The Wisdom of the Gaucho

What better way to savor the flavor of summer berries than to capture the essence of blueberries and currants at their mid summer peak. Blueberry currant jam is sweet and tart and tangy all at the same time, and both blueberries and currants are nutritionally dynamic foods that should be a part of a well balanced diet. This easy jam recipe will ensure that you have the fresh picked flavor of summer at your fingertips all year long. As I mentioned in a previous recipe for Raspberry Currant Jam , adding currants to a jam recipe means that you don't need to add any additional pectin to get the jam to set properly. Currants are chock full of natural pectin and the jam will set magnificently with no added pectin, using only the naturally occurring amount in the currants. Currants also have high levels of Vitamin C (four times more than oranges), are rich in anti-oxidants, and add a great tart flavor to compliment the blueberries. Here is your ingredient line up: 1 quart (4 cu...

I've always been of the opinion that granola should be eaten sparingly, a half a cup in the morning with yogurt and some fruit, or maybe for a small mid-morning snack. Consequently, my favorite granola recipes have been those that aren't necessarily "healthy", but are darn tasty and are best consumed in moderation. This is my favorite granola recipe, but it's by no means health food, it has butter and sugar in it, and it's the kind of granola that makes no excuses for itself. This recipe is another family heirloom from my Mother In Law. She does have a real name, but we usually refer to her by her nickname, Mama Bear. Given her upper Midwest farmhouse upbringing, Mama Bear is a heck of a cook, and this recipe is hers, so this is her appropriate acknowledgment. Here's the recipe for (Mama Bears') Gluten Free Golden Crispy Granola: 3/4 Cup Organic Butter 1 Cup Brown Sugar 1/3 Cup Water 2 Tablespoons Vanilla 4 Cups Gluten Free Oats (We...

You can make your own cheese, and it'll be tasty, local, and organic. Yes, right in the comfort of your own kitchen, probably with cooking equipment you already have. If you have an hour of time and an adventurous spirit, you can easily make your own mozzarella cheese.  After one failed attempt I made mozzarella cheese in about an hour, though with some practice, it could probably be done in half that time. Mozzarella cheese is one of the easiest cheeses to make and since it can be used in a variety of dishes, sandwiches, pizzas, pasta, etc. it will disappear quickly. The only two ingredients you'll need for your cheese that you may not be able to find in your local supermarket are rennet and citric acid, both of which you can purchase cheaply online. If you're lucky enough to have an extensive local grocery store or cheesemaking shop in your town, you might be able to find them locally. Besides rennet and citric acid, the only other ingredient that you...