The Season is Changing!

Spring is here! (I think)

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I live in an area with 4 distinct seasons. We are finally emerging from winter & entering spring. (Although here we may thank it’s spring but it can snow even into May!) Now in mid-April the sun sets after 7:30 pm & the days just keep getting longer & longer. It is great! In the summer we have many hours of daylight!

I was thinking about recipes to blog in the future & realized that the food I cook is somewhat dictated by the weather! Do you eat differently in the Spring than you do in the winter? Perhaps eating less heavy types of food? I wonder if people who live in warmer climates change their eating habits the same way I do, by the season? I doubt it otherwise they would never eat the nice comforting dishes we eat in the winter!

In the cooler seasons like fall & winter, soups are usually in my fridge. I make lentil dishes, curries, meats like brisket for example, pasta with meat sauce etc. I also use my InstantPot often. In the spring & summer I rarely make those dishes. Though, I should since they are so delish! I really need to not be so swayed by the season when I am cooking. I do try new recipes all the time but they tend to be dictated by the temperature outside! It isn’t likely I would make a beef stew in July!

Once the weather warms up here & we can spend more time outside that is exactly what I want to do! So then I like to make food that does not need a lot of attention at the stove! I try to make quick meals & lots of BBQing. When the farmers markets open in June, the fresh produce finds its way to our table. So for the next few months those are the types of recipes I will be blogging & sharing here. ( I think !)

I recently got an Air Fryer so when I figure out how to use it properly I will share that with you! I have burnt many a vegetable in that thing! Do you have an Air Fryer? If so I would love some tips! Most of my friends had Air Fryers before I did. I just didn’t understand why I would need one. My wall ovens are convection ovens & basically that is what an Air Fryer is. But, I see now that I have used it the Air Fryer is faster & much more efficient at crisping food. The name is misleading because for sure the Air Fryer is not the same as frying food. Fried food has a much different flavour than the same food prepared in the air fryer. One of my favourite things to make in the Air Fryer is chicken wings. When I figure out a really good recipe I will let you know!

I am wondering if there are any topics you would like me to discuss in this newsletter. Please let me know in the comments! I can discuss not only recipes but tips in the kitchen as well! Techniques too.

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On the Blog

I just reposted a delicious recipe for chicken thighs, Shoyu Chicken. The chicken is cooked on the stovetop in a wonderful sauce. You can use bone-in thighs or boneless.I have made this dish with both. Serve over some rice or other grain of your choice to soak up all of the delicious sauce!

Shoyu Chicken

This next recipe is a Passover recipe but it is so delicious I think you should all try it! Cottage Cheese & Pineapple Kugel. This is made with farfel which is matzo broken up into small pieces. I have been trying to think of a substitute for farfel & I think you can use 2 cups of cooked rice. If you are daring give rice a try & let me know! Otherwise maybe pick up a box of farfel where Kosher food is sold. This kugel is really delicious. Great for breakfast with some Yougurt on it, for lunch with a side salad & even for dinner as a side dish!

Cottage Cheese & Pineapple Kugel

This next recipe is just one of our familie’s fav recipes. Whenever we get together for a brunch you can be sure to find this Hash Brown Casserole on the table. This is a very popular well-known recipe. I have changed the original recipe a bit, one of the ways is by adding cheese on top which I love! So cheesy inside & out. Under that cheesy top is the delicious hash brown casserole!

Hash Brown Casserole

Well, that’s all for this week! Please comment & let me know your thoughts about my newsletter ( hopefully only good thoughts) & if there is any topic you might like to see discussed here.