Category Archives: Kitchen-Cooking & Misc

Flash-Frozen Unblanched Squash

By

IMG_4161-2Several years ago I tried different methods of freezing squash. The truth is, squash has issues with freezing. I found the ‘blanching’ method makes it get real squishy real quick if you ain’t careful. I tried different lengths of time of blanching with different thicknesses of slices, but I wasn’t happy with any of the results. When I tried to use the frozen blanched squash, it was way too squishy regardless of how I cooked it.
So, I tried an ‘unblanched’ method. It took me few tries and adjustments and I finally came up with method that’s okay. I like it better than any other method and I thought I’d share it with you.

*I wash the squash and core it.
*I cut it up in chunks or thick slices.
(To me the thicker pieces seems to hold their form better when thawed/cooked. Frozen squash isn’t firm like fresh squash when it’s thawed or cooked. After it’s it’s thawed or cooked Unblanched frozen squash is flimsy or soft, but it’s better than squishy blanched squash.)
*I spread the pieces out in a single layer on a piece of card board covered with freezer paper.
*I put the board of pieces in the freezer for a couple hours until the chunks/slices are frozen solid. This is called flash-freezing.
*I write the date on a Ziploc vacuum bag and fill it with the frozen squash pieces. I seal the bag and put it in the freezer.
*I usually put the frozen squash pieces in a gallon size bag.
*When I want to use the squash, I take the amount of squash I need out of the bag, then seal the bag back up and put it back in the freezer.IMG_4170

🙂

The photo below is of a rather huge and curious squash plant that’s producing two colors of squash: a yellow/orange 1 ball and a sort of a orange & green 8 ball squash. I’m guessing this plant is a product of cross-pollination. That happens from time-to-time. As a matter-of-fact, it was a cross-pollinated squash that sparked my obsession  interest in squash. I’m planning on ‘trying’ to save some seed from this plant to see what it produces next year. It gives me something to look forward too and now you get to look forward to it too. 😉IMG_4136

This is all for me at the moment. I need to go and freeze some more squash. I just remembered another method that my Mom used when freeze squash. I may try it and if it works, I’ll make a post about it.

I hope you all have a relaxing weekend.

t117013
spgrnbgln

Green Beans packed & Frozen

By

IMG_4109T’is the season to began storing food for the winter. I’m happy that we got 10 packages of green beans packaged and put in the freezer. That’s a lot of good eats. 😉

If you want to know how I package my beans, here’s a link to a website that has a method like we use.  Pick Your Own: How to Freeze Green Beans

0-frebnThe things we do different from pickyourown.org is, we break our beans by hand instead of using a knife
and we use Ziploc Vacuum bags. This has been our favorite vacuum pump for many many years.

I look forward to putting on a pot of green beans in the winter time, cooking them down and reminisce about growing them. lol

I hope you all have a nice rest of the week of enjoyable reminiscing.

 

.madveggie

.spgrnbgln

Round Squash Fun

By

IMG_3911Normally when I start posting about our squash harvest, I would begin with recipes, but this time I’ve decided to start with a bit of fun with my squash.

Since the larger round squash can keep for a few weeks on the counter, I enjoy using them for decorating.
IMG_3943A bit of netting wrapped around a squash and a bit of shiny ribbon makes the squash a bit fancy or a bit slutty. I haven’t decided yet. lol
I think it makes a cheerful and different piece of decor.
IMG_3927In honor of 4th of July coming soon, I set a squash on a mason jar and dressed it as an Uncle Sam character. I drew his eyes and mouth on sticker paper so i could remove them easily from the squash. I put a hat on it and then put a bit of polyfil under each side of the hat for sideburns. I glued some polyfil to a piece of sticker paper and then stuck it on the squash for a beard. The patriotic bow pulls it all together nicely, I think.
IMG_3913I thought I’d go ahead and waste a squash since I have so many. I made a light out of it. It looks really pretty in real life.  I cut out the top of the squash to use as a cap for it.  I hollowed out the squash and drilled holes in it. I put a piece of plastic on the inside on the bottom so the moisture won’t get in the tea light and short it out. I then put a battery operated tea light in the squash and put the cap on it. It looks charming.
To store it when not in use: I remove the tea light from the squash, then wrapped the squash in plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator.  When I’m done with it, after a couple of days, I’ll throw it away.

If you use squash or pumpkins as decor, Be sure to check them every day so you can dispose of them when they go bad.

Why is it with squash, it’s either feast or famine. Just look at the big pile of squash we have picked over the past week and a half.
6-22-2014-weeksharvestWe’ve already given the neighbors so much they won’t take anymore. lol  It’s been a good year for squash so far. Sadly, It could end any day because of weather or pests. So, I’m enjoying them while I can.

Remember to have some fun and play with your food every now and then.

Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday.
🙂


🙂
spgrnbgln

PineApple Upside-Down Bundt Cake

By

IMG_3501PineApple Upside-Down Bundt Cake <– direct link to recipe

To celebrate Father’s Day, I made my first ever Pineapple upside-down cake. I used a recipe by Betty Crocker using a bundt pan. It was really easy to make and turned out well, even though I didn’t have enough pineapple slices. I didn’t realize that the small can only contained 4 slices. But all-in-all I’m quite happy with my 1st effort and I intend to make another someday in the future.

Thankfully, my Husband & Grandson really enjoyed it and that’s what matters most. 🙂

The one thing that I would do differently is:
I would use a large can of pineapple slices.

If you try the recipe, let me know how you like it.

Have a sweet rest of the week.

chef

 

😀
spgrnbgln

Using a Mason Jar with a blender For a Single Smoothie

By

 

My sister has one of those handy dandy single smoothie blender thingies. Like a good little sister still following in her big sister’s footsteps, I wanted one too. I use my blender for smoothies. It’s a bit off-putting to have to wash the many parts for one little old smoothie. So, as I said, I wanted a single smoothie maker.

I went shopping around the internet and was quite dismayed by the prices of the better rated single smoothie makers. I was sad and thought that I’d just stick with my blender… ~sigh of dismay~ and then my little old gears began to turn in my mind and brought forth a memory…

Back in 2001, after a stroke, my Mom couldn’t eat solid foods anymore. My Brother was her primary caretaker and he figured out a way to puree several different foods and keep them on hand without having to clean a complete blender every time: he used mason jars instead of the blender’s pitcher container.
It’s such a clever idea, I asked him how he thought of it.
He told me that back in his younger days, he and his friends made daiquiris in mason jars.
I think it was wonderful he remembered it. I believe that God teaches us things to use later on in life, even when we’re not aware of it. I think the lesson of the mason jar and blender was meant to help during the time of his caring for our Mother.
Mom was certainly grateful for his knowledge and tender care in helping her to try and get better. I wish Mom was still with us. I think she would enjoy the smoothie craze. She loved making milkshakes for us young’uns and our Dad. Mom loved making new recipes, especially dessert type foods.

.

After remembering about the mason jar and blender idea, I got a pint mason jar,  put some ingredients in it and happily made a single smoothie.
Goodness it was tasty and clean up was so much easier.

Unfortunately, not all blenders are mason jar friendly. However, if your blender is one that can be used with a mason jar and if you decide to use this idea, some of my following suggestion might be helpful:
-follow blender manufacturers recommendation about ice or frozen ingredients.
-fill the jar only about 3/4 or less of-the-way full,
-make sure the blender collar fits the neck of the jar securely
-use quick ‘pulses’ until you’ve chopped up the crushed ice or/and frozen fruit and/or large chunks of foods. After it’s fairly well chopped up, blend it normally.
-now and then you may need to take the jar off the blender base, leave the blender collar/blades on the jar, shake the food down and then put the jar back on the base to blend some more.
-you can pour your smoothie in a glass or do like I do and drink it from the jar.

I’m glad I remembered the mason jar/blender idea. I use it for more than smoothies. It’s easy to chop nuts, bread crumbs, crackers or other things, put a ring/lid on the jar and save them for later.

Do you have a favorite blender recipe or helpful hint?
Wishing you a smooth rest of the week.

.