Tracey, oh, nice, nice gifts. I love morel mushrooms, but didn't know you could get them dried. Makes me want to go mushroom hunting this Spring. I haven't been in years. (I could post your pictures if you haven't contacted anyone else yet.)

Nancy, Great, great choices!

Jayne

Oh, this sounds wonnnnderful!! I can't wait to see the pottery plate! Sounds beautiful! The jams and jelly sound devine. As do the mocha mixes! And the cherries and the mushrooms! What a terrific swap box!!

Here are Tracey's pictures:

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As a recipient of Nancy's morel mushrooms, AND I still have a jar of her black raspberry jam in the fridge (Nancy, you will get your jars back eventually - full!) - I know what taste treats you're in for! That lady can can!

wow, nice package! I am a pottery lover too and that plate looks lovely...lots of uses. Cutie patootie helper!

enjoy the homemade goodies!

janet

Nancy, nice package! I love that pie plate. I can't wait for canny camp!

Tracey, Enjoy your goodies. Your daughter is beautful!

Oh I like those groups Nancy ! Nothing better than homemade jams . That pie plate/deep dish is beautiful--just the right kind to display .Tracy your daughter's a cutie & looks to be at the age that she's into everything--bet she keeps you hoping !

Diane

What a wonderful package, but I really love the picture of "Mom's little helper," what a cutie she is! Next would be the pie plate, the morel mushrooms, just the whole package, I love it all!

Good job, Nancy!

Oooh, I love the sound of Peach jam with brown sugar and rum - oh the possibilities.

Lovely package. I love pottery and your helper is a doll!

The jams, the mocha mixes, the pottery....wow....can't decide which I'm more jealous of! LOL

Tracey, sure glad to hear everything made it in one piece. I always worry....
I loved the pie plate, the colors are part of a new collection, all in ironstone. Don't be afraid to use it. I have several of his pieces and put them in the dishwasher all the time, they've held up and still look like new. I really had a hard time deciding on a piece...I wanted to buy them all. I hope the colors work for you I didn't have much to go on but I figured they were pretty neutral.

Enjoy the jams and if you need recipes for using the morels, I have plenty. I like them best in any recipe that uses the mushrooms for a flavor focus, especially good in a potato soup with leeks or in a wine sauce to go with fillet. Morels have a unique earthy flavor and when you soak them you will be surprised at how big they really are. BTW, morel lovers never throw the soaking liquid away, it's great added to stock if you can't use it in what you are making. I've also spread it where I hope more mushroom will grow...you never know.

Glad you liked the swap!

Nancy

Tracy, your "helper" is adorable. That face is just saying "keep your hands off MY swap box". LOL

I really like the pie plate, that's very nice and Nancy's black raspberry jam is wonderful, I've had some too!

Annie

Tracey, enjoy your nice package! The pie plate is lovely, and I can only imagine how good Nancy's jams must be.
Your daughter is beautful!

Jayne, Thanks for posting the pictures.

Nancy, I didn't just like it I loved it. I won't be afraid to use the pie plate now. It does go very well. Everything is pretty neutral but I do have blues and greens mixed in.

I would love some recipes using the morels. Where exactly do they grow?

Tracey

Tracey that is one nice looking pie plate! I'd be scared to use it too but then again it's too nice a pie plate to deserve my pie crusts!

Good job Nancy.

I'm liking that pie plate too! Lucky you to have some of Nancy's homemade jams, YUM! I love all of the wood in your house!! Great package Nancy!

David

Love the pie plate. Especially loved your little helper!

I agree that your helper is adorable, however she doesn't look so much like a helper as someone who has claimed your box for herself.

I absolutely LOVE that pie plate. The colors are beautiful. Looks like the same artist who made the cracker plate Annie sent me.

Homemade goodies are the best and the morels are wonderful. We love the cherries as well. We eat them as a snack or in cream scones. I have a great recipe if you want it. Would be good made with the dried cherries and served with the peach jam I bet.

-Robin

Oh yum, wonderful treats. I love morels and the jams sound wonderful. The pie plate is beautiful and your helper is gorgeous.

Lee

Yum Mee! That all looks so good! Enjoy!

Okay, I want one of those Mother's little helpers. Tracey your daughter is beautiful. She looks so serious.

Nancy great theme. I just know that Tracey is going to put that lovely pie plate to good use.

Ann

Jayne, I think I've seen the dried morels at Penzey's, check there if you have one near you.

Tracey, morels grow where ever they want to. (grin) The "experts" say they grow in oak forests well, especially around downed wood. The weather has to be just right, the ground has to be warm enough, then get a warm rain, and they'll jump right out of the ground, literally overnight.

As for the oak forest thing, I had a bunch growing right on my lawn here in town, all around my swimming pool, with a few more right by my back steps off the deck. No downed trees anywhere close, other than the wood the deck was built from. LOL. They never grew there again. They grow where ever they want to grow, and probably will grow somewhere else entirely next year. That's why they are so hard to find.

Annie

What a lovely package. That pie plate is gorgeous - as is that little face!

AM

Morels and dried cherries? Sounds like a jackpot!
And that's a beautiful pie plate. Very subtle, and it's great it's so durable. And the Peach Jam has go me thinking....

Nice job!

Drooling over here....
Morels....MMMMM Cherries....MMMMM Pottery....WOW
Great package and cute help!

Linda

Another dollface...

Cherry Pepper Jelly? mmmmmmm....

Our morels grow where they've logged (no oaks, all pine)or where cattle has disturbed the ground roaming through the woods (it's still open range here). Haven't had a decent picking for a couple of years, though....They're precious, Tracey...enjoy!

And the peach jam is wonderful.I used the recipe last summer....mmmmmmmm....

I'm anxious to hear what you do with the morels, Tracey - I'm unfamiliar...I can't believe how big your daughter is getting.

Nancy, your package is so personal and thoughtful - I love it.

Stacy

Robin, I would love the recipe.

Ann is right I'm going to put that pie plate to good use and hopefully soon.

Nancy is going to share some morel recipes with me because I'm unfamiliar with them too. I feel so fortunate to be able to try them.

Thanks for the info Annie and Katie. I guess they have their own rules.

Tracey

Here you go. This recipe is super easy and delicious. My British DH loves these, he does not however like most scones you can buy. Too dry.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup dried fruit chopped (I use dried tart cherries)
1 1/4 cups heavy cream

Glaze: I never use the glaze. It would just compete with the jam I might put on
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Use an ungreased baking sheet.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl, stirring with a fork to mix well. Add the dried apricots. Still using a fork, stir in the cream and mix until the dough holds together in a rough mass (the dough will be quite sticky).

Lightly flour a board and transfer the dough to it. Knead the dough 8 or 9 times. Pat into a circles about 10 inches round. For the glaze, spread the butter over the top and side of the circle of dough and sprinkle the sugar on top. Cut the circle into 12 wedges and place each piece on the baking sheet, allowing about an inch between pieces.

Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown

-Robin

I love homemade goodies! That pie plate is lovely. What a nice swap pkg. Nancy, you can send me homemade goodies anytime...

Tikanas

Thanks so much Robin. I hope to try these soon.

Tracey