Posts Tagged ‘Recipes’

Friday, November 10, 2023

MAKE IT: Potash Mtn. Pumpkin Bread

Summit of Potash Mountain

There are some foods that, for me, are synonymous with the fall season. This factor is likely due to my Grandma Betty. When I was a young child, my family lived with my grandparents for
several years. During that time, I enjoyed my grandmother’s cooking (and boy, could she cook!). Grandma Betty cooked everything from scratch, and was insistent on making some recipes every
year, as part of her family tradition. Each fall, I could count on her baking loaves of pumpkin bread. For Grandma Betty, pumpkin bread started not with canned pumpkin, but with pumpkin
that she would bake (roasting the seeds, of course), and then turn into multiple, delightful dishes.

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Tuesday, October 10, 2023

MAKE IT: Cinnamon Apple Bread

Cinnamon apple bread

I love apples. Not so-called “delicious” apples, that I find anything but what their name describes them to be, but the myriad of actually delicious apples that are available in New York during the Fall months. Although Cortlands, Empires, and Macouns are among my locally-available favorites for snacking and cooking, I most love the mystery varieties that grow on my old farm property, from trees planted long ago by people, or donated more recently from deer, bears, and other animals who enjoy the apples as much as I do.

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Thursday, August 3, 2023

MAKE IT: Perfect Pesto Sauce

fresh basil

When I was young, maybe eight or nine years old, my mom made dinner one evening in the middle of the summer. She served spaghetti to us, with a very odd looking green sauce. She encouraged me to try it, and that was when my love for pesto sauce began. 

My mom has always had a green thumb. Her garden is impressive every year, and her massive pots of basil growing all summer long mean that we will have a bounty of fresh pesto to eat during the summer and freeze for the winter. I can’t explain it… but in the middle of February when there is endless snow, defrosting a batch of summer pesto is a sure fire way to pull you out of the winter blues – even if it’s just for one meal.

I will say though, as much as I have loved pesto sauce for most of my life, I think the recipe my mom follows is the best. And we have to give credit where credit is due, her recipe was a hand me down from my Aunt Debbie, my mom’s sister in law – who received the recipe from a little Italian restaurant in Clifton Park NY. (Where it came from before that, is beyond me!)

Now I share it with all of you!

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Monday, July 3, 2023

MAKE IT: Bella’s Frozen Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats

Bella's frozen peanut butter and banana treats

A healthier option than ice cream, these frozen peanut butter and banana dog treats are simple, use whole ingredients, and will help your furry friends to cool down during those hot summer days. Bonus – they can also double as people treats! Silicone molds make it easier to pop the treats out, but you can use any container you have on hand (I sometimes just spread the mixture in a larger container and then cut it into smaller chunks once it’s frozen). For dogs like Bella, who always are trying to sneak a little extra something, you can share these treats with them without any guilt that you are giving them something unhealthy. Bella hopes that your dogs enjoy these as much as she does!

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Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Make It: Will’s Protein Calzones

Calzone

My son, Will, loves to experiment with comfort food recipes, making them healthier than their original counterparts, using ingredients that we might normally have on hand. This calzone recipe is one of his favorites, using his staple “protein dough” and whatever meat/sauce/cheese/spice combination he might crave that day. The day that the photo for this recipe was taken, he used turkey pepperoni, marinara sauce, and low-fat mozzarella cheese.

Other favorites include ground venison and spices with provolone cheese, venison sausage and diced mushrooms, a mixture of minced venison, potatoes, garlic, and spices, or sofrito and rice mixed with diced, cooked wild turkey. The beauty of this recipe is that you can be creative with your filling, and know that the dough will also be good for you!

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Saturday, December 17, 2022

MAKE IT: Baked onion rings

baked onion rings

Onions, the most commonly used member of the allium family, are not only fantastic sources of flavor for food but also provide a nutritional punch. They are rich in Vitamins C and B, fiber, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. They are not only nutrient-dense but have also been widely used in traditional medicine for millennia. The organosulfur compounds that give onions their characteristic tear-inducing qualities also provide noted health benefits that include promoting cardiovascular health through antiplatelet and antithrombotic functions, reducing unhealthy bacterial loads, providing cancer-preventing antioxidants, and promoting improved respiratory health.

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Monday, September 26, 2022

MAKE IT: Bella’s Biscuits

Meet my hiking buddy, Bella (short for Belladonna). Bella is an entledoodle, or the offspring of an Entlebucher Mountain Dog and a mini-poodle. If you had not previously heard of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, you are not alone! They are in the same family as Bernese Mountain Dogs, but are the smallest of the breeds within that family. When crossed with the hypoallergenic mini-poodle, what are produced are adorable, intelligent, compact, herding/hunting, mountain-scrambling, active, non-shedding, fun-and-cuddle-loving, loyal puppies.

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Saturday, September 3, 2022

MAKE IT: Bree’s Baked Sweet Potato Fries

My daughter recently visited. She loves vegetables, so we experimented with several different recipes during her visit (more recipes inspired by her visit – vegetable-based and otherwise – to follow in the upcoming months.) One of the most popular snacks that we made during her visit were these baked sweet potato fries. Although ridiculously simple to make, I have not made them in a while, so I enjoyed making (and eating) them with her. This recipe can be paired with your favorite dipping sauce. Ours was a maple-infused barbecue sauce that we created to pair with these fries, but feel free to use whatever sauce you love best. Enjoy!

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Sunday, August 21, 2022

MAKE IT: Will’s Venison and Potato Pierogis 

My son has been on a meat-filling-cooked-in-dough kick recently, so we have been making a lot of calzones, strombolis, and all sorts of variations of piecrust-covered meat pies. I probably should not have been surprised when he asked me to help him create a meat and potatoes version of a pierogi. Although different from the traditional pierogi, which I have been told usually contains cheese, the filling of this version is very simple, incorporating meat, potatoes, onion, salt, and pepper.

The dough is worth taking a little time to make from scratch, and has the most amazing gummy texture (think bagels) after first being boiled before then being fried or (the option we chose) baked. I have made these several times over the past few weeks, and have substituted ground turkey for the venison, and dried and canned potatoes for freshly-made mashed potatoes with excellent results. Will’s current favorite variation, though, is this version. I hope you enjoy it as much as he does! 

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Saturday, August 6, 2022

MAKE IT: Zucchini Fries

 

Garden bounty is often equated with an abundance of zucchini. This thin-skinned member of the cucurbit family is delightfully versatile, lending itself to a wide variety of dish options. Some of my favorite ways to eat zucchini are cooked together with onions and tomatoes (fantastic in a foil packet over a campfire!), as pickles, fritters, or zucchini bread. However, when I came across this recipe for zucchini fries, I knew that I would have to give it a try. I am very glad that I did! These fries are delicious and slightly addictive, and a tangy and savory way to change up your zucchini game. It is important to remember to salt the zucchini slices before preparing them as fries, so that you do not end up with soggy fries. Also, you can use any type of unsweetened milk for the first batter layer. I have also substituted watered chickpea flour for the milk with excellent results. Enjoy!

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Saturday, July 23, 2022

MAKE IT: Zesty Salsa

I love fresh, locally-grown tomatoes. I really can’t get my fill of them, especially during the peak of tomato season in the North Country. One way that I can extend the magic of freshly-harvested
tomatoes is to can them. Although I do can the tomatoes, themselves, I also love to have salsa on hand year-round. This recipe for zesty salsa can be made as spicy or non-spicy as you like. For
less-spicy salsa, make sure to use a mild “hot” pepper, and remove the seeds and inner membranes (and be careful after cutting those peppers to wash your hands before touching your eyes!)

For a spicier salsa, select peppers with a higher Scoville rating. Although this salsa is delicious as-is, this recipe is designed to process the jars in a hot water bath, ensuring that the salsa will be shelf-stable. As always, when preserving food, make sure to only use quality produce, precisely follow processing directions, and do not alter the recipe. Thankfully, this recipe is user-friendly, even for canning newbies! Enjoy!

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Saturday, July 2, 2022

Make It: Gazpacho Andaluz

You might have realized by now that I dearly love tomatoes. And soup. So, combining tomatoes AND soup makes me very happy! There are few things as magical as using fresh produce in
summertime dishes, so why not consider using your garden’s (or farmers’ market) ripe bounty to make this simple and refreshing soup? I have sometimes substituted infused vinegar from Lake
George Olive Oil for the white vinegar for a slightly different, decadent twist (hello, amazing balsamic vinegar!) You can also top your soup with sliced hard-boiled eggs, slivers of prosciutto, or (my son’s favorite), bacon crumbles from Oscar’s Smokehouse. Regardless of whether you consume this soup plain or topped with goodies, I hope you will enjoy this version of gazpacho.

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Saturday, June 11, 2022

MAKE IT: Black Bean Soup

I love black beans, and am always delighted to find new ways to prepare them. Although I have had black bean soup before, I never had black bean soup quite as delicious as the soup I enjoyed at the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, Florida (a huge recommendation to visit the Columbia if you ever find yourself in Tampa!) Despite a stomach already full from tapas, after the first spoonful of this amazing soup, I then proceeded to very quickly devour the rest. From a nutritional standpoint, this soup is low in fat, rich in fiber and protein, and a fantastic source of iron, magnesium, thiamin, folate, and riboflavin. Despite being good for you, it is also delicious and filling. Enjoy! (Serves 4)

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Saturday, June 4, 2022

MAKE IT: Southwestern Squash and Corn Soup

I love summer squash, and eat as much of it as I can during the months when it is growing abundantly. Although I usually eat it roasted, in ratatouille, or cooked with other vegetables in foil packets over a fire, I had never before combined it with potatoes and corn in a soup. However, when I saw an instant pot variation of this recipe from Brand New Vegan, I knew that I had to try it. I am so glad that I did! This soup is easy to make, inexpensive, and filling. Delicious by itself, it is incredible when topped with the red pepper maple relish. If you do not have an immersion blender, you can also carefully puree the soup in small batches in your blender. Enjoy!

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Sunday, May 15, 2022

Harvest of the Month: Eggs

Feeding Hens at Essex Farm. Photo by Ben StechschulteEggs, more specifically, chicken eggs, are an integral part of traditions, celebratory dishes, and the everyday diet around the globe. Historians estimate that humans have been eating eggs for roughly 6 million years. Originally, people foraged eggs from wild bird nests until they were domesticated around 1500 BCE in Ancient Egypt. Throughout history, eggs have become a symbol of life, rebirth, renewal, and fertility for many cultures. 

Today, humans eat about 88 million tons of eggs each year worldwide. China is the top producer of eggs (roughly 34 million tons), then the United States (roughly 6.9 million tons), and then Mexico (roughly 4 million tons). While we may think of them as a staple of the American diet, countries like Japan, Paraguay, China, and Mexico consume more eggs per person each year. 

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