Turkey Stew Provençal

Turkey Stew Provençal sounds fancy but cooks up quickly if you have the ingredients on hand. Specifically some leftover turkey from a rotisserie turkey breast picked up at the market the other day.

Dice an onion and sauté it. When nearly done add a minced clove of garlic. Next comes two diced potatoes followed by 2 cups of water and 2 chicken bouillon cubes. Finally add about 1 cup of mixed frozen vegetables. In this case peas, carrots, corn, string beans and Lima beans. For seasoning add 1 tsp. herbes de Provence. Let this simmer while you make up a batch of biscuits. Lunch is done. For dessert: another biscuit with honey on it.

I've been too busy gardening to get fancy with the cooking or even with photography. So for visual interest here's a picture of a vintage potholder.

Patchwork potholder made from cheater cloth. Circa 1930s

Hamburger Helper ephemera

The full name of this little booklet is: Collector's Casseroles, Oven Casserole Recipes From Hamburger Helper, Published in 1977.

General Mills introduce Hamburger Helper in 1971. It was one of the top 10 food fads of the 1970s. Inflation had driven up the cost of beef during this time period and many a housewife was turning to ways to stretch the meat budget. Goodwife Pat says that she used it often back in her earlier years. It was cheap and quick to the table. I never had any but I did once have some Tuna Helper. I can't say that I remember how it tasted.

There are over 40 varieties available and many more that have been discontinued. Click here to go to the Hamburger Helper homepage, for more recipes and information.

Wikipedia has an interesting history of the stuff.

People have tried to make their own to leave out the food coloring, chemicals and cut down on the sodium.

http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/homemade-hamburger-helper/

http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-hamburger-helper-416502

This Hamburger Helper booklet came from a Woman's Day magazine with a 7 cent off coupon on the back page.

Click on the image to get a larger, readable view

Again, click on the image. Most of these recipes look pretty good, but I would be inclined to go to a make your own recipe.

Sticky buns

Here they are: gooey, sticky sweet and delicious cinnamon buns. Thanks to Renee for the recipe. Click here to go get it.

Nice and plump, I think it was the cream cheese frosting that made them so extra good. I added some raisins when I rolled out the dough and I'm thinking some chopped apple would not be amiss.

Cinnamon buns and aprons and other things

Today I planted potatoes and I weeded and mowed and watered. I thought to myself that I just have to take time out to blog.

Which brings me to Renee's recipe for cinnamon buns. I just started the recipe and am blogging in between rises. Reports on the taste test by me and Goodwife Pat will follow, along with pics.

Speaking of Renee she has an apron give away over to her blog which you might like to check out. Pat has written an article on aprons for The Quilter magazine and has also written a web article. I've mentioned aprons a few times and shown some examples of our vintage aprons. I've always been struck by the notion perpetrated by an author of a book on aprons that an apron was likely the last thing our great grandmothers put on for the day and the first thing off at night when all the chores were done. This was before the advent of washing machines in every home and cheap throw away clothing made overseas. Well if you notice my picture on the sidebar you will realize that, Hey, I'm a guy. What am I doing writing about aprons? Well us guys will often don suitably masculine aprons to attend the family barbecue: aprons which may be adorned with comical sayings, but surely not with flowery prints and lace trimming.

I often think that one of my French ancestors must have been a village baker, for I do love pastries and breads. No gluten free diet for me, thank you very much. And yes, sometimes I put on an apron to bake and keep the flour dust and powdered sugar dust off my clothes, and use it to wipe wet hands.

Vintage apron circa late 1920's-1930s. The coarseness of the fabric may indicate it was made from a feedsack.

Bran Muffins

Renee asked for a bran muffin recipe so here's one I've tried and liked.

Mix the following
2 1/2 cups bran
1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup raisins (or chopped prunes if you like)

Add the rest of the ingredients:
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup honey

Mix just until everything is blended and evenly moist. Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake about 15 minutes at 425°

Vintage image of a Bible from a 19th century stamping catalog, possibly used to embroider a Bible cover or carrying case.