Tonight’s snack – Gingered Applesauce and Red Wine
January 14, 2012 - Written by DianaTonight I’m relaxing – my snack – Gingered Applesauce and Red Wine. What are you snacking on?
We picked up a bunch of apples to sauce this weekend, but I couldn’t wait and made some on the stovetop tonight.
Clintonville Farm Market – Fantastic Locally Grown Produce…. But The Parking, Oh No.
October 16, 2011 - Written by DianaAs the Farm Market season winds down, you sometimes need to venture further away to farm markets that are still going strong. Last week we went to North Market for the weeks groceries, but we wanted to go somewhere else this week so we headed to Clintonville because we’ve heard nice things about their market. Clintonville is out of our way since it is on the north side of Columbus and we live in a different county south and west of there. I have to say – the raves were on target.
Clintonville really does buy into the local producer idea. Not only were all of their farmers local, but the seller has to be the farmer, or from the farm. No brokers or auction buys, which I really like; we had to be really careful because we did buy from some brokers earlier in the summer who we thought were farmers, but they not only weren’t farmers, they bought at an auction and didn’t know the farmer at all. Clintonville Farm Market makes sure you get it straight from the farm without a middle man.
Clintonville also has a nice diversity. I can find my Ohio Bison …
Paw Paws 101
September 29, 2011 - Written by Diana
California has avocados, the gulf has oranges, Wisconsin has cheese, but Ohio, Indiana & Kentucky(and some others) have paw paws . Paw paws are short lived, and don’t travel well. They draw fruit flies and turn black as they ripen. They go from just right to past just right in a few days, but those just right days are pretty darn worth it. My husband and I have been trying to grow a stand of paw paws - well, maybe it’s an exaggeration – our stand started out as three twigs, and now it’s two trees and another small new tiny tree starting on it’s way. So far we get about two to four paw paws a year, not enough for more than a taste, but what a lovely taste it is.
What’s a paw paw?
It’s been said to taste like a banana custard, but to me it’s more like a banana mango. It has a thick skin with kind of banana mush inside and big black seeds. They grow in the tops of the paw paw trees, just under their long flat leaves. In the …
Getting the Best From Your Farm Market
September 11, 2011 - Written by Diana
As the smaller Farm Markets are coming to a close for the season, I have some lessons that I learned to share with you. As the near by ones close, I will go to some that are further from my home, especially if I can find where my favorite vendors will be. I am determined to find fresh local seasonal ingredients for my family. Here are some lessons I’ve learned…
1. Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food – Recently I’ve felt duped by some of the vendors, and even the local market stores. Not every vendor grows their own food or knows the farmer who grows the food. We have found boxes that list an auction site as the place the vegetables have come from instead of a single farmer. I have started asking for the source of the tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. When I go to the stand, I will ask the farmer where they get the vegetables from. They have to be the farmer, or know the farmer. They have to know whether the farmer uses pesticides or fertilizers and how long before the market, the vegetables are picked. …
How Does Losing Your Sense Of Smell Affect Your Cooking?
September 3, 2011 - Written by DianaIf you couldn’t smell, how would it affect your cooking, your eating, your over all enjoyment of food. My mother has no sense of smell, and I don’t think I really understood how it affects her, but recently we’ve been discussing it more. She’ll ask me what I put on the chicken, and I’ll tell her thyme and ask her if she could taste it. She’ll say no, but she was guessing what it was because it was green. I know she can taste salty and sweet because she avoids things that have too much either way. She can also taste sour and loves pickles.
Without smell would you care about cooking?
We were discussing Cookerati and cooking in general – though my mother admits she really doesn’t have an interest in cooking and preparing. She goes through the big preparations for family gatherings when we are together and the food is delicious, but cooking for fun is not her thing. When my husband and I decided to put up batches of peaches, she stood firm and said she would do laundry and cleaning, but the peaches were for us to tackle. Actually our tackling went easier because she cleaned up around …
Proper Gardening Protection – To Keep You Safe From Harm
August 3, 2011 - Written by DianaFor years I’ve always roughed it in the garden. Seriously, if you can’t dig with your hands and get dirt stuck under your fingernails, you are a wimp. Well, tonight I feel like a wimp. I saw a tomatillo lying on the ground, pulled the plant out of the way, bent over to retrieve the tomatillo and promptly poked myself in the eye on a plant stem I didn’t see. I feel like I should be wearing safety glasses. I probably won’t, but my eye is tearing and in pain. So tonight while I’m putting cold compresses on my eye and thinking about how that plant managed to be where it was when I know I moved it out of the way; I’m going to discuss what you need to do to protect yourself while you garden in order to put home grown veggies on the table.
End of July Foodie Musings
July 28, 2011 - Written by DianaFirst I want to announce the winner of our Kitchen Aid Hand Mixer is >>>>> Erinn S. who said she “Would love to make homemade salsa!”
@DebNg – you asked this week what people would bring to a potluck. We had some pretty good responses from our Cookerati readers.
I want to thank Airplanes and Dragons for the linky set up allowing Cookerati to link up with people looking for a contest.
If you have time to look at the comments, Julie L posted a strawberry jello layered dessert that brought back memories. My husband’s grandmother brought it to my home one day for dinner. It really is delicious and I’m thankful for it.
Last weekend at the farmer’s market we bought sweet italian bison sausage links. When I asked for the sausage, they ask me if I wanted links or bulk. I wanted bulk – and they asked what we did with the links – why links instead of bulk. I said that we use the links for spaghetti. We cook the sausage, let it rest and then slice it and simmer it in the sauce. We don’ t want the ground up into tiny pieces, we …
Seven Reasons Why I Love Eggs, But I’m Not Into Raising Chickens!
July 20, 2011 - Written by DianaUrban Homesteading is big now, really big. Growing up in the city, you wouldn’t think we would hear roosters often, but we did, though I’m pretty sure they were for cockfighting and not for dinner. Now though, everyone wants to raise their own chickens in order to be sure of what is in their eggs. Organic, free range, outdoor roaming chickens can produce quality eggs, but the label on the carton is not a guarantee that the big chicken ranches are doing it your way. My brother in law has always raised chickens and turkeys, my brother who owns 80 mountain acres started raising his own chickens a few years back, Rachel from Hounds in the Kitchen is raising hers in the city. It all sounds so wonderful, to watch the baby chicks grow up, eat your bugs and present you with lovely fresh eggs, but you know it’s just not for me.
Here’s why:
1. We would need stuff. Just like raising fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, cats and dogs, you need the equipment. It doesn’t have to be store bought, it can …
Fourth of July – Foodie Recap
July 5, 2011 - Written by DianaThis isn’t everything we had for the fourth, we don’t have any burger photos and those were especially delicious. Some stuff was bought at the deli and enjoyed by all, but we won’t recap those. We had 4 generations at the family gathering. Here are a few of our specialty items:
Uncle Merle's Zucchini Relish
Pam's Stuffed Peppers
Beet, Feta, Spelt Salad with a Strawberry Vinaigrette
Pasta, Fresh Peas and Lamb Mint Sausage in a Dill Mint Pesto
Patriot Cakes Decorated by the youngest generation
Good Food, Wonderful Family, Great Conversation and a fun day. Plus the best fireworks show ever!
North Market- Farmer’s Market
July 2, 2011 - Written by Diana
These photos don’t do justice to the vendors. My camera phone was on video, and so I have half second videos but not photos, drat. There were lots of nice vendors at North Market though some had packed up by the time we arrived – maybe because of the rain. Athens Market beats them in the grain department, and variety, but still North Market has plenty of veggies, Oink Moo Cluck brought the home grown meat (we bought chicken). There were a couple of cheese places – I got feta for my salads, and my husband wanted the chipotle – which my daughter thinks will go well in her mexi-salad (along with the chorizo from Blues Creek inside the market). My husband found some great looking carrots too. We visited with Isaac from Honey Run Farm, he has awesome smelling soap – I love, love, love the mint smelling soap. We picked up soap and honey from him. Someday my husband wants to start his own beehives, but we’re still in the thinking about it stage.
My husband suggested …
