Three Bean Salad

Lucky Number 7 Bean Salad

 

This was always my favorite summertime salad.  I’ve doctored it up a little, added a few more beans and gave it a little kick.  Try it out and see what you think.

½ cup red kidney beans

½ cup great northern beans

¼ cup soldier beans

¼ cup black beans

¼ cup pinto beans

¼ cup lima beans

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup water

1 bay leaf

½ tsp black pepper

Combine above ingredients in slow cooker/crock pot and cook on high for four hours.  Do not remove cover during cook time unless more water needs to be added.  Drain, discard bay leaf, rinse and cool completely (about 3 hours in fridge). 

Measure 5 cups of beans and place in large bowl.  Sprinkle with ½ tsp kosher salt and toss.

*2 cups pickled green beans cut into 1 inch pieces, drained, reserve liquid

1 tsp minced garlic

1 cup largely diced onion

3-5 sliced Chile peppers

½ cup reserved pickled green bean broth

½ cup Italian salad dressing

2 Tbsp sugar

½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp parsley

¼ tsp celery seed

Combine pickled green beans, onion and peppers in bowl with mixed beans and toss gently.  In small bowl combine garlic, dilly bean broth, sugar, pepper, parsley and celery seed and mix well.  Slowly add Italian salad dressing while whisking.  Pour mixture over beans and toss to coat.  Let stand in refrigerator for an hour to chill and incorporate flavors before serving.

© Crackerberries 2013

*Note: usually I would use my own dilly beans but I tried making this recipe from BHG and didn't care for them much by themselves, but they are perfect for this recipe.

Frozen Yogurt

This is the easiest frozen yogurt recipe ever!  Take your favorite container of yogurt, pop it in the freezer for at least 6 hours and voila, instant frozen yogurt.  I tried it this morning with my favorite Great Value yogurt.  Just stir with a spoon and enjoy. 

** Just a note ...if you over freeze, let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.

Scones

Whole Wheat Blueberry Scones

w/Cranberry Glaze

1¼ cup whole wheat flour

1½ tbsp sugar

½ tbsp baking powder

Scant salt

2 tbsp butter flavored Crisco

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup half and half

¼ cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven 400°

In a medium bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and mix; using a fork, cut in Crisco until mixture resembles small crumbs.  Make a well in the center of the mixture.

In a small bowl combine egg with half and half; pour mixture into well of flour mixture all at once.  Stir just to moisten.  It will be sticky.  Fold in blueberries gently.

Turn dough onto floured pizza stone or cookie sheet and roll and pat into 6-inch circle. Cut into six wedges and gently spread apart slightly.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Let cool slightly and drizzle with cranberry glaze (½ cup confectioner’s sugar mixed with ½ tbsp cranberry juice).

*This recipe can be easily doubled to make two six inch rounds of scones.  

© Crackerberries 2013

Bread & Butter Squickles

Bread & Butter Squickle Pickles

This is Mimi’s old fashion Bread and Butter Pickle recipe with a new take of adding summer squash to the mix.

12 cups sliced cucumbers and summer squash

Place in ice water over night

Next morning drain and create three layers in large container with 2 cups sliced onions, and ¼ cup canning salt, ending with salt on top.  Cover with cloth and let stand at room temperature 3-4 hours.  Drain off liquid that forms.

3½ cups vinegar

1¼ cup water

2 cups sugar

3 tsp celery seed

3 tsp mustard seed

1 tsp curry powder —or—

(Note: I did not have curry powder but I did some research in an old spice book and found out that curry is actually a blend of six or more of the following spices: cumin, coriander, fenugreek, turmeric, ginger, pepper, dill, mace, cardamom, cloves.)

1/8 tsp of each: cumin, turmeric, ginger, dill, cardamom, ground cloves, mace & cayenne pepper.

Combine vinegar, water, sugar and spices in preserving pot and bring to a boil.  Add veggies and bring to a boil again, reduce heat and simmer for five minutes.  Pack into hot sterilized jars and seal covers according to instructions and process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.  Yield: 8 pints

© Crackerberries 2013



Pork Chop Stroganoff

Spicy Pork Chop Stroganoff w/Mushroom Sauce & Peas

1¼ lb pork chops

2 cups plain potato chips, pulverized until the oil is coming out

2½ cups corn tortilla chips, pulverized

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp garlic powder

¾ tsp ground black pepper

½ cup whole wheat flour

¾ cup half & half

1 can cream of mushroom soup

½ cup water or chicken broth

2 cups egg noodles

¾ cup frozen peas

Oil for frying

Cook and drain noodles according to package directions.  Set aside.

Cut pork chops into 1½-2 inch pieces, remove bone if present.  Soak in half and half for ten minutes.

In shallow bowl combine potato chip crumbs, tortilla chip crumbs, cumin, and chili powder; toss to combine.  In a zip lock bag combine flour, garlic powder and pepper and shake to combine. 

Remove pork from half and half shaking off liquid back into the bowl.  Add pork to flour mixture and shake until all pieces are coated well.  With a few at a time dip back in half & half mixture to coat well.  Roll in chip crumb mixture.

Cover the bottom of a cast iron fry pan well with canola or corn oil and heat until hot on medium high.  Cook pork for three-five minutes per side until crisp and brown. 

Meanwhile combine mushroom soup with water or chicken broth in medium sauce pan.  Heat until it just starts to bubble and add peas and noodles.  Place mixture of noodles on plate, top with pork and serve.

© Crackerberries 2013

Zucchini Lasagna

Tall Cool One says "Don't tell anyone how good this is."  So I'm not telling you, just quoting what he said.  This is the ultimate noodless lasagna.  

Zucchini Lasagna

2½ cups zucchini, sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 2 medium)

¾ lb ground beef

½ Vidalia onion, chopped

1½ cups pasta sauce

3 cloves garlic, minced

½ cup chopped celery

1 Tbsp Italian seasoning

½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

2 eggs

1 cup cottage cheese 

½ cup parmesan cheese

4-6 slices Colby jack cheddar cheese

Directions:

Fry burger, garlic, celery, and onions until meat is brown and onions and celery are tender; drain fat. Add sauce, Italian seasoning and pepper.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered 10 minutes.

In small bowl slightly beat eggs and add cottage cheese, and half of the parmesan cheese.

In (1½ -qt.) baking dish spread a little sauce on the bottom and layer with 1/3 of the zucchini slices.  Top with half of the meat mixture, then 2-3 of the cheese slices.  Repeat layers two more times.  Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese and bake uncovered at 375 degrees F for 30- 40 minutes.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.                                  

© Crackerberries 2013

Bean Hole Beans

Famous Bean Hole Beans

 Saturday night was always famous for Baked Bean night served with steamed brown bread or hot Johnny Cake.  Summer time is the best time for bean hole beans.

2 lbs State of Maine Jacobs Cattle dry beans (preferably from Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg, Maine)

½ lb. salt pork (not fat back)

½ to ¾ cup sugar

½ cup molasses

½ cup ketchup

2 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

1 onion

1 tbsp vinegar

Soak the beans the night before you plan to cook.  Cover them with cold water and pick out any that look bad or continue to float to the top.  Some people will parboil them in the morning.  Parboil until the skins crack when blown upon.  I find that parboiling make the beans mushy and therefore I do not parboil.  Each person has their own taste when it comes to beans.

Dig a hole in the ground at least 3 feet deep and 2 feet wide, larger if your kettle takes more space.  Get a special iron kettle with legs and a cover that fits down over the top of the kettle at least 2 inches, with slots at the two opposite sides to allow the kettle handle to be raised. 

The chances are that your first beans will not be as tasty as later cooking until after the hole is “burned out” and used a few times.  Place a flat rock at the bottom of the hole; add any old scrap iron or good size rocks.  Lacking these, the woodsmen used old logging chains.  Fill the hole with hardwood and keep a fire burning for a half a day (this is called the “burning out” process).

After good coals are formed, the hole is ready for cooking the beans.  Slice the onion and salt pork and place on the bottom of the kettle.  Drain and rinse the beans, place them in the pot and add enough water to barley cover the beans. Combine the sugar, molasses, ketchup, dry mustard, salt, pepper, and vinegar together with one pint (two cups) of boiling water.  Pour over the beans.  Place the cover on the beans.

Now remove all the scrap iron, rocks and chains from the hole.  Lower the kettle of beans into the hold.  Surround the kettle with the hot coals, rocks, scrap iron, chains and fill the hole with earth.  Pack the earth tightly and tread on it to seal the hole.  One tiny opening could allow air to get in and result in burned beans.  The following day, dig off the earth, pull out the kettle and enjoy old fashion bean hole beans.

We have also tried cooking them on a fire pit such as this.  They suck up too much water and are not as good  as cooking them in a hole.  We just wanted to try it and see how they came out. 

NOTE:  This is for the adventurous at heart. If you feel the task of preparation inhibits your appetite for your own homemade bean hole beans, take a drive to Maine or any old New England town during the summer time months.  Look for highway signs that say “BEAN HOLE BEANS”.  Many churches have Saturday night dinners and several of the Old Home Days feature them. 

© Crackerberries 2013



Smoothies

Strawberry Colada Smoothie

1 6oz container piňa colada non-fat yogurt

5 fresh strawberries

5 ice cubes

Place all ingredients in blender or Magic Bullet and blend until smooth; a refreshing breakfast drink with only 120 calories.  Feel free to use any flavor yogurt and a handful of your favorite fruit.  Or use plain yogurt and add any of the following combinations: peanut butter and bananas with a squirt of chocolate syrup.  Or blueberries and pomegranate.  Maybe peaches and a teaspoon of honey is more to your liking.  Mix it up for a great breakfast or brunch addition to your meal, or an evening snack.

© Crackerberries 2013

Old Fashion Zucchini Bread

Grandma Averill’s Zucchini Bread

2 cups zucchini, shredded

2 cups sugar

3 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup vegetable oil

3 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

3 tsp cinnamon

* 3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

½ cup raisins

* ½ cup walnuts

Preheat oven 350°

Grease two 9x5 inch bread pans.

In medium bowl combine zucchini, sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla; set aside.  In large bowl combine flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder.  Mix well and create a well in the center of the mixture.  Pour zucchini mixture into well all at once.  Stir just to combine all ingredients.  Fold in raisins and nuts.  Pour into prepared bread pans. 

Bake 350° for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

*Crackerberries version uses 2 cups all purpose flour, one cup whole wheat flour and pecans instead of walnuts.

© Crackerberries 2013

Hummus

A Cool Summer Treat

1 cup dry chick peas

3½- 4 cups water

¼ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp pepper

¼ tsp chili powder             

¼ tsp celery seed or salt

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

2 cloves garlic

1 Bay leaf

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp olive oil

½ tsp sesame seed oil

½ tsp sea salt
1 tbsp peanut butter

Place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on high for three hours and then on low for five hours.  Once done cool completely.  (Put in sealed container and let stand in fridge overnight.  This will help incorporate flavors.) 

Most of the juice from the chick peas should be absorbed into the peas, if there is any left, drain, do not rinse.

Place chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, sesame seed oil, sea salt and peanut butter in blender or food processor and process until smooth.

Serve on fresh veggies or rice chips.

© Crackerberries 2013

Eight Layer Taco Dip

Eight Layer Taco Dip

 

*1½ cup refried beans

1½ cup sour cream

1½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

3 cups shredded lettuce

2 diced tomatoes

1 chopped onion

1 chopped green pepper

¼ cup sliced black olives

Tortilla chips

Hot sauce (optional)

Place refried beans in bottom of glass tart dish.  Spread with sour cream, top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cheddar cheese and finally, black olives.  Grab yourself a handful of tortilla chips and dig in.

• Refried beans are easy to make.  Chop ½ cup onion, ½ cup green pepper and mince two cloves garlic.  Sauté garlic, onion and green pepper in 1 tbsp olive oil for about 3 minutes; add 1½ cup baked beans, drained (I use whatever I happen to have leftover from the weekend — we are always baking beans).  Cook for about 5 minutes and then mash the beans using a fork.  Depending on your taste mash them well or leave some whole.

This recipe is tasty using fresh hot refried beans or cold, depending on what your taste buds like to eat.  You can also spice up the refried beans when cooking by adding ¼ tsp cayenne pepper and or 1 tsp red pepper flakes. 

P.S. As you can see from the picture, I forgot the black olives... dang it.

© Crackerberries 2013

Trail Mix Granola Bars

Trail Mix Granola Bars

My little friend Madison Long made trail mix with her mom and shared it with us.  TCJne doesn’t eat “trail mix” he thinks it’s for the birds.  So instead of hogging it all down myself, I decided to make granola bars with it.  He will eat them if there are no cookies in the jar… like my granny always used to say, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat!”

*2 cups trail mix

2 cups oatmeal (whole grain quick oats)

2 cups Quaker Natural Granola oats, honey & almonds cereal

1 cup coconut

½ cup raisins

½ cup honey

½ cup butter

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp maple syrup

2 Tbsp crunchy peanut butter

1 egg

1 tsp kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease the bottom of a 13x9x2 in baking dish with cooking spray.  Place a sheet of parchment paper on top and spray that also. 

In a very large bowl combine trail mix, oatmeal, granola cereal, coconut and raisins and mix well.  Melt butter.  In food processor or Magic bullet add butter with honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, peanut butter, egg and salt.  Pulse until well blended.  Pour over granola mixture and stir well. 

Spoon mixture onto greased parchment paper, press down firmly all around.  Sprinkle with sea salt (optional—I’m addicted to it).  Place in oven and bake 20 minutes.  Rotate pan so that the front is in the back and the back is in the front and bake an additional 5-7 minutes, just until all outside edges are brown.

Cool 30 minutes and slide out of pan to continue cooling.  Cool completely before slicing into squares (I made the mistake of cutting too soon).  Place in an airtight container.

*Madison Long’s homemade trial mix consists of pecans she picked from her granddaddy’s backyard.  She mixed them with salt and butter and roasted them on a cookie sheet in a 375° oven for about 15-20 minutes, stirring every five minutes.  After they cooled, she chopped them up and combined with a bag of dried cranberries, a bag of M&M’s (the ones she didn’t eat) and a bag of milk chocolate chip cookies.  This is her snack for when goes to her daily job of blueberry picking.

© Crackerberries 2013

Bourbon Street Cake

Father’s Day Cake

Cake

½ cup butter flavored Crisco

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1½ cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1/3 cup powdered milk (add enough water to make one cup)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

¼ cup Evan Williams bourbon

Cooking spray

Frosting

1 stick butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

4 cups confectioner's sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup whole milk

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line bottoms with parchment; spray with cooking spray. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat together butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Scrape down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, beating until combined. Add milk and vanilla and beat until well combined and creamy, about three minutes.

Divide batter between pans.  Slap pans on sideboard to get out any air pockets.   

Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, 33 to 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks to cool completely.

Frosting:

Beat together butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to medium. Add confectioner's sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add salt, milk, and vanilla and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Slice the two cake layers in half carefully.  Place first half of cake layer on a cake plate and spread 1 cup frosting on top. Continue to do this with three remaining layers.  Spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting, swirling to coat in a decorative fashion.

© Crackerberries 2013