Spring is in the air as the days are longer, the sun is warmer, and of course time to start thinking of planting my garden. One veggie you will always find in my garden is eggplants. I love eating them in all kinds of ways.
If you have ever been in any Mennonite or Amish home for a meal you will understand the necessity (they think) of serving Buttered Noodles along with mashed potatoes! Their Pennsylvania Dutch background just loves the carbs and starches. Serving these two together at a meal is a must. Most times this dish is prepared using homemade egg noodles with lots of browned butter. My family loves noodles so I have modified this recipe. It continues to be a favorite, though I almost never serve it along side of mashed potatoes!
Candied Sweet Potatoes are a holiday side dish that many people love including my family. Here is our favorite version of Candied Sweet Potatoes with Pecans. This side dish is great with roasted turkey, stuffing, and all the holiday trimmings!
Summer brings with it a bumper crop of tomatoes from gardens and produce stands. Heirloom tomatoes are all all time favorite at our house. They are not the perfectly shaped orbs you will find at the grocery stores. Heirlooms have a shorter shelf life so they are not found in all stores. These tomatoes have a superior taste though they may be very odd shaped.
Zucchini is one of the most prolific vegetables you can grow in your garden. Once they are picked they can be use in almost any vegetable side dish and even transformed into cakes, cookies and bars. I try and pick zucchini small…no larger than 10-12 inches but occasionally some get over looked.
Fried Dill Pickles—who doesn’t like this southern specialty! These pickles are air fried to lessen the calorie load and they are still delicious! I used my home canned Dill Pickles Spears but you can also use bought pickles.
Baked beans are a long standing tradition at barbecues, picnics and potlucks. In the off canning season I will pressure can quarts of baked beans to have on hand for the summer months. Homemade baked beans are so much better than bought and you can control what you put in them.
Pizza rolls are a savory twist to what we think of traditional cinnamon roll! These savory pizza rolls are full of flavor with garlic, cheese, and pepperoni. Just a warning…be sure you get a bite or they might just disappear when you turn your back if you have children in your house!
The fall Holidays are not complete without that tasty dish of Stuffing/filling. My mother always made the best Bread Stuffing but due to her dementia she no longer can. She would fry the Bread Stuffing in butter before baking it. It is a family favorite along with the Giblet Gravy she always made to serve with it.
Tomatoes are very popular garden item and can be found in any color, shape, and size. My favorite tomatoes are Heirlooms or open-pollinated kinds. These tomatoes don’t always have the nicest shape but they have the most wonderful flavor and texture. Mortgage Lifter is one heirloom kind I plant every year. We love the meaty flesh and the wonderful flavor. You will also finds these kinds; Yellow Brandywine, Green Zebra, and Amish Paste Tomatoes in my garden. There are so many recipes to make using tomatoes and it is hard to pick out a favorite. This Salsa is a delightful addition to summertimes menus. It can be served with Baked Tostitos, Lavash Pitas, or as a condiment for meats.
