The Front Porch Swing

[heartsizedfarm]

That's how I cook too...I think my recipe box has around 10 recipes in it...about 3 or 4 of those are Mom's old recipes for hot pepper butter, Coney Island hot dog sauce, whole wheat bread, brown beans(had to do HER recipe or the boys just didn't like the beans... ).  Everything else comes out of the head according to whatever ingredients are on hand.  Nothing is ever fancy or requiring of a lot of different ingredients and we try to stick with ingredients that are not processed already.

If I had to follow recipes all the time I'd go crazy!  A glorp of this, a handful of that, a pinch of these and stir it all up is the usual directions to my "recipes".    

Yup my idea of a recipe starts with "what's in the garden?" "what's in the fridge?" "what's in the cupboard?" And how can those work together?

So tonight: rice (cupboard), asparagus and fiddlehead stir fry (garden), and chicken shish kebab (fridge).

And everything tastes great with a glass of white wine!

 

[wyoDreamer]

Made chicken pockets yesterday, a recipe that I have used many times. Just the standard crescent roll with a chicken filling. Recipe called for cream cheese, chopped chicken, onions and butter. I added dehydrated tomatoes, chopped fresh spinach and a touch of garlic. They turned out delish!
Recipes are a starting point, no telling where they will lead to.

Almost out of dehydrated tomatoes. Can't wait to move to WI and get some good, home grown tomatoes from the farm stands. No garden for me this year.

On the garden note, DH tells me there is a lot of landscaping around the new place that is starting to grow now that spring has finally showed up. Daffodils are blooming. I asked for pictures, we'll see if I get any.

 

[RachaelS]

I cook like you ladies... I'm an improv cook. My dear husband says, and I quote "You have never cooked anything I didn't like." It's like a game of Iron chef.. with less fancy ingredients. Half the time I don't even know what I'm cooking until it's done

I can never cook something the exact same way twice though... I can come close, but never the same.

Glad to hear the fire is going down, Deb.

I wish I could cook like that.....I can cook a mean steak and rack of ribs, but have to follow directions on everything else

 

[RachaelS]

Today was gorgeous once again....cool, sunny with clouds, absolutely dreamy! Worked on one project for most of the day that didn't turn out well and was the most frustrating project I'd ever done...and it's still not done. And it was supposed to be about an hour's worth of work, tops. Grrrr! But, I was outside, breathing the fresh air and getting dirty all over again, so I'm not complaining much...life is good and God is great!

Yes, he is!!!

 

[RachaelS]

Yup my idea of a recipe starts with "what's in the garden?" "what's in the fridge?" "what's in the cupboard?" And how can those work together?

So tonight: rice (cupboard), asparagus and fiddlehead stir fry (garden), and chicken shish kebab (fridge).

And everything tastes great with a glass of white wine!

what is fiddlehead? And yes a glass of wine!

 

[RachaelS]

Made chicken pockets yesterday, a recipe that I have used many times. Just the standard crescent roll with a chicken filling. Recipe called for cream cheese, chopped chicken, onions and butter. I added dehydrated tomatoes, chopped fresh spinach and a touch of garlic. They turned out delish!
Recipes are a starting point, no telling where they will lead to.

Almost out of dehydrated tomatoes. Can't wait to move to WI and get some good, home grown tomatoes from the farm stands. No garden for me this year.

On the garden note, DH tells me there is a lot of landscaping around the new place that is starting to grow now that spring has finally showed up. Daffodils are blooming. I asked for pictures, we'll see if I get any.

I have everything other than the crescent roll, what can I do?

 

[heartsizedfarm]

what is fiddlehead? And yes a glass of wine!

Fiddleheads are the little curly tips of ferns that have just bust out of the ground and started growing. A delicacy really, and super expensive at the farmer's markets, but our front garden is packed with ferns so just part of spring eating fortunately.

 

[RachaelS]

Quote:
Wow, I think i know what you are talking about, did not know you could eat them. Ferns don't do well here. Sounds wonderful!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Wow, yet again I got way far behind. So I jumped to the end. Hope everyone is doing well! I have expanded my little flock. A breeder of Cubalaya's in VA got his certifications and shipped me 4 pullets, 2 white and 2 blacks. They of course got lost in the mail for one day! Thankfully, it is pretty hot up there (90's), so they were getting used to the heat and we had we had a odd cool front come through 70's for a few days, so they were okay. Once a little older they will move into the pen with the rest of the Cub flock. Here is their pic, they are 8 weeks old:

They look like doves.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have everything other than the crescent roll, what can I do?

You can make an empanada dough, or even use just pie crust. Make the pie crust with butter to give it more flavor.

The ratio for the filling, according to the recipe, is 3 ounces of cream cheese, 1 tablespoon of butter, diced onion and 2 cups chopped chicken. I added about 1/4 cup dried tomatoes and 1/2 cup of spinach. Garlic powder to taste.
I make these as small empanadas as an appetizer for gatherings also. about 2 inch rounds, folded in half over the filling and sealed up.