Pumpkin Puree year round 10/24/2010
Ever get frustrated when the grocery stores run out of pumpkin? Ever wonder about what is in that can that gives it so much shelf life? For the last four years our family tradition around this time of year has been to go to the pumpkin patch and do the following: 1. Each kids gets their free mini pumpkin, they decorate it at home with markers - no scary faces allowed. 2. We get one or two regular pumpkins to roast the seeds. 3. I get baking pumpkins which I then puree the cooked meat, freeze and use year round for cakes and muffins. (I am still on the search for the perfect pumpkin pie recipe that calls for real pureed pumpkin. If this is something you want to do, the three best pumpkins are the cinderella, the Jaradhale and the sugar pumpkin. I have used the cinderella, the Jaradhale (this one often looks a little like a cantalope in its color on the outside) and the Long Island Cheese Wheel pumpkin. Of these three I prefer the Cinderella. I have not yet tried the sugar pumpkin. I did however just purchase some of those today - so we will see how they turn out. For muffin and cake recipes using the pumpkin puree, go to the recipe section on this blog. (The pictures below show the cheese wheel pumpkin first - it is a very pretty color. The second is the Jaradhale and the last one is the cinderella.    Add Comment Peaches year round - YUM! 08/03/2010
Earlier in the season I went berry picking with a friend and was blessed to get "seconds" on 1/2 a bushel of peaches. Now mind you - they didn't look that great - but was going to use them for pie filling and jam - so it didn't really matter - and it saved me alot of money. Well the pie filling turned out so good that I knew I wanted to go back and get more. I waited until it was "pick your own" season (pick your own at this farm is only 65 cents a pound) and went with another dear friend and her son. We didn't find alot - (we didn't go to the right place on the farm - oh well), but I did find enough to make enough filling for one more pie. Needless to say - my husband is so happy - he REALLY enjoys peach pie and we will have enough to have one ever month this fall and winter. Can't wait for apples to be ready now. Homemade apple sauce and pie filling. I might even try apple butter this year. I have put the pie filling recipe on the recipe section of this blog. Enjoy! Behind a bit 07/23/2010
Hey Everyone - I am sorry that I have not been up to date for the few people that come here. Life is busy right now. I will post a menu plan and next week sometime get it all caught up with recipes. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer. Making meal planning special 07/09/2010
When we first moved to TN, I was bound and determined to make some changes. I wanted to spend more quality, one on one time with each of my children. I decided that since there are five kids and five week days, I would ask each of them to select a meal with side dishes ( using a food pyramid). When it was their meal in the week, they would then work with me in the kitchen and we would cook together. What a blessing that has been, we talk about all kinds of things. I have this Norman Rockwell type image in my head that when my kids are teens, home from college or visiting with their own families, they will just come and join me in the kitchen out of habit and catch me up on what is going on in their lives. At the beginning of summer things got a little crazy so we temporarily stopped doing it - I didn't think the kids would notice - but boy they really have. So we have started doing it again. As a result you may see more "kid friendly" meals listed on my meal plan. Have you ever just had that craving for something? Well, there is this one cookie recipe that both Bill and I dream about sometimes. It isn't something I make often - maybe once every couple of years. The reason - butter. It calls for a full pound of butter in a single batch - I always make two batches - so that means 2 pounds of butter in these AMAZING cookies. Maraya and I spent some quality time together making these - so fun! You can check out the recipe in the recipe section. I love to have a full freezer 06/01/2010
Ok - so every year I make oodles of jam - strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, loganberry - and more. My kids love it in their sandwiches, on top of ice cream and on their pancakes. Since we have moved to Nashville from Portland, OR, I have not been able to do that and we have all been missing it. So this year, on my birthday I made strawberry jam. YUM! I made 28 containers - I have decided that is not near enough jam for a year, so I will be making more. I need to find a good place to get raspberries and blackberries - let me know if you have a great place in or near Sumner Country TN. I will post my recipe for jam in the recipe section. It calls for far less sugar than most recipes. For some reason, no matter what recipe I follow - it always is a little runny - but we like it that way so we can use it as ice cream topping and syrup as well. In My Kitchen Blog 05/28/2010
 I will be posting the fun things I do in the kitchen here. Favorite recipes, jams, pumpkin puree and lots more. Follow the blog for these and other fun things. I will also be posting my weekly dinner menu here. I know how easy it is to get in a rut and not know what to cook, how to keep it fast, easy and healthy. Not to mention all the likes and dislikes of the family. Need some dinner ideas - you can get them here. I will also be posting recipes for those meals. Additionally, if you have a favorite recipe - email me! I love to try new things in the kitchen. | More about meI enjoy trying new recipes, cooking with rhubarb, having chocolate tasting parties and cooking with my kids. ArchivesOctober 2010 Categories |
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