Joy in the Kitchen!

I'm not sure where Mom got the recipe for this relish, but it was written on the back of a 1960 TV listings sheet.   Reading what was on TV in 1960 was pretty interesting!  Did you know there was nothing on until 8a.m. and the last programing was done by 10:30p.m.   Ah... those were the days!  (though it was before my time so I don't remember it... just sounds lovely!)    Sometime I'll have to borrow that paper and list the programs.  So fun! Anyway - this relish was a staple in my house as I grew up.  It is great on hot dogs or with sandwiches or roast beef.  It's sweet like bread and butter pickles and nice and crunchy.  Mom has made some and shared with me through the years.  It's time I made it on my own!  I've got about a bushel and a half of green tomatoes to use! Mom used to borrow a hand grinder that ground fairly course.  You can't put the veggies in a blender or it will be too fine....

We've had a beautiful, mild fall this year!  Only one light frost in August and then some wonderfully warm days that allowed the garden to produce several weeks past what we usually expect.  I am especially thankful for extra tomatoes!  I've had enough to do 24 pints of salsa and 7 quarts of tomatoes so far.  I'll get another 7 quarts of tomatoes at least off of what is ready tomorrow. There is a freeze forecast in a couple of days.  Time to bring in produce that I want to keep.  Today the kids helped and we picked ripe tomatoes, all the green/red peppers, tomatillo's, green chili's, yellow squash, zucchini, pumpkins, cantaloupe, and winter squash.   We dug all of the onions and set them out on a tarp to set the skins and let them dry. We are so blessed this year with a great harvest!  I took pictures of some of it to share with you.  I was AMAZED at the size on a couple of the onions and green peppers.  Hate to even cut into...

Look at that beautiful peach!  A few years ago we decided to risk planting a peach and pear tree.  We're a bit cool for these trees to thrive in our area, but we have neighbors who've successfully grown peaches so we thought we'd give it a try.   This year our little tree produced 2 peaches.  One of those were low enough for the little boys to reach.  So sad the day they proudly brought that little, green peach in to show me.  However, THIS peach was high in the tree.  Safe from curious, helpful, 3&4 year-old boys.  Tonight I checked and this beautiful peach looked ready to pick!  After taking pictures as proof of our peach-growing skills, I peeled and then carefully sliced it in to 6 slices.  We each enjoyed a nice fresh peach slice grown in our own Idaho yard!   Excited to see if it will produce a few more peaches next year!

I'm not sure where this recipe came from, but I remember eating them and puckering when I was fairly small.  The recipe calls for tiny cucumbers, about the size of your little finger.  It is a great way for me to control my cucumber patch right now since it's producing more cucumbers than I need for other pickles!  These are quick and easy.  They do make you pucker up though.  Very tangy and the horseradish adds some bite. These are one of the reasons I love to can.  You won't find these pickles on the shelf of any store, and they are a fun addition to a special meal!  (I especially love them with roast beef.) Sally Lund Pickles Enough finger-length cucumbers to fill 3 pints (or 6 half-pints if you prefer) Wash cucumbers being sure to brush off all the prickly spines.  Pack in to jars.   Mix the following together, heating enough to dissolve the sugar: 2 C. apple cider vinegar 1/4 C. brown sugar 1/4 C...

I don't remember when Mom started making Dilly Beans , but she has as long as I can remember and I've always loved them.  My kids really love them.  I save them for special occasions like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Birthday's.   If I didn't limit them, they'd be gone before fall was over.  I don't count these as a vegetable much to my children's dismay. The recipe is simple and EASY.  They can be done with minimal equipment and canning skills.  My biggest problem in sharing this recipe is giving a quantity of fresh green beans.  When I do them, I just pick my patch of beans, save out the nice straight ones for this and snap and can the rest as regular green beans.  Then I do however many quarts of dilly beans as I ended up with straight beans for. :)  Yesterday it was 6 quarts.... today I had 4 quarts. Warning :  This vinegar solution is lower in acid that the currently recommended amounts.  It is the same reci...

We used to make these easy candies all the time.  I had about forgotten about homemade tootsie rolls until my daughter texted me today for the recipe.  She said she wanted to make some sort of treat that wouldn't use the stove or oven.  This treat is PERFECT! My daughter Jaylyn, who is 11, mixed these up in the mixer by herself.  It is easy enough to mix with a spoon and then knead with your hands until it's mixed smooth though, so a younger child could do without a mixer and just a little supervision. (Assuming you don't mind little kid hands & little kids tasting all over your dough.)  It's a bit like working with playdoh. Tootsie Rolls 3 C. powdered sugar 3/4 C. regular powdered milk (not instant) 1/2 C. cocoa powder 2 T. butter or margarine, softened 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 - 2/3 C. corn syrup Mix dry ingredients until blended.  Add softened butter, vanilla and corn syrup. (start with the 1/2 C. & see if you need m...

My husband's Grandma was such a cookie maker.  Each Christmas for years she baked cookies and made candy.  Lots of it!  She packaged it in boxes and sent to her children and grandchildren.  These O'Henry Bars often made it into those packages. They're really similar to a granola bar. At least those chocolate covered granola bars.... which I think are just a glorified candy bar most of the time.   I don't think you'd be out of line (much) to eat one of these for breakfast or a keep you going sort of snack.  Sometime I'm going to try adding craisins or rice crispies in the dough. These are easy and quick to make.  We did have a hard time getting them to cool in the house though so we put them in the freezer for a bit to speed things up.  Perfect!   You will want to have a glass of milk close by, they are rich! O'Henry Bars 6 C. quick oats 1 1/2 C. brown sugar 1 C. butter, softened 3/4 C. corn syrup 1 tsp. vanilla...