A Tradition of Remembrance

As a child I only associated Memorial Day with

a holiday that brought our family together for a picnic or

 the beginning of summer with the first trip to  the swimming 

pool.  Perhaps I was born a little too close to the end of World War II

 for anyone ready to talk about our fallen heroes.

I can't imagine what our country would be like today were

it not for all the men and women that have served our country 

to protect our freedoms.

Memorial Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate

their devotion to our country.

Fortunately for our family, my father-in-law

did make it home from his experience in Japan during

World War II.

Because of men like Bill, 

we have the freedom to farm and  live free.

                                                               We pause on Memorial Day
                                           to give thanks for those who have given their all.

Memorial Day...a tradition of remembrance.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

I come from a long line of homemade ice cream eaters.

When I was small child, it was my delight to fight with the 

visiting cousin on who would sit on the ice cream freezer 

while our Papa (our Grandpa)  turned the crank.

The next best memory was helping to clean the paddle 

that was full of creamy ice cream.

Our electric ice cream freezer has changed the work 

that goes into making the ice cream, but our 

 memory making continues with the next generation.

As you can see, this was serious business for my Mother

and my granddaughter Hattie!

                                                   
                                          I'm thankful for the holidays that bring us together
                                              as a family and  these special milk memories
                                                         made down on the dairy farm!

Memory Making Pie

How will you begin your fall celebration? I started mine  by baking  Autumn Pumpkin Pie, a Southern Living recipe that's been in my recipe file box since 1987. The first time I baked this pie, I took it to Sunday dinner with my in-laws. I never dreamed that my mother-in-law would ask me for a recipe because she was such a wonderful cook. Obviously, the recipe made the family favorite list.  It was one of those proud daughter-in-law moments and a sweet memory for me.

 We love regular pumpkin pie but this is just a little fancier and perfect for any special occasion. Of course, you always serve it with a big scoop (or two)  of vanilla ice cream!


Autumn Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

2 eggs, slightly beaten
3 cups cooked,mashed pumpkin
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 unbaked 10 inch pie shell

Topping:
1/4 cup butter,melted
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Combine first 12 ingredients; blend well. Pour into pastry shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake an additional 35 minutes.

Combine butter,1/2 cup flour, and brown sugar; blend well. Stir in pecans; sprinkle mixture on pie. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Yield: One  10 inch pie