Rain!!!!!!!!

Rain Rain go away is what I'am saying today. That is all it has done today everything is flooded. So it is pretty much an inside day today. I baked bread today and made apple donuts this morning. You will have to go to vickiescooking blogspot this is where the recipe is for the doughnuts and they are wonderful we rolled ours in cinnamon-sugar. I had to take our boar pig to a friends house yesterday so they could use him. It all went way better than I thought. We are in the process of waiting for a semi to come from Canada with a new wood stove to replace ours that broke. When it rains like this there is not much for the guys to do outside so they are in here. Wow is my hair about to be ripped out by time they find something to do. Just imagine two hardworking farmers that work from sun up to sundowm trapped in the house with nothing to do. You get the picture I m sure. Just got done with lunch had tater tots, green beans and brats we had made out of goat an pig. So on to figuring out supper. Somedays I feel like that is all I do is cook. Oh well I'am lucky to have a family to cook for. I will leave you with something I read from my devotions today. Have a great day and God bless you Rebekah.


When a situation looks hopless-whether it's our finances, a job, a marriage, a child-we can always look to God to bring light out of darkness, hope from despair, and a spark of life from the ashes.

Hello From The Hoover Household

Hello all I only have a few minutes. I am headed out to do the morning chores just wanted to let you know everything is o.k. here. I know I have not wrote for a few days not much going on. We were able to harvest some corn. What a blessing that is because we ran out an were buying it. Not nice on the checkbook but them animals want their food too. Would appreciate it if you all could keep farmers in general in your prayers times are tough right now. These people want to give us nothing for our products but sell them to the consumer at an outrageous price. I got news for them without us farmers there would be no food. They just don't understand the hard work , the time and the stress of keeping it all afloat that goes into them having food to sell. Well enough of my ranting. We will be staying home from Church today they have had quiet an outbreak of the h1n1 virus where we live. They have closed churches and schools have been closed still will be next week. Me and my daughter have been working on some muffin recipes. When I have time I will post some. If anybody has some good ideas for breakfast items that could be packed in a lunch box please let me know. My husband works three days a week I pack breakfast and lunch. He gets the same old thing everyday and what a good man never complains but I would like to change it up a little for him. Well got to get outside have a great day. God bless you. Rebekah

Luke 10:25-28
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked,"what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the law?" he replied "How do you read it?" He answered: "Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself." " You have answered correctly," Jesue replied. "Do this and you will live."

Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
They do not truly love who do not show their love.-Shakespeare

SHARING THE GOOSPEL WITH OTHERS.

Good Sunday to you all. Just wanted to share something I heard at church today. We had a guest speaker today and his message was sharing the gospel with others. He is with new tribes missions. Basically what he was saying is that God is evident and people know him through his creation but do they acknowledge him or turn away. He was telling us even though they know of him they still need us to share the gospel with them. As for Christians that should be what we are always looking for an opportunity to share Jesus with others. Here is a verse he gave us and it really got me thinking . Romans10:14 How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Hope this spurs you on as it has me. I want everybody to know my Jesus. Have a great day and God bless you.

I Timothy 6:6-10

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:6-10

Strawberry Creme Cookies

Strawberry Creme Cookies

1 c. butter softened

1 c. sugar

3 oz. cream cheese

1 egg

1 Tbsp. vanilla

2 1/2 c. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

strawberry jam room temperature

Cream butter, sugar and cream cheese together. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Add dry ingredients. Chill dough. Shape into 1" balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Make a dent in the center of cookie and fill with 1/2 tsp jam. Bake at 350% for 10 to 12 minutes. Top with your favorite icing while warm.

I doubled these and it worked very nice. I did not chill dough before baking.

Pumpkin Bars

Well hello all will update you on what has been going around the Hoover farm. I got 4 more baby calves yesterday that makes my number of calves 11. Now I am just trying to get a system down for feeding them all that goes quickly. We also added two bigger calves to the herd no milk feeding though. Kassandra is thinking of taking one of them for her fair calf instead of the original one she picked. The other one is a heifer for our brood cow heard. We were hoping to run beans this week but the weather says otherwise. Looks like it will be next week now. We had our first light snow today. Oh I was so excited I love snow but my family thought I was crazy. Cooked two pumpkins yesterday to can. So therefore this is why I am sharing this recipe. I made these yesterday and they are almost gone.
Pumpkin Bars
2 c. flour 2 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda 2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt 4 eggs
1 c. oil 2 c. pumpkin
1 c. nuts
Frosting:
1 pkg. cream cheese
3/4 stick butter 2 T. milk
2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix all ingredients together pour in cake pan bake at 350% for 25 to 30 minutes. Mix frosting in order given and frost cooled cake. Cut into bars.

Recipe For Lemon Poppy Seed Cake - Bread

Here is a recipe I made yesterday for a snack to take to a friends. It is wonderful everybody loved it even my family. I will tell you though I changed a few things but am going to give you the original. I baked this in bread pans instead of cake pans. I used instant lemon pudding and I cooked all frosting ingredients together then let cool so it was more of a glaze than a frosting. I also put the poppy seeds in the milk and warmed it instead of waiting. This mad them moist like the soaking would. I did cut the bread loafs in half and frost between. Put them back together then frosted over top. Hope this is not to confusing any questions feel free to ask.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
1/3 c. poppy seed
1 c. milk
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. butter
2 tsp. lemon extract
4 lg. egg whites

Filling
1/4 c. Watkins or other brand lemon dessert
2 T. flour
1 c. milk
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 c. sugar
1 c. butter softened

Soak poppy seed in milk for 3 to 4 hours. Sift together next 3 ingredients; set aside
Gradually blend sugar into butter along with extract. Add poppy seed and milk with flour mixture. Beat egg whites until stiff. Gently fold into batter. Turn into 2 well-greased lightly-floured 8 or 9 inch round pans. Bake at 350 % for 30 minutes cool.

Filling:Mix lemon dessert mix, flour and milk in saucepan. Cook over medium heat until very thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Blend in lemon. Cover and cool. In mixer bowl, beat sugar and butter until fluffy. Gradually add cooled lemon mixture. Beat at high speed for 3 minutes, until consistency of whipped cream. Spread frosting between layers and over entire cake.
Recipe from Marilyn Zimmerman

BLESSINGS FROM THE LORD

Hello all not much has been going on around here. Thursday I got to go to town shopping which is always a treat. As you have heard me mention I am working on baby afhgans for the crisis pregnancy center. So when I went shopping I went to wal-mart of course and found yarn marked down which was about a savings of .78 cents per roll. I was so blessed the Lord takes care when you do as he leads. I love when these kinda of things happen and I can show my children how the Lord blesses.

My Husband brought me home two new baby calves on Wednesday which is always a treat. I have 6 to bucket feed now. Seems like hardly none. At one point I had 22 on buckets but I love it. It is so neat to go out every chore time and there they are waiting for you. I have one in my goat barn he is my favorite. He knows about what time I should come out and he stands there crying till I come.

Well I don't know what today holds yet. One thing I know I am getting ready to bake bread I do know that for sure. As for other plans that are up in the air till I hear from my hubby.

My son and Dad went to a farm auction that is always a treat for my son. Also today is the annual fall feeder sale at the local stockyards so they are off to that also.

Hope you all have a great day and God bless you. Rebekah

Philippians 4:8
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.

Psalm 45:13
"The king's daughter is all glorious within"

IT IS COLD

Hello everybody, well we are feeling the effects of Michigan weather. It is very windy and cold here this morning. I'am afraid winter is coming sooner than I want it. Believe I will be wearing my insulated bibs this morning for chores. Yesterday was a boring day for me. I was not feeling well either it is a head cold or allergies. Went to bed at 6:30 and did not get up till 6:30 this morning boy that felt good. We are trying to get an automatic water hooked up for the big steers before winter comes. We don't have the best water set up it consists of a hose that is hooked to the faucet on the house and drug to all the waters to fill. So therefore when we are done it has to be drained everytime so it don't freeze. Some of this we be alleviated with the new water set up. I did dry some apple slices yesterday and start more sourdough bread starter. Been working on some more baby afghans for a local crisis pregnancy center. Don't know what today holds yet guess I will figure that out later.

Job22:22
Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.

Proverbs 16:20
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

Hope you all have a great day. God bless you Rebekah.

WHATS BEEN GOING ON AROUND HERE

Had a pretty quite weekend. Did up lots of hot peppers a friend gave me. I did strawberry hot pepper jelly ,hot pepper rings and hot pepper salsa-relish. Now I will be on to apple sauce. I have 2 bushels to do. Then I think my canning will be pretty well done for the year. Oh I forgot I have 2 pumpkins to cook up and can. Going to work on some laundry today. That has been piling up well I do the canning. My son worked on cleaning our garage all weekend. It looks so nice. He has a few more things to do but has to wait for dad to help him. Today is my husbands last day of work for the week so hopefully we can get the garage finished tomorrow. My son is such a hard worker and a good helper. He has definitely learned the hard working part from his dad. My husband works very hard for our family and I appreciate him so much for it. Hope you all have a great day. Rebekah.

SOURDOUGH BREAD

Here is a recipe for sourdough bread that I think you will really like. I have tried many and find this was the only one that would work. My family just loves the bread. I always double the recipe so I never have any starter left to reuse. I make french bread loaves out of mine. Hope you find it as enjoyable as we do. It is well worth the work.

Sourdough Bread
Starter
1 3/4c. unsifted flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
1Tbsp. salt
1 Pkg. yeast or 2 1/2 tsp.
2 1/2 c. warm water

Dough
5-6c. unsifted flour 1 pkg. yeast
3 Tbsp. sugar 1 c. milk
1tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. butter
1 1/2 c. starter

To make starter, combine flour, sugar, salt and dry yeast in large bowl. Gradually add warm water to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Cover and let stand at room temperature 4 days. Stir down daily.

To make dough, combine 1 cup flour sugar, salt dry yeast in a large bowl. Combine milk and butter in pan; heat over low heat until warm. Gradually add to dry ingredients. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Add 1 1/2 cups starter and 1 cup flour, or enough to make a thick batter. Beat at high 2 minutes. Stir in additional flour to make soft dough. Turn out on floured board and knead until smooth, about 8 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; cover and let rise about 1 hour until double. Punch down and let rest about 15 minutes. Shape and let rise about 1 hour. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

To re-use starter: add 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water, 3/4 cup flour, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of sugar to unused starter. Beat 1 minute at medium speed. Cover and let stand. Stir down daily. Follow all the same directions for original recipe.