to make 1 quart:
2 lbs apples, core removed
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
Chop the apples into small chunks. Stir with lemon juice and sugar. If you want the apple pieces to maintain their size, cover the bowl and chill the mixture overnight. Otherwise, the apple pieces will break down a bit while cooking. Just depends on the texture you want.
Prepare a water bath canner and 1 quart-sized jar or equivalent of smaller jars.
Place the apple mixture in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. (This barely fits into my 3-quart cooking pan.)
Stir the mixture occasionally, watching for overflows, and cook for about 20-30 minutes. Cook until the apple jam reaches gel stage.
Immediately remove it from the heat and pack it into jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace, and seal with 2 part canning lids.
Process in the water bath according to your jar size and elevation:
Process Time at Elevations of
Style of Pack Jar Size 0 - 1,000 ft 1,001 - 6,000 ft Above 6,000 ft
Hot Half-Pints or Pints 5 min 10 15
Quarts 10 min 15 20
Table from https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/canning-fruits-and-fruit-products/apple-butter/
Turn off the canner and allow the jars to sit an additional 5 minutes before removing them to a towel on the counter. Check for seals after a few hours, and store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Apple Jam for Canning
Saturday, August 31, 2024
Strawberry Rhubarb Cake
Cake:
9 oz strawberries, fresh or frozen
2 1/2 cups almond flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup corn starch
1 Tbls baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
Topping:
1/2 pound rhubarb, fresh or frozen
1/3 cup brown sugar
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease or line an 8 inch cake pan with parchment paper.
Purree the strawberries in a blender until smooth.
In a medium bowl, combine strawberries with the rest of the cake ingredients. Stir until mostly combined, then use an egg beater to blend it together.
Scoop the cake batter into your cake pan and smooth the top.
Bake the cake for 30-35 minutes or until you can insert a skewer or toothpick in the middle and it comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the cake pan.
While the cake is baking, chop the rhubarb into small pieces. Combine with the brown sugar in a small pot and cook over medium heat until it simmers, the rhubarb is soft, and the sugar is syrupy. If using frozen rhubarb, cook it enough to soften it before adding the sugar. The rhubarb should become mush.
Remove from heat and let cool. Once it is cool enough to handle, purree the mixture in the blender until totally smooth.
Spread the topping over the cake.
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Classic Snickerdoodles
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup coconut oil or shortening
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 400° F.
Chop the butter into small cubes and combine with 1 1/2 cups sugar, coconut oil/shortening, and eggs in large bowl. Use an egg beater to cream the ingredients together.
Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt, stirring until it forms a dough that sticks together. It may take a few minutes to mix in the chunks of butter.
In a small bowl, stir together the 1/4 sugar and cinnamon.
Shape dough into small balls. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with baking parchment.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. It is ok if they don't look completely baked. They will repose on the hot sheet and will stay soft instead of getting dry and crispy from baking longer. Place the cookie sheet on a wire rack to cool.
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Chicken
2 cups chopped tomatoes (can be fresh or canned)
3/4 cup tomato pasta sauce
3/4 cup evaporated milk or cream
2 Tbls corn starch
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp salt
2 Tbls dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Add tomatoes and pasta sauce to a slow cooker.
Whisk together evaporated milk/cream and corn starch and add to the slow cooker. Stir in parmesan, onion, garlic, salt, basil and pepper.
Add chicken breasts and press down into the sauce.
Cook on low for 3-5 hours, until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
Serve over pasta, rice, or crusty bread.
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Cranberry Chutney
4 cups (12 oz) fresh cranberries
1 cup raisins, dried cranberries, or similar dried berries
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 cup water or vegetable stock
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup minced Granny Smith apple
1/2 cup minced celery
In a medium pot, combine the cranberries, dried fruit, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and water/stock. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer over low heat until the berries start to pop, about 5-7 minutes.
Add the onion, apple, and celery. Stir occasionally until the mixture thickens, 5-10 more minutes. Remove from heat.
For best flavor, refrigerate it overnight.
Cranberry Sauce
Gluten-Free Butter Biscuits
Saturday, November 11, 2023
Almond Oat Scones
2 cups flour, or a gluten-free flour mix
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter, frozen
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup sliced almonds
extra milk
Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder together in a large bowl. Grate the frozen butter and cut it into the flour mix until there is no dry powder.
Whisk milk, sour cream, egg, and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Pour over the flour mixture, add the oats and almonds, then stir to combine.
Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Dump the dough onto the sheet and press it together into a ball, then press it into a thick, flat disk. Use a dough cutter to cut it into 8 wedges. Pull them apart from each other. Brush the tops with the extra milk. Put the pan into the fridge or freezer while the oven is heating.
Preheat oven to 400 F. Bake for 18-25 minutes.
Friday, August 25, 2023
Cheddar & Chive Scones
2 1/2 cups flour
2 Tbls sugar
1 Tbls baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs
2/3 cup buttermilk
2/3 cup grated sharp cheddar
1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar (to top scones)
1/4 cup chopped chives
Preheat oven to 375 F.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter. Stir in the cheddar and chives.
Whisk 2 eggs and combine with the buttermilk. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just moist.
Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface and knead lightly. Cut dough in half. Roll each half into a circle about 3/4" thick. Cut each circle into 4 wedges. Whisk remaining egg in a small dish and brush on top of the scones.
Let the scones rest for about 10 minutes before baking. Sprinkle each scone with about a tablespoon of grated cheddar.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on the edges.
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Bright Chicken Curry
1 Tbls oil
1 onion, sliced
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb chicken meat
2 tsp turmeric
2 tsp curry powder
1-3 Tbls Thai red curry paste
1 cup tomatoes, finely chopped or roughly pureed
1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
1 cup apple sauce
1 Tbls fish sauce
2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
1 1/2 cup spinach, roughly chopped
You can cut the chicken into chunks while it is raw, or take it out after cooking to cut it and add it back in.
In a large pot over high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onions and salt, and turn the heat to medium-low. Stir every so often, and cook until the onions soften, about 5 minutes.
Add the curry powder, turmeric, and Thai red curry paste to the onions, and stir until onions are coated in the spices. Stir in the chicken and tomatoes.
Add the coconut milk, apple sauce, fish sauce and brown sugar, and bring to a simmer.
Simmer until the chicken is cooked through.
Stir in the cilantro and spinach.
Serve over rice.
Monday, August 7, 2023
Dundee Biscuits
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
Sliced almonds
Preheat oven to 400° F.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, and oats. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
In a small bowl, beat together milk and egg yolk, then stir into flour mixture.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/2" thick. Cut out biscuits with a 1 1/2" round cutter. Reroll the dough and cut more biscuits. At this size, the recipe should make about 18 biscuits.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place biscuits on it.
In a small bowl, beat the egg white. Brush the tops of the biscuits with egg white, and top with sliced almonds.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Plum Bars
1 1/2 cups flour or a gluten-free flour mix
1/2 cup nut flour
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
Filling:
2 Tbls honey
1 tsp. baking powder
1 lb plums
4 eggs
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9x13" cake pan.
Stir together the flour and nut flour. Cut honey and butter into the flour until there is no more fine powder and it can be pressed together into dough. Press dough evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
When the crust is baking, remove the stones from the plums, then combine the corn starch, honey, baking powder, plums, and eggs in a blender. Blend until liquefied.
Pour the filling over the hot crust, and bake for 20-25 more minutes.
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Orange Sauce
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbls vinegar
2 Tbls soy sauce
1/4 tsp garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp black pepper
In a medium pot, add orange juice, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
Saturday, July 15, 2023
No-Knead Butter Rolls
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1 egg
3 cups flour
Add 1/2 cup water, butter, and 1/4 cup flour to a saucepan. Heat on medium heat until butter melts. Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add sugar and salt, stir until dissolved.
In a small bowl, beat the egg.
Add yeast, egg, and remaining water to mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly. Stir in the rest of the flour until totally combined.
Cover bowl with greased foil and place in the refrigerator for 6-48 hours.
When ready to bake, remove dough from the refrigerator. Place dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece between your hand and the counter, working your hand in a flat, circular motion.
Place rolls on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for one hour.
While rolls rise, preheat oven to 425°F . Bake rolls for 18-25 minutes, until golden-brown.
Slow Cooker Sweet Pork
2 lbs boneless pork roast
2 cups salsa
1 cup brown sugar
Mix the salsa and brown sugar together.
Place the roast in a slow cooker and then pour the salsa/brown sugar mixture on top. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for about 4-5 hours. At this point, it should be cooked through and soft enough to shred easily. After shredding it, you can cook it on low for 1-2 more hours, or serve immediately.
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Peanut Sauce
2 Tbls soy sauce
1 Tbls lime juice
1 - 2 Tbls honey
Optional: 1-2 Tbls sriracha
Optional: 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Optional: 1 tsp chili powder
Serve with rice or noodles, add chicken and/or vegetables as desired.
Saturday, July 8, 2023
Apple and Orange Cake
Thursday, July 6, 2023
Focaccia Bread
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Simple Chicken Curry
3/4 cup onion, diced
2 Tbls oil
2 tsp yellow curry powder
2 Tbls red curry paste
13.5 oz (1 can) coconut milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons corn starch
In a large skillet over medium heat, stir chicken, onions, and oil. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally til chicken is just cooked through.
Sprinkle yellow curry powder over everything and stir 1 minute.
Add coconut milk, red curry paste, and salt. Bring to a low boil.
Whisk corn starch into water until dissolved. Add to the pan and stir 1-2 minutes til thickened.
Serve over rice or rice noodles.
Chicken Pad Thai
1 Tbls coconut oil
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/2 pound boneless chicken, sliced into thin strips
1 Tbls minced garlic
1/2 Tbls ground ginger
8 oz cabbage
1 Tbls soy sauce
2 Tbls lime juice
1 egg
1/3 cup raw peanuts
Cook rice noodles according to package directions, drain, rinse under cold water; set aside in a bowl with a small amount of cold water.
Add the sesame oil, coconut oil, and onion, to the pot, sauté over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
Add the chicken and cook for about 3 minutes, or until done, stirring frequently.
Add the garlic and ginger, and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Add the cabbage, carrots, soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, and honey; stir to combine, cover pot with a lid, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 3 minutes, or until cabbage wilts and softens. Remove lid and stir.
Add the cooked noodles, turn off the heat, and stir well to combine. Add the scrambled egg, green onion, peanuts, and cilantro, and stir to combine.