I've been out of town!

Momma has been busy! Momma left the nest for 5 days... Momma went to NYC by herself! Momma stayed with her sister Elaine, on Long Island! Momma ate some food....Momma took some photos. Momma rode the subway... Momma walked her butt off! Momma is tired,  but Momma is happy! Momma will be back to tell you more!  :)

Help! I need some canning confidence!

Dear blogging friends and readers,

Hello there! I am about to embark on a learning experience of canning fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables this spring and summer. I have been VERY interested in canning for years now, but have never been BRAVE enough to take that step. This might seem silly to some, but I think it's because I did not grow up with a mom that canned....or with a grandma that canned. My mom always cooked and baked...every single day....I have totally inherited that gene from her....but she never canned or preserved food...other than freezing, of course.  My mom was very domestic, she was a stay at home mom, she was never afraid to try new things.....however, she never canned a day in her life......and so, I am at a little disadvantage here for not growing up in a home where this was the norm. Oh I wish I had....because then I don't think I would even think twice about it.

Today I received my new pressure canner in the mail! Yay!!  I have already purchased a water bath canner and accessories. I am on my way...one step at a time! I will first master water bath canning, then I will move on to pressure canning. I do NOT plan on learning to can meat. No, I am really not that brave. However I do want to be able to can green beans, carrots and corn....and for that, a pressure canner is a must. I have been interested in canning for years now and I am finally giving it a go.

Now, having said that....is there anyone out there reading this, that can give me some confidence. First let me tell you....I am a seeker of knowledge...so you do not have to worry about me not taking the proper steps...you don't have to worry about me creating my own recipes and just winging it, I would not do that in a million years, ...I have read and understand when to use the water bath canner and I know when to use the pressure canner...I am very aware of the safety rules to canning.....trust me, I will be up on every single pre-caution, every single sterilization process, every single attention to detail there is, before I pressure can...or water bath can. I am not interested in killing over from botulism.


So getting that out of the way.....can any of you, who have ever canned, please talk to me....tell me your experiences, tell me your mishaps, let me learn from you, tell me your success, tell me how you have been canning for years and it has been wonderful.....tell me you have been canning for years and never got sick, I am going to do this with our without you....but it would sure be nice to have some positive talk and feedback with you about this!  I NEED FEEDBACK people, positive feedback!! If you can help me, I would be most appreciative!

P.S. I only know a couple people who have canned just a couple of different items....such as tomatoes, salsa and jam....and that's it. Also, when I have talked to these people....they aren't anal retentative about it as I am. They are just kinda casual when talking about it and I am not finding that to be of any use to me. My one friend who has canned 2 different items is like "ummm, well, ya, you just do this, and then that and, oh wait, I forget, oh ya, that's right.....scared? of what? no. I'm not scared....I just do it.....{and then I'm like.......ok!?!?!} These books that I have been reading offer up the most scariest of information about potential deadly botulism....why aren't you afraid????? LOL!

Ok, so anyhow......can anyone boost my confidence here???? I need a friend!!!

Crusty bread * * * Canning * * * and Rainbow Swiss Chard * * *

Wow! Right now, my head is just all over the place...and I am loving it!  There are SOOO many new things to try, and thankfully, I have actually been getting to some of them.

For instance...I finally made myself try this very easy.... very beautiful.... very delicious.... no-knead bread, that is baked in an insanely hot Dutch Oven. It turned out perfect and was no bother at all! I am now hooked and I am never looking back....ever! Here's the link to the recipe. Simply So Good--Crusty Bread.

Another thing I am so excited and ready to dabble in, is canning! I am planning to start out slow and easy...taking my time...learning all there is to learn, studying all there is to study, watching videos on YouTube, the whole nine!  I am bound and determined to experience canning this Spring! So far, I have purchased a water bath canner, funnel, jar tongs annnnnnnd....this wonderful book, by Ashley English, called Canning and Preserving. It just arrived in the mail today and I am ecstatic! I flipped through it at the book store 2 days prior and decided this was the one....THE BOOK...to get me started. It is very informative and Ashley really spells it out....every little detail...and that is definitely me....I am such a detail person! Especially when it comes to canning...you've got to know what you're doing! I haven't made the purchase of a pressure canner yet {for veggies/low acid foods}. Not sure if I am ready for that yet! One thing at a time....baby steps!

I've come across a wonderful website called Sweet Preservation. It's all about canning.... great information and great recipes! Check it out! I have to admit.... I am nervous and don't want to mess up or make anyone sick!! I will be following the recipes and every single step to the letter! I believe I am finally confident enough to do it. Oh...you will most definitely be reading about  my canning adventures here on this blog...so stayed tuned for that my friends!

Another thing I've been into lately...... trying foods that I have never tried before..... things like Swiss Chard, golden beets, dandelion greens, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, collard greens, and plenty more....these things have been on the grocery produce shelf forever, and I keep passing them by. I have had beets before...but only the red ones...this is the first time I've ever seen golden.....they are a yellowish, orangey color. I cooked with rainbow Swiss Chard for the first time last night, and it was fun! It was great trying something new! Just look at the colors of this veggie! Just stunning and brilliant....so vibrant! I was reading how Chard is one of the most highly nutritious vegetables out there! That's pretty awesome, and that will definitely make it a contender for new foods winding up on our dinner plates!

I cooked it with chicken, shallots, and garlic in one big fry pan...all in a bit of olive oil and a bit of water. It turned out great! I got the recipe from the twister tie that was holding the stalks of Swiss Chard together in a bundle! How great is that!

By the way...I did not do the cheddar cheese part of the recipe...somehow, it just seemed to cheapen it. Cheddar cheese??? It just seemed wrong....here was all this healthy food I was cooking...and then to top it with cheddar cheese! I don't think so!

Well, let me close with that.....that being the last subject for now. There are many other things that I've been excited about and they will be turning up here...sooner or later!

For now, have a great weekend and enjoy your blessings!

my version of strawberry spinach salad

I love strawberry spinach salad!! There's just something about the combination of those flavors all mixing together that I love! Sooo.... the classic strawberry spinach salad is usually a combination of fresh spinach, strawberries, red onions, blue cheese, almonds and red wine vinaigrette or a poppy seed dressing.....oh so yummy!!!!

I think it is refreshing to have fruit in my salads...certain kinds of fruit that is...strawberries, blueberries and apple are all great! If I'm doing fruit though, there are certain veggies I won't put in my salad....like tomatoes or cucumber...I feel like the fruit needs to be the shining star...and not sure I would like the combo.

And by the way.....one cup of strawberries provides you with 160% of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin C!! That's awesome! They are also high in folate and potassium...not to mention the antioxidants!!

Here is my spin on strawberry spinach salad.

fresh baby spinach

sliced fresh strawberries

chopped walnuts

chopped celery

rough chopped shallots

dried cranberries

crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Dress with white peach balsamic vinegar

or

any light, fruity vinaigrette

This is a great salad to make right now, as strawberries are overflowing in the grocery stores...and for a great price! Personally, I cannot wait until I can buy locally grown strawberries in June....that's when strawberries are in season here in SW Pennsylvania. June just seems so far away though...so, I have been buying the grocery store strawberries from Florida. Well...I am no stranger to Florida strawberries, as I lived there for 5 years and ate many a strawberry from local farms! When are strawberries locally in season for you where you live?? Just curious!

Happy eating! 

My Sunday

Slept in 'til 10 am.
While I was sleeping,  hubby took pictures of a Blue Heron frolicking in creek behind our house.
Rushed through breakfast and rushed to get ready for church!
New skirt and shirt for church...will talk about the skirt thing in a later post..if I forget..remind me.
Church service 10:45 til 12 noon...good sermon!
Took my new, awesome Bible to church today...so excited to use it...I just love it!
Washed dishes like a good girl...cause I always let them set until I have a mountain!!
Hubby and youngest child left to go to a scavenger hunt for Cub Scouts at a local park.
Oldest son worked on adding something to his computer....I don't know what it is.
For lunch, I ate 2 slices of heavenly leftover pizza...spinach, garlic and chicken.
Watched some of {hockey} Pittsburgh Penguins VS. Philadelphia Flyers...umm, we lost..not phased!
Little bit of computer time for me...Facebook, blogging, Pinterest...whatever.
Wondering if we will get any of the 4 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow.
For dinner I quartered and roasted red potatoes and also some sugar snap peas..seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper...the red potatoes were also seasoned with sage from my garden...the peas were also seasoned with thyme from my garden.
Made fruit salad with mangoes, kiwi and apples...so delicious and fresh.
2 pieces leftover talapia fish.
After dinner, evening church service at 6:35 pm...just me, rest of family stayed home...good service!
Oh! I forgot! after church I made peanut butter chocolate swirl bars...TOTALLY DELICIOUS!
10:00 pm nightly news...weather report...snow won't start til 5 am...2 to 4 inches tomorrow...we'll see!
Midnight blogging right now...working on this post...time for beddy-bye...need to get some sleep.
My usual late night snack of peanut butter on whole wheat bread with butter and a sprinkling of powdered sugar..and a cup of milk...comfort food!
So thankful for today.
Thank you God, you are always so good to me!
Blessed beyond measure!
Good night!
Can't wait for tomorrow!
No special reason....but who knows what tomorrow will bring!