I'm knee deep in pickles - and loving it!
It has been a lot of years since I had a reason to make pickles and I am really having fun with it.
I started out by pickling 25 pounds of beets. I wasn't sure if I would ever see the end of that bag. I think I might start out with 10 pounds next year.
But by the time I was finished with the beets, I was ready to tackle the cucumbers; and then on to the green tomatoes.
My favorite sound is that "pop" each cover makes as it seals - just like it should.
Fall is my favorite time of year. There is always so much to be grateful for. And the beautiful colors along with pleasant temperatures always pull me out of my "busyness" to savor life.
Showing posts with label Fun With Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fun With Food. Show all posts
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Notes To Myself
I often write notes to myself - sometimes from deep inside myself - sometimes something I read or overheard that I want to remember. Often there is only enough time to write a hastily scribbled note on a piece of paper.
I recently came across one such piece of paper that reminded me to:
"Do what you can, for who you can, with what you have, where you are."
My sister made me aware of a fun (free) way to provide rice for the poor http://www.freerice.com/ . Check out the short video on the left of the screen.
I make a point of going there once a day and send a few grains of rice to some hungry person. There are several topics to choose from; and every correct answer sends 10 grains of rice across the world.
The subject I stick with is vocabulary because I have always loved words. They even have an art section for you art lovers.
Go ahead - give it a try - let me know how you make out.
"The heart that gives, gathers."
I recently came across one such piece of paper that reminded me to:
"Do what you can, for who you can, with what you have, where you are."
My sister made me aware of a fun (free) way to provide rice for the poor http://www.freerice.com/ . Check out the short video on the left of the screen.
I make a point of going there once a day and send a few grains of rice to some hungry person. There are several topics to choose from; and every correct answer sends 10 grains of rice across the world.
The subject I stick with is vocabulary because I have always loved words. They even have an art section for you art lovers.
Go ahead - give it a try - let me know how you make out.
"The heart that gives, gathers."
Friday, January 16, 2009
Hospital Healing On All Levels
I went in the hospital three days before Christmas. I was too sick to care; and actually it was the best place for me to be because none of my family was able to be home this year.
I was amazed at how many people took time out of their busy schedules to visit me not only on Christmas Eve Day; but also on Christmas Day itself - the kindest, most generous gifts of all. My heartfelt thanks to all of you!
The Christmas carollers came in every night - including Christmas Eve. The hospital even cooked us a Christmas dinner. Mind you, it didn't taste like it would at home but they put forth the effort - and that's what counts.
My minister taped the Christmas Eve service; and loaned me his tape player so I could listen to it. He also lent me five tapes of his favorite speaker - his mentor. That's how I spent Christmas Day listening to those tapes. And the tape of the Christmas Eve service was so beautiful that I listened to it five nights in a row before going to sleep. I think one of my favorite parts was at the end of the tape, after the service was over, with all the voices I recognized wishing one another a Merry Christmas.
The rest of my time during my hospital stay was spent reading the book my granddaughter bought for me this Christmas. She lets me choose a book that I want every Christmas; and I love it. This year I chose Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth - Awakening to Your Life's Purpose". I had read somebody else's copy of this book back in the fall and wanted a copy of my own so I could read it over and over. Even though I only got halfway through it; it really helped me to put things into perspective. Recognizing when the ego has taken control once again - and getting in touch with the awareness behind the ego is a lifetime job.
I used this opportunity to work on myself at other levels, as well. My biggest complaint has been that they have places for alcoholics to go for rehabilitation. They have places for drug addicts to go for rehabilitaion. But they don't have any place for food addicts to go for rehabilitation. I very quickly made up my mind to use this as the opportunity that I have been longing for. The second day I was there, I asked them to put me on a calorie-restricted diet so I could get started doing what I was wanting to do for a long time - lose some weight and regain some of my lost mobility. They obliged by putting me on a 1500 calorie diet and I lost my first 16 pounds.
They say it takes three weeks to form a new habit. Having been there just three days short of three weeks - and having the chance to see how they would put the meals together has put me at a real advantage. It has not been a problem at all keeping it up at home.
I even learned that the diabetic counselling staff is putting on a six week program called "Changing Your Relationship With Food". I did not waste a minute signing up for it.
This is the year, folks. Nothing can hold me back now. Expect to see this rose in full bloom in the year of 2009.
I was amazed at how many people took time out of their busy schedules to visit me not only on Christmas Eve Day; but also on Christmas Day itself - the kindest, most generous gifts of all. My heartfelt thanks to all of you!
The Christmas carollers came in every night - including Christmas Eve. The hospital even cooked us a Christmas dinner. Mind you, it didn't taste like it would at home but they put forth the effort - and that's what counts.
My minister taped the Christmas Eve service; and loaned me his tape player so I could listen to it. He also lent me five tapes of his favorite speaker - his mentor. That's how I spent Christmas Day listening to those tapes. And the tape of the Christmas Eve service was so beautiful that I listened to it five nights in a row before going to sleep. I think one of my favorite parts was at the end of the tape, after the service was over, with all the voices I recognized wishing one another a Merry Christmas.
The rest of my time during my hospital stay was spent reading the book my granddaughter bought for me this Christmas. She lets me choose a book that I want every Christmas; and I love it. This year I chose Eckhart Tolle's book "A New Earth - Awakening to Your Life's Purpose". I had read somebody else's copy of this book back in the fall and wanted a copy of my own so I could read it over and over. Even though I only got halfway through it; it really helped me to put things into perspective. Recognizing when the ego has taken control once again - and getting in touch with the awareness behind the ego is a lifetime job.
I used this opportunity to work on myself at other levels, as well. My biggest complaint has been that they have places for alcoholics to go for rehabilitation. They have places for drug addicts to go for rehabilitaion. But they don't have any place for food addicts to go for rehabilitation. I very quickly made up my mind to use this as the opportunity that I have been longing for. The second day I was there, I asked them to put me on a calorie-restricted diet so I could get started doing what I was wanting to do for a long time - lose some weight and regain some of my lost mobility. They obliged by putting me on a 1500 calorie diet and I lost my first 16 pounds.
They say it takes three weeks to form a new habit. Having been there just three days short of three weeks - and having the chance to see how they would put the meals together has put me at a real advantage. It has not been a problem at all keeping it up at home.
I even learned that the diabetic counselling staff is putting on a six week program called "Changing Your Relationship With Food". I did not waste a minute signing up for it.
This is the year, folks. Nothing can hold me back now. Expect to see this rose in full bloom in the year of 2009.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
A Special Tribute To Dads Who Cook
Wollf left a comment on my food blog which opened the door for many wonderful memories to walk across my mind today. I had great fun reliving food experiences with my Dad.
He worked six days a week, and had a quick breakfast on these days; but on his day off (Sundays) he liked to cook. He would start out by putting coffee on to perk and then prepare himself some bacon and eggs. This tradition continued long after we all married and left home. When we vacationed at home, many of us would make sure we were up out of bed in time to have breakfast cooked for us by Dad.
After breakfast, he would throw together a batch of whole wheat rolls to serve with the roast beef he was going to cook for Sunday dinner.
Shortly before I got married, he started making clam chowder for supper on Friday nights. I was the only other person in the house who would eat clam chowder, so he would make a small batch for the two of us. For many months after I got married, I would walk back up home on Friday nights just to join him for chowder night.
In later years he started having some Saturdays off and he got into making pizza or lasagne or sweet and sour spareribs; but those memories belong to some of the younger children. I know about them but was rarely there to be a part of them.
We seem to take for granted those endless meals our mothers prepare for us while treasuring the few that our fathers prepare.
My second husband endeared himself to my grown daughter and two granddaughters by cooking them their own special pancakes every now and then shaped in their initials. They felt so loved every time he did this for them.
And until he died, Christmas mornings were special because he and my son would cook breakfast for us "womenfolk". Needless to say, it became the most special breakfast of the year.
Bet you Dads didn't realize what long-lasting memories you are creating in the kitchen.
He worked six days a week, and had a quick breakfast on these days; but on his day off (Sundays) he liked to cook. He would start out by putting coffee on to perk and then prepare himself some bacon and eggs. This tradition continued long after we all married and left home. When we vacationed at home, many of us would make sure we were up out of bed in time to have breakfast cooked for us by Dad.
After breakfast, he would throw together a batch of whole wheat rolls to serve with the roast beef he was going to cook for Sunday dinner.
Shortly before I got married, he started making clam chowder for supper on Friday nights. I was the only other person in the house who would eat clam chowder, so he would make a small batch for the two of us. For many months after I got married, I would walk back up home on Friday nights just to join him for chowder night.
In later years he started having some Saturdays off and he got into making pizza or lasagne or sweet and sour spareribs; but those memories belong to some of the younger children. I know about them but was rarely there to be a part of them.
We seem to take for granted those endless meals our mothers prepare for us while treasuring the few that our fathers prepare.
My second husband endeared himself to my grown daughter and two granddaughters by cooking them their own special pancakes every now and then shaped in their initials. They felt so loved every time he did this for them.
And until he died, Christmas mornings were special because he and my son would cook breakfast for us "womenfolk". Needless to say, it became the most special breakfast of the year.
Bet you Dads didn't realize what long-lasting memories you are creating in the kitchen.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A Touch Of Joy - A Touch Of Sorrow
"Joy and sorrow are never separated. When our hearts rejoice at a spectacular view, we may miss our friends who cannot see it, and when we're overwhelmed with grief, we may discover what true friendship is all about. Joy is hidden in sorrow and sorrow in joy." - Henri Nouwen
Today has been a joyful day. My husband would have loved being a part of it.
To help me choose recipes for the cookbook I'm working on, I had my bible study group come for a pancake breakfast. I made the toppings yesterday - strawberry and blueberry.
The minister manned the griddle and cooked the bacon and the pancakes for us - regular, buttermilk, and pumpkin.
I baked apples in maple syrup to go with the pumpkin pancakes; and we finished off with a taste of pumpkin custard.
What a tremendous way to start off our day and our bible study.
I'm glad that I have healed enough to be able to enjoy these wonderful high moments of life once again; without having to suffer the terrible lows that immediately follow them earlier on in the grief process.
Today has been a joyful day. My husband would have loved being a part of it.
To help me choose recipes for the cookbook I'm working on, I had my bible study group come for a pancake breakfast. I made the toppings yesterday - strawberry and blueberry.
The minister manned the griddle and cooked the bacon and the pancakes for us - regular, buttermilk, and pumpkin.
I baked apples in maple syrup to go with the pumpkin pancakes; and we finished off with a taste of pumpkin custard.
What a tremendous way to start off our day and our bible study.
I'm glad that I have healed enough to be able to enjoy these wonderful high moments of life once again; without having to suffer the terrible lows that immediately follow them earlier on in the grief process.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Christmas Carollers
I spent yesterday making caramel corn and peanut brittle because I knew the carollers would pay me a visit last night. They started coming the year my husband passed away, and have been coming ever since - six years.
Last night there were eight youths ranging in age from nine to seventeen, and two adults.
Christmas just wouldn't be the same without my yearly visit from them. They tell me it is the same for them - their Christmas wouldn't be the same without the little bags of caramel corn and peanut brittle they get to take home.
Most of my "food gifts" at Christmas are made up of these two items. It keeps well at a time when there is so much food around - people enjoy eating it - and, most important of all, it is one of the few treat foods I am not tempted to overindulge in.
Past experience has taught me NOT to do a lot of baking at Christmas. There is already so much food around. My sister is able to do all that fancy baking without eating half of it, so she brings a tray to be shared on Christmas Eve when we get together with some of our "family of origin" and Mom.
My husband's favorite thing at Christmas was hard candy and Christmas nuts; so I always put those out for him at the beginning of December. He also liked homemade fruitcake and pie. I didn't always get a fruitcake made - one year it was Easter before I got it made - that's okay, we enjoyed it just the same.
I did always make sure I made the pies, though - mincemeat for Christmas Day and Apple for New Year's Day.
I thought I would share my recipes for the caramel corn and peanut brittle for anyone who is interested in giving them a try:
Caramel Corn
1 cup popcorn, unpopped 1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup white corn syrup
Pop the popcorn directly into a large roasting pan. (It pops better if you do it 1/3 cup at a time.) Boil butter, sugar, corn syrup and salt together for 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat. Add soda and vanilla. Stir thoroughly. Pour over the popcorn. Stir gently to coat evenly. Bake at 200F for 1 hr. Stir two or three times while baking. Pour onto sheets of wax paper and separate so will not harden in large clumps. (This makes a whole roasting pan full).
Microwave Peanut Brittle
1 cup sugar 1 tsp butter
1-1/2 cups salted peanuts 1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup white corn syrup 1 tsp baking soda
Microwave peanuts, sugar and corn syrup on high for 3 minutes. Stir and then cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in butter and vanilla. Nuke for 2 more minutes. Add soda. Stir quickly but thoroughly to evenly distribute soda. Pour onto greased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Cool. Break into pieces. Makes 1 pound.
Note: Every microwave is different so the time may have to be adjusted . The first batch will be sort of trial and error timewise; but once you figure out the correct cooking time for your microwave, it's great because it is so easy to do and turns out the same every time.
Last night there were eight youths ranging in age from nine to seventeen, and two adults.
Christmas just wouldn't be the same without my yearly visit from them. They tell me it is the same for them - their Christmas wouldn't be the same without the little bags of caramel corn and peanut brittle they get to take home.
Most of my "food gifts" at Christmas are made up of these two items. It keeps well at a time when there is so much food around - people enjoy eating it - and, most important of all, it is one of the few treat foods I am not tempted to overindulge in.
Past experience has taught me NOT to do a lot of baking at Christmas. There is already so much food around. My sister is able to do all that fancy baking without eating half of it, so she brings a tray to be shared on Christmas Eve when we get together with some of our "family of origin" and Mom.
My husband's favorite thing at Christmas was hard candy and Christmas nuts; so I always put those out for him at the beginning of December. He also liked homemade fruitcake and pie. I didn't always get a fruitcake made - one year it was Easter before I got it made - that's okay, we enjoyed it just the same.
I did always make sure I made the pies, though - mincemeat for Christmas Day and Apple for New Year's Day.
I thought I would share my recipes for the caramel corn and peanut brittle for anyone who is interested in giving them a try:
Caramel Corn
1 cup popcorn, unpopped 1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup white corn syrup
Pop the popcorn directly into a large roasting pan. (It pops better if you do it 1/3 cup at a time.) Boil butter, sugar, corn syrup and salt together for 5 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat. Add soda and vanilla. Stir thoroughly. Pour over the popcorn. Stir gently to coat evenly. Bake at 200F for 1 hr. Stir two or three times while baking. Pour onto sheets of wax paper and separate so will not harden in large clumps. (This makes a whole roasting pan full).
Microwave Peanut Brittle
1 cup sugar 1 tsp butter
1-1/2 cups salted peanuts 1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup white corn syrup 1 tsp baking soda
Microwave peanuts, sugar and corn syrup on high for 3 minutes. Stir and then cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in butter and vanilla. Nuke for 2 more minutes. Add soda. Stir quickly but thoroughly to evenly distribute soda. Pour onto greased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Cool. Break into pieces. Makes 1 pound.
Note: Every microwave is different so the time may have to be adjusted . The first batch will be sort of trial and error timewise; but once you figure out the correct cooking time for your microwave, it's great because it is so easy to do and turns out the same every time.
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