Not from the store jar ketchup

My Grandma Franklin was an amazing cook, but she had one fault.  She didn't share her recipes with family members.  Actually, I don't think she wrote many of her creations down.  If she did, no one seems to know where they are.  Grandma Franklin has long passed, but I continue to try to recreate many of her recipes.  One food memory from Grandma was her awesome homemade ketchup.  I have tried to recreate this ketchup many times, without success.  My sister finally made it this summer 
and wrote down the list of ingredients as she prepared it.  You did it Debbie!  Here is what she came up with, with a few changes by her sister, ME.  


Fresh Tomato Ketchup 
... the way Grandma use to make it

3 lbs. ripe tomatoes, quartered
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoon pickling spice
3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup cider vinegar
juice of one lemon
1 teaspoon sea salt

Read more »

Friday Picture Finds

It's the end of our first week of school!  After seventeen years of teaching, I still get excited about beginning a new school year.  It just amazes me what a busy time it is though...just getting the year going.  There are plans to make, things to label and oh boy...so much data to enter into the computer.  To say the least, my blogging time has suffered, but I will persevere, as I'm very passionate about food and sharing it with you, my readers.  On this particular Friday, with very little time to blog, I'm going to share some food pictures I found when going through my files. These are my Friday Picture Finds!  Hope you enjoy them!

Read more »

Back-to-School Friday

Cookbooks are a favorite in our elementary school library.  School is back in and I thought it fitting to share the latest children's cookbook I have purchased for our school library.  I can't wait to share this with my students.  

poppy seed bread

One of my family's favorite bread that I bake is Poppy Seed.  I've become a little more creative and have ventured out of the comfort zone of the typical loaf pan when making breads.  I still use the typical bread loaf pan and adore them, but you can often find me in the kitchen section of many different stores digging through the shelves to see what I might find in the area of different.  

Poppy Seed Bread 

(Printable Recipe)

3 cups flour

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/3 cups cooking oil

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons almond extract

...Mix all ingredients on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Flour and grease two loaf pans.  Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees F.  Cool five minutes.  Pour glaze over tops.

GLAZE

1/4 cups orange juice

3/4 granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

...Mix well and pour over tops of loaves. 

Sweet and Zesty Freezer Pickles

Cucumbers were very plentiful in our garden this summer. I'm not one to waste a good thing so many pickles will be consumed in our household during the upcoming months.  Good thing we like hamburgers, sliders and potato salad, because these pickles will compliment them well.  I have made many pickles in the past, but this recipe has always been a favorite.  I found this recipe, many years ago, in a box of old recipes at a garage sale. They were a find!  The title on the old, torn and stained card was "Freezer Pickles" so I gave them their name. These pickles keep in the freezer for up to 6 weeks - but they never last that long at our house...especially since our family has grown over the years.

SWEET AND ZESTY FREEZER PICKLES

Ingredients...
10 - 12 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
4 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 large green peppers, chopped
3 tablespoons table salt, divided
2 cups sugar
1 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon celery seed





Read more »

Oreos on my mind

I'm back to work preparing for the 2011-12 school year.  A good excuse for less blogging lately.  As one friend said..." I took a blog-cation."  A fellow teacher told me today that she really enjoys my blog! I LOVE hearing from my fans!  We talked about a recent recipe I shared which involved Oreo cookies.  Since that conversation...I've had OREOS ON MY MIND. When searching for recipes that contain these delicious, addictive cookies...look what I found to share with my readers on this particular Friday.  Going with the theme...I entered the Pioneer Woman's PIE giveaway.  Wish me luck!  

Friday Favorite Food Find:  Peanut Butter Oreo Ice Cream PIE

Blog to Follow:  Kevin & Amanda

Peace, Love and Cheesecake

Friday Favorite Food Find... 
Peace, Love & Cheesecake
a dessert kitchen - 
located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas


Eureka Springs, Arkansas is famous for their unique dining and shopping.  The focal point for doing those two activities is the picturesque downtown district.  My husband and I found the cutest and yummiest dessert kitchen while walking the streets of Eureka Springs. The blueberry cheesecake we selected from Peace, Love & Cheesecake's  dessert display was decadent. Every dessert, including cupcakes, cookies, cheesecakes and bar cookies, are made fresh on-site. The blueberries that topped the cheesecake were not only fresh, but very large. In my opinion...this was the best cheesecake I've ever had.

Visiting this cheesecake kitchen prompted the desire to find some cheesecake recipes online (one of those kitchen addictions of mine).  I decided to explore some of my favorite blogs and look what I found...

Bake or Break cheesecake archives

My goal....make one of these good-looking cheesecakes sooner than later!

cookies and an inn

When we packed our bags for a mini-vacation to Eureka Springs, Arkansas I knew my husband would be doing some fishing so added to our belongings to take were a book or two, my laptop and the recipe of cookies I had just made.  When we arrived at our bed and breakfast we found freshly baked cookies, very similar to the Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies I had just prepared the day before.  The inn keeper offered us Chocolate Chunk Cinnamon cookies when we arrived. The smell of them baking met us as we opened the door.  Did I mention the bed and breakfast is absolutely charming? See the link below.

I have made these Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies for several years.  My kids and husband love them, so it was no surprise to find that our grandchildren loved them too!  When I prepared these cookies, the grandchildren were in attendance.  As soon as they came out of the oven, my grandson consumed four and my granddaughter savored three.  I can say, without hesitation, that these cookies have passed my critics taste test - my family.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
(Printable Recipe)
INGREDIENTS
1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons unsifted flour
1 cup quick oats
2 tablespoons cocoa
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
34 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 package (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease cookie sheets (or line with parchment paper).

Stir together flour, oatmeal, cocoa and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl.

Beat together butter and sugars in a large bowl.  Beat in egg and vanilla.

Stir in flour mixture.  Mix well.

Add chocolate chips and walnuts.

Fold to mix.

Roll dough into 1 inch balls.  Drop onto prepared cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10-12 minutes.

Here are the Chocolate Chunk Cinnamon Cookies we had at Inn at Rose Hall in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Utensil Giveaway - A First!

Tallulah's - Columbia, Missouri

It's hard to believe, but I began my food blog journey over 12 months ago. One hundred thirty six posts later...I'm still enjoying sharing with you, my readers.  So in honor of our time spent together, I'm publishing My Kitchen Addiction's first giveaway.  First, let me be formal and then I'll be more like myself.



For your information...

• All prizes given away on My Kitchen Addictions are sponsored by me - meaning I purchase the prizes myself.
• If a store or website is mentioned in the giveaway, please know I am not advertising for the store or website...just giving them credit where credit is do.
• One entry, per person
• To enter, all you need to do is comment on the question provided.
• A deadline to enter will be provided in the post.
• The winner will be selected by RANDOM.ORG and announced on My Kitchen Addictions Facebook page.  Please consider joining my Facebook page. 
• Winners will also be notified by email (so make sure you include your email address in your entry).
• All shipping, if necessary, will be paid for by me.

First Giveaway- A Kitchen Utensil

It's no secret that one of My Kitchen Addictions is shopping for new kitchenware.  I happened upon a new store near my hometown where I purchased the first giveaway item.  Here is the store's Facebook link:  Tallulah's ... in case you want more information or want to visit their location.  

The Prize:  Better Batter Tool, Blue

This is a Tovolo Smart kitchen utensil...combining a beater and a spoon for better batter results.  The Better Batter Tool is also ideal for stirring sauces, mixing gravy and breaking up ground meats. 

To enter:  Comment below, answering the following question:

What is your favorite kitchen utensil?  

Deadline for entering:  Comments for this giveaway close midnight, Sunday, August 7, 2011