The Gift

Finding the Beauty in Nordic Ruins

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/abandoned-nordic-ruins-winter?utm_source=Atlas+Obscura+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=935fb5e219-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_09&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f36db9c480-935fb5e219-63124913&ct=t()&mc_cid=935fb5e219&mc_eid=dbc2f66964


A railway tunnel, Finland. ALL PHOTOS: ABANDONED NORDIC



An abandoned Manor House in Estonia.



A radio station, Estonia.

The Afterlives of Lighthouses

The Old Harbor Light in Savannah, Georgia, was first erected in 1858 before being moved to Emmett Park in 2001. JAMES HILL/ COURTESY RIZZOLI BOOKS

Candied Acorn Squash done in the Crockpot

Candied Acorn Squash done in the Crockpot
http://tasteerecipe.com/2016/09/21/candied-acorn-squash-good-soul/2/

This recipe is made with acorn squash, apples, and some other fall-inspired spices.

Ingredients

1 acorn squash (you can certainly cook more, but use a larger crockpot)
2 apples: peeled, cored, and diced
1 tablespoon butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chopped walnuts (or almonds or pecans)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Use a 4-quart slow cooker.

2. Cut the acorn squash in half. This is hard! I’ve found the easiest way (thanks to my mom) is to microwave the squash for a minute on high to soften the skin. Then use a knife to cut it right down the middle.
Scoop out the seeds (which guinea pigs don’t like for some reason) and discard. Put the squash into an empty slow cooker, skin side down.

3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the cut up apple, melted butter, brown sugar, walnuts, salt, and cinnamon. Scoop this concoction into the acorn halves.

4. Lick the spoon. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours, or on high for 2 to 3.

(no subject)

Coconut Cheesecake
http://tasteerecipe.com/2016/09/21/just-3-simple-steps-will-coconut-flavored-dream-ready-devour/2/

Ingredients

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup cream of coconut
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 ready-to-use Nabisco graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)
2 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
1/2 cup Angel Flake Coconut, toasted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat cream cheese, cream of coconut, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.

3. Add eggs; mix just until blended.

4. Pour into crust.

5. Bake 40 minutes or until center is almost set.

6. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.

7. Top with whipped topping and toasted coconut just before serving.

Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Orange Zucchini Bread

Orange Zucchini Bread
http://tasteerecipe.com/2016/09/21/orange-looking-discover-unique-twist-traditional-zucchini-bread/2/

Double the nuts and chose pecans

Ingredients


4 eggs
1 1⁄2 cups sugar
3⁄4 cup olive oil
2⁄3 cup orange juice
2 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini
3 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons grated orange rind
2 1⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon
1⁄2 teaspoon clove
1⁄2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
2 -3 tablespoons orange juice


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Grease and flour bottoms of two loaf pans, any size

3. In large bowl, beat eggs until thick and lemon-color; then slowly beat in sugar.

4. Add oil, orange juice and zucchini.

5. Stir in remaining bread ingredients; incorporate well.

6. Pour batter into prepared pans.

7. Bake at 350°F degrees for 45-55 minutes or until cake tester inserted in middle comes out clean.

8. Cool the bread for 10 minutes, remove it from the pan and cool a bit longer in a wire rack.

9. In small bowl, blend glaze ingredients then spoon over warm loaves.



Quick Tip: Peel the zucchini so there aren’t any traces that there’s a veggie in there if you’re being sneaky

Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup

Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup
http://tasteerecipe.com/2016/09/21/slow-cooker-ham-soup-easier-cook/2/

This soup is creamy and amazing. It’s reminiscent of baked potato soup but the ham and onion gives it that distinct flavor of the casserole. Served this with crusty French bread. Freeze leftovers and have for lunch. Soup – it really stretches!

Makes twelve 1-cup servings.

Ingredients

7 cups potatoes, diced
1 medium onion diced
1 large carrot, chopped
2-3 cups ham, diced *
2 teaspoons parsley
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
pepper to taste
5 cups Chicken Broth (can use low sodium)
1 cup milk
½ cup sour cream
Pepper to taste


Directions


1. Add diced potatoes, onion, carrot, ham, thyme, parsley, pepper & broth to a crock pot.

2. Cook on low 7 hours, or on high 3 hours if pressed for time.

3. Remove 2-3 cups of the potatoes/carrots and mash, then return this mixture to the slow cooker.

4. Add milk and sour cream. Stir and cook an additional 15 minutes.

5. Add pepper to taste. Makes twelve 1-cup servings.



Quick Tip: I put some chopped scallions on top of our bowls of soup along with a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese.

* Quick Tip: Virginia baked ham is perfect in this recipe. Get an extra thick slice from the deli and dice it up!
Even ham lunch meat will work perfect in this dish. If you’re not a fan of chunky pieces of ham you can get deli sliced meat and just rip it up in there.

"Disappearing Pinwheel Baskets" Quilt

Watch on YouTube

"Disappearing Pinwheel Baskets" Quilt
Quilt Size: 78 " x 78" - 6 blocks x 6 blocks (3 larger blocks x 3 larger blocks)

Supplies:

• 1 Package of 10" Print Squares (36 count used)
• 1 Package of 10" Background Squares

• 1½ yds. Outer Border 6" wide
• ¾ yd. Binding
• 7¼ yds. Backing or 2½ yds. - 108" wide


Layer a 10" print square with a 10" background square and sew around all 4 sides.
Cut diagonally from corner to corner to equal 4 half triangle squares.
Sew these half triangle squares into pinwheel.

Measure the the sewn pinwheel block and divide that measurement by 3.
Cut that measurement, centering on the center line, so that you get equal strips.
Maintaining the original configuration of the block, turn and repeat, crossing the previous cuts.

Results in 9 squares; 4 - half square triangle block, 4 - two color bars, 1 - small pinwheel




Arrange 4 of these blocks into a larger block.

https://www.missouriquiltco.com/land/tutorials/disappearing-pinwheel-basket-quilt/index.html?utm_campaign=qt_t214&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=youtube&utm_term=msqc