Taco Soup

Today was a blustery day and we just needed some good old hearty soup.  I made Taco Soup with homemade garlic bread and avocado slices, cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

This soup changes as ingredients are available.  I get told to "make that taco soup" and I have to think what did I put in it.  So this "taco soup" I wrote down.  The vegetables vary.  I use whatever leftover veggies I have in the fridge.  Tonight was potatoes.   I used my homemade Taco Seasoning Try this soup, it's yummy and hearty.  See the recipe below.

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"Domestic" treadle

This was the treadle I got from my mom.  This was posted 3/11/2014.

I received my Domestic Treadle from my mother.  It had been stored in her silo for about 15 years.  Prior to that in storage elsewhere.  I never knew she had one until we were talking one day about me buying a sewing machine so I could start teaching beginning sewing.  I wanted my student/s to be able to have a machine to sew on in order to determine whether they were really interested in sewing.  With the knowledge of a sewing machine, they could then have a bit more knowledge when purchasing one for themselves.  In this conversation, she told me of her grandmother's treadle machine.  She said she had it and it was in the silo.  At that point I confiscated it and took it home with me to Oregon.  It was a couple of years later that I began reading a blog from Bonnie Hunter and saw all her vintage sewing machines. That was the fire that got me thinking of having my treadle serviced.

I've named her Belle after my great grandmother.  Mom told me that she received this machine as a gift from her husband shortly after they were married.  I looked up in our family history and they married in 1891.  This machine is at least 123 year old.

My service technician was having a hard time getting the screws to come loose that he said "We may just have to let this one go".  I said "Really"  Then he asked me what the story was and I told him.  I think at that point he tried very hard to get "Belle" working for me.  He did it and I'm so happy this machine can be kept for my second granddaughter.  She has a real passion for sewing so I think this has her name on it.

I'm Back!

I'm back to using this blog again.  I'm in the process of copying the important parts of the other blog into this one.  I don't want to loose some of my best posts.  We'll start with Potstickers, which was dated 4/7/2012.

I have made these Potstickers several times,  They are a hit with company.  Great finger food for parties.  Start by preheating a medium a large frying pan with about a quarter inch of oil.

Combine all filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Lay your wrappers out on a floured board.

Fill each wrapper with about a tablespoon of mixture.  Wet with water top and one side along the edge.

Fold and pinch together with fingers.  Place on floured surface until ready to fry.
Fry in oil turning when browned.  Brown both sides.  Place on a wire rack with toweling underneath rack.
The filling can be made a day ahead of your event.  They can even be put in the wrapper.  Cover with cloth and place in fridge.  The day of your event, take the potstickers out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature.  
Enjoy.  These are wonderful.  Make the dipping sauce and don't eliminate anything.  The taste is wonderful.