Blog

March 16, 2011 - Just Waiting to be Toasted

I’d never tried Irish Soda Bread until today–and oooohh–what we’ve been missing! A smooth, dense bread just waiting to be toasted or nibbled on plain…by the “little people.” Much quicker than traditional yeast breads–just whip the ingredients together and bake. No “rise” time. How to make Irish Soda Bread: 4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon...
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March 15, 2011 - Lavender Sugar

This smells even better than you think it does. When you put it in your hot tea, it is like lavender heaven, in tea form. It’s way harder to make than you might think. Grow some lavender. Till the soil with your bare hands….or you could cheat by buying it at your local farmy-grocery store....
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March 14, 2011 - My Favorite Tomatoes

Over the years we have grown a large variety of tomatoes, more recently sticking with heirloom or organic types. We don’t want to grow or eat anything that has been genetically modified. Although we have tried all shapes, sizes and colors, we prefer to stick with the normal, round, red tomatoes. Of all the tomatoes...
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March 13, 2011 - Radish Power!

Do you ever plant stuff in the garden and totally forget what you planted? Happens to me, too, despite my overly-complicated Excel-spreadsheet garden map. It certainly makes for some exciting meals! I actually had to look this one up online–it is a daikon radish. What was I thinking when I planted those? No one in...
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March 11, 2011 - A Weekend of Family and Food

This past weekend I had a houseful of out-of-town family in the for the entire weekend. And for us, in the winter, that means lots of cooking and experimenting with new recipes. All of us, from the youngest to the oldest, are very comfortable in the kitchen–mixing, adding a little of this or a little...
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March 8, 2011 - My Granddaddy, A Lemon Pie, and Me

Mr. Lovell Brooks’ store was just down the street from where my grandparents lived in the Cotton Mill Village in Geneva, AL. It was an old-timey store where my grandparents, Payton and Virginia Phillips, ”traded” as Granddaddy called it, for no telling how many years. Mr. Brooks was there before the retail grocery stores came...
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March 7, 2011 - How to Buy Food in 1927

I like to browse my 1927 Butterick Book of Recipes and Household Helps like it’s a novel sometimes. Vintage cookbooks are such an amazing true-to-life peek into old-time kitchens. I’m pretty sure the women of the day were all better organized than most of us. And tidier. They had folded napkins and everything. Some of...
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March 4, 2011 - A Monster-Sized Mound of Monster Cookies!

When I was a kid, I HATED baking. I was the oldest of 8, had a step-dad with a major sweet tooth, and a mom who didn’t know the meaning of doing anything in small measures. I was stuck. Stuck with baking for (what seemed) like millions of hours–cookies and more cookies, to be sealed...
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March 3, 2011 - The Menudo Project

My husband (ManBeef) and brother-in-law (Mahngo) are both big Menudo fans, especially after a boys night out. According to them, Menudo is the perfect hangover food–I’ll buy that, because I would have to be sick and a little drunk to willingly eat tripe. Tripe–ICK. But the menfolk love it and every Sunday morning or afternoon–-hungover...
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March 2, 2011 - Thinking of Thanksgiving Already

To have a homestead-style Thanksgiving there is much preparation. It starts somewhere in February when I begin to longingly gaze into my seed catalogs to start planning my garden and herb beds. Since we live in northern Ohio we can’t start planting until around Memorial Day. It is our goal to plant almost everything that...
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March 1, 2011 - “Living History” in the Kitchen

When we think about our kitchens, many people dream of having a stainless steel kitchen with all the latest and greatest time saving gadgets. Many of us who read Suzanne’s site on a regular basis do like to save time, but we also have a great appreciation for the simpler way of life. We love...
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February 28, 2011 - Making Yogurt using a Dehydrator

I love homemade yogurt. I like knowing exactly what goes into my yogurt. I like being able to pronounce all of the ingredients in my yogurt: milk and yogurt. That’s pretty simple. I’ve made yogurt using a yogurt maker, my crockpot, a thermos and my Excalibur dehydrator. All are excellent methods but today I’m going...
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February 27, 2011 - Banana-Cranberry Scruffits?

You know how sometimes the stars align and nothing goes your way? Have you ever noticed when you are sick, the gravitational pull of your snot-filled head makes this astrological phenomenon two or three times stronger? And if everyone in your house is sick, not only will the heavens be outta whack, but Brownies have...
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February 26, 2011 - Finding Inspiration in the Oddest Places

Today inspiration came in the form of bread. I am now living in a town that has a Great Harvest bakery and I must use restraint, needless to say I have a frequent flyer card with them. I LOVE their variety called Cinna Burst, especially made into french toast…..mmmmm…. We also stocked up on some...
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February 23, 2011 - Olive Turned Penguin

Last time I got my haircut, I was explaining to my stylist my theory–if I got a giraffe-print purse, I would look taller! She asked if I collect giraffe stuff–I don’t. I asked her if she had an animal she liked really well. She said she didn’t really, but that she was currently thinking penguins...
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February 22, 2011 - National Cook a Sweet Potato Day

Hallmark has declared today National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Sweet potatoes are good, not just on big holidays. Why does it seem we only bring out the fancy sweet potato dishes on those days? What better way to celebrate this famous day with you than to help you find all the wonderful sweet potato...
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February 21, 2011 - A Simple, No-Knead Bread

I love making bread. I’ve been making homemade bread since I was a teenager. That’s a long time. We’ve got 3 pages of terrific yeast bread recipes on Farm Bell Recipes and yet I know there are those folks who are still afraid to jump in the bread making bowl. Kerrie had a great post,...
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February 20, 2011 - Still In A Scone Mood

I am still in a scone-y mood, which I find surprising since I have never enjoyed the scones you can buy in coffee shops. Similar to hockey pucks or compressed hard tack, to me, they’ve always held the appeal of a urinal cake. But! Since I have started cooking, I’ve learned I like all sorts...
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February 18, 2011 - Scones with Caramel & Apples!

Can you tell the family has been in a sconey-mood lately? This time with caramel and apples! These scones, when taste-tested by a co-worker, were described as, “The best thing I have ever put into my mouth.” Another said, “I should take cooking lessons from you.” [Laree fluffs her hair, preens a bit.] That’s right,...
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February 17, 2011 - Pressure Cookery: Rice

Suzanne got a pressure cooker for Christmas–a nice shiny new Presto. Then she talked about it. I had to pull mine out and learn how to use it. Mine isn’t nice shiny and new. Mine is a 1947 Presto Meatmaster Cooker–an oldie, but a goodie. Mom found it at a yard sale years ago, only...
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February 16, 2011 - Maple Bacon Popcorn

Maple bacon popcorn. No-no-no-no-no-no. Apparently you don’t understand. Maple. Bacon. Popcorn. Men have proposed to me for less. This recipe is pretty easy. How to make Maple Bacon Popcorn: 4-5 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped. Reserve the fat. 1/2 cup popping corn 2 tablespoons maple syrup 3 tablespoons sugar salt to taste Pour the...
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