Category Archives: Ruth’s Dishes

Hot Out Of The Oven

Sure nice to come in from the woodworking shop and see these sitting on the counter. And of course I had to sample a couple. One for me and one for you. GW

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Hmm, Good!

Here are a few items that I am thinking will be pretty tasty later on today, hovering alongside a freshly perked coffee.

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Supper Last Night

Who needs to go out for pizza when you have a wife that can cook like mine does. I have to tell ya, it sure was tasty.

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Sour Cherry Pie

Desert Last night was a tasty Cherry Pie Made from our very own Montmorency Cherries grown in Niagara, close to where we had our farm. There is no other cherry that makes pies like they do, but it doesn’t stop there, as the Montmorency Cherry has an uncountable amount of health properties in them. Especially for those with Cancer, Gout and Rheumatism, which is what we old timers called Arthritis in the olden days, as the name Rheumatism covers more than one ailment. Today the so-called Powers That Be, broke it up, so they could sell more drugs My opinion only of course. Anyway, I took a picture of how the pie turned out after I had a piece or two. GW

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Lemon Pie Homemade

My lovely wife made desert for us tonight. I’ll have a piece for you.

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Last Night’s Desert

I thought I would share our desert we had for dinner. No Calories What’s So Ever!!

Vanilla Cheese Cake.

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Trying Out Our New Barbecue…..

Supper Last Night

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A Healthy Supper??

Okay, it is questionable. But it sure is tasty, and you only live once. I think!

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Sweet Cucumber Relish

When it comes to food, there’s something truly special about creating your own culinary masterpieces right in the comfort of your own home. One such delight that brings a smile to my face is homemade sweet pickle relish. This simple yet delightful condiment is a perfect example of how a few basic ingredients, along with homegrown cucumbers, can come together to create something utterly delicious.

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Homegrown Zucchini Relish

My lovely wife just got done making up our Zucchini Relish for the cold months ahead. I even snapped a picture of a couple of them lovely jars she filled. She usually whips up ’bout six jars, just enough to keep us well-fed through winter. But every now and again, she gets a hankerin’ to make a few more.

Let me tell y’all, that relish of hers is like a dollop of sunshine on a gloomy day. Come wintertime, when them veggies cost an arm and a leg, and don’t even get me started on the lack of flavor, this relish truly saves the day. It’s like bottlin’ up a bit of summer to enjoy when the world outside is all frosty and gray.

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Garlic

Well, it’s that time of the year when I’m kept quite busy tending to my garlic for the freezing season. What I do is, I first give ’em a good knock to brush off all that dirt, then I snip the tops and the roots. After that, I peel away the outer layers and separate all them cloves. Once that’s done, I tidy things up and start peeling each individual clove. Once I’ve finished that task, I seal ’em up in small bags using the vacuum sealer and pop ’em in the freezer for the winter ahead. They’ll keep well for a good year or even longer, if need be. And you know what’s just wonderful? When we finally use ’em, they taste just as delightful as if they were fresh from the earth. And the cherry on top is that none of ’em go to waste by goin’ bad. Now ain’t that just the best thing you ever heard?

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Garlic Scapes

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For those that haven’t removed their Scapes from the garlic, this is the time to do it. But don’t throw them away, cut them off, bring them into the house, chop them into small pieces and put them in a dehydrator, if you have one. Then once dry take out your coffee grinder and grind them up into a powder and come winter you will have an abundant supply of garlic powder for your soups and stews. There isn’t anything more tasty than them, and not to forget how healthy they are for you. But wait, there’s more! These Scapes aren’t just ridiculously delicious; they’re also great in an Avocado Dip, or you can add them to your Spaghetti dinner with a touch of Olive Oil. Makes me hungry just thinking about them.

Here’s a recipe for an old-time avocado dip with Garlic Scapes:

Ingredients:

  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 1-2 garlic scapes
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: chopped cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Begin by preparing the garlic scapes. Trim off any tough ends and chop them finely.
  2. Cut the avocados in half, remove the pits, and scoop out the flesh into a bowl.
  3. Mash the avocados with a fork or a potato masher until you achieve a smooth consistency.
  4. Add the chopped garlic scapes, onion, tomato, lime juice, cumin powder, salt, and pepper to the mashed avocados. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
  5. Taste and adjust the seasoning as per your preference. You can add more lime juice, salt, or pepper if desired.
  6. If you like a spicier dip, you can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some finely chopped jalapeños.
  7. Once the flavors are well combined, transfer the dip to a serving bowl.
  8. If desired, garnish with chopped cilantro for added freshness and presentation.
  9. Serve the avocado dip with tortilla chips, crackers, or vegetable sticks for dipping.

Bon appétit, my garlic-loving friends!

Desert

I almost forgot desert, apple pie with a nice piece of 4-year-old cheddar cheese.

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Supper Last Night

Can’t beat meat loaf and mashed potatoes!

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What’s For Supper Tonight?

Well I’ll tell ya, hmm … better yet, I will show ya. Homemade Cabbage Rolls.

Homemade Lasagna

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Here is an old time recipe for Homemade Lasagna? With a bit of country humor?

Ingredients:

  • 12 lasagna noodles (or more, if you’re feeling real hungry)
  • 1 pound ground beef (or venison, if you’re feeling extra country)
  • 1 large onion, chopped (or a whole mess of green onions, if that’s what you got)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or a couple of spoonfuls of garlic powder, if you’re feeling lazy)
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes (or a big ol’ jar of homemade tomato sauce, if you’re fancy)
  • 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste (or a couple of spoonfuls of ketchup, if that’s all you got)
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil (or a handful of fresh basil, if you’ve got a green thumb)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or a pinch of salt, if you’re watching your sodium intake)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or a good shake of cayenne pepper, if you like it spicy)
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese, if that’s what you prefer)
  • 2 eggs, beaten (or a couple of duck eggs, if you’re feeling fancy)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or a handful of shredded cheddar, if that’s what you got)
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or a mix of cheeses, if you’re feeling adventurous)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 °F
  2. Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions (or just cook ’em until they’re tender, if you don’t feel like reading). Drain and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef (or venison), onion (or green onions), and garlic until the beef is browned and the onion is tender. Drain any excess fat (or keep it in there if you’re feeling real country).
  4. Add the crushed tomatoes (or homemade tomato sauce), tomato paste (or ketchup), basil (or fresh basil), salt (or a pinch), and black pepper (or cayenne pepper) to the skillet with the beef mixture. Stir well and simmer for 10 minutes (or until it smells good).
  5. In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese), beaten eggs (or duck eggs), and grated Parmesan cheese (or shredded cheddar).
  6. To assemble the lasagna, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish (or whatever size dish you got). Place three cooked lasagna noodles on top of the sauce. Spread a layer of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles, and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese (or whatever cheese you like). Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of meat sauce on top.
  7. Cover the baking dish with foil (or an old pie tin, if you’re feeling resourceful) and bake in the preheated oven (or wood-fired stove) for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, and the lasagna is heated through (or until it smells so good you can’t stand it anymore).
  8. Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy! And remember, if you’re feeling extra country, you can always top it off with a bit of sour cream or a sprinkle of hot sauce.

Old-Fashioned Molasses Cookies

Just downright tasty, if I do say so myself!

Here is an old-fashioned recipe for Molasses Cookies!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup molasses
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground cloves

Directions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until light and fluffy.
  2. Add in the molasses and sugar, and beat until well combined.
  3. Add in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
  6. Cover the dough and chill for at least 1 hour.
  7. Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  8. Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
  9. Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes, until they are set and lightly golden brown.
  10. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

These Molasses Cookies have a soft, chewy texture and a deliciously spiced flavor that will take you back to the olden days. Enjoy!

Hmm, Good!! Lemon Cookies

Here’s an old-fashioned recipe for Lemon Cookies


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
  4. Stir in the lemon juice and zest.
  5. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
  7. Drop rounded teaspoons of dough onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  8. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until lightly golden.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
  10. Serve and enjoy!

Note: This recipe is written in an older style, which may be a bit different from modern recipe writing. Follow all instructions carefully to ensure the best results.

Since It’s May, How About a May Salad

Here is an old recipe for May Salad that you might enjoy:

It is good!

And don’t forget to add a few of them spring Dandelion Leaves!!

Ingredients:

  • 2 heads of lettuce
  • 1 bunch of watercress
  • 4 hard-boiled eggs
  • 1/2 cup of diced celery
  • 1/2 cup of diced radishes
  • 1/2 cup of diced cucumbers
  • 1/2 cup of diced green onions
  • 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup of chopped fresh chives
  • 1/4 cup of mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup of sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Wash the lettuce and watercress and dry them thoroughly. Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and chop the watercress.
  2. Peel the hard-boiled eggs and chop them into small pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, watercress, chopped eggs, diced celery, radishes, cucumbers, green onions, parsley, and chives.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, salt, and black pepper until well-combined.
  5. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
  6. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

This salad is a classic and refreshing dish that has been enjoyed for many years. Feel free to adjust the recipe to your liking by adding or removing any ingredients you prefer. Enjoy!

Meat Loaf Supper Tonight!

Simple but downright tasty!!

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Here’s an old-time recipe for a delicious mixed veggie side dish to complement your homemade meatloaf, sweet potatoes, and aged cheddar cheese:

Ingredients:

  • 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 3-4 large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 °F (200 °C).
  2. In a large bowl, toss together the broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots with the olive oil and minced garlic until evenly coated.
  3. Spread the vegetables out in a single layer on a large baking sheet, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Roast the vegetables in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until they are tender and lightly browned on the edges.
  5. Serve the roasted veggies alongside your homemade meatloaf and sweet potatoes, with a side of aged cheddar cheese, for a delicious and satisfying meal.

Enjoy!