Browsed by
Month: August 2023

Bowl of pumpkin soup on a wooden cutting board.
Pumpkin Mush, Pudding, Chips, Parmesan, Soup

Pumpkin Mush, Pudding, Chips, Parmesan, Soup

Comments 2 comments

Pumpkin is a common term for mature winter squash, of which there are many varieties and sizes. They are a hot weather crop and need a long growing season.  Commercially canned pumpkin puree is usually made from different varieties than those used for jack-o’-lanterns. Pumpkins grown for food in the 1800s were the smaller sized ones. Did you know a pumpkin is not actually a vegetable, but a fruit? Anything that starts from a flower is botanically a fruit and…

Read More Read More

Three Quince Fruit
How to Use Quinces, an Old-Fashioned Fruit

How to Use Quinces, an Old-Fashioned Fruit

Comments 0 Comment

Quinces resemble a pear, and are yellow when ripe, but the exterior is bumpy. They have a sour, astringent taste unless completely ripened, so they’re usually cooked. This fruit bruises quickly and very rapidly turns to a dark brown.  The quince tree was brought to the American colonies by English settlers. During the 18th century, there was usually a quince at the lower corner of the vegetable garden [reference]. Today, there aren’t many commercial quince tree orchards in the U.S….

Read More Read More

herbs and spices can season a bland meal
Season Food with Herbs and Tinctures

Season Food with Herbs and Tinctures

Comments 0 Comment

“Many people have the idea that a finely flavored dish must cost a great deal. That is a mistake. If you have untainted meat, or sound vegetables, or even Indian meal [corn meal] to begin with, you can make it delicious with proper seasoning. One reason why French cooking is so much nicer than any other is that it is seasoned with a great variety of herbs and spices, which cost very little. If you would buy a few cents’…

Read More Read More