Portland Marinara

Portland Marinara
20 pounds of tomatoes
3 pounds of onions
3-4 bulbs of garlic
1 bottle of red wine (Cabernet)
1/4 c. Sea salt
black pepper
1/4 c. dried oregano
3 c. fresh herbs (oregano, basil, cilantro,  parsley)
1 1/2 c. bottled lemon juice
Roast tomatoes (halved), onions (quartered), and peeled garlic cloves for 40 minutes @ 375° on a cookie sheets.  Puree in pot and add wine, salt, pepper (to taste), and dried oregano.  Simmer to desired thickness (3-4 hrs.).
Meanwhile prepare hot water bath canner (jars, rims, and lids) on stove. 
To marinara add lemon juice, and chopped fresh herbs. Simmer 5 more minutes.  Transfer to hot jars, wipe rims, lid and cover finger tight. Process for 35 minutes (quarts).  Makes 9 quarts.
Christine in Portland's recipe is slightly different but my recipe is based off of her's.  I discovered it last year and loved it personally but a thicker sauce was definitely more to my families liking.   It is definitely worth the read for other tips and its entertainment value! If I wasn't 6 months pregnant gin and tonic would definitely be on the ingredients list!
Happy Canning!

High Point Salsa

So, a nurse at our clinic for my last appointment not only gushed over those previously posted ultrasound pictures but shared her newest favorite recipe for salsa out of the garden.  She's a GEM!  I'm dubbing it High Point Salsa (named after our clinic) to give it distiction from what has been my normal salsa recipe the past 5 years with 'chunks' in it that the kiddos (and Kurt) don't eat as well.  High Point Salsa is what I'd call a 'kid friendly' recipe with those veggies hidden in there.  I've yet to figure out if I can can it.  If you're a home canner any suggestions would be appreciated!

High Point Salsa- from Nurse Ally

10 roma tomatoes, cut in half (face up)
10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 peppers (she's written in 1 pubbelano and 1 sorleno, I've used whatever came out of our garden and varied depending on how spicy I want it)
2 onions quartered
Roast @ 375 degrees F for 40 minutes on a cookie sheet.

Add
1 T of sea salt
2 T of fresh cilantro
Juice of one lime

Blend (in your blender or use a handy immersion blender and save on dishes!!).

Enjoy!

Dinner Tonight

This smells so good!  Yum yum yummy!

November Family Literacy- The Gingerbread Boy

For G week one of the books by our author, Paul Galdone, was The Gingerbread Boy.  It was definitely one of Katie's favorites.  As she told the story back to me a few times.  She was particularly humored by the ending (spoiler!) where the foxy fox settles in for a nap after his snack. 

 As a activity to go with the story we decided to try to make our own Gingerbread boys.  It was tricky as I had to borrow the cookie cutter from the neighbor, guess I should put that on our list. After that, we suited up for the task. Everyone was game for helping in the baking!

Aren't their aprons the cutest?!?

Katie took over the camera for a few of the pictures. She had to get a shot of my apron.

 As I didn't have a recipe in mind I ended up using this one from Allrecipes.  I liked it because it didn't call for any eggs and I new that I'd have some dough eaters in the kitchen.  I did have to adjust it a bit as the initial recipe (as mentioned in the comments) was too dry to roll out.  It may have been because I ran out of white flour and had to substitute with wheat.  Regardless,  a bit more water in the mix seemed to do the trick.  I also ended up taking the cookies out earlier than 10 minutes (it was more like 6-7 min) so that they were soft.  I didn't know with the current bout of HFM if hard cookies would be right for us. 

 I must say the recipe was delicious both cooked and uncooked.  I honestly thought about balling up the dough and serving it as is though the final product is delicious, too.  I will probably make them again at Christmastime.  I had one cookie stealer in the kitchen...at least twice I caught her with cookie in hand and on the run!  Rascal!!!

"You can't catch me with the gingerbread man!"

Katie thought the dough was mighty tasty, too!

Much to my delight, Katie did wonder to herself as we put the first batch in the oven if one was going to jump off the pan...and if it did, we'd definitely catch it for a snack (and if I had my way, a nap like that foxy fox!)!   We all enjoyed catching the gingerbread boys- especially Daddy. 

What have you done as a family to encourage literacy lately?  Head on over to Work, Play, Read and link up to November's Family Literacy Challenge. 

Fantastic Firsts

I know, its been awhile here's a getting back at it post-


First Visit with Old and New Friends

My college friend, Molly, and her family live only minutes away from us and yet it has been years since we've visited.  Just after Easter we planned to get together with our kids for Sticky Buns, our favorite college breakfast.  The visit was a real treat.  The kids played and two old friends drank coffee, ate sweet treats and caught up a bit.


First Tooth

She's finally got a tooth, just weeks before that first birthday.  That grin is all the sweeter!

First Smoked Turkey

Kurt smoked his first (and hopefully not his last!) turkey a few weekends back.  It was as the recipe implies, WORTH THE WAIT.  And absolutely delish!

First Day Away

This past weekend I worked with a team of college students to put on a Confirmation Retreat for 11th graders at our parishes.  Kurt dutifully took on the role of weekend babysitter and head cook and bottle washer (not literally washing bottles but dishes galore!).  And Julia and I spent a record 8 hrs. apart.  I think it was at times more difficult for me than her.  I am thankful that she likes whole milk though she isn't about to give up nursing completely (and no, I did not suffer any supply or issues with plugged ducts- if that's not the Spirit at work I don't know what is. ;-)).

First Birthday

As mentioned above we had recent birthday (actually two!).  Julia turned one and Kurt 31 this past week.  We celebrated with friends for dinner and cake.  Kate requested a train cake for them to share.  It was good use of our growing collection of candies that rarely get eaten.  And the girls were pleased with the outcome.  See the birthday girl above having some frosting from her bowl.  Wow did that first year go FAST!!  What a blessing our little Ju-Ju Be has been in our lives!  I can't imagine life without her joyful presence.

First Peek

Though she's not walking yet she has mastered climbing to new heights.  In the photo above she's yelling at the neighbors across the street.  And if you're interested, she did move the car there.  Julia also climbed up to a first landing at a friends home this weekend.  I was thankful another mother heard her calling for help before she went head first down the stairs.  She's my first climber- Kate still isn't that coordinated most days.

I'm hoping to post some updates on the girls, soon.  I don't intend to let things laps now that things aren't so busy with retreats and wrapping up work.  Love from Kieler!  And Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Lenten Recipes

Prompted by an email group conversation I thought I would post this here, too.

Some of our Kieler Lenten (meatless) favorites...

Shrimp and Pasta
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic (more if you're a garlic person)
Thawed medium shrimp (we buy frozen and pre cooked)
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
Pasta (cook as directed)

Thaw shrimp (enough for each person to get a serving), rinse, drain and dry. In a skillet over medium heat heat butter, oil and garlic until fragrant. Add shrimp (and veggie of choice if you're daring). Cook until warmed or seared if you like them that way. Mix with drained pasta and add Parmesan cheese while still warm. Quick and EASY! And YUM!


Fettuccine Alfredo
(courtesy of Rachael Runde)
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 small onion finely chopped
1 large garlic clove, crushed
2 c. skim milk
1 c. chicken broth
3 tbsp. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1 pkg. (16 oz) fettuccine
1 pkg. (16 oz) broccoli florets

In nonstick skillet (12 in.) heat oil over med. heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is golden brown about 8 min. In bowl, with wire whisk whisk milk, broth, flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Add to onion mixture and cook, stirring until sauce has thickened and boils. Boil 1 min. Stir in Parmesan.

Meanwhile, cook pasta. After pasta has cooked 7 min (or so) add broccoli to pasta water cook approx 3-5 min longer. Drain and toss pasta broccoli and sauce together. A little more work but a tasty alternative.

Baked Ziti
(courtesy of Natalie Elskamp)
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves
1 (28 oz.) can of crushed tomatoes
1 (14 oz.) can of diced tomatoes
1/4 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. of fresh minced basil or 2 tsp. of dried
1 Lb. pkg. ziti or other short pasta
8 oz. of shredded mozzarella or Swiss cheese
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta until firm to bite. Reserve 1/2 c. of pasta water when draining. In med skillet brown garlic in olive oil until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes. Bring to simmer. Stir in basil, sugar and salt and cook till thickened. Add sauce to pasta, use pasta water to loosen sauce as needed. In oiled 9x13 in baking dish, spread half of pasta mix, top with half of both mozz and parm cheese. Repeat with remaining halves. Bake at 350* for 20 min. or until golden brown. Let sit 5 minutes and serve. (Total time takes less than an hour!)

Rice and Bean Enchiladas
(courtesy of the Statz-Lauper family)
tortillas
refried beans
rice
enchilada sauce
shredded cheese
a can of diced tomatoes or salsa

Cook rice. Afterwards, combine all ingredients in a large frying pan and heat through. Place in tortillas and roll (taco bell style). Top with extra sauce and cheese and bake at 350* for 20-30 min.

Oh and two other mentions I can't forget!
1. Kurt's Nearly Famous Smoked Salmon (If you're interested I'll have to ask to reveal the recipe)
2. The Kieler Church Lenten Fish Fry- the best church fish fry we've found! And we make the rounds. ;-)

Happy Cooking and a Blessed Lent!