09 October 2014

Pumpkin Soup Concentrate for freezing

It's fall y'all!
Every year about this time, our rural roads are full of pumpkins sitting on wagons and in wooden crates for mere pennies. I coerce John into pulling over and picking up at least 15 pie pumpkins that leave our hands dirty and filled with those weird little slivers that pumpkin stems give you. Maybe a little sticky thrown in.
But they're homegrown and only $5. I proceed to put them in the garage and slowly use them until it freezes here permanently and they are ruined....until a couple years ago. I now process the buggers right away. Procrastination is never my friend.
I thought you might like an easy freezer recipe to deal with pumpkins and winter squash in a creative and useable way!
I begin by cutting my PIE pumpkins (or any winter squash) in half and roasting them until tender. I then scoop flesh into a suspended jelly bag or cheesecloth and allow to drain at least 6 hours. This keeps the puree drier and less likely to hold water during freezing. Once drained I mash and make this recipe:

Pumpkin Soup Concentrate

2 cups pumpkin or squash puree
4 ounces blue cheese (I used Maytag)
4 ounces Mascarpone cheese
1 cup chopped onions
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons fresh sage, chopped
Salt & Pepper

Saute onions in olive oil until softened but not browned. Stir in remaining ingredients and pack into freezer containers.

For soup add: 2 cups heavy cream, coconut milk (unsweetened) + 1 cup stock of choice or 3 cups stock

For flatbreads: Using already baked flatbreads: top with pumpkin and bake 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Top with prosciutto crumbles and greens that have been lightly dressed with balsamic vinegar

I have been working on a souffle recipe as well and will update when the exact proportions are complete!






posted from Bloggeroid

06 October 2014

DIY Planner

Are you a planner/personal agenda person? I am and always have been. I have a bunch of old leatherish binders, a really beautiful ($55!!!) Day designer, notebooks and most recently apps for phone and tablet and laptop that sync...."I can't even". All were sort of useful but not really functional for my life right now. I run a retail business and an Inn and 2 wholesale companies. When I have a mistake/forget things, it can go downhill quickly (I prefer the term...shit hits the fan). However none of the planners are for people like me. They are for people that do meetings, make appointments or snack day at elementary school or get a manicure (I wish!!). I also hate the whole month since I get overwhelmed, but can't do a daily since there are ugly surprises when I turn the page at 5am. The weekly ones are nice but there's no space for writing "don't forget to order Halloween wines". So I created my own!
I purchased a Piccadilly Tiffany blue notebook, gathered up a bunch of cool stickers and whatnot I had in my "project room" and got to work.
I added tab dividers that work for me and pages like "Thanksgiving" with room for a guest list, decor ideas and a whole square to plan "the feast"!!!
I added a page for my Christmas gift list, thoughts and ideas every week as well as a spot for gratitude and planning my cooking classes.
Here's a whole slew of photos to get you inspired to create your own planner!
















posted from Bloggeroid