Butter Bean Soup

i am a little under the weather today... how i got a cold in June i will never know....

so i decided to make some BUTTER BEAN SOUP... i wanted dried beans but i couldn't find any...

diced some leeks...

diced celery... and just sauteed it all together with a little olive oil and a knob of butter... then added the stock.... and let it simmer on the stove slowly for about an hour...

i am going to add some spinach at the very end right before serving so it just slightly melts...

i have anadama bread rising on the counter out of my Bread Baker's Apprentice cookbook...and don't know if it's going to be baked or not...moving pretty slow...



Butter Bean Soup

2 ribs of celery

2 leeks

one can of butter beans, rinsed and drained

a couple of handfuls of spinach

about 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup pastina

chopped italian parsley to garnish

saute the celery and leek together in a little olive oil and butter till soft

add the chicken or vegetable stock

let simmer slowly about an hour

just before serving add a couple handfuls of spinach

add the drained butter beans

about 1/2 cup of pastina and cook till the pasta is cooked, about 5 minutes

add some chopped fresh italian parsley

sprinkle with parmesan if desired

i did a little taste test ...and it's good. o,k, here i go...i am going to go and bake the bread.

Does Anyone Know ?

does anyone know what these are ? it is RAINING out here in California...in JUNE and my lawn is covered in these... they must really love the rain...

wet brick...wet lawn...soggy...soggy....

teddy is not one bit HAPPY about this rain...

he REALLY wants to go out and play with mr. firepop...that's him there...amoung the mushrooms...

mommy is wearing long underwear and wool socks...with a cherry apron. where's Summer?

Oh Happy Day

Home Is Best. if that isn't the truth. and being home with your computer is even better !!! i sure missed everybody. being cut off from the internet is no fun. it sure was a long 10 days. the Home is Best sign was done by my dear friend, julie of http://juliewhitmoreetsy

i kept myself busy by baking some dilly casserole bread...

i went through some of my cookbooks...

put some of my favorite old cookbooks out on my farm table to look through...

and cleaned my stovetop... sure am HAPPY to be back. we missed you, my friends.

sending love,

kary and teddy

t.r.o.u.b.l.e.

here i am dear friends...i am at my sister-in-laws house on her computer to write to all of you. my computer got a virus on tuesday morning, may 24th. and i have been down and depressed ever since. i even took teddy one morning and went back to bed. i sure am missing all of you. i should be back up and running by next week and i can't wait. thank you so much for all your kind comments about whiskey sour, teddy and dande. keep thinking GOOD THOUGHTS. hope to be back soon. sending love to you all, kary and teddy xxx

Waiting

Whiskey Sour, Teddy and Dandegirl....all waiting for daddy to come HOME.

Rain At Farmhouse Kitchen

we're NOT in the garden today....

and Teddy is not one bit happy about it...

we were all set for a picnic...but not today.

Strawberry Sunshine Preserves

strawberry season is in full swing around here so i decided it was time to make my STRAWBERRY SUNSHINE JAM...

the market had rhubarb too...and cherries...

i just added a couple of stalks of the rhubarb right into my strawberries...

Red Blossom Strawberries...how cute is that ?

i got out my mom's red plaid recipe box... what a treasure...

i have an aunt who lives up in santa cruz on a produce farm...we call her Gog and this is her recipe for rhubarb jam...

here is the recipe card for my mom's Strawberry Sunshine Preserves.....

i just sliced up about 2 cups of strawberries and added in a couple stalks of rhubarb...

added one cup of sugar and the juice of one lemon...crushing the berries and rhubarb with a spoon and let it simmer for 8 to 10 minutes...

poured it into a dish and put some in a tiny glass to taste... it's good....

and set it in the sun...i let it go for 2 days...bringing it in at night...the jam gets really clear and just slightly thickened...

i put the jam in my swanky swig juice glasses...covered them with cupcake papers and tied them with string... i have been seeing the cupcake tops on jam around the internet but mom always covered hers with the cupcake papers... if you look real close you can see who got in on the jam making....whiskey sour... this jam keeps for about a week in the fridge and is good on english muffins, toast or scones...or even on ice cream... happy jam making.