Congratulations goes to.....Cyndi!!!

Cyndi is the winner of the newest cookbook from Gooseberry Patch! Congrats!!
She left the following comment:

"Winter.. definitely Winter is my favorite month!!! Slow cooking goes right along with it too! Anxious to get this book and try the recipes. I love,Love...LOVE slowcookers!!!"

Thanks to everyone that stopped by my blog for a visit and left a comment. I loved reading what season everyone liked, and why. So much fun!

Keep visiting, there will be more recipes, fun farm stuff, and giveaways!

Giveaway winners are chosen by random.org.

Grandma's Old Recipe Box

 

 

 

 

While sorting through my dads things this past summer and fall...we found my grandma's recipes. To me, they were treasure! My grandma had recipes that she wrote, clipped out of newspapers and some that were probably given to her by others, since I don't recognize the the handwriting of some.

Some are just ingredients written down, no instructions on what to do with them.

I found one that has the instructions on how to make a brine for preserving meat. And if you like liver patties, the "how to" was clipped out of an old yellow, brittle newspaper.

Christmas candy like Divinity and Penuche. Million Dollar Fudge.  I remember the kitchen smelling so yummy during Christmas, and to have the handwritten recipes of these favorites is priceless.

I made one recipe for dinner tonight. It was one of the clipped out ones, and had the title above it "The Winners Recipe".

Easy Tender Pork Chops

 

by a Mrs. J.E. Pinney

of Rushville, OH

 

1/4 cup ketchup

1/2 cup water

2 T. honey

4 pork chops

 

Bake at 325 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. Seal baking dish.

 

( I wrote it out exactly as it was printed. Very brief and simple!)

 

They did come out very tender, and such a sweet flavor. We enjoy this recipe.

 

 

TV Shows

With it being winter here in Ohio, I have to admit that I enjoy watching TV more than any other time of the year. But, I hate to just sit and watch whatever.
I've found some really good shows on a channel that we have through Dish. Being farmers, we tend to go in the country/agriculture direction. RFD-tv is a cool channel. And one of our favorite shows that we've tuned into for the past couple of years would be Larry's Country Diner. Has anyone else watched this? I love the who concept of the show, a small town type diner setting, some of the old greats in country music, and a little this n that. And it's something we watch as a family.   

http://www.larryscountrydiner.com/

 

A show that follows Larry's Country Diner is Country Family Reunion. Nothing like listening to some of the old greats sitting around, talking, and singing some good songs.

 

Anyone else have any favorite shows? Let me know. We don't have a lot of time to tune in to tv...but when we do, we like good shows that we can enjoy as family. :) And I need to add my daughters new favorite cartoon.... Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids...I remember watching that one as a kid!

 

Slow Cooking All Year 'Round....Review & Giveaway!

I'm excited to share some recipes with you from Gooseberry Patch's newest cookbook,

 Slow Cooking All Year Round!

 

The first recipe I chose, Chicken & Wild Rice Soup, from the chapter

"Warming Winter Dishes".

My family enjoyes soups during the cold winter months, and I love that it is ready when I come home from work!

 

 

Chicken & Wild Rice Soup

 

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs cubed

1/2 c. onion, chopped

1 c. celery, sliced

1 c. carrot, peeled and diced

6-oz. pkg. long grain and wild rice mix

3 14-1/2 oz. cans chicken broth

2 c. water

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 T. dried parsley

Optional: 2 t. white vinegar

 

In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients except vinegar; mix well. Cover and cook on low setting for 6 to 7 hours, or on high setting for 4 to 5 hours, until chicken is tender. Stir in vinegar, if desired. Sprinkle with parsley. Serves 9.

 

 

 

Shamrock Breakfast Bake a recipe that is ready when you wake up in the morning. I put it together and started it as I went to bed. The house smelled yummy when we woke up! It's  is from the springtime chaper called "Simply Speedy Springtime".

 

 

 

Shamrock Breakfast Bake

 

1/2 lb. ground pork breakfast sausage, browned and crumbled

4-oz.can diced green chilies, drained

1/2 onion, diced

1/2 green pepper, diced

1-1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese

10 eggs, beaten

 

Spray a slow cooker with non-stick vegetable spray. Add 1/3 of sausage to slow cooker; top with 1/3 each of chilies, onion, pepper and cheese. Repeat layers, ending with a layer of cheese. Pour eggs over top. Cover and cook on low setting for 7-8 hours, until cooked through. Serves 4 to 5.

 

 

The chapter "Slow & Easy Summer" I chose Chicken & Black Beans. We like to serve this over white rice.

 

 

 

Chicken & Black Beans

 

4 to 5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed

15-oz. can corn, drained

16-oz. jar salsa

8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, cubed

 

Place chicken in a slow cooker. Add beans and corn; pour salsa over top. Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours. Add cream cheese. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes longer, or until cream cheese melts. Stir sauce before serving. Serves 4 to 5.

 

 

Now, my favorite season of all for cooking and baking....fall. And "Hearty Harvest Favorites" chapter is full of some wonderful, cozy fall recipes! I chose Penny Social Pulled Pork. It was a wonderful treat to come home from work one evening to these sandwiches.

 

 

 

Penny Social Pulled Pork

 

1 yellow onion, chopped

3 lb. boneless pork loin

2 T. garlic, minced

32-oz. container beef broth

18-oz. bottle barbecue sauce

16 sandwich buns

 

Place onion, pork, garlic and broth in a large slow cooker. Cover and cook on high setting for 6 to 7 hours, until pork is fork-tender. Drain slow cooker; shred pork with two forks. Add barbecue sauce, a little at a time, until you have it as saucy as you want. Reduce temperature to low setting. Servie on buns with additional sauce, if desired. Makes 16 servings.

 

 

 This cookbook is full of yummy, easy recipes. Perfect for our busy schedules. It's wonderful to come home from work and school, and sit down to a hot meal!

 

 

 Giveaway!

 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of this cookbook just leave a comment to this blog post, along with an email address so that I can contact you if you win. In your comment, just for fun to go along with the theme of the cookbook, what is your favorite season. Giveaway begins tonight, January 14, and ends

Thursday, January 31 @ 7 p.m.

Good Luck!!!

 

 

 

 

2013....A New Year!

I hope that everyone had a nice holiday season.
We enjoyed our Christmas eve, where we had three gifts for our daughter to open. I planned it. She had new PJ's, Stompeez slippers, and the newest Ice Age movie, her favorite! We all snuggled on the couch, all the lights were off except for the Christmas tree, and we watched the movie. So cozy!

Christmas morning, however, was not quite so memorable. My husband was sick, and considering the past problems he's had with diversticulitis, we made an early morning (4 a.m.) trip to the ER. Thankfully, after 6 hours and lots of tests, we found that he would be fine, but had to have a liquid only diet for the day. We made it home around 10 a.m. and opened presents, and then took a nap! The cows were milked that evening, and thankfully things got back to normal.

My husband did good when he picked out my gift. I did drop some hints, and thanks to QVC I found that I had to have a Keurig! I do like it very much. Anyone else have one? Let me know how you like yours. My favorite flavor of coffee is the Pumpkin Spice.

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!!