Blueberry Peach Cobbler

The absence of my blogging doesn't mean that I haven't been cooking up a storm.  I have achieved almost all of my summer cooking goals including canning my own tomatoes!  This beauty of a dessert dates back to when I went to visit my sister in Massachusetts.  We adapted it slightly from Paula Dean's peach cobbler recipe simply by adding blueberries.  It added a great amount of flavor.  Considering the time of the year now, I would suggest adding raspberries instead of blueberries!

Blueberry Jam

This summer has permanently converted me into a homemade jam fanatic.  Jam is a time consuming job, but I promise that if you are suffering through a Chicago winter with some homemade jam on toast, it won't be so bad.  Maybe you should ask me if I still mean it in February, but for now I swear by it!  I made this batch of blueberry jam when I was visiting my sister, but today I made five more jars to have for myself in Chicago.  It's fantastic.  Yep.

Homemade Olive Bread

Ever since I got into cooking, I have had this fear of making bread... and pie crusts... and other baking, dough-y things... it's so gooey and precise.  BUT, since I was with Kristen and she has made bread before, we decided to try it out.  We chose to make an olive bread - because apparently Kristen likes olives now?  It turned out perfect!  Next time I will add some fresh rosemary and thyme!  For those of you that have the same block as me, try it out.  Get some friends together for an afternoon or evening, watch a movie, and let the bread rise.  The time will pass before you know it!

Mushroom Risotto

I made this mushroom risotto for Ian's birthday a couple of weeks ago, and I want to post about it before I get wrapped up in the fun I had cooking with Kristen in Massachusetts.  This was his birthday dinner, and it was delicious.  We also went to Longman and Eagle with a friend to celebrate.  If you have never been, go.  Book a flight if necessary and follow the signs to the outdoor beer garden because it is a glorious place.  The foie gras is out of this world too.

A Look at Things to Come!

Hello everyone!

I am out in the Berkshires visiting my sister, but we have been cooking a bunch!  I will be back soon and look forward to posting about making our own cheese and homemade blueberry jam, as well as recipes I've made at home like mushroom risotto and peach ice cream.  I hope everyone is enjoying this sunny heatwave! 

The Strawberry Jam of all Jams

Everyone has heard it: once you make something homemade you'll never go back.  Well, this is most definitely the case with strawberry jam.  Last year my sister picked seven pounds of strawberries and made jam.  Then she made blueberry jam (which I was supposed to participate in, but the stupid bushes weren't ready yet), and then she made apple butter.  So all of late last summer and fall I envied her stock of homemade jams and swore that next year would be different.  You all saw the amount of strawberries I picked... so I am sure you are aware that it was indeed different.  Kristen is at the point where making jam is no big deal. She can just talk on the phone when she's doing it!  I am certainly not at this point, but I intend to be by the end of the summer.

The Strawberry Saga, Part 1

Last weekend I decided it would be a fantastic idea to go and pick as many strawberries as possible and figure out how to use them after.  It was a brilliant idea... for the first 3 containers.  BUT, there was a sale.  And being the wise shopper I am, who am I to say no to a buy five 4-quart containers, get the sixth free.  Oh, and also, they didn't look that large in the fields.