Down Mulberry Lane

Picking Berries...

I am having Chelsea read through some readers to try and improve her fluency with reading.  Today's story was about picking berries.  It was a nice warm story of one family picking blueberries. 

This afternoon, I was working in the garden and got what onions I could find out.  We also got some tomatoes and then I remembered that Dh showed me last night that the elderberries were ripe. 

I called Megan and Chelsea and asked them to come help me.  I grabbed three buckets and out we went to collect some elderberries.  We have a small patch that is quite easy to get to.  A second batch cropped up this year in a pile of brush.  In trying to reach the elderberries, I had to climb onto crackling logs and branches which were buckling under my weight, but thankfully did not come crashing down.  The girls enjoyed my gymnastics and had a good time out there together picking berries... just like in our story.  Chelsea even commented on us picking berries... hope we don't find any bears... just like in her story earlier.  She is 16yo, and was poking fun, but it was a smiley fun and she didn't mind picking berries at all. 

I have spent some time pulling berries off their stems, but I needed a break, so thought I would let you all know what I will be doing the rest of the evening!  My fingers are already purple and I smell of berries.  My hope is to get enough berries to make a batch of elderberry jelly and a batch of elderberry muffins.  We will see what we come up with. 

Well, I guess I had better get back to plucking berries into the bowl.

Warmly, ~Melissa

Pepper Jelly...

Yesterday I made 14 jars of pepper jelly.  A friend had asked if I would make some for them at the beginning of this summer.  I've been thinking about it for quite some time, waiting for the peppers to ripen... and finally I had enough to make some.  I was really glad to get that job done. 

I will be making some raspberry pepper jelly as soon as I get to the store or Farmer's Market for some jalapeno's.  Dh requested that jelly.  My jalapenos didn't come up in the garden, so I'll need to purchase those. 

Nice to get something into the pantry for a change! 

Warmly,  ~Melissa

Wednesday's Kitchen

Breakfast:  Waffles (with syrup or peanut butter and applesauce)

Lunch:  Assortment... Steve had leftover cavatinni, The girls had  turkey sandwiches, and I had lightly fried zucchini, yellow summer squash and onions with a bit of leftover spaghetti

Supper:  Rice, chicken and CORN ON THE COB (again! LOL)

Harvest/Freezer:  20 Quart bags of corn, 4 gallon sized bags of corn on the cob.

Warmly, ~Melissa

Tuesday's Kitchen...

Breakfast:  Waffles (either with syrup or peanut butter with applesauce on top)

Lunch/Supper:  Spaghetti and Sauce, with a green salad and french bread

Baking:  French Bread, made 3 small loaves, one for us and one for Dh and one for DH's leftovers

Warmly, ~Melissa

Monday's Kitchen...

Breakfast:  French Toast with beef sausage

Lunch/Supper:  Hot Dogs with Corn on the Cob

Harvest/Freezer:  24 Quarts of sweet corn for the freezer

Warmly, ~Melissa

In the Kitchen ... Saturday

Breakfast:  Cinnamon Rolls

Lunch:  Burger Patties (vegetarian) with hamburger buns, french fries, fried sweet potatoes.  Dessert was pound cake with strawberries and whipped topping.

Supper:  Spaghetti with meat sauce (for DH) and plain sauce (for the rest of us!).  Homemade French bread.  Possibly some fried cheese sticks... off to make it now, we'll see if I decide on cheese sticks again.  

Baking:  French bread for meal above. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

In the Kitchen... Friday

Breakfast:  English Muffin toast, eggs, and corned beef hash

Lunch:  Sandwiches on homemade bread, chips

Supper:  Ramen Noodles with fried cheese sticks.  I know odd combination, but it made us happy.  lol , dessert was cinnamon rolls.

Baking:  Homemade Hamburger buns for tomorrow and Sunday's meals.   Cinnamon Rolls for supper and breakfast. 

In the Kitchen... Thursday...

Breakfast:  Eggs, English muffin Bread and beef sausage

Lunch:  Last box of macaroni and cheese  LOL...

Supper:  A Betty Crocker meal of chicken and biscuits (given to us from my dad, the biscuit mix had bugs in it, so I threw it out and made my own). 

Baking:  None 

In the Kitchen... Wednesday

Breakfast:  Waffles

Lunch:  Leftovers

Supper:  Vegetarian Skallops/fried, mashed potatoes, home canned beans, fresh bread slices

Baking:  New recipe... white/wheat bread - 3 large loaves

In the Kitchen... Tuesday

Breakfast:  Scrambled Eggs and English muffin toast.

Lunch:  Quesadillas (not sure of the spelling)

Supper:  CHeeseburger off-brand hamburger helper... (not the greatest and now I have heartburn!)  We are trying to get some of these oddball items out of the house... never to return again... NEVER!  LOL

Baking:  Kate made oatmeal cookies, some with raisin, some with chocolate chips.  I made Cinnamon Raisin Bread (2 small loaves). 

Warmly, ~Melissa