Cabbage Rolls

With all the cabbage left from making sauerkraut, I decided to try cabbage rolls.  I have eaten them before but this is the first time that I have made them.  I browned ground beef and hot sausage (one pound each), added three pepper blend, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, package of prepared brown rice, and homemade spicy ketchup.  I let this simmer while I boiled the cabbage until tender.  I put the mixture in each leaf and rolled it up!  You can see the toothpicks holding them together!  In a clean pan, I put the rolls and poured a can of tomato soup over them.  I tented the lid and simmered for 30 minutes.

These were a big hit!  I will make these again.  Serve with hot sauce.

Sauerkraut

My family headed to the mountains this past weekend for apples.  The leaves were beautiful, and the weather was crisp.  I have loads of apples to can in the next few days.  At Grandad's Apple Orchard these beautiful cabbages caught my eye!  They were huge!

I had been reading about the health benefits of sauerkraut, and decided to give it a try.

First, I talked to my Mom and got her recipe!  I started by chopping those big cabbages into strips.

I stuffed the cabbage into quart jars that had been sterilized.  I pressed the cabbage down with a spoon to get a lot in the jar.  I also added caraway seeds and fennel seeds to some of the jars.  I topped off the jars with 1 teaspoon sea salt and 1 teaspoon sugar.  Boiling water was poured into the jars. I put the lids on and turned the jars upside down to release the air bubbles.  (I had read that part on several blogs, and it appeared to work.)  

I am storing the jars in a dark place for several (3) weeks to ferment.  I will check to make sure the cabbage stays covered in the brine. At the end of fermentation, I will seal the jars  in a water bath so they will last.  I sure hope this works out!  I am making plans for a nice Reuben sandwich next month.

Pumpkin Bar Goodness

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.  

Jim Davis, cartoonist

My daughter Laura and I (see below) love pumpkin bars this time of year!  Yesterday we decided to try a different version from our old standby.  We decided it was time to branch out and try something new.  The new recipe entitled, Pumpkin Pie Streusel Bars, was found on the blog,  Bakers Royale.  Naomi says that she added oats to justify having them for breakfast!  I love that rationale.

These bars are more like a cookie with the shortbread bottom and struesel topping.  The butterscotch chips add a new dimension to the pumpkin flavor.  They cooked up nicely, and were easy to cut when cooled.  We liked them!  Here is a snapshot of how ours turned out:

                                               

Our favorite pumpkin bar recipe is from the famous Paula Deen.  

Ingredients

1. 1 (18.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
2. 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
3. 1/2 cup chopped pecans
4. 1 large egg, lightly beaten
5. 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
6. 3 large eggs
7. 1 cup canned pumpkin
8. 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
9. 1 (16-ounce) box confectioners’ sugar
10. Whipped cream (optional)
11. Ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, combine cake mix, butter, chopped pecans, and 1 egg. Press mixture evenly into bottom of prepared pan.
3. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 3 eggs with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until mixture is smooth. Pour over prepared crust. Bake 35 minutes. Cut into squares to serve. Serve with whipped cream and lightly sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.

Here is a great picture of us on her wedding day! 

Happy Fall

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.

William Bryant

                                                            

I love this time of year!  The weather has finally changed and those cool breezes are pure pleasure.  The cool weather is a reminder that it is time to visit the apple orchards.  Those apple doughnuts from Sky Top in N.C. were wonderful last year!  I was thinking about them today and thought I would try a baked version.  I was pleasantly surprised with the results. You won't be sorry if you decide to bake them.  Just don't leave out the nutmeg; it creates the doughnut taste.  I made mine in a mini-muffin pan.  

Baked Apple Doughnuts/Muffins

Combine the following:

1/4 cup of lightly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup of white sugar

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp nutmeg

1/3 cup of cold butter, cut into small pieces

Cut in the butter until crumbly.

Mix together:

1 egg

1/4 cup of milk (add a little more if dry)

1-1/2 cups diced apples (2 peeled)

Combine dry and wet ingredients.  Do not overmix.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Cool 5 minutes and top with the following:

Mix together:

1/3 cup of sugar

1 tsp cinnamon powder

Brush each muffin top with melted butter and dip in cinnamon sugar.