I'll be away for a while.

I'll be back in January.

KaLIGHTOSCOPE

"Chinese artisans from Zigong, China have carefully crafted each sculpture by hand. Made of sheer, painted fabrics, each towering sculpture is enhanced by glowing light, color, and an imaginative setting. The attraction  includes eleven themed areas with each display representing special Christmas scenes."
(copied from Christmas at the Galt House. )




 

That's IT ***

Gingerbread Houses and Victorian Houses

This will be a photo post. Not much text. I promised not to place any more than 10 photos to a post.

Click photos to enlarge.
This is a life size model gingerbread house made by chef and staff at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY. The bricks are gingerbread baked by the chef. Candy circles were also made by the chef.


Among a display of over 25 gingerbread houses, I took only a few pictures. I was intrigued by the creativity diplayed by the artists.

A house and a van

VICTORIAN HOUSES in a historic areas of Louisville, KY said to be the first suburb of the city.

THAT'S IT***

12-12-2011 KaLightoscope

Sweets

I may have written about Louisville, Kentucky in a previous post. This was my second time traveling to Kentucky with the Primetimers. Primetimers may give those of lesser years the idea that things are old and slow with this group.  On the contrary, the people are lively, fun, congenial and a group I enjoy traveling with. The itinerary is well planned with something of interest for everyone.

The next posts will be captioned pictures of my 3 day get away last week.

SCHIMPFF'S CONFECTIONARY

Jeffersonville, Indiana

"G.A. Schimpff’s Confectionery is one of the oldest, continuously operated, family-owned candy businesses in the United States. It was opened in its present location in 1891 by Gustav Schimpff Sr. and Jr.

This unique confectionery and lunch room in Jeffersonville's downtown historic district comes complete with a 50's soda fountain and original tin ceiling. The old-fashioned candy jars, cases, and turn-of-the century equipment transport you back to the good old days of home-made candy and a real fountain drink.

Its Candy Museum and Candy Demonstration Area offer a glimpse into the world of historic candy making, packaging and advertising." (copied from Schimpff's website)

Outside window of Schimpff's

The red marks outside the windows indicate floodline during a flood in the 1800's.















Vintage  candy tubs in museum

 

The world's largest gummi bear






 

An antique vending machine that still works.



Vintage candy vending machines



                                                         



Schimpff's 1950's soda fountain still in operation

SCHIMPFF'S IS FAMOUS FOR IT"S RED HOTS CANDY



 The boilers are copper because of the even heating. The rings on the stove can be removed to accomodate various sized boilers.

The syrup is boiling over a stove specially made for fitting candy boilers



After boiling to a select temperature, the syrup is poured onto a metal table. Note that iron bars keep the syrup contained in one area.



The candy maker adds a distinct amount of cinnamon oil to the syrup and begins manipulating it so that the oil and syrup intermingle. 16 ounces of cinnamon oil is about $50 .



The syrup is beginning to solidify to form the hard candy.



This view is from a mirror atop the work station. He presses the warm candy lengthwise while it is still pliable. He will then cut it into 1 foot lengths and run it through a candy mold that will press it into individual pieces.



Notice the sheets of candy in the background. To break them apart he holds up a candy sheet and drops it onto the table where it breaks into the individual pieces you see in the foreground.

We were each given a sample of the product which was still warm. The business prides itself on making as many of it's candies by hand instead of machine.  They still use  many of the original tools their ancestors used. The candy store adjoins the museum and candy kitchen. There are many other candies available for purchase.

THAT'S IT***



SWEET POTATO PIE



Potatoes left after using 5 for a pie

 I bought sweet potatoes, bell peppers and pears the last time I went to the Bessemer Flea Market.
The potatoes were a little small so I used about 5 to make a sweet potato pie, something I'd been craving for a while.
This is the recipe from recipezaar

SWEET POTATO PIE

Note: This recipe is very similar to the one I used when I made the bean pie

1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup sugar   (I also added 1/4 c. brown sugar)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 c. evaporated milk (I used almond milk)

2 c. mashed sweet potatoes

1 tsp. vanilla extract

                                                                                         1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

1 9" unbaked pie shell

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.

2.Add eggs. Mix well.

3. Add milk, sweet potatoes, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix well.

4.Pour into pie shell

5.Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes

6. Reduce heat to 350 degrees; bake 35-40 minutes longer or until pie tests done.

7. Cool. Store in refrigerator.



I used this to boil the potatoes




After the potatoes were done, I placed them in a colander with ice to cool them quicker.




These are the ingredients and tools I used.




It was time for Family Feud so I took a one hour break.




The pie shell was thawed 15 minutes, pricked, and placed in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes




Sweet potato filling. The white flecks are margarine.




Rim of crust covered with foil to keep it from browning too fast.



The finished sweet potato pie fresh from the oven.

Compare this BEAN PIE and potato pie. They look a lot alike and have the same consistency.

It was delicious. Craving satisfied.
That's it***