Tag: salsa

These Long Dogs Days of Summer

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I finally figured out what the saying “dogs days of summer” means.

It means the dogs are living like royalty! They have a 24/7 fresh water baby pool, nice mowed lawn to lay on, a splash pad on demand, shade from the trees to keep them cool, butterflies and grasshoppers to chase, an air conditioned house for tv time, and extra food at dinner because of all the activity. So really August is all about the dog!

Starting In August I spend many mornings going out to the garden right before sunrise to hunt the large  bumble bees, you know those large bumblers that are yellow and black, and super cute. I usually will find them sleeping either on the sunflower heads, or on the leaves of the sunflowers.

This year I have only seen Bob and Brenda the bumblers a few times, they appeared in early spring, staying thru May and early June, then off they went.  I’m thinking they may have gone on a bumbler vacation as they did not return again.

I am looking for them, so I can take their annual portrait, I am a collector of sunflower photos, and want to include Bob and Brenda in as many photos as I can get of the two of them enjoying just being a bee!

Today I found many pollinators, and a few bees, however Bob and Brenda must be in another flower patch in the area.

However I did find a few nice sunflowers for my virtual collection, as they don’t require any water, and I can enjoy them all year.

I will keep everyone updated as the summer lingers on, if Bob and Brenda every circle back and get their 2022 portrait taken!

The big news is this weekend I am getting ready to start canning a few things.

Because the Palisade Peaches and green chilis that are now ready in my area, I am going to put up 12 jars of Peach salsa.

Perfect Peach Salsa

While the salsa jars are boiling, I am going to seal-a meal my whole Olathe Sweet Corn.   I was fortunate enough this weekend to attend the Olathe Sweet Corn festival, and I got my hands on about 2 dozen ears of fresh picked corn.

Freezing corn on the cob

Somewhere during all this kitchen canning and freezing I need to find time to mow the lawn, so the dogs can enjoy the fresh cut grass, and I also need to clean the baby pool, so their water is kept crystal clear !

Enjoy these dogs days, as we all know it doesn’t last forever, only in our hearts.

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Cowboy potatoes with Sausage and Eggs

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One of my favorite foodies sent me this quick, easy and delicious breakfast for dinner recipe.

For this dish,  Cowboy potatoes with Sausage and Eggs, you will need southwest hash browns, yellow onion, polska kielbasa sausage, and Perfect Peach Salsa  or( any sweet salsa will do).

This dish was named after a very hungry attitude one night after working a very long tiring day.

Once the refrigerator door was opened, a blank stare too ahold, when this passed she saw a package of kielbasa, a few farm fresh eggs, and cheese.

After rummaging thru the freezer to find another ingredient to add to this dish, to make it hearty, and also fulfilling, a bag of southern hash browns was just waiting there for the chef to create with. You know the hash browns that are those cute little cutup potato pieces, you can even use the ones that come with the added green peppers and onions.

The southern style hash browns are quickly put into a pan with a little oil, brought up to temperature for that mouth watering sizzle to take hold of the senses.

However have you ever noticed, when your that hungry after a long tiring day, anything on the stove seems to take days to cook!

While the hash browns were cooking, the kielbasa was cut up into nice bite sized pieces, a small onion was sliced up, and both were put into a frying pan with some butter to cook until golden, and the sausage nice and sizzled.

Once the hash browns were crispy to perfection, the sausage and onions were added in, mixing well for all the flavors to blend in.

Finally salt and pepper to taste,  try adding in your favorite seasoning blend, such as a hot and spicy mix, or an herb blend, whatever your taste buds desire.

In the same pan the onions and sausage were cooked, cook the eggs. If you like runny fried eggs, this is the perfect addition to the dish.  However I am a fan of scrambled eggs, so scrambled it is for me, when I make this dish.

Place the potatoes, sausage, and onions onto your plate add the eggs, and if you really want to take this to the next level add delicious wonderful cheese, I mean you cant go wrong with adding in cheese!

Place the eggs on top of the cheese, and you can spoon salsa on top of it all.

Salsa adds a nice deep flavor, and a little heat.  I like to use a peach, or apricot salsa, they both add a sweetness with the heat and added flavor.

Perfect Peach Salsa

 

See what variations you can come up with, perhaps add sliced avocado, or Salsa Verde.  

Sprinkle smoked paprika on top of the eggs for added flavor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy, Hearty, ready set go Breakfast Burrito

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As life would have it, there are many times I am extremely spontaneous.

This live by the seat of my pants attitude comes with the need to give myself a hearty, healthy breakfast to literally run out the door with.

I wanted to share with you my quick, and easy breakfast burrito recipe, so you too are prepared on your spontaneous adventures.

Before I share this recipe, I wanted to remind my readers, that , dirty dishes will be in the sink when you arrive back home, floors are never really clean, laundry in the dryer is really dry laundry you can grab and wear, and as long as the cat has food and water, a day out is good thing for the soul and mind.

When you keep wheat tortillas, eggs, shredded cheese, hash browns and of course your favorite canned fresh salsa from your amazing summer garden this year on hand, you will never go hungry.

Add on kale, and fresh tomatoes and you will be able to feed yourself, both breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Here goes the process; right after you jump out of the shower and hop thru the house trying to get dressed while walking, open the fridge get out all the ingredients, turn on the burner, get your shirt completely on, grab two fry pans, slide your feet into your shoes, tidy your hair, and finally crack the eggs adding them to a bowl to whip into scrambled.

Make sure that somewhere in there you get those hash browns into the sizzling pan of hot oil.

Because this is cooking at high heat, its super important to keep the multi-tasking to the kitchen area, so you don’t set the whole place on fire!

As the hash browns cook turn on the other burner for the smaller fry pan, open the jar of salsa, and stir some into the hash browns, now you can turn the heat down, because the hash browns are almost done cooking.

If your feeling real fancy, grab some fresh kale, or arugula, and a fresh tomato.  Toss the greens into the small fry pan for a good cook, about 3-4 mins, do this right before the eggs go into the pan.    You can even pour the scrambled eggs onto the greens and make your skillet scrambler that way, all one process.

I have been known to mix things together that sometimes should not go together, however this really works, the greens and eggs.   Or you can eat the greens on the side, whatever your breakfast heart desires!

Add butter to the preheated pan for the whipped eggs, pour the eggs in, and quickly scramble.

Keep the heat on! once the tortilla is filled with all this goodness, roll everything up in a burrito, and put the burritos into the hot pan to sear on each side, until golden and crunchy.

If you have time, plate everything, run out to the car with the plate, and eat while your driving, don’t forget a fork!

Seriously, if that does not work for you, just put the burritos into foil , wrap and go!

I have timed this recipe and I can make two breakfast burritos, get completely dressed, and put everything back in the fridge in 10 minutes!  I’m not saying the kitchen is in good shape or the dogs are happy, however I have two delicious burritos that will get me to at least dinner time.

Enjoy! and Drive safe to get where you spontaneous self is taking you!