This fall, stock up on inexpensive apples and make them work hard for you while they save you money. The key is get the apples as cheaply as possible and use them for more than one purpose or use as much of the apple as possible. One of my favorite ways to do this is to get five or six large apples, and peel them, trying to make sure that I get a few good long peels in the process. I cut the apples and then place them in the crockpot with 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup of sugar … Continue reading →

No trip to the farmer’s market would be complete for my family without being able to grab an assortment of whoopie pies for snacking on the way home. Whoopie pies are a staple of a treat out here in Pennsylvania. Rumor has it that they were named by Amish youngsters who when finding the treats in their lunch pails would shout “Whoopie!” While the traditional whoppie pie consists of a chocolate cake with a white creamy filling, there are many variations of whoopie pies to be tried, including ones made with oatmeal cookies or a red velvet cake. Once you … Continue reading →

Have you ever wondered what to do with leftover taco meat? There are two things that my family is loving right now: the ground turkey that we have been getting at a local farmer’s market, and using that ground turkey for homemade tacos. Earlier in the week, my husband cooked up about three pounds of the stuff using taco seasoning, and we naturally had our tacos that night. My eldest son, who is ten and so skinny that people wonder if he is being neglected at home, can put away eight tacos all by himself. So we usually don’t have … Continue reading →

While my pantry is overflowing with cookbooks and recipes, I do tend to find myself using the same three cookbooks over and over again. I seriously do need to clean them out, since the cookbooks have now filled the glass hutch of the pantry and are spilling out onto the space on either side of the microwave below. If I were forced to downsize my collection of cook books, these are the three that I would save. The New DoubleDay Cookbook by Jean Anderson and Elaine Hanna Originally published in 1929 and then revised in 1975 and 1985 (and perhaps … Continue reading →

I love garlic. I grew up with it practically as a staple. My husband on the other hand grew up in household where black pepper was an exotic spice that was only used on special occasions. When we first married, he told me that he didn’t like garlic. He still sort of confesses to that, even though he knows that he gets garlic in something or other at least once or twice a week and enjoys the dishes. My sons are the same way. They profess to not like garlic, but they gobble it up anyway. My daughter would ask … Continue reading →

What do you do with an abundance of organic apples? Turn them into sweet apple butter. It is finally the season for the wonderful smell of cooking apples and spices in the crockpot. This recipe will make your whole house smell so incredible and bring the good things of the fall season rushing into your home. The recipe will make a good amount of apple butter. I was able to fill four large canning jars plus another large glass dish of it. Because of the amount made, you can store it for use throughout the fall and winter or be … Continue reading →

Last time it was tomatoes, but not anymore! The apples have been coming in everywhere this week, and I find myself with an abundance of them. From Johnny Gold, to Gala to Granny Smith, our fruit floweth over. Because of the abundance, I have been trying a lot of apple recipes this week, and I would like to share them. And I am not the only one. Friends and neighbors are all taking advantage of all of the available apples. My neighbor just made two different apple pies. Whether you are in the same situation now or will be soon, … Continue reading →

With summer unofficially over, grocery stores will soon be packed with fall’s harvest. Apples and pumpkins will fill produce sections and the smell of fresh pies will fill your home. After a while, though, you might get a hankering for a taste of something different. When you are get tired of apple this and pumpkin that, then consider making the following refreshingly light desserts that will have you thinking of summer even when the leaves are piling up in your driveway. BANANA GINGERBREAD Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour 1/4 cup wheat germ, toasted 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon … Continue reading →

Make the most of summer’s incredible weather by hosting a family picnic. The dishes don’t have to be fancy; instead look for recipes that are portable, flavorful and can be doubled to feed multiple guests. The following are some of my family’s favorite picnic recipes. They get high marks for looking and tasting great. What’s more, they can be made ahead of time so you don’t have to slave away in the kitchen on the day of your outing. ITALIAN ANTIPASTO SANDWICH Ingredients for Sandwich: 2 cups spring mix lettuce 1/4 cup red onion, finely sliced 1/4 cup fresh basil … Continue reading →