Lehman’s Country Life

By Melinda J Hill, CFCS, CFLE
Extension Educator Family and Consumer Sciences
OSU Extension, Wayne County, Ohio

It’s cold, it’s gray and sometimes winter seems like it will last forever. What smells better at the end of the day than something warm that greets you when you open the door? We all have our favorite soup recipes. Some have been passed down through the generations and others can be additional ingredients that supplement a canned soup.

When planning your meal, all you need to add to a thick wholesome soup or stew is a slice of whole grain bread or crackers, some fruit or salad and a glass of milk, and voila - you have a healthy, well-balanced meal.

Some soups are simple and can be made in the microwave or on the stovetop in a matter of minutes. Others like to simmer and blend flavors and work best in the crock pot or soup pot, cooking and tenderizing (and filling your house with tantalizing aromas) for hours.

There are two main types of soup: those made from some kind of stock, and cream-based soups. Stock soups are made with vegetables, meats, poultry or fish; these are generally lower in calories. Cream-based soups are made of milk, cream or yogurt as a large part of the liquid.
Read the rest of this post »

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

From the very start, our Edge Brownie Pans were so popular that we’ve had trouble keeping them in stock. We have always said the only thing that would improve this already high-quality item is if it were made in the USA (originally they were imported from China).  Dreams do come true, because this manufacturer has just announced that it has brought production BACK to the United States! So now you can have all the edge pieces you could want, baked to perfection in a USA-made pan.

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

As much as I would love to be a complete homesteader, it is just not possible right now. Sure, I do as much as I can so I do not have to rely on “the man,” but there are things I still have to do. I still must have some type of job, and I still must rely on the grocery store for some of my food. While I do plant a big garden (for food and profit) I must head to the store to buy my meat products. Luckily for me, I was a meat cutter for a number of years so I know how to save at the market. And you can do the same. Just remember a few tips and techniques and you too can become your own butcher - and save big bucks at your local market.
Read the rest of this post »

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

My husband brought home this giant cookie sheet for us to try since we bake cookies so often. When I first saw the cookie sheet I was not sure it would even fit in our oven. A quick test before using it for the first time revealed that it would indeed fit, though just barely.

We made the first batch of cookie dough for the trial of the giant cookie sheet. We usually whip up some chocolate chip cookie dough each weekend, so that I can bake them and share them with my friends at West View Manor. I am impressed at how many cookies I can fit on the sheet, they turn out very tasty too.

Each time we make cookies, we try to make them better and the cookie sheet helps a great deal in that task. Not only does the cookie sheet fit at least 30 cookies spaced about 1 inch apart but they bake up evenly and are easily removed for cooling (we do use cooking spray).

The giant cookie sheet also cleans up very easily, usually requiring very little scrubbing. This cookie sheet does not seem to collect baking residue like some of our older cookie sheets have. It conveniently stores in the drawer below the oven when not in use.
Read the rest of this post »

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

It’s the dead of winter in many locales, and if you’re weary of meat-and-potato casseroles, now’s the perfect time to spice up your cooking with a touch of the exotic. For a limited time only, Lehman’s is offering Hawaii-grown macadamia nuts in the shell ($12 for 2 lb) shipped direct from sunny Hawaii to your doorstep.

Now when we say “limited time only,” we mean it. The harvesting season in Hawaii will only last another few weeks (give or take, depending upon the weather) and after that, we won’t be able to get these nuts again until next winter. We purchase the nuts from a small grower in Hawaii – not a big middleman – and he ships them right to you.

Why buy these nuts in the shell, you ask? Freshly dried and cracked macadamia nuts have an even creamier, more buttery flavor than the store-bought jarred ones. With a good nutcracker, a great novel and a wood fire, they could just make for the perfect winter evening.

And when it comes to cooking with them, a little extra effort can translate into a LOT of extra taste. Here are a couple great new recipes to try:
Read the rest of this post »

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

Today was the day I chose to make Swedish Meatballs but discovered I was out of noodles. So today was also noodle-making day.

Homemade egg noodles are so much better tasting (and better for you) than store noodles. Who knows what is put into the noodles in the factories? I KNOW what is in my noodles: nothing but fresh stuff!

The noodle dough is very simple. My favorite one is about one cup of flour to one egg, a plop of olive oil, a pinch of salt and water to make the dough stiff but not sticky. The eggs, of course, are farm fresh, which gives the noodles that lovely yellow color. I use organic unbleached white flour from the local Co-op. Many people use whole wheat, but I chose white as the flour of my choice. Sea salt and filtered water; good virgin olive oil - all the stuff fit for kings and peasants alike. Start with as much flour as you like, and then add the rest of the ingredients to match.
Read the rest of this post »

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

Are you planning a New Year’s Eve party or just a family get together over the holiday weekend? Here is an old favorite recipe - Party Mix and one with a new twist - Barbecue Party Mix - it’s really good, you need to try it! I use my Roaster with Granny Speckles to make both of these recipes. Did you think the only use for a roaster is for your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham - think again. Enjoy!

Original Party Mix
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
3 cups corn cereal
3 cups rice cereal
3 cups wheat cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces

Read the rest of this post »

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

½ cup shortening / lard / butter

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

½ cup cherry juice

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped maraschino cherries

½ tsp salt

½ cup nuts, chopped

Mix in order of the list / bake in 350º oven for about 40 minutes or so. I like to put the batter in the small loaf pans (1/4 size of normal bread pan) to make individual breads for gifts.

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

These really do go over well. When I asked my granddaughter what she wanted for Christmas, she said, “Some of those sweet, salty nut things you make!”
For one pound of walnut halves (ok, we’re practical and frugal here: substitute walnut “meats” for that “halves” unless you have a cheap source of walnuts), you’ll need two cups of shelled walnut meats.

You’ll also need:

1/4 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of oil (for frying)
3 cups of water
Salt
Read the rest of this post »

Bookmark it:

Hide Sites

By Melinda Hill

As the holiday season approaches I often need to stop and remind myself that the focus of the holidays doesn’t center around the preparations and the details but on the fellowship with family and friends as we celebrate the spirit of the season. As we gather to give thanks for our blessings, please keep in mind those who are less fortunate, those who are pending job loss, those who have lost loved ones, those who can’t be with us and then, put the rest of life in perspective. For all the joys we cherish, there are sorrows that burden us, and if nothing else, we just need to be mindful of those around us who are struggling during this time and offer a helping hand. 
    As you plan gatherings, remember to include foods for those who are trying to avoid putting on a few extra pounds through the holidays. Again, from our friends in Extension at the University of Kentucky, Janet Tietyen has the following tips for us to use.

Read the rest of this post »

Bookmark it: