A Yen For Yarn

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Deborah

Yen. Urge. Desire. Longing. Is that feeling that washes over you when something so spectacular presents itself that you just have to touch it. To pick it up. To marvel at it. To take it home. Actually, I do believe that is what happened to me when I met hubby so long ago…..

But now it is me with yarn (although I am still nuts for hubby). I picked up a few balls of clearance yarns a few weeks ago, with projects jumping out at me with every one I fondled. Yes, I fondle yarn. I don’t grope yarn, that … Read more...

Peach Crisp Delight

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Deborah

Old friends came up to spend a few days with us at the Homestead over the past long weekend, which made for a heck of a lot of laughter, hijinks (mental note: do NOT give Dave the slingshot again), late nights around the firepit and lots of good food. As much as we hated to see them off on Monday, it was probably a good thing as all that laughter was killing me.

Saturday’s dinner menu was French (Chicken Cordon Bleu, roast carrots with garlic and roasted mini red potatoes) followed by Sunday’s Mexican fiesta of rollos del mar (rolls … Read more...

The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year!

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Deborah

Bwahahahahaha…the kidlets head back to school today. Thank goodness the running amok all day long, screeching like banshees is done with for another summer.

I don’t like children very much. I tolerate them at best. They are loud. They can be smelly. They can definitely be dirty…and they ask WAY too many questions.

Why?

WHY?

I don’t know why! Go ask your father!

So in honour of today’s special day (Back to School Day), I am spending the day in my jammies, knitting, reading, skinning and chopping tomatoes for sauce along with making one last batch of peach jalapeño … Read more...

How To Make Your Own Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Deborah

Here is how to make them indoors instead of using the traditional sunshine method, because unless you live in Arizona or New Mexico, Canada’s humid climate isn’t practical unless you want shriveled, mouldy tomato slices.

Instead, make your own sun-dried tomatoes using that lovely steel box sitting in your kitchen. You know, the one that heats up when you turn the dial thingies?

It’s called The Oven.

All you need is a passel of tomatoes (I am currently inundated with cherry tomatoes and when that happens, I make my own sun-dried tomatoes), a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and … Read more...

Preserving and Canning Food Guidelines

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Deborah

In light of recent news of a jam being responsible for the food poisoning episode last week at Toronto’s annual CNE (Canadian National Exhibition), it shows that even a commercial maker of jam’s and jellies can slip up when making their product.

Home cooks must follow a very strict and rigid set of rules when canning/preserving food for their families to avoid serious illness contracted from bacteria as a result of improper food handling.

I preserve a lot of food for my family, most of it being different types of jams, jellies and tomato products. I have always taken every … Read more...

Tom-ay-toe or To-mah-toe?

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Deborah

I have oodles and oodles of the luscious red garden fruit and have been in tomato heaven for the past couple weeks. Highlights have been making Tomato~Basil Jam, Green Tomato Relish, eating them every morning with my toasted cheese and tomato sammie, as well as thinly slicing them for pizza nights. I have also spent part of this past weekend making homemade pasta sauce. Which turned out 1000% better than last year’s batch, mainly because last year I had those stupid tomatoes that wouldn’t turn colour until December, no seriously, I had tomatoes sitting on the counter at … Read more...

Mint Jelly

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Deborah

We are continuing the Jelly theme this week. Mainly because I have an overabundance of mint (who woulda thunk such a thing could ever happen!), anyone who has ever grown mint can attest to the virility of the fragrant herb.

I used to have mint planted IN the garden. Then it tried to take over the world. I dug it up in the Fall a few years ago, then spent a couple Spring’s digging/chopping out runners that were popping up all over. After 3 years, it has been eradicated from the garden. Until last year when I started one from … Read more...

Peach Jalapeño Jelly

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Deborah

Peaches are probably my second favourite fruit….right after Strawberries. Good thing one is out of season before the next comes in, otherwise I wouldn’t know which delicious, delectable delight to grab first.

I have already put away loads of Strawberry Freezer Jam, Strawberry Lemon Marmalade and bags of whole frozen berries…but now it is time for…

Peach Bonanza Season!

Chipotle Peach Jam was made first, with Peach Jalapeño Jelly hot on its heels. Less labour intensive than the Chipotle Peach Jam, as you just seed and roughly chop the peaches and chop the peppers leaving most of the seeds in … Read more...

Tomatillo Monster

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Deborah

I have a gardening success.
A HUGE gardening success.

I have effectively mastered the art of growing Tomatillos.

Last year I tried to grown them and I failed miserably. Out of the three plants that were lovingly placed in the ground, 2 died and the third one grew and grew and grew and put forth masses of flowers and continued flowering like it was the last flowering plant on Earth.

But not one Tomatillo developed.
I was devastated.
OK, not really, but it was rather upsetting.

Reason being, Tomatillo plants need another Tomatillo plant beside them in order for the … Read more...

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Deborah

I am back from Vacation. Did you miss me? I hope so.

I love vacations. They allow you to spoil yourself with too much food, too many spirits, too many late nights and too many days sleeping in. All that spoiling leads to weight gain and a vacation hangover of monumental proportions.

Time to get back in control before I become the eighth Dwarf named Glutton.

I did accomplish quite a bit of stuff around the Homestead though. The gardens kept me busy picking and weeding, along with herbs being trimmed, washed and hung to dry. With the bounty … Read more...