .

health issues. . . .time issues. . . . deadlines to make. . . .

borrowed computers. . . .a broken camera. . . .

issues with the net provider. . . .It's just gone on and on. . . .

 

The last straw was the loss of my computer. . . .

It all began over a month ago, when I opened it early one morning

and only got a blank screen. . . .

Took it to the doctor (Geek Squad). . .

They thought they could bring it back to life.

One day last week, they notified me of the grim news. . . .

The computer was "gone". . . .and where did I want to bury it?

 

I lost five years of documents. . . .and this entire year of photographs.

I can salvage a few of the documents from my flash drives. . . .

and many of the photographs from my blog and Facebook. . . .

but it's still been a huge loss.

I had just bought a portable hard drive with the intention of storing our files on it. . . .

It was still in the bag when my computer went down.

Wouldn't you know it?

 

 

And now, 'duty and responsibilities' also call. . . .

John needs my help with the remainder of the farm maintenance and renovations

before winter sets in. . . .

There won't be a minute to spare with all the projects we need to complete. . . .

My health issues this summer have hindered our progress.

 

There's also talk from two popular magazines that plan

to feature The Country Farm Home next year.

We're very excited about that. . . .plans are in the making. . . .

but first we have too finish our renovations and projects already started.

 

The bottom line is. . . .

I must take a break from blogging at The Country Farm Home for a while. . . .

I won't be totally 'gone' though. . . .

I'll be visiting your blogs and you can email me anytime. . . .

I plan to continue to add links on this blog's side column for older posts

that you might want to read again or might have missed the first time around. . . .

plus, I hope to pop in every now and then to give you an update on our progress, too.

 

You can also join me at

Pinterest,

Facebook 

. . . .AND at. . . .

 

 

where orders will be filled, as usual.

 

 

During this break at The Country Farm Home,

 I'll be posting now and then  at Our Old Country Store.

I have lots of goodies and tips to show you there. . . .

not just about Rag Rugs

 but Farmhouse crafts, quilting, junkin' finds, apron patterns, and more. . . .

Nothing fancy. . . .

Just some good old Farmhouse style inspiration. . . .

from myself and others. . . .

 

 

 

 So. . . .even though I'm singing the blues here at
The Country Farm Home for a time, I haven't totally left you.
I just find myself in need of time to re-group, re-think,
and do my share of the work around the farm.

Let me apologize to you who have emailed and/or commented
this summer and haven't heard back from me.
When I did have a computer, there was too much 'paperwork' to take care of.
I hope to purchase a new computer soon
and everything should calm down a little--I HOPE!

Again, you can join and/or follow me anytime at these locations:

Our Old Country Store 

Pinterest 

Facebook 

 

Dell, Arkansas.com 

or Email Me


I'll be in touch. . .You stay in touch, too!
Time to put my overalls on and get to work!

. . .from my farmhouse to yours. . .

 

 

Two Family Recipes for Tomato ChowChows--Easy and Delicious

Got an abundance of green and red tomatoes in the garden? 

Fall is a good time to make Tomato ChowChows (pickle relish) for the long winter ahead.

There's nothing like a good Tomato ChowChow on beans or peas. . . .It's a staple in our family. . . .There are as many recipes for ChowChow as there are cooks. . . .I've tried a lot of them, but none compare with the following two recipes that have been handed down for at least four generations of my family. (ChowChow is the local name for a pickle relish.)

My brother emailed me last week, wanting the recipes. . . .said he hadn't had good ChowChow in years. . . .He plans to 'can' his own this year. . . .If he's going to all that trouble, you know it's GOOD!

Thought I'd share the family recipes with you, too.

My favorite is the Green Tomato ChowChow. . . .

Green Tomato ChowChow

1 gallon green tomatoes
5 sweet green and/or red peppers
12 medium onions
3 hot peppers

1 stalk celery

1 medium cabbage
1 quart vinegar (white)
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp allspice

1 tsp white mustard

1 tsp cinnamon

Grind vegetables (I chop mine), put in a bag and let drip 20 minutes. Mix altogether. Bring to a boil and cook until hot through and through. Put in jars and seal.*


My Mom favored the Red Tomato ChowChow. . . .

 

Ripe (Red) Tomato ChowChow

18 ripe tomatoes, med size
5 onions, med size
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups vinegar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
Salt to taste
Hot peppers to taste

Mix well and cook until thick. Seal in jars.*

*Do you know how to seal the jars?
We use the hot pack method of canning for our ChowChows. Everything has to be sterilized and hot.  Check out the following link if you're not familiar with the method. It's a post on peach jam but the canning would be done the same way:

 Hot Pack Canning

To be on the safe side you might want to process your ChowChow in a water bath for approximately 10 minutes.

All this talk of ChowChow has my mouth watering for a big pot of beans, greens and cornbread. . .hmmm. . . . 

Guess where I'm heading? . . .(grin)

, , ,from my farmhouse kitchen to yours. . .