Fried Spam & Eggs with Rice

I haven't posted a recipe in a bit. I want to try to post recipes that I've made & have taken pics of myself. But I don't always think to snap one off when I'm baking or cooking. I'll try to get better about that.

Here's a family staple of local kine grinds (it means Hawaiian food) in our home: Fried Spam & Eggs with Rice 


Rice, cooked
Spam, sliced & fried
Eggs, your choice


In a bowl, scoop a serving of rice, put one slice of Spam & follow with eggs. Some folks like to put soy or Shoyu Sauce on the rice & eggs, maple syrup on the Spam. Season to your taste. Enjoy! It is so ono (means delicious) & makes for a filling food to eat after a night of drinking! XD 

On the Homestead

Hi ya'll! Hopefully the first few weeks of 2012 have been good for you! 


So far it's been a middle winter in Virginia. At least in comparison to the previous years of being snowed in. With a few days of almost 60 degree weather, I'm already having thoughts of my garden dance thru my head. Is anyone going to have a garden this year? Veggie, fruit or herb? I'm going to try all of the above. Our local Home Depot has seeds & plants already out. We have about 6 more weeks until the threat of frost is gone for our area. I've already picked up seeds for lettuce, meslun, small sweet carrots & kaleidoscope carrots, blackberries & asparagus. I hopefully can pick up some more blackberry bushes & some blueberry bushes too! Oh & rhubarb! I'm wanting to grow tomatoes, squash, zucchini, sunflowers, peas, strawberries, cucumbers, onions, garlic, potatoes & green beans in the veg garden. Sprinkle in some marigolds, nasturtiums, borage, violas, chives & mint to help with bugs. Then in the herb garden, some cilantro, thyme, oregano, lavender, dill, catnip, anise, basil & rosemary! For the fruits, strawberries, blackberries & blueberries! The ol' man said I can have a few fruit trees, but I'm not sure if we'll be getting some this year or not. But hopefully in the future! Wish me luck!!!

The Beast has enjoyed collecting chickens eggs lately. About a week & a half ago our chickens started laying eggs. Like crazy! We had 9 in one collection! What a haul!!! They laid like crazy that first weekend, but now we're getting one to two eggs a day. But that's ok. Once the weather warms up we'll have more coming. The hubby is ok with getting more chicks too! He'd like more Silkies & Japanese Bantams. I also would like some Easter Eggers & Pullets. How fun!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Well, the New Year has come & the Christmas Season has gone. Hope everyone has started off 2012 on a good foot. This past weekend we had some folks over for a bonfire & food. I made Paula Deen's Simple Southern Ham & Bean Soup & her Hoppin' John recipes. Very tasty with homemade bread & pretzels with beer cheese dip! You can follow the links to the wonderful recipes! Enjoy & Happy New Year!

Carrot Cake Jam

(My almost famous) Carrot Cake Jam


1-1/2 cups finely grated peeled carrots
1-1/2 cups chopped cored peeled pears
1-3/4 cups chopped pineapple, including juice
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
6 tablespoons Ball® RealFruit™ Classic Pectin 
6-1/2 cups sugar
6 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside. 
Combine carrots, pears, pineapple with juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a 6- or 8-quart saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat, cover and boil gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and whisk in pectin until dissolved. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over high heat, stirring frequently. 
Add sugar all at once and return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary. 
Ladle hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight. 

Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed. Makes about 6 (8 oz) half pints

Carrot Bread with Cream Cheese Icing

Carrot Bread with Cream Cheese Icing


Prep 20 min. Bake 55 min. Oven 350F


2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded carrots
2 beaten eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup canola oil
1 recipe Cream Cheese Icing, below
1 recipe Candied Carrots, below


Preheat oven to 350F. Grease the bottom & 1/2 inch up the sides of an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan or three 4 3/4x2 1/2x2-inch loaf pans; set aside.
In a bowl stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, soda & salt. In another bowl combine carrots, eggs, milk, & oil; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.
Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake for 55 to 60 minutes for the large loaf pan or 30 to 35 minutes for the small loaf pans or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (check the loaf 10 to 15 minutes before the end of baking time. If it is browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil). Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove & cool completely on a rack. Wrap in foil; store overnight before slicing. Store up to 3 days at room temperature or freeze up to 3 months. Glaze with Cream Cheese Icing & top with Candied Carrots just before serving. Makes 16 servings.


Cream Cheese Icing Whisk together 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) cream cheese, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, & a little milk (3 to 4 teaspoons) until smooth & glaze-like. Drizzle over Carrot Bread.


*Candied Carrots In a skillet melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add 1 cup shaved carrots & 2 to 3 tablespoons honey. Cook & stir 2 to 3 minutes or until carrots are glazed & tender. Spread on paper towel or waxed paper to cool. 



*When I made this bread, I had forgotten to make the Candied Carrots & had already sliced & served it when I realized it. Even without the Candied Carrots, this bread was very delicious. It received good reviews from my guinea pigs aka family members. 

Welcome

Hi y'all! I'm hoping this page will help bring folks together & help with keeping us all in contact. As well as have photos, recipes & crafty ideas. I hope this goes as well as I'm wanting it to. Please feel free to leave suggestions or comments on the going ons here.

Enjoy!