Monday, October 3, 2016

Beef Stew, Hot Rolls and Autumn

I seem to have a built-in primal desire to make beef stew when the days get short and the sun goes into hiding and the cool misty weather sets in.. Autumn.  So we got a chuck roast to cube up, carrots, celery, onions and Kristi dug some new potatoes out of her mother's garden.. I also added a new ingredient as a test, a plump sweet potato.. (winner!) and on Saturday Dayle and I worked together to cook up this aromatic meal for the family.  I even asked begged Dayle to make a pan of his honey wheat rolls.  :-)  We made enough for our family of six to have for two dinners and we polished it all off last night.


I cannot tell you how absolutely fabulous these rolls taste.  Dayle even promised Kristi to teach her to make these.  :-)  He has perfected this recipe over the years.  I'll add the recipe at the bottom.



When Dayle was mowing the pasture he brought in some of the pears from one of our trees.  Can anyone tell me what variety of pear this is?


The apples on our tree.. we don't know what kind they are either.  But the trees are likely 100 years old or so.. this is an old farm place.. the house built in 1906.


I just stepped out on the deck to snap a few photos with my zoom lens.. the above apple photo.. this Hawthorn tree on the top of the hill behind our house is loaded with berries.


Dayle mowed the pastures over the weekend so the grasses could reseed the fields.



The Chestnut tree is loaded with nuts and will begin to fall soon.



The moss on the garage/barn has fallen off in huge clumps.. I love the green of this.



We planted a pot of Chrysanthemums that we got last year at this time and a huge plant came up this year.  



The koi grew bigger this year.


The King Tut Papyrus has done so well this summer.. 6 foot tall shoots and this one has gone to seed on top, too.  I am going to try to winter this over in my studio as it has lots of windows.


My Japanese maple up behind the creek and waterfalls is starting to turn red.. it's so funny.. it turns a brilliant color and the next day it seems as if all the leaves drop at once.. :-)



Our huge Pin Oak seems to be turning color in little bunches instead of all at once..... goofy tree.


I hope you aren't tired of seeing my fall wreath.. but I find it so pretty.


I'm meeting a couple of blog friends for dinner tonight.. more on that later.  What are you up to today?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

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DAYLE'S HONEY WHEAT BREAD

1 pkg yeast
1 tsp sugar
½ cup warm water
1 can evaporated milk
¼ cup warm water
¼ cup melted butter
¼ cup honey
2 tsp. salt
1 ½ cup wheat flour
3 ½ cup bread flour (approx.)
1 egg, separated
1/2 cup sourdough starter (optional)


1.  In small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in ½ cup warm water.

2.  In mixer, combine milk, ¼ cup water, butter, honey, salt and wheat flour.  Add yeast mixture, egg yolk & 1/2 cup sourdough starter (optional).  

3.  Add bread flour until mixer can't mix it anymore then knead using more flour for 6-10 minutes to achieve satiny texture.

4.  Place dough in oiled bowl and let rise until doubled.

5.  Punch down and divide in two.  Roll into loaf shape, put in 2 bread pans, then brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds.  Let rise until above pan about 1 1/2 inch.    Bake 23 minutes at 375 degrees. 

15 comments:

  1. Yum re your stew Teresa, enjoy your early autumnal beauty around you xx

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  2. Yum- I am copying that roll recipe! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. The stew looks delicious, a wonderful winter warmer. I am writing down the recipe foe the rolls to give them a try, they sound delicious. Your Autumn wreath is beautiful, I can understand why you want to keep looking at it.

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  4. THose rolls look amazing! I miss breads so much. I allow myself one bite, but Im better off not even that because then I miss it so.

    Have bloggy pal fun!!! Fireman and I took down the major buckthorn in the forest nearest the driveway. We spend the day pulling the vines down and burning it all. Im pooped. im happy looking out though and knowing our little woods is healthier!

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  5. Your stew and rolls look great, Teresa. Everything around the farm is looking very autumnal these days. I hope you have a wonderful time with your blog friends, enjoy.

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  6. Never tire of anything on your blog my friend, I wish Autumn would arrive here. Well we are under 90 degrees so it is a start.
    Meredith

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  7. Looks like an Anjou pear type to me.

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  8. Comfort food and Autumn . . . that's a match made in heaven :)
    Your photos are beautiful.
    Have a happy week.
    Connie :)

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  9. Perfect autumnal photos, Teresa! I never tire of interesting, pretty posts. Happy Autumn! xx

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  10. Yummy looking stew and rolls. There are definitely good cooks in your family! I enjoyed your autumn photos...it looks very similar over here. One tree has shed it's leaves, another is still green. Very odd. I hope you had a great time with friends. It will be fun to hear about it.
    Blessings always,
    Betsy

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  11. Hi Teresa. Your photos etc of Autumn reminded me of a song we sang in Assembly when I was teaching 'Autumn days when the grass is jewelled, and the silk inside a chestnut shell' Autumnal hear but some beautiful weather. The beefe stew looks so yummy and I can smell those rolls. Hugs Anne x

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  12. Everything looks lovely in your neck of the woods. Comfort food to me is anything you can eat in a bowl with a spoon. :) I make lots of soups and chili, always accompanied with some sort of bread or rice. Looking forward to seeing who your dinner dates are. :)

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  13. Such cosy autumn treats here Teresa! Your stew and rolls look really delicious! I love autumn comfort food :) Your fruits and flowers all look so lovely , it is certainly a beautiful time of year at your place.
    Happy October!
    Helen xox

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  14. The rolls look delish!
    I'd give anything to have a fresh picked pear or apple from Oregon. Wow! My mouth is watering. All fruit that comes to our little spot in Arizona is picked green and never truly ripens. Yuck.
    Your apple may be a Braeburn or Jonagold and the pear may be a Bartlett because of the squatty look. There is a society of "Heritage Apples" you may want to look into online. Or, take one of each to a grocery store and the produce manager can probably tell you the varieties. Love your flower photos. Thank you for sharing all of them.

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  15. All so pretty fall colors. I was able to capture some on our trip. Your stew looks so good and now it's made me hungry...bed time though! It was good to see you and Gracie again! Take care!

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