6 ingredient Beer Bread

Some of you may know I have a fear of baking with yeast.  My first experience was in 4-H and not a very good one so I have tended to shy away from baking with yeast my entire adult life even though I love baked goods made with yeast.  So that being said when I found the recipe for Beer Bread in Gooseberry Patch's Hometown Harvest cookbook, I knew I had to try it especially since was recommended for serving with that Fried Corn Chowder we happened to love.

Beer Bread

Ingredients

3 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. sugar

1 T. baking powder

1 t. salt

12 oz. can beer or non-alcoholic beer

2 T. butter, melted

Directions

In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Add beer; mix well.  Pour into a greased 9"x5" loaf pan.  Drizzle butter on top.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 40-50 minutes, until golden.  Slice while still warm.  

Enjoy and I may or may not be able to speak from experience when I tell you that this bread is pretty dang good with the melted butter accidentally gets omitted.  (I found the melted butter in the microwave as I was cleaning up the kitchen after we ate our Fried Corn Chowder and Beer Bread.)

We have loved every recipe we have tried so far from Hometown Harvest so don't forget to enter for your very own chance to win a copy of the cookbook!

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.

8 tips for meal planning

Feeding a farmer during planting and harvest season is not always an easy task and more than likely every farmer has their own "rules" for eating when they are busy in the fields. Over the past 13 years, I've tried to learn the "rules" of The Farmer and his dad, but even then it isn't foolproof.

However, I will say that these 8 tips usually serve my mother-in-law and I well.

8 tips for meal planning on the farm

1. Supper will never ever be at the same time every night especially during planting and harvest season so we must be flexible as well as the meals we make and/or buy.
2. A slow cooker can be your best friend, especially one with a keep warm feature.
3. Sometimes fast food or carryout from a restaurant are your best option.
4. Messy is never good whether we are talking about sauces, sandwiches, etc...
5. Easy to eat is essential.  
6. Planning is good essentially when it comes to meals, but you must also be flexible that plans can always change.
7. Never try to guess what they are thinking.  Sometimes they will want to grab their food and go and sometimes they will stop and eat with you on the tailgate of the truck.  
8. Be flexible, never take it personal, and enjoy every moment as some of our kids' best memories involve taking dinner to their dad or grandpa and sneaking in a ride in the tractor, combine, or semi.

So while following #1, #2, and #4, and possibly #5, #6, #7, and #8, I'd like to share this quick and easy recipe from Gooseberry Patch's Hometown Harvest for Layered Potatoes & Onions.  

Layered Potatoes & Onions

Ingredients

3-4 lbs. potatoes, thinly sliced

3-4 lbs. yellow onions, thinly sliced

1 c. butter, sliced

salt and pepper to taste

chopped fresh chives to taste (optional)

Directions

In a slow cooker sprayed with non-stick vegetable spray, layer 1/4 each of potatoes, onions, and butter; add slat, pepper, and some chives.  Repeat layering, ending with butter and seasonings.  Cover and cook on high setting for one hour.  Turn slow cooker to low setting; cook for 5 hours more.  Serves 10-12 or one hungry farm family.  

Be sure to enter my giveaway to win your very own copy of Hometown Harvest!

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.

Additionally, I am participating in Indiana's Family of Farmers Table Talk Series and received a gift in exchange for my participation.  I'm one lucky girl!

Fried Corn Chowder

The temperatures are starting to drop a little and on days like that soup sounds perfect to me.  So when I found this recipe for Fried Corn Chowder in Gooseberry Patch's Hometown Harvest , I knew we were going to have to try it and we were not disappointed.  Even my normal non-soup eaters liked this chowder.

Fried Corn Chowder

Ingredients

3T. butter, divided

2 c. fresh or frozen corn

2 T. dried, minced onion

2 c. potatoes, peeled and finely diced (this was 4 potatoes)

2c. hot water

2 T. all-purpose flour

2 c. milk

1 t. salt

1/8 t. pepper

Directions

Melt one tablespoon butter in a saucepan over low heat.  Add corn; cook, stirring often, until tender.

Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in a separate large saucepan or stockpot.  Add onion and cook until lightly golden, stirring often.  Add potatoes and hot water. Simmer until potatoes are tender.  Drain half of the liquid.

In a bowl, add flour to milk; whisk until no lumps are visible.  Add salt and pepper.  Stir flour mixture into hot potato mixture; blend well and stir in corn.  Simmer until flavors are blended, about 10 minutes.  

Serve hot with Beer Bread and bacon bits if desired (unfortunately, we didn't have any bacon.).  Makes 6-8 servings.  

This chowder was relatively easy to make but my hands were busy so I apologize for the lack of photos during the cooking process.

This was the perfect lunch on a rainy Sunday even if we were slightly depressed since the rain is slowing down the harvest season on our family farm.  

Be sure to enter my giveaway for this awesome cookbook and good luck!

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.

Hometown Harvest Cookbook Giveaway

Harvest finally started on our family farm last week.  This is one of our family's absolute favorite times of the year.  And although it is not going quite as planned with some rain and fog the last few days, we are so excited for harvest to be here.  So when Gooseberry Patch's Hometown Harvest cookbook arrived a few weeks ago, I was super excited to start cooking some new recipes that are perfect for the harvest season.

So far, we made Fried Corn Chowder and Beer Bread from the Church Social Soup Supper section.

Parmesan Pork Chops (recipes coming soon) from the Thanksgiving Dinner to Remember section

and Layered Potatoes & Onions from the Slow-Cooker Potluck Pleasers section.

And this is just the start.  There are several other recipes marked in the cookbook for us to try this harvest season.

Now besides getting to try new and exciting, yummy recipes with each Gooseberry Patch cookbook I get to review, the best part is that they always send me an extra one to give away to one of my lucky readers.  So here is where you can get in on the fun...

To enter the giveaway for one copy of Gooseberry Patch's Hometown Harvest, all you have to do is comment on this post.  You will have 3 opportunities to comment as follows:

1.  What is your favorite thing to eat/make in the fall?
2.  Which of the above recipes are you most excited to see on my blog?
3.  Which recipe would you rather see on this blog:  Tortellini Caprese Soup, Brussels Sprouts & Shallots, Turkey Noodle Soup?

It really couldn't be any easier.  This giveaway will run through October 14th.  Good luck!!!

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.

Italian Beef in a Bucket

Or a crock pot or slow cooker.

Although I'm a pig farmer and love me some pork, Italian Beef will always have a soft spot in my heart.  That being said, I had never made it before in my life.  That is until Gooseberry Patch's Slow Cooking Year 'Round arrived with the Italian Beef in a Bucket recipe.  I knew I had to make it. 

Italian Beef in a Bucket

3 1/2 - 4lb. beef rump roast

12 oz. jar Italian giardiniera mix, mild or hot, drained

12 oz. jar pepperoncini

.7 oz. pkg. zesty Italian salad dressing mix

10 -1/2 oz. can beef broth

12-18 crusty Italian rolls

Place beef roast in a large slow cooker.

In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients except rolls; do not drain pepperoncini. (I mixed together the broth and dry salad dressing mix first.)

Pour mixture over roast.

Cover and cook on low setting for 10-12 hours, until meat is very tender.

Shred with 2 forks; stir into mixture in slow cooker.

Serve on rolls; top with some of the giardiniera mixture from the slow cooker.

Makes 12-18 servings.

This Italian Beef was absolutely delicious and so juicy and even made for yummy leftovers.  

It was the perfect meal to come home to after spending the day at Big Sissy's first volleyball tournament.

Now don't forget to enter for your chance to win a copy of this amazing cookbook and hurry as time is running out.

Loaded Potato Soup

Let me just say this isn't just any loaded potato soup... It is super easy, delicious, and Big Sissy even asked for seconds.  So needless to say this recipe will become a year 'round regular at the pigpen even if it does appear in the Simply Speedy Springtime section of Gooseberry Patch's Slow Cooking Year 'Round cookbook.

Loaded Potato Soup

32 oz. pkg frozen hashbrowns with onions and peppers, thawed
(I could only find a 28 oz. bag but it worked just fine)
8 oz. pkg cream cheese, diced
(any type would work:  regular, reduced fat, fat free)
10-3/4 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
10-3/4 oz. can cream of celery soup
10-3/4 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup onion, minced
salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:  shredded Cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, crumbled bacon, crackers, etc...

Place hashbrowns in slow cooker.  Add remaining ingredients except garnish.  Stir.

Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours.

Garnish individual servings as desired and serve with crackers.

Serves 6-8 or at this pigpen it served 5 with a couple people getting seconds and no leftovers.

I hope you all enjoy this soup as much as our family did and have entered for my giveaway to win your very own copy of Gooseberry Patch's Slow Cooking Year 'Round cookbook.  Good luck!


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.

Slow Cooking Year 'Round Giveaway

There has been some major excitement around the pigpen this last week as we have we have been trying all kinds of new recipes from one of Gooseberry Patch's newest cookbooks, Slow Cooking Year "Round.

From main course options like Beef Stroganoff and Italian Beef in a Bucket that hit the spot after a long day of work, school, and the kids' extracurricular activities (recipes coming soon),

to scrumptious soups like Loaded Potato Soup that was perfect on a cold winter night,

to yummy sides like Creamy Mac & Cheese (recipe coming soon), 

and delicious dips like Hot Crab Rangoon Dip (recipe coming soon) and Pleasing Pizza Dip that just might be perfect for that upcoming football game 

and we have not been disappointed and still have several more recipes marked to try.  This just may be my absolute favorite Gooseberry Patch cookbook which is why I'm so excited that Gooseberry Patch not only sent me one cookbook to review, but one to giveaway to one of my lucky readers.

So good luck and if the widget does not appear, please click on the rafflecopter link to enter.

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.

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.