Meat and Bean Chili
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Posted on January 8, 2012

Meat and Bean Chili

I think I’m enjoying the winter CSA I joined even more than I enjoyed the summer/fall CSA. Both are great, but the winter version includes such items as locally raised meats, cheeses, milk, and even root beer in addition to the late harvest/cold storage fruits and veggies.

Our most recent share included a pound of ground goat meat. If you’ve never had goat, it’s similar to but gamier than lamb. It can replace beef in just about any dish, and it stands up particularly well in spicier recipes.
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Posted in crockpot, meat, Mexican, soups & stews, vegetables | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Peppermint Stick Ice Cream
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Posted on January 1, 2012

Peppermint Stick Ice Cream

The holidays have come and gone once more, and I’m finding myself left with far too many candy canes. I could throw them out and feel guilty about the waste. I could put them away with the ornaments and hang them on the tree again next year. (Hey, it’s not like they’ll go bad!) Or I could turn them into a cool, creamy treat that’s perfect for enjoying while sitting by the fire.
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Posted in candy, dessert, frozen treats | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Easy Apple Butter from Your Slow Cooker
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Posted on November 2, 2011

Apple Butter

Just about any apple you can eat will work with this recipe. I had a bunch of random varieties (Honey Crisp, Macoun, Cortland, etc.) that I got from our local CSA, so I used a mixture. The plethora of apples I received this year was actually the main reason I decided to make this recipe. I just didn’t have room to store them all. Luckily, apple butter is delicious, easy to make, and uses LOTS of apples. It also makes your house smell amazing! So be cautious if you decide to let it cook overnight. You might wake up with the midnight munchies when that aroma starts to tickle your nostrils.

Apple butter has lots of uses. Spread it on a croissant. Spoon it over ice cream. Use as a filling for crêpes. Serve with pork chops. My absolute favorite way to eat it is simply to put it on hot, buttered toast. I love how the butter and apple butter combine…salty and sweet!

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Bacon Caramels
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Posted on October 26, 2011

Bacon Caramels

One year Starbucks put salted caramel hot chocolate on their menu. What an incredible drink! The way the smoked sea salt played off the sweetness in the chocolate and caramel was music to my taste buds. I missed it dearly when it was gone and eagerly awaited its return the following year. It never came, and I fell into despair. Okay, not really, but I was sorely disappointed. This year, however, they did something even more amazing! Salted caramel mocha…just like the salted caramel hot chocolate, but with some of the sweetness cut with coffee. Yum! Continue reading →

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Winter Squash Soup
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Posted on October 2, 2011

Winter Squash Soup

This is a great soup to enjoy in the fall or winter. It’s fragrant, smooth and just creamy enough to satisfy without seeming too heavy. As with a good tomato soup, I can think of no better accompaniment than a grilled cheese sandwich. Continue reading →

Posted in soups & stews, vegetables | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment