Nectarine Lime Jam

I love summer. Not as much as fall...but a close second.

The best part about summer is all the fruits and vegetables available to put away for the winter.  This year I got a new book that has become a favorite. It is Food in Jars by Marisa McClellan.

I have been following Marisa's blog for a while. When I got the book, I started bending pages in anticipation of summer.

 

 

Nectarine Lime Jam-Food in Jars

5 cups pitted and chopped nectarines (abaout 3 pounds)
3 cups sugar
Zest and juice of 2 limes *** see my note
1 (3-ounce) packet liquid pectin

 

Prepare a boiling water bath and 4 regular-mouth pint jars. Heat the lids and rings in a saucepan over low heat. 

 

Combine the nectarines and sugar in a large pot. Bring to a boil and let jam boil for 15-20 minutes over high heat, until the fruit softens and can be mashed with a wooden spoon. 
If you prefer a smoother textured jam, use an immersion blender ( be careful not to burn yourself) to break down some of the chunks. If you prefer a chunkier jam, just leave it as it is. Add the lime zest and juice and stir well. Add the pectin and bring to a rolling boil for a full 5 minutes, until it looks molten and syrupy.

 

Remove the pot from the heat and ladle jam into the prepared jars. Wipe the rims , apply lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

 

***I used  1/4 c. reconstituted lime juice in place of the fresh lime juice.

 



Super Yummy Baked Beans

Independence Day is on it's way!  Time for picnics and BBQ's with family and friends....and time to bring out the yummy food to share. I love baked beans, but I don't like to wait for hours to eat them.  So....I decided to make these super great beans in the microwave!  Yes.....the microwave!  I don't really "cook" in the microwave...maybe some bacon, in a rush.  But, these beans are easily made and enjoyed in about 30 minutes time. 

Super Yummy Baked Beans

1/2 pound of bacon- about 6 strips, depending on the cut-thick or thin

1 large onion, chopped
3 cans of pork and beans
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup mustard
1/3 cup brown sugar

salt and pepper to taste

Cut the bacon into nice chunks, 1/2 or so.  Fry it until it is nice and crispy, take it out of the pan and drain on paper towel. Save for later. Add the chopped onion to the bacon fat and cook for about 2-3 minutes until it's softened.
While the onion is cooking, pour the beans into microwave-safe dish.  Add the ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar.  Stir well.  Add the bacon and onions and taste.....it is gonna need salt. Salt and pepper to taste.  Now....put it in the microwave for 5 minutes on high power.  After 5 minutes, stir the beans well and put in for 5 more minutes.  Done! 

*You could also add chili powder or cumin or BBQ sauce to make the beans your very own.

*You may also substitute turkey bacon if you want to lower the fat content.

*You can also make these beans completely vegetarian by using the vegetarian pork and beans, leaving out the bacon and adding diced green peppers with the onions and saute them in olive oil before adding to the beans.

He Loves Ranch!

I was reading a few blogs I follow (like a million) and came across a recipe for one of the perfect foods: Ranch dressing.


I have attempted to make the said perfect food a whole bunch of times only to be told that it wasn't "right".  Ok..so maybe I used yogurt instead of sour cream or used a little tofu that had been whipped invisible (or not) in the blender.  My attempts didn't make the cut...until now!  Thanks to a wonderful blog called The Family Homestead www.thefamilyhomestead.com , I have successfully made a yummy bottle of ranch that my 18 year old loves.  Whew, I feel like I have tackled the world...Yay Me! 


I doubled this recipe and it made 2 quarts....of ranch goodness.  You could adjust the seasonings for your own family's taste....I didn't have any parsley, so I skipped it.  I used buttermilk for part of the milk called for.  It is also economical making it from scratch....this batch cost about $4.00 for twice what I usually buy @ Costco for $6.99....AND it has no preservatives. Double bonus!


Ranch Dressing ala The Family Homestead


2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 c. milk....( I used 1/2 c. buttermilk and 1/2 c. milk)
2 T. lemon juice
2 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic powder
4 t. parsley
1/2 t. dried dill weed
1 t. salt
1 t. seasoning salt
Pepper to taste.


Mix the mayo and sour cream together in your mixer with a whip attachment. (I used my Bosch) Slowly add the milk and mix well. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix again.  Pour into a quart jar and store in the refrigerator.  Will keep for about 2 weeks.....if it lasts that long!

Panko Parmesan Pork Chops

I love me some pork chops.  I don't eat them much....but when I do, I want the good kind with the bone.  No boneless chops for me!  This is a new way I tried tonight....liked them....a lot.  Served with Garlic Cheese Mashed Potatoes....a family standby. (I'll post the recipe tomorrow!)

Panko Parmesan Pork Chops

8 bone-in pork chops (I got mine @ Costco)

4 eggs-beaten

3 c. Panko

3/4 c. parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a sheet pan with Pam and put in the oven to heat up while you prepare the chops.  This will help the chops stay crispy as they bake.

Combine the panko and parmesan cheese in a shallow pie plate.  Beat the eggs and put them in a shallow dish. Salt the pork chops and then dip them in the beaten eggs.  Place them in the dish of panko-parm and coat well.  Place on a plate and finish the rest of the chops.  When all are coated...go to the oven....your sheet pan should be nice and hot. Using tongs, place the coated pork chops on the pan....yes, the pan is still in the oven. BE CAREFUL!  Don't crowd them or they will be mushy when they are done.  Bake them for about 30 minutes or until cooked through!  Flip them over with tongs about halfway through.  Yum!

Pear Crumble

I love Fall...it is my favorite season. The leaves, the change in the weather, all of it!  What do I also love in the fall...the end of the dreaded pear canning season. Don't get me wrong, I love pears. I DO NOT like canning them.....ugh...peeling...touching them a bazillion times. So what do I do with the last bunch of pears? I make Pear Crumble!  It is delicious! I use the nice, ripe pears and some apple pie spices with a yummy crumble recipe from Mel's kitchen cafe...one of my favorite blogs! So, hears to the last of the pears! Huzzah, Huzzah!

Pear Crumble

10-12 firm, ripe pears, peeled and quartered

3/4 cup sugar (more or less depending on sweetness of fruit)

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

1/4 c. flour

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. freshly grated ginger

pinch of nutmeg

Combine the dry ingredients together and gently mix with the fruit being careful not to break it up.

Pour into a  greased 18x20 baking dish. Prepare the crumble.

Crumble

1 1/2 c. oats
1 1/2 c. flour

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. melted butter

Mix all together and pour on the fruit in the baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

crumble recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Sifter....woohoo!

Now....I like using whole wheat, white whole wheat, mind you. BUT....when I go to make cookies or other non-bread recipes I use soft white wheat.  It has less protein and makes for a better product....less gluten.

ok...so I admit it...i still don't like the wheatiness in my cookies quick breads, muffins,etc.

 All that lovely bran! (groan)

TaDa! I found a sifter for my Bosch !

I LOVE you sifter!!!

It fits over the bowl and low and behold...it sifts all the bran out of the flour!

AMAZING!

To test it out I made my regular chocolate chip cookie recipe. Yum! 

I did learn this..the flour is REALLY fluffy after you sift it and doesn't measure exactly true.

FLAT COOKIES!

So I will have to adjust next time.

You still get the nutrition from the whole wheat...with less fiber!  I figure...it's fresh ground. I will sacrifice a little fiber.

You can use the leftover bran on your cereal, yogurt, in other baked goods to get that fiber back in your diet!

Sifter at work!

Here is a little comparison...really bad picture.On the top is the sifted bran, on the left is the fresh ground flour, and on the right is the sifted flour!

New Year---New Journey

I haven't posted for a few months. It has been a journey for me that is for sure.   My Dad became ill in September and I have been back and forth to Idaho and Utah since that time.  My Dad died  December 17th.  We had his funeral on the 22nd in Kaysville, Utah. 

What is it about our parents that leads us to believe they will never die?  I am a really positive person and I honestly thought he was going to get better....and he tried so hard to do so.  The last time I spoke to my dad he told me that he was so very tired and didn't want to live his life if he couldn't be active.  He was done.  I told him I loved him and that he was the very best Dad anyone could ever have.  It was so hard to KNOW that he was going back to Heavenly Father, but comforting to KNOW he was ready.  I am at peace with all that has happened....I miss him so very badly!   I was cleaning out my planner in my purse and came across some notes that he had written to me in October while he was intubated in the hospital.  I was at work....whew....tears flowed!  I think of him everyday when I hear a song or find a new recipe that he would have liked to try, or while driving to Utah spotting the deer, antelope, and mountain sheep along the road! (I am the best at that). He instilled in me my positive, sunny, disposition.  Everyone was his friend....including strangers anywhere!  I am like him in that way too.  I love him so very much!
So, now what?  New Year, new journey.....with my Dad watching me and helping me from above!
For my Dad...new life, new journey....with much work to be done!