oatmeal cookies with 'lots of goodies'

i rarely blog about baking because it is not my favorite... too restricting! i always feel like i am back in chemistry lab. i do know that if you follow the chemistry of baking that you can add all kinds of extras as long as you measure all the important stuff. i am not a chocolate chip cookie fan, especially the soft ones. i like my cookies to be either chewy or crunchy. this is my #1 choice. the nice thing about it is if you do not like one of the extras or goodies as i call them, you can always double up on the ones you like.

oatmeal cookies with raisins, chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut

1/2 pound softened butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons milk
2ggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

dry ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup pastry flour
1 teaspoon each of salt, baking powder and baking soda

the goodies
2 cups oats
1 cup raisins
1 heaping cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup coconut

cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. add the eggs,milk and vanilla

sift the dry ingredients and stir into the sugar and butter mixture.

fold in the oats and other 'stuff'.

preheat oven to 350 degrees

i use 2 soup spoons for shaping these cookies. try to shape them into balls as you put them on the cookie sheet and make sure they are at least 2 1/2 inches apart...they spread. they are about 3 inches across after they are baked. the recipe makes 3 times the amount in the picture (family got the rest).

bake for 8-15 minutes depending on the size and your oven. watch the first batch carefully and do not over bake. when they are light brown on the edges, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before placing on the cooling rack,newspaper or whatever you use to cool your cookies. they will harden when they are cool.

enjoy!

dilled green potatoes

this recipe is most certainly tried and true. 48+ years ago my hubby and i finished school, got married 2 weeks later and a month after that he was in the air force and we landed in Duluth, Minnesota for 2 wonderful years. i was a very inexperienced cook and this is one of the first recipes that one of the other wives shared. it is a great side dish for grilled or roasted meats. the best part is that it can be made a day ahead and refrigerated

idaho potatoes, fresh chives, frozen chopped spinach, Jerusalem artichoke flowers

ingredients 6 large potatoes, peeled and cooked
3/4 -1 cup of light cream
1/4 pound butter, softened
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons chopped chives
1 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 package thawed and drained chopped spinach ( i squeeze it)


thawed and drained spinach and chopped chives

mash the potatoes with the butter and cream until they are fluffy.  add the rest of the ingredients and mix.

 place the mixture in a greased casserole( 1 1/2 quart )and either refrigerate or place in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

                                                                   serve and ENJOY!

note: i have made this recipe without the dill when i did not think it went with the rest of the meal...it was still good!

september/salsa season

  

 it is hard to believe now but when i first made this recipe, there was no salsa in the grocery stores. no taco products. not even tortillas. now that was 40+ years ago. my husband had just gotten out of the air force and we were stationed with some friends from Texas. they introduced us to the wonder of 'tacos'...all made from scratch!

this recipe makes 12-15 pints and it takes about 4-5 hours but it is worth the effort and it lasts most of the winter IF one can keep the grands out of it.

recipe ( no measurements critical)
15 cups peeled, chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 heads of garlic, peeled and minced
6 cups of onions
6 cups red peppers, cleaned, chopped and drained
8 jalapeno peppers with seeds removed, chopped fine
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 small cans tomato paste

peel the tomatoes in batches. cover with boiling water for 2 minutes. lift out and place in cold water for the same amount of time. core, peel and cut is small chunks.

 i use the food processor to chop everything but the tomatoes. garlic first while machine is running. onion next on pulse.i also chop the cilantro with the last batch of onions. add all ingredients EXCEPT peppers and tomato paste. bring to a boil and simmer for 1-1 1/2 hours.

 meanwhile chop and drain the peppers and open the cans of paste.


my mess

while the  tomatoes, etc. are simmering...stir occaionally and                                                                       run jars through the dishwasher
have lids ready to boil.
when the consistency is to your liking, turn the lids on high
add the peppers and tomato paste and bring to a rolling boil.
fill hot jars, a few at a time leaving 1/2 inch from top
clean edge of jar and place hot lid and secure with the ring...and wait for the ping!



salsa
i always keep the jars on the counter for a week or two to make sure that the lids remain indented before they make the trip to the pantry.

                                                                             ENJOY!

a glimpse of the pantry


pear chutney

club sauce

salsa

pickles, relish and apple butter

canning tomatoes

even though canned tomatoes are easily attained, i still like to can a few of my own. they are sweeter, and have no cores. i like to use them in stews and other winter dishes. i will also use them if i run out of the marinara sauce that is packed away in the freezer.

 my canner holds 7 quart jars. i never hot pack tomatoes as my mother did. i fill the clean jars and then process them in the canner. i have never had a jar go bad canning this way . first, they have to be peeled. i place about half of the tomatoes in the small side of my sink but a container can be used. i then pour boiling water over them and let them sit a minute or two.  remove them with a slotted spoon into very cold water. remove the core with a paring knife and remove the skin...it practically flies off! i have cut and x at the bottom of the tomatoes but find it a waste of time. it is important not to let the tomatoes stay in the hot water too long as they will cook and get mushy. keep the tea kettle filled and on low and do smaller batches.

quarter the peeled tomatoes and fill the jars. i never add water or juice to fill the jars. i just force the tomatoes down and they make their own juice. more tomatoes to the jar this way.

 i always put any canning jars through the dish washer and through the heated drying cycle.

it is important to remove the air by taking a knife and going completely around the jar. note the space at the top of the jar.

 make sure that the edge of the jars are perfectly clean. ADD 1 TEASPOON SALT and place lids and secure gently. submerge jars into canner making sure that the water covers the tops of the jars. turn on the heat and bring the water to a boil. boil for 35 minutes.

lift jars from the hot water bath. dab hot water off the top of the lids and tighten

                                    a quart jar of canned plum tomatoes ready for the pantry
                                                                    ready to ENJOY!


club sauce
recipe in blog september 2010

tomato soup for now and later

right now, my 25 tomato plants are yielding pounds and pounds of wonderful tomatoes. i am supplying family and friends and still have more than we can eat. i do can and freeze tomato recipes. last year i blogged fresh marinara saucehttp://the-jill-of-all-trades.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html, oven dried tomatoeshttp://the-jill-of-all-trades.blogspot.com/2010/08/oven-dried-tomatoes.html and club saucehttp://the-jill-of-all-trades.blogspot.com/2010/08/club-sauce.html. my friend betsy , an artist ,gardener, and good cook , suggested i try her tomato soup. now, i have never been a lover of tomato soup but this recipe has changed my mind. it makes plenty to eat now and freeze for winter. the great thing is that cream, milk or soy milk is added when the soup is heated. betsy also has a blog about her unique and delightful jewelry http://eaststreetpins.blogspot.com/

my version of betsy's tomato soup
ingredients
8 quarts tomatoes

4 large onions
1 bunch celery, yep, the whole thing
1 jalapeno pepper, my addition, seeds too if you want a bite
1 large bunch of parsley

1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt or to taste
pepper

12 ounces butter
1 cup flour

cream, milk or soy when heated

cut up the tomatoes and bring to a boil. simmer till most of the juice is gone. it will take a couple of hours.
meanwhile, wash and cut up the veggies and place in a separate container.

skim enough of the tomato juice off the pot of tomatoes to cover the vegetables and bring to a boil and simmer for an hour.(i put the juice through a strainer to remove any seeds)

puree the vegetables either in a blender, processor or food mill. i used a blending tool for the vegetables and a foley mill for the tomatoes in order to remove the skins and seeds

in another container, melt the butter and add the flour( a roux) stir and lightly brown the roux.

in a large pot, combine the tomatoes, pureed vegetables, roux, sugar and seasonings. boil for 5 minutes. taste and adjust seasonings.

to 2 cups of soup, i added 1 cup of fat free half and half. if i was using milk, it would be closer to equal amounts of each. no portions in the recipe are critical!

the recipe made about 8 pints of the tomato base. most of it made it into the freezer but not all...

                                                                            enjoy!

two easy and delish summer salads-corn and tomato

two very easy salads that take minutes to make. the corn salad is one of the ways that i use the leftovers from 'corn on the cob'. the tomato salad is simple and more ingredients can be added but this version is quick and so good. the picture below is neither tomato nor corn but begged to be included...



cosmos, a future painting

i am still waiting for the large heirlooms to ripen. in the meantime, the 2 'glacier ' plants are producing an abundant supply of small, very sweet fruit. the cherry , black cherry and yellow pears are ripening fast also. for this salad, i chose the glacier and yellow pears. any combination of any variety will do

tomato salad
3-4 cups tomatoes cut into bite size
1 or 2 cloves of garlic sliced...or not
6 large basil leaves, sliced or slivered, i use scissors
3-4 tablespoon's good quality olive oil
1 tablespoon  white balsamic vinegar
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

stir all the ingredients and set aside at room temperature. do not refrigerate. matter of fact, never refrigerate tomatoes unless they are cooked or dried.

i always try to make this an hour or 2 ahead to let the flavors blend. and i stir while i am preparing the rest of the meal. good bread is essential to dip in the juice!!

it is the height of the corn season in central new york. no more tiny ears with tiny kernels. we are into the meaty ears and it is so sweet this year. we always buy more than we eat and then cut the kernals off the uneaten ears for later use. i use it in soup most of the time but love the corn salad i have been making this year.

cooking corn: steam it or grill it! where i grew up, everyone steams corn. an inch of water in the bottom of the pan and 10 minutes after it comes to a boil it is done. i have seem cooks boiling corn. a real waste of time and energy, really, and it takes so long for all that water to boil. if it can be grilled, it is even better than steamed .

corn salad
3 cups cold corn, cooked and cut off the cob
2 cucumbers, peeled and cut in bite size pieces
1 sweet onion or 1 bunch of green onions chopped
3 tablesoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
8  basil leaves,sliced, slivered or torn
salt and pepper to taste

stir and refrigerate till it is time to serve it...it will be a hit!

ENJOY!

this and that from the garden

where to start? it has been a busy couple of weeks in the garden. fortunately we have 400 feet of hose and could water during the hot dry spell. zucchini and cucumbers have been abundant. i have made 2 batches of open crock dills, bread and butter pickles and 2 batches of sweet relish. in the last batch, i added fresh dill weed just to try something new. the recipes are in my blog (july 2010)


sweet pickle relish and bread and butter



cleome

i first saw this flower at the philadelphia flower show at least 25 years ago. they did not have them at the nursery's that i  visited so i ordered some seeds and planted them in my perennial bed. in the fall, some of their seeds blew into the stones around the pool fence and i have had volunteers in the stones ever since. i never fertilize or water and here is what i have now...after all that dry weather. they will grow in any sunny location!


growing in the stones

tomatoes and zucchini planted the first week of june and photographed the last week of june

6 WEEKS LATER...

my happy gardener and a very happy heirloom black cherry tomato

i started these plants very late and they went in the ground the first week of june. i always wait until the soil gets a little warmer. tomatoes do not like cold feet! i think that newt will need a ladder and some taller stakes in order to continue tying this plant


i think that this is a black krim but it could be a cherokee...gotta look at the tag

 late start and not very many tomatoes. the purchased plum plants are starting to produce ripe fruit as are my heirloom glaciers.


i love phlox. my neighbor betsy gave me the white ones and they are magnificent this year.

this is what is waiting on my kitchen counter as i am writing this. i will slice and salt and ice them tonight and make my last batch of bread and butter pickles



whole wheat banana-blueberry bread with honey

this was an experiment. it is very healthy and a little heavy but i will share the recipe anyway...

ingredients
4 very ripe bananas, mashed
2 large eggs
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup blueberries

mix first 4 ingredients, sift in next 4 ingredients and stir . fold in blueberries very gently. place in a greased bread pan and
bake at 350 for 1 hour

ENJOY!!!