Homemade Fig Newtons

First we oven dried our figs, took a long time.
We will from now on use a dehydrator.



I think we are going to try some other flavors as the fall season is upon us and a new fresh produce season is upon us, maybe pumpkin newtons, apple newtons, pear newtons, date newtons...Somebody Stop me...LOL

For the Dough
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 stick (or 1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs honey, or corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon orange zest
3 egg yolks
1 ounce orange juice

For the Filling
1/2 cup dried figs, finely chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 tbs honey or corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Making the Dough
Your dough will need to chill for at least 4 hours before you begin, so make sure to do it ahead of time!

~Cream together the butter and sugar. Add honey (or corn syrup), baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest and continue mixing until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add in your sifted flour all at once and mix it in slowly. Drizzle in the orange juice and continue mixing until just combined. The dough should be very soft and wet.

~Prepare a large sheet of plastic wrap and use a rubber spatula to transfer the dough from the bowl to the center of the plastic. Fold the plastic over the dough and flatten into a disc. Wrap with remaining plastic and refrigerate for four hours or overnight

Preparing the Filling
~Combine the figs, applesauce, honey (or corn syrup), and cinnamon in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Scrape the bowl down and pulse again to ensure no chunks remain. Transfer the fig paste to a bowl and set aside.

Baking and Shaping the Cookies
If you don’t care about the shape of your fig newtons, you can play around with other looks and appearances too! Just keep your cookie dough about 1/4th an inch thick and it should still bake up the same way.

~Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

~On a well-floured surface, roll out your chilled dough to about 1/4th an inch thickness. Make sure the dough is floured enough not to stick to any surfaces. Cut your dough into several 3 1/2 inch wide strips. It’s easier to work with strips no longer than 6 inches long, so you might want to cut them down a size.

~Spoon your filling down the center of each strip and spread it so that it’s about 1 inch across and 1/4th an inch thick. Fold the dough edges over the middle line of filling. The edges should overlap a little bit. Flip the cookie over so that the seam side is down. Transfer your newtons to a prepared cookie sheet and bake for approximately 12 minutes, or until cookies are puffed and browned all around. If they are still moist to the touch, continue baking for a few minutes.

~Once your cookies are done, cut each of your bars into 1 inch pieces. Layer them into a plastic ziplock bag or seal-able Tupperware container. If you’re stacking cookies, place a sheet of parchment paper in between each layer. Stored at room temperature, they should stay moist and tasty for about 2 weeks!


This is not my own recipe but one I found on the internet at
http://www.yummly.com/blog/2012/11/how-to-make-fig-newtons-from-scratch/

Mystery Nut No Bake Cookies

Mystery Nut No Bake Cookies
Makes about 24 1" Balls



1/2c coconut oil
2 tbsp peanut butter
4 tbsp corn syrup
1 1/3 c plain rolled oats
1 square ramen noodles, very well broken down.
2oz. Garden of Life Raw Protein powder Chocolate

Mix together coconut oil, peanut butter & corn syrup until well blended and smooth.
Add Raw Protein Powder, and stir until all is blended in.
Add Oatmeal and Ramen noodles, stir until everything is covered. Everything should be off the walls of the mixing bowl as well. (No Waste)
Scoop out into 1 tsp or 1" balls and place on waxed paper on cookie sheet.
Set in the refrigerator about 30 minutes.
The coconut oil will set making your cookies beautifully opaque.

I served these to a couple neighbors, who loved them but were totally confused about what kind of nut I had used. (The Crunch is from the Ramen)

Watch for more recipes as I tweak some flavors in similar no bake recipes. These are quite vegan, and uses no electricity so you're in the Green ;)

We're exchanging the regular peanut butter for cashew butter next time, adding chopped pistachios, and chopped dries cherries. Watch for them...I may back down to 3 tbsp. sweetener as well. What to call themmmm....

Saying Good Bye to Summer

2013 has been an unexpectedly mild summer for us here in South Carolina. Only reaching triple digits in the way of Heat index 2 times I believe. Much more moisture than most years, which started out great but did turn detrimental for some crops as it continued with gully washing force. One day by the debris on some neighbors trees in a low spot, it rose about 30 inches in the creek between two homes, took the upper gravel driveway and delivered it to the other side of the road some 100 feet away.

From Harvesting and learning new ways to use Semi Exotic but common Summer Harvests Like Turkey & Mission Figs



By the way all that wasn't jarred was eaten in Homemade Fig Newtons, and dried Figs (The little one just loved them)

We have had some beautiful Full Moons (Blue Moon 8/21/13)



And Spectacular Skyscapes



Of Course there was much color everywhere (This is the slightest sampling of the photographs I got to take this year.) I was blessed with multiple sprains and twists so I didn't get to do much more, Fall clean up is going to be a clearout.



So today I say Good bye to Summer, Fall has felt like it has snuck in here for the last couple days.
A little precipitation this weekend would be perfect, as it has been a little on the dry side.

It has been reported that Snakes are plentiful, and here in the end of the summer the insect critters have been too. (Although some are about 2 months behind schedule...aka: June Bugs in August) Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and bees have been on the down low, and we're just getting to see some butterflies in more numbers.

I hope you enjoy this taste of what I get to live with.
Looking back over my photographs I am truly blessed.

Victoria Meetze/EarthSource Services
http://www.facebook.com/EarthSourceServicesSC7

Baking Soda (NaHCO 3)~ A few good uses

Baking soda has been around a very long time, and has had a variety of uses besides "Baking". Here are a few things maybe you didn't know it was good for or how to use it for these purposes.

Brushing your teeth, it adds a little abrasive to knock off stubborn plaque and make you mouth feel fresh hence its odor reducing properties. Here is a recipe for making a homemade toothpaste.
1 cup coconut oil
1/2 c baking soda
1 tsp, splenda (optional)
10 drops of peppermint oil (i am thinking of trying tea tree oil as well, Melaluca
is an awesome natural product) (this may be too strong start with less and add to)
stir to a paste and store in an airtight jar.
Sounds very cool and inexpensive

I discusses the No Poo scalp cleansing method in a previous entry, check back to
New Years Resolution on December 28, 2012

You can also use it in a light abrasive nutrient cleansing oil for the face/skin
This is a refreshing change for all skin types, since the oils are natural your skin will soak then in.
equal parts of
coconut oil (yes the pure kind you can cook with),
100% shea butter (yes the kind that is pretty solid),
and good quality olive oil.
I melted the coconut and shea together for about 40 seconds in 20 second bursts in the microwave, then stirred until they were completely melted. Pour into a dark bottle add olive oil and give it a shake. I added a tiny bit of almond extract(yes the kind you cook with) just to give a really pleasing scent. You massage this onto your face and then use a soft washcloth and warm water to gently rub off, it leaves your skin feeling clean, soft and fresh. Once a week you can pour a little over some baking soda or extra-fine sugar for a nice exfoilating scrub. It is a nourishing emollient, that can cut your skin cleansing product expenses in half. (Mix with some salt for a really great exfoilating body scrub, thinking ahead to spring)

Did you know you can use Baking Soda to unglog a drain
sprinkle baking soda into the drain, then add some white vinegar (yup kiddo chemistry)
after it is finished with its reaction, I usually just leave it awhile to bubble and loosen whatever is in the drain. Then I finish with some boiling water.
unless you live with a sasquach and there is just a mega hairball down there this will normally move it out.

I leave you with just a tiny bit of Baking Soda History for this entry
Baking Soda is a leavening agent and is commonly grouped with yeast
Mixing Baking SOda and Vinegar to cause the release of Carbon Dioxide and cause effervessing is the most commonly known early Chemistry experiment
This link has interesting facts about Baking Soda

http://www.studymode.com/essays/History-Of-Baking-Soda-410630.html

So Check to see if your box of Soda is fresh in your fridge.
and here are 60 uses for Baking Soda
http://www.thelosthaven.co.uk/BSoda.htm

Have a Great Friday

This Too Shall Pass ~ INSOMNIA

Due to stress I have been having quite a bout with INSOMNIA lately.
I know it has been affecting my pleasant demeanor, although I haven't snapped to harshly at anyone yet. All my stress debunkers have failed, and I am resolved that it is going to just have to pass and I will just have to grin and bear it (and buy a new concealer stick...LOL)

Well last night in my attempt to use boredome to help sleep creep up onto my brain I found quite an interesting app on my Samsung SmartPhone...UDraw (FREE)

Here are a few examples of what rattled around and out of my fingertips, The best pic that was created actually didn't get saved, I have found with this app & my phone, it will shut itself down, Oh well what can I expect from something free right it will have it's glitches ;) But I think it will save enough of mine and my gals spontaneous art to satisfy and make up for the glitching.

I also have been playing around with a Sketch App, I think I will use that for my Christmas cards next year, a collage of pastel colored sketches, I can't wait...

Have a Blessed Day
Catterpillar Scarves coming up (Light, Compact, Warm, Attractive, and Fluffy)
Easy and fun to make, you can have one to match,contrast all your cold weather outfits ;)
~V

Happy New Year ~ Fireworks

I visited the Canon Learning Webby this evening and set my Canon Rebel T3 EOS Cam on GO for shooting Fireworks this New Year's Eve..
I wish I had taken Audio so you could feel what I did as I was awaiting the flash of fire in the sky. It was like Cannon Thunder and explosive flashing beyond the trees, behind me, to the left and right...Frank SInatra and Jimmy Buffet carrying on the water to me over the Erriely still Lake Murray.
Just FYI for those who are interested
my Camera settings were
Manual
Shutter Speed 1/5
Aperature 08
ISO 3200 and 1600
Manual Focus on my mm Canon Ultrasonic Telephoto Lens (Thank you Santa)
Ste up on a tripod using a remote switch

I worked out all my best shots and put them together for you all I hope you enjoy this pic. These turned out relatively well considering I shot them therough Trees ;)
I edited using Canon Photostudio %
Quick and Easy

Happy New Year
I can't wait to work with these lenses more

~v

Sun is Setting on 2012

Tomorrow the Sun will Set on 2012 and a whole new year will be upon us.
Take time to be with and enjoy your family and friends, The Fiscal Cliff will still be there looming in days ahead. Hug your loved ones tight, and hold ones not coles enough inyour hearts, for karmas sake. Let go of any hard feeling from the previous year, negative begats negative, a forward positive vibe will help guide you in a positive direction.

If folks have ill feeling towards you, forget-about-it, it really is their problem not yours, each person has their oun bubble to attend, if you mess with others bubbles is when issues begin. Memories as something folks take for granted these days, think about that for one second, disease, accident, and more can strip this from you in an instant. Treasure your memories today.

Take lots of pictures, but keep the people closer to your heart. Written correspondance is a forgotten art, make it one of your resolutions to revive it in your life, it really is a great momento to have for the future.

In my personal bubble we have been through quite a bit this past year, several Milestone events, and luckily out bubble has remained intact, it's been stressed but has not burst, I hope it remains that way through 2013, I feel good about the new year.

Have a Great Day
~V