Farm Fresh Friday - Pumpkin Chili

The other day, Tasha told me she loves fall.  Then announced that she loves all season and proceeded to tell me why she loves each season.  As I was listening to her reasons, I realized that even though I know summer is by far my favorite season, there are aspects of all 4 that I do enjoy.

While the days are getting shorter and cooler, it has been nice to sit outside while O-man happily plays with the leaves, and crochet or knit.  Even though the task is a bit daunting, I am looking forward to getting out my soft, cozy clothes and layer them up.  I've been doing quite a bit of knitting and crocheting lately.  I've actually been doing a lot of things I'd like to blog about... but I haven't been sitting down to the computer much!  I have tons of pictures and stories in my head, but the nice afternoons have been calling to us, so we've been enjoying them while they last.

One more thing I love about fall is soups, stews and chili, all which don't seem quite right to me to be making in the heat of the summer.  This past weekend I tried a pumpkin chili and knew I had to attempt my own version, it turned out so yummy I just had to share...

I started with some of the produce I had on hand from our CSA, onions, peppers and zucchini.  I like meat in my chili and since ground turkey was on sale this week I browned it up with the diced peppers and onions and some southwest seasoning and chopped garlic.  Next in went the zucchini and a few tomatoes from the random plant that decided to grow in my backyard (we never planted it, but got at least 50 tomatoes from it already!) with all the canned stuff I had on hand: four or five types of beans and corn and a large jar of tomato puree.  Finally time to add in a can of pumpkin puree and cinnamon.  YES, cinnamon and lots of it, I think I put in at least 2 tablespoons of it.  I started out with less, but more was better.

After letting it simmer (and making the kids help me clean up the house) it was perfection!  If I hadn't tired pumpkin chili I would have never considered pumpkin as an ingredient and I'd be majorly missing out.  From now on, pumpkin and cinnamon will always be in my chili.

Now I really need some apple cider...

Peace be with you,

 

I'll be linking up to some of these parties, stop by and check out the talent!

M: Made by you Mondays, Made with Love Monday, Making the World Cuter, MMM @ CRAFT, Just something I whipped up, Organizing Mission Monday, A Round Tuit, Motivate me Monday, Sharing Monday, Jam Hands T: Sew Cute Tuesday, Handmade Tuesdays, Tip Me Tuesday, TCB, Topsy Turvy Tuesdays, Take-a-Look Tuesdays, Too Cute Tuesdays, Giggles Glitz & Glam, It’s Sew fun Tuesday W: We Did it Wednesday, Night Owl Crafting, Sugar & Spice, Tea Rose Home, Upcycled Awesome, We’re Organized Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday, What’s Up Wednesday, Wow Me Wednesday, Share the Wealth,  T: Make It Wear It, Frogs & Snails, It’s Stinkin’ Cute, Making it with Allie F: Fun Friday Finds, Fingerprints on the Fridge, It’s a Hodgepodge, Chic on a Shoestring, Fantastic Friday, TGIF, I’m an Organizing Junkie, Spunky Junky, The Shabby Nest, While He Was Napping S/S: KISS, Funky Fresh, Weekend Wrap Up, Nifty Thrifty, Creative Bloggers

Farm Fresh Friday: Corn and Zucchini Bean Salad

What do you do with a bumper crop of zucchini?   I mix it in to everything in some way if I can.  Ok, the picture doesn't do it justice but this was delicious hot or cold!

Corn and Zucchini Bean Salad:

4 ears of fresh corn cut off the cob

3 zucchinis shredded

1 small onion finely chopped

1 can black beans rinsed

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 Tbsp butter

In a pan, melt the butter.  Add in the corn and onion, simmer for about 3 minutes, constantly stirring.  Add in black beans for about another 3 minutes.  Stir in zucchini, salt and pepper and cook 2-3 more minutes until everything is hot.   Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to a week.  This was a great side dish for lunch for a few days

Peace be with you,

 

I'll be linking up to some of these parties, stop by and check out the talent!

M: Made by you Mondays, Made with Love Monday, Making the World Cuter, MMM @ CRAFT, Just something I whipped up, Organizing Mission Monday, A Round Tuit, Motivate me Monday, Sharing Monday, Jam Hands T: Sew Cute Tuesday, Handmade Tuesdays, Tip Me Tuesday, TCB, Topsy Turvy Tuesdays, Take-a-Look Tuesdays, Too Cute Tuesdays, Giggles Glitz & Glam, It’s Sew fun Tuesday W: We Did it Wednesday, Night Owl Crafting, Sugar & Spice, Tea Rose Home, Upcycled Awesome, We’re Organized Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday, What’s Up Wednesday, Wow Me Wednesday, Share the Wealth,  T: Make It Wear It, Frogs & Snails, It’s Stinkin’ Cute, Making it with Allie F: Fun Friday Finds, Fingerprints on the Fridge, It’s a Hodgepodge, Chic on a Shoestring, Fantastic Friday, TGIF, I’m an Organizing Junkie, Spunky Junky, The Shabby Nest, While He Was Napping S/S: KISS, Funky Fresh, Weekend Wrap Up, Nifty Thrifty

Farm Fresh Friday: Tarragon Turkey Burgers

In addition to the great fruits and veggies we get at our CSA we can also cut fresh herbs whenever we want!  I cut some rosemary every week to dry out for my rosemary tea but I've also tried a few herbs that were new to me, like tarragon.

A few months ago we got a freezer in our basement, and I like to keep it full with prepared dinner options but I can't deal with spending a whole weekend making meals.  A great sale on free range turkey and grass fed ground beef, plus my share for the week not only fed us dinner that night, but another 5 nights are all ready to go in the freezer!

Tarragon Turkey Burgers 

(this is for about 6 burgers, I quadrupled it, it takes 4 burgers to feed my family):

1 lb of ground turkey (I used 3lbs turkey and 1 lb of lean ground beef, my family likes it that way)

1/2 cup zucchini and/or summer squash, shredded

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped peppers

1 Tbsp chopped fresh tarragon

1 cup finely chopped kale or spinach

Salt and Pepper to your prefrance

2 eggs

1/2 cup+ oatmeal (optional)

Mix all the veggies, tarragon, S&P together in a large bowl.  Look how pretty:

Mix in eggs and ground turkey until well blended.  I like to add the oatmeal to help bind everything together and it seems to help the burgers turn out better after freezing.  If you choose to use the oatmeal, start with 1/2 cup and add in until it is a texture you like.

Grill immediately or freeze in individual patties (wrapped in biodegradable parchment paper).  My super picky Tasha gobbled her burger up and was thrilled to know I had more for other nights.

Peace be with you,

 

I'll be linking up to some of these parties, stop by and check out the talent!

M: Made by you Mondays, Made with Love Monday, Making the World Cuter, MMM @ CRAFT, Just something I whipped up, Organizing Mission Monday, A Round Tuit, Motivate me Monday, Sharing Monday, Jam Hands T: Sew Cute Tuesday, Handmade Tuesdays, Tip Me Tuesday, TCB, Topsy Turvy Tuesdays, Take-a-Look Tuesdays, Too Cute Tuesdays, Giggles Glitz & Glam, It’s Sew fun Tuesday W: We Did it Wednesday, Night Owl Crafting, Sugar & Spice, Tea Rose Home, Upcycled Awesome, We’re Organized Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday, What’s Up Wednesday, Wow Me Wednesday, Share the Wealth,  T: Make It Wear It, Frogs & Snails, It’s Stinkin’ Cute, Making it with Allie F: Fun Friday Finds, Fingerprints on the Fridge, It’s a Hodgepodge, Chic on a Shoestring, Fantastic Friday, TGIF, I’m an Organizing Junkie, Spunky Junky, The Shabby Nest, While He Was Napping S/S: KISS, Funky Fresh, Weekend Wrap Up, Nifty Thrifty

 

Farm Fresh Friday

Earlier in the summer my family joined a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and we've been reaping the benefits.  Not only do we get to pick up our fresh organic produce but we get to know the farmer and his family.  We've planted our own section of pumpkins, the kids get to pick something fresh from the field each week and I get to create yummy healthy meals for my family!

I've tried over the years to grow things, and keep trying even though I'm not really good at it, the CSA solved that and more since my space is so small.  Another thing I've tried to do is compost... I've researched various different ways to do this in small spaces without the stench... another fail on my part.  The CSA has solved this too... I can take my kitchen scraps back to the farm.  It makes me feel like I'm doing something good for the environment and helping give back to the farm.

Check out some of the produce, I'll share some recipes soon!

Yes, the majority of this gets used but the little ends and the seeds end up in my compost bin.  I don't go running over to the farm every day, so I have to have a place to put the scraps until I get over there (usually one a week, but occasionally twice, its only about 3 miles away).  At first I spent some time online looking for a counter top compost pail that would look pretty in my kitchen.  Being the cheap-scape thrifty person I am, I decided all the pretty options were more than I wanted to spend on garbage.

So... a bit more researching and I realized I could make my own pretty cheaply... It isn't really pretty but it was dirt cheap!  Here's what you'll need:  A large container (I used a big pretzel jar but a large coffee container or anything with a tight fitting lid will do), charcoal filters (mine were $1 for 10 in the kitty litter isle), hot glue, nail or screw driver and (optional) BioBags.

The process is simple:  Punch a few holes in the lid of your container.  Hot glue the filters to the inside of the lid, covering the holes.  Line with a BioBag and add your scraps as you collect them (I keep a bowl by the sink and when it is full, I dump eveyrthing in).  The BioBags aren't necessary but they totally help with the clean-up.  The bin will still smell when you open it, but it won't make your kitchen stink.

When it is full, or once a week, I take the whole container to the farm, dump it out, bag and all!  The bags are biodegradable so all I have to do is give the container a quick rinse before putting it back in my car to take it home. 

What can be composted?  Fruit and vegetable scraps, bread, coffee grounds, egg shells that have been washed off, but NO MEAT or DAIRY!!!  

Why compost?  Well, if you pay for your trash and have a limit, this can reduce the amount.  Plus, the scraps eventually become dirt that is full of nutrients that help crops grow healthy and strong... which helps us grow healthy and strong!

Peace be with you,

 

I'll be linking up to some of these parties, stop by and check out the talent!

M: Made by you Mondays, Made with Love Monday, Making the World Cuter, MMM @ CRAFT, Just something I whipped up, Organizing Mission Monday, A Round Tuit, Motivate me Monday, Sharing Monday T: Sew Cute Tuesday, Handmade Tuesdays, Tip Me Tuesday, TCB, Topsy Turvy Tuesdays, Take-a-Look Tuesdays, Too Cute Tuesdays, Giggles Glitz & Glam, It’s Sew fun Tuesday W: We Did it Wednesday, Night Owl Crafting, Sugar & Spice, Tea Rose Home, Upcycled Awesome, We’re Organized Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday, What’s Up Wednesday, Wow Me Wednesday, Share the Wealth,  T: Make It Wear It, Frogs & Snails, It’s Stinkin’ Cute, Making it with Allie F: Fun Friday Finds, Fingerprints on the Fridge, It’s a Hodgepodge, Chic on a Shoestring, Fantastic Friday, TGIF, I’m an Organizing Junkie, Spunky Junky, The Shabby Nest, While He Was Napping S/S: KISS, Funky Fresh, Weekend Wrap Up, Nifty Thrifty