Welcome Back to the Heartland!
We've been enjoying lots of seasonal recipes straight out of the garden, lately, and are packing up our pantries and feeding our sourdough(s) in readiness for autumn.
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A Picture Thought to Share . . . I don’t get many pictures of “me” these days – on the blog or otherwise; I’m normally the one wielding the camera.  So when both boys wanted to snuggle after lunch at the air show this past weekend, I handed the camera to T. and asked him to shoot away!  This is the best one.

Outside my Window… There is a crispness in the air and I love it!  I’m browsing autumnal jackets (love it in green!) and thinking about getting my sweaters out of storage over the long weekend . . .

I am thinking… about what to wear for my date night with T. tonight!  Very excited . . . we’re going to go wine-tasting and appetizer-ing at a local wine store before heading to our favorite sushi place.  Can’t wait!  Just bought some trouser-jeans this week and think they might be just the thing with a cute shirt and heels.  Or flats.  Depending on how the day goes.

I am wearing . . . said trouser jeans and a black sweater.

From the learning room… We’ve been enjoying reading nursery and fairy tales from this book lately and just picked up How to Behave and Why which I’m sort of in love with.  In other news, we decided to enroll Lloyd in gymnastics once a week and yesterday was his first class.  He LOVED it!  Perfect for him to get a bit of socializing in, listening to instructions (from someone other than me) and a chance to get his energy out while learning how to control it and his body.  He even got a new backpack for the occasion (and to use as his carry-on on an upcoming plane trip.  Yep.  I’m making him carry his own stuff from now on!)  He loves it.  As you can clearly see!

I am thankful… for a three-day weekend with my family, starting with a date night with my husband.  We need to reconnect as it’s been a trying and very busy summer!

From the kitchen… Not much this week as I’ve been not feeling too well.  I’ve been subsisting on sourdough toast, peanut butter and cheese while a huge quantity of leftover chili sits in the fridge.  Feeling better though and I’m thinking about brining and grilling some pork chops for the weekend, along with some freshly baked cookies!

And in our garden . . . baby shoots from all the winter garden seeds I planted are popping up all over the place!  Snow peas, lettuces, bok choy, spinach and kale.  Waiting a few more weeks to harvest my winter squash (Sugar Pie Pumpkins, Spaghetti Squash and Buttercup squash) and dried beans and planning on planting garlic in the next few weeks.  Thinking about doing some garden re-design so want to make sure I know where they’re going first . . . I’ve been truly inspired by this book on kitchen garden design from the library!

I am creating… Our local JoAnn’s is moving locations and has quite a bit in their current location on sale and clearance . . . went and bought a few yards of various colored linens for summer skirts for next summer and some gorgeous fabrics to make some pillows for our family room which is in dire need of some color (Brown wood floors.  Brown leather couch.  Brown loveseat.  Tan walls.  Black picture frames.  Need I say more?)  I haven’t yet figured out where to set up my sewing nook, but thinking it might have a trial run in the guest bedroom this weekend.

I am reading…. I have begun my autumn reading list!  I read (in two days this week! I couldn’t put it down!) The Physick Book of Deliverence Dane and am working my way through Prayers for Sale (I like the story, but there are some parts where I roll my eyes.  Finishing it, though, because I want to see how it turns out!) before I begin Her Fearful Symmetry, hopefully this weekend sometime!  It’s honestly kind of been a brain vacation reading fiction lately as I’ve just enjoyed getting swept up in the story rather than reading for “knowledge.”  Does that make sense?  But, of course, I can’t forget my cookbooks and am looking forward to cracking Bread : A Baker’s Book of Techniques and Recipes in the near future.  It waits on my counter, looking enticing.

I am hearing. . . The boys playing in the other room.  And listening to recordings of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.  My favorite “podcast” of late as I’m working in the kitchen.  I admit, I’m kind of an apologetics nerd.

Around the house… I’m debating making another batch of garlic pepper jelly, or just putting away the mason jars and funnels for a while.  I’m kind of “canned” out.

One of my favorite things…My beautiful 3-year-old, Lloyd, who has become the most loving boy.  Giving hugs and kisses and “squeezes” to all those in need.  He’s such a sweetheart.

A Few Plans and Prayer Intentions For The Rest Of The Week …

• Pray for guidance, patience and grace as a mama of two.
• My first MOPS meeting next week – I was invited by a new friend and hoping to meet more local Mama’s!
• Some time at the park this weekend, I’m sure!

Thank you to Peggy for hosting! Please go visit other daybooks here . . .

The Listener . . .

The Reader . . .

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo (or two, this week) – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

In my ever continuing journey to both eat unique, seasonal meals as well as cook ahead to make future meals easier I’ve been trying to both relish and enjoy the bounty of summer fresh and sweet, while also preserving some of it for my winter pantry.

Lately, every week or so I have one “Big” cooking day.  I make a loaf or two of bread, feed all of my sourdoughs (yes, I have three now.), maybe shred some zucchini for the freezer, and then choose a recipe from one of my preserving books to make up for the pantry while summer produce is plentiful.

I guess you could say that I’m making my own convenience foods when, you know, it’s convenient.

While flipping through a recent read from the library I did a double take.  Creole Sauce.  As I love all things Southern, Creole Sauce sounded perfect for my next project.  A “Charleston” Creole Sauce is not as spicy as traditional Creole Sauce from Louisiana, but perfect for my family as I’m feeding two little boys from the pot as well.

Daddy can always add some hot sauce on top.

As we’re right in the middle of tomato and pepper season, two of the major components of this sauce, I had to make it.

Plus, as this recipe has so much fresh tomato, along with the lemon juice, it creates a sauce that is sufficiently acidified to be safely canned with just a boiling water canner and it does not need to be pressure-canned.  Perfect!

I can’t wait to enjoy this on a busy, rainy evening this fall . . . perfect to remind us of summer!

Charleston Creole Sauce

lightly adapted from Putting Up; A year round guide to canning in the Southern Tradition

makes 5 Quarts

• 1 stick butter
• 2 pounds onions, chopped (I used the food process for the chopping – saved me some tears!)
• 1 pound green bell peppers, diced
• 1-1/2 ounces (about 2 medium) jalapenos, seeded, deveined and diced fine
• 1/2 bunch of celery, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 12 ounces tomato paste
• 7 pounds tomatoes, halved, squeezed of seeds, and chopped (I used the food processor for the chopping – I just added quartered tomatoes to the bowl in batches to make the job easier)
• 2-1/2 teaspoons picked, fresh thyme, packed tight
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 4 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

Note: Measure all ingredients by weight prior to cutting and chopping.

Melt butter in a large pot.  Add onions, peppers, celery, garlic and tomato paste and saute until onion is transparent, about 10-15 minutes.

Add remainder of ingredients and bring to a low boil, stirring often. This recipe filled my largest pot.

(And yes, that is a pink, glittery spatula.  I think it’s fabulous.)

Hot pack into clean, sanitized jars and process in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes, beginning timing once the water returns to a boil.

Allow to cool on a towel, check for seals and store!

Now.  Do you want to know what it looks like when you actually eat it?

And, maybe, how to use it?

How gorgeous is this?  Stephen Palmer Dowdney, author of Putting Up, has indicated his favorite recipe, which sounds like it is just up my alley as well!

“Fry two pieces of bacon until crisp.  Remove the bacon and fold in a paper towel to cool.  To the remnants in the pan (bacon grease and crackle) add the jar of creole, stirring and mixing well.  At the first sign of boiling, reduce the heat, crumble and add the bacon and add 1-1/2 pounds cooked and peeled wile-caught shrimp.  Let the shrimp heat only, not cook!  Serve over a shallow bed of rice.”

There’s a reason why he writes cookbooks.  Doesn’t that just sound scrumptious?  Seriously, he had me at “bacon grease.”  You could also substitute cooked chicken, add a sliced sausage, the options are endless . . .

Enjoy!

This post is written in conjunction with the Summer Fest 2010, the Nourishing Jams, Jellies, Preserves & More 2010 BlogHop.

Image Credit of the completed Shrimp Creole in the blue bowl is credited to the lovely Ms. Paula Deen. The remainder of the images are mine, however, as I’ve only made the sauce but not yet the meal yet, doesn’t hers look divine?  Thanks Paula!

Today has been one of those days. The whole wheat sourdough bread I had been working on for two days stuck to my make-shift couche and utterly deflated as I tried to get it into the oven. The garlic pepper jelly I’ve been putting off making for days I finally made today.  And it did not gel. The car is stuck. In the driveway. In park.  And it won’t get out.  Of park. T. has been working 18 hour days and is heading out of town later this week so I’ve been juggling it all here at home, alone.  For two weeks. At breakfast, one of my last white bowls was dropped from the perch of a high chair. Broke, dashing oatmeal across my floor.  Dustpan and cleanup crew required. [... To read more, click here ...]

Egg noodles are about the easiest and most healthy version of noodles you can make.  Using good quality, fresh eggs (ours come from our backyard chickens) you can quickly and easily whip up a batch of noodles in about ten minutes. What I love about noodles is it doesn’t matter when you have time to make them, morning, after lunch, or right before dinner, because they just sit and wait patiently for you, until you immerse them in a big pot of boiling salted water and serve them up with something delicious. And, don’t feel that lack of equipment should stop you from trying this recipe. You don’t need a fancy pasta maker to make noodles. Though I have a manual pasta maker, and if you choose to use one, [... To read more, click here ...]

I may have mentioned once or twice . . . or 47 times . . . that my husband and I met while in college in New Mexico.  Both out-of-state students, we fell in love with each other, AND Southwestern Cuisine.  I love any and everything green chile.  Hamburgers?  Infinitely better with chile on top.  Breakfast burritos?  Yes, please.  Shredded Pork? Tortilla Soup?  Calabacitas?  Enchiladas?  Queso?  Stew?  Chile Rellenos?  All better with green chile. So when Hatch Chile Season comes along, I take advantage of it in any way I can! I know that every year around mid-August the chiles are coming. I find reasons to drop by my local grocery, just in case they’ve arrived already.  This past Tuesday I arrived just as they were unloading and setting up [... To read more, click here ...]

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Carol, Commenter #40 who was chosen by Random.org! You might have noticed that I have been experimenting with baking with sprouted flour lately . . . As an avid baker, and inspired by the health benefits of soaking and sprouting flours before baking, I’ve been working towards making the two work well together! I’ve had some great successes, namely my sourdough breads, but haven’t loved soaking flours for quick breads, pastries or cookies. Either I don’t have the time to soak (hence the term, “Quick” bread), there’s not enough liquid or acid in the original recipe to make soaking possible, or the flavor and texture don’t work as I’d hoped. Recently I had the opportunity to try some organic sprouted flours from To [... To read more, click here ...]