Showing posts with label Theme: Pioneer Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theme: Pioneer Life. Show all posts

Thursday, November 27, 2014

The Book: The Thanksgiving Story; The Bite: Quick and Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
(POST 1 OF 3)

The Book!
The book, "The Thanksgiving Story" was originally published in 1954 by award winning author and publisher Alice Dalgliesh. In 2012 it was re-released under publisher Antheneum Books for Young Readers (and sold by Simon and Schuster Digital Sales). This Caldecott Honor winning children's book is still considered a classic!

The Thanksgiving Story: "In this festive Caldecott Honor–winning picture book, Alice Dalgiesh brings to life the origin of the Thanksgiving holiday for readers of all ages.

Giles, Constance and Damaris Hopkins are all passengers aboard the crowded Mayflower, journeying to the New World to start a new life. Things get a little more cramped when their baby brother Oceanus is born during the passage. However, when they arrive, there are even worse challenges to face as the Pilgrims are subjected to hunger, cold, and sickness that put their small colony in great danger. With the help of the Native Americans though, they might just be able to survive their first year in this strange land—and have a November harvest to celebrate for generations!"


Book Stats:
Genre - Children's, Fiction
Page Count - 32
Target Age Group - 5 to 8 years
Theme(s) - Thanksgiving, Historical

The Bite! 
Quick and Easy Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts
Need a last minute side dish? These quick and tasty green beans will get the job done when you are in a hurry. Even if you're not in a hurry, they are sure to impress. Done in just minutes (you will spend more time prepping them than cooking them!), you can add you favorite nuts, or just serve them plain...but rest assured there is nothing plain about these tasty vegetables! Here is a pictorial step by step guide to making your own. Enjoy!


Ingredients for Sauteed Green Beans:
Olive Oil 
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Chicken Broth (I use Swanson)
Fresh Green Beans (cleaned with ends cut)
Garlic Powder (not pictured)
Onion Powder (not pictured)
Macadamia Nuts (or nuts of your choice), optional

Clean and cut ends off of green beans. 
Coat/Toss green beans with olive oil and salt and pepper. 
In a large pan, heat about 2 Tbsps olive oil and enough chicken broth to cover the bottom of the pan. 
Add green beans.
Cover and cook for approx. 10 minutes. 
Uncover and add your favorite nuts (I used macadamia nuts). 
Also add onion and garlic powders to taste.
Saute uncovered for an additional 5 minutes.
Voila!
Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts! 
Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts!
Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts! 
Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts! 
Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts!
Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts!
Sauteed Green Beans with Macadamia Nuts!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The Book: Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography; The Bite: Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!


The Book!
Released just this week, the autobiography of Laura Ingalls Wilder finally found a publisher to tell the tale of the author's pioneering life as she actually experienced it. I haven't had the opportunity to read the book, but if it is as fascinating as her novels I grew up with, I am pretty sure this book will surely please! The made-for-adult book, "Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography" was written by author Laura Ingalls Wilder supposedly back in 1930, but has only recently found a publisher, South Dakota State Historical Society, and is being released this week (actually, November 17, 2014). Wow, talk about a huge time span...eighty-four years!

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography: "Pioneer Girl follows the Ingalls family's journey through Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, back to Minnesota, and on to Dakota Territory sixteen years of travels, unforgettable experiences, and the everyday people who became immortal through Wilder's fiction. Using additional manuscripts, letters, photographs, newspapers, and other sources, award-winning Wilder biographer Pamela Smith Hill adds valuable context and leads readers through Wilder's growth as a writer. Do you think you know Laura? Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography will re-introduce you to the woman who defined the pioneer experience for millions."

Book Stats:
Genre - Adult, Non-fiction
Page Count - 316
Target Age Group -
Theme(s) - Pioneer life, Autobiography, Historical

The Bite! 
Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!
I found this recipe online and thought I'd try it since I was fascinated with the fact that this biscuit recipe calls for both active dry yeast and buttermilk. Normally, I would reserve using yeast for breads such as yeast rolls, not biscuits; so I was curious as to how these would turn out. Boy oh boy this biscuit recipe was definitely a keeper! Not a lot of fuss with this super simple recipe! Here is a pictorial step by step guide to making your own. Enjoy!


Ingredients for Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits:
2-1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour 
1 pkg Active Dry Yeast (dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water with a pinch of sugar)
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 to 1-1/2 tsp Salt
1-1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
6 Tbsp Butter Flavored Crisco Shortening
1 cup Buttermilk


Buttermilk Recipes if you don't have any on-hand:
Using Milk and Lemon Juice - 1 cup milk + 1 Tbsp lemon juice (let stand for 5-10 min. before use)
Using Milk and Vinegar - 1 cup milk + 1 Tbsp white vinegar (let stand 5-10 min. before use)
Using Milk and Cream of Tartar - 1 cup milk + 1-3/4 tsp Cream of Tartar (let stand 5-10 min. before use)
Using Yogurt - 3/4 cup yogurt + 1/4 cup water
Using Sour Cream - 3/4 cup sour cream + 1/4 cup water

Add a pinch of sugar to one package of active dry yeast.

Add 1/4 cup warm water to the yeast. Set aside for a few minutes.

Yeast will dissolve and resemble the above picture.

In a large bowl; add the 2-1/2 cups of flour.

Add all the dry ingredients to the flour; mix/swift well.

Use Butter-Flavored Crisco Baking Sticks instead of butter.
(although butter can be used, but with slightly different results)

Cut shortening into dry ingredients.

Shortening should be cut into dry ingredients until it resembles small bits. Do not over mix.

Add in dissolved yeast.

...and the cup of buttermilk. Add a little buttermilk at a time to make sure batter doesn't become too sticky.

After the ingredients are mixed well, your batter should look similar to the picture above.

Use parchment paper or oil-sprayed tin foil.
Then spoon round-shaped balls onto pan.

Ready for the oven.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Ovens may vary in temperature so make sure to check on your biscuits while baking.

Ready when tops are golden.

Melt butter. You could also add a pinch of salt to the butter.

Butter the tops and serve immediately.

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits paired with my "Magic Sauce"!
(Magic Sauce recipe will be provided in next week's post)

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits paired with my "Magic Sauce"!
(Magic Sauce recipe will be provided in next week's post)

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits paired with my "Magic Sauce"!
(Magic Sauce recipe will be provided in next week's post)

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits paired with my "Magic Sauce"!
(Magic Sauce recipe will be provided in next week's post)