Jolene's Recipe Journal

I have a huge upright freezer that I vowed to use better in 2017. I prepped a lot of recipes back in August, and I have been working through them over the last few months. I first made this back when I could get to my grill outside, and the guys devoured it before I could even reach for the camera.  Now, the grill is buried under a few inches of snow and ice, so I prepared this batch on an indoor grill.  Not as pretty to photograph, but still tastes amazing!

It's #NationalCupcakeDay! We are big fans of cupcakes here, especially around the holidays.  There are so many flavors to choose from! I saw these Yuletide Eggnog Cupcakes on the Taste of Home website, and I couldn't wait to try them.

I hope you are enjoying #ChristmasCookies Week, I know I am! I've already changed my holiday baking list three times, and I'm sure I'll be adding to it again.  These Chocolate Marshmallow Meltaways from Taste of Home have definitely been added to the list!

My guys could eat chocolate chip cookies every day, and I'm always looking for fun spins on them.  I found my second recipe for #ChristmasCookies week on the Taste of Home website. 

How fitting that we are kicking off Christmas Cookies Week on #NationalCookieDay!  I am so excited about all the amazing recipes that are going to be shared this week. 

Am I the only one that enjoys #ThanksgivingLeftovers more than the main meal itself? We eat around mid-day, and by the time I prep, set the table, and cook, I really am just looking forward to sitting down with my family, the food is secondary.

I've fallen into a bit of a rut when it comes to veggies.  Green beans and corn, corn and green beans.  I like lots of vegetables raw, but I'm trying to expand my base of cooked veggies.  I found this recipe in Taste of Home's Holidays & Celebrations cookbook.  This is the 3rd recipe I've tried, and they've all been winners.

  I've been trying to eat a little bit healthier, and one of my biggest struggles has been game day.   Last week I talked about my Fall Special Delivery Box from Taste of Home, and I found this recipe in the included cookbook, Holidays & Celebrations. 

  I just love fun mail days!  And there's nothing more awesome than the arrival of a Special Delivery box from Taste of Home. They're offered four times a year, and each one comes packed with fun gadgets and tasty items, plus the trusted recipes that you expect from the Taste of Home family.

Happy Halloween!  Weather's been a bit nuts here in New England, rain, heavy winds. We were without power for quite a while on Monday, and I had to toss most of my treat plans out the window.  Luckily, these Ultimate Oreo Caramel Apples come together in no time at all, and in a pinch, you can melt the caramels and chocolate on a gas grill.

The weather in New England has been absolutely amazing the last few weeks.  Mornings start off on the cooler side, and I've been enjoying my coffee on the patio, watching the leaves fall. 

Where does the time go?  I can't believe it's mid-October! I finally feel like I'm getting a handle on my fall schedule. The name of the game the last few months has been "easy." Freezer meals, quick-to-whip up side dishes.

  A few years back, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone with an Apple Cider Beef Stew , and it was a huge hit.  Could I possibly do it again? I went back and forth between a chili and a stew several times before I finally chose the stew.  Things got a little hectic, the weather shifted on me, and suddenly I found myself, down to the wire, trying to get it together.  

  Slowly, but surely, I am conquering my fear of yeast! I've had a copy of this recipe in my to-try binder for what seems like forever.   When I was planning my #AppleWeek out, I decided it was time to just do it.   I chose a relatively warm, no-plans-to-go-anywhere Saturday, and hoped for the best.

  We drive 2 hours into Maine to visit a fast food chicken chain.  The main reason for that is the chicken, of course, but a close second to that is their amazing apple pies.  They still fry them, and then coat them in cinnamon sugar while they are still hot.  So, so good. I saw this recipe on the Taste of Home website, and I knew right away my guys would love them. I used salted butter instead of unsalted, and I used a 4" biscuit cutter.  Be very, very careful not to overfill.  They will bust open and make a mess. I like parchment paper instead of greasing the sheets. I put the cinnamon sugar mix into a small paper bag. When the hand pies came out of the oven, I brushed them with the butter, and then dropped them into the bag, one at a time, and shook gently. These went so fast, I had to make a second batch 2 days later!  Thank you so much to Edwina G. for sharing her recipe. I hope you are enjoying #AppleWeek as much as I am, be sure to ch...

There are days in September that even though the calendar says it's fall, the thermometer screams summer!  This recipe is perfect for those days.  Very little prep, very little grilling time.  . I made a lot of little modifications.  I don't do cilantro, so I used parsley. Someone drank the last of the OJ, so I used apple cider instead.  This is a sponsored post. I received products to use in recipes for this event.  All opinions are my own. Due to nut allergies, I don't keep walnuts in the house, so I used sunflower seeds instead.  Pumpkin seeds would be awesome too!  I omitted the cheese.  You really just can't go wrong with this one.  For a more filling dish, use the same dressing on chicken and grill it too. Thank you so much to Paul S. for the recipe! I just am amazed with all the great dishes the others have come up with this week, I thought I had a great collection of apple recipes going, but I'm adding to it like craz...

Welcome to #AppleWeek 2017!! When I hear the song, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" I don't think of the holidays, I think of fall.  Cooler weather, beautiful foliage, and APPLES! They are my absolute favorite fruit. Apples are the second most used ingredient in my kitchen. You can eat them any time of the day, in sweet or savory ways. 

Farms are BURSTING with zucchini around here.  I love it, because I am stocking the freezer with so many great treats.  I've already made Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins , and Zucchini Raisin Cookies .  I've probably got another 2 or 3 recipes printed.

It's getting to be that time of year when everyone with a garden is overflowing with zucchini. I do not have a green thumb, but I know that I never leave the farm without 6 to 8 good sized zucchini in my shopping bag.   While I do enjoy some savory dishes made with zucchini, what really goes over best here is baked goods.

I struggle to come up with side dishes when the temps rise.  The guys could eat corn every day, but I'm always looking for something different to try.  I found this recipe on the Taste of Home website, among some other great "make ahead" salad recipes.   

I've only been grilling pizza for a few years, and I wish I'd discovered it sooner.   It's so simple, and anything that keeps me from having to turn on the oven and warm up the house during the summer is a winner in my book.

Today is #National Zucchini Day!  I never leave the farm without at least a half dozen zucchini.   Though I've made some savory dishes, what I make most often is desserts.  This is the first time I've ever used it to make cookies, but it definitely won't be the last!

One of the best parts of summer is the variety of local produce that's available.   We have a short growing season in New England, so we try to get out to the farms at least once a week.   I have a "never say no to a fruit or vegetable" policy with my son.  If he wants to try it, I'll buy it and fix it. 

Every summer I say that I'm going to make homemade pickles and it just never seems to get done.   I was so excited to find this recipe for a spicy pickle that starts with store bought!   I originally made the recipe as written, but when I snuck a taste about 6 days in, I wanted some more heat.  I added an additional teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.  These are great on burgers.   The only negative thing I can say about this recipe is waiting the week for them to be ready was torture!  Thanks so much to Myra I. for sharing it! Fire & Ice Pickles Print With Image Without Image Yield: 3 pints Author: Jolene's Recipe Journal Ingredients 2 jars dill pickle slices or spears, 32oz each 4 cups sugar 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes 3 garlic cloves, peeled Instructions Drain and discard juice from pickles. In a large bowl, combine pickles, sugar, pepper sauce and pepper flakes; mix well. Cover and ...

If I had to choose just one berry to eat for the rest of my life, it would be blueberries.   They can be used in such a variety of ways, from pancakes to BBQ sauce.   We celebrate #NationalBlueberryMonth by eating them as many different ways as we can, along with stocking the freezer for all the other months of the year.  

Corn is one vegetable I know my family will eat without complaint.  Green beans are another, so when I found this dish combining the two, I immediately put it on the menu.    I've probably made it a half dozen times already, and it always disappears. Corn season is coming up soon, and I plan on using fresh and will adjust the cooking time.   If you aren't a fan of thyme, try basil or parsley.

Yesterday was National Blueberry Picking Day, and we are big fans of blueberries here.  My grandmother used to have 150 blueberry bushes and would sell to the local bakeries and restaurants.  

Strawberry picking kicks off summer for our family.   This year it was delayed a bit by rainy weather, but the wait was absolutely worth it.   I saw this recipe on the cover of April/May 2017 Taste of Home, and I knew it was the first thing I would make when berries were ready.

It's time to #FillTheCookieJar again!   This month we are sharing recipes that are perfect for back to school- whether it's putting them in lunchboxes or as a treat when the kids get home.    I was a bit resistant to this theme, considering we've only just begun our summer vacation here in New Hampshire.   Back to school time has always been difficult for my son when it came to lunches and snacks.   

July is National Ice Cream Month and we are kicking things off with our favorite frozen treats to beat the summer heat!

Ah, vacation.  For us, that means sleeping in, nowhere to be unless we want to go there.  It also means being able to prepare breakfast instead of just a quick bowl of cereal or muffin on the way out the door.  I've been collecting breakfast recipes for weeks.  I've never made anything but traditional pancakes, so I was excited to give these a try. 

School's out and that means my teenage son is home all day, rummaging through the cabinets and fridge, grumbling about being hungry.   I like to keep some sweet and savory things on hand to cover both bases.    Muffins are a go-to.   They come together so quickly, and I can make them when I have time and freeze them.

Disclaimer- This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a selection of Cabot Cheese in order to create an original recipe.  All opinions are my own.  Being from New England, we are huge Cabot fans.   We've toured the Visitor's Center , and there's always some of their products in our fridge.     It was like Christmas in June when my box of cheese arrived.  I knew immediately I wanted to use the Chipotle Cheddar, but what to make?

This week I'm celebrating the 2 year anniversary of becoming a Community Cook for Taste of Home and what better way to do it than with these Stuffed Hash Browns?      

Did you know June is National Dairy Month?  This week I'll be sharing recipes that feature some of our favorite dairy products. I'd like to thank From Gate to Plate and Cooking with Carlee for hosting this event, be sure to check out the recipes they and the other bloggers are sharing via the links at the bottom of the post!

The calendar is telling me that it's the first thursday in June (where did May go?) and that means it's time to #FillTheCookieJar!   This month's theme is Summer, and I had a bit of a hard time getting into the spirit of things.  

Brats are summer staple here and there are so many varieties now.   I tend to buy the links that are 6 to a pack and just need to be heated through because they make for a nice quick meal.   When I saw this recipe created by the Taste of Home Test Kitchen, I knew that I had to make some of that grilled corn relish.

  It's getting to be that time of year when most of my cooking is done outside.   The guys can get sick of the same old burgers and hot dogs pretty quickly, so I'm always looking for new ways to dress them up.   I pinned these Caesar Burgers while back, and waited patiently for the rain to stop so I could make them.   

How can you go wrong with bacon and cheese?  You can't, not at my house!   There are just some recipes that you know will be a hit with your family, and this was one of those.  I had all of the ingredients on hand except the green onions, so I substituted dried chives.   As written, it's a stove top to oven meal, but I had my oven in use for dessert.  

There are so many great dishes associated with Derby Day, like Hot Browns and Mint Juleps, that I had a hard time deciding what to make.  I chose these Angel Biscuits because I love that you can pretty much eat them all day long.  Serve them up at brunch with butter and jam, add some sliced country ham for lunch, pair them alongside stew for dinner.  

I've eaten fried ice cream lots of times, but have never attempted making it at home.   I found this recipe on Taste of Home, and thought it would be fun to make with my son.     While it's not a difficult recipe, it does require a lot of chilling time.  We made ours on a warm day and had to hustle to keep it from melting while coating.  

I've started this post about a dozen times.   This is my first Mother's Day without my mom, and I've been struggling a bit.   She was smart, creative and funny.  She made the most beautifully decorated cakes.   There was always food on the table, but she didn't love to cook the way I do.