CAN we PICK kind of Saturday

We started a garden in the Spring and have been eating our hearts out. So enjoying everything we have harvested so far. Now it is time to give canning a try. So last weekend the girls and I did two jars of refrigerate Dill pickles from the cucumbers out of our garden. Here are the girls, they are so proud of their hard work . . .

Now this weekend we went and picked blueberries for the first time. The farm was amazing!!!! The farmer does not spray chemicals on his crop. (A BIG plus) The blueberries were simply HUGE. We had so much FUN!!! Wink, Wink; I think the girls ate more then they picked . . . .

We then went to our local down town farmers market and stocked up on some more fresh cucumbers. We have eaten all the ones from our garden(big SMILES). After that we headed home to start canning. Last Tuesday a sweet friend of mine gave a canning 101 class. I wanted to put what I learned into practice and teach my girls something that they could pass down to their children. So the girls and I made: Blueberry Lemonade Jam, Blueberry Jalapeño Jelly, Basil Banana Pepper Jelly and two types of Dill Pickles. Here are just a few pictures of our hard work:

Now for a recap:

Pickles:

The first ones (last weekends two jars) frig. dill pickles were tart, had a kick to them and had a sharp crisp crunch.

I tweaked the ones we did this weekend so that they would not be as tart and with less of a kick. But I gave them a water bath, so that I wouldn't have to refrigerate them. They were not as crisp . . . but still good.

We like the sharp crispness of the first ones with the milder taste of the second ones.

Jelly's and Jams:

The Blueberry Lemonade Jam is so good. The idea is to use it the fall and winter as a cheesecake topping or a filling for some jam tea cookies.

Both the Blueberry Jalapeño Jelly and Basil Banana Pepper Jelly can be served over cream cheese as an appetizer with crackers and veggie sticks. Or they both can also be used over chicken as a glaze. They both have more of the pepper flavor then the heat of the peppers.

All three Jelly's and Jam's would make a great hostess gift or CHRISTmas gift for neighbors and friends.

We are going to try to pick more blueberries this weekend again . . . do a little more canning. Plus we also want to freeze some to just eat as a frozen snack in the HOT days to come.

Thanks for being part of our canning adventure . . .

Lots of Love,

Daddy's Chick's

Easter Tomb

Take a can of biscuits. Flatten out each biscuit out with your fingers. Tell your kids they are making a tomb. Take a large marshmallow and explain that this represents Jesus. Put the marshmallow on the biscuit and wrap the biscuit around the marshmallow. Make sure all edges are sealed (pinch until no seam). Put a pat of butter on top. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon to represent the spices that were put on Jesus. Bake as directed on package. You may have to guess at this. After cooked, the marshmallow melts and is gone. Explain how Jesus is not in the tomb, He is Risen!

Cooking Monday's w/Scottlyn

Tonight Scottlyn made: Black Bean Chili w/corn bread.

She is already thinking about meals for the up coming Monday's and has asked if she could cook on another day of the week as well. I am so loving this new season we are in . . . we are growing together as mother/daughter. My prayer is that she will look back on this time we share and want to do the same with her daughters. Maybe evening tell them stories of her cooking with her mama. I am so blessed!!!!

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

Cooking Monday's w/Scottlyn

My heart is filled with the desire to train my daughters to be a blessing to there families and home as they grow into Godly young ladies. Mondays are now Scottlyn's day to cook our family dinner. Last week I gave her a slow cooker cookbook from Taste of Home. She was told to pick out four recipes that she would want to try. We then set down and pick two of them for her to cook the next two Mondays. This week she made Savory Beef Sandwiches and here is what hers looked like:

They were very yummy! This recipe feed the four of us along with our sweet neighbors and we still have some leftovers. The rest could be frozen to use as bake potato toppings next week. I bought two of the cookbooks for each of my daughters hope chest. I will do the same with Shalyn when she is 10 years old. I think that slow cook recipes are easy and a great way to teach my daughters how to cook wonderful meals. When they complete a recipe they will rate/date it using a star system with 4 being the best stars. They can refer back to the date and stars when looking at the recipe again. Maybe even remembering when they first made it.

Thanks for visiting . . .

Blessings,

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

Another great CHRISTmas gift

I came across this and thought I would share . . . Sugar Body Scrubs!!!

Would this not be a great gift for your daughter to give to her friends (even her Teacher or Sunday School Teacher)this CHRISTMAS!?! Oh, you could even give it to your girlfriends. . . it looks SUPER EASY, plus very inexpensive.

White Cane Glimmer Sugar Scrub

Sweet N’ Spicy Brown Sugar Scrub

and

Brown Sugar Scrub

They even have a link to ready made tags.

Have a blessed day,

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen

Here is an idea that has been tossing around in my head that I wanted to share with you.

Every CHRISTmas the girls and I bake cookies for my husband to take to his work. We make little cookie bags, filled with a dozen for each one of his employees. Along with a sample tray to go onto the break room table. We do one main cookie and then on the sample tray we put that cookie along with cheese straws & fudge. This year I am thinking about making mini bunt cakes instead of cookies. Doing 3 min cakes per bag/box. Then for the tray do mini cupcake's of the same three mini bunt cakes, along with the cheese straws and fudge. So here are the the recipes we are leaning towards:

Chocolate Velvet "Pound Cake"

Zesty Lemon Pound Cake

Mini Raspberry Snow Cakes

I should also add that we make enough for the mail women, piano teacher, and a few of our neighbors. So tell me what you will be baking this coming CHRISTmas, or if you have a recipe: PLEASE share.

Blessings,

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

BFS Assignment #105 - M’m M’m Good

Assignment: Post your favorite fall recipe/recipes to share.

When ask HANDS down my familyask for this!


No-Fuss Potato Soup
(Serves 8-10)


6 C cubed and peeled potatoes (I used can potatoes)
5 C Chicken Broth
2 C chopped onion
1/2 C thinly sliced carrots
1/2 C chopped celery
1/4 C butter or margarine
2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
12-oz. can evaporated milk
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
3 Tbsp Bacon Bits


In a large slow cooker, combine all ingredients (except Bacon Bits). Cover and cook on high for 7 hours or until veggies are tender. Top with Bacon Bits and some chives before serving. Yum, Yum!!

In HIS Mighty Love,
Trina
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13

Easter Tomb!

To visit more Show n Tell: click on the about link.

Take a can of biscuits. Flatten out each biscuit out with your fingers. Tell your kids they are making a tomb. Take a large marshmellow and explain that this represents Jesus. Put the marshmellow on the biscuit and wrap the biscuit around the marshmallow. Make sure all edges are sealed (pinch until no seam). Put a pat of butter on top. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon to represent the spices that were put on Jesus. Bake as directed on package. You may have to guess at this. After cooked, the marshmallow melts and is gone. Explain how Jesus is not in the tomb, He is Risen!

Fudge (made w/ Velveeta)

Velveeta Fudge is the best recipe I have ever had. So Easy to make . . . plus it is so moist.

Spray a 9 x 13 inch cake pan with PAM (imitation cooking spray)

Ingredients:
1/2 pound Velveeta
1/2 pound butter
1/2 Tbsp. vanilla
1 2lb. bag of powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
Nuts, if desired

Melt Velveeta and butter on top of stove (preferably in a pan. Velveeta is shapely but it won't stay together when heat is applied). When melting is done, pour in remaining ingredients and mix using a hand mixer. Pour into pan and chill.