Here’s a great video from Jamie at Guild Brook Farm. It’s a safety video I often watch as a reminder. Jamie goes over canning safety in terms that’s easy to understand.
Jamie goes over each canner. Along with jars and their uses. Jamie goes over lids.
I am trying to get back into meal planning. I only have one issue: brain fog. Yeah! What now? How to get put of a brain fog? So I am going to use this as an opportunity to fight my way out.
What are some meals we enjoy? Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice. It’s chicken and cheese. Amazing! Rice is something we have an abundance of.
Cookbooks. I have no shortage of cookbooks. Pretty much every cuisine on earth. No kidding. I’ve said before my favorite is my late mom’s 1954 Better Homes and Gardens. As for baking, covered. Canning books covered as well.
Pinterest. This is my go to for inspiration. Not kidding here. Recipes to decor it’s always here. Meal plans from average folks like us. Even celebrities like Ina Garten and the late Julia Childs.
Kitchn. This is another app I use on my phone. Home to great resources. Kitchn is part of a larger group.
One last site to look at and I saved the best for last. King Arthur Flour site. This is amazing.
I have been rattling my brain for a great post for today. Here it is super easy chili. You already have everything you need.
Ingredients: 1 onion (whatever form you have)
Garlic to your liking. 1 pound Ground meat in you have
Chili powder you have Salt and pepper
Brown your meat off and drain off fat. Put everything in your pot or slow cooker. Season your chili your way. You to add seasonal vegetables, good for it. This recipe is meant to be a general outline for you to start with and build upon. You like beans in your chili? So do I. I use chili ready beans.
Don’t go buy anything special. This is about using what you have on hand. Here are a few things I put in my chili. The great thing with chili is you can taylor it around your (and/or your family’s) likes. And food allergy issues. You can change for spring and summer making it lighter. Fall and winter you can make it hearty.
Mushrooms. I grew up with canned mushrooms in chili and American Goulash which isn’t that different from chili. Other veggies where bell peppers and tomatoes.
Beans or no beans. I like beans in my chili because it increases the fiber, protein and other nutrients. Same goes with veggies.
Sides. Again we use whatever cheese in our fridge with sour cream. Pasta no pasta. We are a no pasta and chili family. I had macaroni with American Goulash. Of course, corn bread.
There you go. That’s our chili and a look at the chili I grew up eating.
This video is awesome as always. Kim is making two or three meals and apple cider.
Pot roast with Chinese Five Spice looked delicious. I think personally we would have rice or noodles in the place of mashed potatoes. Fresh bread would be awesome. Slightly cooled with a beautiful butter spread on it. Yum! Okay I haven’t had breakfast and we’re going into eleven o’clock.
Chili redefined. Texas BBQ Chili looked incredible. It’s two of my favorite things in one dish. The only thing that would take this to another level is Cornbread! A delicious cornbread is a beautiful thing.
The last thing here is apple cider. Kim goes through the process of making apple cider from scratch. No kidding y’all. I will never complain about the price of apple cider again.
I hope y’all will go waych this video and let me know what you think.
https://damndelicious.net/2014/10/03/easy-lo-mein/
I love Lo Mein… The noodles, Julienned veggies and sometimes protien. What makes dishes like this perfect, you can use whatever veggies you have in the fridge.
When making Lo Mein there aren’t many rules. With the internet, there’s no shortage of recipes for the sauce. Awesome! No more guessing. And cheaper to make at home. Keep the following on hand.
Soy sauce. Find one you love and keep it close by. Fish and/or oyster sauce. Lastly sesame oil.
Noodles. Keeping Chinese egg noodles on hand will save money.
Veggies. Carrots, snow peas, and Napa Cabbage for starters. Onions are a given. Along with green onions or spring onions.
Proteins. Chicken, beef, pork, or seafood. These just a few common options.
https://www.creativegreenliving.com/2018/11/copycat-starbucks-caramel-apple-cider.html?m=1
This screams FALLLLLL! Yep! It’s got all of the flavors of Fall. Apple, cinnamon, star anise and whipped topping with caramel sauce drazzled over it.
I have to confess I am not a fan of Starbucks. To me they are over rated and over priced. So when I come across a copycat recipe of a favorite product of theirs you bet I will share it.
Apple cider is the essential sign of Fall. When I go into a store and see the half gallon jugs of cider, I get excited. Have y’all seen the brooms that are scented? Yeah they smell heavenly. My local Kroger has one with cranberry. Goes without saying, if you have pets be careful with the cinnamon ones.
Moving on to my favorite Fall cooking equipment: Slow Cooker. Who am I kidding? I love using my slow cooker year round. Anyway, put the cider of your choice in your slow cooker and let it get warm.
Carmel sauce. Here’s some good news for you, Starbucks sells their carmel sauce in a bottle which will make drizzling easier. Your self control is your problem. Just saying!
Whipped topping. What brand do you use? We are stire brand because honestly I can’t tell the difference. However, on a major holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas (or whatever major holidays you celebrate) I say go all out. It’s once a year. Enjoy yourself.
https://recipesfoodandcooking.com/2017/06/09/baked-ravioli-casserole-2/
This is one of my favorite casseroles to make. Seriously there’s hardly no work to it. In the link above the Mary Ellen uses frozen raviolis and jarred sauce. I have no doubt that this is delicious. To make this same casserole quicker I use ravioli in a can.
Yep! Chef Bori what to hell it is. You know the can with the red and white label with a chef on it. Yeah! Place mozzarella between canns or on top of one and bake ( (350° as usual) till cheese is melted. Easy as that.
In Mary Ellen’s version she chops up an onion and heats up the sauce a bit. Lays down the raviolis. Then places cheese on it. Yum!
What to serve with it? Garlic cheese bread is a given. Tomato sauce counts as a veggie. However, why not serve an antipasto tray as well. Make feel extra special.
Dessert should be light. You have a heavy pasta at dinner so a light fruit sorbet would be great. Or a fruit salad in a bowl or stick. Just keep it light.
I have shared this video before. However, it should be shared at least once a year prior to harvesting season.
The lady in this video survived botulism. Not many people can say that. In the video she tells how she ended up with botulism. From ther the lady shares her story about her stay in the hospital. And her story of a long hard rehab.
Botilism is no joke and nothing to play with. Out of approximately four thousand cases a year <1% end in death. That’s lower than it used to be due to medical advances. There can be long term issues like respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological. These can be as long as ten or twenty years. Or as short as two years.
I hope y’all will enjoy this video and kerp her story close to your heart.
The most basic of human needs is food. Since February when NATO countries went on their sanction craze citizens across NATO countries have been forced to pay more for everything. I mean everything from heat to food and gas (petro). When we speak up we’re told we should pay more to support Ukraine in their struggle against Russia. Government parasitic puppets go so far as to say they will gladly pay more for everything. Of course, they can afford to pay almost two hundred percent more for everything. Whereas you and I can barely afford to breathe. That’s not a joke.
Here’s the problem. Political parasitic puppets make decisions that their money masters benefit from and they benefit from. It’s insane and most people are over this bullshit. Plan and simple. We are over it. This article details how tough things are going to get for Britain’s citizens. Yet the citizens are being talked down to like they’re children. ‘Change your shopping habits’ is just one of many insults being hurled at them.
https://www.rt.com/business/562705-uk-food-prices-soaring/
https://www.mommythrives.com/20-gourmet-sandwiches-perfect-for-lunch/
These sandwiches look beautiful. Even the vegetarian one looks pretty good. Here are the three that stood out to me.
Turkey with cranberry jelly with brie chees. Yum! Thanksgiving in a sandwich. This is awesome.
Second was Garlic Knot Chicken Parmesan. You read that right. Garlic knot bread made big enough for a sandwich. What meat eating person doesn’t like chicken parmesan? I have no idea.
The headliner show stopping sandwich was the Cuban! Of course, after living in Florida for 21 hears I love Cuban sandwich. It’s crunchy bread, dill pickle, mustard or mayo (I use both) and two types of pork. Hello yes! 🥪
What is your favorite sandwich? I almost forgot, these sandwiches could go to school with the littles.
Welcome to Scratch Kitchen!