Recipe of the Week; OH MY GOSH! SQUASH!

I think Pennsylvanians should rename August "Squashugust". Seriously, the zucchini and squash are plentiful... the Amish are selling them six for one dollar! (In January, we'll be paying six dollars for one squash.)

I really do love it, however, and when my baskets runneth over, it's time to crank the creative wheel in the kitchen (or hop onto the internet) and find a good way to use 'em up; something other than zucchini bread. Or zucchini lasagna. Or kabobs. Or...

You get the picture. When my Mom sent me home with a bunch of the big yellow and green vegetables (or are they fruit?) a couple weekends ago, I had two recipes in particular that caught my fancy. Today you get two recipes, instead of only one. I hope you enjoy them, as I certainly have!

This first recipe is a staple for squash and zucchini user-uppers. It's good for both, and I actually prefer to mix the two. It's a combination of a few recipes that I've gathered through the years.

SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

aka "Squasherole"

Ingredients

6 cups squash and zucchini, diced or sliced into rounds
Vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup dried bread crumbs, or crushed butter crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sauté the squash and zucchini in a little vegetable oil over medium-low heat until it has completely broken down, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain in a colander, pressing out the excess moisture. Set aside.

In a medium size skillet, sauté the onion in butter for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from pan and mix all ingredients together except bread crumbs. Pour mixture into a buttered casserole dish and top with bread crumbs. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Top with additional cheese before serving.

This next recipe was something I happened to catch Ellie Krieger of Food Network's Healthy Appetite grill up one Saturday morning. Genius idea... delicious results. This is a great recipe for summer too, as I had plenty of spinach, parsley and basil from the garden on hand.

GRILLED ZUCCHINI ROLLS WITH HERBS AND CHEESE

Ingredients

3 zucchini (about ½ pound each), sliced lengthwise into ¼-inch slices
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
Pinch ground black pepper
1 ½ oz. soft goat cheese
1 tablespoon freshly minced parsley leaves
½ teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1/3 cup basil leaves

Discard the outermost slices of zucchini and brush the rest of the slices with the oil on both sides. Season with salt and pepper. Place on a preheated grill or grill pan for about 4 minutes on each side, or until tender.

In a small bowl, combine the goat cheese, parsley leaves and lemon juice, mashing with a fork.

Put ½ teaspoon of the cheese mixture about ½-inch from the end of a zucchini slice. Top with a few spinach leaves and 1 small, or half a large, basil leaf. Roll up and place seam side down on a platter. Repeat with the rest of the zucchini slices.

*To appease my carnivore husband and take the extra step to ensure that they're not too good for you, I sprinkled some cut up cooked bacon in with the cheese. I much preferred it without.

Now, what to do with all these acorn squash...

Confessions of a Thriftstore Junquie

I have a confession to make. I've been a junquie for years. My addiction is so strong, sometimes I find myself rushing off during my lunch hour to get a fix. The area in which I live enables me greatly I'm afraid, because there is such easy access... on just about every street corner.

No, no no. I'm not a junkie... I'm a junquie. There's a difference! For starters, it's perfectly legal in all 50 states. Secondly, it's a relatively cheap habit, which is perhaps what makes my addiction so deeply satisfying! Example- You paid WHAT for that Longaberger basket?? TWO dollars??? A salad spinner! For TWENTY-FIVE cents?? Ahhhh. A high like no other. Do I really need another Longaberger basket? Probably not, but for less than the price of a gallon of gas, it's most certainly worth it.

I do not ever anticipate checking into rehab. Thrift store shopping is so gratifying, and the possibilities are endless. I'm torn on trying to convince others of it's pleasures, only because I want to save all the thrifted goodies for myself. But, on the other hand, I think there are many who could benefit, and perhaps break their own Macy's addiction. Or even (gasp!) Target.

But I'll try. Here's a list of why thrifting has such a tight grasp on me:

1. Cost. Obviously. Duh.
2. I feel like a Pirate searching for lost treasure. And I've found quite a few on my quests. Savvy.
3. Reliving a childhood memory. Once I came across some old Butterick patterns that made me think of all the sewing my Mom did when I was younger. It's just nice to be reminded of something simple, but purposeful.
4. Finding something I've thought I'd lost. Through the years and the many moves, I've lost things. Through the years thrifting, I've found a lot of those things again.
5. Finding something like Grandma had. Often I come across things that I remember either of my Grandmothers having. I can't look at a certain Correlle dish pattern and not smile, thinking of Grandma K's old dishes. It's fun to pick these kinds of things up, I love using older dishes and serving ware. And I keep my hen-in-a-nest full of Hershey Kisses, just like Grandma did!
6. Inspiration. It's easy to look at something and think, "well, that shelf sure is ugly", and move on. But certain things can just pop out at me, and instead I think "well, that shelf sure is ugly but a with a little paint and decoupage it would be perfect for the hallway!"
7. Big names. Little price tags. I'm not really a name dropper. I don't care if a purse is Coach or Kmart. But once in awhile, I'll find something that can knock my thrifted Couture stockings off. Like a $2 ladies Rolex watch at a Salvation Army store in Show Low, Arizona. Just ask my friend Dyan.
8. You never know who you might come across in a thrift store! I've seen all types... those who thrift out of necessity (I believe it necessary for all of us, regardless of which tax bracket we fall into), those who thrift for particular collections or specific items, and those who, like me, just love the thrill of the hunt.
9. Discontinued items. Thrift stores are great for finding things you wish you had bought when they were available, because no one is selling them anymore! This is the case with some Tupperware I've come across in recent months. I checked on EBay, so the 75 cents I paid for the divided storage tray with lid and detachable handle was definitely worth the cost.
10. Sometimes, I just get lucky. It could be a book, a pair of shoes, the perfect lamp... there are days where I simply come across things I wasn't looking for, didn't need, or hadn't even realize existed. Or I find another cup to replace the one I've broken in my favorite set. You just never know.

So there. I've laid it all out on the line. I've shared with you my fixation for Junque, and instead of asking for your forgiveness, I'd rather ask that you join me some Saturday morning. Confession really is good for the soul- now I've got to get going because the DePaul store closes in an hour!

Recipe of the Week; BLUEBERRY CRUMB CAKE

Summer just naturally makes me crave berries of all sorts. Growing up, we lived amongst wild blueberry patches, and I remember Mom and I taking our pails into the woods where we would find bush after bush of the little plump berries. We would spend the early morning hours tediously picking (and munching), and we'd bring home berries by the bucketload.

She used them for all sorts of goodies, like blueberry preserves and pies. And of course we had handfuls to toss in our breakfast cereal or use to cook up some flapjacks.

I haven't been able to pick any fresh berries lately, but luckily they're in abundance around here at local fruit stands and in the supermarket. I picked up a pint of berries last week, some of which I used in this delicious cake recipe I got from one of my favorite chefs- Ina Garten.

I tweaked mine ever-so-slightly; her streusel doesn't call for oats but I really like the texture it added. Also, I didn't have any lemons on hand, so I added a small splash of lemon concentrate instead. The recipe suggests unsalted butter, but I used sweet cream butter and it turned out fine. I just reduced the amount of salt it calls for.

It was a great Saturday morning treat, perfect with my morning tea on a sweet summer morning. Unless you just don't like blueberries, you cannot be disappointed with this recipe!

INGREDIENTS

For the streusel:

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup quick cooking oats (not instant)

(if you choose to not use oats, add an extra cup of flour)

For the cake:

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 extra large eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2/3 cup sour cream

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 9-inch round baking pan.

For the streusel:

Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in the butter, then the flour and oats. Mix well and set aside.

For the cake:

Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Reduce the speed to low, adding the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla, lemon zest, and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on high speed, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Toss about a tablespoon of flour to the blueberries and mix gently. Add the berries to the batter, fold gently through the batter with a spatula to ensure that the batter is completely mixed.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out with a knife. With your fingers, crumble the streusel topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting. Serve sprinkled with confectioners sugar, if desired.

The Migh-Tea Table

Okay, so I've ToTally outdone myself with the "T's This Time. It is, after all, my favorite leTTer of the alphabet AND my favorite drink. So, I'm Talking about what?

Let me begin by saying I came across the cuTest Table at a garage sale this weekend. It's the perfecT size for my dining room. Not Too Tall, or Too Tiny. But as most garage sale Treasures do, it needed a little T L C.

Thus the dash to Home Depot for painT, then off to JoAnn Fabrics, where I spoTTed the most Terrific Toile!! I'm ToTally mad about Toile!

I began my Task by lighTly sanding and then repainTing the chairs in an heirloom whiTe. The chairs, as I bought Them were slighTly scuffed, and the previous painter was sloppy. It's okay- I love spray painT! I went over them with a coaT of the anTique shade of whiTe, giving them a much needed facelifT. Oooh, how preTTy they are now! I also decided to glaze over the paint to make it look even more anTiqued.

I painTed the base of the Table as well, covering up the ivy stencil. Whew. Much beTTer! I roughed up the edges of the chairs and Table base to enhance their primiTive qualiTy with some fine griT sandpaper...

Then the exciTment begins! I Took my Toile and soaked it in cooled, brewed Tea for only a few Tender minutes! Look- insTanT vinTage! After it dried overnight, I simply recovered the seaTs. Look what Tea can do to insTanTly age some fabric! Left is after staining, right is how is looked when I brought it home.

Four seaT cushions finished... Time for securing to the base!

Now LOOK at this Terrific Table! Totally, uh,... Toni! (I've run out of "T" adjectives) But if you know me at all, I'm certain you'll agree "Toni" is an appropriate adjective in describing my Table!

How I love my new Tea Table featuring Tea-Tinted Toile painTed anTique whiTe!

Recipe of the Week; BIRTHDAY PENNE

I had the most scrumptious penne dish for my birthday this past June. It didn't come from any restaurant, and it wasn't made especially for me by my husband (who is an excellent cook, by the way!) because as usual he was working well into the evening.

Craving something a little more exciting than an every day weeknight meal, I left work early and stopped by the supermarket for inspiration. Just browsing the isles is all it takes to for me to come up with an idea. I decided pasta was in order, penne in particular as it's my favorite. This is what I literally threw together, and it worked out deliciously! It made a ton of food, so much that I ended up freezing half of it. Of course, you could always just cut the recipe in half. Also, it is important to note that the butter and olive oil measurements are only suggestions. You could go lighter or heavier, depending on your preference.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup butter

1 medium onion, diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 lb. box penne

1 lb. frozen precooked shrimp

1 lb. Polish sausage, sliced into rings about 1/4-inch thick

1 bag frozen vegetables (the bag I chose included snap peas, broccoli, mixed peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, carrots and cauliflower)

1 can chicken stock

1 lemon, for juice OR about 2 teaspoons lemon concentrate (less or more, according to your preference)

shredded Parmesan chesse

handful fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped

salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried oregano to taste

Place frozen in shrimp in large bowl of cold water to thaw. It only takes a few minutes. Drain in colander and set aside.

Bring large pot of salted water to a boil, add penne and cook to al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving at least 1 cup of the hot water.

While penne is boiling, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. (You will be adding everything to this pan, so make sure it's a big one!)

Add sliced sausage, onion and garlic, saute for a few minutes. Add frozen vegetables, 3/4 can of the chicken stock, the juice of the lemon, salt, pepper, oregano and garlic powder. Put a lid on skillet to allow vegetables to thaw. After the vegetables are thawed, add drained penne and shrimp.* You can add more butter or olive oil, additional stock, or some of the reserved pasta water to get the consistency in the sauce that you prefer, if it's too dry or not flavorful enough for your preference. It's important to TASTE the penne while it's in the skillet, before and after you've added your seasonings and additional liquids! Mix well, put the lid back on and allow to heat through.

Once everything is at an equal temperature, sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro and a large handful or so of grated Parmesan.

We ate this with some homemade garlic toast, and forewent a salad because the penne already had a ton of veggies mixed in!

*I pulled the shrimp tails off before adding them to the skillet, but you don't have to.

Even if it's not your birthday or someone else's, this is great "anytime" sort-of recipe. And it's ready in about a half and hour or so.

The Best Things in Life Really Are Free!

This recession has my purse strings drawn together so tightly, I have a bear of a time opening them just to find my chapstick!

Upon moving into the new place last fall, I discovered that buying everything desired will take some time and some serious scouring through thrift stores and discount outlets. Remember, I'm a cheapskate. Or, well, I prefer to just be called frugal!

My cousin turned me on to Freecycle, a resource for things on the best side of cheap- try ABSOLUTELY free! (Move over, Craigslist!)
What is Freecyle- you ask? In short it's a network of amazing people who, instead of throwing something curbside, offer it to group members for absolutely nothing. Like what?- is your next question. To answer, anything you can think of, really. Furniture and household items, empty boxes, baby formula, (unopened and not expired, as those are the rules with food items). Even trees dug up from someone's yard have been offered! One major Freecycle rule, however- you cannot offer animals or people. Good idea.

What are the other rules? Well, no firearms, nor advertisements for services, no alcohol or medications, etc. No selling. Period. Everything must be freely given away, no string attached. No bartering or trading. You must go and pick up the items, nothing can be shipped or delivered.

Freecycle groups are designated to a cluster in a particular area, so all the items offered are within a short driving distance from where you live. Makes sense, I surely wouldn't want to drive to Dallas just to pick up some free end tables.

It's very simple to join Freecycle. Look it up at http://freecycle.org/ to see if there is a group where you live. Sorry if there isn't, but if a group hasn't been initiated in your area, consider moderating your own group!

Now, if you're just out to get something for nothing, Freecycle isn't for you. In order to be a member, you must also give stuff away. I've found Freecycle to be a wonderful outlet for finding a new home for mismatched dishes, my son's outgrown clothes and baby things, boxes of paper I had no need for, and a large 1960's console radio that took up too much space in my dining room. As I unpack boxes from the move (yes, still...) I continue to find things that I don't need or want, but so far everything I've offered has been claimed!

That's the beauty of Freecycle, often your would-be trash becomes someone else's new found treasure. Just imagine the things that ordinarily would have gone to the landfills!

And YES- I've inherited some of my own treasures as well. Most notably my storage cabinet for the basement that I've been eyeing at Lowe's for months! And to think I almost paid $200 for one brand new, when Larry across town needed to get rid of his!

I also picked up a great little desk for my son's room. With a little TLC and a can of black spray paint- voila! I also landed a great poinsettia cookie jar, brand spankin' new and still in it's original box, as it was an unwanted Christmas present from someones evil Mother-in-Law. Along with the jar came the story... the secrets we Freecycler's share!

On the charitable side of things, I've come across many an offer for gently used furniture that I've passed on to my tenants, many of whom are happy just to have it.

Offeree's always appreciates the fact that their beloved castaway will be used and cared for by a grateful recipient, and not someone who would turn around and try to make a buck of their generosity.

Which, by the way, is horribly offensive to any Freecycler, not to mention strictly forbidden according to the Freecycle rules and code of conduct!

So, whether you're giving or looking to receive, consider joining the Freecyle network... lighten your load, and make a few friends along the way!

*Side note- the day I wrote this blog entry I picked up a great 7-shelf plant stand. Score! :)

Recipe of the Week; WILD ABOUT RADISH GREENS

Recently my Mom gave me a heaping helping of radishes from her garden. Growing up, I ate radishes on a regular basis, especially during the summer when they were fresh from the garden. Often, we would eat radish sandwiches. It may not sound so appealing, but believe me- it's quite the contrary. My Grandma K baked homemade bread daily, I think, and fresh bread is what makes this yummy summer lunch just perfect.

To make the sandwich, simply spread a generous amount of real butter onto fresh white bread. Slice radishes into thin slices and layer over the buttered bread. Shake on a little salt and pepper, top with another slice of bread, and you've got yourself a country delicacy!

Having eaten radishes so often however, I was not aware until just recently that the green part was also a tasty treat. Wanting to use up all the greens in a creative way, I researched recipes for Radish Greens Soup, and eventually pulled ideas and ingredients from several which became my final version. My five-year-old actually LOVED it (I think it may have been the crazy green color), but at any rate he's been asking me to make it again. I just love that my son has a palette for particular flavors... it makes trying new recipes so much fun for us all!

Don't be scared- just try it!



INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup green onions (white and green parts), chopped
3 medium potatoes, diced
6 radishes (stems and tips removed), diced
2 1/2 cups radish greens, chopped*
5 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In stockpot, saute the onions in olive oil for about two minutes, or until the onions are tender. Stir in the potatoes and diced radishes and toss over medium heat for a few minutes. Add the stock, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer with lid on for 20 minutes. Add the radish greens and simmer for another 10 minutes.

When ready to serve puree the soup lightly with an immersion blender, or with regular blender a few cups at a time. Allow the soup to retain some chunky texture from the potatoes. Stir in the butter and cheese; ladle into soup bowls and top with any or all of the following garnishes, if desired.

GARNISH

• 4 raw radishes- minced and marinated in a few drops of balsamic vinegar. Prepare this prior to starting soup to allow radishes to absorb flavor.
• Homemade croutons- slice stale bread into one inch pieces. Melt butter in skillet and toss bread in butter, allowing to brown all over. Season lightly with garlic salt. Drain on paper towels before adding to soup.
• Additional Parmesan cheese
• Sprinkle of lemon zest

*Be certain to wash greens thoroughly. Remove any brown or damaged areas.

My husband, who cannot eat a meal without any kind of meat, suggested I should add pieces of ham. I can't bring myself to take away from the natural radish flavor, so I refuse to do it. If you get the urge to add meat, let me know how it turns out.

Curious About The Old Curiosity Shop

Sometime around 1998 or 1999, I came across a peculiar set of dishes that piqued my curiosity. I was meandering through a little antique store in Gallup New Mexico, looking primarily for old school textbooks, as this store kept a nice stock of such.
I paid $100 for all of them- they were not quite a complete set, but more like 2 or three mismatched sets, because I came away with 10 dinner plates, but 12 cups and 13 saucers. This box also included bowls of two styles, one butter dish and one creamer, and two larger platters with "handles" on either side. Curiouser and curiouser.

Around this time, my adventures in antique stores and thrift shops were really at the preschool level. I was just starting to learn about the different brands and types of dishes that were popular for collectors. I had never seen these before, and what caught my eye perhaps more than anything was the way they matched, but each piece offered a different picture on the front, some with a scene from winters in Victorian England, while others, such as the saucers, offered only a simple picture of a metal coffee pot, or of a Grandfather clock. Which, by the way was an illustration in Master Humphrey's Clock, the serial which was published weekly by Charles Dickens. I also enjoyed the dingy, grayish-green color that they are. Not a bright, cheery green, but more of a dull, dreary green. If Dickens' novel The Old Curiosity Shop was a color, this would be it. Poor Nell.
Through the years, I've collected pieces to add to this collection here and there- a sugar bowl in Scottsdale Arizona, and two larger serving bowls at the Goodwill in Gallup. Just this past week I came across nine pieces, different sized plates, and one cup- selling for $24 for all at the Fleatique in North Huntingdon. Seeing these pieces revived my interest in these dishes once again.

I've often wondered what the story was behind these dishes. When were they made, in the 1800's? (Only during the last decade, as The Old Curitosity Shop was published in the 1880's) Early 1900's? 1930, 40, 50??? What other pieces were out there, that I didn't have in my collection? Oh, hope of all hopes there was a teapot! I decided to do a little online research, to which I found little information. I came across a couple sites offering individual pieces for sale. I was quite surprised to see a set of salt and pepper shakers for sale on EBay for $45. And yes- there IS a teapot! My research did result in something else very interesting...

These are my "Wish-List" pieces- I'm on the hunt! I just can't seem to bring myself to order them online- but, you know me and teapots- I just may cave! The tiered plate is selling for as much as $90! I've also come across a site selling empty boxes for $25!

The dishes were manufactured in the 1950's, so they're not as old as I originally thought. They were made by Royal China company in Sebring, Ohio, and designed by Gordon Parker. The dinnerware was not sold as a full boxed-set that included cups, plates and bowls, but rather as individual sets of each item, such as a box of four plates, or a box of four cups, etc. They also manufactured separate serving pieces (such as my precious teapot and the casserole dish I spotted online!) as well as advertising and decorative pieces to compliment the dinnerware. I read that occasional promotional pieces were offered and individual pieces of the dinnerware were given away with products such as laundry soap. I am unclear if the Old Curiosity Shop was one such pattern by Royal China that was given away with the purchase of laundry soap.

Royal China sold their dinnerware through retail department stores, catalog mail order, and supermarket chains, most notably the A&P, which I remember. I'm not certain if A&P's still exist, but we had one in our little town were I grew up in western PA, and I remember visiting the huge one near Grandma H's house in West Orange, New Jersey. Yes, I'm that old.

What I really found out to be interesting however, was the ownership of the Royal China company at the time of The Old Curiosity Shop's manufacturing. It was bought out by the Jeannette Glass Corporation.

Bear in mind, I first purchased the bulk of my dishes in New Mexico. I've collected pieces in other states. The Jeannette Glass Corporation is located in Jeannette, Pennsylvania which is east of Pittsburgh. I have worked in the city of Jeannette since last November. All these years, I have enjoyed my dishes, but often I have wondered where they originated and what their story was. And now I end up spending eight hours of my day less than a mile from where they were originally manufactured! Talk about coming full circle! The irony of that curiosity! I would like to visit the glass company some day, perhaps I can get more detail on The Old Curiosity Shop line of dinnerware.

My curiosity has been satisfied... for now.