Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Showing posts with label Freezing Apples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Freezing Apples. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Freezing Apples ~ Apple Crisp ~ Baking Powder ~ Local Sage Sausage Trial

 


I finally got around to freezing some of our apples.  They are keeping fresh pretty well in the fridge.  By the way, when the directions say to bang your baking sheet on the counter, it really works.  It freed up the frozen apple slices right away, making bagging it easy.


While the apple slices were flash freezing, I baked us an apple crisp.  A different recipe, and one that was actually in my recipe box.  We haven't baked a lot over the years with apples, due to lack of harvest, but this was good.  No brown sugar oddly.  My husband said it "tastes like apple pie."


I made biscuits a few days ago, and realized they did not rise as usual.  I opened my cupboard to check the expiration date on my baking powder and it literally expired the same day.  I have not been using it as much lately.  Note:  be sure to check your label when buying baking powder, as one popular brand contains bio-engineered ingredients.  It's easy to miss when you are shopping.  Our closest store only had two left on the shelves (of non-gmo), and a bunch of the other two brands they carry.




I decided to taste test the local sage sausage, by making us biscuits and gravy.  I have not made it in a long, long time. Anyway, it tasted wonderful!  We are lucky to have a local butcher.  It is more expensive, but it's not like we eat sage sausage every week.  We will be back to stock up on it for winter.

On a side note, the same grocery store was sold out of the organic butter we buy regularly.  I typically freeze some for winter.  I don't know if any other stores carry comparable butter, but I'm now on the hunt for some.  I start my sausage gravy using butter vs. oil.  What do you start your sausage gravy with?

Update on the butter - 2nd store had one box of organic butter, unsalted was sold out.



Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Freezing Apples ~ Learned Something New ~ Apple Crisp ~ Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes

 Something I learned about preserving apples. . .

You can freeze them!  I'm so excited to find this out.  Am I the last to know this method?  If I knew, I have totally forgotten. You can find instructions at Freezing Apples.



I've canned apple pie filling, and canned apple sauce, but never froze any.  I'm keeping these instructions, in case I need to do this.  We do not have a root cellar.  A fridge will keep apples only so long, so I'm sharing this today for those who did not know.


There may not be an apple pie right now, but I managed an apple crisp.  It's smaller, less sugar, and flour carbs for my husband too.  I'm not saying I won't bake a pie, it's just not happening right now.

Honestly, I think these would be a great idea to freeze for those days you just don't have time or don't feel good.   The recipe states you can freeze them up to 2 months.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes (Lemon and Zest recipe online).  It makes 8, and I used 2 small apples from our trees.  It calls for one apple, but I'm dwindling down in supply.

I have found an apple pie (actually several) in one of my pie cookbooks I have.