Making Pickles

When I was a young girl and my mother go and pick beans and snap beans or shell peas I decided that when I was grown I would not do that stuff again.
It is so amazing that the things that you said you were not going to do when you were young are the the things that you are doing when you are grown.
My husband planted a garden and I told him that it was his thing and I didn't want to have anything to do with it. Well guess what?
I am the one stuck with dealing with what comes from the garden.
He planted cucumbers and he wanted some dill pickles and so I made some ....



My next project is some bread n butter pickles. If anyone has a recipe for them

I would appreciate it. I told my husband that I am not guaranteeing how they will taste but I tried. I will let you know after we try them.

Well talk to you later.
Ladyhawkcj

IRISH SODA BREAD

Corned beef and cabbage isn't the only traditional holiday favorite on St. Patrick's Day.
While St. Patrick himself never had the pleasure of tasting such a sweet delight (soda bread didn't exist in Ireland until the 1840s when bicarbonate soda was introduced) it's now often served with meals.

Many argue that "real" soda bread consists of only flour, buttermilk or sour milk, salt and baking soda. Once you add raisins, it becomes "The Spotted Dog." Likewise, the caraway seeds, whiskey and furit turn the bread into "cake", and are found in America, not Ireland. Still, here are a few recipes, whichever way you prefer!

Sweet Irish Soda Bread
Courtesy of the Food Network
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
1 egg, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup currants
2 tablespoons toasted caraway seeds
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon sanding sugar

Instructions:
First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and mix it well. Cut the butter and shortening into small pieces. Add the flour. Now, using your fingers, work the butter and shortening into the flour mixture until it looks like crumbs. Add the buttermilk, currants and caraway seeds and mix them into the flour mixture as well. Turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead until the dough forms a ball. Grease a loaf pan and place the dough in the pan, then making sure to score the top of the loaf with a knife. Brush the top of the loaf with melted butter (yum!). Sprinkle some sanding sugar and place the loaf in the oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until you see it turn a golden brown

Valentine Lowfat Cookies

If you're looking for a low-calorie, fat-free treat this Valentine's Day, then try these light meringue cookies. For best results, separate the eggs while cold, make sure not a speck of yolk contaminates them, and leave the whites for 20 minutes or so before beating them. Make sure the whisks and bowl are entirely clean and free from grease before use.
INGREDIENTS:
3 egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 cup superfine sugar
Red food coloring
Red sprinkles
PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper.
Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until foamy.

Add cream of tartar and continue beating egg whites until the soft peak stage
Gradually add sugar, a tablespoon or two at a time, beating well after each addition.

Mix until all the sugar has been added and the egg whites are stiff and glossy.

Add a few drops of red food coloring and stir to make the egg whites pink.

Drop by the tablespoon onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, or, with the help of a small heart-shaped cookie cutter, make heart shape meringues -- spoon the meringue inside the cookie cutter, and push down with the spoon as you lift the cookie cutter, then repeat for each cookie.

Bake for 1 hour. Switch off oven, and leave in the oven for 2-3 hours

Makes about 24-30 cookies

Per cookie: Calories 26, Calories from Fat 0, Total Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 8mg, Carbohydrate 6.2g, Fiber 0g, Protein 0.4g

To get more lowfat Recipes go to
http://lowfatcooking.about.com