Merry Christmas from Us

This Years Christmas Wish

Dear Friends and Family,

'Tis the Season to give gifts to your neighbors and friends... and while I love that, I'm looking for a simpler healthier Christmas this year. That is why I'm going to ask the following favor:

If you want to give us a gift, please don't bring candy, cookies or baked goods to my home as a gift they will just be thrown away. It sounds harsh, I know, but fact of the matter is I can't eat them and john should not eat them by himself. 

Instead I'd like to see things like homemade gifts or mixes, maybe your favorite recipe... or, perhaps the best gift of all, a personal card with your sentiments or a hug and a Merry Christmas are just as perfect too. 

Remember, Christmas isn't about the food or the gifts or the toys, it is about our Savior and His gift to us. Lets not make this season more complicated than it needs to be. 

Merry Christmas to All.

Liz & John

Stuffed Peppers - Eating with Liz 2013

Yum! Stuffed green peppers.

Filling:
6 oz chicken precooked.
1 carrot.
1 celery stalk.
1/2 onion chopped.
Some chicken broth to keep moist.
all sauteed together with some olive oil until soft.
add 1 cup quinoa cooked.
Stuff two good size green peppers.
Bake 30 minutes @ 350° until peppers are soft.

Eat. makes 2.
Easily multiplied for more.


Yes. I improvised the entire recipe.

John added Parmesan cheese and soy sauce. But it is good without.

Put your best face forward

Was this a good makeup day?

It's true. I don't wear make up. I don't really like it. I buy it periodically, but very rarely does it end up on my face. I personally believe that I have a nice face and don't need to add the junk.
I haven't always believed that. I used to cake my face in Jr. High and High School for occasions that called for it.  There were some days that I wore TOO MUCH, and other times I think I got it pretty right.
No one ever taught/showed me HOW to wear makeup. It was all trial and error on my part.

No makeup makes me happiest.

I'd layer on the base. Add some Blush. A little more blush. Eyeliner. Eyeshadow. Lipstick. (Always lipstick. If I heard anything my Mother and William Shatner ever said to me was that "You always feel better with lipstick.") Then layers and layers of mascara. I have nice eyes, but my lashes leave something to be desired. 
My makeup collection has slimmed down over the years to lip stains, eyeliner and mascara and that seems to work just fine for me.
Recently, I was provided a free sample, courtesy of Influenster, to try out Rimmel London SCANDALEYES RETRO GLAM MASCARA ...and I have to say... I am in love with this stuff. 
Its non-threatening black exterior gives no hint to the awesomeness held within.

Here are my application tips for Retro Glam Mascara:

1) apply liberally to lashes
2) be fabulous

It seriously only takes one application to get your lashes looking huge and awesome. 

I was honestly contemplating getting lash extensions the last few weeks after getting to try some out. Lash extensions can start as low as $79 for your first full set, and then there is the maintenance that runs about $40. But then BAM!! This happened. Rimmel Mascara is available for less than $7 most places. 
It also doesn't look terrible under my glasses. Which is a reason I don't wear mascara that often. Being a glasses girl creates all sorts of limits to what you can and cannot do with your eyes. I'm impressed that this mascara is so light, non-clumpy, drys fast, and only takes one application, to make my eyes look so great. 
Remember back at the beginning of this post when I said I don't wear make up very often? Well, this stuff has been worn every day since I tried out out on Monday, and I am pretty sure it will continue to be used.

I did receive these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. They did not influence my opinion.

New Glasses

Haunted Places

This is where we lived for eight years. It was a good little home. When we had originally moved in it was trashed.  TRASHED, I say. There was broken furniture all over the house. Lots of stuff was broken and the back yard was nonexistent due to a downed tree and a car being there. Pet spots on the carpets and smelling of cigarette smoke. We put a lot of work into the house over our time there. A lot of cleaning and a lot of yard work later the house was livable and turned into our home.

 

We hadn’t lived there long before odd things started.

First of all there was this cat that was in the house. Now, I obtained two cats of my own while living in the house, but then there was this third that I hadn’t expected. It was large and I’d say it was black, but really it was just a dark color. I would see it all over the house, out of the corner of my eye. I would think it was my cat and I would say hello to her, but upon entering another room I’d discover that she was there and not where I had seen her. This was our ghost cat. We also felt it jump upon the bed at night when everyone was already on the bed and accounted for.

Next there was a little boy in a red shirt. I’d see him in spurts and flashes. He was there and then gone before you really wanted to admit that you had seen anything.

I kept the fact that I had seen these apparitions to myself for quite a while, but one day I said something about what I had been seeing to my husband, and he admitted that he’d seen things too but felt like I wouldn’t believe him.

The cat appeared for all the years we lived there, but the boy disappeared and I don’t recall seeing him again after the first few years we were there.

There were other things as well.

I never felt quite right in the TV room. It’s the room that should have been the garage, but was converted to give the house extra space. It was always cold there, and I didn’t like being in there alone.

Black shadows on the ceiling. Our bed room was on the front of the house. There was a street light just across the road, and yes traffic would drive by… But you got used to those shadows, they were familiar and most often would make the same patterns on the ceiling. It was the DARK shadows that moved independently from the rest that would make you close your eyes and pretend you were asleep. There was something sinister about them that made a person uncomfortable in their own home.

There were also the whispers at night. Lying in bed you could hear them and almost make out what the whispers were saying but no matter how you strained your ears it never became clear.

We moved from there in 2012. We did love living there, but at the same time, we’re happy to be gone.

 

Mission Code Name: Applesauce

What an eventful summer John and I have had… It seems like we have had colds all year, but I know that’s not quite right. I’ve had laryngitis twice this year, and John had an ongoing cough/cold for about two months. But other than that we have had a bit of fun.

Over the summer we had two friends and one nephew get married, and not to each other.

Logan and Jamie got married in Logan, UT on July 6^th. John and I went up and spent the weekend at the Anniversary Inn because we love that place. The wedding we held at The Ritter Mansion outside, 90° F + humidity, sitting in the sun. But it was a nice ceremony. I almost got to perform it, but my better judgment, and personal choices got the better of me. They were very happy and the day was beautiful.

Bryce and Jennie happened to be in town that week so they came up from Blanding to Logan for the wedding. It was nice to see them and spend time with their little family before we all had to go back our separate directions.

Holly and Joseph were married on August 1^st in the Salt Lake Temple. The sealing ceremony was short and sweet and they are so happy together.  The reception was held at The Chantilly Mansion  inside and out. It was a most beautiful day. I was able to spend a short amount of time with a Sister from my mission. Hermana Rivera (although that isn’t her name anymore) and her family needed a ride to the reception and John and I were happy to help out. There were so many wonderful people and old friends to see at Holly’s reception. I helped out a lot in the wedding planning up to a point where I just couldn’t take it any more. The best part though, was throwing Holly a bridal shower on July 17^th at my home. A lot of Sister Missionaries from our old days came, and the best surprise of them all my Suzy Mattinsen came all the way from Virginia. I was so glad to see her.

One Saturday in August I decided I wanted to go see the Spiral Jetty. I remember learning about it back in high school in my Art history class, but it was under water back then. Due to the drought and low water levels this year it was visible and alluring to visitors. I had kinda

forgotten about it until recently when there was a news report about things to see in Northern Utah. We had made out plans to go when we were asked to babysit Kira and Cooper, John’s sister’s kids. Instead of changing our plans we just decided to take them with us. It was a two hour drive to get there, but it all went smoothly. The lake was beautiful, and the Spiral Jetty was underwhelmingly awesome. I loved it.   If you have never been there I would highly suggest going. It is out by the Golden Spike National Historic Site so if you have time you could stop there too for a history lesson. We had a ton of fun and only got a little sunburnt.

September brought about the one year anniversary of my broken elbow. To celebrate we made a Labor Day weekend trip to St. George...

John and I were able to take his sister Rachel and her two kids with us for this trip. The three of them packed into our back seat and we had a grand old time. John spoiled them with gas station gifts, and they filled the back seat with crumbs. (The car needs a good detailing now, inside and out.)

The St. George trip was also to celebrate the marriage of our nephew Nick to his new adorable wife Souamee. They live in Alaska and got married in…  June… July… I don’t remember. They came down to meet family and have a little open house to celebrate their marriage. We sure love those kids.

While in St. George we also decided to try a new restaurant. It was called the Bear Paw Café. It was delicious. We will have to go there again. All the food looked and smelled so good it was sad that we were only there for one meal.

September 5^th – 7^th was the first ever Salt Lake Comic Con. John and I bought tickets back in May to attend the three day celebration of all things Geek. Back when we bought our tickets it was still just a little affair with a few minor celebrity guests and some vendors. Over the following months more guests signed up, vendor booths sold out, and they had to move the convention from the South Town Expo Center to the Salt Palace in Downtown Salt Lake. Ticket sales went through the roof and Stan Lee decided to come. The Salt Lake City Comic Con is the 4^th highest attended Comic Con, the biggest ever first opening Comic Con, and the biggest convention that Salt Lake City has ever hosted.

John and I went alone together on the 5^th and ran into our brother-in-law Scott, and his daughter Lucy, and also our friend John Stout who was there by himself too.

We missed out on the 6^th due to illness of John and I worked from home that day so I didn’t want to drive into Salt Lake and go by myself.

On the 7^th my brother Norm joined us and we met up with the Stouts and Logan & Jamie while we were there. We also ran into a few other friends in the massive crowd of people. I believe there were 70,000 – 80,000 people attending on Saturday alone. I’m really surprised we ran into anyone we knew. John dressed as Captain Hammer and I put together a Steampunk costume of my own. An old friend, Blaine, who named my Steampunk alter ego Steamy Cogsworth… I kind of liked it so I shall accept the name and use it well.  We spent the entire day roaming the crowded aisles of venders and spent a lot of time waiting for Stan Lee. We watched the last bit of a panel discussion with William Shatner, and then went to the Stan Lee panel. John loved it. I did too. Stan Lee is rather awesome.

All in all it was a great weekend. I ended up with an awesome painting of the Baroness , John got Ms. Marvel, and Norm got Supergirl.

Best Cinnamon Rolls Ever... but I'm bias.

My Grandma Mc’s Doughnut & Sweet Roll Dough

 

Ingredients

6-7 cups Flour

½ cup Sugar

2 tsp. Salt

2 pkg. or 4½ tsp. Yeast 

1 cup Water

1 cup Milk

½ cup or 1 cube Butter

1 Egg

 

Instructions

 

Combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.

Heat water, milk, and butter till warm. Add egg to liquid when slightly cool.

Add liquid to dry ingredients. Mix until the wet and dry are evenly incorporated.

Add 3 cups flour and continue mixing until the dough forms a ball.

Flour work surface and knead in extra 1½ - 2 cups of flour for 10 minutes. Dough should no longer be sticky to the touch, but should not be dry either.

Place dough in oiled bowl cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour. Punch down dough. Divide and shape as desired allow dough to rise again after shaping.  

Bake at 350 degree F for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.

 

The dough can be mixed in a high powered stand  mixer (kitchenade)

Start with 5 cups of flour, sugar, salt & yeast

Add wet ingredients

 

In a large bowl or in the bowl of a 5-quart stand mixer, combine all the ingredients in the order given except the Cinnamon Filling and the Butter Frosting. Using a dough hook, mix everything together until a soft dough forms.

 

Mix using dough hook adding the additional flour until dough forms a ball. Allow mixer to continue kneading dough, adding flour and periodically pulling dough from hook for 10 minutes.

 

Check the dough. It should form a nice elastic ball. If you think the dough is too moist, add additional flour (a tablespoon at a time). The same is true if the dough is looking dry and gnarly. Add warm water (a tablespoon at a time). If you can't judge your dough by looking, stick your finger in and feel the dough. It should be slightly tacky to the touch.

 

I usually punch down the dough several times during the raising process if I don’t have time to shape and bake at the moment.

 

Dough can also be stored in the refrigerator overnight (and up to 5 days) then allowed to come to room temperature and rise before shaping and baking.

 

---

 

Two Options or Choices:

 

1. Refrigerating or Freezing Unbaked Cinnamon Rolls:

 

At this point, the cinnamon rolls can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight (I've actually made them two days in advance) or frozen for one (1) month. Before baking, allow rolls to thaw completely and rise in a warm place if frozen. I have found that I have to take the unbaked frozen cinnamon rolls out of the freezer 10 to 12 hours before planning to bake. I just put the frozen cinnamon rolls (container and rolls) on my counter (not in the refrigerator) overnight for 10 to 12 hours.

 

If refrigerated, they can be either baked upon removing from the refrigerator or let come to a room temperature (I've done both ways). They do a slow rise overnight and it is not necessary to let them come to room temperature before baking. If you rolls are not rising enough after being refrigerated, your yeast may need to be tested. To overcome this, let them rise, while sitting on the counter, until you achieve the desired rising before baking.

 

2. Bake Immediately After Making:

 

Cover and let rise in a warm place for approximately 45 to 60 minutes or until doubled in size (after rising, rolls should be touching each other and the sides of the pan).

 

Preheat oven to 350° degrees F. Bake approximately 30 - 35 minutes in a regular oven until they are a light golden brown. A good check is to use an instant digital thermometer to test your bread. The temperature should be between 190 and 200 degrees.

 

Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Spread Frosting over the cinnamon rolls while still warm.

 

Best served warm, but room temperature is also great! 

 

---

 

Forming a Cinnamon Roll:

After dough has risen, using your rolling pin, roll and stretch the dough into approximately a 15 x 24-inch rectangle.

Brush the 1/2 cup softened butter (listed below in the Cinnamon Filling) over the top of the dough with a rubber spatula or a pastry brush (or your hands.) Sprinkle Cinnamon Filling over the butter on the prepared dough. Starting with long edge, roll up dough; pinch seams to seal.

NOTE: Rolling the log too tightly will result in cinnamon rolls whose centers pop up above the rest of them as they bake.

With a knife, lightly mark roll into 1 1/2-inch section. Use a serrated knife and saw very gently or slide a 12-inch piece of dental floss or heavy thread underneath. By bringing the ends of the floss up and crisscrossing them at the top of each mark, you can cut through the roll by pulling the strings in opposite directions. Place cut side up in prepared baking pan, flattening them only slightly. The unbaked cinnamon rolls should not touch each other before rising and baking. Do not pack the unbaked cinnamon rolls together.

---

 

Cinnamon Filling

 

Ingredients

 

½  cup butter, softened 

½  cup granulated sugar

½  cup firmly packed brown sugar

1½ tablespoons ground cinnamon

 

Preparation

 

Spread butter on rolled out dough.

Combine sugars and cinnamon until well blended.

 

 

---

 

Cinnabon Frosting

 

Ingredients

 

1 pound Margarine, room temperature

1 pound cream cheese, room temperature

2 pound powdered sugar

2 teaspoon lemon juice

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Instructions

 

Allow margarine and cream cheese to reach room temperature. Beat cream cheese and margarine together in a bowl with a mixer until combined and fluffy. Scrape down sides of bowl frequently. Slowly add in all powdered sugar. Once all of the sugar is in the bowl mix for at least an additional 12 minutes. When almost done, add in the extracts. Enjoy!

 

This makes a TON of frosting. It can easily be halved or quartered to make the amount needed. It is very good frosting so remember, more is better.

 

 

HELPFUL HINT: Buy your powdered sugar in 1 lb. bags or boxes. That way when a recipe calls for “1 Lb.” you can just dump in a bag and there is no measuring required.

 

 

Bon Appétit

 

Ahoy!!

Illustration by Ghergich & Co.

Eating with Liz 2013: 8 Can Taco Soup

It’s homemade soup and bread season. I’m quite excited. I love making soups and bread so this is really my time of year. I’m looking forward to it getting a bit cooler outside so I don’t feel as bad turning on my oven.

 

Here is a fast soup recipe that we had for dinner last night. It serves about 6.

 

8 Can Taco Soup

 

Ingredients:

1 (15 oz.) can Black Beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 oz.) can Pinto Beans, drained and rinsed

1 (14.5 oz.) can Petite Diced Tomatoes, drained

1 (15.25 oz.) can Sweet Corn, drained

1 (12.5 oz.) can White Chicken Breast, drained

1 (10.75 oz.) can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 (10 oz.) can Green Enchilada Sauce

1 (14 oz.) can Chicken Broth

1 packet Taco Seasoning

 

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a large pot.

Heat until warm, stirring occasionally.

Serve with Fritos, Sour Cream, and Cheese.

I want to be British

I guess technically I’m half British, so I guess the phrase should be I want to be MORE British.

 

I watch the BBC. I say “progrum” instead of “program”. I’m fascinated by the Monarchy. I’d much rather have a conservatory then a sunroom and I referred to the bathroom as the “toilet”. I call the mail the “post” and often fill my car with “petrol” instead of gasoline. It’s crazy, but I think I was meant to be a full on Brit. I’ve got the bad teeth and the superiority complex to prove it.

 

I want to forego dinner and have afternoon tea complete with finger sandwiches consisting of cucumbers and eggs, and beans on toast. I want to eat baked scones with clotted cream and preserves. I prefer to eat popovers instead of rolls and crumpets instead of muffins. I believe that bread pudding really does taste like Christmas.

blarg blarg blarggety blarg

The days of our lives pass by like the sands through the hourglass.

It’s true you know, it really is.

I haven’t updated my blog since March. That doesn't mean that nothing has gone on, or that I haven’t thought about it. I have, I just haven't had the wherewithal to get it done.

I have been pretty severely depressed the last few months. No reason for it really, just my chemical imbalances. I'd much rather crawl in bed and sleep my life away instead of dealing with the waking world. But that’s not how it works.

My dad turned 77 on June 2. My mother turned 72 on May 25^th.

My nephew Andrew Michael graduated from High school and got his mission call all in the same week. He is going to Zimbabwe Harare in October.

John is still John. I am still me.

Holly is getting married.

I’ve failed to host two scheduled Candlelit Suppers due to the above stated issue.

Ray & Kim got divorced. It makes me sad.

Lots of good movies out to see…. Man of Steel, Much Ado About Nothing, Die Hard, Star Trek, Iron Man 3. We enjoyed all of them.

To Love is Not to Possess

To Love is Not to Possess

~ James Kavanaugh ~

To love is not to possess, 

To own or imprison,

Nor to lose one's self in another.

Love is to join and separate,

To walk alone and together,

To find a laughing freedom

That lonely isolation does not permit.

It is finally to be able

To be who we really are

No longer clinging in childish dependency

Nor docilely living separate lives in silence,

It is to be perfectly one's self

And perfectly joined in permanent commitment

To another–and to one's inner self.

Love only endures when it moves like waves,

Receding and returning gently or passionately,

Or moving lovingly like the tide

In the moon's own predictable harmony,

Because finally, despite a child's scars

Or an adult's deepest wounds,

They are openly free to be

Who they really are–and always secretly were,

In the very core of their being

Where true and lasting love can alone abide.

You must attend one of my candlelit suppers!

This past Saturday I hosted the first (of what I hope is many) Candlelit Suppers. It was a fantastic evening spent with friends. Jacob & Becky Shapiro attended as well as Logan Brand and Jamie Clark.

It is always fun to practice my etiquette skills. John set the table for us. It was beautiful:

I love having a reason to use my beautiful dishes and the glass glasses.

We had Appetizers and cocktails that included:

Amazing White Trash Puff Balls

Marinated Mozzarella

Ritz Crackers

Melba Toast

Beverages:

Merlin’s Treat

Mandate

The menu was as follows:

Menu

March 23, 2013

Salad

Strawberry Salad with Sugared Almonds

Poppy Seed Dressing

Main Course

Fresh Bread

Homemade Butter

Stuffed Leg of Lamb with Gravy

Mint Sauce

Spoon-Bread Grits with Savory Mushroom Sauce

New Potatoes with Butter and Mint

Roasted Carrots

Dessert

Lemon Raspberry Baskets

Dinner was delicious (if I may say so myself.) Almost everything on the menu was something that I had never made before so it was an adventure.

I had meant to take a picture of the 6 of us at dinner, but I forgot. The cameras were sitting out on the coffee table, but apparently that wasn’t enough to remind me. Oh well. Learn from my mistakes.

It was nice having a formal dinner in.

I love cooking for others and trying new things.

I’m really glad I did this.

The next one is in May. I have already planned the menu and am pretty sure about who will be invited. I can’t wait to do it all again.

Don't run... they'll think you're scared.

Let’s face it…. So far 2013 has sucked. Royally.

We have both been sick off and on for the last 3 months. Mine started just after Christmas and John’s colds come and go, each of us taking our turn being feverish and ill.  We’re quite sick of it. Literally. But now that the end of March is rolling around we’re finally starting to feel better. YAY!! (Knock on wood.) I guess springtime is good for the soul.

What have we been up to other than being sick?

Birthday’s…

I had mine. Guess what I got for it?   

Laryngitis…. (for the next 6 weeks!)

…and Croup.

Sounds fun doesn’t it.

I also ended up with a Sewing Machine, an awesome Steampunk book, and a Cactus Kitty. 

John’s birthday came and went too.

I gave him some really awesome presents. Like the awesome thermostat that he installed for us, and a Night Wing Action figure.

There was something else I’m sure of it, but my brain is a bit fuzzy from that month.

We were supposed to have had a party for it, but the day of the party I was tired and still couldn’t speak so I canceled it.

We celebrated our 11^th Anniversary with a trip to The Anniversary Inn in Salt Lake. We love that place, even though are usually only in Salt Lake it is nice just not to be home. We stayed in the Sun Valley Suite. It was super nice. All that was needed was the banjo picking and crickets from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and it would have been perfect. John did manage to find some Bluegrass music through the television that seemed to fit the bill.

What was really nice about it... I couldn’t talk louder then a whisper. So it was like a little secret vacation where all the words we shared were whispered. John had to listen harder to me, and I was able to have his undivided attention. It was pretty awesome.

John gave me a new wedding band for our anniversary, and I gave him a new pocket watch.

We finally had a party for our birthdays on March 9^th. It was a Chocolate tasting social gathering. Several of our friends showed up, and my parents. I pulled out the Hot Wheels Track and everyone’s kids had a blast running cars down the track.

The chocolate was tasty too. We bought all different kinds at the store (although next time I do a Chocolate party I’m going to Tony Caputo’s for my chocolate.)

We have put together A LOT of furniture over the past few months. I love IKEA. I finally got some storage for the kitchen, a curio cabinet, and some new drawers for the bedroom. John hates assembling furniture. But I think that we’re good for a while so as soon as we get that last dresser together we shouldn’t have to assemble anything else for a while.

My elbow still hurts.

What else…

We have watched a lot of TV. We watched Downton Abby, and have been working our way through Keeping Up Appearances. (Both fabulous shows.)

However they have had an odd side effect on me . . . they have made me want to have fancy dinners.

I hosted Christmas Eve dinner at my house for my family. There were nine of us all together, and only one child so I decided to go fancy sit down dinner with glass glasses and real plates. And let me just say … it turned out awesome.

What did we have to eat?

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Traditional Bread Sauce

Cranberry Sauce (not from a can)

Sage Stuffing

Grandma Mc’s Rolls

Pigs in a Blanket (lil’Smokies wrapped in bacon cooked with brown sugar)

Roast Turkey

Sausage Rolls

Lemon Tart

Panna Cotta with mixed berries

I divvied out a lot of the food prep between my sister, brother’s wife, and Holly. It was all delicious.

The food was good. The family was awesome to spend time with. Jessica volunteered me to make Christmas dinner from now on, and I was also told that Bread Sauce tasted like Christmas.

It was hectic and crazy and made my house so hot… but, turns out that I LOVED doing it.

So I decided that I wanted to do it again. And more often.

I had a talk with myself and we agreed that it would be fun. So I told John and have started planning for a fancy Candlelit Dinner once every 3 months or so.

The first will be this coming Saturday. We invited some friends and I have the menu all planned out. I’m not going to share it here yet because I don’t want to spoil the fun, but I’ll follow up and let you know how it went later.

~*~

And finally I’ll leave you with this recipe that was discovered in my search for natural remedies for cold/flu symptoms. I haven’t tried it on a cold yet because it wasn’t finished until we were feeling better, but I now have it on hand for next time.

Blackberry Vinegar

16 oz Vinegar (any kind: i.e. Cider, Malt, Red or White Wine…etc.) I used White Distilled Vinegar

1lb Blackberries **

1 Quart Jar with lid

Rinse the berries and stick them in the Quart Jar. Add Vinegar. Put the lid on. Shake Jar. Leave Jar on counter for at least 3 to 5 days shaking the jar periodically. I left mine for almost 2 weeks.

After it has hat time to sit for a few days (weeks) get your hands on a nice piece of muslin, a jelly bag or a sine strainer. I had some muslin in my fabric collection so that’s what I used.

Strain the berry/vinegar over a deep bowl, or measuring cup for 12 hours, or up to 24 until the liquid is all out. Trash the leftover berries.

Now, get a saucepan, and for every ½ pint of juice, add ½ lb of sugar. When I did mine I ended up with 1 ¼ pint of juice so I added 1 ¼ pound of sugar.

Bring the liquid up to boil, while at the same time stirring until all the sugar has dissolved. Once boiling, simmer for five minutes.

If a frothy scum appears on the top of the blackberry liquid, skim it off.

Wait for the liquid to cool before pouring into a suitable bottle.

** You can use virtually any soft fruit or berries to make a fruit vinegar, and other favourites of mine are; Blackcurrant, Blueberry, Logan Berry, Raspberry and Strawberry. You could also use Apples, Pears, Peaches, Damsons and Plums.

These fruit vinegars are a lot like a good wine, improving as they age. So if the opportunity allows, let them mature for a few months or even a year or two.

USES:

Coughs and sore throats: Take 2 teaspoons of neat Blackberry or Raspberry vinegar as an expectorant cough mixture as and when required.

Colds, Flu, and Fevers: Fill a tumbler half full of Blackberry or Raspberry vinegar, top off with boiling water and drink.

As a marinade: Pour about ¼ inch of Fruit vinegar into a flat bottomed dish and marinade Pork chops, Lamb chops, Chicken and Turkey breasts, Prawns or White fish Fillets; Cod, Coley, Haddock, Sea Bass and Whiting, etc. Turn over after a couple of hours and marinade the other side, then grill or BBQ for a wonderfully fruity, sweet and sour flavour.

On a roast: Pour over the Sunday Joint before popping it into the oven. Goes extremely well upon Lamb, Pork, Chicken and Turkey, but it is absolutely fabulous on roast Duck, Pheasant, and Rabbit. The resulting gravy is divine.

As a Drizzle for: pancakes, leftover Yorkshire pudding, Ice cream, Quiche, Baked Alaska, Sponge, Cheese cake, on toasted nuts and roasted Chestnuts, or enjoy it warmed over a spirit burner as a dip with a cheese board, the list is endless.

** Some of my references I looked at while making this:  **

(I mostly made up my own recipe since I can’t translate fluent British when it comes to the metric system.)

http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/blackberry-vinegar-recipe

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fruit-Vinegars/?ALLSTEPS

http://www.livestrong.com/article/202108-uses-of-blackberry-vinegar/

Mmmm Food!

Yesterday was Fat Tuesday. Although we are not catholic, nor do we actually celebrate Mardi Gras we decided that some good old comfort wouldn't go amiss... This is what I threw together last night.

 

Liz's Jambalaya

 

1 Onion chopped

1/2 Green Bell Pepper chopped

1/2 Red Bell Pepper chopped

3 Celery Ribs chopped

1 lb Smoked Sausage cut up

1/2 Rotisserie Chicken cut up

1 box Zateran's Jambalaya Rice

2 1/2 cups Water

 

Throw first 5 ingredients into a dutch oven or large pot. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes to soften veggies and heat the meat. Pour in rice mix and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 25 minutes or until the liquid is almost gone.

 

Serve it up. Yum!!

 

Makes about 6 servings.