Innholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2019 i Country Woman

My too-small garden does not allow space for growing pumpkins. To do so would mean giving up potatoes, strawberries or peppers. But I wish my little square of soil didn’t make me choose. I love the look of those orange orbs swelling beneath their leafy vines throughout the summer. If your own garden offers the room for potatoes and pumpkins, this issue includes a bushel of options for what to do with all that fruit (and, yes, pumpkins are a fruit): Decorate with them (page 15), decorate them (page 20), bake a pie (page 27), make chili (page 36), bake a cake (page 41), bake some cookies (page 42) or teach a kid a gardening lesson (page 56). Whew! That’s a lot of squash. If you prefer other kinds of…

I hadn’t heard of fidget blankets until reading about them in your October/November 2018 issue. I realized that my mom, a gifted seamstress suffering from dementia, might benefit from one. So I made this quilt, which included one of her potholders as its centerpiece, and sent it to her. She passed away the day it arrived, but in time, I’ll replace the center with a less sentimental piece of fabric and donate it to her nursing home for another to enjoy. DIANE KLEIN CAMBRIDGE, MINNESOTA…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED Vintage horse collar Large greenery leaves Dried wheat and grass stems Dried ornamental corn Artificial seasonal fruit and floral picks Hot glue gun Plant twist ties DIRECTIONS 1 Hot-glue large green leaves to back of collar, spacing evenly and overlapping each. 2 In a lower corner, arrange an outer circle of dried grass. Hot-glue to collar. 3 Use twist-ties to attach ornamental corn on top of dried grass. 4 Add floral or fruit picks on top, hot-gluing where needed. Fill in any gaps with additional wheat or grass.…

Harvest Apple Cider I love to simmer this soothing cider in my slow cooker every fall. —LESLEY GEISEL SEVERNA PARK, MD PREP: 5 MIN.• COOK: 2 HOURS MAKES: 8 SERVINGS ( ABOUT 2 QT. ) 8 whole cloves 4 cups apple cider or juice 4 cups pineapple juice 1/2 cup water 1 cinnamon stick (3 in.) 1 tea bag 1. Place the cloves on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of the cloth and tie with kitchen string to form a bag. Place the remaining ingredients in 3-qt. slow cooker; add spice bag. 2. Cover and cook on low until cider reaches desired temperature, about 2 hours. Discard spice bag, cinnamon stick and tea bag before serving in heat-proof cups. 1 CUP 130 cal., 0 fat ( 0…

1 Vinyl Appliques WHAT YOU’LL NEED Pumpkin Aqua acrylic craft paint Matte decoupage glue Template (next page) Vinyl craft sheets in red, orange, dark and light brown, light and golden yellow and ivory Clear contact paper Masking tape Paint brushes Electronic cutting machine Smooth-edged scraper Craft knife DIRECTIONS 1 Paint pumpkin with 2-3 coats of craft paint. Dry thoroughly. Cover entire pumpkin with decoupage glue to seal paint. 2 Upload template into the electronic cutting machine. Size template for pumpkin and duplicate the file 7 times using cutting machine’s software. 3 Delete all pieces of design except for one color in each image, creating one layer for each color. Leave template markers in each color layer. Add appropriate color to each layer. 4 Use machine to cut each file in…

This time of year, with all of its Thanksgiving kitchen prep, brings special memories of Nana. Dorothy Smith was a pro in the kitchen—many called her a great southern cook, though she was born and raised in Michigan. My grandpa was her biggest champion, always bragging about her perfect cooking. “How does it taste, Dee-Dee?” she’d ask him about a dish she’d served. That brought raised eyebrows from Papa every time. “What did you do different this time?” he would ask, implying he knew the why behind the question. He was always concerned that any changes or “new” recipes would compromise her stellar reputation, but they never did. Little did I know how much I was learning as I watched. As a child, I loved to sit on Nana’s countertop…

Here’s a helpful tip from Sandy Harrison of Harrison’s California Chestnuts: Don’t wait until the holidays to buy fresh chestnuts to roast over a crackling open fire. Autumn is chestnut season in California, so if you delay until November, you might not be able to find them. “Chestnuts are a nut, but they’re nutritionally more like a grain,” Sandy says. Unlike other nuts, chestnuts are perishable when fresh, so they must be refrigerated or frozen. That’s why they’re often available only from distributors or wholesalers after harvest. Sandy and her husband, Paul, were surprised 15 years ago when they realized they were “farmers at heart.” After they met as students at Chico State University, Sandy became a nurse and Paul morphed his ag major into sheet metal sales. In 2004,…

IT’S TIME TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT to the country woman who inspires you. Whether she’s a community volunteer or a do-it-all farmer, we want to meet her. Take a few photos and tell us what makes her special, and she could be named our 2020 Country Woman of the Year. The title comes with a $250 cash prize and the opportunity for her to be featured in an issue of Country Woman. If she wins, you’ll be awarded $250, too. And even if your nominee does not win, she may still be featured in a future issue. So introduce us! The contest runs from Sept. 13 to Dec. 6, 2019. Enter today at countrywomanmagazine.com/contests.…

Sew Collectible Thimbles, wooden sewing spools, antique scissors—you probably have a few of these in your sewing room. Tell us your stories about your collections of vintage sewing notions. Maybe it was grandma’s pincushion that got you started, or maybe a box of odd lots at an auction. Share with us! It’s in the Mail In this digital age of email and Facebook posts, it’s still exciting to open the mailbox and find a handwritten letter. Do you practice this lost art? Who do you write to and why? Introduce us to the women keeping this tradition alive. May We Come In? Got a summer porch worth showing off? What about a traditional country kitchen, with all its charm? Even the laundry room deserves its day. We want to take…

While others preheated their ovens, greased pans or plopped down on the couch to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Susan Seymour and her family spent many holiday mornings outside the kitchen—and away from their Valatie, New York, home. “If I can encourage someone else to get involved, that’s the best.” On those mornings, Susan, her husband and their two daughters lined up at 7 a.m. to help serve Thanksgiving dinner to those less fortunate. Through a group called Equinox, the Seymours delivered meals from local restaurants and businesses to homeless people, veterans in need, seniors and others. Susan, an active member of her church community who worked as a home care nurse for 35 years, wanted to teach her kids why it’s important to give back. As such, the…

1 Polaroid Polaroid founder Edwin Land accumulated more than 500 U.S. patents during his life as an inventor. The instant photography technology he premiered in 1947 evolved during the ensuing decades, including the famous SX-70 camera, which made the cover of Life magazine in 1972. Pictured is the Square Shooter, manufactured in the early ’70s. Worth: $10-$20; some models in “new” condition can bring hundreds 2 Quasar TV While the television dates back to the 1920s, it didn’t really catch on until after World War II. As its popularity boomed, the ’60s and ’70s saw the rise of the portable TV, which was easier to move than the much heavier original models. This 1975 black-and-white portable Quasar TV set with an 11-inch screen measures approximately 16 inches wide, 10.5 inches…

Acorn Squash with Leftover Stuffing Serve this squash as a hearty side dish or a meatless entree. — TASTE OF HOME TEST KITCHEN PREP: 20 MIN.• BAKE: 50 MIN. MAKES: 6 SERVINGS 3 small acorn squash 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1/4 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper 1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules 2 Tbsp. boiling water 2 cups cooked stuffing 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional 1 tsp. paprika Chopped fresh parsley, optional 1. Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place cut side down in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; add 1/2 in. of hot water. Bake the squash, uncovered, at 400° until tender, about 30 minutes. 2. When cool enough to handle, scoop out flesh, leaving a 1/4-in. shell (flesh will measure about 3 cups). Drain water from pan; place…

Favorite Pumpkin Cake Roll Keep this cake in the freezer for a quick dessert for unexpected guests. —ERICA BERCHTOLD FREEPORT, IL PREP: 30 MIN. BAKE: 15 MIN. + FREEZING MAKES: 10 SERVINGS 3 large eggs, room temperature, separated 1 cup sugar, divided 2/3 cup canned pumpkin 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp. salt FILLING 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 2 Tbsp. butter, softened 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract Additional confectioners’ sugar, optional 1. Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with waxed paper; grease the paper and set aside. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks on high speed until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and canned pumpkin, beating on high until the sugar is almost dissolved. 2.…

X MARKS THE NUT First score a small “X” into the round side of the chestnuts with a sharp knife, just deep enough to pierce the shell, regardless of how you’ll cook them. GIVE THEM A TOAST Methods include baking, boiling, microwaving and grilling, but Sandy loves them roasted in a specially designed chestnut pan (it has holes in its flat bottom). Move them around over medium heat until tender, 15-20 minutes. Wrap chestnuts in a clean towel for 10 minutes, then peel the shell and remove the pellicle (a thin fibrous skin below the shell) while still warm. DRESS ’EM UP Start by crisping a few sage leaves in olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add chopped Brussels sprouts, green beans or carrots. Chop some roasted…

1 Friends Forever Our 9-year-old daughter, Rachael, picked out a tiny Bronze turkey at the farm store and it grew into this slightly overweight ball of cuddles. KATHI BROWER MARNE, MICHIGAN 2 Country at Heart Living in the country has been such a blessing to me. I love my chickens. I love looking outside in autumn, watching the leaves on the trees change. ALEXANDREA LARSON HANCOCK, MICHIGAN 3 Pick a Pumpkin After we moved closer to the four-generation family farm a few years ago, Zara was delighted to find that the hard work of our spring pumpkin planting paid off. TYLER BURTON WILLIAMS, IOWA Visit countrywomanmagazine.com/submit to share a family snapshot. If we publish it, you’ll get a free year of Country Woman.…

1. Share photos and stories with us using the online form at countrywomanmagazine.com/ submit. 2. Note to which department you’re submitting, and whether the material has been published before. However, your item may be selected to run in any section of our magazine, or elsewhere. 3. We do not return submitted materials. Although we are unable to acknowledge receipt of any submissions, we’ll let you know if they’re published. 4. We accept high-resolution digital images. Digital images should be about 4x6 inches at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch, or about 1200x1800 pixels. Photos must be in focus and of good quality. Please send submissions only through our online form. 5. If we print your submission in the magazine, we will send you a complimentary copy of the…

Q: How do you prepare your yard for next planting season? I water my plants regularly year-round and fertilize with compost, manure and other supplements at key times. I also mulch to retain moisture against the winds. A few years ago, as one of the nastiest winter ice storms that the old-timers can remember hit our area, my heart sank as I saw some of my trees and shrubs almost flatten to the ground. As everything began to melt, the ones that were hit the hardest made a slow ascent almost back to their original stance. All of the watering, fertilizing, supplements and TLC paid off. LOU SHELDON BORGER, TEXAS I gather my fallen leaves and pass them through the shredder or mower. I put them in a garbage bag…

AMY ADAMS TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT TERESA AMBORD ANDERSON, CALIFORNIA HOLLY AMBRO SEQUIM, WASHINGTON SHARON BLUMBERG PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS TABITHA COOPER COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE BRENDA DAVEY GREENBRIER, ARKANSAS SANDY DUDZIK STREAMWOOD, ILLINOIS SANDY ERDMAN GOODVIEW, MINNESOTA HELEN FLETCHER SHAD BAY, NOVA SCOTIA DANIELLE GLASGOW UNION MILLS, INDIANA MARIE HILLIARD NEWBORN, GEORGIA MARGIE LYTLE WASILLA, ALASKA MELLANIE MCCREARY PALMER, ALASKA JENNIFER MILAKOVIC-NELSON CAMPTON HILLS, ILLINOIS STEPHANIE MORGAN EWING, KENTUCKY HAYLEY MOSS HULL, IOWA SHELBY OPPERMANN MECHANICSVILLE, MARYLAND WENDY QUATTLEBAUM MCDONOUGH, GEORGIA MELODY RICHARDSON MIDDLESEX, VERMONT CATHIE SCHOER SHEPHERD, MONTANA CHERYL STUNKEL TUSCARORA, MARYLAND JAMIE TAYLOR MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN JESSICA WAGNER VERSAILLES, OHIO WENDY WALKER EUSTIS, FLORIDA…

It can be tough to keep pets out of houseplants. Setting pots on shelves may keep dogs away, but cats generally demand more. Ceiling-mounted hangers often do the trick, as does topping exposed soil with a layer of stones, rendering the pot less diggable (in other words, less fun). Our fine furry pals rarely shed their curiosity, though, and some dogs consider any plant a snack, so consider filling your home with nontoxic plants, such as the ones pictured here. Visit aspca.org for a longer list.…

Before you put your feet up and settle in for gardening’s off-season, dedicate a few days to getting your landscape tucked in tight. Follow these simple steps to tidy up and prep your yard for a long winter nap. DAY ONE A.M.: TRIM & TIDY Divide overgrown perennials and cut back the dead foliage on others. Remove any spent annuals and vegetables from the garden—roots and all—and add any disease-free plants to your compost pile. As you yank them out, be mindful of pests and diseases. Double-bag and discard ailing plants or foliage. “Some diseases and pests overwinter in plant debris,” says horticulture expert Melinda Myers. “Remove them in fall to prevent infection next year.” But not everything in your landscape needs to go. “Leave healthy perennials, such as…

1 ROAST To roast winter squashes, cut in half; scoop out and discard seeds. Place cut side down in a greased baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° until tender, 45-60 minutes. Cool slightly. Scoop flesh out of shell; mash if desired. A 1-lb. squash will yield about 2 cups mashed squash. 2 MICROWAVE The microwave is especially good for quickly cooking spaghetti squash. Buttercup, acorn and Hubbard also work well here. For a 1-lb. squash, cut in half, scoop out and discard seeds, and place cut side down in a microwave-safe dish. Add 1-2 Tbsp. of water, cover and microwave on high until tender, 6-9 minutes, turning once. Stand 5 minutes. 3 SAUTE Softer-skinned squashes like delicata take nicely to sauteing. Cut squash in half, scoop out…

Attach small screw eyes on the back of an open frame along both vertical sides, roughly 2 in. apart. Tie a knot in a length of twine and thread through an eye at the bottom of the frame. Weave the twine back and forth through the eyes, working up and then back down, crossing the twine from side to side. Pull twine tightly and tie the end in a knot on the last eye. Cut a piece of wood to fit the frame’s bottom corner, and trim a piece of scrapbook paper slightly smaller than the wood. Hot-glue the paper to the wood. Layer wooden craft leaves along the sides and hot-glue into place. Press decorative tacks into the corners of the scrapbook paper. Using old Scrabble letters, spell out…