Sunday, December 11, 2022

Sunday Stuff

Life sustaining cookies for the hunter. 

 Today has been a day of mixed emotions mostly consisting of being a little sad that Mr. Moon is about to go off to hunt again mixed with a bit of apprehension about tomorrow's needle biopsy thing, even though I feel quite sure that it is not the sinister thing we were worried about. I an also apprehensive about the fact that the appointment is at 8:40 in the morning which is- well, too early in my opinion. But of course I must be there. He said I didn't but I do. 

So I've been very sweet to him all day. Actually, I'm generally pretty sweet to him to be honest and he is very sweet to me. I like that about us. I made him a swell breakfast with possibly the best biscuits I've ever made. Last night I decided to feed my sourdough starter and instead of dumping out a cup of it to replace with flour and water, I made up a biscuit dough with self-rising flour and milk, the un-fed starter, and butter and let that sit in the refrigerator all night. I had no real idea what I was doing but this morning I mixed up a little more flour and buttermilk and a tiny bit of baking soda and gently kneaded that into the dough with sourdough in it and rolled it all out, cut biscuits, set them in an iron skillet and let them rise for awhile before I baked them. 
Uh, yes please. They may have been better than angel biscuits and that is saying a lot. Easier to make too. I'll probably never be able to replicate the recipe in my whole life which is the problem with cooking and baking by touch, feel, and instinct. 

I did a little ironing for the man and I made those cookies, too, which many of you who have been visiting here for a long time know about. I use the Quaker oats recipe for "Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies," don't add the cinnamon, and put raisins and chocolate chips and pecans in them. Thus- life-sustaining. 
Levon and August came by their sweet tooths (teeth?) naturally. Their grandfather loves these things. 

Okay. Here is something that excites me and brings me great joy. 


I doubt that anyone has any idea what that is so I will tell you: When we were down in Roseland in October the sea grapes were full of fruit. Sea grapes are a protected plant in Florida as they grow by the coasts and protect the dunes and waterline. I grew up with them and have always loved them. When grown, they look like this. 


The fruit is not a true grape but it is edible either raw or made into jams. It is illegal to even pick them to eat, though, so I may or may not have broken the law by gathering a few of the dropped fruits when we visited a museum down near the Sebastian Inlet where they were growing. I wrapped them in a paper napkin, brought them home, and planted them in a plastic nursery pot. For two months I have kept them watered and have seen no signs of sprouting until today when I saw that tiny, tiny sea grape leaf with its jaunty hat of the seed hull. There is another one too, which has broken through. 
I can't even tell you how happy I am to see these brave little sprouts. I may not be able to actually cultivate the plants here- they probably need at least a modicum of salt in their diet and Lloyd is notably short on that. But, the fact that they have sprouted means a lot to me. 

And now I'm going to go make a grouper supper and go to bed early so that I can get up at some ungodly hour. Yes. I am a spoiled old woman. 

I will report in tomorrow. 

As always.

Love...Ms. Moon

35 comments:

  1. Good wishes for tomorrow. And I hear you on the recipes you can't replicate. I've made some really nice sauces I'm unlikely ever to revisit. Soups, too, and baked goods. Oh well, new ones will happen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. New ones will indeed happen but some recipes are worthy of repeating. Sometimes Mr. Moon will say, "You need to make this again!" and then we will laugh and laugh.

      Delete
  2. Had to look up sea grapes to learn more about the plant. The plant it highly salt-tolerant, but not dependent on "salty" soil. Fingers crossed your little sea grape seedlings grow strong and vigorously.
    Here's a link to information from the University of Florida. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/sea-grape.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I perused that page myself. It's a good one!

      Delete
  3. I have (had) and oatmeal/raisin + recipe like that. If it was good, put it in the bowl and stir.But now I don't have an oven or much to cook with or the recipe...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always have to google the recipe because I don't buy actual Quaker oats. I buy the Publix brand.

      Delete
  4. Hopefully the biopsy goes well, even though it is sooooo early in the morning:) Sorry, I've usually started work at 7am for most of my life.

    The cookies look tasty, except for the raisins. Maybe I'll give them a try. You have a good day, take deep breathes. Sending hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know that I am so lucky not to have to get up early. I used to for many, many years and now I don't have to and I don't.
      Some people just don't like raisins. I can remember a girl I met at camp once who said, "Raisins Reek!" But I do like them.
      I took a lot of deep breaths today. Thanks for the advice and the hugs!

      Delete
  5. I’ve got a huge sea grape in my front yard “jungle”, sure hope it’s legal to pick the fruit from my own tree, though the abundance of critters here always get to them first. I think it’s been here since the house was built in 1978. Best of luck tomorrow for Mr. Moon. May your seedlings thrive!
    Xoxo
    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nah, you're safe if you're picking from a plant in your yard!

      Delete
  6. I am so glad you pocketed those sea grape babies- potential anyway. The one that has popped up is adorable, You are a very fine nurturer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is as cute as a puppy to me, that tiny leaf. I guess I'm at the stage in life where I'd rather nurture a wild plant than a domestic dog.

      Delete
  7. I love cinnamon, so I would leave that in the cookie recipe. I LOVE seeing things sprout through soil, I was super excited to see beans, carrots and tomatoes begin here, then we had weeks of unseasonal rain and a day or two here and there of sunshine hot enough to burn everything, so I'm giving up and buying from the store again. Ho hum. My patch doesn't get enough sun for veggies anyway. I'm excited about your sea grapes now though and hope they do very well. I hope the needle biopsy shows nothing serious. Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love and adore cinnamon but when I started putting the chocolate chips in, I took the cinnamon out.
      I'm so sorry about your garden. Oh well, store-bought vegetables are fine.

      Delete
  8. So exciting to see baby sprouts! Maybe more exciting to us northerners, considering it's December...but there's just something about babies of any kind. And sea grapes - how neat!

    I'm envious of your sourdough starter. Mine is sulking so much (after three weeks in the fridge) that even after three feedings, I succeeded in making the flattest loaves of bread ever - 2 1/4 inches high. First brick loaves ever, and I've been baking with sourdough for decades. Oh well - it just needs a little more coddling.

    Sending good wishes for Mr. Moon's needle biopsy tomorrow.

    Chris from Boise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dang. Tell that sourdough to get to risin'! Are you using any whole wheat flour to feed it? I think that works better than all white.
      I might have to keep any sea grapes I get to real plant size in pots. I think they might freeze here if I stick them in the ground although it does appear we will never have so much as a frost again.

      Delete
  9. Your secret is safe with us! How cool if they can survive. If anyone can make them survive it is you.
    Good luck with biopsy. Fingers crossed for just a bloody lump!
    I am disappointed you didn't show us the biscuits. We need to see these things.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It had obviously been a very, very good year for sea grapes and the ground was thickly carpeted in them so I did not feel guilty about taking some.
      I should have taken pictures of the biscuits.

      Delete
  10. I just tried to buy your ebook but for some reason Amazon won't sell it to me in Australia. When I searched for it on the Australian Amazon site I got all these ... um ... romance books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Lord. Yes. They have changed the link and I keep meaning to fix that on my page but so far have not. I'm so sorry! You may not be able to get it at all in Australia. I have no idea.

      Delete
    2. I tried months ago, not available.

      Delete
  11. 37paddington: you may never make those exact biscuits again but you will make others that are just as glorious, of this I feel sure. Holding all good thoughts for tomorrow’s procedure. Soon it will be behind you. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Praying for Mr Moon! And I love the plant!
    hugs to you
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm here to tell all that those cookies are the best! And how exciting the little sprouts. My sister always considers it a challenge to see if she can get seeds to sprout. She's pretty successful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I threatened to put coconut in the cookies this time too but I didn't. Maybe next time.
      I, too, love the challenge of foraging seeds and seeing if I can get a plant out of them. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not.

      Delete
  14. I think you might be a magical woman, Mary Moon! The biscuits, the cookies, the sprouts... you have magic touch! Wishing Mr. Moon good news today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'd like to think I have a magic touch but I think it's just life.

      Delete
  15. That sea grape experiment is interesting. I've never heard of anyone growing sea grapes from seed! Go, you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I suppose they ALL grow from seeds originally. We shall see!

      Delete
  16. Congratulations on your sprouts! It's such an exhilirating feeling when a plant you don't expect shows up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! I felt silly keeping the soil damp but then again- why not try?

      Delete
  17. You are not spoilt nearly enough for my liking

    ReplyDelete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.