Sunday, July 22, 2012

A Peck of Pickled Peppers

I couldn't resist.  We've had a pepper glut lately so I've taken to pickling them.

These are banana peppers with a slice or two of yellow bell for good measure;  banana peppers are yummy on sandwiches.  Not that we'd know; the kids ate the whole first jar just plain!
On the right is combined jalapenos and habaneros.  There is a lot of spice in this little jar.
Finally, on the left, pickled squash.  No seriously, it's good.  It will be the perfect accent to my fall bentos!

For the peppers, I started with a
mildly sweet pickle recipe I found.  However, I substituted a clove of minced garlic for the celery seed (not a fan).  The author does not process hers in a water bath but unless you are going to refrigerate them (as I am), you probably should.  10 minutes ought to do it. 

For the squash, I used the following brine recipe:


1 cup seasoned white vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
Bring the brine to a boil; meanwhile pack  julienne squash in jars.  Squeeze a piece of long chili into each jar.  (This makes a very spicy pickle -- but it is a very     s-l-o-w    heat and I adore it).  I doubled the brine for this batch.  I had a lot of squash.
Bring your hot water bath to boil.  Brine and cap the jars; cook in hot water bath 10 minutes.  



Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Summertime is Family Time - Album 2

It was worth driving 2400 miles for what awaited us once we arrived.  We arrived at my sister's in Montana on Friday and then got to the folks' in Idaho on the Saturday before Mother's Day.  Somehow the time just flew by and I did not get out to see the Uncles and Aunts, but I was so thrilled to get to spend so much time with "my" Idaho kids.  We didn't get to see Guy and John (in London)  Royce (in Montana), Anneka (in California) or Carin and clan (in Oregon) but we are hoping to drag them out for the next Huntley camping extravaganza.

 Uncle Jason and Gabriel
 Aunt "Dark" (Darinda) and Papa

 Alli looking happy to be out of the car
 Yes folks we have it right here -- Kolby can be captured for a kiss from his beautiful mama

 Lisa with her newest niece, Zita.  These two have a special bond.
 Cousins and friends; Kolby was so patient with all the Littles
 Ted looking pretty in Maggie's hat
 TJ and Mikayla monkeying around 
Love this sweet shot of Papa and the Littles 
He has endless patience!
 Mamaw and Papa
 Guy was busy working in London but here are the rest of us "kids" with Mom and Dad
 Mom and her "baby."
 Alli and our precious Zita
 She is the best of both her parents
PHere is her proud mama, Melissa.  We love you so much, Melissa -- we're so glad you and TJ ran into each other!


Every child should get to play in the wheat.

Uncle Ted

Monday, July 9, 2012

Summertime - Album 1

Very shortly after my last post on very short hair, the Littles, Pepper and I took off for Idaho and a visit to my folks.  Life has been a whirlwind ever since.  So rather than try to catch up, I offer you the first in a series of photo albums.

Our decorated car; somehow it makes all the hours in it more bearable.


The first time we got out the camera was this wonderful park in Springfield, Colorado.  We had a little scare driving up because I noticed a man following me and he pulled up right behind me at the park.  Turns out he was the local Church of Christ pastor and a former Texan.  He was super friendly and it was fun to meet him.

The park had a truly fantastic playscape but all our kids wanted to do was drive the tractor.   Here's The Blitz!   Look at that smile!





I'm pretty sure this is a pronghorn antelope, a truly native American species.  We saw a million in north-central Colorado and southern Wyoming

This is my great-nephew Indigo in Broomfield Colorado.  He'll be moving home to Texas soon!

This is his amazing daddy, Justin.

And his beautiful mommy, Juliette, with some of our gang.  We had a fun picnic in the backyard.

Pepper and Hannah.  Did I mention that we took Hannah along on our vacation?  And that we had to leave Sunshine at home to play ball?

This is our "new" house in Boulder, Colorado on Findley Way.  My parents built this house, I think in 1966.  

That tree in the front yard is HUGE!  But dad's brick walkway and the hedges are gone.

This is the "old" house on 31st Street.  The crabapple tree is there but the white picket fence is missing.  It's getting a bit ramshackle after all these years.


Some scenes from Northern Colorado

A fantastic play stop in Laramie, Wyoming.  
What follows are the good times in the car!




More to come!