How are you all this Saturday? I am great, and going to get an early start today,
going to get my chickens, then home and get them set up, and calmed down.
Chickens are like old people, they do not like change, and when the least little
thing changes it upsets them, and they may not lay for a couple days.
But then they will settle in and see they have found a good new home.

God gives us such sweet things to occupy our time, his creation is just amazing, How I love
to look around, and see his beauty, how any one can say and honestly mean it that there
is no God, they sure do not see what I see when I look around. The beauty is far to much for
a mortal man to be able to create, the colors we have to work with are nothing compared to
the majesty of the sky after the rain, and when the sun is going down wow, simply breath taking.

I hope you look around, that you thank God today, for being fearfully and wonderfully made, and may we be the person God intended us to be, just like the Psalmist said. Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Mum's Irish Apple Pie

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons shortening
1/4 cup sour cream
1/8 teaspoon lemon juice
5 large Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 tablespoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon lemon juice
1 egg, beaten


Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)  Grease a 9 inch pie pan.
To Make Crust: In a large bowl, combine flours, salt and sugar. Cut in butter and shortening until coarse crumbs are formed. Mix in sour cream and lemon juice. Keep mixing until dough forms a ball; dough may be slightly lumpy, this is fine. Wrap dough ball in plastic wrap and allow to chill for 1 hour.
Once chilled, take dough out of refrigerator and cut it in half; keep one half covered and in the refrigerator. Roll dough to 1/8 of an inch. To lift pie shell, roll dough around rolling pin and then unroll into pie pan. Trim overhanging edges of pie crust.
To Make Filling: Place apples into pie shell. In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour and nutmeg; mix thoroughly. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Squirt lemon juice over apples. Place pie in refrigerator while top crust is rolled out.
Remove pie from refrigerator. Brush outer edge of bottom crust with beaten egg. Place second crust on top of pie; crimp pie shell edges together. Brush entire top crust with egg and cut 4 steam slots into it.
Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow pie to completely cool before serving. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

♣ Another Irish Recipe ♣

Apple Shortbread Pie

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chilled butter, diced
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 1/4 pounds Golden Delicious apple - peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg


Directions


Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C.)


Sift four, 1/2 cup sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Fold in egg yolks (mixture will be crumbly). Remove 1/4 of mixture, and set aside. Press remainder onto bottom and sides an 8 inch tart shell or pie pan.
In a large bowl, combine apples, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place apples into crust, and sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly over top.
Place pie on a baking sheet, and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking 20 minutes, or until top is golden brown and filling is bubbling.

RECIPES FOR MY IRISH FRIENDS

Hi it is Marvellous Monday, and getting closer to St Paddy's day, so thought I would post a few recipes this week, for my Irish friends, hope you enjoy them, and God bless you and may he take a liking to you.

IRISH SODA BREAD

Ingredients



4 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup buttermilk


Directions


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.


In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.


Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 30 to 50 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.