The Harvest Table Giveaway

Harvest

It is one of this pigpen's favorite times of year so  I was super excited when Gooseberry Patch asked me to review one of their newest cookbook's, The Harvest Table.  

This cookbook is full of yummy recipes that I can't wait to share with you over the coming weeks.  Now many of the recipes have a fall twist to them which will be perfect for our upcoming harvest season, but since we just finished up planting season on our family farm, I was quite happy that there were several recipes that could be made year round.  

In fact, I even found too super easy dessert recipes that were perfect for our family's Mother's Day celebration... Too-Easy Toffee Cheesecake and Heavenly Key Lime Pie.

Now in addition to these desserts in the Save Room for dessert section, we have found many delicious recipes from the Hearty Autumn Brunch, Soup Supper with Friends, Simple Harvest Supper, Thanksgiving with All the Trimmings, and Festive Fall Flavors sections.  Are you hungry yet?   (Just wait until I share the recipes and pictures.)

Now here is the best part... My friends over at Gooseberry Patch sent me an extra cookbook to giveaway to one of my lucky readers so be sure to enter below for your chance to win The Harvest Table .

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. Additionally, this post does contain an affiliate link.

Bubby's Big Day

Bittersweet...

It is the only word I can think of to describe Bubby's Big Day.


In a blink of an eye, Bubby went from his first day of kindergarten

to kindergarten graduation.

And he has been on cloud 9 ever since despite having to have 2 baby teeth pulled today.  (Don't worry he is milking it for all it is worth complete with a trip to Dairy Queen and a sleepover at my in-laws.)


Where does the time go?

Yummy Quick Taco Soup with a winner

Seriously what is not to love with the words yummy and quick being in the same sentence and when that sentence just happens to be a recipe it really can't get any better.  Unless this also happens to be where I announce the winner of Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes ... time will tell.  But for now, let's get back to this super easy recipe.

Yummy Quick Taco Soup

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef

1 onion, diced

2 16-oz. cans black beans

2 16-oz. cans kideny beans

11-oz. can corn

10-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles

46 oz. can tomato juice

2 1 1/4 oz. packages of taco seasoning mix

Optional:  sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, tortilla chips, jalapenos, etc...

Directions

Brown beef in a skillet over medium-high heat; drain. (Or use this handy dandy Pampered Chef Micro Cooker  that Miss Cris and Miss Leah told me I had to buy (they were right).  I had browned ground beef in about 5 minutes.)

Add beef to a large slow cooker.

Add onion and undrained beans, corn, and tomatoes.

Pour in tomato juice.

Stir in seasoning mix.

Cover and cook on low setting for 6-8 hours.

Serve with sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, jalapenos and other toppings, if desired.

This was a big hit with The Farmer and will definitely be a go to recipe at this pigpen in the future.

And now it is my pleasure to announce that entry #290, Apple B, is the winner of my giveaway of Simple Shortcut Recipes thanks to Gooseberry Patch.  Thanks to all of you that entered and be sure to stay tuned as another amazing Gooseberry Patch cookbook or two may have just arrived in my mailbox.  

Linked to Beyer Beware's Hunk of Meat Monday

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. Additionally, this post does contain affiliate links.

Easy Cheesy Appetizer from Gooseberry Patch

This super easy appetizer caught my attention the first time I picked up Simple Shortcut Recipes: More than 225 Simplified Recipes Plus Time-Saving Tips for Today's Busy Cook! (Everyday Cookbook Collection) from Gooseberry Patch.  Growing up there was a restaurant that had the most amazing appetizer that had the same name as this recipe so I knew I had to try it. 

Crabbies

Although these crabbies are nothing like the crabbies I grew up enjoying, they were quite delicious and easy to make.

Ingredients

7 1/2 oz. can crab meat, drained
5 oz. jar sharp pasteurized process cheese spread
2 T. mayonnaise
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 t. garlic powder
hot pepper sauce to taste
6 English muffins, split
Garnish:  fresh parsley, chopped

 

Directions

In a bowl, combine all ingredients except muffins and parsley. (I decided to mix everything, but the crab meat first and then add the crab meat.)

Spread mixture evenly over muffin halves.  Cut each round into quarters and arrange on an ungreased baking sheet. (I covered my baking sheet with aluminum foil. Additionally, since we ate these as a meal, I did not cut them into quarters.)

Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, until topping is heated through and golden.

Sprinkle with parsley.

Serve warm. 

Enjoy and don't forget there are just a few days remaining to enter for your chance to win a copy of Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes thanks to Gooseberry Patch!

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store.  This post does contain an affiliate link.

Pepperoncini Chicken

Now, I know this recipe may not appeal to everyone at first, but I was attracted the minute I read "a fast slow-cooker meal perfect for a busy evening."  I mean what more could a full-time off-farm working momma of 3 need and with 3 simple ingredients I was sold before I even made Pepperoncini Chicken from Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes.  And after the applause this recipe received from the pigpen it is just a matter of time before we try this with a beef or possibly pork roast. 

Pepperoncini Chicken
Ingredients
4 lb package frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used the chicken breast tenderloins as I always keep these on hand for a quick and easy meal.)
16 oz. jar pepperoncini
6-8 8-inch flour tortillas
Garnish:  shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, etc...

Directions
Place frozen chicken in a slow cooker.

Pour pepperoncini with juice over top.

Cover and cook on low setting for 6-8 hours.

Shred chicken and pepperoncini; mix well.

Fill tortillas with chicken mixture; garnish as desired.

Enjoy and don't forget there are just a few days remaining to enter for your chance to win a copy of Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes thanks to Gooseberry Patch!

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store.

Taffy Apple Bars

Well when I asked which recipe you were most excited for me to share from Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes, Taffy Apple Bars received lots of votes so I though I'd share it first.

Taffy Apple Bars

Ingredients
16 1/2 oz. tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough
16 1/2 oz. tube refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3- 1/2 to 4 cups apples, cored, peeled and chopped
1 cup chopped peanuts
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping

Directions
Let cookie doughs stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.  (FYI, I couldn't find a tube of refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough so I used the refrigerated cookie squares.)

In a large bowl, combine doughs and flour; beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended.

Press evenly into the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 baking pan.

Spoon apples over dought; press down lightly.

Sprinkle with peanuts.  (I skipped this step as not everyone is a fan of peanuts at this pigpen.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until edges turn golden and the center is set.

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. 

Drizzle with caramel topping.

Cut into bars and Enoy!

Don't forget to enter here for your chance to win your very own copy of Simple Shortcut Recipes.

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store.