Alas there is no photographic evidence left since my familia polished off the pot of soup the night it was made! Some recipes I researched online called for heavy creams but I think the least amount of ingredients the more the butternut squash shines!
1-2 butternut squash (depends if you wish to make a small or larger pot)
Chicken broth/stock
Salt/Pepper (a dash)
Olive Oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut butternut squash in half length wise and scoop out seeds. Lightly oil flesh sides of butternut squash and season with salt/pepper as desired (just a dash will do for each.) Bake for 1 hour.
Allow to cool til safe to touch and scoop out flesh into pot. Slowly add chicken broth/stock and blend with immersion blender. May also use a blender in small batches. Depending on how thick or thin one desires the soup to be depends on the amount of chicken broth/stock added. I added two cups for one butternut squash.
Optional topping of a spoon of sour cream may be used. Is delicious either way!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
My Allergy (Medicine) Free Summer
I survived this summer. I think.
Last summer I used to take knock off over the counter allergy meds before starting heavy machine aka my lawn mower. My eyes and sinuses would be clear but after an hour I would feel like I was in a fog; grasping aimlessly at lawn clippings and weeds.
This summer I wanted to see how long I can go without having to medicate myself to do yard work and though fall hasn't officially started yet I'm calling it early and saying that I made the whole summer without allergy meds! I was able to get more done this summer, yet still much cleaning I want to do early fall, in that my garden was doubled and I got more weeds slain than ever before!
Though when my allergies would flare up I would either take breaks indoors and go back outside for another round or call it quits for the day. It helped to learn my own physical limitations where before I would just keep going til the allergy meds, often exhausted and out of commission for the rest of the day.
Everyone is different. I've always been odd but besides the point I wanted to be at least semi-alert while doing yardwork, since for me it is a labor of love to see my vegetable garden both blossom and wither.
I'm not advocating that one needs to stop taking allergy medications if they are working for you, I just want to seek and learn natural alternatives so I may make the most out of my fleeting summers with my beloved veggies. Oh and the weeds, my love for them knows no bounds.
Last summer I used to take knock off over the counter allergy meds before starting heavy machine aka my lawn mower. My eyes and sinuses would be clear but after an hour I would feel like I was in a fog; grasping aimlessly at lawn clippings and weeds.
This summer I wanted to see how long I can go without having to medicate myself to do yard work and though fall hasn't officially started yet I'm calling it early and saying that I made the whole summer without allergy meds! I was able to get more done this summer, yet still much cleaning I want to do early fall, in that my garden was doubled and I got more weeds slain than ever before!
Though when my allergies would flare up I would either take breaks indoors and go back outside for another round or call it quits for the day. It helped to learn my own physical limitations where before I would just keep going til the allergy meds, often exhausted and out of commission for the rest of the day.
Everyone is different. I've always been odd but besides the point I wanted to be at least semi-alert while doing yardwork, since for me it is a labor of love to see my vegetable garden both blossom and wither.
I'm not advocating that one needs to stop taking allergy medications if they are working for you, I just want to seek and learn natural alternatives so I may make the most out of my fleeting summers with my beloved veggies. Oh and the weeds, my love for them knows no bounds.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Recession Staples
Being unemployed during a recession has taught me a few things when it comes to kitchen stables. Here's a some things that if I don't have on hand I would go hungry without!
BEANS! Yes, they deserve caplocks. My friend gave me two bags of beans and I was able to make 6 different meals out of them! And no they weren't all soup recipes either. Since meat is rare while I'm unemployed beans have been taking their place in some dishes that I make, and even when I am gainfully employed I think it will stay that way.
Flour: I can go without sugar but flour is a different story. Though I may combine both when baking sugar isn't needed in every single baked good which is why it takes priority to have flour vs sugar on hand. I've made some breads, fresh pizza doughs, and some muffins without sugar and they all came out quite well :)
Rice: No matter what the finances may be I always need rice! I can eat it plain (and I have many of times) or as a side dish. Sometimes I like to make fried rice ( with coconut oil) with random frozen veggies I may have on hand. For me there are many recipes I can use rice in to stretch meals even further!
Though I still have lots of pasta on hand I haven't found it to be essential during this "Great" Recession. Honestly plain pasta isn't all that appealing and I rather save what butter I have for toast (from either store bought or fresh breads I make) than buttered noodles. I love homemade sauce for pasta dishes but it can be costly which is why I haven't had it for a long time. Sometimes I'll get bottled sauces to use with the pastas I do have left in my cupboards but if I had to buy the pasta and sauce I doubt it would end up in my cart, because surprisingly there are cheaper meal ideas out there.
One thing I do know if that my kitchen stables will change once I have a steady/unsteady/anything income again! I'd love to stock up my freeze full of frozen vegetables and overdose on stir fry bliss :)
BEANS! Yes, they deserve caplocks. My friend gave me two bags of beans and I was able to make 6 different meals out of them! And no they weren't all soup recipes either. Since meat is rare while I'm unemployed beans have been taking their place in some dishes that I make, and even when I am gainfully employed I think it will stay that way.
Flour: I can go without sugar but flour is a different story. Though I may combine both when baking sugar isn't needed in every single baked good which is why it takes priority to have flour vs sugar on hand. I've made some breads, fresh pizza doughs, and some muffins without sugar and they all came out quite well :)
Rice: No matter what the finances may be I always need rice! I can eat it plain (and I have many of times) or as a side dish. Sometimes I like to make fried rice ( with coconut oil) with random frozen veggies I may have on hand. For me there are many recipes I can use rice in to stretch meals even further!
Though I still have lots of pasta on hand I haven't found it to be essential during this "Great" Recession. Honestly plain pasta isn't all that appealing and I rather save what butter I have for toast (from either store bought or fresh breads I make) than buttered noodles. I love homemade sauce for pasta dishes but it can be costly which is why I haven't had it for a long time. Sometimes I'll get bottled sauces to use with the pastas I do have left in my cupboards but if I had to buy the pasta and sauce I doubt it would end up in my cart, because surprisingly there are cheaper meal ideas out there.
One thing I do know if that my kitchen stables will change once I have a steady/unsteady/anything income again! I'd love to stock up my freeze full of frozen vegetables and overdose on stir fry bliss :)
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
What Happened to Summer?
Alas! Summer is rapidly ending and that means the end of my fresh vegetable garden. This year I planted a few things from seeds that didn't take, poor green beans never had a chance, and some ol' favorites like tomatoes. With each year of gardening I try to learn what I can do better the next time around.
Next year I hope to:
*Plant more plum and cherry tomatoes. I discovered this year that the oh so friendly neighborhood gopher likes beefstake and other larger varieties of tomatoes as opposed to the small plum/cherry kinds. I don't like tomatoes unless they are cooked in sauces or soups were they become one with the broth. My pet tortoise loves the plum and cherry tomatoes, I bought two plants just for him (one of each) but next year I'd like to double it.
*Prep early summer for fall harvest. Some of the kale seeds kinda got washed away from all the rain that came after I planted them. Next year I'd like to plant kale, lettuce, and some fall root veggies so at least in the beginning of October I'd still have some fresh goodness to munch on.
*Pots! I had one pepper plant in a pot this year I'm already on the look out for them to be marked down for end of summer clearances (if I get a job soon.) It was easy for my disabled parental unit to tend to them and a great way for them to be involved with gardening without having to get on the ground and dig! Plus I would like to have more pots so I can have room for my ground garden for plants that are punks and take up lots of space ;)
It's sad to see my 2nd year of gardening come to an end but I'm already thinking warm thoughts for the months to come when I can do it all over and then some!
Next year I hope to:
*Plant more plum and cherry tomatoes. I discovered this year that the oh so friendly neighborhood gopher likes beefstake and other larger varieties of tomatoes as opposed to the small plum/cherry kinds. I don't like tomatoes unless they are cooked in sauces or soups were they become one with the broth. My pet tortoise loves the plum and cherry tomatoes, I bought two plants just for him (one of each) but next year I'd like to double it.
*Prep early summer for fall harvest. Some of the kale seeds kinda got washed away from all the rain that came after I planted them. Next year I'd like to plant kale, lettuce, and some fall root veggies so at least in the beginning of October I'd still have some fresh goodness to munch on.
*Pots! I had one pepper plant in a pot this year I'm already on the look out for them to be marked down for end of summer clearances (if I get a job soon.) It was easy for my disabled parental unit to tend to them and a great way for them to be involved with gardening without having to get on the ground and dig! Plus I would like to have more pots so I can have room for my ground garden for plants that are punks and take up lots of space ;)
It's sad to see my 2nd year of gardening come to an end but I'm already thinking warm thoughts for the months to come when I can do it all over and then some!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
End of the Month Recipes!
No food left in your cupboards til the next month? No problem! Here's what I've been doing to stretch dollars I don't have!
Breakfast Ideas: Fill a bowl with water and pretend it's cereal! Use a spoon to create the same monotonous motions of eating cereal. Splurge and refill the bowl!
Scramble ice cubes and act like you are making eggs for breakfast! Great way to get in some imaginary proteins.
Lunch Ideas: Liquid Lunch! Bring pot of water to a boil and serve with some make believe crackers :D
Supper Ideas: Casserole dishes are often soaked in water to clean them so why not fill them up with water to create meals instead! Use ice shaves to create whatever topping you may have used on dishes in the beginning of the month.
Breakfast Ideas: Fill a bowl with water and pretend it's cereal! Use a spoon to create the same monotonous motions of eating cereal. Splurge and refill the bowl!
Scramble ice cubes and act like you are making eggs for breakfast! Great way to get in some imaginary proteins.
Lunch Ideas: Liquid Lunch! Bring pot of water to a boil and serve with some make believe crackers :D
Supper Ideas: Casserole dishes are often soaked in water to clean them so why not fill them up with water to create meals instead! Use ice shaves to create whatever topping you may have used on dishes in the beginning of the month.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Fall Soup Favorites
I know it's still August but the one thing I look forward to about the end of summer is fall/winter soup season! During the summer months I've made some soups but most were light (mainly because of lack of ingredients) but still wholesome nonetheless. I'm hoping in the near future to be gainfully employed so I may continue making my kitchen a mess with these recipes.
Ina Garten's Sausage Lentil Soup is something that I've made variations with and I hope to continue to tweak in the fall. One thing I really like is using hot sausage and adding kale to the mix too. Makes it feel hearty and is a way to add in more veggies. Her recipe calls for kielbasa, I'm hoping around the holiday season if its on sale I'll be able to experiment and see how it would taste with leftover kielbasa.
Emeril's Split Pea Soup is pretty easy to prep and goes over quite well in my household. If I have leftover ham I like to chop it up and add to the soup but this is tasty without it as well. I'd like to try making this in the fall with some milk alternatives to see if it will lower the calorie content but still keep the nutrients. I'm not a big fan of milk but I'm the minority in my household.
Miso Soup! This is one of the easiest soups to make and great all year round. One of the items I want to keep on hand in the fall/winter season is miso paste (shiro is my fav.) Tofu can be pricey at times but the soup still maintains it flavor with or without it. I like to cut my tofu up in small little cubes to make it stretch even further. I also want to learn more recipes that use miso paste.
These soups are some of my favorites from last fall/winter but I am hopeful that I will be creating even better variations soon! Aka adding kale to everything! ;)
Ina Garten's Sausage Lentil Soup is something that I've made variations with and I hope to continue to tweak in the fall. One thing I really like is using hot sausage and adding kale to the mix too. Makes it feel hearty and is a way to add in more veggies. Her recipe calls for kielbasa, I'm hoping around the holiday season if its on sale I'll be able to experiment and see how it would taste with leftover kielbasa.
Emeril's Split Pea Soup is pretty easy to prep and goes over quite well in my household. If I have leftover ham I like to chop it up and add to the soup but this is tasty without it as well. I'd like to try making this in the fall with some milk alternatives to see if it will lower the calorie content but still keep the nutrients. I'm not a big fan of milk but I'm the minority in my household.
Miso Soup! This is one of the easiest soups to make and great all year round. One of the items I want to keep on hand in the fall/winter season is miso paste (shiro is my fav.) Tofu can be pricey at times but the soup still maintains it flavor with or without it. I like to cut my tofu up in small little cubes to make it stretch even further. I also want to learn more recipes that use miso paste.
These soups are some of my favorites from last fall/winter but I am hopeful that I will be creating even better variations soon! Aka adding kale to everything! ;)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Gratitude Post
Bam! I've been pretty good the past few week's in actually remembering to write a post!
1. Water: I'm grateful that I have filters left for my Brita water pitcher for at least til the beginning of Fall. Filtered water is important in my household especially during the summer months when I'm mixing up tea, lemonade, and constantly filling up my water bottle.
2. Rain: I'm so glad that this week I didn't have to go out much to water my garden. I went overboard with applying for jobs this week so I barely had any time to spare to worry about my poor veggies! I'm hoping the rain from this week will help those whose end of summer crops are still going strong!
3. Aloe Vera Gel: I love walking around the farmer's market but I tend to get sunburned easily so I'm glad for the existence of aloe vera gel. It helps soothe my skin and is also great for all the bug bites I get whenever I step on my front porch for longer than ten minnets.
4. Iced Tea: I'm grateful that I have something other than water to drink during the hot days of summer. Will my tea supply run dry before I get a new job? Who knows! But at least for now I have a few cheap choices for cool drinks :)
5. First Interview for August!: Though it didn't take place just yet, will be Monday afternoon, I'm grateful that I got called in for a part time interview for a retail gig. I applied back in the beginning of July so I was happy that I was still in consideration for a position there. I put down on the application that I would be willing to be a regular or temporary employee, more than likely it is temp for the holidays but I'd be grateful either way at this point.
1. Water: I'm grateful that I have filters left for my Brita water pitcher for at least til the beginning of Fall. Filtered water is important in my household especially during the summer months when I'm mixing up tea, lemonade, and constantly filling up my water bottle.
2. Rain: I'm so glad that this week I didn't have to go out much to water my garden. I went overboard with applying for jobs this week so I barely had any time to spare to worry about my poor veggies! I'm hoping the rain from this week will help those whose end of summer crops are still going strong!
3. Aloe Vera Gel: I love walking around the farmer's market but I tend to get sunburned easily so I'm glad for the existence of aloe vera gel. It helps soothe my skin and is also great for all the bug bites I get whenever I step on my front porch for longer than ten minnets.
4. Iced Tea: I'm grateful that I have something other than water to drink during the hot days of summer. Will my tea supply run dry before I get a new job? Who knows! But at least for now I have a few cheap choices for cool drinks :)
5. First Interview for August!: Though it didn't take place just yet, will be Monday afternoon, I'm grateful that I got called in for a part time interview for a retail gig. I applied back in the beginning of July so I was happy that I was still in consideration for a position there. I put down on the application that I would be willing to be a regular or temporary employee, more than likely it is temp for the holidays but I'd be grateful either way at this point.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Open Letter to Kale
Dear Kale,
I know it has been too long. We haven't seen each other since I was working back in May. I miss sauteing you with garlic, coconut oil, and a splash of rice vinegar than piling you on a bowl of brown rice. Remember last winter? All the soups we made together? I'm hoping we can create even more delicious meals together this winter, that is if I can afford you.
During the summer I tried planting seeds but alas none grew this year. The harsh weather conditions and above normal temps are partly to blame. But I plan on trying to plant more seeds this weekend to try for a fall harvest!
I hope that we are reunited soon but right now I'm focusing on lesser vegetables that are in season and affordable at the farmer's market. Though while walking up and down the market my eyes are always searching for you, always!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Chocolate Chip Muffins
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| Yeah I totally just Google Searched for an image ;) |
I tinkered a bit with the one recipe I use a lot when making blueberry muffins and think these came out not too shabby.
1 cup of milk
1/3 vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 sugar
2 cups of all purpose unbleached flour
2 tsp baking power
1/2 of chocolate chips
Grease muffin tins and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes. Stare at for 5 minutes til cool enough to tear into.
I always mix my wet ingredients first and then slowly incorporate the dry. I also splashed in a bit of vanilla extract mainly because I have one bottle that I'm trying to finish before I crack open another I found in the cupboard the other day.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Gratitude Post
Though the end of July has been pretty tough I've managed to come up with yet another gratitude post this week! Bam! (^^^)
1. July Ending!: I'm grateful that the month of July is finally coming to an end. This month has been pretty tough financially but I'm thankful I barely paid most of my bills and was able to have enough food to last the month. Instead of dreading the beginning of August I am looking forward to what opportunities it has to bring and if it will be even better than July!
2. Meeting and Exceeding My July Goal! : My goal every month since I graduated (a year ago) is to put in at least 30 applications a month and this month I exceeded it with 40-some applications! Granted the majority of them are for part time positions but I am hoping that I will hear back from some of them in August.
3. Interviews: This month I had a few interviews for temp and retail positions, none of which I snagged but I'm grateful in this economy to have had them nonetheless! One of the interviews I had was a group one that was set up different than others I've participated in before. I'm thankful for the experiences I've gained from the interviews I did have this month. After each interview I always reflect to see if it is the right position for me, the right fit in the company (if its a professional position), and overall will I be able to physically handle it.
4. (Seemingly) Never Ending Detergent! Earth Friendly Organic Laundry Detergent
that I snagged at Sam's club the other month is still going strong! I'm grateful that at the time I picked it up that I had the funds to do so as I've barely made a dent in the bottle. I'm glad that it will be one less thing to worry about going into August. Using household products that are eco-friendly is something very important to me so I'm grateful I will be able to do so with laundry waiting to be washed, no seriously I have at least 3 loads to do today ;)
5. Power Outage! It may seem strange but I'm kinda glad there was a major power outage in Scranton the other day. I was able to get so much done around the house, since it wasn't bright enough to read indoors, and the time without power went by so quickly because of it. Though I kept repeatedly wanting to vacuum the rugs I have in my living room I pretty much was able to focus on chores that only required human energy. I'm grateful for the men and woman that worked tirelessly to restore power back to the "electric" city.
1. July Ending!: I'm grateful that the month of July is finally coming to an end. This month has been pretty tough financially but I'm thankful I barely paid most of my bills and was able to have enough food to last the month. Instead of dreading the beginning of August I am looking forward to what opportunities it has to bring and if it will be even better than July!
2. Meeting and Exceeding My July Goal! : My goal every month since I graduated (a year ago) is to put in at least 30 applications a month and this month I exceeded it with 40-some applications! Granted the majority of them are for part time positions but I am hoping that I will hear back from some of them in August.
3. Interviews: This month I had a few interviews for temp and retail positions, none of which I snagged but I'm grateful in this economy to have had them nonetheless! One of the interviews I had was a group one that was set up different than others I've participated in before. I'm thankful for the experiences I've gained from the interviews I did have this month. After each interview I always reflect to see if it is the right position for me, the right fit in the company (if its a professional position), and overall will I be able to physically handle it.
4. (Seemingly) Never Ending Detergent! Earth Friendly Organic Laundry Detergent
that I snagged at Sam's club the other month is still going strong! I'm grateful that at the time I picked it up that I had the funds to do so as I've barely made a dent in the bottle. I'm glad that it will be one less thing to worry about going into August. Using household products that are eco-friendly is something very important to me so I'm grateful I will be able to do so with laundry waiting to be washed, no seriously I have at least 3 loads to do today ;)5. Power Outage! It may seem strange but I'm kinda glad there was a major power outage in Scranton the other day. I was able to get so much done around the house, since it wasn't bright enough to read indoors, and the time without power went by so quickly because of it. Though I kept repeatedly wanting to vacuum the rugs I have in my living room I pretty much was able to focus on chores that only required human energy. I'm grateful for the men and woman that worked tirelessly to restore power back to the "electric" city.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Gratitude Post
Bam! Five things that I am grateful for this week!
1. Farmer's Market: I am grateful and oh so happy that the farmer's market in Scranton is finally open! I was able to get some fresh veggies that I haven't had for quite a while. I'm glad too that I had the hindsight to put $20 away when I was working a temp job so I'd be able to have one big haul from the farmer's market. Hoping that I will be gainfully employed by August so I may go again several times :)
2. Coconut Oil: I use this for so many things around the house that I'm grateful that I had an extra jar on hand this week! When I first bought a twin pack of Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
from Amazon I was debating on whether I should have gotten a single one, but after pricing it all over Scranton I decided that Amazon was the best deal for my money at the time, and I'm glad I did!
3. Vegetable Garden: Finally the fruits of my labor are being rewarded! At least what the neighborhood gopher hasn't snagged off the vines. I planted several types of tomato plants this year and my plum and cherry tomato plants are producing lovely little creations. I'm grateful that my fussy tortoise loves the fresh tomatoes as that is one less thing I have to worry about buying, at least for the rest of the summer months.
4. Social Networking Sites: I am grateful for social networking sites that allow me to keep in touch with friends from high school, college, grad school, and for random peeps I've clicked with on Twitter. It's a free way to keep in touch and to network while I'm currently seeking gainful employment.
5. Green Tea: Aww just thinking about green tea makes me thankful for its calm and soothing effects it has on me while I keep hitting virtual brick walls on job boards. I love to stop and pause while taking a sip of hot tea to cool my mind from whatever earthly worries I have at that moment in time. It is frustrating a year out of graduate school being dead broke and jobless but I am grateful that during school I loved green tea so much that I have enough to last me at least two more months while I continue to job hunt.
1. Farmer's Market: I am grateful and oh so happy that the farmer's market in Scranton is finally open! I was able to get some fresh veggies that I haven't had for quite a while. I'm glad too that I had the hindsight to put $20 away when I was working a temp job so I'd be able to have one big haul from the farmer's market. Hoping that I will be gainfully employed by August so I may go again several times :)
2. Coconut Oil: I use this for so many things around the house that I'm grateful that I had an extra jar on hand this week! When I first bought a twin pack of Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
from Amazon I was debating on whether I should have gotten a single one, but after pricing it all over Scranton I decided that Amazon was the best deal for my money at the time, and I'm glad I did!3. Vegetable Garden: Finally the fruits of my labor are being rewarded! At least what the neighborhood gopher hasn't snagged off the vines. I planted several types of tomato plants this year and my plum and cherry tomato plants are producing lovely little creations. I'm grateful that my fussy tortoise loves the fresh tomatoes as that is one less thing I have to worry about buying, at least for the rest of the summer months.
4. Social Networking Sites: I am grateful for social networking sites that allow me to keep in touch with friends from high school, college, grad school, and for random peeps I've clicked with on Twitter. It's a free way to keep in touch and to network while I'm currently seeking gainful employment.
5. Green Tea: Aww just thinking about green tea makes me thankful for its calm and soothing effects it has on me while I keep hitting virtual brick walls on job boards. I love to stop and pause while taking a sip of hot tea to cool my mind from whatever earthly worries I have at that moment in time. It is frustrating a year out of graduate school being dead broke and jobless but I am grateful that during school I loved green tea so much that I have enough to last me at least two more months while I continue to job hunt.
Quick Iced Green Tea
Quick iced drink on a hot summer day! I love to drink green tea but during the summer months I prefer this method over just a cup of hot tea.
Brew a cup of double strength green tea aka two tea bags or twice the amount of loose tea. I'm trying to use up the bagged tea I have sitting around my cupboards, with this heat wave it may be gone soon!
Brew the double tea as long as you would for a single cup, green tea tends to get bitter the longer it brews so brew according to your own tastes. While its hot I add a teaspoon of honey to dissolve.
Fill up a glass with ice! Behold its cooling glory!
Once your tea is brewed to your liking add to ice and ta-da it magically becomes a delicious iced beverage! If I have herbal tea on hand sometimes I'll add a bag while brewing the green tea to add even more natural flavors to the mix!
Brew the double tea as long as you would for a single cup, green tea tends to get bitter the longer it brews so brew according to your own tastes. While its hot I add a teaspoon of honey to dissolve.
Fill up a glass with ice! Behold its cooling glory!
Once your tea is brewed to your liking add to ice and ta-da it magically becomes a delicious iced beverage! If I have herbal tea on hand sometimes I'll add a bag while brewing the green tea to add even more natural flavors to the mix!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Farmer's Market Haul!
Finally the Farmer's Market opened in Scranton this Friday and I was able to get some fresh veggies that I didn't plant or have yet to receive from my own humble garden this summer. I snagged eggplants, Italian green beans, string beans, fresh homemade bread, cucumbers, and corn oh my! I didn't see any increases in prices this year, to the dismay of some naysayers prior to the opening of the farmer's market. Also snagged some baked goods, it's been so bleh temperature wise that I haven't been up to baking much this summer.
Overall it would have cost me a lot more in the grocery store to snag everything that I did. Spent under $20, which I have been saving during my unemployment so I can at least go once (before finding another job) with a big bang!
Overall it would have cost me a lot more in the grocery store to snag everything that I did. Spent under $20, which I have been saving during my unemployment so I can at least go once (before finding another job) with a big bang!
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| Eggplants, cucumbers, Italian green beans |
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| Yum more beans! |
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| Bread, small whoopie pie, and chunk of apple pie! |
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| Corn! |
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| One bag is never enough! ;) |
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Homemade Croutons!
I originally wanted to use the 10 grain bread I made for croutons but sadly the bread did not have a long life in my household and it quickly disappeared. Luckily I had some two day old Italian bread to slice and dice into some croutons!
You'll need:
Bread (at least a day old)
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Parsley Flakes
Slice and cut bread any which way your heart desires! I tried to keep them somewhat uniform in size hoping they would bake up evenly. Note if you do not create a mess you are doing it wrong ;)
I added the bread pieces in a bowl and lightly coated them with oil, then added in a bit of salt&pepper and a few dashes of parsley flakes. Next I tossed the bread pieces to try to make sure all where nicely coated. Spread them out evenly on a sheet pan or two if you are making a large batch.
I baked mine for about 15 minutes on 400degrees. Allow to cool completely before storing in a container. I had enough from 1/4 a loaf of Italian bread to make croutons for a big and tasty salad for three!
You'll need:Bread (at least a day old)
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Parsley Flakes
Slice and cut bread any which way your heart desires! I tried to keep them somewhat uniform in size hoping they would bake up evenly. Note if you do not create a mess you are doing it wrong ;)
I baked mine for about 15 minutes on 400degrees. Allow to cool completely before storing in a container. I had enough from 1/4 a loaf of Italian bread to make croutons for a big and tasty salad for three!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Review: Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Bread Mix
I’ve wanted to make fresh bread but was hesitant till I decided to pick up a pack of Bob’s bread mix!
I knew it would be a time consuming process so I waited for a day that I wouldn’t have to run errands, go to interviews, take parental unit to doctor appointments, etc. The first step was messy yet fun at the same time.
Emptying out the package on my kitchen table and following the instructions I hand mixed and kneading the dough to let rise for 1 ½ hours. Next step was my favorite where you “punch” down the dough to let rise again and again.Then finally placed dough in a bread pan to bake for about 40 minutes. I greased the top of my loaf with coconut oil.
My loaf had a bit of a light golden brown finish to it that my camera didn't capture well. I allowed the loaf to almost fully cool off before slicing off a piece to try. Overall the bread turned out very good and most importantly tasty! I’d love to try some other varieties of the bread mixes Bob has. Since I can’t afford right now to buy anything other than all-purpose flour it was much more economical for me to grab a mix with several different flours/grains mixed together. If I were to buy all 10 grains separately I wouldn’t have been able to get any other groceries that day when I decided to pick up the mix and give it a whirl! And best of all that it cost about half to make compared to loaves of similar breads at grocer bakeries.
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