Kitchen Garden
Here is something you can create, when you need fresh herbs for all the delicious recipes you've collected
Posted by Mai

Supplies
4 coffee mugs
Small rocks or crushed terra-cotta pots
potting soil
Herb seeds such as parsley, thyme, oregano or rosemary
Directions
Fill mugs with small rocks until 1/4 full to allow for drainage.
Put potting soil on rocks until mugs are 3/4 full
Plant seeds in soil
Tip:
To speed seed sprouting, presoak seeds in hot water 24 hours before planting.
Plant 3 or 4 seeds in each mug.
Space seeds at least 1/2 inch apart.
The seedlings will need light, so place Kitchen Garden near south or east facing window.
Keep soil semimoist.

Cinnamon Macadamia Cake
Posted by Jeanne

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
20 macadamia nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place butter and flour in 9 inch square baking pan with 2 inch high sides.
Cream butter with brown sugar with electric mixer in a large bowl until fluffy; add egg and vanilla, beat until well blended.
Sift flour, baking powder, and baking soda together; mix into margarine alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
Pour into prepared pan.
Mix 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Evenly space nut halves on cake batter.
Press each nut 1 inch into batter, then spoon sugar mixture into depressions created by nuts.
Sprinkle remaining sugar over cake.
Bake cake about 45 minutes, or until done.
Cool and serve.

Amish Bread Starter
Posted by Jeanne

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
3 cups white sugar, divided
3 cups milk
Directions
1 In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water.
Let stand 10 minutes.
In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar.
Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added.
Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture.
Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature until bubbly.
Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle.
2 On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon.
Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
Days 6 thru 9; stir only.
3 Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe.
Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).
1 cup starter mix
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well
In separate bowl, mix together~
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 large box instant vanilla pudding or banana pudding
1 cup dried fruit or nuts optional
Combine the two mixtures.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Spray 2 large loaf pans (9 x 5) with vegetable pan spray or brush on margarine.
Mix together a small amount of sugar and cinnamond and sprinkle inside of the coated pans
(Note, this does cause the bread to stick to the pans. Powdered sugar or flour would work just as well or forego this step).
Divide the batter equally in the two pans and sprinkle with remaining sugar/cinnamon mixture.
Bake in oven for approximately 1 hour.