I was going through my bread files (yes, I still have recipes typed on paper) trying to decide which ones I no longer use. Space is a premium in my office. Well, guess what I ran across in that file? A recipe I had been meaning to try for a long time but had forgotten about. It’s yeast bread made in a food processor. … Continue reading Food Processor Yeast Bread: Easy to Make
Sometimes the simplest meals are the best. I was reminded of that yesterday evening, when I was simmering elderberries with aromatics for elderberry syrup, a soothing medicinal. The elderberries had to infuse slowly, and that required tending. So what to fix for dinner? I had spicy Italian sausages in the refrigerator and butternut squash from the garden. And plump red onions in the basement … Continue reading Sausage, Squash and Red Onions (and a side of Farro)
“Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, pease porridge in the pot 9 days old.” My garden peas have pushed through the soil, still tiny but looking strong. For some reason, that childhood rhyme came to mind, so indulge me! Peas are really a lovely seasonal vegetable, so when they’re abundant, peas are in my meal rotation a lot. These legumes are good for you, too. … Continue reading Spring Stir Fry: DIY Universal Stir Fry Sauce
Photo credit kitchn.com Today, Matt Swaim from Sacred Heart Radio’s Sonrise Morning Show and I talked about the upcoming All Saints and All Souls Day and how they relate to a secular Halloween. When was All Saints Day first instituted? Lots of legends abound about the beginning of All Saints Day. From what I can gather, though, way back in the 800’s the Pope … Continue reading Chorizo Nachos with Homemade White Queso
I was getting ingredients out of the pantry to make a batch of one hour yeast rolls for dinner, when Oliver Phillips, my 10 year old neighbor, called. Oliver wanted to come over and “make something”. So he and I made the rolls together. I let Oliver do the measuring and mixing. “Does this seem hard to you?” I asked. “Not at all,” he said. … Continue reading 1 Hour Yeast Rolls – Yes You Can!
Ron Wilson, Garden Guru for Natorp’s and Host of “In the Garden” on WKRC 55 radio here in Cincinnati, always keeps me update as to what I need to do outside. It has been HOT and DRY on my little patch of heaven. How’s it been on yours? Ron says: Keep watering as needed. General rule of thumb for established plants and turf is 1 … Continue reading Garden and Lawn Tips for Hot Summer Days
For years it was like a gray “culinary” cloud over my head. I called it pie crust envy. My mom was the first to try to teach me to make a flaky and tender pie crust. “Just don’t overwork the dough, use a light hand” she told me. At the time I read something in a cookbook that said “work the shortening into the flour … Continue reading Perrin’s No Fail Pie Crust and Pecan Pie
Exodus 27:20 Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually. Matt Swaim of the Sonrise Morning Show, Sacred Heart Radio, talked about olives and olive oil.Olive Oil was considered holy and valued partly because of the amount of work that goes into harvesting enough olives to create it. It’s mentioned a … Continue reading Olives and Oil: Bible Days Staples
First, I know it has been a while since I visited with you through my site. We’ve been helping out here on our little patch of heaven those folks who need a lift, a smile, or a bowl of soup. Yes, Covid has been raging here with family and friends. But, like you, we will get through these challenging times with faith. So, with that … Continue reading Rita’s Easy Chili
This is in Luke’s gospel: The shepherds witnessing Jesus’ birth arrived before the Magi/Kings and were the first to not only witness the birth but to evangelize the birth long before the wise men. Research indicates Jesus was less than a week old when the angel appeared before them showing the shepherds the way. The shepherds were in the area around Bethlehem, shepherding their flocks in … Continue reading A Story: Shepherds and Baby Jesus – A Shepherds’ Night Meal
Ok if you haven’t, now’s the time! Here’s a lovely recipe from Clermont County, Ohio reader Kathy Lane. Kathy is the mom of our neighbor, Wes Lane. Wes and his wife, Liz, live a couple doors down from us and have 2 of the cutest boys ever, Oliver and Calvin. Anyway, Wes brought me a piece of his mom’s mincemeat pie (she also makes the … Continue reading Have you made Mincemeat Pie?
Each week I chat with Matt Swaim on the Sonrise Morning Show, Sacred Heart Radio about Bible foods. Today we talked about St. Nicholas – his feast day is December 5. Check out the poem about “Blessed Christmas” and the foods that are significant with the poem. It’s at the end of this message. The poem is in bold; the ingredients are not. Some history … Continue reading Christmas Blessing Mix to Make
I was driving home on my old country road when I had to brake softly to share the right-of-way. For a flock of very slender, wild, turkeys robed in shiny black feathers. Talk about escaping the Thanksgiving dinner table…check out the photo on my site. Now we’re well into the holiday season with celebratory dinners and gifts from the kitchen to prepare. Here’s 2 recipes … Continue reading Two Foolproof Roasts and Gift Giver’s Hot Chocolate
Cyndi Mitchell’s stir down yeast rollsA tender, yet substantial roll They are easy – no kneading or shaping and just the right size for a holiday dinner. I use a sprayed small ice cream scoop to scoop the dough out. Ingredients 1 package active dry yeast 1 cup warm water, 105 -115 degrees Couple pinches sugar PLUS 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 large egg, lightly … Continue reading Cyndi’s Stir Down Rolls and Do-Ahead Mashed Potatoes Thanksgiving!!
Some names of food are so descriptive you can “see” them in your mind. Like angel food cake. Pecan pie. And popovers. Popovers are fun! They’re sturdier than they look, too. They bake all puffed up with their own importance. Some are high-hat tall. Others have billowy cloud-like tops with squatty bottoms. It’s simple food science: a combination of milk, eggs, flour and salt creates … Continue reading What makes Popovers “Pop”?
Today when chatting with Matt Swaim, Sacred Heart Radio, Sonrise Morning Show the conversation turned to holiday entertaining, and how folks in Bible times entertained. Well, as guests arrived they washed their hands right at the table. Sometimes they carried their own towels; sometimes the host provided them. Guests may have sat on the floor on cushions, mats or rugs, or at low tables with … Continue reading 3 Favorite Holiday Appetizers
About Eating 