Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

I had so much fun last year with my new (to me) electric Ice Cream maker, that I decided to branch out from Vanilla Bean to other flavors. Strawberries were on sale, so, after scouring Google, I found this one. I liked that it was eggless, required no cooking and added lemon juice and honey. I doubled the recipe and probably could have tripled it. I did use the blender to mix ingredients before putting it in the mixer. It took about an hour to mix and then transported to a container to continue to freeze. It was a big hit at a friend's Memorial Day BBQ. The best part was that it didn't require any cooking and chilling prior--ice cream ready in 1 hour!

https://www.alattefood.com/homemade-strawberry-ice-cream/

Strawberry Poke Cake

I have a bad habit of buying cake mixes when they're $1 and then not using them in a timely manner. I've decided to organize them (and pudding boxes) in my cupboard based on expiration and make sure I pull them out in time.

I've learned that Poke cakes are the best way to use up cake and pudding/jello for a delicious dessert, not to mention it's super easy to make them. I ended up leaving off the cool whip and using strawberry jelly for this one. For a strawberry cake, I recommend adding a little lemon juice to give it a bit of a kick. :)

http://www.littledairyontheprairie.com/strawberry-poke-cake/

Strawberry Pineapple Kombucha

It's that time again! [Actually, every 3 weeks should be that time, but I only have so much time.]  I'm going to post a new kombucha recipe because it's illustrated and all on one printable page! I ended up with 3 quarts so I added 1/2 cup strawberry/pineapple puree then 3 cups of kombucha liquid to each quart. [Reserved back 1 cup and scoby for the next round.] I use passion fruit loose leaf black tea for the fermentation step. Helps the fruits blend well. I'm excited to taste this one because I read that strawberry tends to make kombucha fizzier. :) Here's to your health!

Kombucha Recipe

Strawberry Pineapple Kombucha

Strawberry Linzer Cookies (Christmas Countdown 2017 #11)

Ok, so at first I was excited when I saw this one and determined that I was going to do it right. I went to Michaels and bought an actual Christmas Linzer cookie cutter. Then I started on the recipe. Clearly, I need a LOT more practice with linzer cookies. I don't think it would have been so bad if I didn't have to add the egg white and almond topping. They ended up a messy, but yummy version. Oh well. At least I'm prepared to keep trying in the future. I actually find them easier and more enjoyable to make than decorating sugar cookies. :)

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/raspberry-linzer-cookies?_cmp=CookieCountdown&_ebid=CookieCountdown1282017&_mid=185329&ehid=dfef5f62f666e299097ce5854fb7aea035676b6b

Jeweled Coconut Drops (Christmas Countdown 2017 #2)

Day number 2 of my 5th annual Countdown to Christmas cookies. So far both have been amazing. I love macaroons anyway so you didn't have to convince me that these would be delicious. Cream cheese and coconut are good any day of the week. I did have to use the wooden spoon again after they finished cooking and used strawberry preserves instead. Here at 6400 ft elevation, I had to cook them for 15 minutes to get them toasted and dry. This will definitely not be the month to lose weight ;)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/jeweled-coconut-drops/amp

Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles

This is probably the shortest ingredient list I've ever seen in a recipe--2! Actually, I added an extra ingredient because I only had plain greek yogurt. I used a few tablespoons of strawberry preserves and thawed out some frozen strawberries I had from the last sale. The hubby inspired me to buy Popsicle molds on Amazon after I discovered he had a pop-ice addiction and watching him buy creamsicles over and over at the store. The first popsicles I made were leftover Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad. I just put it in the blender and then poured into the molds. HUGE hit with the hubby and now has set a precedent for our freezer stock ;)

http://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/2016/06/strawberry-yogurt-popsicles.html

Thanksgiving Menu 2016

Thanksgiving morning started with welcoming 2 rescue donkeys to our 4 legged family. Then our meal was planned and enjoyed by the members of Taste of Home; my selections were based on the requests of the boys. I really like their recipe box and shopping list feature. It makes it easy to get what you need from the grocery store and pull up all the recipes at once. The only exception were the 2 pies from my "Baking at High Altitude" cookbook, Noble Pig's Dill Pickle Dip and Rachael Ray's White Cheddar Mac and Cheese. As have many in the past, this was a truly blessed year.

Gouda Melt with Baguette Slices

Dill Pickle Dip

Thyme Roasted Turkey

Grandma's Turkey Gravy

Wild Rice Stuffing

Rachael Ray's White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Oven Roasted Carrots

Green Beans with Bacon

Peas-a-la-Francaise

Texas Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Calico Beans

Contest Winning Fresh Strawberry Pie

Honey Pecan Pie

Cranberry Pie (from Baking at High Altitude)

Blueberry Pie (from Baking at High Altitude)

Memorial Day Menu

We have been so busy with moving to our beautiful 60 acre property and me with my new career (and endless amounts of studying) that I haven't been able to dedicate the time to give credit where credit is due in my day-to-day cooking. I will say, however, that I have been doing a lot of sheet-pan cooking during the move--it's so easy and minimal clean-up. Just stick it in the oven and come back an hour later.

Now that I am getting back in my groove, I was able to browse a few new recipes for this memorial day weekend which is being spent with our wonderful new neighbors.

The hubby smoked a brisket, ribs and brats with his own favorite seasonings--dee-licious!! We don't call him the "Grill King" for nothing. :)

I made fresh guacamole and salsa and then used google for Baked Beans, Potato Salad and Strawberry Pretzel dessert. [There are so many different varieties of baked beans and potato salad, it's fun to google a new one every time it's called for.]

First we start with The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond--Baked Beans:

I used canellini, navy and pinto beans for mine (rather than pork and beans). I also added garlic and black pepper, omitting the green pepper since the hubby can't eat it. Probably some of the best baked beans I've ever had. I cooked it on the stove for about an hour to thicken up and then used my rice cooker as a warmer since I didn't have a crockpot the right size.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/the-best-baked-beans-ever/

Next up from Food.com Dill Pickle and Mustard Potato Salad. 

I did half red potatoes and half russet (because that's what I had). I also used my french fry cutter to get quick cuts length ways then hand cut across the width. Cuts my time in half and makes nice (mostly) perfect cubes. I didn't add the cream and added black pepper and celery seed as well as at least a half cup of mustard. The hubby likes very mustardy potato salad so I'm always generous with the pickle juice and mustard. When I want to be extra healthy I use yogurt instead of mayo.

http://www.food.com/recipe/nans-classic-mustard-potato-salad-63017

Finally for dessert I can always count on Taste of Home to suggest delicious old fashioned recipes. I had tasted Strawberry Pretzel dessert when I was a kid, and after making it, realized it is still just as tasty. It's a great recipe particularly for a gathering with children and the elderly--ok, it's great for everyone. :)

I used Dream Whip, mostly because it stores on the shelf for a long time, saves space in my freezer and you don't have to wait for it to thaw. I didn't have six hours to let it set up, but it worked out well to keep in the freezer and turned out perfect. 

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/strawberry-pretzel-dessert