Yummie Finger Food

So here is a quick and very yummy appetizer for you all!

 

I have been visiting the farmers market this summer and there is a guy selling freshly made bread. He bakes it in a brick oven and it has a great smoky flavor! You could also use French bread.

That's the first ingredient.

 

 Next, if you have never tried Boursin cheese you have to go to the store right this minute and get some!! It's the best thing ever!!! It has a lot of garlic which I love!

Go right this minute!

 

Lastly, we have a pretty good size garden and cucumbers are fresh and crunchy and right out the back door!!

 

Put the three together and its so delish!!!

 

We have a busy weekend ahead! Hot dogs and smores will be eaten!!

Enjoy your weekend too!!

 

 

 

 



Sweets of the Season

I might have mentioned this before, but I LOVE this time of year! One of my most favorite things about the month of June are Cherries and Strawberries!

 

The Cherries are a little late this year. They started ripening at the same time as the strawberries.

 

Over the weekend we stopped by a strawberry farm and picked up 10 quarts. I usually pick my own but I've had some back issues this past week (thanks to zumba) so we bought them already picked.

They are so yummy!

 

I made a yummy strawberry pie last night with some fresh whipped cream.

 

 

We still have a lot of jam left from last year when I picked 40 pounds!!! So I didn't really want to make more jam.

I froze some with sugar. I just cleaned them cut the bigger ones in half and then sprinkled some sugar over them and let them sit for about 10 minutes before putting them in freezer bags!

 

Super easy and they will be great to use for short cakes!

 

I also started thinking about strawberry cordial. Actually, I was thinking about Anne of Green Gables when she served strawberry cordial. I always thought it sounded good, so I went searching for a recipe on Pinterest of course!

 

I used this recipe and it turned out pretty yummy!

Its a concentrate that you add water to.

My husband has stopped drinking pop but water gets kinda old after awhile so this will be a nice change!

Pickles

This time of the year the garden is going strong. We have been eating yellow squash and zuccihni like crazy! We have also had plenty of cucumbers, which I LOVE out of the garden. I had an abundance so I decided to make pickles!

The ones on the right are sweet pickles and the ones on the left are hot pickles. We don't eat that many so this amount should be perfect. I have never tried the hot pickles before its something new I thought I would try.

The sweet pickles are made using my grandmothers recipe.

I know you can't really see the recipe here but you can tell that this recipe is yellowed and old. I'm pretty sure this is my moms hand writing. At the top of the page it says "Moms Sweet Pickles". My mom asked me if I rewrote it on a card or something. I like it just the way it is. For some reason it seems like the condition of the recipe makes it better, more character or something.

Today I spent the day at the pool with my sissy, SIL, and their young'ens. Nice day! Then I came home and canned green beans! The corn will be ready by the end of the week and probably more beans. This is a busy time of year.

Did I mention that I am going back to work on August 8th for an 8 week position at school...it stinks that my summer is getting cut short!!

Does anyone else can their food. Sometimes I feel like a loner in my circle of friends! 

What's Been Going On...

So I have the computer up and running and just uploaded some pictures. I am having a little bit of trouble getting use to a laptop. I have used them many times but having it for my everyday stuff is a little different. Anyways, here are a few things that I have been working on...

My friend's baby shower was this week so I made her a little something. A Diaper clutch changing pad, Laundry bag, and burp cloth.

I also have several vintage cook books. I love the old cook books, with the pictures of the housewives in their aprons. I always find good recipes that are a little different than what you see today.

This one is from my mom. I remember using it when I was younger.

I made this Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe and it is very good. I had used it once before. I always try and write the date that I made a recipe and any comments that I have in the book. That way I know if it is worth making again.

Yummy! I think you could wrap anything in a cellophane bag, add a cute ribbon and you have turned something simple into something simply adorable!

These are for  a friend who is recovering from knee surgery!

I mentioned last week before the big crash of the computer, that I was watching my sister's kiddos and their puppy. I love a puppy but this is why I'm not ready for another one yet...

Uh, yeah....i guess he was bored! They spent $25 bucks on this nice doggy bed and he shredded it!

I had to laugh! This is what puppy's do!

But isn't he so cute!!

Drying Lettuce

I know that title sounds pretty boring, but who wants to eat a wet, soggy salad...

I thought I would share a great way to dry lettuce.

First, roll out some paper towels, 3 or 4



Then, wash your lettuce. I seperate the lettuce and put it into a bowl of cold water, swish it around and let it sit for a few minutes to let the dirt settle to the bottom. I then drain the water and put it in my salad spinner, which I love. It removes alot of the water. If you don't have a spinner just pat dry a little.

I take the lettuce out of the spinner and lay it on the paper towels in a single layer.

Next lay another layer of paper towels on top...



And roll it up...

You will end up with this..

Don't worry about smashing the lettuce, it should be fine. Put this into a plastic bag and store in the fridge. You will have nice crisp lettuce for your salad and sandwiches!

Baking Day

I don't know what hit me, but the other day I was all about baking. I have always loved to bake. Cookies, cakes, brownies, breads...whatever, I love the taste of something warm out of the oven!!

I spent the afternoon baking....

Sandwich Bread in my bread machine..love that thing!

Poppy Seed Muffins with a lemon glaze

Cinnamon Rolls

And Brownies with walnuts...but I didn't get a picture of those, sorry:)

I love yummy things!! All of these things were easy to make. I spent a few hours in making these and now we can enjoy them all week!

The cinnamon rolls were so easy...I will post the recipe in a bit on the Farm Kitchen page!