Morey’s Shadypines Homestead

Hubby went on a business trip back to South Carolina in the beginning of last month and brought me back some gifts.  These aren’t your average gifts though, and I tend to be a non-average type of girl so it suits me well. 

Hubby had the pleasure of having dinner at a lady’s home who is actually a homesteader.  He really enjoyed the food that was prepared and her way of living.  She was down to earth and had a lot of knowledge which she shared with him.  She gave him the above recipe book to pass on to me and in it is defined, “Homestead” – The home place; a home and the enclosure or ground immediately connected with it.  The home or seat of a family; place of origin.  The home and appurtenant land and buildings owned by the head of a family and occupied by him and his family. 

She also goes on to say that, “Today’s homestead is not tied to a definition… This Back-to-the-Land movement isa  new sort of homesteader.  A sort of person who appreciates a rich, thrifty country life, full of self satisfaction and dedication to self-sufficiency…”

If you take a gander at the index, it lists such recipes as, Self Crusting Apple Pie, Coffee Gravy, Cottage Cheese, Apple Cider, Hot Pepper Jelly, Potato Soup, Bread & Butter Pickles, Black Bean Casserole, Salsa, Water Melon Rind Preserve, Cream Puffs, Mayonnaise and on and on.

One recipe that caught my eye was her Applesauce Bread.  It was simple, I had all the ingredients and fast!  For a person like me who really doesn’t enjoy cooking and doesn’t really have a talent in the kitchen, this recipe book was very attractive to me.  It explains things very well and they are simple.  Just what I need!

The bread was a success and had a neat spiced flavor with the definite taste of apples.  The recipe is as follows:

• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 8 0z. applesauce
• 1 cup milk

Mix the dry ingredients together and add the applesauce, then egg adn milk.  Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, or until bread passes “cake test.”

Hint: Add raisins or nuts as desired.

The other thing Hubby brought home were soaps!  Diane the homesteader, gave me a green tea soap, a gardenia flower soap, and a coffee and honey!  They are marvelous!  And their fabric wrapping was actually a nice touch of country and beautiful at the same time.

So if you’re interested in Diane’s homestead products, please let me know and I’ll pass on her information.  I highly recommend her recipe book and her soaps…

Now I’m off to make her Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge!