*Family Traditions...One Story At A Time*: Recipes

Showing posts with label Recipes. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Strawberry Pickin' & Jam Makin'

Since I moved to Florida 4 years ago I have found lots of new hobbies and fun things to do....but this by far has become one of my favorite traditions to do each year with my kids and best friends.

We live near the Plant City, Florida area, which is also known as the Strawberry Capital of the world! It's convenient, close to home pickin' and CHEAP! Where can you get PERFECTLY beautiful organic grown strawberries fresh off the vine for under 90 cents a pound?!

I'm heading out Friday morning for our annual picking and I'm so excited to try Freezer Jam this year. Every year I do the traditional jam making that is yummy, but incredibly messy and not that easy with 5 kids running around. So this year I'm tackling the Freezer Jam. If you haven't heard of it or you are slightly nervous about making jam, you're going to love this alternative. It is so delicious. You get fresh tasting sweet strawberry jam with out the cooked berry taste or the mess...or the hot boiling water...

Strawberry Freezer Jam

2 cups crushed FRESH strawberries
4 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl
3/4 cup water
1 box SURE.JELL Fruit Pectin
5 (1-cup) plastic containers and lids (Clean with boiling water. Dry thoroughly)

Crush strawberries thoroughly, 1 cup at a time. Measure exactly 2 cups into a bowl. Stir in sugar. Let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add water and pectin in small saucepan. Bring to boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling and stirring 1 minute. Add to strawberry mixture; stir 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and no longer grainy.
Fill the containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or freeze extra containers up to 1 year.

ENJOY!

Friday, October 2, 2009

Favorite Fall Recipes - Butternut Squash Soup

My newest passion is beginning to cause some serious overload since the arrival of Fall. For the first time in my life I'm spending more and more time in the kitchen than anywhere else in my home...and I'm LOVING IT! Fall offers the excuse to bake and cook wonderful delicious meals every single day!

So in my cooking excitement I'm going to share my newest favorite fall recipe with you...but I'd love love love for you to share one with me too! Leave your favorite in the comments. A girl can never have enough recipes!

With this new passion I've forced myself to try some new foods...foods that I have never ever given a thought to. My newest fav is Butternut Squash. Now, I've only had it as a soup or "bisque", but can I tell you how EXTREMELY incredible it was?!!! Unbelievable! So I have to share it with you. Trust me, you will love it!

A wonderful friend of mine invited myself and a few other friends over for a lunch one day last week and made this for us.

Butternut Squash Bisque

Approximately how this recipe goes...

1 butternut squash, cut-up

1 medium to large white onion

3-4 cloves of garlic

1 large peeled carrot

4 oz. cream cheese

approx 1-3 cups chicken broth

approx 1 cup half-n-half

salt (guessing 2 teaspoons worth)

fresh ground pepper

Boil first 4 ingredients together until vegetables are soft--about 45 minutes. I peel my butternut squash at this point--after it's cooked. Drain water.

Puree cooked vegetables together in blender with salt, pepper, and 4 oz. softened cream cheese. Slowly add chicken stock (start with 1 cup, you may have to go up to 2 or more cups--I just eyeball it). Add about 1 cup of half-n-half. Return to pot and warm on low.

Enjoy!
And don't forget to share some yummy recipes too!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

It's a Celebration! Happy Day to Me - Giveaway!

Well, there is much to celebrate here at my blog this week!

This is my 400th post!
My Birthday is next week - July 23rd
My Blog Birthday is Monday
My Wedding anniversary is mixed in with it all too

So I'm doing a big fat yummy Giveaway in celebration of all these things...

To survive 400 posts, even if I blog to myself is huge...for me! How many hours have at sat staring at this blog?? Too many to think about ;o)
And I love birthdays...~~I'm not afraid of turning 35...Yes, I'm 35 next week, can't believe how young I still am! It's incredible...~~ (apparently, I have no idea how old I am. I'm turning 34. Just figured that out - 07/16/09 @ 9:16pm EST.
My 2nd Blog Birthday is Monday, and again, that's a big deal for me because I have ADD and the only thing I've stuck with longer than this blog is being a wife and mother.
And of course my wedding anniversary is arriving again....the 15th one! Can't believe we've managed to survive these amazing 15 years....but to be completely happy is worth celebrating! Right?!

So lots to be happy about....

Yesterday on my Wordless Wednesday post you saw those YUMMY delicious HOMEMADE cinnamon rolls that I made right? I'm a wannabe baker, and I'm okay with that. I'm finding myself in the kitchen a lot more these days, but I'm loving it, not fighting it. I love to bake. I've always loved to bake, but have been intimidated by mixers, yeast, sifters, temperatures...you know all the "stuff" that goes with baking. Well, I've discovered that it's actually harmless, it's very hard to get hurt baking, and there are amazing products out there that make baking...enjoyable and easy for people like moi!

Cinnamon Rolls happen to one of my most favorite things to EAT! I lose total control when cinnamon rolls arrive...I have NO guilt, NO limits, NO worries. So when I finally made a batch that worked and tasted good all by myself....I had to share and celebrate! I'll share the entire recipe next week.

I'm going to give credit where credit is due though...without these two products ain't NO WAY it was going to happen. I'm wanted for killing yeast all over these parts, so I pretty much gave up on anything that required the use of that small, single-celled plant. Until....I found this!

SAF Yeast by Red Start

You CANNOT KILL THIS STUFF! It's "tara-proof"...that's saying A LOT! If you're looking for ways to make baking with yeast more enjoyable and successful, look no further! You must get this yeast! Also, they have GREAT recipes, ideas, and other yeasts for those that need gluten free or specialty yeasts as well over at www.redstaryeast.com

Second...I'm all about making from scratch, but I love buying "mixes". I love having some fun varieties to play around with, but I'm also into building my family's food storage in the event of an emergency, disaster, even a job loss and income change. You just never know...

One of my favorite sites for stocking up on Food Storage is the Food Storage Depot. They have a great selection of Food Storage products AND their prices are very affordable. They have lots to choose from from basics to gourmet and monthly to yearly supplies.

They also have my favorite MIX! Aunt Kate's Quality Roll Mix! That's the amazing mix that helped me make those delicious cinnamon rolls! They have truly revolutionized food storage!

So what am I giving away...Can you smell the rolls??

Food Storage Depot has generously offered one of my readers a bag of Aunt Kate's Roll Mix.
The winner will also receive a 16 oz. package of SAF yeast from Lesaffre Yeast Corp. Woo!
And...the winner will also receive a Mini Cherish Bound Recipe Story Starter from ME
$29 publishing credit to make your own 5x7 recipe book from ME!

That's right.... The winner will get ALL OF THIS!

So wanna know how you can win ALL OF THIS? There are TONS of way to get in on this!!

1. Leave a comment letting me know what your FAVORITE thing to bake is (1 entry)

2. Follow My Blog (1 entry)

3. Tweet About this Giveaway & leave the link (1 entry)

4. Put my Button on your blog (1 entry)

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog. Make sure you share your favorite thing to bake and then link back here to the McLinky FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES!

Make sure each entry is a separate comment. US Residents only. Giveaway ends on July 22, 2009 at 11:59 pm. I'll announce the big winner on July 23 (my birthday)! Make sure you leave your email in your comments if you don't have a blog or your email in your profile.

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Friday, May 15, 2009

Confessions of an Ex-Scrapbooker #34

Image from ehow.com

Today is National Chocolate Chip Day! Today is a day of indulgence and bliss! I was honored to get a "tweet" from a "tweety" friend on Twitter today... (say that 5 times fast)

@LaurenH08 @cherishbound176 I read earlier today somewhere that today is Chocolate Chip Day and I thought of you!

She Thought Of ME! Of all the people in the world...she thought of me! I'm honored...

Chocolate chips and Diet Coke are staple items for me....they are part of my daily diet. There is nothing better than a handful of chocolate chips and a Diet Coke to keep a mama kicking.

So in honor of this most important day, I'd like to share oneof my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes with you. These are made usually once a month, around the same time... {wink-wink} I'll usually throw these together when a violent rage is brewing in me....a few spoonfuls of this dough calm me down and life resumes safely. I've been making these since I was about 14 years old.... Enjoy!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Cup Butter slightly softened

3/4 Cup sugar

1 Cup Brown Sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 Cups Flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 large bag of chocolate chips

On the lowest speed, cream together the butter, both sugars and then add eggs and then vanilla. In seprate bowl mix the flour, salt, and soda. Add slowly and cream together with mixture and mix slowly. Do no over mix. Add Chocolate Chips and mix. Bake at 350 degrees for about 9-10 minutes. Don't overcook...they're done when lightly brown.

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Tuesday Tradition #35

This a new tradition that was started 2 years ago with my friends. We get together the day before Thanksgiving and make homemade pies and rolls together. It's so much fun and a huge life savor for me because One, I don't have my own "mixer" (yet) and Two, I can't cook worth a crap. So my very sweet and best friend CMommy saves my life!

This year we're making Pioneer Woman's pie crust. Looks very, very yummy. I'm going to be making 2 pumpkin pies and a chocolate silk. Now CMommy has the most incredible rolls you'll ever eat!! They're so good!! I can make 2 entire large cookie sheets full and my small family of 7 will EAT EVERY SINGLE ONE BY Friday afternoon....talk about serious carb over loading! Woo-hoo!Maybe I can get her to share the recipe! It's fabulously delicious!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Dinner Blessings #5

One of my most favorite foods of all time has been and always will be.....

MEATLOAF!!

I know, of all the foods in the world...meatloaf? But it is. I love a few other things just as much, but this is one of my top favs. I'm a big-time carnivore. Had I lived 2 million years ago I would have been a T-rex. Seriously...

So I'd like to share my favorite meatloaf recipe with you.....and if you have one please share it using Mr. Linky on your blog or post it in the comment section. I'd love to see all the "meatloaf" recipes out there. I make it at least 2 times a month. So show me what you've got!

I wish I could give credit for this recipe, but I actually found it on a written piece of paper about 10 years ago in my church's kitchen. I snagged it...it look dusty. I don't think anyone was looking for it, but I took it, made it, and fell in love...so that's why I call it...

Sunday Meatloaf

2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 pound bacon strips, uncooked

Sauce
2 cups ketchup
2 cups brown sugar

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT bacon, ketchup and brown sugar. Put in a large 9x6 loaf pan. Cut bacon strips in half and place on top of meatloaf to cover. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Remove and drain excess juices (fat). Spoon ketchup/brown sugar sauce over the top. Save some for serving at the table too. Return to oven for about 15-20 more min. Let stand for a few minutes before serving. (I'm hungry just typing this!!!!)

Enjoy and please share yours! I can always use a new Meatloaf recipe....well, my family would love the variation!
Ps...don't forget Homemaker Monday over at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Famous Northpole.com Recipes!

Here are TONS and TONS of holiday favorites!!! Just click on the name of the cookie and BAM....the recipe is there! Enjoy these yummy Christmas treats!!

A Little Bit About Moi...