Gardening is something you learn by doing---and by making mistakes....
Like Cooking, Gardening is a constant process of experimentation, repeating the successes and throwing out the failures.
Carol Stocker

Friday, September 30, 2011

Black Bean & Corn Salsa

I love this salsa!  There are so many flavors wrapped into one....the veggies come together so well, the spices and cilantro give it the perfect flavor, you don't even notice that it it good for you!  And it's pretty too!




Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas

These are addictive...you can't have just one!  This creamy, cheesy casserole is a wonderful comfort food.  It is easy to whip up after a long day at work....it tastes like you spent all afternoon making it!



Sunday, September 25, 2011

Cheesy Garlic-Herb Dinner Biscuits

I had a great supper planned.......  Grilled Rib-eye, Baked Potatoes, Green Salad, and Cheesy Biscuits.  What a feast!  Well, we had a change in plans due to the grease fire that engulfed the entire grill, leaving our steaks tiny little pieces of black leather.  I'm just happy the propane tank didn't blow!

So, obviously plans changed.....Sloppy Joes!  I had already started on the biscuits, so what the heck.  These biscuits are so light, cheesy & garlicy.....mouthwatering good, I had to make them.




Saturday, September 24, 2011

Pickled Spiced Beets

Love those beets!  I have 2 recipes for pickled beets, spiced and not spiced.  I grew up on the non-spiced kind and just found a new like for the spiced beets.
I was feeling ambitious so I dug my beets as well as my Dad's.  What a harvest! After pickling all those beets I don't care if I see another beet until next year's harvest!
Here are the recipes I used.



Thursday, September 22, 2011

Apple Bread

The apples on my sister's tree are getting ripe...time to start using them up.
This bread is slightly sweet with a crunchy sweet topping.  It's good right out of the oven, but if you let it cool, the apple flavor really comes through.  This bread is quickly becoming one of my favorites!
I wasn't able to get a picture of the bread sliced up....it went too fast!


Saturday, September 17, 2011

Freezing Corn

Fresh corn on the cob is sooo good, too bad we can enjoy it year 'round.....oh wait, we can!
Freezing corn lets us enjoy those sweet little kernels all winter (providing you freeze enough).  Some people freeze the whole ear, but that takes up too much space in my freezer.  I cut the corn from the cob and freeze it in quart bags, they stack very well.


Freezing Corn

Shuck the corn and rinse
Blanch corn in boiling water for 5-6 minutes
Submerge corn in cold water to cool and stop the cooking process.
When corn is cool enough to handle, use a sharp knife  to cut kernels from the cob.
Put 2 cups of corn into a quart size  freezer baggie.  Flatten baggies so they stack easily and remove the air.....and freeze.

I use Ziploc Vacuum Baggies
Blanch corn 5-6 minutes
Cut away kernels
Fill baggies and express the air

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Hamburger & Sauerkraut Casserole

For people that don't like sauerkraut, don't let the name scare you!  The Kraut adds a little something without giving it a strong taste.  My husband doesn't like sauerkraut, yet he has no clue there is even any in it....I hide the can in the garbage!  If you love sauerkraut, heck, add a little more than the recipe calls for...I sometimes do.



Sunday, September 11, 2011

Green Tomato Bread

So many green tomatoes!  I'm afraid they won't ripen before first freeze and I don't want them to go to waste.  I modified my zucchini bread recipe and used pureed green tomatoes instead, it was a hit!


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Sour Cream Cucumbers

I love these!  It's a nice change from Vinegar Cucumbers, I like to add fresh onions.


I'm not one for measuring my ingredients, especially in dishes like this.  I add until I think it tastes right.  So, this is your dish...make it the way you like it!  Here is my basic recipe:

Farming

Farming
Cutting Silage at Berry Creek