Gift of fresh produce

If you are a regular reader of Bear Necessities, you know how much I love living in my little town. This was once again reinforced last week for me. A friend of mine had posted on facebook about spending the day making spaghetti sauce and canning it. I asked for her recipe as this is something I have not yet done. Not only did she send me the recipe, but when I came home from church, there was a big bucket (27 pounds) of tomatoes on my porch!

The process of making spaghetti sauce is a long one. It took me about eight hours from start to finish, but Mm-Mm-Mm it is so worth every minute of it! Now that I have eaten really good sauce, the store bought stuff will never again be good enough. From this 27 pound gift, I was able to can 11 quarts and have enough left over for a meal.

If this wasn't enough, this same friend brought over a bag of green beans which I prepared and was able to can 10 pints! This friend doesn't know it, but come apple time, she is getting a HUGE box of apples left on her porch!

Fair Food!!

It has once again been one of the most magical times of the year..County Fair time!

It's hard to beat a small county fair. The building showcasing local talent with displays of garden goodies, photography, sewing...etc. Also the building with booth after booth of local business owners showing their wares, political parties wanting to impress you with their candidates, and the Sheriff's Department giving out free popcorn.

Then there is the actually fair with all its stimulation of the senses. The sights, the sounds, the smells, and my favorite...the tastes! Bureau County Fair food is something I look forward to all year long. Last year I was experiencing some health issues and was not able to take part in this annual ritual of feeding my face. It was a very sad time for me *sigh*

This year though I was able to enjoy! (insert Hallelujah Chorus)

Papa Bear and I made our way to the fair on Saturday evening to watch the Draft horse show (and to eat). My first stop was to my favorite vendor who has THE BEST cherry limeade and corn dogs. The rest of the evening consisted of watching the horses, eating, walking through the buildings, eating, walking around, eating, and then a little more eating.

Two large cherry limeades
1/2 large lemon shake-up
Corn dog
Chocolate peanut butter fudge
Fried zucchini (veggies..good for me, right?)
Fried Twinkie
Popcorn
Pixie Stick
Nacho w/cheese
Cotton Candy

Papa Bear and I decided we had enough Fair and walked to the car where Papa had the wonderful idea of running through Dairy Queen for a shake. Hey, he was driving, I was kind of forced into it. (grin)

The local volunteer ambulance services provide coverage at the fair, Sunday was our turn...I HAD to go again, darn the luck. It was raining when we got there and proceeded to rain the almost five hours were were there. Well gosh, what is a person to do when it is raining and nothing going on? Yep, eat. I took it easy this time though.
Cherry limeade (only one)
Corn dog
Fried green tomatoes, onion rings, mushrooms and cauliflower (more veggie goodness)
Part of a funnel cake
Iced coffee

When I got home I finished off the cotton candy from last night as I didn't want it to go to waste (at least that's what I told Papa Bear as he gave me a funny look). I still have a few pixie sticks left and a box of salt-water taffy. I'll hold these back for a rainy day when I need a little pick-me-up.

I am a happy girl.

Beer Bread

When Little Bear was just a cub, he loved my beer bread. Of course, we called it 'dense bread' as I didn't want him running around saying he got to have beer. In the summer, we would make a tray up with sliced cheese, deer salami, fresh fruit and veggies and slices of dense bread w/butter. This was a regular summer supper for us.

The bread itself is very simple to make. It takes a couple of minutes to make and an hour to cook...presto!

Beer bread

3 C. self rising flour**
3 T. sugar
1 12oz. can of beer @ room temperature

Mix all ingredients. Put into greased loaf pan. With wet fingers, smooth out top.

Pre-heat oven (very important) to 325*. Bake 45-60 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly then remove from pan.

**Self rising flour**
1 C. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Whisk together well. Be sure to adjust for 3 cups needed in recipe

Sprite or 7UP can be used instead of the beer, it just isn't quite as good in my opinion.

This bread is best eaten the same day. It's also a perfect bread for adding flavorings too. I like to do a heavy sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar to the top and make toast. Italian spices can be mixed in for eating with spaghetti or lasagna. Horseradish and ground black pepper is tasty for eating with cheese. Use your imagination!

Since this is a very dense bread, it is great to also eat with soups and stews in the cold weather time.

Fake Coffee

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I stand before you this morning to say, "My name is Mama Bear and I am a fake almost every day". Judge me if you will, but it's not going to change.

You'll remember a few weeks ago I shared with you about EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique, my friend Lori turned me on to. This technique has made a huge difference in my life. Lori also helped me in another area I was having much struggle with, coffee.

I like coffee, I really really like coffee. Not to the point of being a coffee snob or anything like that, I just really really enjoy drinking coffee throughout my day. Due to health issues, I am no longer able to do that.

*sigh*

Lori came to my rescue once again and turned me onto a product I can drink in place of my decaf pots of coffee each day.



Cafix is an all natural drink that is naturally caffeine free. I can drink as much of it as I want and it doesn't cause me any pain. I like that it is instant so I can enjoy a cup anytime I want.

The flavor is just a bit different than coffee, however, it definitely takes care of my coffee fix.

I do want to caution you, even though I can drink Cafix all day without it causing me health problems, I don't. Well, let me clarify that I won't do it again. You see, it is all natural...ALL NATURAL...it gets you moving (if you know what I mean). Nope, won't make that mistake again.

If you are interested in trying this wonderful hot drink of happiness and you are local, visit Lori at Optimal Health in Princeton, IL. If you are not local, I'm sure you can do a Google search and find it in a health store near you.




I'm going to take a small break and enjoy a cup of my fake coffee, I do hope you all have a day filled with friendships, happiness and blessings.

Eat the Fridge

Do you find science projects in the back of the fridge? Green oranges in the crisper? A bottle of...wait, what is that??

Food wasted is money wasted--not a very frugal thing. So, what are we going to do about this? Hmmmm {scratches head} let me think. I know! {Lightbulb moment} Use it up!

Instead of throwing that little bit of veggies away, put it in a container in the fridge to make soup with at the end of the week. Some meats can also be added to this. The water you drain off boiled potatoes can be added as well as the liquid drained off the veggies. At the end of the week, add broth, seasoning, noodles, rice...whatever you would like, and enjoy a waste-free soup.

If you aren't into the soup thing, you can keep your leftovers in a designated area of the fridge and once a week have a leftover buffet. Little dabs of this and that. The reason for a designated area is to keep science projects from happening.

If there are large enough amounts left for another meal, you can package them and place them in the freezer (make sure to mark what is inside and the date). You not only will save money, you will also save time later on when all you need to do is pull the package out, let it thaw and reheat.

Fruits getting a bit soft and no one wants to eat them? Cut into bite size pieces, add a bit of yogurt, stir and enjoy.

Groceries is one of the biggest areas we can save money. There really is no reason to ever throw out food.

Menu and Alice

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If you have been reading Bear Necessities for awhile, you know my struggles with making a weekly menu and staying on a cleaning schedule. Oh, I have the desire to keep up on these things, sadly, I don't have the follow through. {hangs head in shame} I am a weak weak person.

*sigh*

I am happy to share my menu for this week! Yippee Skippee!

Monday
Wild hog and scalloped potatoes
green beans
applesauce

Tuesday
Goose
mashed taters and gravy
carrots

Wednesday
wait for it......

wait for it......

Venison heart! MmMmMmMmMmMmmmmmm
steamed cabbage
peaches

Thursday
Leftovers

Friday
Leftovers

I also picked Alice (my homemakers binder) up off the shelf, dusted her off and spent some quality time with her this weekend. It was a lovely time re-kindling an old friendship. I apologized for my absence and she forgave me. This morning she and I will once again be spending time together. Alice has already warned me there will be tough consequences if she is left on the shelf again (she looked pretty mean too, I don't think I'm going to test it).

Would love to spend a bit more time blogging with you, Alice is giving me 'the eye' and clearing her throat, I do believe it would be in my best interest to get going.

Bean and Bacon Soup

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After my burnt bacon fiasco of the other day, can you believe I actually used bacon again already? I'm safe there though as I don't have to fry it for this tasty recipe.

I love a good ham and bean soup. Problem is, I have tried to make many recipes only to have them be not quite what I was looking for. I put a request out on a recipe site I'm on with Face Book and was pleased to get a reply. I didn't quite use the recipe exactly, the following is what I ended up with. You will notice I used bacon instead of a ham hock, mainly because I didn't have one.

2 C. dry navy beans (could use Northern beans)
6 C. water
Water for soaking
2 carrots finely chopped
1 C. celery finely chopped (about 2 stalks)
1 onion chopped
2 potatoes diced small
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 package maple flavored bacon cut into small pieces
1 T. Nature's Seasoning salt

Sort and wash beans. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 1 hour. Drain.

Place all ingredients in a 5 qt. crock pot. Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours. Mash about 1 C of beans if soup seems a bit thin.

I ended up putting this in a pot on the stove at about 4 hours as I was hungry! I brought it to a boil and then simmered it for about 1/2 hour. I did need to add extra water.

I will be trying this out again just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, but if all goes well, this will be my new bean soup recipe! I'm also thinking I'll be making a huge pot of this and canning it to put in the pantry.

This is a very inexpensive, frugal meal.

*FYI...do not eat this if you are going to be in a crowd later on.

Burnt Bacon

Mmmmm...I just love the smell of burnt bacon as it seeps into every single nook and cranny of my home, leaving it's lingering scent in any fabric it come in contact with.

I do hope you noted the sarcasm dripping from that last sentence.

I started bacon and walked away to check on the children, ending up sitting on the floor singing songs with them. As I saw smoke coming from the kitchen, I realized what I had done. I ran in there and took the skillet right outside, it was too late, the smoke was already running rampant. Of course, it's cold out so I can't open windows with the children here. I can't even turn on the vents because the wood burner is going and it will draw in the smoke from that. *sigh*

I guess I could always burn a maple candle and it could smell like breakfast in here. *sigh*

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Pan fried Tilapia

I'm not a big fan of eating fish, it's something I have been learning to do since it is good for me (why can't everything that is good for me taste like chocolate??). I usually bake my fish with butter and seasoning. Not bad, but I get a bit tired of that. So...last night I decided to make my own recipe! I've quite telling Papa Bear when I've done this as it's hard not to laugh when I see the look of fear on his face. The poor man, he is such a sweetie to always eat whatever it is, he just politely asks me not to make it again.

This fish though, he requested it again! Yippee! I'll share the recipe with you, as long as you don't laugh at my secret ingredient...homemade teriyaki sauce.

Pan fried Tilapia
mix together beaten egg and teriyaki sauce
mix together whole wheat flour and cornmeal
mix together garlic-pepper, onion powder and a bit of chili seasoning

Dip thawed Tilapia in wet mixture, then cover well in dry mixture. Place in heavy pan (I use cast iron) with 1/4 inch hot oil, sprinkle generously with spice mixture. Cook over medium heat until brown. Carefully turn fish over, careful not to splash the hot oil. Generously sprinkle spice mixture on this side. Cook until done...usually about 10 minutes total time. Remove from pan to paper towel before serving.



I served this with butternut squash risotto and steamed asparagus.

I know the frying kind of defeats the purpose of healthy, but hey, just gotta live on the edge sometimes.

Apple of a Day

Apples, apples, everywhere are apples! At least, that's how it was in my kitchen yesterday...and I enjoyed every minute of it.

My dear friend, Alicia, came over yesterday for a lesson in canning. When we talked about getting together, I don't think she really had any idea what she was getting herself into. She was a trooper though. I showed her what to do and she put up 13 quarts of applesauce, filled the dehydrator, made three batches for leathers AND made her very first pie! I'm sure she slept well last night.

Providing for our own needs is becoming a lost art. It's wonderful to see someone get excited about it. Alicia has also re-newed my interest in it. I've been wanting to teach myself to can meat and soups the last couple of winters, I just haven't seemed to get it done. Now though, I have inspiration! Once I learn, then I will teach this to Alicia also. I guess with only having biological sons, I haven't had a daughter at my side to teach these skills to.

If canning/preserving is something you are interested in but don't have anyone to teach you, don't despair! I didn't either. I purchased Ball's Blue Book of Canning at Wal-Mart, watched yard sales for supplies, used the internet alot, and just learned my way through it.

So, dear reader, get out and get yourself some fresh fruit and veggies and preserve away!

Still working the menu!

I am pleased to say I am still (for the most part) working the weekly menu!! I know, I know, I haven't posted the last couple of weeks, but I DID have a plan to work from!

Monday
Roast w/gravy
salt potatoes
green beans

Tuesday
Grilled chicken salad
cantaloupe

Wednesday
Blue cheese burgers on the grill
steamed broccoli
fresh tomato

Thursday
Marinated elk steak on the grill
grilled potatoes
fresh fruit

Friday
Buffet at the Cafe`

Monday's Menu

Good Monday morning dear friends. I do hope you were able to have a restful weekend. I'm happy to announce my menu planning went well for last week, I was able to follow it every day! So, here goes with my second weekly menu.

Monday
BBQ pork sandwiches
sauteed zucchini
watermelon

Tuesday
Hamburger Helper
green salad
peaches

Wednesday
Leftovers for Papa Bear as I have a dinner-meeting

Thursday
Tacos!!!

Friday
Buffet at the Cafe`

I am very much looking forward to Taco night, it has been years since I've made them and they are just so yummy!

Monday's Menu

Wow, it's been 12 days since my last post...what's up with that? I guess with the weather turning nice I'm out with the daycare children more. I've also spent quite a bit of time working on the house...not that my cleaning list is anywhere near done, but it sure does look much better in here. I've also been working hard on clearing my calendar some. Instead of being gone 3-4 nights every week, I'm down to 1-2 instead. I'm enjoying spending more of my free time with Papa Bear! We were actually able to take the motorcycle out two weekends in a row!

Now that things are getting a bit more settled in my new routine, I'm finding myself able to do blogging again. Thanks you, dear friends, for being patient with me as I try to find a healthy balance between real life and internet time.

In my new schedule, I'm going back (trying to anyway) of having a weekly menu. This is the first week (and we'll see how many weeks actually follow! LOL )

Monday
Tuna pasta salad
fresh fruit salad
fancy crackers

Tuesday
grilled chicken breast
fettuccine Alfredo
green beans
applesauce

Wednesday
seasoned burgers on the grill
homemade fries
fresh tomato

Thursday
baked fish on the grill
seasoned rice
watermelon

Friday
Buffet at the cafe`

Banana Boat

While at Boy Scout camp, one of the incredible staff members stopped by for a visit and to share in our dutch oven banana bread. She shared a recipe with me for Banana Boats and I think I have fallen in love! This is so simple that it can be done even in the house in the oven.

1 banana
tin foil to wrap it
stuffers of your choice

Leave peal on banana and make a slice from one end to the other, careful not to slice all the way through. Insert into this slit your stuffers (small pieces of chocolate, marshmallow, caramel...etc.). Wrap banana in tin foil and place on hot coals. Remove after about 5 minutes. Open foil, grab your spoon and eat all the yummy goodness waiting for you inside that banana peal!

BBQ Country Style Pork Ribs

Dear friends, you are in for a treat here. I made this recipe on Tuesday and it was such a hit with my guys! I did double it as I was making lots of extra meat to help get me started on my new quest for freezer cooking, but that is for another post at a later time.

1/2 C. cooking oil
3/4 C. chopped onion
3/4 C. ketchup
1/3 C. water
1/3 C. lemon juice
3 T. sugar
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 T. French's prepared mustard
1 T. liquid smoke
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

I also added to the doubled recipe a big old glop of horseradish.

Cook onion in oil until soft. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer 15 minutes.

Place rib inlarge baking pan that has a lid. Pour auce over ribs. Cover. Bake in 350* oven for 2 hours or until tender.

This went very well with a baked potato and homemade applesauce.

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Monday meal

I don't have a menu made for the whole week...but this is what's for lunch today! MmMmMmmm....this is a google picture, but mine looks just as good. Venison roast that Papa Bear shot, Carrots and green beans from a friends garden, potatoes and onions from the store. I was going to make some bread to go with it, but didn't get it started in time.

Sniff

Sniff

Sniff

Do you smell that? My home is smelling so good right now.


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