keljonma's Front Porch - Settling in and adjusting

[FarmerDenise]

Keljonma, you might try using a bottle as a rolling pin. That's what I used to do, befor I got a rolling pin.
Also juice cans make great bread pans. Just grease them up real good, put your lump of dough in and let it rise and bake as usual. I used to make 6 loaves of bread at a time. I could bake them all in the oven at once. The juice cans get better with age. And every slice of bread is a good sandwhich size.

 

[keljonma]

I would have FD, but I don't have any of those things here. It is just one of the disadvantages of not being completely settled...

ETA: I guess I could have used a filled quart canning jar.

 

[Dace]

Greta story about the chicken patties! I love that. You church really is wonderful at opening up to serve the public, that is awesome!

So the two apple pie recipes are basically the same (except the salt amounts) Can you explain the difference?
Also the second one, with 6 lbs of apples, how many quarts would that make, do you know?

 

[keljonma]

The difference, Dace, is I wasn't paying attention to what recipes I pulled up to copy & paste from my recipe database. I have corrected the second recipe. Sorry for the confusion.

The first recipe is for uncooked apple slices put into hot jars and hot cooked syrup poured over them.

The second recipe calls for cooking the apple slices with the syrup before filling jars to be processed.

6 pounds of apples should fill 7 quart jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.

 

[keljonma]

Today I canned one quart jars of Basil Garlic Tomato sauce. The recipe calls for pints, so I doubled the processing time in the water bath canner.

I am using fresh tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, carrots and peas to make a fresh vegie risotto also.

Basil-Garlic Tomato Sauce
FROM BALL PRESERVING

Makes about 7 (16 oz) pints

20 lb tomatoes (about 60 medium)
1 c chopped onion (about 1 large)
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 T olive oil
1/4 c finely minced, fresh basil
Bottled lemon juice
7 (16 oz) pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.

Wash tomatoes; drain. Remove core and blossom ends. Cut into quarters. Set aside.

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until transparent. Add tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Puree tomato mixture in a food processor or blender, working in batches. Strain puree to remove seeds and peel.

Combine tomato puree and basil in large saucepot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until volume is reduced by half, stirring to prevent sticking.

Add 1 T bottled lemon juice to each hot jar. Ladle hot sauce into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight.

Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes for pints, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check for seal after 24 hours. Lids should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

 

[Dace]

Did you mean fresh veggie ratatouille?

How do you know how many other veggies you cna add without changiung the acid level?

 

[keljonma]

Dace, For the sauce, I don't add anything else.

Today's version of the veggie risotto had yellow crookneck squash instead of mushrooms, green bell pepper, 6 diced Roma tomatoes, Monterey Jack and Romano cheeses, and basil. I've made this before with barley also.

All the veggies were from a friend's garden, except the onion and garlic, which I always have in the pantry. The rice and cheeses were already in the fridge.

Fresh Vegetable Risotto

Serves 4

1 med onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 c sliced fresh mushrooms
2 T olive oil
1 c Arborio or long grain rice
3 c vegetable broth
3/4 c bite-size asparagus or broccoli or green pepper pieces
1 med tomato, seeded & diced (about 3/4 cup)
1/4 c grated carrot
1 c shredded Fontina, Muenster or Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 c grated parmesan or Romano cheese
3 T snipped fresh basil or parsley, optional
Tomato slices, optional

In large saucepan, bring broth to boiling, reduce heat & simmer.

In large skillet, cook mushrooms, onions & garlic in hot oil till onion is tender but not brown. Stir in the rice. Cook and stir for 5 minutes.

Slowly add 1 cup of the broth to the rice mixture, stirring constantly. Continue to cook and stir until liquid is absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth and the asparagus to the rice mixture, stirring constantly. Continue to cook and stir till liquid is absorbed. Add 1 cup more broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, till the broth has been absorbed. This should take about 15 minutes.

Stir in the tomato, carrot and remaining 1/2 cup broth. Cook and stir till rice is slightly creamy and just tender. Stir in cheeses and herbs.

If desired, garnish with some tomato slices. Serve immediately.

Meat can be added to this recipe, if desired.
---

I made the 5 min artesian bread in a loaf pan tonight. It turned out okay except my too hot oven *really* darkened the top of the loaf (it is black!). So tomorrow I will try it again with the oven temp set lower.

 

[keljonma]

9/3/09 - Thursday

Last night after dinner, dh and I went fishing. We didnt catch anything but the fella sitting on OUR bench caught 8 perch large enough to keep. We had a good time anyway. After we got home, we took Titan for a walk, and later watched a Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie) mystery dvd we borrowed from the library.

40 this morning when we woke up. But the sun is coming up and we are supposed to reach 76 today. DH is working today.

I am going to have another go at making the 5 minute artesian bread in a loaf pan. I am still fiddling with the oven thermostat.

Hopefully, today I will also get a couple more boxes unpacked and put away. Moving in is slow work. We are putting items for flea market sale in the spare bedroom. There is a large flea market not far from us that runs every week-end. Some of dhs co-workers say that they had good luck selling over there. Some larger items (tables, bar stools, porch swings, dressers) may be going to Craigslist, so we dont have to haul them.

I am having trouble with my cell phone and cant figure out the problem. So I will have to find some time to work on that today also. My cell phone gets enough signal to ring, but once the phone is answered the signal is lost -- unless I happen to be on the back porch or out in the yard. I had the phone plugged in last night to charge, and this morning I have no charge at all, my battery box is blank. We havent given the new home phone number to many people, so most of the calls on the cell now are from the library and the church.

I applied for a CSR job the other day at a local medical equipment company. So far I havent heard anything. Recently, dh was called by the local chapter of Joni And Friends Wheelchair Outreach, as this medical equipment company has some old wheelchairs to donate. DH signed up as a volunteer for Joni And Friends Wheelchair Outreach a couple years ago, and helping to get these wheelchairs would be his first assignment. http://www.joniandfriends.org/pg_wheelchair.php

The landlord stopped by the other day with his friend that is going to be cutting down some dead trees and cleaning up the fallen trees from the property. The guy was supposed to be here by Tuesday, and so far has not shown up.

Part of the fallen trees fell on the neighbors fencing for their dog area. Yesterday I thought one of the German Shepherds was going to actually climb/jump over the damaged fencing. Titan and I were out in the yard, and that GS was barking furiously and looking for a way out of his yard.

Titan for the most part, ignores these dogs. Yesterday, we were walking in the yard when the GSs started barking, Titan looked up at the sky, looked all around him, then up and down the road (were on a dead-end road now), and then at me. He looked back at the GSs as if to say, What is your problem? There is nothing to bark at!

The poor guy just cant figure out the new neighbor dogs. Of course, he isnt used to neighbor dogs.at the old place, we just saw feral dog packs. Then Titan was the one barking and growling if they came too near the fenced property.

Titan also loves to sit out on the front porch, get some sun and enjoy the weather while I eat lunch at the patio table. So dh told Titan that the neighbors dogs are just jealous of him because they are not allowed out to walk around and go up and down the street (Titan is on a leash at the time), or hang out on the porch.

Well, I best get a move on; the days a-wasting. Have a great day!

 

[Dace]

You risotto sounds great. I was thinking you were canning the whole thing, so I thought you meant ratatouille. Thanks for the recipe, I copied it down


Poor Titan, those dogs must be annoying as heck!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Poor Titan.

Maybe the neighbors dogs need muzzles