LET'S FREEZE IT!!!

Good evening!  Does that title have you wondering "freeze what?"  Saturday a week ago, I spent several hours preparing some food for the freezer  Here is the crop I was working on!

Actually very little food -- but it was satisfying!  I had fresh corn, zuchinni, and squash to prepare.  First I cut the corn off the cobs and and put it in a large pan and covered it with water.  I added one stick of butter and then I let it cook until the liquid had become scarce and fork tender.  Gently stirring to make sure it doesn't stick - it will even in the very best coated pan!

I then allowed it to cool and  bagged it.  Now it is ready to thaw out, put in skillet or large pan similar to the one above and allow to cook  a little longer and then season with salt, pepper and about 1 tsp. sugar.   After you think the corn is tender, add about 1 cup milk and allow to cook until it appers creamy.   Enjoy!!  (Note:  the stick of butter was for 3 bags of corn!)

Now it was time to tackle the squash.  First I cut the squash in to chunks.

Next I put it into a pot of boiling water and left it until the water began to boil again (about 5 minutes.)  While the water was starting to come back to a boil, I made a large pan of ice water.  Once the water and squash has reached the boil, immediately drain and pour the squash into the ice water!

In the ice water, chilling!!!  Once the ice has melted and the squash feels cool, drain well, and bag for freezer!

I repeated the procedure with the zuchinni -just didn't have as much zuchinni as squash!

Now it is ready for the freezer!!!

Even just those few bags are satisfying!!  I bought more corn this weekend at Farmer's Market, but did not get it done.  Went to Pine Cove this afternoon to take Maura for her 4th year to go and spend the night.  Much easier to leave her there this time than when she was just going into the 2nd grade!

Besides enjoying our litte garden, I love checking on our banana tree,( the first in 24 years!)

Looking at my beautiful flowers

 

Even the wierd looking!!

Here are my wonderful fruit trees.  Look at these lemon!! 

and then there is the grape vine with grapes on it's second year!

And last, but certainly not least, my beautiful Michelle by our Texas Sage tree!

Well, there you have a picture of our summer in our own little resort! 

I am helping a friend get her Mom's 80th birthday party ready for this coming Saturday!  I am not really doing that much - just making suggestions and doing what I can to help!  It will be an awesome party though for a very awesome lady!!

I am not going to rant, rave, or talk anymore!  Just one recipe and this blog is yours!  This is my latest and some say "best" salsa.

Hot Salsa

4 to 5 small to medium size tomatoes, cut in quarters or 8th's

1 small red onion, cut into several pieces

1/2 yellow bell pepper

1 jalapeno - test to make sure it is not too hot, cut into chunks

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup cilantro

1 Can Original or Mexican style Rotel (drained)

1 Tablespoon salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 Tablespoon cumin

1 tsp. black pepper

1/2 fresh lime, squeeze

Place the onion, bell pepper, jalapeno and cloves of garlic in food processor and pulse several times until mixture is chopped - not mush.  Then add the tomatoes and cilanto and pulse several times to chop tomatoes.  Add drained Rotel, salt, sugar, cumin, blackpepper and lime juice.  Pulse just enough to mix.   NOW THE IMPORTANT PART - TASTE TO MAKE SURE SALT IS RIGHT. 

Best after sitting overnight!!

Have a great week - may God lead you to someone that you can help or encourage!