Chive Blossom Vinegar

Jul3

Chives are the easiest home garden herb to grow and they come back every year without fail. They taste great and also bloom into lovely little purple blossoms. It is these lovely little Lorax style blossoms that we use to make this garlicky flavoured vinegar.

Snip just the blooms from the chives wash and thoroughly dry. I washed and then patted dry with a paper towel, then lay out on a dry paper towel for a few hours until totally dry. Put cleaned blossoms in a clean dry mason jar.

Cover with vinegar of your choice. I used apple cider vinegar, that was all I had at the time, but I think white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar would be really nice too.

Press blossoms down with a spoon to submerge and make sure they get covered in vinegar.
Place the lid on the jar and store in a dark cupboard for about two weeks.

After two weeks you have this pinkish purple liquid, when you take the lid off it will smell like garlic chives. It does smell really good! Strain vinegar through a cheese cloth into a clean dry bottle or jar.

Use in favourite salad dressings, vinaigrette or any recipe where you would use vinegar.

Now go grow some chives!

Pickled Jalapenos

Aug23

We used to make these every year when we got lots of jalapeños from our garden. Our garden does not give us many peppers anymore due to shade from a large building that went up next to us. I mentioned this recipe to Mimi when she said that she had a lot of jalapenos to use up from her garden and promised the share the recipe with her.

We use these on nachos and in any recipe that calls for a can of chopped green chilis, such as enchiladas, mexican rice, nachos or just on sandwiches.

These are easy to make and you can make as many jars as you like, even one if that is all the japans you have enough for. I bought 6 or 7 large jalapeños and got these two jam jars. You can easily double or triple this recipe if you need more.

Remember one of the most important rules of canning is CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN. You can never be to safe when preserving food. I also find it best to have everything prepped and ready to go in assembly line order. Put the water canner on to boil while you are getting everything else ready as it takes quite awhile to get that boiling. I sterilize the jars in there for at least 10 minutes boiling before canning. You can also sterile your jars in the oven, I have done that method as well. Please, if you are new to canning please do your research and get to know the process I recommend these websites which I have used for basic safety information The National Centre for Home Food Preservation, Government of Canada, and the Company that makes Mason Jars. There are other great resources too, but there is a lot of information on the internet that is not accurate so ensure that you are using a reputable website.

You will need:

1 cup vinegar

1cup water

1 bunch jalapeño peppers

for each jar: 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, 1/4 bay leaf, 1clove garlic

Remove stem and seeds from the peppers then slice in rings.

Combine water and vinegar in a large saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. Drop peppers in boiling liquid. Cook for 5 minutes.

While the peppers are boiling and once the jars have been sterilized, to each jar add 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 a small bay leaf, 1clove garlic

Pack peppers into sterilized jars and fill with hot liquid, leaving about 1.5 inch headspace.

Add lids (which have been prepared as for any canning (by softening the rubber rings in simmering water bath for about 5 minutes) and rings (do not tighten the rings, (they should just be screwed on lightly, fingertip tight, air has to escape during boiling and for it to seal properly) process in a water canner for at least 10-15 minutes at a rolling boil with the lids covered in about 2 inches of water (please make sure you check proper processing time for preserving based on your altitude). Remove from water and let sit on counter undisturbed for 24 hours. The jars should seal as they cool, you will hear a little pop as they seal. The lid of the jar should be sucked down flat and if you push on it it should not pop.

These will last for a year in the cupboard and once opened store in refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.

Rice Salad

Aug9

It is warm again today, it had been cool all last week and I was fearing that our short summer was over. The sun is out today and it is warmer, thank goodness for that. A friend came over for dinner last night and I made this rice salad to go with BBQ. I am glad I did because when she saw it she was very happy and said “oh you made that salad again, I love it”. Well that worked out well and I sent her home with the leftovers.

2 cups of minute rice & 2 cups of water. Cook the minute rice according to the package directions.

If you don’t want to use minute rice you can use any rice. I think you will need 3-4 cups of cooked rice.

Once the rice is done let it cool.

To the cooled rice add:

1 cup finely chopped celery

1 medium sweet onion finely chopped

1 small sweet bell pepper finely chopped (i used orange pepper as i had one in the fridge)

1 tin of mushrooms

To make the dressing mix together :

1/3 to 1/2 cup white sugar (depending on your taste)

1/2 cup white vinegar

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/2 tsp celery seed

Our the dressing over the rice mixture and stir well to coat. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

This keeps well for a week in the fridge.

Two Cheese Tossed Salad

Jul18

Salad with bacon and cheese! I hadn’t had this salad in many years and thought it would be nice for a change now that summer is here. The only thing to keep in mind is that the dressing should be made the day before, though I often forget and make it in the morning and let it sit all day in time for supper, that is ok too, but best if prepared the day before so all the flavours can meld together.

To make the dressing:

In a jar with a tight fitting lid combine

1/2 cup vegetable oil or olive oil

1/2 finely chopped red onion

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tsp poppy seeds

1/2 tsp mustard

1/2 tsp dried minced onion (you can use 1/4 tsp onion powder, or leave it out as there is red onion, I have made both ways)

1/8 tsp salt

Put on the lid and give it a good shake or whisk to mix. Place in the refrigerator overnight (or at least 8 hours)

In a large bowl combine

5 cups torn spinach leaves and iceberg lettuce

1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 carton cottage cheese

1 cup shredded swiss cheese

2-3 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Toss well with dressing

Add bacon and serve.

Chatelaine Sauce…tastes kind of familiar

Jul4

I was doing a little downsizing of a pile of magazines that I have been keeping for recipes recently and came across this recipe in a old issue of Chatelaine magazine. It is a burger sauce that reminded me of another burger sauce that I have had before. This one is great because I had all the ingredients on hand and it only made about 1/2 cup so enough for a few burgers.

The note on the recipe also pointed out that it is vegetarian and gluten free! I will have to try this on veggie burgers as well.

You will need:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tsp prepared relish

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp white vinegar

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Simply whisk altogether in a bowl until combined. I tasted it and decided toad a little more relish and vinegar, as I am not fond of mayonnaise I wanted to taste the other flavours more. Refrigerate until ready to use.

We enjoyed it and I will definitely make it again. Sorry no great burger photos this was a weeknight meal and the burgers were really simple, so the sauce helped dress them up and add more flavour!

cookswithevie

our adventures cooking … and other fun stuff

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