Archive | August, 2012

What We’re Doing for Fun This Summer: Using our group buying deals

6 Aug

Do you use Groupon? How about Living Social?

There are lots of group buying websites; sites where special deals are offered if enough people purchase them. The two I use most are Groupon and Living Social.

Excited to be at our Mystery Ride destination!

Because our funds are particularly limited in the summer months, I look throughout the year for things that I can use for our summer fun. Earlier this spring I found a Living Social deal for a local historic spot nearby and I purchased it. The deal gave us a one-year membership to Coggeshall Farm in Bristol, RI which is a historic working farm complete with horses, chickens, turkeys, a vegetable garden and much, much more.

We used our Living Social Deal a few weeks ago to take our kids on our latest Mystery Ride. I also knew that there was a letterbox on the Coggeshall Farm property and the kids were excited to find it.

I had never been to Coggeshall Farm but from the description online, I thought it would be right up my kids’ alley, and I was so right. They absolutely loved it and we had a blast.

Finding the eggs which had been laid by the chickens on the farm was a thrill for the kids. They were so proud to bring in the basket with eggs in it.

I must admit, it was very cool to be able to pet a chicken.

From petting a chicken to finding their eggs in the nests, the first time experiences that the kids got at this farm were invaluable. They couldn’t wait to help out with the farm “chores,” which we found completely surprising since they’re not usually so excited to help out with our house chores. After collecting the eggs and bringing in firewood for the kitchen fire, they checked out the farm’s garden and the rest of the farm property.

Learning about life on the farm was fascinating.

After we’d seen everything on the farm and done the chores, , we moved on to the letterbox hunt, which was a success, adding a new stamp to our book. We ended the day with a picnic lunch by the water nearby. It was a perfect day for a picnic, a perfect day for being near the ocean and we took advantage of being outdoors on such a gorgeous summer day.

If you live in the area, I’d recommend a visit to Coggeshall Farm, and if you haven’t tried out the group buying websites, I recommend them as well. They’re great for introducing you to places and ideas that you might not have thought of on your own and the deals are well worth the money, in my experience.

Grandma Willis’ Peach Cobbler

3 Aug

Peaches are one of our favorite summer fruits.

I love baking in the summertime because there are so many fruits to bake with. One of my favorite summer recipes is from Don’s Grandma Willis and I try to make it every summer at least once.

We visited Don’s grandparents in August of 1994 and had her Peach Cobbler there for the first time. I’ve made it ever since, and every time I do, we think of Grandma Willis.

I serve this with ice cream and/or whipped cream, whatever your preference is.

GRANDMA WILLIS’ PEACH COBBLER
INGREDIENTS

FILLING

6-8 large peaches, peeled and sliced

2 and 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

3/4 to 1 cup sugar

CRUST

1 cup all purpose flour

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 tsp. baking powder

1 cup sugar

2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
DIRECTIONS

Combine peaches, cornstarch and sugar.

Pour into a greased 13×9 baking dish.

Combine all ingredients for crust EXCEPT egg whites in mixing bowl.

Gently fold egg whites into batter.

Spread over peaches.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and peaches are bubbly.

Yield: 12 servings

Thanks to Liz in NJ for sharing her photo with us of Grandma Willis’ Peach Cobbler!

What’s For Dinner Wednesday: Asparagus Polonese

1 Aug

Asparagus: always looking for new ways to prepare it!

Earlier this year I posted about asparagus and the fact that I needed to find some new ways to prepare it since my family liked it so much. I also noted in that post that I’d long forgotten about a recipe my mom used to make when we had asparagus at home growing up. I promised that when I made it, I’d post it.

In keeping with that promise, here is my mom’s recipe for Asparagus Polonese, which got thumbs up from my family when I made it earlier this summer. It’s not something I’d make all the time because of all the butter in it, but it’s a great way to mix things up when you’re looking for some variety in your meals.

ASPARAGUS POLONESE

Simple ingredients are all that’s needed for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound asparagus

5 Tablespoons melted butter or margarine

1 mashed hard cooked egg yolk

1 and 1/2 Tablespoons bread crumbs
DIRECTIONS

Place butter in a small frying pan.

When hot, add mashed yolk and bread crumbs.

Cook two minutes.

Pour over steamed (or sauteed) asparagus, serve immediately.

Make sure you have a hard boiled egg for use with this recipe!