“Fry” Day Pickles and Snow Days

20121028-_MG_9444-Editweb — Fried Pickles with Yogurt, Dill, Sriracha dipping sauce

Well, another couple of weeks have gone by and where was I? Oh yes! I was snowed in with a friend of mine for a couple of days, so no pics of Yes!Chef! making tasty things last week.

Every year a group of 7 ladies that I have known for years visit me at my cabin in Tahoe for a weekend retreat. We have been doing this for the last 9 years. Last year they came in the beginning of October. Some years they have visited in July or August. This year, they waited until almost the last weekend in October. The weather in Tahoe is always iffy in October and true to form, the first few days were balmy and beautiful. It chilled down in the evening, but daytime was wonderful.

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October 29, 2012January 16, 2013

Karen Schmautz19 Comments

Crashed Spicy Sweet Potatoes are My New Fall Comfort Food

20121008-_MG_7445-web — Crashed Spicy Sweet Potatoes

Now that Fall has officially begun, it’s time to put on the warm socks, colorful sweaters and curl up by the fire. Heat up a cup of apple cider and put a stick of cinnamon in it while you are waiting for the Crashed Sweet Potatoes to finish cooking. Can you tell that I love fall.

Here in the Sierras, we like to head out to Tahoe and get some pictures of the fall leaves, and maybe some bears.

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October 10, 2012October 12, 2012

Karen Schmautz31 Comments

A Little Strudel with your Apples?

Happy Apple Strudel Day! No, it’s not National Apple Strudel Day, that was June 17th (yes, there really is a National Apple Strudel Day.) I’m not sure why it is in June when apples don’t ripen until September or October, but it is the government that decides these things, after all. At any rate, since we went up to Apple Hill last week, I wanted to make something with some of the apples that we got. I found a very easy recipe based on two things that I had on hand…apples and frozen puff pastry. Lo and behold, I found a recipe and I adapted it a little to suit my needs. Voila! Apple Strudel Day at the Schmautz Haus.

This Apple Strudel Recipe is Super Easy!

It is so easy that I think Yes!Chef! would probably not be interested in making it. There wasn’t enough technique and finesse for him. I will divulge that he did enjoy eating it.

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October 3, 2012October 12, 2012

Karen Schmautz16 Comments

Time Just Keeps on Slipping, Slipping, Slipping, into the Future…and it’s already Apple Hill Time

It’s kind of a long story about where we have been lately and why we have not been blogging. It mostly has to do with life and my other job (as a photographer) have gotten in the way a little.

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September 30, 2012September 30, 2012

Karen Schmautz10 Comments

“Pickles are so firm. Pickles are so crunchy. Do you have a pickle. For when I need a munchie?” The Pickle Song

“Buckwheat: Do you like pickles?
Porky: i think they stink!
Buckwheat: I love pickles
Porky: My mum makes me eat them
Buckwheat: I’m crazy about em!
Porky: I’ll sell you my pickle for a nickle
Buckwheat: How bout 2 cents..
Porky:Ok
Buckwheat: I’ve got two pickles. I’ve got two pickles. I’ve got two pickles today .. hey hey.. !”

Little Rascals 1994

I love pickles!

But they can’t just be any old pickle. I do not like bread and butter pickles and I do not like wimpy pickles. I like crisp, crunchy, dilly pickles. I also like sweet pickles on occasion, but dills are my favorite because they make my mouth water.

I might just be a pickle connoisseur.

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September 3, 2012October 12, 2012

Karen Schmautz8 Comments

A lot of roasting and a little boasting

FoodStoriesWinner — Food Stories Winner for July, 2012

First, a little boasting. We were notified on Friday that our blog was the July winner of “Food Stories Award for Excellence in Story Telling“. Back in May, 2012, I wrote a blog post that we had been nominated by Pop the Bubbly for the Illuminating Blogger Award. I was quite excited (so was Yes!Chef!) because this award is not just about blogging recipes or showing pretty pictures of food. It is about telling stories and not necessarily just about food. I am all about telling stories…Just ask my children.

I checked out the competition several times since I was nominated, and they are a great group of bloggers. In fact, I spent quite a bit of time perusing some of the entries. But then, life got in the way and I kind of forgot about it until we got the notification on Friday morning that we had won. Now, I can say: Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner! Hazaah!