Well, I just tried a new way of cooking broccoli - roasting it.  I coated it with EVOO first, as well as salt, pepper, onion powder and some cayenne pepper, then roasted at 450 F until cooked.  That was delish! 

I also made some biscuits from my Master Mix, found in the Mennonite cookbook, "More with Less" using butter instead of shortening, and some sour milk.  They turned out so light and yummy.  Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures.  I have to remember to do so! 

I also tried a rub for the pork chops which I need to tweak for satisfaction.  The link to the recipe is Cocoa rubbed pork chops.  I think it needs some more savoury but our cumin may be stale, too.  We'll have to see...

Using sour milk

DH and I hate to waste anything; we think many of us have too much in "western" society and, consequently, throw much away that could still be of use.  Therefore, I've been trolling the internet in search of info on using sour milk.  One blog I found quoted an old cookbook and I'm going to post that page here, so anyone else can look for themselves:
http://trialanderrorhomeec.blogspot.com/2011/12/ktt-using-sour-milk.html
The relevant portion I want to remember I'm posting myself, just to make sure it doesn't get lost if the link does.

From "The Royal Guide to Meal Planning:"

Thick sour milk, sour cream and buttermilk...can each be used in place of sweet milk if these instructions are carefully followed. Use one-third teaspoon soda to each cup of thick sour milk and add [baking powder] as directed in the recipe for sweet milk.

Because sour cream contains so much fat, the butter or other shortening in the recipe will have to be reduced when sour cream is used.

Soda can be sifted with the dry ingredients or added to the sour milk. Either method is satisfactory with perhaps a little advantage in the former.

Where other acid-reacting materials such as molasses, raisins, bran and brown sugar are also included in a sour milk recipe, the amount of soda will, of course, have to be increased slightly.

And another link with recipes that I've noticed has been quoted extensively on the net is http://www.cooks.com/rec/story/121/

And having joined a Mennonite congregation this year, I was fascinated to come across this blog, for which I'm linking to one of the buttermilk recipes I wish to try.  Hopefully, I can find my Roger's Golden syrup!

Syrup Platz recipe 

Clean out the fridge day

I had some whitefish that needed using today, so I tried a recipe out of my "Chef at Home" cookbook by Michael Smith.  Here is a link to the recipe on his website:  http://chefmichaelsmith.com/Recipe/whitefish-provencale/

The flavours were outstanding but I think I'll reduce the liquid by draining the canned tomatoes next time - the sauce was a little thin.

Hubby is also making rye bread from a recipe from an old family friend.  He got quite the workout from kneading this morning!

I made a soup from scratch (except for the chicken broth from a tetrapak), using potatoes and spinach.  I sweated onions and celery first then added a whole farmer's sausage, diced, and then put them all in a big pot with the taters and simmered with 2 bay leaves, salt and pepper, white wine and liquid smoke.  I also added 2 packages of frozen spinach.  I think next time I'll just use one.  It had a nice flavour but a little much green stuff.

May we ring in truth, justice and peace in Christ's name!  I love this poem:

 

Ring Out, Wild Bells by G. K. Chesterton


Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

I just tried some new goodie recipes.  I used the shortbread recipe from Fine Cooking magazine and really liked the cardamom variation.

We subscribe to the magazine but here is the weblink:  http://www.finecooking.com/item/36970/how-to-make-shortbread-cookies

I also tried this Chocolate Nutella fudge from Two Peas and their Pod and Cookin' Canuck and will definitely make it again!
http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2011/12/chocolate-nutella-sea-salt-fudge/

We are now moved into our new home, and so I can continue updating my cooking knowledge.  I've tried a few new things in the meantime.  Today I'm going to try brining some pork chops before cooking them and have some applesauce as a side, adding some allspice, cider vinegar and a bay leaf to simmer for a bit on the stove.  I added some buttermilk to my mashed potatoes and really enjoyed the flavour difference there.

The pork chops were marinated in buttermilk and salt, then breaded in toasted stale bread crumbs, mixed with pressed garlic, crumbled dried rosemary and dried thyme.  I think I'll add some salt and pepper next go round, but they were yummy.  I like the applesauce, but would like to ramp up the flavour there a little, too.  I may try adding some onions next time.