Strawberry-Rhubarb Jelly

Warm summer days and the fruits of the season had me craving a jelly my Mom used to make. I have always loved it. That and strawberry rhubarb pie. It must be all that Farm Girl inspiration from Deb over at Dandelion House.

My finished jelly. I love how it looks and let me tell you it tastes even better. 

It is really simple to make first I gathered and washed my jars and lids. Got out my big old canning kettle that was my Moms. I have had it for over 40 years now. My Mom spent many hours with this old kettle...canning jellies, blueberries, tomatoes, string beans. She would store them in the basement on these shelves my Dad had built just for her preserves. Oh boy my sister and I were just talking about Mom's blueberries and the time we spent picking them. It was a special treat when we had blueberries and dumplings for dinner. It was like dessert. You see I get sidetracked...happens all the time. You need 2 Cups strawberries and 2 Cups of cut up rhubarb, 4 TBSP of Lemon juice. I Pkg of dry fruit pectin and 5 1/2 Cups of sugar.

Anyway combine strawberries( I crush mine) and rhubarb along with lemon juice in a large pot. Mix in pectin until dissolved. Bring to a boil over high heat stir constantly. Add all the sugar at once return to a full rolling boil continue stirring. Boil hard for about a minute Remove from heat and skim off any foam.

Ladle the hot jam into jars leaving some head

space. Wipe any drips around the rim. I use a large canning funnel for such things. Keeps my rim clean, Remove air bubbles by sliding a knife down around the edges.Center lids and screw on bands until tight. Place jars in canning kettle and make sure they are covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for about 10 minutes. Wait a few minutes and then remove jars carefully, don't burn your self. I have special tongs, bought anywhere they sell canning supplies. Let the jars sit and you will hear the lids pop. Now my Mom used to put wax on top. I don't know why and I wish she were here to ask. After they have cooled store in a cool dry place and ENJOY!

I have been letting the girls free range a bit and they just love this old Rhody.

A view of the hen house from the pool.

The pool temp is at a balmy 82 degrees and is still refreshing on a hot day. So after we are done working in the gardens we jump in!! What do you do to cool off?


I am joining Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop over at Deborah Jeans Dandelion House!

A little homemade granola

Homemade Granola

I was catching up on some of my blog reading because it is so darn cold outside and I have flipped from one blog to another, to another and can't remember where I started but I found a nice blog, chock full of great ideas. Next thing I am printing some new recipes and one was for this granola. I have made granola before, but this one is delish. I had everything except the sesame seeds. I substituted ground flax seed.  Oh my it just came out so good. You can find the recipe HERE

Oh my it disappeared so fast...it was really good :)

Snow, snow, go away!

I am sorry but, this is just too early for snow. Thanksgiving maybe, but not before Halloween!!!! I won't bore you with pictures of the snow, making my tall grasses lay down. Or that everything that was still blooming is now gone! So time to clean up and get ready.....for dare I say it winter :(

So what do I do when there is snow outside? I bake :)

Today I made a Apple and pear Crostata....yum. First I make my dough and put it in to chill for a few hours.

Then I slice the apples and pears and mix with brown sugar and spices.

After assembled, you bake it for 25 to 30 min. It really is that simple.

DONE!!!

Do you wonder what cookbooks others might have?

Do you ever think about that? I love to read about books other bloggers read, not just cookbooks, decorating, DIY books and most any book. I do believe cookbooks are the most interesting to me. I thought I would share a few that I like best. When we redid our kitchen a few years back I had this small area just at the entry to the pantry that I had shelves put in for my most used cookbooks.

 

 I see a couple of our seasonal reads were stuffed in there, Scary stories and Witches of Plymouth County...great October reads along with my Susan Branch "Autumn". Just a little something to get us in a fall state of mind. I just did home made marshmallows from the Susan Branch book. Yum, they came out great.

 Look at this old cookbook I found in an old cookbook store. I loved that it looked handwritten. I have never made anything from it, but love the look of it.

 The Barefoot Contessa is a personal favorite. I use her books all the time. I love to watch her on the food network. I have posted about her here.

 My old Good Housekeeping cookbook was my first. I got it when I got married...so it is 39 yrs. old. It is my go to book. It is used and abused. I have a brown paper cover on it and the binding is coming apart, but it has many of my favorite recipes.I learned so much from this book. My Mom was not much of a cook and what I knew came from my Home Economics class at school. So I opened a book. I learned to cook. The internet has made it so different now. Not to mention cooking shows. I find my self still going back to my books. There is so much more in them the just recipes.
So tell me do you like cookbooks? Do you snuggle up on a cool fall day with a cup of hot cider and read a new or old cookbook? Look for something new to make?

Happiness is.....

Of all the things we could have done this weekend I just wanted to be home. My work has been oh so busy and we had 100yr storms here last week and many homes were flooded out, people had to evacuate. Roads are still closed. Kids have been fishing on Main Streets, but are lucky, We are high and dry, but one street over is closed down due to flooding. I decided to appreciate what I am blessed with. I just wanted to stay home and do some cleanup in the garden and not have to leave here. Our son's daughter and her Mom came to visit, a pleasant surprise...My daughter came by. We had just put our outside furniture back out and it was enjoyed! Sunshine in the form of flowers....sunflowers just make me smile:) Now when I want to work all day and not think about coming in to cook....this is a fave. Great for a party or a bunch of unexpected guests. The Barefoot Contessa is always a hit in my home. I have all her books and use them regularly. I have lots of cookbooks that sit on the shelf, but not hers, they are well used. This is her ~Chinese Chicken Salad~

8 split chicken breasts, bone in skin on

Good olive oil

Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper

1 pound asparagus, ends removed, cut into thirds diagonally

2 red bell peppers cored and seeded

4 scallions (white and green parts) sliced diagonally

2 tablespoons white sesame seeds, toasted

For the dressing

1 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup good apple cider

1/3 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons dark sesame oil

1 tablespoon honey

2 garlic cloves minced

1 teaspoon peeled, grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, toasted

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

4 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place the chicken breast on a sheet pan and rub the skin with olive oil. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until chicken is just cooked. Set aside until cool enough to handle.

Remove meat from bones, discard skin, and shred chicken into large, bite size pieces.

Blanch the asparagus in a pot of boiling salted water for 3 to 5 minutes, until crisp-tender. Plunge into ice water to stop cooking. Drain. Cut peppers into strips about the size of the asparagus pieces. Combine the shredded chicken, asparagus, and peppers in a large bowl.

Whisk together all of the ingredients for the dressing and pour over the chicken and vegetables. Add the scallions and sesame seeds and season to taste. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Serves 12

This is the wonderful book I found the recipe in. A great way to end a wonderful day. Take it to a picnic, serve for lunch.Yummy!

What did you do this weekend?

I had a quiet weekend with lots of catching up at home. Some cleaning, the pantry, the stove and the whole kitchen. I love having time to cook on Sunday morning. Williams and Sonoma is where I found the pan and the recipe just click here for recipe. The spiced apple filled pancakes have lots of steps, but are easy if you have the time and oh so yummy. There are many more versions I want to try, pumpkin filled, chocolate filled? Who knew? First you grate the apples and add the spices and cook for about 20 minutes while you make the batter. The smell is so good, just like apple pie!

You put a spoonful of batter in the circle which has been brushed with melted butter, then a spoon of filling and top with another spoonful of batter. You turn the little dumplings with wooden skewers.

When finished you sprinkle them with confectionery sugar and cinnamon.

Won't you join us for some little apple filled pancakes? Coffee or tea?

Now in the afternoon I was still obsessing over the Nest pillow from Pottery Barn, I got some osanburg fabric and washed it. I got a zipper, I don't sew much so I was a little scared, but I need to get out of my comfort zone sometimes. I had a 12 x 24 down insert.
Next I had played around with letters in Print Shop. I went and got the paper for iron on transfers. I printed it off. I have never used this before and the sales girls in Joanne's Fabric were no help at all. It is the only fabric store in our area, understaffed on a Sunday, remind me to never go there on the weekend. 20 minutes in line to get the fabric cut! I really like this pillow.

I was not going to post the picture, because the outline of the iron on shows in the picture, I have taken several and it shows in all the pictures, but here is the kicker, it does not show in real life and I love the pillow! Close enough for me...Now I am going to do one that says ~ Home~

I did ok with the zipper...I just followed the directions, even thought they looked like Greek to me. My Mom always did these things for me. Boy, she could sew! I remembered watching her do this and some of it came back to me. Thanks Mom! Wish you were here to help.

Have a good week!

~Cool , damp fall night~

I am starting to see the leaves turn color by the highways and the maples are touched with color. Today is cool and damp, just right for comfort food. I am in the mood for chicken pot pie and biscuits, some warm apple cider. mmmmmmmmmmm

Lots of chicken of course....Cream and butter...I am sure you could do fat free, but this is comfort food so I have made my original recipe that makes me think of home. Cooked vegetables, no veg all this time.

My pie crust with an egg wash, just going into the oven.

Now mind you I got a phone call and everyone was coming home as the chicken pot pie came out of the oven....no biscuit pictures, no finished pie pictures, no table setting, I just plain forgot so the story ends here. Well, not really....it was so good and it got gobbled up really fast. It just looked so nice and I am mad at myself for forgetting to take pictures.
My recipe:

Pie crust

Sift 2 cups of flour
add 1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup cooking oil

3 TBL of ice water

Mix together and cover with a damp cloth, this is a two crust pie, but I use it on a 9x13 pan.

Filling

1 roasting chicken cut up. I use 4 chicken breast that I have cooked for about 40 minutes in the oven at 375 degrees. Cook chicken and cut into bite size pieces. Put aside.

1/2 pounds small white onions, I rough cut 2 lg. onions

2 cups of celery 1 in slices

2 cups of carrots 1 in slices

5 TBL butter

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1 cup half and half

1/4 tsp pepper

salt

1 10 oz package of frozen peas, thawed and drained.

1 1/2 cups of chicken broth.

2 crust pie pastry

1 egg yolk

In a saucepan cook all vegetables, except peas, for about 10 min. Set aside.

In a 1 1/2 qt saucepan over med heat, into hot butter stir flour until blended. Gradually stir in half and half. 1 1/4 tsp. salt, pepper and cook stirring constantly, just to boiling; pour over cooked vegetables in sauce pot. Stir in Chicken and peas and then pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Roll out pie crust to 11x15.

Fit crust loosely over chicken mixture.

In a small bowl beat egg yolk with 1 tsp of water. Brush pie crust with beaten mixture. Make slits in pie crust. Bake for 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Make 9 servings.

The original recipe came from a 1970 Good Housekeeping cookbook. I have changed it a bit over the years, but it is always a favorite in my home!

~ENJOY~