Sunday, September 4, 2011

50 Pounds of Delight...Welcome to Autumn!

We took the family to the Orchard today for a day of picking. Go figure it was a smolteringly hot day...but, we survived! We managed to pick 50 pounds of delight! We went nuts; it was a BLAST! We picked 25 pounds of courtland apples, 15 pounds of yellow peaches, 10 pounds of pears and 5 pounds of nectarines. I told you we went a little crazy! I wanted to pick the veggie garden also, but the boys ran out of steam. The best part...all this fruitastic delight cost about $25! I know, I can't believe it either!

So, on the menu:
Applesauce
Apple Butter
Apple Turnovers

Peach Butter
Peach Cobbler
Peach Salsa
Frozen Peaches

Pear Sauce
Vanilla Pear Muffins or Pear Cranberry Bread
Canned Pears

Nectarines- not sure th plan for these yet, but we will see if they make it into anything or if I eat them all...they are my absolute FAVORITE!

Plus, I am going to back a few mini loaves of bana bread since I have some super ripe bananas.

I am thinking it is time for some Welcome to Autumn Baskets! for the neighbors! I figure...win them over now before winter comes and I need to make use of their snow blower! Hee hee!

Soy Ginger Back Ribs

Today, we found a particularly good deal on beef back ribs. There were packs of 4-5 big back ribs marked for approximately $2 a pack. I picked up the last 4 packs and knew exactly what was for dinner...

Soy Ginger Back Ribs
1/4c soy sauce
1/2c orange juice (or apple)
1T olive oil
1 1/2t ginger (I forgot to get fresh ginger at the store!)
1/4t chili powder
1/4t red pepper flakes

Put the ribs in a casserole dish. Whisk everything together and pour over the ribs. Bake for 2-2.5 hours at 300 degrees. Baste ever hour for added flavor.
***This would be super easy in a slow cooker too. Mine was in the process of making apple butter so stove it was! Just cook low for 3-4 hours.

Served over a Basmati Pilaf. I made a rice in the rice cooker and added very finely diced zucchini and yellow squash. It was a delicious meal!