Author: QuiltLady

FRUIT (BLACKBERRY) PIE BARS ~ BLOG 365.307

We live in blackberry country and have a blackberry festival every year. You can find recipes for all things blackberry abound this time of year. A neighbor shared these bars and recipe with me and I instantly fell in love.

FRUIT (BLACKBERRY) PIE BARS

CRUST & TOPPING

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup EXTRA FINE sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Grease a 9×13 baking pan.
  • Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt.
  • Cut butter in with a pastry blender until the butter is evenly distributed and mixture is crumbly.
  • Reserve 1 1/2 cups for topping.
  • Press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake 12 minutes.
  • Cool 10-15 minutes.

FILLING

4 LARGE eggs
2 cups EXTRA FINE sugar
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup flour
pinch salt
Zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon PURE almond extract
32 ounces FRESH or frozen blackberries, thawed and drained well

  • Whisk eggs in a large bowl until smooth.
  • Add sugar, sour cream, flour, salt, lemon zest and almond extract, mixing until well blended.
  • Gently fold in berries and spoon the mixture evenly over the crust.
  • Crumble remaining crust mixture evenly over the berry layer.
  • Bake 45-55 minutes or until cooked through.
  • Cool COMPLETELY before cutting.

NOTES:

  • These are VERY thick bars and baking time may vary depending on the fruit you use.
  • These bars work wonderfully with all flavors of fruit. Cherry and peach are excellent! Cranberry is wonderful at this time of year also. I like to mix a few blueberries and strawberries into the cranberries for a little extra sweetness.
  • I HIGHLY recommend non-seeded fruits.
  • If you like THICK crusts, double your crust and topping ingredients – just sayin’ 😀

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU & RECIPES week 44 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.303

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

BRRRRRRR this past weekend was cold, at least for this time of the year here. Later next month through February wouldn’t be too surprising, but having the bird bath freeze over before Halloween is a bit unusual.

Our highs are supposed to jump up into the 50’s this week with the lows in the 40’s and rain coming our way by Wednesday night.

Things are starting to calm down FINALLY! I’m looking forward to finally getting some sewing and quilting done. I’m also starting to get the holiday decorations out later today when it warms up just a bit.

I’m trying a bit of coffee today with my black cherry yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did a serious deep clean, baseboards and all, in the bedroom over the weekend and got all caught up on laundry.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be going to town Wednesday and Thursday to help my girlfriend with her appointments after her ankle replacement. She still can’t put ANY weight on it for another month.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m working on some stacks and making headway.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m hoping to have the time to get down to the nitty gritty in sorting out recipes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • Still waiting on the “regular” season to begin, but am enjoying getting caught up on cooking shows and old movies.

I finished the Heather Webber book, At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities as well as the Kristen Proby book, A Single in Seattle last week and began the latest Wild Widows #3, Someone to Love by Marie Force.
10/30 MONDAY
10/31 TUESDAY
11/1 WEDNESDAY
11/2 THURSDAY
11/3 FRIDAY
11/4 SATURDAY
11/5 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH
 BONELESS WING LEFT OVERS
TUNA SANDS
out
 out
 ??
 ??
??
DINNER
 CHICKEN CHILI DIP ENCHILADAS
 TACO TUESDAY
 CHICKEN POTPIE GALETTE
 TACO BOWLS
BACON MAC & CHEESE CORN BREAD
 CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD
 HAWAIIAN LEMON CHICKEN
DESSERT
 CARMELITAS
 

Friday night hubby and I did a date night with a create-n-sip painting and then last Saturday was TRUNK-or-TREAT for the downtown businesses with a scarecrow contest and LOTS of candy for about 1500 kids and was also our Halloween party at the Eagles. I wish I had gotten more pictures of the great costumes.

We helped build the HOCOS POCUS scarecrow scene for a friend who manages a downtown bar and grill – so much fun! I’m not a HUGE decorator of Halloween, but did also enjoy building Elmira, formerly known as Elmer for our front porch on Tuesday.

 

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & MENUS week 43 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.296

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

The weather is taking another dip this week that I’m loving – highs in the 50’s and lows in the 30’s by the end of the week with lots more rain on the way.

A lot going on EVERYWHERE here and in the world. Praying for several people in my life going through MAJOR medical issues as well as all that is going on in Israel and the Ukraine.

BIG surprise 😀 Hot Water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m about to start a DEEP clean before I move into serious holiday decorating mode!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have several errands to do later this week, but will all depend on the appointments for a friend who recently had her ankle replaced. I know Thursday in particular is primarily her day as we have to start at the hospital for an x-ray in town and then back here for her eye doctor appointment before we go back to town for her surgery follow-up appointment with the doctor to see when she can begin physical therapy and apply any weight to the ankle.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS too much going on this week so this category will wait until next week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING too much going on this week so this category will also wait until next week.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
 Have been watching season 4 of LARAMIE which I had never seen and have been enjoying. Also watching season 2 of SHINING VALE. About to start season 5 of YELLOWSTONE and have found a couple new shows on AMC+ that we’re enjoying – WAR of the WORLDS series based in England and MAYFAIR WITCHES and DARYL DIXON. We may start HELL ON WHEELS (which we saw the first time, but enjoyed) while we wait for any new shows to begin, but I am hoping to like NCIS SYDNEY. We also started the new FRASIER, but just not sure yet if it’s going to go anywhere.

I’m about to finish Heather Webber’s At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities and to begin Dark Nights by Kristin Proby.
10/23 MONDAY
10/24 TUESDAY
10/25 WEDNESDAY
10/26 THURSDAY
10/27 FRIDAY
10/28 SATURDAY
10/29 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH
 BLT’s
 TACO TUESDAY
 TUNA SALAD
 WOOD WARD’S BRISKET
 BACKSIDE
 CORN
 CORN
DINNER
 CHICKEN WINGS & CUCUMBER SALAD
 GARLIC & HERB PORK LOIN with RICE PILAF
 CHEESE BURGER
SOUP
YOYO
or
CORN
 POT ROAST and MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY
OUT HALLOWEEN PARTY
SALTED SIRLOIN CAP & RICE PILAF
DESSERT
 BLUEBERRY PIE BARS
 

These pups were just so cute!

GREEN & WHITE CHICKEN CHILI ~ BLOG 365.293

GREEN & WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, FINELY chopped
2 cans BUSH Great Northern or Navy beans, drained
1 LARGE (4 ounces) can chopped green chiles
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon celery salt
FRESH ground black pepper
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups rotisserie chicken pieces
1 can green chile verde enchilada sauce
2 cups HOMEMADE chicken bone broth
1 cup sour cream
1-2 cups Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Chopped Jalapenos, OPTIONAL but hubby likes them on his 😀

  • Melt butter over medium heat.
  • Add onions sautéing until transparent.
  • Sprinkle with the flour, stirring until blended and golden.
  • Add green chiles, cumin, celery salt, FRESH ground black pepper, enchilada sauce and broth. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes until begins to thicken.
  • Alternately add sour cream and cheese, stirring to blend.
  • Fold in chicken pieces.

NOTE:

  • You can substitute canned chicken or prepare your chicken breast on the grill and then shred.
  • Cooks well in a slow cooker and can be left on warm for several hours.

ANTIPASTO SQUARES ~ COOKING THURSDAY ~ BLOG 365.292

Antipasto salad at its best – as a hand held snack sandwich. Perfect for tailgating, pot lucks, baby showers, game nights, family get togethers…

ANTIPASTO SQUARES

non-stick cooking spray
2 (8 ounce) tubes crescent dough (non-perforated if you can find them)
1/2 pound thin sliced tavern ham
1/4 pound sliced pepperoni
1/4 pound slice salami
1/2 pound sliced provolone
1/4 pound sliced mozzarella
1 cup WELL drained sliced pepperoncinis and/or banana peppers
1/2 cup WELL drained and chopped marinated artichokes
4 ounce can WELL drained sliced olives
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons FRESH grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon FRESH chopped oregano
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped basil

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Grease a 9×13 baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Roll out one can of crescents on prepared baking sheet, gently stretching into a rectangle.
  • Layer in the following order ~ pepperoni, provolone, salami, mozzarella, ham, olives, artichokes and pepperoncinis.
  • Sprinkle with half of the FRESH chopped herbs followed by the 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.
  • Unroll remaining tube of crescent dough and place on top.
  • Pinch together seams to seal.
  • Whisk together the oil and remaining herbs.
  • Brush oil mixture all over top of crescent dough, then sprinkle with Parmesan.
  • Bake until dough is golden and cooked through, about 35 minutes. (If dough is browning too quickly, cover with foil.)
  • Let cool at least 15 minutes before slicing into squares.

NOTE: Keep in mind that draining everything exceptionally well and HOW you layer this recipe makes a difference in the outcome. If there is too much moisture the squares can be too soggy.