I am already finished with applesaucing for the year. I usually spread it out over a few weeks but this year I had a deadline to make. In less than a week my kitchen is going to be ripped out and over the course of a month, put back together. It is exciting for sure but I have no idea how we are going to eat! Back to applesauce. Making applesauce is a very vivid memory of mine from childhood.
Every year I try and put up 1-2 bushels of apples as applesauce. I am so thankful to have this gadget which makes it all easier: I borrow mine from my parents who bought it in the 70’s for $30. But if you are serious about applesauce it is a must have tool.
I haven’t yet delved into canning pickles. However I did find two great, easy pickle recipes on McCormick’s website that are worth sharing. They make small batches of pickles that will last up to 3 months in the refrigerator (if you can resist them that long!)Asian Refrigerator Pickles Refrigerator Bread & Butter Pickles If you were to catch my husband, he would tell you I am not a huge fan of pickles. But I could pull up a bowl of
Here is the comparison: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2009/11/battle_of_the_d_18.php Luckily there are plenty of choices if you live here in Harford (or Cecil) County for great grass fed beef. Check out my favorite farms in the side bar. If you are looking for grass fed beef in your neck of the woods try EatWild.com. Don’t be put off by the price either. For the past five years we have been purchasing meat locally in bulk. We buy a quarter of a cow and a
I think it is appropriate that amidst all this rain I would test drive the Nesco Professional Food Dehydrator. It is my little ‘rage against the moisture’ 🙂 The dehydrator was a birthday gift from my sister in law and although I had been itching for one for a long time, the ‘busy’ness of every day just kept me from opening the box. This morning was definitely one of those, ‘Why didn’t I do this sooner!?’ moments. There was nothing
It was a perfect day to venture out blueberry picking and the blueberry bushes were heavy with berries at Spring Valley Farm in Cecil County. The berries are $2.65 a pound. We managed to pick 11 lbs in no time with the three little ones ‘helping.’ Little J was an expert picker whereas we had to guard our bowls from little E’s sticky fingers. The farm also has ripe yellow and white peaches. After picking I made healthy blueberry muffins
I guess because of the heat, this growing season seems to have started off with a bang. Already our CSA basket from Sunny Hill Farm is chock full of great veggies. Two that I am not as used to preparing are Kale and radishes. For the kale, I tend to saute it in olive oil with a bit of red pepper flakes. I add dry white wine after a few minutes of cooking and put a lid on it to
There are seasons I can recall in recent history where I was still picking strawberries at the end of June. This apparently is not going to be one of them. Harmans still has some pre-picked strawberries but their picking season is coming to an end. If you are planning to pick strawberries to make jam or to freeze, make pies and strawberry ice cream, you better head out this week to do so. Locally, I know that these farms have
Mother’s Day may have been last weekend but we celebrated a week late with our annual family Mother’s Day Tea. This is one of my favorite meals to make and I am pleased that each year the food is more local and more seasonal than the last. This year I was able to use local milk, cream and butter which I didn’t have available last year. What a joy! Just to make your mouth water…I made dried apricot and fresh
After all the cold, it is finally time for the Farmer’s Markets to open again. Bel Air Farmer’s Market will open on April 9. You can find out more here http://www.belairfarmersmarket.com/ Aside from that many farms are still taking applications for CSA’s this summer. Sunny Hill in Whiteford still has openings if you go to http://www.sunnyhillfarmmd.com/ You can request an application. Also, Kilby Cream is expanding their milk delivery locations and I bet there is one nearby you (if you
