Freeze for winter

Just because fruit has a few bruises does not mean they cannot be cut up for the freezer.
You can buy a bag of fruit for a couple of dollars then put them away for a pie or smoothies and they taste great in the winter.

I lay the fruit on cookie sheets then into the freezer for 20 mins.then into plastic bags.  

Enjoy all winter 

Apple Sauce

Made from the Heart

New apples are available now.

So fresh in taste and enjoy this taste all through the winter months.
I make apple sauce freeze some for pies and keep some for eating.
When making sauce I always use at least three types of apples.
Golden delicious, Gala and Macintosh makes a good combination.
Not much sugar is needed as the apples are already sweet, I add a bit with some water,
taste before adding too much sugar.
Some like cinnamon but we like the fresh taste of just the apples.

Labels for your stuff

Labelling can add so much to your canned products. And it can be fun too. We use Avery label products because they are available everywhere. Check out their variety in retail stores or on their website. They have hundreds of templates which can be downloaded or simply used from their website! Large, small, oval or circles for every need and jar! When you look at your pantry and see all those beautiful labelled food products you will be proud of what you did last summer! The rewards endure all winter on your table. 

However don't just consider summer as the only time to can make yummies for your pantry. California navel oranges are best in autumn, and the Indian River grapefruit from Florida is excellent at the new year. You can make marmalade! We advocate shopping locally, but California and Florida always guard the quality of their citrus. Salsa can be made anytime you get a deal on peppers! And you can freeze the little chipotles for extra hotness while it snows outside! Wine jellies too! We use Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Italian red in ours! And Italy NEVER runs out of that one! So don't restrict yourself to only summer months.

And once you start with labels, the creative possibilities are endless! Design your own with custom fonts and pictures. (Be careful not to use copyrighted photos though) yet with a simple point and shoot digital camera, you can visit produce markets and get great personal photos for use on your canning efforts! And check out our reflections page for photography hints. All the pics on this website with very few exceptions are my own. Look at the photo bar below to see what you get by just grabbing a shot in a produce market! But free clip-art is everywhere, so you can let your creativity free too!

You will find Avery to be very helpful and interested in your needs with tons of hints and suggestions. We use the 22xxx series because they stick on jars better than simple shipping labels. With Avery software, (free!) they are very easy to make and print with your own individual design.  

 Then you just stand there and let your mouth water! - AJ

Blackberries

 Before labels

What a perfect dessert all through the year.
The blackberry season is just about over.
Bob picked six buckets this year and have plenty for pies , eating, jam and sauce.
plus filling the freezer to enjoy this winter.

Blackberry and Blueberry Sauce

Nothing nicer than a fruit sauce over ice-cream
for a dessert.

Pesto

 

 Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated  Parmesan cheese (about 2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts (can sub  any nuts)
• 3 garlic cloves,
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• lemon zest

Spinach Dip

Had  to use up some spinach while fresh and had enough salad with the  bunch I had.

So put it in my blender added a large garlic clove, sour cream a bit of cream cheese
herbs from the patio and viola!

Surprise Bob even liked it.

Hummus Dip

Ingredients

    1 can  chick peas, rinsed and drained
    3/4 cup  roasted cashews , divided
    1/2 cup Real Mayonnaise
    1 large shallot, coarsely chopped
    1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
    2 Tbsp. lemon juice
    1 tsp. ground cumin
    1/4 tsp.sea  salt
    1/8 tsp. cayenne
    1 Tbsp. olive oil, (optional)


Directions

   Blend chickpeas, 1/2 cup (125 mL) cashews, Mayonnaise, shallot, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, salt and cayenne in food processor until smooth. Spoon into serving bowl.
  If desired, with olive oil. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cashews. Serve with your vegetable dippers.

Mango Chuntney

Mango's are ripe and flavorful time to preserve  my chutney.
for my larder. Goes well with chicken, pork or beef.

Pickled beets

One of my favorites, so many combinations you can do.
Add garlic or onions. Or fresh herbs from the garden.
Use white vinegar or cider to get different flavors.

Pickled Beans and Carrots

So easy to do and makes an nice side plate on the table

Strawberries you choose

 Strawberry Trifle

 Strawberry pie

 Strawberry/ rhubarb pie

Strawberry shortcake

Strawberry Jam

What is better than fresh homemade Jam.


B.C. strawberry are ready

DUB'S Omelette

3 eggs left out over night
eggs whisk better when warm
2 tbsp.of milk
whisk hard for lots of air.
Add grated  cheese one white cheese one old cheddar 1/4 cup of each
finely chop 2 slices of corn beef or pastrami
add 1/2 tsp lemon pepper, chives parsley  
Cook on top of stove medium heat till just about done then put into the oven on grill for a few minutes.
If you like a spicy taste you can add hot salsa to mix.

Chicken Burger with Pineapple

Four chicken breast 

Place under wax paper and flatten with mallet
Add a tsp.of thyme, oregano, basil and chives. 
pepper to taste.
Sprinkle over chicken, let sit for awhile in frig.
Cut up lettuce, tomatoes red onion and sliced pineapple.
Cook chicken on barbecue, oven or top of stove till done through.
Prepare heated buns and grill pineapple, mix mayo olive oil and garlic together. Enough to cover four buns. Add red relish ( I preserve my own)
Pineapple adds to the taste for a Hawaiian flavor.
Side dish of green salad, potato salad, or cold slaw.

Wienerschnitzel

4 Veal Cutlets

1 lemon
salt, to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup fine dry breadcrumb 

mix herbs into crumbs ( 1tsp oregano 1 tsp thyme)
4 tablespoons olive oil(more might be needed depending on the size of your pan)
Directions:
 
Place veal cutlets, one piece at a time, between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound until thin, about 1/4 inch thick.
Slice lemon in half and squeeze lemon juice over all four pieces of veal.
Allow the veal to sit in lemon juice for 30 minutes.
Allow excess lemon juice to drip off before breading the cutlets.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt over each cutlet.
Place flour in a large shallow plate.
Beat eggs, water, and oil in a large shallow bowl. ~NOTE~ The oil helps to hold the breading on securely and to make the breading crisp.
Place breadcrumbs in a large shallow plate.
one at a time, dip salted cutlet into the flour and lightly cover each side with flour.
Then dip the cutlet into the egg mixture, allowing the excess egg to drip off.
 Then dredge into the breadcrumb mixture to coat.
Place breaded cutlets on a baking sheet and low to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Heat oil and a bit of butter in a large heavy skillet.
There should be enough oil in the pan for the cutlets not to stick
when the oil is hot, place one or two cutlets in the skillet at a time, being careful not to crowd the cutlets.
Fry first side slowly until golden brown, about 4-6 minutes. Turn cutlets over with a spatula, being careful not to splatter hot oil. Fry on second side for about 4-6 minutes,  keep warm in the oven at 250°F while you continue to fry up the rest of the cutlets.

Turkey for Easter

I always use half a pound of bacon in my dressing and the other half over my turkey while it is cooking.
Keeps the bird moist and the family love to eat it crisp when the turkey comes out of the oven.









This recipe is from my Grannie who came from Scotland.


I very seldom measure just know by the feel and smell.
Approximate

3 cups of breadcrumbs
1/2 cup of butter
1 large egg or 2 small
1 onion
3 carrots
3 celery sticks
1/2 lb. bacon
Grind in a blender
1 tbsp of sage, poultry dressing, and thyme and parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Should be moist and easy to stuff inside turkey if not add some water.
Fresh cranberries
Potatoes, veggies and gravy to serve on the side. 

Lemon Pie

What could be better than a light lemon pie for desert for Easter

Strawberry Pie

         Kevin Lynch recipe

 

Lemon Ricotta Strawberry Pie  Shortbread Crust

½-cup soft butter ¼ cup powdered sugar 1 tbsp/ lemon zest ¼ tsp. salt 1-cup flour Filling 1-cup ricotta 4 ounces soft cream cheese 3 tbs. honey 1 tbsp. lemon zest 1 tbsp. lemon juice 2pounds of strawberries sliced Directions Cream the butter, mix in the sugar, lemon zest, poppy seeds and salt followed by the flour and mix until it forms crumbs. Press the mixture unto a pie/tart plate and bake in a preheated 400F oven until lightly golden brown, about 15 minutes before letting it cool. Mix the ricotta, cream cheese, honey and lemon juice and zest until smooth. Spread the ricotta mixture across the bottom of the baked and cooled crust, arrange the strawberry slices on top and enjoy.

I have to try this!