Simple Soups

                                                       LEFT OVERS SOUP - DELICIOUS!

Soups are one of my favorite things to make because they usually don't take a lot of work, they taste good, and they are nutricious.  Around Thanksgiving, Dale, my oldest son, told me about a soup that used the turkey carcass, and all your leftovers.  To be honest, I couldn't imagine it tasting good, but he assured me it was delicious.

 A few weeks ago I roasted a cornish hen, with dressing.  I had chicken gravy and vegetables.  The next day I had about 1/2 of the chicken leftover with the rest of the fixings.  I thought, "I will try the soup Dale told me about", so I put the chicken pieces into broth, added the dressing, the gravy, some carrots, and some other leftover vegetables I had in the fridge.  I had a few thin noodles that I also threw into the pot.

The outcome:  DELICIOUS!  This is a way to use what ever you have in your fridge to turn it into soup.  I also think the sage in the dressing really added to flavor.

Do you have some easy, quick and tasty recipes you would like to share with me?  I would love to hear from you.

Blessings,
Grandma B

ZUCCHINI BREAD Mmmmmm!

With all the zucchinis I had to make some sweet bread.  While I like most recipes for this bread, this might be my favorite.  The  secret spice in these loaves is 'nutmeg'.  This is a very easy recipe and I promise you will enjoy it!

SQASH BREAD

(Copied from:  Ste. Genevieve Plain Good Cookin Recipes)

2 cups grated summer squash

2 cups sugar

4 eggs, beaten

I cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup pecans (or more if you like)

Mix sugar, eggs, oil, salt, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Add squash and mix well.

Stir in flour and pecans and blend well.  Pour into well greased 8X4 inch loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until the top springs back when lightly touched.  Remove and cool on racks. 

Yeild: 2 loaves.

I hope you enjoy!

Blessings!

GrandmaB

THE ZUCCHINI'S HAVE LANDED

For years I have heard the horror stories of people who plant 'zucchini' squash and it just keeps multiplying and multiplying.  I had never experienced this for myself because our zucchini plants would always bring us an ample supply then the heat would cause them to die off before I had my fill.  This year is different!  These long green beauties seem to be multiplying before my eyes!

Sidney began to bring in the harvest sometime last week.  He laid a few zucchinis on my countertop and I was so pleased.  A few yellow summer squash were placed into the mix.  Ahhhh!  I sliced, breaded and dropped these delicious chunks into the hot oil!  For a few minutes I was in heaven!  Sooooo good!

My daughter-in-law introduced me to a delicious zucchini relish, so I decided to make a few batches.  Todaymy final count was 36 pints.  Now I'm beginning to see the bottom of the squash basket!  With the remaining squash, I sliced them and placed them in freezer bags so we can enjoy the bounty this winter.  I also carefully placed extra grated squash into 2 cup portions for winter soups and breads.

Sidney and I have given away at least a bushel of these babies this week to friends and relatives, but is the basket empty yet???  NO WAY!  I just looked and there are at least 6 to 7 more squash to do something with, and tomorrows zucchinis hacen't been picked yet! 

Apparently a few of my friends are having an invasion too because I have been offered zucchini from at least 3 of them.   Let's see, what else can I do with zucchini?  Do you have any ideas?

ZUCCHINI RELISH (Dale & Jill’s )                    

24 cups of grated Zucchini squash
8 onions chopped or grated
4 large green peppers chopped or grated
4 hot peppers
2/3 cup or 10 Tbs of salt

Spinkle with salt and let stand overnight
Drain and rinse with cold water

Bring to boil:
5 cups apple cider vinegar
3 tsp celery seed
7 cups of sugar
4 tsp pickling spice
2 tsp tumeric

Pour over the squash mixture and bring back to boil.
Pack into hot sterilized jars and seal. 10-12 pints.
I give these jars a 10 minute water bath

I hope you enjoy your summer harvest!
Blessings!
GrandmaB

HOME MADE ICE CREAM - FUN FOR ALL

 Everyone should experience the making of home made ice cream sometime in their lives!  Is it better than what you can purchase?  Is it cheaper?  The answer to both of these is "NO", but it is the experience of making it that makes it so special.

On Memorial Day I decided that we should make ice cream in our electric ice cream maker.  We hadn't used this ice cream maker in quite a long time, so I had Sidney get it out of storage, washed it thoroughly, and made the custard that would go inside. 

The grandkids really got into helping by placing the ice into the bucket and sprinkling it with the rock salt.  Then they waited....and waited.

Finally the maker came to a slow down and then to a stop.  I called Oli and she was more than ready to sample the goods.   Andrew and her licked the huge paddle.  What fun!  Everyone seemed to enjoy the frozen custard covered with fresh strawberries.   I'm sure this was a memory that will last a lifetime.  When was the last time you have made home made ice cream with your family?

Blessings,

GrandmaB

Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

 Who doesn't love chicken noodle soup?  Because of the Federal Food Program our Daycare Center is required to serve certain portions of meat, grains, vegetables and more.  Canned Chicken noodle soup tastes good but is lacking in enough chicken and noodles to satisfy the guidelines so we had to get inventive and now everyone is happy.  Here's what we do;  We add additional chicken and noodles to the canned broth.  I personally use canned chicken, but you can use whatever works for you.  We usually add some additional fine noodles, but the wider noodles work good too.  Let this simmer until the noodles are done and within minutes you have a soup that is like home made.  We add no additional seasoning, just the broth from the canned soup.  The kids and adults love it!  Let me know how you like it and share your ideas for quick and easy fixes for others to see.

Blessings!
GrandmaB

BLUE JARS

As I have told you before, I get the biggest pleasures from the smallest things.  Last Saturday proved to be one of those times.  I decided to go to a yard sale just down the road from me and I was so glad I did.  There on a lonely shelf sat 13 blue canning jars with their original lids.  The price was right and I found myself with all 13.  

I'm not sure why but I have always loved glass whether it be clear or colored, but with these blue jars I felt like I had found a treasure.  I shared a few with my kids, then washed them up and began to fill them with the simple things I had on my pantry shelves, like rice, barley, beans and more.  Then I proudly displayed them on top of my refrigerator.  Who would have thought that 13 blue canning jars could make someone so happy!

Blessings!
Grandma B

KEEP GRAINS FRESH

You too can purchase grains and beans in bulk and store them in glass jars with lids.  Bugs and critters will stay out while you keep freshness in!