Making it last

I made a trip last weekend to the farmers market in hope of finding lots of fruit. That mission was extremely successful, but not only that I found pickling cucumbers (I didn't know it was time to pickle yet so thank goodness I found out then), romaine lettuce that bigger than my forearm, and lots of fresh corn on the cob.
I loaded up and got home and wondered hmmm, what should I do with all of this?

I love fresh corn the cob, and I have many recipes with corn needed in it, but I don't always feeling like cooking it right away. So I found a quick recipe that in 4 easy steps allows me to freeze my corn for when I do want and need it.

1) Husk corn  and remove silk.
2) Cut corn off cob (don't cook prior)
3) Put 4-6 cups of corn in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir; cook for add. 2 minutes.
4) Package and put in the freezer. When ready to eat, simply thaw, add 1/2 cup of water and cook.

I filled 4 small ball freezer jars (the ones with purple lids). Its just enough to pull out for mexican salads, or a side for dinner, or for corn chowder. Best thing is it keeps its fresh flavor and its usually about 25 cents a cob at the market right now, so I basically spent $1.00 and got 4 containers of corn. Good deal right?!

The next thing I made with my variety of fruit was fruit kabobs. Kids LOVE them which is awesome. I just cube up watermelon, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, pineapple and any other fruits and stick them on wooden skewer sticks. You can cut the skewer points off if you're giving them to little kids. I also did the standard fruit salad, grilled pineapple strips, and made watermelon slush...which is just blending the SEEDLESS watermelon unless smooth. Put in a dish, cover, and put in the freezer. Then when its ready just scrape the "ice" with a spoon and put into dishes. Freeze fruit dessert/snack. Cools the kids down on hot days.

Summer Greetings!

I haven't posted since April...I can't even believe that!! Think of how many meals I've made, desserts I've attempted, picnics I've attended...and not one posting. I've read a massive pile of books, made countless cards and scrapbook pages, had a million and one up and down moments...and still no posts. Call me what I am...a slacker.

BUT the good news is that summer is here!!! Thank goodness!! Spring was too wet and long for me. Now we're back in the time of picking berries, fresh fruit and veggies. I'm already starting to ponder my canning activities for the end of my summer, and what other treats I could cook up.

I started my own garden in a corner of my yard, that now is full of little green tomatoes..cherry, roma, and champions. Little bell peppers and jalapenos are growing from tiny blooms, and lots of carrots, lettuce and cilantro are peaking up at me. I'm so excited to not only be able to grow my own food, but to can it and share it with others. After paying $1.49 for a pound of roma tomatoes last week, I'm more than ready to have my crops ready. Its cost me about $15 total to get my plants and start my garden. $15..that's less than I spend for a week of veggies. Plus there is no running to the store to grab a tomato or cilantro (we eat alot of cilantro in this house).

We have been living in this house for 4 years now. I think about how that first summer my mom would come down with plants, or we'd go pick them out and spend the afternoon planting them. I was so excited, and despite a few casualties to lack of knowledge of where to place them, or puppy Khloe's teeth. Its amazing to me to see my black thumb turn green. That I was able to plant a garden and actually reap the rewards!  Now the excitement has turned to my daughter. She has seen my plants grow and blossom and decided she needed a garden too. Not only did she decide to not put in a sandbox under her tree house/fort, but to plant a garden of goodies for the family and the cats (she had to plant them catnip). I guess the tradition continues and more generations of women in my family continue down the path of gardens of green and pink, and overflowing with the freshest of fruits and vegetables.

So now I want to share a recipe that comes to you thanks to my mother in law, and her work potlocks. Its truly the freshest tasting salad, low fat, and super yummy! It alot like a pico-de-gallo salad..with the tastes of jalapeno (which you could omit if you don't want spice, or replace with thai chilis if you want to pump up the spice), and cilantro, and lime. Its one of those salad that's perfect for hot days where you don't want to heat up the house or even ate anything warm. I don't have pictures to post since I wasn't thinking of my blog when I made this last week, but its gorgeous with all the colors of vegetables.

Lanchi Salad

1 bell pepper (I used green) seeded and finely diced

1 pkg. angel hair shredded cabbage

1 pkg. shredded carrots

1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

1 medium red onion, finely diced

3 limes

1 t. pepper

2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

optional: thai chilis or chopped tomato

Mix diced onion and bell pepper and juice of the 3 limes in a bowl and let sit in bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes. (while that sat I made my chicken and shredded it). Then add all the other ingredients ending with the chicken last. Mix and serve. 

You can eat this as it is and its wonderful. You can top tostada shells with it, or mix in rice noodles, or put it in tortillas. However you want, its very versatile.