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thecannningwife
xoxo

New site!!!

So if case any of you didn't know my new site is up and running. Please check it and and be sure to follow me there:) New post as well on curried apple chutney....xoxox

http://www.thecanningwife.com/

Need a quickie???

Need a fast and easy lunch or dinner idea??? Well I have got the perfect, yummiest, most mouth watering  sandwich for you!!! Warning..... may cause weight gain but honestly its worth it:)


Sandwich #1


Of course if your making this amazing sandwich it helps to have some amazing canned jalapenos and spicy pickles!!



In a bowl mix one cup mayo, one chopped jalapeno, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard and 2 cloves finely chopped garlic.



I LOVE ciabatta bread so that's what I used. Spread spicy aoli generously over the bread.



For the first sandwich I fried some bacon and then cooked my shallot chicken burger( which I get at Costco) in the bacon fat. If you don't have these just use roasted chicken or turkey. 



Place bacon and sliced pickles on one half and then the chicken and shredded cheese on the other, bake in the oven at 350 until the cheese is melted and the bread is nice and toasty!! Then pull out of the oven and put on your cold and crispy iceburg lettuce. Hungry yet??



OHHH...BABY!



Time to devour....no need for chips.

SANDWHICH #2




This one starts with steak, any steak will do. I used sirloin. Olive oil, salt and pepper is all you need, sear 4 mins on med-high on each side or until the steak is done but on the rare side.



Let steak rest while you saute one green pepper and one medium onion sliced  in the same pan you seared the steak. Add a little more olive oil to your pan and season with salt and pepper. Saute about 4 mins or until onion has some good color too it. 



 I used the same spicy aoli I used on my other sandwich and smothered the ciabatta bread with it. I then sliced the steak against the grain and placed on one side of the sandwich. Top the other side with the sauteed onion's and a heaping pile of shredded cheddar cheese.... bake at 350 until cheese is melted and bread is toasty.



Words can't express how insanely good this sandwich was, and the best part it was so quick and easy to make!!



So I  couldn't just stop at one bite and was glad I made my hubby one because I didn't want to share.
You have to make these yum and quickie sandwiches, I promise your won't be disappointed.



Jalapeno Jelly...

It's always tricky trying to plan a day, or time, to fit in some canning. You have to be focused and prepared and hopefully not be interrupted. After all it can be a very scientific, fun, complicated, therapeutic mess!! Which I happen to love.  So today seemed like the perfect day. Although I always make an exception on the interrupted part, but that's a given:)  It was your typical cold, cloudy, and windy kinda day. Which means no heading outside for an adventure walk with Parker. More like a painting, coloring, and playing with trucks and trains kind of a day.

Today was the perfect day to make a beautiful Jalapeno Jelly!! After all it will make a perfect and easy appetizer to bring to a party on top of cream cheese. Also, I think it would make a fabulous glaze for grilled  chicken. There are so many fun things I want to try with this easy jelly. Here's how you make it....



12 oz's  jalapeno peppers,stemmed, seeded, and deveined. Put in food prosser with one cup cider vinegar.



Puree peppers and vinegar until smooth, and get your canner, jars and lids ready.



In a large deep stainless steel saucepan combine puree, 1 cup cider vinegar.

 



Stir in 6 cups sugar and bring to boil over high heat, boil hard 10 mins.




Careful not to walk away!!! or this will most likely happen to you:(
Stir the entire 10 min, then stir in 2 3oz packages of liquid pectin boil hard 1 min.




Turn off heat and quickly pour hot jelly into jars leaving 1/4 inch head space. Wipe rim and center lid on jar,
screw band on, not too tight. This recipe is from Ball Blue Book of Preserves. (always check canning safety guidelines for your area) For the elevation  I'm at  water bath 10min.



During the cooking process I had to open alot of windows!! Spicy:)



Complete satisfaction!! Six half pints...would have been 7 had I not walked away for a split second.



Even though I am running out of storage for all the goodies I've canned thus far, I am already planning my next canning adventure...stay tuned for a little curry chutney, yum!
Happy canning!!!

The FarmWives Cook...





A new year is upon us. A new year to stick to those good old resolutions, a new year to be more thankful,  a new year to follow your dreams??  I'm not sure what this year holds for me...but I know that I will be a trusting servant to the Lord and I will be grateful for every day I get to hold my baby boy and be with my family. I know that I will be cooking and canning LOTS:) I also have a few friends who I love and admire, these girls share in a passion of mine, and together well lets just say everything tastes and looks pretty darn good.  So here's to a new year!!!  And here's to The FarmWives....



The FarmWives is a fitting name for the 3 of us. We all have some farm girl in us, and we all have small little farms we love and have big dreams for.  One  of the main things we all have in common is our love for cooking and serving. So while I'm still the canning wife, I'm also a farm wife:)





 




Meet Angella, a wonderful cook and very talented writer, http://lifegiven-ang.blogspot.com/

 


Meet Meghan,  a fun loving  and a very "tell it like it is" kind of gal. Everything she makes is amazing so when you get an invite to dinner at her house its a good thing:)




Each of us is very unique and different in our own special way, but I have to say that's what makes us an amazing team. So while we know we love to cook and serve, we also know that every time we cook together it's a huge blessing to each of us and a chance to learn from one another. 



Did I mention we taste everything we serve?? Its a very important rule... most rules I detest but this one is a keeper:)



So while this new year holds many things I know one thing is for certain. I can guarantee lots of canned goods taking up space in my house that I don't have, lots of fun new recipes to try and test, and most of all, venturing out into the unknown...and no matter what, I am going to be smiling because everyday God gives me, whether good or bad, is another day and another chance to love, laugh, cry, and most of all learn.



Just a few more pretty food pics..it's the fresh eggs that give this potato dish it's amazing color.



This bread recipe is really to die for. It's so simple and we are still debating on giving away the secret...
I can say that you spread that amazing mixture all over fresh bread and broil till bubbly perfection.





These are Ange's creation and they are so delicious I am getting so hungry writing this!!
Check out her lovely blog for the recipe. http://lifegiven-ang.blogspot.com/




A tasty pasta dish we've served for two of our FarmWives dinners...



This salad is a family favorite, and now almost everyone we serve can't believe how good it is...yes it really is that good.



So Happy New Year's to all and here's to a new year of new and fun adventures!!! CHEERS!!!!


http://canningwife.blogspot.com/2010/10/days-like-these.html  Check out this post for another introduction to the FarmWives:)

Christmas Dinner On The Farm...

This year I had the privilege of having all the holiday dinners at my farm. I normally have a very organised and planned out menu that I think about constantly until the day  has come and gone. Usually, I spend most of the time in the kitchen and by the end of the day I am spent. I miss out on visiting with the family too.. So this year I did things a bit differently and honestly I think it worked out quite well....



Of course I had to treat myself to a cute apron for all the cooking I have done this month.



I always set my table a couple days in advance so I can keep adding to it and just admire. This year my name cards were my canning gifts, each person got a different jar of cheer to take home.



This year  the gifts were the champagne jelly, cranberry butter and a cider pomegranate simple syrup which was awesome in my Christmas champagne.






This prime rib was simple and delicious, I got it from Epicurus.com.  Its Prime rib Au  Poivre.
I knew I would love it since I make steak Au Poivre for Jason and I on special occasions. This is just Dijon, garlic and crushed black pepper corns.



This is the only time of year I wish I had 2 ovens. With this beauty in the oven it was hard to get the other 3 items done at the right temp, but it all worked out. Maybe one day I will  have a canning kitchen in our garage we plan on building.

 



 


I made a  Cognac shallot sauce to go with the prime rib. I also made a twice baked potato casserole from Emeril which is amazing. Super rich:)



These are yorkshire puddings which were a cinch to make. Good too.




So in the end I mingled with my guests, sat down to a wonderful meal and really enjoyed the good company. The house was a complete mess about 5 seconds after my guests arrived and that was fine. Wrapping paper went flying and the kids were happy as could be. This day was a success and a blessing to remember. Once again I am incredibly thankful for the gifts that I get to have on a daily basis. Big and small I love them all.

 

I just couldn't resist a not so perfect(that's putting it nicely) but very real picture of my beautiful new pressure cooker!! I can't wait to start using her.

Today my family and I spent the entire day in our Jammy's and ate really good leftovers. I think for dinner red velvet cheese cake will just have to do. So from our little farm to yours, Merry Christmas and here's to safe and happy canning!! xoxo

Champane Berry Jelly...

I was saving the best for last....gift #3  Anyone who gets this as a gift will definitely have a Merry Christmas!
I always save a little jar for myself to test and I can't even tell you in words how absolutely incredible this tasted. So come on get the water bather out of the closet and make this. You still have time. Oh, and a bonus, even with doubling this recipe there was just enough champagne left for me to enjoy a glass while I waited for my ten minutes...



This was super fun and easy to make.
I doubled my recipe to get 12 half pints.

 The recipe calls for 3 cups bottled raspberry juice, I couldn't find any so I used 100% natural mixed berry juice. 1/4 cup lemon juice. One package powdered pectin, 4 cups sugar 11/4 cups champagne.
All you do is pour the lemon juice and berry juice in a large stock pot, stir in pectin and bring to a boil.




Add your sugar, stirring til dissolved. Return to a rolling boil. Boil hard one min.
Stir, stir and keep stirring. Remove from heat:)



Now just add your champagne. Skim foam of the top if need be.




Ladle jelly into hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Adjust 2 piece caps. Process in 10 min water bath.
( I have said before I love Ball Blue Book, if your new to canning I recommend grabbing a copy. It has all the directions and safety guidelines you'll need. I feel like I'm canning my way straight through this book and I'm loving every min of it)

 



I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas spending time with their loved ones. Have a safe and happy new year!
Happy canning!!