Cooking With The Old Farmer's Almanac
August 1, 2019
August brings “Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day” (August 8). Our advice? Take it! Here are two methods to easily freeze zucchini for year-round use (plus recipes).
Friends, neighbors, coworkers, even some side-of-the-road vegetable vendors will try to give away zucchini. Because once zucchini plants start producing, they are prolific!
Sure you could a LOT of zucchini bread and freeze it for future potlucks.
Or, you could freeze it! You can use frozen zucchini in soups, stews,... more
July 15, 2019
This open-faced blueberry pie is an outstanding summer pie that lets the true flavor of fresh blueberries shine! It comes together in minutes—and the fresh taste is divine.
When the blueberries are ripe for picking, this is my go-to pie. The trick is to barely heat some of the berries so that you retain the fresh flavor. Therefore, the success depends on using fresh berries, not frozen nor out-of-season berries. (If you don’t grow or pick your own berries, buy the berries that are in season... more
June 25, 2019
Learn how to make jam in no time! Here’s a quick and easy berry jam recipe with just two ingredients. Importantly, this simple jam has that naturally delicious, flavor-packed taste that all jam lovers crave.
How to Make Berry Jam
For this home-style recipe, you simply need equal parts berries and sugar. Skip the fruit pectin. Though it helps jam solidify, it can also dilute the natural flavor of the fruit. You may need to cook the fruit a bit longer, but it’s worth it for that old-fashioned ... more
May 29, 2019
Switchel, also known as Haymaker’s Punch, is a refreshing drink made with apple cider vinegar. It was how colonial farmers quenched their thirst out in the hot, sunbaked fields—which is enough of an endorsement for me!
This drink is also called Haymaker’s Punch because it was often drunk while haying—which is hard work!
What is Switchel?
Switchel has a long history as a traditional drink with Colonial Americans. (See History of Switchel.) It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients—apple... more
May 17, 2019
Whether cooking for your family or just for yourself, the Stuffing-Breaded Pork Chops With Pan Gravy is the perfect main dish to make you feel like a fancy chef. At least, that is how I felt making it. And my goodness, was it delicious!
The pork came out crispy on the outside and deliciously juicy on the inside. From now on, I will only use dry stuffing mix for anything that requires breading. The dreamy gravy topping was creamy and peppery and the perfect pair for the pork chops, as well as my... more
May 6, 2019
Our Mint Mango Smoothie is incredibly refreshing—with only five ingredients. If you’re looking for a healthier snack, here’s a great way to start fresh!
We usually make this smoothie in less than 10 minutes. The longest process is cutting and peeling the mango, so it was not that difficult. If you’re vegan, use coconut milk frozen yogurt rather than the real stuff.
Creamy and fruity, this smoothie is great for breakfast along with some oatmeal or as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up. It... more
April 24, 2019
I was at the farmers’ market on an Saturday in mid-April cruising through the rows of vegetables, when I saw something exciting enough to stop me in my tracks. It couldn’t be. It was too early. Could it be? It was. Ramps! And where there are ramps, there’s a Wild Ramps Pesto recipe to be made!
What are Ramps?
Ramps, you might ask? As in the inclined walkway? No, no. Ramps are a plant in the onion family that are also called wild leeks, wood leeks, ramsons, and wild garlic. Scientifically, they... more
September 7, 2018
My husband and a few of his buddies have BBQ meat smokers, so our families get together about four times a year for “Smoke Fests” that involve copious amounts of smoked ribs, chicken, pork, and brisket. This year, we had a new star: Corn Bread With Pine Nuts and Rosemary!
I was thrilled to come across this recipe for corn bread with pine nuts and rosemary in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden-Fresh Cookbook.
And because savory should always be balanced with sweet, I made a big batch of honey... more
June 12, 2018
Next time you think of grilling salmon, add this maple mustard glaze in minutes! The fragrance of sweet maple, tangy mustard, and lively ginger comes together for a great meal.
I eat salmon often, and usually steam it. I don’t know what got me thinking—even dreaming—about maple syrup recently. Could it be that I live in New Hampshire?
With fresh salmon and everything in my pantry needed for this Maple Mustard Glaze recipe, I decided to try it out.
The glaze took only minutes to make. I spread... more
May 7, 2018
This easy roasted asparagus recipe lets the flavor of fresh asparagus really shine.
My parents stopped by our house on their way home on Sunday to drop off a treat: fresh asparagus that had been cut that morning!
Right away, I trimmed the edges and wrapped them in a wet paper towel and put them in a zipper-lock bag in the vegetable crisper in our refrigerator. The ends of asparagus should stay moist (but don’t wash or wet the rest or the asparagus stalk). Watch our video on how to clean,... more
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Here at the Almanac, we love to cook, bake, grill, roast, and eat! We'll show you how to make some delicious recipes.
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