Rose Breasted Growbeak

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

At my bird feeder yesterday afternoon.

Making Shishito Pepper Hot Sauce

Making Shishito Pepper Hot Sauce

Our pepper plants are still producing peppers so I thought I'd try my hand at making shishito pepper hot sauce today. I'll use the shishito peppers, a shallot, some garlic, and vinegar. Basically I'll cook the ingredients and then whirl them up in the blender. Last I'll bottle them up. Seems like every cooking project I take on I need a special container or ingredient.

I thought I'd blister the shishito peppers first. The last batch of shishito peppers we picked were all very hot. No way to judge that unless you eat them first. Whoa is me; if I taste every one then I won't have enough to make the hot sauce. We shall see how this recipe turns out. 

Scarlet Oak Leaves

Scarlet Oak Leaves

These are made of clay intended as ornaments.

Balkan White Bean Soup

 

Balkan White Bean Soup

1 can white beans
1 can butter beans
1 can sliced carrots
1 can turnip greens
1 yellow onion chopped 
4 garlic cloves minced
1 tablespoon olive oil to sauté onions and garlic
1 summer sausage cut into bite sized pieces or sausage of your choice
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon thyme powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash salt substitute
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
4 cups broth or water

I used cans of what I had on hand to make this soup. Sauté onions and garlic till fragrant. Add summer sausage pieces. Add spices and blooms them. Add water or stock. Bring to a boil then add cans of beans and vegetables. Cook till well melded about half an hour. Serve with crusty bread. Yummy.