Happy Hour Friday: Long Island Iced Tea Edition
This is definitely a “take the car keys from your guests” type of cocktail, or one to serve when all of your guests live within walking distance. Read more
The Mandoline: Slicing Made Easy
I’ve worked in restaurants off and on since I was a teenager. As a result, I’ve gotten pretty good at eyeballing consistent sizes when slicing anything. Then, I was given the gift of a Mandoline Slicer.
I love this contraption! Now, any dish I prepare that is best served by consistenly sized veggies (e.g., pickle chips or scalloped potatoes or sliced radishes for salad) is prepared using my mandoline. There are a couple reasons why consistent size is important; 1) same-sized veggies cook evenly, and 2) a dish with even sized pieces presents better, too! Things just look and taste better, in my humble opinion. Another BIG plus is that slicing goes SO much faster!
If you think a mandoline is a tool you’d like, one thing I’d strongly recommend is to look at one that includes a knuckle guard. The last thing you want to do is get caught up in your work and get too close to the blade.
Photo credit: Amazon.com
Note: This post includes affiliate links
Tomatillo Salsa Verde
One summer, I was gifted with about 5 pounds of tomatillos. I’d seen them before, but never actually eaten or cooked one. I found this recipe when trying to figure out what one does with tomatillos. This is an extremely tasty salsa verde. One of my favorite uses beyond the standard is to slow cook a nice pork roast in it. The flavor is wonderful. Pint jars of tomatillo salsa verde are useful, tasteful and memorable as gifts.
• 5 cups chopped tomatillos
• 1 1/2 cups seeded, chopped long green chiles
• 1/2 cup seeded finely chopped jalapenos
• 4 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup bottled lemon juice
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp ground cumin
• 3 Tbsp oregano leaves
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
Salsa Canning Recipe Directions
Combine all ingredients over heat until thoroughly mixed. Pour mixture into sterile canning jars and process. Best within 1 year of canning.
Photo credit: hozae
Happy Hour Friday: Champagne and Sherbet Punch Edition
Got a bridal shower coming up at work? This simple punch recipe is perfect for a low-stress office gathering. Read more
Zucchini and eggs
When I was a kid, my mother, sister and I lived with my Italian grandmother for a bit before moving into our own digs. There are several food related memories from those days, as you might imagine. Read more
Yard Larder: Chamomile
Chamomile is a lovely smelling and looking flower whose primary use is for a nice, calming herbal tea. I was given the gift of chamomile jelly once. I was a tad skeptical, but the first taste made me a convert. This light aromatic substance is a small piece of heaven. It is delicious. I can tell you this is a major hit as a gift, as well. If you are a canner/jelly maker and haven’t tried it, add this gem to your favorites list.
1 c. chamomile flowers, packed
3 1/2 c. water
1 box Sure-jell
4 c. sugar
Happy Hour Friday: Havana Cocktail Edition
For this week’s happy hour cocktail recipe, we’re continuing to embrace the steamy weather with drink from old Havana. Read more
Rhubarb Delight
This is an interesting variation on a strawberry/rhubarb dessert. It’s inexpensive to make, plentiful, and downright tasty. I got this from an old boyfriend’s Mom, and I make at least one batch every time I get my hands on some fresh rhubarb. I do use a little less sugar, because I like to taste a little more of that rhubarb bite.
4 c. rhubarb
1 c. sugar
1 (3 oz.) box strawberry Jello
1 c. water
1 yellow or white cake mix
Put 4 cups rhubarb on the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup sugar. Next, sprinkle with 1 box strawberry Jello. On the top, sprinkle 1 yellow or white cake mix. Over this pour 1 cup of water. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Delicious served with whipped cream or ice cream.
Photo credit: wheatfields
Yard Larder: Rose Hips
As often happens with me, I stumbled onto rose hips as food quite by accident. While walking on a beach in Maine, I found a remarkable patch of Sea Spray roses that had progressed to the rose hip stage. The hips were huge and looked like crabapples. Read more
Summer Pest Woes for Pets: How to Be on Guard
A few years ago my dog Buster and I were running around in the backyard when all of a sudden I heard him yelping and saw him running in circles, his entire body covered with wasps. I was horrified to say the least. Read more
