Oriental Brocolli Cole Slaw

Today, I thought I would take a break from 'heavy posts' and share one of life's simple delights...Food! Being that I am a country-girl through and through, most of my dishes DO NOT look like this one! However, sometimes a dish comes along that I really enjoy, and this is one of them :)

Oriental Brocolli Cole Slaw...

Crush Ramen noodles in bag. Melt 1 stick of butter in a large skillet. Add noodles, almonds, and black sesame seeds. Sauté until slightly golden. Cool on a plate covered with paper towels to absorb excess moisture.

Whisk or shake together
½ cup Canola Oil
¼ cup Makuran Rice Vinegar
½ Tbsp. Light Brown Sugar
1 Ramen noodle seasoning packet

for the dressing.

This brand is definitely the best!

You can purchase Brocolli Cole Slaw at just about any grocery store.

Combine all ingredients and dressing. Toss. Chill. Serve. Enjoy.

Mayhaw Jelly Pt.2 of 2

Makin' Mayhaw Jelly was almost as much fun as pickin' em...

Leah, Luke, and Abby cleaning the jars...

Place 8 cups Mayhaw berries in 5 cups of water

Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.

(We had picked a total of 20 cups of berries, so

we repeated the process a few times)

Mash berries in the pot...

Strain through a cheesecloth (mashing gently).
Return to pot, add 1 1/2 boxes of pectin
and bring to a boil.
Add 5 cups sugar and return to a boil.
Boil for 1 full minute.
Remove from heat.
Ladle into HOT jars.
Turn upside down once.
Let sit overnight.
Enjoy Mayhaw Jelly in the morning!

We actually cooked the berries twice and got 26 Jars!!!

I think Luke had the most fun :)

Mayhaw Jelly Pt.1 of 2

About a week or so ago we went down to the creek to pick Mayhaw's...

Walking down the dried creek bed...

We laid down a sheet and Lane

shook the Mayhaw's off the tree...

This is what a Mayhaw looks like...

Then we gather them off the sheet...

And off the ground...

But BEWARE of snakes!!!

This cute little corn snake ventured on our path...

It's a good thing that they are not harmful...

since my sweet, loving, adorable son...

ACCIDENTALLY threw him on me!!!!

Yes, I've forgiven him :)

I'm not real scared of snakes, so

we had a good laugh about it :)



Here's the video for your enjoyment :)

We had a great time...

Oh! And we got to pick flowers! :)

Kumquat Jelly

In late November we picked kumquats...

30lbs of kumquats...to be exact!

Wow!

Then we attempted to make kumquat jelly...

After several tries, it never would set...

I have no pictures of that experience :(

But yesterday, Sara and I tried again...

Success! 65 jars of homemade kumquat jelly!

RECIPE

For every lb. of fruit, you need a lb. of sugar...

For every six cups of fruit juice, you need 2 boxes of pectin...

Rinse kumquats thoroughly

Soak kumquats in water and baking soda for 10 minutes

Drain & Rinse

Option #1 Juice the kumquats in a juicer

Option #2 Cut kumquats horizontally & pop out the insides,

then boil and mash out the juice through a cheesecloth

Bring 6 cups of the kumquat juice to a boil

Add 4 cups sugar

Add 2 boxes pectin

Bring to a boil again

Boil for 2 minutes

Pour into clean jars

Place in waterbath for 5 minutes

Turn upside down once

Let sit overnight

Enjoy!