Vintage Beatrice Harper Grinder

 Recently when I was out looking around in a second hand shop I found this great old Grinder.  

I remember using one of these a long time ago when making mincemeat and pickles. 

It was in good shape so I picked it up as I am on the search for things that I can use without electricity. 

Two times lately a plastic part on my electric food processor has broke and I had to find some super adhesive to fix it, of course, it didn't hold... the food processor works fine but due to planned obsolescence,  the company no longer makes parts for that machine...so I am not able to buy the plastic part that holds the cutter blades.. that really makes me mad.  I'm on the look out for much better glue but till then I am going to try this old style grinder when it serves the purpose.

 It came with all 3 original  fine, medium and coarse cutters.

 Harper is in raised letters on one side ...

 ... and Beatrice,  Made in England on the other.

 Looking down through the top opening you can see the spiral steel corkscrew device that when turned moves the vegetables or meat along towards the front cutter blades.

 Here is what it looks like with the steel corkscrew removed. 

 I don't know if it is called a corkscrew but it reminds me of one.

You can see the raised grooves in the base section that starts the cutting process.

The steel was tinned when it was brand new, but it has worn away on some places that received the most use.

But not to worry,  it can still be maintained with a little oil to keep it from rusting and it won't kill you if you use it.

It will just keep working every time you want it to. 

Just think of all the times you won't have to get mad because it broke again...

 because it won't... they used to make things that lasted.

Just make sure it is nice and dry before you put it away.

 This is the front where the cutter blades are attached.

 This is looking in from the back where the corkscrew grinder and handle slide in.

 This is what it looks like with the big grinder put into place with the medium size cutter blade attached with the wing nut.

 A look under the cutting board shows the heavy duty clamp that attaches the Grinder to the counter.

 The wooden handle still has traces of its red paint.

The blurred numerals just above the word Harper reads No.3181

They made the front attaching screw long enough to hold all 3 cutter blades so they won't get lost in storage.

Everything about this is just simple and smart.  I'd rather turn the handle than push a button anyway. 

 It feels like you are more involved in the process....  and there is absolutely No plastic on it anywhere! 

Maybe I won't even bother fixing my electric food processor and instead,  just use this great piece of vintage kitchen equipment, all the time....

after all at $5.99,  it cost less than the glue.

I can't wait to start mincing and grinding things.

It All Started With A Craving For Butter Tarts

... and I remembered my friend Vee had a great recipe on her blog a while back.  I made 2 doz.

I used some pie crust I had in the freezer... it's thawing out here.

... had to test run my new oven... I have not had a working oven since January.

my choice... I was willing to wait to find the one I wanted... I kept holding out.. and finally... I can put the toaster oven on holiday.

 

Yumm, they turned out good....

and yes, that is the Teapot we were drawing with the crooked knob on top. My friend Rachel made the plate.

Since I was in the mood I made a couple loaves of bread, they raised a little faster than usual as it was such a warm day but they were ok just the same.

There were a few bananas that had reached their limit of sitting on the counter and they weren't going to go to waste.... so as long as i was testing out the oven... Banana Bread came next.

 really simple and good.

well since I now had some fresh warm baked bread   I took out some frozen strawberries and stewed them up.. I like this much better than jam.

In the cook book that I found the Banana Bread recipe in, this little quote was at the bottom of the page

 Have you ever noticed that? sort of like when you hit your thumb with a hammer and you blame the hammer.

While the bread was raising I was working on earrings up in the studio. This is just the beginning phase of the little Scissors

 that go with the Thread.  

At the same time this little guy was climbing up the corner board of the house outside my work window... he is about 15' feet up.  Max took this pic.

 Tobi and Tabitha saw him... they didn't get him... but they wanted too..

 

 he ran up and hid in the Virginia Creeper.

which is just now beginning to have these lovely little bud type clusters popping out all over.

 

 He soon escaped and scooted under the picnic table and was gone into the rose bushes..

...oh there is Max down there... and Tabitha

 These are some favourite little beach combings collected over the last few times at the shore... I love the wishing rocks with the rings around them.

 There are Daylilies blooming everywhere.

 Early in the morning going down the driveway,

 bright yellow flowers were blooming behind the neighboring garage

 Then I noticed that the field across the road from our wild apple trees, looked different... the farmer had cut his hay. It was a perfect hot drying day for it.

This is later about supper time and now he has it half baled ... I love the rhythm and pattern it makes... looks so neat and clean.

here's a closer look.  He always tends his field with care.

 This is why we were going down the driveway at suppertime.. to cool off and relax by the Bay of Fundy. It is only a couple minutes away.  Even when hot weather comes, it usually cools off at night so you have a relaxing sleep... no need for air conditioners here.

The tide was high and it was a hot day with a gentle breeze

 The dogs were hot so John tossed each of them in to cool off

Is that the look of relief?  

 Tobi helped her dry off... or maybe he was just thirsty.

...don't know how quenched he would have been after licking off salt water.  Tabitha didn't care one little bit.

 On the way back home the farmer had finished the whole field.  He usually cuts a second crop later in the summer.   It looked beautiful!

When Life Hands You....... Vinegar

......Make Pickled Eggs!!


Everybody loves them here......


Hard boil 2 dozen lovely eggs... brown or white... makes no matter...

I usually bring them to a boil... continue cooking for 5 minutes... turn off heat... cover with lid... let sit in the hot water for 20 more minutes... drain... then pour cold water over them a few times to cool them down... they can also be placed in the refrigerator overnight and prepared the next day...

... then as careful as possible, peel off the shells...

In a pot, bring to boil,

3 cups vinegar
1 cup water
5 tablespoons sugar
2 tsp. salt
4-6 cloves garlic... the more the better
¼ tsp. celery seed
6-10 peppercorns
6-10 whole cloves

... the two Apple Pies have nothing to do with this recipe... I was just in a cooking mood that day...



Reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes... while this is happening... place a dozen prepared eggs into each clean sterilized 1 lt./qt. jar... I use recycled pickle jars... Pour the liquid, spices and garlic over the eggs ... seal the jar... cool... and set in refrigerator...

To acquire flavour, let the eggs stand several hours or overnight...they don't last long at our house...

.........and a suggestion from Guillaume at Vraie Fiction... that these tasty morsels would be delightful with a nice cold Beer on the side!!! ........ I agree!!!




A pale and watery sketch I was tempted to put on paper while thinking of eggs... I used various shades of indigo watercolor... about a 4" x 6".... somewhat floating..


Eggs are one of the most common foods ... so common we almost take them for granted....
How many ways can you think of that we use them? almost limitless...


...a thought......... how many times do we use eggs and ever give a thought that they are a true treasure... given to us by a chicken... Yes, a lowly chicken... a dweller of the hen-house... a scratcher of the dirt... a creature that rarely gets her just admiration... she lays an egg... an "Object of Perfection"... we take it, eat it, never thinking of her ... she lays another... we take it and eat it too... without chickens, no eggs... if you get a chance to learn more about these special precious birds, you will then value these girls as much I do, maybe you already do... ordinary old chickens, some may say... they are never ordinary... they are amazing!! ... and Beautiful!!

...maybe a read and a scroll through one man's journey of knowing and caring for chickens, Don's... "A View from the Green Barn" will prove how much character, personality and intelligence they have .... and really how much dependency we have, on these wonderful creatures... for their EGGS!

"Oh, who that ever lived and loved...

can look upon an egg unmoved?"
.by Clarence Day