Bacon Kettle Corn

Bacon Kettle Corn

in a Stir Crazy

 

For this yummy Kettle Corn you will need:

 

Bacon Grease

Popcorn

1/4 to 1/3  Cup  White Sugar, depending on how sweet you like your Kettle Corn

Salt, to taste

a Stir Crazy popcorn popper

 

First, put a good large dollop of cold Bacon Grease in your Stir Crazy popper, about 3 Tablespoons worth:

 

 

Plug in your popper and let the Bacon Grease melt, like this is beginning to melt:

 

Unplug the popper and add your Popcorn.  Sprinkle it all with the Sugar:

Cover with the popper lid, plug in, and let the Popcorn pop!  When the last few kernels have mostly popped (you may not want to wait for every single kernel to pop, as the Sugar can start to burn), invert the unit and Salt to taste:

Now you are ready to enjoy some really good Kettle Corn!  Don't be a bit surprised if your entire family is swiping handfuls while you're trying to finish salting it...

 

"Wisdom is the principal thing;

therefore get wisdom:

and with all thy getting get understanding."

Proverbs 4:7

 

When we were East for T's Grandmother's funeral, we stayed with his sister and her family, and this is the way they like their popcorn--except they don't make it Kettle-Style; the Sugar is my adaption to their Bacon Popcorn.

 

School is out this week: hurrah for Summer Vacation!  A few weeks ago the boys' teacher hosted a Gold Rush Night for her students and their parents at her home as a finale to the students' studies of California History.  Period costumes were required.  Here are a few of my favorite snapshots of the evening:

 

 The Trail Masters who led our wagon train West, in search of Gold

 

 It was a long, hard journey and we were weary when we reached the Golden State

 

 

 

 It was a rough looking gang of prospectors who greeted us

 

 

 

We were delighted to see the Mercantile and Dining Tent upon our arrival;

the Prospectors spent their Gold--earned by hard work and good grades throughout the year--quite quickly

 

Much work must be finished before we could eat:

Sarsaparilla to stir,

Butter to churn

 

 

 

Dinner was simple:

Stew and Cornbread, Orange Wedges, and

Apple Crisp for dessert

 

Western Games made the evening fun

 

The teachers have been seeing double for the past two years

 

Thank You, Mrs. Schaurer, for all you have done for this class!

We appreciate you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







Cheap Eats >> Cream of Broccoli Soup

Cheap Eats  >>   Cream of Broccoli Soup

2  Tablespoons  Butter

1  Onion, chopped

3  Tablespoons  Flour

1/2  teaspoon  Salt

1/2  teaspoon  Black Pepper

Dash  Cayenne Pepper

1 14.5-oz  Chicken Broth

1  10-oz  Frozen Broccoli

2  Cups  Milk

Melt the Butter and saute Onions until clear.  Blend in Flour, Salt, and Peppers.  Stir constantly and cook 2 minutes.  Add Broth, then Broccoli and bring to a boil.  Simmer 15 minutes, stirring frequently.  Put soup in blender and puree (or use an immersion blender).  Add Milk and return to a simmer.  Serves 4.

"The LORD reigneth;

He is clothed with majesty.

The LORD is clothed with strength,

wherewith He hath girded Himself;

the world also is established,

that it cannot be moved."

Psalm 93:1

From Seasoned With Love, page 30

Poppycock

Poppycock

3  Quarts  Popped Popcorn, unbuttered, unsalted

2/3  Cup  Sliced Almonds

1/3  Cup  Wide Ribbon Coconut  (I like Bob's Red Mill brand, it is the easiest to find--in the baking aisle)

1  Cup  Butter

1  Cup  Sugar

1/4  Cup  Karo

1/4  teaspoon  Salt

1   teaspoon  Vanilla

Mix popped Popcorn, Almonds and Coconut; set aside.  In a 2-quart saucepan, cook the Butter, Sugar, and Karo until a light golden brown.  Remove from heat and stir in Salt and Vanilla.  Pour over the Popcorn mixture, stirring well to coat.  Turn out in a single layer onto waxed paper or parchment paper.  Let dry until set.  Makes 3 quarts.

This is a fun {read: yummy} variation to Caramel Corn.  I especially like the fact that you don't need to bake this for an hour or more, stirring every fifteen minutes--that can really try my patience!  You may find, like me, that you'll need to double this recipe.  If you do, here's a tip on what to mix it in:  use a CLEAN paper grocery bag!  Mix the Popcorn, Almonds, and Coconut in the bag; pour the Butter mixture over it and stir it well.  You can even fold the top closed and shake it well to help distribute the syrup mixture.  Best part of all?  Throwing the bag--and all the mess--away!

"Love not the world,

neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not in him.

And the world passeth away..

but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

1 John 2:15 & 17

        Seasoned With Love, page 19

Honey & Maple Baked Peaches

 

Honey & Maple Baked Peaches

 

For this simple little dessert you will need:

 

• Peach Halves  --  Fresh or canned
• Honey
• Laughing Cow Cheese wedges  --  one wedge per Peach Half
• Ground Cinnamon
• Maple Syrup

Place Peach Halves in a lightly greased baking dish and drizzle with Honey:

 

Unwrap the Laughing Cow cheese and smoosh it onto each Peach Half:

(spell check is telling me that 'smoosh' is not a word, but you get the point)

 

 

Dust the Peaches with ground Cinnamon:

 

Drizzle with Maple Syrup and bake at 350* for 30-40 minutes, until softened:

 

Spoon any pan juices over the Baked Peach Halves and enjoy!

 

Another one of those "perfected in the Author's test kitchen" recipes!

Enjoy!

 

[and they brought]

"Honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese...

for David and for the people who were with him, to eat;

for they said, 'The people are hungry,

and weary, and thirsty in the wilderness'."

--II Samuel 17:29









 

 

 

And here is an excellent example of the only reason why I grow Cactus:

Simply stunning blossoms which last for only a day or two.

 

Last year for my birthday the boys combined their money to buy me three tiny cactus.

This is the first blossom so far!

 

{So there you have it:  Honey and Cheese,

and my tiny wilderness.

And yes, I have been very weary recently.}

 

A Fondue 40th

Today my brother-in-law turns 40.

Last night his wife hosted a very, very fun Fondue party in his honor.

I didn't get a lot of pictures, and those I did take had pretty poor quality--sorry about that.

Complete with stick-on mustaches!

Here are the links to the recipes we used, with a few notes under each link.  We planned for 25 adults.

Cheese Fondue with a Twist

We doubled this recipe.

Crab Fondue

We doubled this recipe.

Of all the cheese-based fondues, this was the overall hit of the evening.

Pesto Fondue

We doubled this recipe.

This did scorch; keep your fondue burner on low heat.

The burner under this one was hard to get low enough.

Pizza Fondue

We doubled this recipe, too.

A fun fondue if you're serving children.

Nest your meat in bowls of ice to keep it cold.

Marinated Beef & Chicken Fondue

This links to AllRecipes.com; we adjusted the recipe to serve 16.

We used filet mignon for the Beef and

used Chicken instead of the Pork the recipe called for.

The recipe includes two dipping sauces: Horseradish and BBQ;

no need to double the dipping sauce recipes.

These were a big hit with the men.

Tempura Shrimp

2 Eggs

1-3/4  Cups  Very Cold Water

1-3/4  Cups  Flour

1/4  teaspoon  Salt

Beat Eggs and Water until frothy.  Beat in Flour until batter is smooth.

Refrigerate until used.  Place batter in bowl in crushed ice to keep cold while using.

Yield:  about 2-1/2 cups batter.

*Make certain that whatever you are dipping into the Batter is very dry--

otherwise the batter will slide off in the hot oil!

Chocolate Marshmallow Fondue

We doubled this recipe.

Salted Caramel Fondue

We doubled this.

This was the dessert hit of the evening!

We added between 1/4- to 1/2-teaspoon Sea Salt to this (Butterscotch) recipe

and renamed it Salted Caramel Fondue.

So good with Pears.

If you have any questions just send me a comment; I'd love to help you as best I can.

Fondue is a lot of fun, but also a lot of chopping.

If you're doing a party of this size, have about 3 helpers to get it all chopped.