Pumpkin Patch Update

Written Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 by Theresa H Hall

Back in March of this year, I was reading a lot of articles on the Internet about the depletion of pumpkins and that the LIBBY company was showing a dismal forecast of availability of canned pumpkin. The reports even went so far as to admit that some people were actually selling their cans of pumpkin on sites like eBay and Amazon. Imagine. I still have two large cans that I refrained from using, since I figured they knew what they were talking about. I didn't want to risk not having this prized puree for this coming Autumn.

Nestle` the parent company of Libby's, was smart enough and quick enough to plant a vast amount of pumpkin seeds. The previous year's crops, many of which had been ruined by the enormous amounts of rainfall, were the cause of the springtime concerns. Because of the excess amount invested into the 2010 crops, the company has reported a price increase of 12%, a necessary charge to help defray the excessive expense of this season's harvest.

I am most happy to report that the 2010 crops are a complete success, and that cans of fresh and canned pumpkins are being shipped to stores nationwide. We can breath easy that we do not have to go shopping on the Internet for $7.00 cans of this delicious super-food. We can rest assured that there is enough pumpkins and other gourds to go around ... enough for us all.

Doughnut Balls With Strawberry Sauce

Written Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 by Theresa H Hall

There is an ongoing discussion in Community and the question is: What Inspires You To Cook? I readily admit that photographs of prepared food is what catches my eye first. If it is pleasing then I glance over the ingredients, checking if the recipe has been written in a logical, coordinating sequence. This means that the main foods items are listed first, and that the dry vs. wet additions are grouped together. I like to see which foods herbs and spices are to be used, as I want to cook with what is already in my larder, instead of having to buy too many items, just for one recipe. Afterwards, I scan the instructions because if they are not clear I will just keep searching for properly written ones. There's such a huge selection that I do not need to waste time on poorly written or ill-conceived recipes.

Vast arrays of magazines, cookbooks, on-line sites and just recipes in general abound. It seems the whole world is cooking, baking, or just getting ready to return to their kitchens because of the economy. A lot of restaurant goers are eating at their own dinner tables lately. They are looking for something hearty, delicious, and fast. It's what most cooks need during the weekdays. Almost everyone I know is always busy and on-the-go. That's why I love this site. Half Hour Meals is just what we busy cooks need.

This twenty-minute dessert will be fun and I want to share it with you. It is fast and easy to make, plus you and your family will love it!

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Doughnut Balls With Strawberry Sauce

Preparation time: 10 minutes // Total cooking time: 10 minutes // Serves 4-6

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Ingredients

2 eggs

2 Tbsp oil

2 Tbsp water

1/3 cup caster sugar (a fine grind of table sugar)

1 3/4 cups self-rising flour (sifted)

oil for frying

3/4 cup caster sugar (for dredging or coating cooked doughnuts)

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Strawberry Sauce

300 grams fresh or thawed frozen strawberries

1/2 cup strawberry jam

** Process strawberries and jam until smooth.

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Instructions

1) Whisk Eggs, oil water and sugar until smooth.

2) Stir in sifted flour and mix to a soft dough.

3) Put flour on your hands and roll two teaspoons (at a time), of mixture into balls. (repeat)

4) Heat oil in large pan until moderately hot.

5) Deep-fry doughnut balls until cooked throughly and lightly browned.

6) Remove from oil with a slotted spoon and roll in the sugar to coat evenly.

7) Serve immediately with sauce, fresh strawberries and ice cream.

* Desserts & after-dinner treats

ISBN: 978-0-68102-058-0

Spicing It Up For The Holidays

Written Thursday, September 9th, 2010 by Theresa H Hall

I intentionally used a larger than normal photograph for this post, because I wanted you all to be able to see just how beautiful these spices, herbs, roots, nuts, vegetables and beans look. The ambiance of this marketplace, from its rug-covered earthen floor, to the atrium lighting by the windows overhead, caught and held my attention. I am always on the lookout for beautiful scenery, especially when it includes food.

Now I myself have never been to a market such as this one. I do recall my late Father carrying me through a marketplace in New York City, but I was four years old. Mostly I remember our walking through different sections, and that there was sawdust covering all of the floor area, except that sometimes there would be hard dark brown earth or even concrete. I remember the slice of pizza and Pepsi Cola, which I got to share. Mm it was the best pizza. Do you have memories of when you were a child and got to go to market, too?

If I were able to transport myself to this particular market I would be thrilled. Imagine the heady aromas and the feel of those mounds of colorful foods. I can actually close my eyes and touch in my mind the smoothness of the chestnuts and the rough bark of the cinnamon sticks. Food does that to me. It takes me away from the humdrum day and charges my imagination with delightful dishes I can prepare for my loved ones. Does the idea of different foods from around the world give you pause to dream about cooking or baking?

Here at Half Hour Meals, we are very fortunate to have: blogger, chefs, home-cooks and authors who have shared recipes from their homelands. If you searched through the thousands available here, it would take you a while to decide which to choose. I have tried many of them already and the great thing is it provides me with relief from the sameness of my everyday routine. Half Hour Meals members are really good at what they do. So many times you get to peek into their worlds, their kitchens. Some of them travel and write about what they found to bring back and try at home. They’ve learned to bake a deep-dish pie, or use a particular barbecue sauce or dry rub for  meat dishes. It is a fine place to pick and choose your next meal to prepare and wow your family.

Since I do not know much about Indian Cuisine, I intend to visit the Indian Food Market in my area and try some spices I have seen in many recipes here. I think I shall be opening up a whole new world of flavor and by the time November and December roll around I will be proficient enough to spice it up for the holidays. This could be a fun thing for you to try, too. Then we could share what we learned and link to the member recipe here on Half Hour Meals. Send me a shout to let me know if you, too, would like to spice it up for the holidays and try something new. Look for an authentic Indian store near you.