I looked out my window a few minutes ago and was surprised to see that snow covered the cars in the parking lot. This morning's weather forecast hinted to snow mixed with rain, but not enough to accumulate. The winds carrying that cold air over the warm lakes should have been the first clue that we would see more than a dusting. I don't think I'll ever get over the thrill of the first snow. It seems to waken some primative need to stock the larder and bring out the heavier comforters and quilts for the bed. I wonder if others have this same urge. So today was a day to make apple butter; Harvard beets; roasted yam with roasted apples and corn relish. All staples that will hold over the winter. The apple butter is spiked with a good shot of maple syrup. The beets rest in a thick sweet sauce. The corn relish offers a blend of sweet and sour that is delicious on crackers for a snack or used as the base for sweet and sour chicken over rice and other recipes. The combination of roasted yams and roasted apples laced with brown sugar, butter, and apple pie spice freezes well. It makes a great side dish or a super stuffing for acorn squash. This is a dish that should be made when no one else is about. I find that friends like to spoon it on crackers and eat it as a snack. I put the light comforters away today. The heavier quilts now rest on the bed. Most likely, for the next few nights, I'll just kick them off because it will be too hot. But, it is nice to know they are there when needed.
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Nice post ... I'm excited
Nice post ... I'm excited about the first snow, too -- though I'd like to get my leaves raked, first ...
Also, could you edit your post to break it into manageable paragraphs, so it's more readable?
I think it is plenty
I think it is plenty readable
I don't see tonights precip as being snow, though
I call it more ethereal slush
Thanks for the optimistic
Thanks for the optimistic view on winter approaching. :) I am typically considered an optimist, however have struggled with the change of seasons this year. Simply put... I'm just not ready to feel cold yet. I guess I'm with Lazario when he refers to the dusting as ethereal slush. I walked out of work this evening and actually frowned when I saw it. This post was a great reminder of the joy to be found living in a climate such as ours. I haven't the slightest idea how to prepare the wonderful things you mentioned, so I guess I'll start with baking some cookies with my daughter in the morning. ~Thanks
"It seems to waken some
"It seems to waken some primative need to stock the larder and bring out the heavier comforters and quilts for the bed. I wonder if others have this same urge."
Well said.
Katie wrote, " I haven't the
Katie wrote, " I haven't the slightest idea how to prepare the wonderful things you mentioned, so I guess I'll start with baking some cookies with my daughter in the morning. ~Thanks "
All are easy recipes that not only taste delicious but infuse a great 'harvesty' (is that a word?) aroma in the house. Much like one should bake chocolate chip cookies when trying to sell the house. The smell of the cookies invokes an inviting, homey feeling.
I'd be glad to post the recipes if anyone is interested in them.
I'm interested, Bea. Please
I'm interested, Bea. Please do post them.
Happy to supply the
Happy to supply the recipes.
Apple Butter
Prep time is minimal, but cooking takes 11 1/2 hours in a slow cooker.
INGREDIENTS
5 1/2 pounds apples - peeled, cored and finely chopped
4 cups sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS
Place apples in a slow cooker. Combine sugar, syrup, cinnamon, cloves and salt; pour over apples and mix well. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 9-11 hours or until thickened and dark brown, stirring occasionally (stir more frequently as it thickens to prevent sticking). Uncover and cook on low 1 hour longer. If desired, stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Spoon into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Cover and refrigerate or freeze.
Corn Relish
This is the basic recipe. I add whatever I have from friends' gardens. Green tomatos; green and red pepper; corn etc. As long as it all chopped to about the same size as a kernal of corn. Although not in the recipe, I add a tablespoon of pickling spice (sometimes more, depending on my mood).
INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh or frozen corn
2 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped tomatoes
2 cups chopped seeded cucumber
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 cup sugar
1 cup cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 cup corn starch disolved in warm water
DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, combine all of the ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes or until thickened. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
ROASTED YAMS AND APPLES
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound sweet potatoes or yams, scrubbed and cubed with skin
1 pound apples, cored and cut into wedges
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, mustard, brown sugar, paprika, and salt in a large bowl until well mixed. Whisk in the olive oil until smooth, then add potatoes and apples, and toss to coat. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
Bake in preheated oven until the potatoes are tender and golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
Try this as a stuffing for acorn squash halves or as a side dish on it's own.
Harvard Beets
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
3/4 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup water
2 (15 ounce) cans sliced beets, drained
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, vinegar and water. Bring to a boil, and cook for 5 minute. Add the beets to the liquid, and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat. Stir in butter, salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Serve warm or chilled.
The basic recipes come from www.allrecipes.com but I have adjusted them to our taste, or the time available. In many cases I'll use distilled vinegar (white vinegar) instead of cider vinegar. They are recipes that encourage creativity.
Enjoy.
Bea
Bea, what would be really
Bea, what would be really cool is if you did each of these recipes as a separate blog entry, each tagged "recipe."
Maybe if we get enough of them from enough people we can have a "recipe" section.
Howard wrote, "Bea, what
Howard wrote, "Bea, what would be really cool is if you did each of these recipes as a separate blog entry, each tagged "recipe."
Sounds like a plan. I'll do it when I sit down to watch the first game of the series - dare I say "go, Rays!!!"?