Site Down for Maintenance

 

honey-bees

I have  been blogging for over a year now and have decided that it is time to change up my blog. After spending a lot of time looking at all my options I have decided to stay with WordPress for now and change themes, which also changes the layout, image sizes and navigation too, etc.

My plan is to take the site down starting sometime Thursday evening and I hope to be back up no later than Tuesday but sooner if I can. I hope I am giving myself enough time to get this done, so be patient. You might start to see some minor changes before I take the site down.

I’ll be back so please check back on Tuesday or sooner for a fresh new look!

Clemson Tigers play the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday.  Go Tigers! Clemson tiger paw

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Labor Day Weekend!

 

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Garden Moths

imperial-moth

This is an Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis) that I found in our garden yesterday evening. I usually find 10 or more of the Imperial moths in the garden every year but this is the first one this year. Lunar moths are also popular in our area too but I have only  seen one of those this year too!

large-imperial-moth

Do you often find the large moths in your garden?

It’s Friday! 🙂 Enjoy your weekend!

A loving heart is the beginning off all knowledge.
– Thomas Carlyle

Custom Cutting Boards

Nice-large-cutting-board

I wanted to show you a custom board I finished and shipped this week. Sometimes when I pull out my lumber to begin making a new piece I can tell that the wood is beautiful, this time it turned out more beautiful than I initially thought. Walnut has ever rick color.

walnut-board-for-grill

The customer wanted a large board made from walnut to use in his kitchen. This is a custom size board, 20 x 30 inch and made using American Walnut. I am not sure exactly how they plan to use the board other than he mentioned that he does a lot of baking.

walnut-cutting-board

Since he lives in California, it will take 3-4 days before FedEx delivers the board,  I sure hope he likes it!

 

wood conditioner, spoon butter, board butter or wood butter in tins, made from mineral oil and beeswax, spoon butter

As a gift with every board I send a free tin of Wood Conditioner. My Wood Conditioner is homemade combining a mixture of food-grade mineral oil and pure beeswax. It will help you maintain the finish on your boards, reviving, condition and help protect your boards from moisture and drying out. To learn more, visit my Wood Conditioner page.

Enjoy your afternoon! 🙂

 

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

easy-chocolate-peanut-butter-pie-recipe

I love peanut butter and often eat it by the spoonful right from the jar! Jeff  Peanut Butter is my favorite, so if you love peanut butter this recipe is for you. It’s very  easy to make, no baking and very little waiting time before you can eat.

chocolate-peanut-butter-pie-recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 package 8 oz. softened cream cheese
1-1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 package 8 oz. Cool Whip thawed
For the Crust:
I took the easy way and purchased a ready made Oreo pie crust. I you would like to make it yourself it is very easy.
25 whole Oreo cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

Start with the crust by crushing the Oreos until they are fine crumbs. Pour crumbs into bowl and add melted butter and combine with a fork. After butter is combined press into pie pan and then bake at 350 degrees F for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and let it completely cool before adding filling.

filling-for-chocolate-peanut-butter-pie

For the filling, beat the peanut butter with the cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar slowly and beat until smooth. I remove from the mixer and fold in the thawed Cool Whip and mix until smooth and combined. Be sure to scrap down the sides and bottom so all ingredients are combined. Pour into the completely cools crust using your spatula and spread evenly in the crust. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Peanut-Butter-Pie

delicious-chocolate-peanut-butter-pie

Once I changed up this recipe and added a layer of bananas on the bottom of the pie shell before covering with the filling. 🙂 I have also made this pie using a graham cracker crust.

ultimate-chocolate-peanut-butter-pie

This recipe took me a total of 10 minutes after the cream cheese was soft and thawing the Cool Whip. Everyone who loves peanut butter will love this pie!

I originally watched Ree Drummond, Pioneer Woman make this pie on her show back in 2009. Since then I have made at least 50 or more of these pies, it’s perfect ever time and so delicious!

Have you made this pie before?

 

Southern Pound Cake

key-lime-pound-cake-recipe

 

Huge Black Bear

huge black bear

We have had more black bears visiting us this year than I can count. This is a huge black bear that I have seen before during early evening hours just before dark. As you can see the picture was taken at 9:22 PM.

I really enjoy my trail camera!!!  Do you have a trail camera? What animal pictures are you capturing on your trail cam?

 

Ultimate Southern Pound Cake

southern-pound-cake

This is the perfect cake for entertaining, Sunday suppers and special occasions. It’s unbelievably moist and great topped with vanilla ice cream and or strawberries! I could seriously eat this entire cake by myself in a short period of time. Luckily I have plenty of family and friends around so share it with.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup fresh Key Lime juice – leave out the lime juice for a plain vanilla pound cake

Key Lime Glaze
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar 10x
3 tablespoons fresh Key Lime Juice – substitute milk for lime juice for plain icing or leave off the icing all together!
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Adapted from Southern Living.

moist-southern-pound-cake

Start by preheating your oven to 325° F then prepare your pan. I like to use a bundt pan with the recipe and I like using Baker’s Joy with flour. Spray your pan well to keep it from sticking.

In a bowl sift your flour, baking powder and salt then set aside.

In your mixer bowl, beat the softened butter and shortening at medium speed until creamy. Gradually and slowly add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.

butter-shortening-and-sugar-creamed-for-pound-cake

Add your eggs one at a time, only beat eggs until barely blended.

Now you are ready to add the flour alternating with the milk but be sure to end with flour. Beat at low speed after adding flour or milk until combined.

Remove bowl from mixer and fold in the vanilla extract and lime juice. Fill your pan with the batter and now you are ready to bake.

pound-cake-ready-for-oven

Baking time will depend on your oven and the pan you use. My oven cooks fast and only took 1 hour and 2 minutes or until wooden tooth pick comes out clean. At my previous home, the oven took 1 hour and 12 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes, remove from pan onto a wire rack for cooling.

pound-cake-cooling-on-wire-rack

Mix the Key Lime Glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed Key Lime Juice and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Drizzle over cake just before the cake is completely cooled.

key-lime-pound-cake-recipe

moist-southern-pound-cake

grandmas-pound-cake

This cake is delicious!

yummy-pound-cake

key-lime-pound-cake

Most people can’t eat just one slice, if nothing else they ask for another to take home! Everyone will love this cake and want the recipe! 🙂

 

Do you have a favorite cake recipe? Share it with a link if you like!

I hope everyone has a great week!

 

Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

large-bowl-of-homemade-vanilla-ice-cream

For more information, view more images or to order, click SHOP NOW

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Rich Creamy Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

homemade-dark-chocolate-ice-cream

Oh My Gosh…MMM… this dark chocolate ice cream is the best ever! The taste is unbelievably rich, silky, creamy and taste like a chocolate truffle! The is the best homemade chocolate ice cream I have every had!

And now the bad news: it takes a week to make. I know, I know, why do I have to wait 5 days, I just spend an hour and a half making the custard, is it really necessary to wait that long?!? Let me tell you it is worth the planning and waiting! 🙂 Here is how it breaks down;

Day 1  and 2 – make custard and then chill in fridge for 2 days

End of day 2 – make ice cream

Day 3, 4 and 5 – freeze for 3 days

delicious-homemade-chocolate-ice-cream-recipe

Let’s get started!!

This is the ST. JOHN DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM recipe – from ‘Beyond Nose to Tail’ by Fergus Henderson and Justin Piers Gellatly

Ingredients
7 oz. dark chocolate 72 – 74% caca0, finely chopped
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
6 large egg yolks
13 tablespoons caster sugar, divided
1/4 cup heavy cream
Serving size: 1 quart

dark chocolate-ice-cream-ingredients
This recipe took me nearly and hour and a half to finish, not including making the ice cream in the ice cream maker! Take your time, read thru the recipe several times so you don’t make a mistake.

Melt Chocolate, chop chocolate and place into bowl. Then melt the chocolate either in a bowl over a simmering pot of water or in a microwave in 45 second burst but be sure to do this at 50% power. I prefer the microwave, you will need to also stir between heating’s until smooth. The set aside until needed, it will cool slightly.

Heat Milk mixture – Heat the milk and the cocoa in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat, whisk to blend the cocoa into the milk and bring to a boil, remove from heat and set aside.

Mix egg yolks – Using your mixer, whip the egg yolks and 7 tablespoons caster sugar on high until thick, pale color and thick ribbons form. This will take about 3 minutes.

Temper the eggs by whisking constantly and gradually adding the hot milk cocoa mixture until combined.

Combine egg mixture and chocolate  – Return this mixture to your saucepan and whisk in the melted chocolate until combined. Place saucepan on low heat until slightly thickened and a thermometer reaches 175°F which should take about 5minutes. Stir constantly to prevent sticking, especially in the corners.

Transfer the chocolate custard to a bowl and place over an ice bath to cool. Stir until custard is cool.

Making the caramel – Now you are ready to make the caramel, bring the remaining 6 tablespoons of caster sugar and 2 tablespoons of water to a boil in a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, stiring only until the sugar is dissolved. After sugar is dissolved, only occasionally swirl pan, do not stir until a dark amber color forms, about 5 minutes. Now you are ready to add the cream, be careful because the mixture will bubble.

Remove from heat and whisk caramel into the chocolate custard. Then strain into a large container that will be used in the fridge for a couple of days while the mixture infuses all the flavors.

dark chocolate-ice-cream-custard-cooling-in-ice

Chocolate mixture in the ice bath ready to be strained. Once strained into another container please in the fridge (not the freezer) for 2 days. It is worth the wait!!

best-ever-churned-creamy-chocolate-ice-cream-recipe

This recipe seems to thicken into ice cream more quicking than other recipes.

churning-chocolate-ice-cream

After 2 days you are ready to pour the chocolate custard into your ice cream maker to make the ice cream.

churned-chocolate-ice-cream-in-churn-ready-to-eat

Once you have ice cream, transfer it to another container and place in the freezer for 3 days before eating.

ultimate-dark-chocolate-ice-cream-recipe

Enjoy, it’s delicious and worth the wait!!

Dark-chocolate-ice-cream and mint chocolate chip ice cream recipes

Coming soon, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream!!

Recent post, Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream!

large-bowl-of-homemade-vanilla-ice-cream!

personalized engraved ice cream scoop stainless steel handcrafted Michael's Woodcraft Greenville SC South Carolina woodwork

Check out my handcrafted heavy duty Ice Cream Scoops! For more information, view more images or to order, click SHOP NOW

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Three Bucks

small-buck

I pulled one of my trail cam Sandisk cards and found over 3800 pictures taken since June 1. These are a few of the bucks that got caught on my trail camera!

two-bucks on the mountain

All of these pictures were taken on June 28th early that morning.

two-deer-with-felt-antlers

 

two-bucks-felt-antlers

 

bucks-climbing-hill

 

three-bucks

 

Make someone smile today! 🙂

Enjoy your day!