Friday, December 9, 2016

Spicy Basil Pesto


Bountiful basil harvest... no problem.. 
make pesto! 

Pesto 
4 c basil
1/4 c oil
1/2 c nuts of choice (I had leftover homemade candied maple spicy walnuts)
2 T garlic
1 lemon
1/2 c parm
salt pepper
1 c cilantro
hot peppper x 1 

process everything all together cleaned trimmed and what not until desired texture


I DO NOT CAN PESTO
(the oil and herb mixture has too low of an acid content to prevent the growth of bacteria) 
but i dont have a problem eating it quick anyway! lol! 
maybe 1-2 weeks in fridge
or 2-3 months stored properly in the freezer. 



tomatillo salsa


tomatillo salsa 
2 c chilis
1 1/2 c tomatillos
1/2 c onion
1 T garlic
1 bunch cilantro
2 t cumin
1 T tequilla
2 limes

combine everything BUT CILANTRO in a dutch oven / cast iron and roast 300-350 for 30-45 minutes.. clean tomatillos well and remove skins


then do any destemming or deseeding and lest rest overnight WITH CILANTRO
chop to desired texture
can with waterbath method.. and enjoy throughout the year!!! :) 

 

Garden fresh Salsa


Garden fresh Salsa

84 oz tomatoes
2 cans rotel tomatoes
1 c onion
3 T garlic
pepper
3/4 T sugar
3/4 T salt
3/4 T cumin
1-2 bunches cilantro
2-4 limes juiced
chilis to hotness

combine everything BUT CILANTRO in a dutch oven / cast iron and roast 300-350 for 30-45 minutes

then do any destemming or deseeding and lest rest overnight WITH CILANTRO


chop in processor to desired texture


can with waterbath method.. and enjoy throughout the year!!! :) 

 

Green bean casserole


Green Bean Casserole

topping:
4 slices bread into crumbs and chunks
2 T butter
1/4 t salt
pepper, thyme, sage, oregano
6 oz fried onions

filling:
2 T salt
2 # beans
3T butter
garlic
pepper
1 can cream of celery soup
1 c vegetable broth
1 c cream
nutmeg
onions

Cook onions until tender then add fresh herbs

add all liquids and make white sauce like consistency.. 
Then add beans and garlic (only cook for a few minutes.. )
you can preheat beans and saute garlic in seperate pan. 
fill casserole dish
  
make topping


we were traveling with out casserole.. so i kept the topping in a baggy until we got there then heated everything up in the oven together for 15 minutes with lid and 15 without at 350 degrees. 

YUM!
 

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Strawberry Rhubarb Ginger Jam


Strawberry Rhubarb Ginger Jam

1# 6oz ruhbarb
2# 10oz strawberries
5.5 ounces lemon juice 
80 ounces sugar
9.43 ounces pectin
2 zested oranges
 

Make sure all canning jars cleaned with soapy water and rinsed well
bring berries lemon juice and pectin to rolling boil.
add sugar and bring to violent boil
"violent boil" for 1 min. 
remove from heat. 
preheat canning jars with 180 degree water. 
Fill jars with jam (leave 1/4" head space)
Water bath canning for 10-13 minutes 
If i could change anything about this recipe.. I might use less pectin.. I prefer not a runny jam, but not this solid.. maybe reduce to 8.5 to 8.7 oz pectin. :)  


Blue Raspberry Jam


Blue Raspberry Jam 

1 # raspberries
3# 5 oz blueberries
86.4 oz sugar
10.23 oz pectin
5.4 oz lemon juice
fresh nutmeg
vanilla optional 

Make sure all canning jars cleaned with soapy water and rinsed well
bring berries lemon juice and pectin to rolling boil.
add sugar and bring to violent boil
"violent boil" for 1 min. 
remove from heat. 
preheat canning jars with 180 degree water. 
Fill jars with jam (leave 1/4" head space)
Water bath canning for 10-13 minutes 
 
If i could change anything about this recipe.. I might use less pectin.. I prefer not a runny jam, but not this solid.. maybe reduce to 9 or 9.25 oz pectin. :)  


Saturday, December 3, 2016

English Muffins



English Muffins
(makes about 9)

1T sugar
1/2 t salt
1T butter
1 c hot water

3/4 T instant yeast
1/8 t sugar
1/3 c warm water

2 c flour
1/2 c dry milk

cornmeal for cooking

combine each section of ingredients separately. 
The first to melt the sugar
the second to make a yeast slurry 
and the third to combine dries
(makes for better distribution)

Then combine all together into pancake like batter
let rest 1-2 hours

heat griddle to 300 degrees (medium-ish flames) 
(after the first test cook muffin adjust heat)

butter your molds, sprinkle cornmeal on griddle generously.. and add the batter (about a 1/4 cup)
(Tuna cans with both sides cut out or mason jar lids make great round molds!)

after 5-7 minutes remove molds.. (if you take them off too early.. notice muffin on the left, the sides were not quite set up enough!!)
sprinkle more cornmeal on top!

flip and cook 5 more minutes

remove .. 
and most importantly!!! 
(LET THEM COOL!!) 
or they will be kind of gummy still. 
then store for eating pleasure! 



Strawberry Jam



Strawberry Jam

7.5 # strawberries 
9.4 ounces lemon juice
18 oz pectin 
152 oz sugar
1 zested lemon 

 makes 50 (4oz jars) 
(or 25 (8oz jars))

Make sure all canning jars cleaned with soapy water and rinsed well
bring berries lemon juice and pectin to rolling boil.
add sugar and bring to violent boil
"violent boil" for 1 min. 
remove from heat. 
preheat canning jars with 180 degree water. 
Fill jars with jam (leave 1/4" head space)
Water bath canning for 10-13 minutes 

woo woo!! yummy jam!!