Bless My Heart I Married A Yankee

 If you know anything about North Carolina, you know our weather is very unpredictable.  We can go from 70 to 30 in just a few hours.  As matter of a fact, this happened a couple of weeks ago and we got some snow which lasted until the sun came out around noon.  Yep, that is how it rolls here. Scott and I both enjoy the outdoors.  We enjoy fishing and hunting.  It is so rewarding to be able to provide for yourself with things you are able to hunt, forage or grow.  By the way, I will be starting my pepper seeds this weekend.   This weekend they are calling for a storm to hit us sometime Saturday night and go into Sunday.  If the cards stack just right we might have a fair amount of snow that will last more than a few hours.  As I was sitting here thinking about the cold weather we have been having it made me want something warm and filling in our tummies.  During cold spells, I normally crave soup and make all kinds to keep my body and soul warm but for some reason, I wanted something m

Several years ago Scott and I made some of these crunchy little chickpeas and really enjoyed them.  I had read about them and thought we love chickpeas and I have some canned in the basement, lets give it a try.  This was before anyone had ever heard of an air fryer.  The first ones we had to do in the oven but now that I have my air fried I love to use it for lots of stuff.   This is a really good and nutritious recipe.  It is a nice snack to have when you need something crunchy.  Chickpeas are a legume that is high in fiber which if you eat too much can cause a bit of stomach issues. So while they are really good I would not sit down and eat more than a nice handful.  They are low in fat and have a decent amount of protein which makes them a great snack.  I love to toss them in a salad.  It is a great alternative to croutons.   Chickpeas and garbanzo beans are the same.  The difference is the word Chickpea is from the Latin word cicer which refers to the plant family legumes.  While

  SEE BOTTOM FOR UPDATE. This is one of the first things I cook when my yellow (summer) squash is coming in from the garden.  It is so good and very fattening.  Sorry, this is not a health-conscious recipe but it sure is good.  But then again butter is better for you than margarine.   It is simple to make but takes time to cook.  Really and truly all you have to do is cut your squash and onions.  Add some butter to a hot pan and let it cook.  It is that simple.   Start with some yellow squash.  Wash them and dry them.                                          Cut your squash in slices.                                            Slice up an onion. Preheat a pan and add the cold butter.  YES, butter.  Do NOT skimp on this step.  Butter is what makes it good.  Yeah, that might just be a southern thing but you have to have butter for this.  Once the butter has melted add the squash.  I let that cook for a while then I add the onions.  Onions cook quicker so you do not want them overcooked. 

As I have said life some way got crazy busy on me.  I have no clue how that happens.   I have been busy in the kitchen and have so much to share.  Now if I can just find the time to do so.   With summer here and the gardens starting to come in and flourish we have been busy in this household.  I was able to pick some squash and cucumbers and even beans.  Have a new, not new, squash recipe to share.  I have made this dish a dozen times but for some unknown reason, I have not posted it on here.  It is absolutely divine.   Have been busy with 3 new jam recipes.  All three came from ones online but I tweaked them into something I wanted.  One will be called Hillbilly Booze Berry Jam.  The other two are watermelon jam and cantaloupe jam. Scott and I tried cantaloupe jam several years ago at the Piedmont Farmer's Market.  A lady was selling several of her homemade canned goodies and this one was available for a taste.  It was extremely good.  She went on to say her granddaughter had made

AJi Limon Pepper Jelly This is a tasty little gem of a pepper.  I saw them at our local Farmer's Market years ago for less than a dollar a pound.  I decided to buy a few to see how we like it.  I had just got Scott into hot peppers and I thought why not?   Some people call it a lemon drop pepper due to its citrus flavor which gives this jewel the lemony flavor.  Which in my humble opinion makes this pepper amazing.  What a taste! This pepper has been dated back to pre-Columbian times.  If you do a bit of research you will be told it is hot or spicy.  While I agree you can not compare it to real hot peppers.   The lemony flavor is why I love to make pepper jelly out of it.  Out of all the pepper jellies, I make this one is always the biggest hit.    Start by cutting up your peppers.  I use between 5 to 10 in a jelly.  I know that sounds like a huge difference but it really depends on how hot the peppers are that year.  If you have really dry weather your peppers are going to be hott

June into July  I can hardly believe it is almost July come Thursday.  One of my best friends will be headed to Hawaii on July 1.  So jealous since it has always been on my bucket list. Michelle, I hope you have a blast. Please be careful swimming with the sharks. My husband and I were talking the other day and he said I should explain my absence from my blog.  Scott and I took a 6-month break from each other.  During that time I just could not find it in myself to post anything.  When your heart is broken it is hard to move forward.  So that is that.  We are back together and stronger for the break.   Anyway here in our part of North Carolina strawberry season has come and gone and the blueberries are coming in with gusto.  My first picking was on Monday with Michelle and I can not believe I forgot to take a picture of my first picking.  This is the first time in 11 years I have done so.  Anyway, this is my second picking which was on Friday.  The bucket came from my dad's house. 

I have not posted in a while.  Life kind of got in the way of everything.  Then just like that life came back in a way I never thought would have happened. I am back to having fun in the kitchen.   This past week I made some different varieties of hot/spicy strawberry jelly and some of my trademark pepper jellies.  In doing so I realized I have never posted a recipe of my pepper jelly.  Hopefully I will be able to do that in the next few days. I am also planning on making elderberry jelly from some dried elderberries I have.  I am really excited about that.   Speaking of Pepper Jelly I plan on making a Rose Wine Pepper Jelly.   The blueberry bushes are loaded.  My strawberry patch is fizzling out.   Life continues.  So stay tuned for more recipes and fun around the Cristina's household.