All I have to say is peaches are here!!!!!!!!! and a story of motherhood....I went to the Farmer's Market today with a list in my head of what I was going to purchase and a couple quarts of peaches were just thing I was looking for. I of course find them at one of my favorite farmers tables ask for 2 quarts and then I feel my bum get hot and then wet. It is then I realize my smart boy is throwing up all down the back of me needless to say that ended the trip to the Farmers Market with 2 quarts of peaches. And of this writing 12 hours later it is not 2 quarts of peaches anymore it is 2 peaches. You have to love teenagers!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Blueberries and Zucchini
Today we were up bright and early to go blueberry picking which the whole family was excited to go do. 15 minutes into picking I have kids pretending to be camping under the blueberry bushes, building a campfire out of found bark and wearing their buckets as hats. Needless to say they were having fun and I knew where they were. 1 hour later we were done; our buckets were full and we were heading home.
I freeze my blueberries on cookie sheets first and then freeze them in ice cream pails so I can scoop them out as I need them. Today we have 42 Cups of blueberries that is around three pails. A quick hint (thanks grandma) cut a piece of wax paper to fit the top of your container to help curb any freezer burn. While my blueberries were freezing up I grated some zucchini(14 cups) for one of my honeys favorite treats zucchini bread. All in all I feel like I have had a productive morning and kids had fun too!
I freeze my blueberries on cookie sheets first and then freeze them in ice cream pails so I can scoop them out as I need them. Today we have 42 Cups of blueberries that is around three pails. A quick hint (thanks grandma) cut a piece of wax paper to fit the top of your container to help curb any freezer burn. While my blueberries were freezing up I grated some zucchini(14 cups) for one of my honeys favorite treats zucchini bread. All in all I feel like I have had a productive morning and kids had fun too!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
"It's Belicious Mom"
Today seeing I have oodles of cherries still and one request from my smart guy, "Could you make cherry jam?" Which I will tell you he doesn't try new things very often so for him to request me to make something new was quite shocking to say the least. After all was said and done he actually liked it and my laid back boy thought it was "belicious".
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
So far this summer
We have been very busy in The Little Jewels Kitchen this summer. I have blanched and frozen 18 quarts of broccoli and the same amount of pea pods. With more to come. Also as previously stated in my blog asparagus and spinach. I have made over 2o containers of strawberry jam and have frozen 10 quarts of them as well and 1 quart of cherries. This is were I left off before I went on vacation.
Today was my first farmers market trip since we have been back and boy did I have fun there. It was the last day for cherries from my favorite cherry vendor and so I bought 2 lugs of cherries. I know what was I thinking I have now pitted one lug with purple fingers to prove it and I have 70 Cups of cherries to freeze!!! In one phone call I have given half of the other lug away(thanks mom) and now I have requests to make cherry jam and so more fun in the kitchen. I am grateful I have such willing participants to help me with all of my kitchen adventures(thanks honey and kiddos).
I also have started collecting my potato supply for the year in a bushel basket provided by mom(thanks again mom). We also will be blueberry picking soon enough and then onto peaches-yum! yum!
I am often asked how do I have time for all of this when I have 3 little ones to take care of? They help. They wash the broccoli, destem pea pods, help pit cherries, crush strawberries, label bags, fill bags and the list goes on. It truly is a family affair and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Today was my first farmers market trip since we have been back and boy did I have fun there. It was the last day for cherries from my favorite cherry vendor and so I bought 2 lugs of cherries. I know what was I thinking I have now pitted one lug with purple fingers to prove it and I have 70 Cups of cherries to freeze!!! In one phone call I have given half of the other lug away(thanks mom) and now I have requests to make cherry jam and so more fun in the kitchen. I am grateful I have such willing participants to help me with all of my kitchen adventures(thanks honey and kiddos).
I also have started collecting my potato supply for the year in a bushel basket provided by mom(thanks again mom). We also will be blueberry picking soon enough and then onto peaches-yum! yum!
I am often asked how do I have time for all of this when I have 3 little ones to take care of? They help. They wash the broccoli, destem pea pods, help pit cherries, crush strawberries, label bags, fill bags and the list goes on. It truly is a family affair and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
What I do with my Pesto
White Sauce:1/4 cup Butter
1 tsp. minced Garlic
1/4 cup Flour
1 liter Fresh Milk
200 grams Grated parmesan
1/4 tsp. pepper
In a medium size saucepan, melt butter, saute garlic until light brown, then add the flour. While stirring this mixture together, you actually want to cook the flour. The color will be somewhat blonde around 2 minutes at low heat. Change your kitchen tool to a wire whisk and slowly add the fresh milk while stirring the sauce.Once you've finished the milk, turn to medium heat, add the grated cheese and pepper and stir sauce until thick. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the Basil Pesto prepared earlier. I love this over tortellini!!!
1 tsp. minced Garlic
1/4 cup Flour
1 liter Fresh Milk
200 grams Grated parmesan
1/4 tsp. pepper
In a medium size saucepan, melt butter, saute garlic until light brown, then add the flour. While stirring this mixture together, you actually want to cook the flour. The color will be somewhat blonde around 2 minutes at low heat. Change your kitchen tool to a wire whisk and slowly add the fresh milk while stirring the sauce.Once you've finished the milk, turn to medium heat, add the grated cheese and pepper and stir sauce until thick. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the Basil Pesto prepared earlier. I love this over tortellini!!!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Pesto Recipe
2 Cups fresh Basil Leaves, packed
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
3Tbs Walnuts or Pine Nuts
3 Garlic Cloves, finely minced
You can use a food processor but I used the blender. Add oil and half of the basil whip add the rest of the basil. Whip again. Add walnuts(I chop them first) whip 1 minute add garlic whip one minute add Parmesan whip one minute. Keep in refrigerator one week or freeze for up to 6 months.
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
3Tbs Walnuts or Pine Nuts
3 Garlic Cloves, finely minced
You can use a food processor but I used the blender. Add oil and half of the basil whip add the rest of the basil. Whip again. Add walnuts(I chop them first) whip 1 minute add garlic whip one minute add Parmesan whip one minute. Keep in refrigerator one week or freeze for up to 6 months.
BASIL and GARLIC
Today as usual we had planned going to the Farmers Market and so off we went whne it started to downpour but I say to the kids, "We have your raincoats in the back so lets go have some fun." Of course by the time we got there it was sunny and no need for the coats. We had a plan get some basil plants, strawberries, 3 bunches of asparagus(since it is almost out of season),pea pods, and some of the best Amish bread. We quickly go to the people I know grow locally and get the things we were hunting after but something caught my eye and that was garlic and basil which I couldn't pass up on so I buy what I can with the cash I have left saving $1 so the kids can get some cookies.
When we get home we make freezer jam -yummy and now with the back of my counter lined with freezer jam I am so proud of our accomplishment. Thanks my princess for all your help. The husband in the mean time is destemming spinach for last pureeing party of the spring and we readily take care of that job. The contrast of the strawberry jam and the pureed spinach is wonderful and reminds me of Christmas andthen I am grateful for the knowledge of this work, Iwill have a freezer full of resh yummy goodness when the snow flies and I actually get giddy!
Now I did get garlic and basil at the Market today and for the first time ever I made my own pesto and I will tell you the smell in my house right now is so delicious. It was very easy the prep took a bit of time but with my sweetie and I working together it took no time at all. I love the summer and all the fruits that come from it!
When we get home we make freezer jam -yummy and now with the back of my counter lined with freezer jam I am so proud of our accomplishment. Thanks my princess for all your help. The husband in the mean time is destemming spinach for last pureeing party of the spring and we readily take care of that job. The contrast of the strawberry jam and the pureed spinach is wonderful and reminds me of Christmas andthen I am grateful for the knowledge of this work, Iwill have a freezer full of resh yummy goodness when the snow flies and I actually get giddy!
Now I did get garlic and basil at the Market today and for the first time ever I made my own pesto and I will tell you the smell in my house right now is so delicious. It was very easy the prep took a bit of time but with my sweetie and I working together it took no time at all. I love the summer and all the fruits that come from it!
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