Guest Blog Inspired by Hotdish

dc, the Florida guy, is a blog follower and frequent commenter. His words make me laugh out loud! He’s the one who doesn’t care for mushrooms. 😉

dc was inspired by the Minnesota Hotdish blog post (thank you Audrey!)

Here’s what happened after he read the collaborative post I did with the help of Audrey H of Minnesota Prairie Roots blog.

dc wrote

What is the difference between hotdish and casserole?

Definition: Casserole is the name of the dish used to cook with, whereas hot dish is the meal itself. Ingredients: Casseroles can contain any ingredients under the sun practically, where hot dishes have set ingredients they have to have.

Today’s post was an inspiration. Photos to follow.”

Here are the photos dc sent me throughout the day

I asked if he’d put on a flannel shirt. He said he’d dress for dinner

Thanks dc. That was fun. I know it tasted good.

I Focused on the Beets PLUS a Guest Photo of My Brother’s Garlic

Our neighbor got his weekly delivery of  Community Supported Agriculture of Southwestern Pennsylvania and since his wife’s away so tonight he brought up all of this bounty from local farms.

I’ve been photographing lots of ingredients lately so this one keeps with the theme.

Roasted beets on the list of things to do

and I see myself trying the method of microwaving the spaghetti squash the way I’ve seen Erika do it in her kitchen.

Splits open so easily.

Not sure about that enormous zucchini.  The peppers are just beautiful as are those yellow tomatoes. Mmmmm.  Inspirational.

Community Supported Agriculture

Garlic roaster

And the guest photograph by Roberta, who made Garlic Mashed Potatoes with the leftover roasted garlic.

(organic garlic grown by my brother David in Okanogan WA)

Huge Cabbage and Tiny Squash for Vegetable Soup

A couple of the ingredients for the soup I made my daughter-in-law last weekend.

dThat cabbage cost one dollar.

Seriously.  Huge Cabbage

Carrots, celery, onion, garlic from Okanogan WA from my brother.   Peeled off a  couple of the outer leaves.

chopped cabbage

( iPhone 5 photographs.  Wondering if I need the 6)

mini squash

Daily Prompt: Ingredients

This is the first time the daily prompt really spoke to me- ingredients.

WordPress offers daily inspiration to bloggers, if they want to respond.  Here is the prompt by Ben Huberman

” What’s the one item in your kitchen you can’t possibly cook without? A spice, your grandma’s measuring cup, instant ramen — what’s your magic ingredient, and why?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us KITCHEN.”

Here’s part of my kitchen.  Isn’t love the secret ingredient?  I read a blog that says it is.

But I think I’ll choose the Kitchen-Aid mixer, the Kitchen-Aid mixer my dad bought me 25 years ago. The one I’ve used to make cakes for all the kids’ birthdays and graduations and cookies for all occasions. Now they are all grown and gone.

You need a lot of ingredients-

An electric kettle (thanks Laura)

The edge of the farmhouse sink  and bit of my stove, the portable dishwasher top is laden with stuff- the knives,

a tin of olive oil.

I added my favorite nesting Pyrex bowls  I’ve a  thing for the big yellow one. It’s like the one my mom used to make her bread dough. Let it rise.

My grandmother’s recipes are in the wooden box on the shelf.

A couple of beat up baby cups, including my pewter one engraved with my name- Ruth Ella 1952

Tea in a tin.

Handwoven potholders.

My favorite French pepper mill a gift (1974) from my sister’s college friend Janet.

The bread board my sister gave me.

And how could I manage without vanilla?

Garlic keeper from Fredda at my shower in college.  Got to have garlic. My brother sends me the best organic garlic from Okanogan WA.

But just one thing?  I chose the mixer.

Definitely need butter, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Such a lovely start to so many things.

My Kitchen

the close up

and then the shot with a bit more distance to see the all of the clutter  ingredients

Love my stove, oven and range hood, too.  My pots and pans.

Pyrex BowlsNow you can see the dirty dishes in the stainless bowl and the remnants of the sink skirt adhesive I tried to stick onto the sink once upon a time. Need to get some Goo Gone.