Winter-The Pause That Refreshes

As I sit in my kitchen on this typical winter day and gaze on the surrounding picturesque rolling hills covered with glistening snow, I can readily understand why so many people come to this part of Ohio to visit. Those of us who live here often take the beauty of the landscape for granted, but we certainly are blessed, no matter what the season. Each presents its own unique gifts for us to enjoy.
Although there are no “roses to smell” as yet, the aroma of wood burning in the fireplace brings to mind scenes of olden times gone by, at least for me. What is your favorite part of the winter season? Pause and be refreshed by the smell of freshly baked bread, the laughter of children playing in the snow, or dozens of other treasures right at our doorsteps.
As winter days lengthen and spring beckons, the doors of our “Antique Barn” will once again be open for you to stop by and see what’s new. We are always out and about looking for gems that our customers are delighted to find here. If there is something in particular that you are looking for, just give us a call. If we don’t have it, we will try to find it for you. Pictured at the left are some items which are available now. Just contact us via e-mail or give us a call at 330-343-8358.

For Everthing There is a Season

Winter is one of my favorite times of the year. Here in the Midwest, it’s usually cold, snowy, and a great time to bring out all those “catsup” projects that seem to get put on the back burner during the busier months of the year. These projects might include reading, sewing, cleaning out drawers and cupboards that really need attention – jobs that always wait until we get a “round tuit.”
One of my on-going projects is a “Family Cookbook” – a collection of recipes with stories relating to that particular recipe so that future generations will be able to enjoy some of our great food and memories. Being of Swiss heritage, my cousins and I all remember going to Grandma’s house on Christmas Day and eating Swiss Pretzels – a rich cookie made with lots of butter and cream and baked on a special iron brought over from Switzerland.
Winter time is also a great time to try some new recipes that your family might enjoy. Potato soup has long been a staple in our household and remains high on the list of “comfort foods,” especially during cold weather. If you’re looking for something quick and easy to fix while you’re watching the Inauguration or the Super Bowl Game, give this a try. It keeps for hours in the crock pot:

Creamy Potato Soup

4 cups thick sliced potatoes
2 cups water
1 tsp. minced dried onion
½ tsp. dried parsley flakes
2 Tablespoons oleo or butter
¼ cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup cubed cheese (I use Velveeta)

Peel, quarter and slice potatoes into thick slices. Put into large saucepan and add water and dried onion. Do not salt. Bring to boil and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Pour into crock pot and turn on “Low.” In smaller saucepan, melt oleo or butter. Make chicken broth using 2 cups boiling water and 1 Tablespoon chicken soup base. Add to flour mixture heat, stirring so it doesn’t scorch. Cook for 5 minutes. Add to crock pot and mix with cooked potatoes. Stir in dried parsley and cubed cheese. Stir occasionally to blend melted cheese. Soup will thicken as it rests in crock pot. If it gets to thick, add more broth. Bits of ham may be added to make a heartier soup.
Makes 4 ample servings.

And remember, it there is something you would like to see in our antique shop, even though we may be closed due to cold and snowy weather, just give us a call to make an appointment and we will open for you.

Spice Up Your Holiday

You’ve probably heard that old saying “sugar and spice and everything nice.” Well, as we journey through November and approach the Thanksgiving holiday, our thoughts turn to family and food and blessings untold. Here at Spies Farms “Antiques and Stuff,” we have much to be thankful for. Over the past year we’ve met hundreds of wonderful folks from all across this great country of ours. They like to chat and are especially interested in Grandpa’s restored log cabin. The one-on-one dialogue with our customers is one reason why our shop is different than most. If we don’t have the specific item that you’re looking for, we try to direct you to some one who might have it.
Right now we have a great selection of tables and chairs should you need extra accommodations for those holiday guests. Crocks and wooden boxes are also in demand for decoration with evergreen and holly. Our unique yet affordable gifts are especially popular during the current economic situation. When taken care of properly, antiques in general will increase in value.
Here’s a family favorite recipe for “Grandma’s Baked Apples” that is sure to fill your kitchen with the inviting “sugar and spice” smell of comfort food:

9-12 baking apples
2 T. cornstarch
1 C. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt
2 C. boiling water
2 T. butter
1 tsp. vanilla

In a medium saucepan combine granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and salt. Use whisk to smash any lumps of cornstarch. Add boiling water. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Peel, halve and core apples and place in a 9x13-inch glass baking dish. Spoon sauce over apples, covering each. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

During the winter months we will be open on weekends as weather permits. On extremely cold or snowy days, we will be closed. However you may call us at any time to set up an appointment to check out our “stuff.”