Christmas Cookies

Instead of partaking in Black Friday or Small Business Saturday, Mary Ann and I decided to create our own event.  We called it Black Small Business Friday.  We went to some great places in the Short North and downtown on Gay St.  But my favorite place was our first stop in the German Village.  I recently read another blog about the Bierberg Bakery and knew I had to visit soon.

  It is only open October-December and makes about 25 different German cookies. I also saw some fruit cake and stollen.  The room is dark with a few Christmas knick knacks and has two tables filled with tins brimming with cookies.  The lady we spoke with has a thick German accent and described any cookie we asked about and even let us sample a few.  The cookies are $16 a pound and so far are well worth it.

I wish I could tell you the names of them, but I have no idea.  Most of them contain nuts with a lot containing almonds.  There are also quite a few with raspberry jam.  I am already trying to think of more excuses to go back!  If you go, be mindful that they only take cash and checks and are closed on Sundays.

Bierberg Bakery
729 S. 5th St.
M-F  9-5
Sat. 9-3
443-9959

Making Mozzarella Cheese

I've been wanting to make cheese for quite some time and finally had the ingredients and the time.  Although it doesn't take much of either.  I got a kit from Roaring Brook Dairy.  You can also buy the ingredients at most supermarkets.  The milk came from Snowville Creamery.  There are a few things I would have done differently and the mess I made was really unnecessary.  But next time I will know better.

Heating the milk to 85 degrees.

After adding the rennet and citric acid.

Draining the whey.

More draining and kneading.

Shaping.

Prosciutto...yummmmmm!

                                           

Homemade Chili Powder

At the end of the summer growing season I had a few peppers left that I didn't use.  I've read that you can dry them and make your own chili powder.  As you can see, it didn't make very much. However, if it turns out well, I will plan to make more next year.

Fall in the Backyard

As the weather turns cooler, the backyard begins to prepare for its winter hibernation.  So I was very happy to walk through the backyard this morning and still see signs of life.

Sugar Snap Peas

Purple Cabbage

Beets, Carrots, and Spinach

Red Raspberries

Sage...lots and lots of sage.   

Let me know if you need any for the holidays!

Pumpkin Pancakes

Every 2 or 3 weeks Mary Ann and I shop at Trader Joe's for a few items we like to have on hand.  Last year we were there around Thanksgiving and heard a woman ask a clerk where the pumpkin pancake mix was.  When she found them, she immediately grabbed 7 boxes and seemed VERY happy.  I remember standing there with another customer who saw what happened.  We both looked at each other, knowing exactly what each of us was thinking. "Those must be GOOD!"  We both grabbed a box, smiled at one another, and went home to make pancakes.  Are they good?  Yes.  Believe my hype.  They are delicious. They remind me more of pumpkin bread rather than pumpkin pie.  My favorite part is that I can feel the little tingle that cloves leave on your tongue.

I also learned last year that these are a seasonal item only.  I've looked for them on every visit since then and haven't had any luck..until last week.  I grabbed...and I mean GRABBED, two boxes.  This morning breakfast was awesome.

Fall Grilling

The weather in central Ohio has been incredible this past week.  This evening I decided to fire up the grill again and fix pizza.

Sugar Snap Peas

Mary Ann and I are very excited to see if we can grow some vegetables during the fall.  Today I finally have enough sugar snap peas for each of us to have 10. I think this will be the most they will give us, and now I know that in the spring I will want to plant a lot more.  They are so good!