Thanksgiving was a month ago, Christmas is past as well, and the New Year is almost here. And today I'm making a traditional Turkey Dinner. Yes, a turkey. Complete with stuffing based on my mother's original way of making it. Real stuffing And this is true stuffing, not dressing. In the bird, not baked separately … Continue reading Making Traditional Turkey Stuffing
I'm always on the lookout for a new bread recipe to try. Especially yeast breads. Yeast breads are not as hard to bake as most people think. The most basic bread is flour, salt, yeast and water. This Honey Bread has a few more ingredients, but is just as basic as bread gets. Mix the … Continue reading Making Honey Bread
Many townships and cities have recycling centers for most plastics, metals, glass and paper and/or cardboard. But what about the plastic that's thin, the stuff that the recycling centers don't take? I myself have some to realize just how much plastic in in our lives. It's hard to imagine that prior to the development of … Continue reading How can I recycle all these plastic bags?
I often use buttermilk when baking. The slight tang it adds can wake up a flavor profile. But I don't always have it on hand. There are 2 ways to make it at home; one in a pinch, one ongoing long term. What exactly is Buttermilk? Buttermilk is what remains after butter is made from … Continue reading Making Buttermilk at home
A while ago I read an article from an author who was remembering all the wonderful foods from her childhood. Unfortunately none of the recipes were passed down. Her mother and aunts considered them a secret. Yep, so secret that now the actual recipes & techniques were lost. To prevent this happening with my mother-in-law, … Continue reading Baking my Mom’s Secret Toll House Cookies
I've been taking fruit and vegetables boxes from Misfits Market now for over 6 months. Misfits Market is a subscription based online store for produce that is less than perfect, or that is rescued from a store because it hasn't yet sold. I've decided that I really do like it. Here's why: It's hard to … Continue reading My Experience with Misfit Markets
Autumn is pie weather - especially apple pie. The pick your own places are all open, and all kinds of varieties are showing up at the markets. Farmer markets have baskets full. I like apple pie made with 2 or 3 different varieties combined. I think it add dimension to the flavor. I personally do … Continue reading Autumn is for….Apple Pie!
Kale soup, or Caldo Verde, comes from northern Portugal. It's a perfect fall soup, filled with healthy vegetables and sausage. There are many variations, with and without potatoes, Linguiça (a Portuguese sausage), and different kinds of kale. I have a feeling that once a family recipe is developed it becomes tradition for that family. Autumn … Continue reading How to make an Easy Portuguese Kale Soup
I usually plant as many heirloom vegetables in my garden as I can. First because they taste better. But secondly, because I can save their seeds for next year. The Difference between Heirloom and Hybrid plants Heirloom plants will reliably pass on their traits to the next generation of seeds. More in a moment about … Continue reading How to save Heirloom Vegetable seeds
The number of Monarch butterflies in the USA have been in a declining mode for several years. It does seem like I see less of them than I used to. Many things may contribute to the smaller numbers, including pesticides and predators, but one major thing is lack of habitat. Namely lack of milkweed plants, … Continue reading Caring for Monarchs