Scattered Thoughts From A Maryland Cottage

Scattered Thoughts From A Maryland Cottage
The Yin and Yang of Thankfulness
Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Yin and Yang of Thankfulness

“One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful..we let what was once a miracle become common to us. We get so accustomed to his goodness it becomes a routine..” 
                                                                                                 Joel Osteen


it's windy, wet and I see a few flurries
outside my bedroom window while I
write this post and I've been thinking about so
many things on this early release day. I work in a 
high school health room which means
everyone left early for the holiday. as always, 
it was a crazy pre-holiday week because not
everyone is happy about Thanksgiving. some families 
are broken, homeless, hungry and all of the above.
I didn't realize to what degree until I began this career
11 years ago. I've always had a meal. 
in fact, I've usually trying to lose a few pounds.
so as I sit here, I began to think about this past year
 and the title of this post 
"The Yin and the Yang of Thankfulness". 

I don't believe I take the time every day 
to be thankful enough. 
for every moment with my kids
instead of saying "I wish I saw 
you more often" - I want to just 
enjoy them!
and there's a little one on  
the way in a few weeks
....
enjoying the stillness of winter,
school snow days, comforters,
Christmas... instead of moaning about 
slush and short dark days.
....
bringing more flowers inside the house
and taking road trips to gardens
I've always wanted to see.
....
I had both knees replaced in March,
I'm pain free and this is 
going to be my summer!
and thanking others... I want to bitch less -
and thank more.
Well, I'm going to try.  
Because I have so many, many things
to be thankful for.  Jenn

Give this a try... I want to!

Grapefruit Cranberry Marmalade
adapted from myrecipes
  • 4 large grapefruit (about 4 pounds)
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 2.5 cups cranberries
  • 3 cups sugar
  1. Carefully remove the rind of each grapefruit with a vegetable peeler or pairing knife, being careful to avoid the white pith. Slice the rind into thin strips. Place in a large saucepan.
  2. Peel and section the grapefruit: Slice off a piece of both the top and bottom of each grapefruit until the fruit is visible. Place on a cutting board. Starting at the top and following the curve of the fruit, cut away the remaining pith until only the flesh and membrane are left. Holding the fruit on it”s side, slide a pairing knife between one section of fruit and the membrane that is holding it there, loosening it”s hold. Cut alongside the opposite side of the fruit to loosen it from the membrane on the opposite side. Continue all the way along the grapefruit. Place the grapefruit sections into the saucepan and discard the empty membrane.
  3. Add 1.5 cups water to the saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 min, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in cranberries and simmer for another 10 min.
  5. Add sugar and simmer for 30 min until slightly thickened. Continuing to stir occasionally.
  6. Remove from heat and allow to cool 10 min. Poor into jars or plastic containers and allow to cool for another 20 min before putting on lids. Let sit on counter until room temperature. Store in the fridge or freezer.
Makes approx: 5 cups
*This will keep for 3 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer.
*Cranberries have enough natural pectin to set this jam by itself. It is important to note that fresh cranberries have more pectin then frozen ones and therefore will set firmer. I did use frozen cranberries for mine and it turned out fine.
*To remove excess pith from the peeled rind: hold the rind firmly, pith side up, with one hand and drag your pairing knife in the opposite direction, shaving away the pith.
                                              thank you to...      Kitchen Simplicity.com                    

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Put This On Your Plate and Style It!

 Just My Style and Martha's Too!
CLASSIC CHEESE BALLS

Ingredients:
Base Recipe:

• 1/2 cup(s) (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

• 3 package(s) (8 ounces each) cream cheese

• 2 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 teaspoon(s) Worcestershire sauce

 5 dash(es) hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground white pepper


Cheddar and Cranberry:
• 8 ounce(s) sharp orange cheddar cheese, finely shredded
• 2 tablespoon(s) store-bought chutney
• 3/4 cup(s) dried cranberries, finely chopped
• Water crackers , for serving
Roquefort and Walnut:
• 6 ounce(s) Roquefort cheese
• 1 shallot, minced (1 tablespoon)
• 2 teaspoon(s) brandy (optional)
• 1 cup(s) toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
• Vegetable chips (such as Terra Chips Sweets & Beets), for serving
Goat Cheese and Scallions:
• 8 ounce(s) goat cheese
• 2 tablespoon(s) finely chopped scallions
• 1/3 cup(s) fresh curly-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• 1 English cucumber, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices, for serving
Directions:
1. Put butter, cream cheese, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, and pepper into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until combined. Divide equally among 3 medium bowls.
2. Stir cheddar cheese and chutney with base mixture in the first bowl. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Roll cheese ball in cranberries to coat before serving. Serve with crackers.
3. Stir blue cheese and shallot with base mixture in second bowl; add brandy, if desired. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days; freeze up to 1 month. Roll in walnuts to coat before serving. Serve with chips.
4. Stir goat cheese and scallions with base mixture in remaining bowl. Form into a ball. If not using immediately, refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Roll in parsley to coat before serving. Serve with cucumber slices.
holy moley .... two things i love...
cheese and english transferware, lol!
oops, martha too!
(i collect the teal and the cranberry)




Friday, December 18, 2009

Worthy Praise - A Toast to the Cooks!

Gluten Free


Apples Cherries Canning

Pumpkins Peaches Breads

Muffins Jams Jellies

Luscious Yummy

Awesome Amazing

Mennonite Girls Can Cook!

Look 'em up!






Wednesday, October 28, 2009

New Recipe - Canning Up A Storm!




i say yum yum yum
raspberry pear
lemon sauce
i say yum yum yum
canned this new recipe
last night
cranberries in it too
i say yum yum yum
it looks so pretty too
getting ready with gifts for the holidays yum yum yum!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Rainy Day Projects - What Do You Do?







rainy day blues
what do you do?
I iron, fold laundry,
watch videos, read
and
Do Canning!
I might make 40 pounds of applesauce or 4 pints. Lately, I've been making mini batches because I haven't been able to go apple picking. I have tried some new recipes though and they look yummy. Cranberry, apple, walnut relish, Cranberry applesauce, Pumpkin pecan butter and this morning before work I made Caramel pear and apple sauce.
Do you can? Have any recipes you'd like to share? Funny stories?
Ever burned your face with hot pumpkin butter? Well I can report that I have - nose and eyebrow - blistered and everything. Yes, a pumpkin butter burn. Whatever!!
Have a cuddle under the covers kind of day.... Jennifer

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Yummy Cooking Site - Celiac Recipes - Vegan Too!












GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!


You have gotta got to go to Jeenas Kitchen blog for recipes from A-Z for vegans, you and me-gans, Celiac sufferers, and just love food people. Yo! Really - check it out - let me know what you think! Jennifer

Friday, October 2, 2009

Fun for all - work for one!


APPLE PICKING TIME
Every fall I go apple picking at the local farm with my sons and their girlfriends. It's called Larriland Farm. We go a little later in the season because they reduce the price of picking and also charge much less if you choose the fallen apples. Last year we picked 40 lbs. of applesauce. Ravy - my son's fiancee is from Cambodia and it was a wonderful experience for her.
As I said, we had the fun - I did the work! But when I'm in my zone - I relax - wash, peel, sterilize, listen to music, stir, pour, twist, stir, clean - I enjoy it all. Then the kids arrive to sample and take goodies home. Guess who liked my applesauce the best.... Ravy! She ate it right out of the jar :)






Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Artistic Garden site - Hypertufa ideas


great ideas!

I'm a sucker for spheres,
gardening, projects, nature, more projects.
I have spheres in my home and also tucked in
various gardens in every shape and size. I came
upon this site at The Artistic Garden @ www.the-
artistic-garden.com and loved the recipes &
projects described and shown on the site.





Wednesday, April 29, 2009

There's No Place Like Mom's




EGGS in a BASKET

When my sons were little they used to
love to eat "eggs in a basket" which is basically bread with a hole cut in the
middle after buttering both sides laying it
in a skillet, cracking an egg in the middle, cooking it until it's golden on one side, flip it
and cook it the remaining way and serve.
Cookie cutter shapes are cool too. "Eggs in a Butterfly" are a slice of bread sliced on an angle and placed point to point to make wings, crack the egg in the middle. I once made green eggs and ham
the eggs were not a big hit....per my sons Todd and Matt.