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Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup: Pure and Simple

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“There is nothing more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.”  ― The Odyssey

Tim and I are coming up on 5 Years of wedded bliss in just a few short months.  I knew right away when I met him, that he would be the one for me.  I was very careful not to show it though, because I have not always had the best eyesight when it comes to relationships.

Tim and Shari Showing too much too soon was a scary thought to contemplate.  Tim on the other hand would say that I did everything I could think of to scare him away.  Thankfully, that was not the case. And we are living our dream of happily ever after here at Pure Grace Farms.

No marriage is perfect, and we have our ups and downs just like everyone else.  I think the one thing that I can say about our married life is that we have a deep and profound trust for one another.  I know he has my back, and he knows I have his. Trust is very important in any kind of relationship we seek to build. Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup: Hearty and Delicious  “What in the world does this have to do with split pea soup?” you might ask.  And I would respond to you by saying  ”Not a thing”.  I was just looking for quotes and ran across this one by Homer  from The Odyssey and I loved it.  Thus sending me off on a little tangent about wedded bliss.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup: Hearty and Delicious So on to Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup. I ran across this recipe searching the web one day for slow cooked meals.  I am a huge fan of split pea soup especially on cool fall evenings. The added bonus being the recipe is simple and I am able to throw it all together before I head off to work, making it an easy choice.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup: Hearty and Delicious  I have kept the recipe pretty much intact with only a few minor changes for my own taste.  The recipe is gluten free and dairy free and could also be vegan by leaving the ham out and substituting the chicken broth with vegetable broth which I usually do anyway.

If you are looking for a great slow cooker this is the one I always use Hamilton Beach 33967 Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, Silver and have had great success with it. Have you had success with a slow cooker meal, that you tend to rely on as your go to recipe? I would love to hear what you make and why it is you enjoy it.  Thanks for visiting, come on back on Saturday. I am sure there will be something good a brewing.

Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup: Hearty and Delicious
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Ingredients
  1. 1 (16 ounce) package dried green split peas, rinsed
  2. 1 meaty ham bone, 2 ham hocks or 2 cups diced ham (leave out if you are wanting vegan)
  3. 1 cup sliced baby carrots
  4. 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  5. 2 ribs celery plus leaves, chopped
  6. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  7. 1 bay leaf
  8. 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  9. 2 Jalapeno Peppers, seeds removed, chopped finely (optional)
  10. Salt and pepper to taste
  11. 6 cups chicken broth (replace with homemade vegetable broth for Vegan)
Instructions
  1. Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given, adding the broth last.
  2. Do not stir ingredients.
  3. Cover and cook on high 4—5 hours or on low 8—10 hours until peas are very soft and ham (if used) falls off the bone.
  4. Stir and serve.
Notes
  1. This is my go to soup. I have made it several times and it always comes out hearty and delicious.
Adapted from http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/slow-cooker-split-pea-soup
Adapted from http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/slow-cooker-split-pea-soup
Pure Grace Farms https://puregracefarms.com/
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup shared with:

2 Crochet Hooks: Retro Repin Party *Pebbles and Piggytails: Saturday Dishes

Rich Flavorful Vegetable Stock: Pure and Simple

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I try to be grateful for the abundance of the blessings that I have, for the journey that I’m on and to relish each day as a gift. – James McGreevey

Holidays are right around the corner. I get excited when I think about all the opportunities I will have to cook for my family and friends. This time of year always gets my creative juices flowing.

How to make flavorful Rich Vegetable Broth: The flavor and quality can't be compared to what you buy in the store and it is simple to do. As an added benefit,when making your own you know exactly what you are getting.

I work outside the home, so I often don’t have the time I would like to spend cooking and creating in the kitchen. When I find a shortcut offering better quality than store bought, doesn’t take much effort on my part, and adds amazing flavor to the dishes I create, I jump on it.

How to make flavorful Rich Vegetable Broth: The flavor and quality can't be compared to what you buy in the store and it is simple to do. As an added benefit,when making your own you know exactly what you are getting.

Making your own vegetable stock is one of those shortcuts. The flavor and quality can’t be compared to what you buy in the store and it is simple to do. As an added benefit,when making your own pure food vegetable broth, you know exactly what you are getting.

How to make flavorful Rich Vegetable Broth: The flavor and quality can't be compared to what you buy in the store and it is simple to do. As an added benefit,when making your own you know exactly what you are getting.

I prefer to make my vegetable broth gluten free as it is simple to accomplish.  The vegetable broth recipe is mostly made up of vegetables. Soy sauce is the only potential product with gluten. Use Tamari gluten free soy sauce and your whole broth remains gluten free. Simple.

How to make flavorful Rich Vegetable Broth: The flavor and quality can't be compared to what you buy in the store and it is simple to do. As an added benefit,when making your own you know exactly what you are getting.

When making your broth feel free to experiment with different vegetables. Today I made one batch that strictly followed the recipe (go figure, I actually followed a recipe). The other batch I added a few beets that were homegrown from the garden and needed to be used up and pumpkin broth left over from making  a batch of pumpkin puree.  The second pot of broth was a little more colorful but just as delicious. Your imagination is all that is required, along with a few leftover scraps.

How to make flavorful Rich Vegetable Broth: The flavor and quality can't be compared to what you buy in the store and it is simple to do. As an added benefit,when making your own you know exactly what you are getting.

Double the recipe so you will be sure to have enough to freeze. This is the best part. The broth freezes well and is great to have on hand when you need a bit of extra flavor for your pure food recipes. How to make flavorful Rich Vegetable Broth: The flavor and quality can't be compared to what you buy in the store and it is simple to do. As an added benefit,when making your own you know exactly what you are getting.

Tonight I am using my broth for a delicious split pea soup recipe. Be sure to come back on Tuesday and check it out. I would love to hear what you use your vegetable broth for. Make a comment and spread a little inspiration my way, I would surely appreciate it. The following recipe is from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food

Rich Flavorful Vegetable Broth
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Ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  2. 2 carrots, sliced
  3. 1 onion, quartered (don’t bother to peel)
  4. 1 potato, sliced
  5. 1 celery stalk, chopped
  6. 2 or 3 cloves garlic (don’t bother to peel)
  7. 5 to 10 white mushrooms, halved or sliced
  8. 10 to 20 parsley stems or stems with leaves
  9. 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  10. Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Put the oil in a deep skillet or dutch oven on medium high heat. When hot, add the carrots, onion, potato, celery, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook without stirring for about 5 minutes, then stir occasionally, allowing vegetables to brown well. Usually about 15-20 minutes.
  2. Add the parsley, 6 cups water, the soy sauce, and some pepper. Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat so the mixture simmers steadily but gently. Cook for about 60 minutes, or until the vegetables are very tender.
  3. Strain, then taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more soy sauce or a bit of salt, before using or storing.
  4. Broth can be used immediately, stored in the refrigerator for about 1 week in an airtight container, or frozen.
Notes
  1. Double your batch to have some on hand in the freezer for later use. Trust me, you wont regret it.
  2. Allowing the vegetables to brown well adds depth of flavor and a richer color to the broth.
  3. When freezing vegetables, I prefer to freeze mine in 1 cup plastic containers. Once frozen, I pop them out of the container and place them in a heavy duty freezer bag. It is easy to grab the amount I need out of the bag and reseal.
Pure Grace Farms https://puregracefarms.com/

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Apple Spice Cake

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Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. ― Oscar Wilde

My mother made the best cakes.  I loved coming home after school and finding cake laid out on the kitchen counter, freshly baked and ready to be cut in to. Apple spice cake-What makes this cake so exceptional, is the penuche topping that covers the apple spice cake. A brown sugar frosting that creates a smooth and creamy hard shell with just a tiny hint of salty goodness. I had my favorites, especially around fall. Sometimes there was gingerbread served with a dollop of whip cream, or carrot cake with a touch of pineapple and delicious cream cheese frosting on top. Apple spice cake-What makes this cake so exceptional, is the penuche topping that covers the apple spice cake. A brown sugar frosting that creates a smooth and creamy hard shell with just a tiny hint of salty goodness. One cake my mother made was really special, it topped them all hands down, and sent me into joyful delight as soon as I laid eyes on it. It was her apple spice cake. Apple spice cake-What makes this cake so exceptional, is the penuche topping that covers the apple spice cake. A brown sugar frosting that creates a smooth and creamy hard shell with just a tiny hint of salty goodness. What really made this cake so exceptional, was the penuche topping that covered the apple spice cake. A brown sugar frosting that created a smooth and creamy hard shell with just a tiny hint of salty goodness. Penuche has been a weakness of mine ever since.

While I do not have the original recipe of my mothers spice cake, I have attempted to recreate it giving a nod to healthy by using white whole wheat flour. I refuse to go to any more lengths than this to make it healthy, though I probably could.  

Apple spice cake-What makes this cake so exceptional, is the penuche topping that covers the apple spice cake. A brown sugar frosting that creates a smooth and creamy hard shell with just a tiny hint of salty goodness.

I believe every once in awhile a decadent treat is called for. When eating a slice of this apple spice cake I am taken back to my carefree childhood days of autumn when life was simple and the only thing that mattered was having a big slice of apple spice cake encased in penuche frosting and washed down with a tall frosty glass of milk.

See Recipe here

Apple Spice Cake shared with:

*Sadie Seasongoods: Snickerdoodle Sunday

 

 

Spiced Apple Cider Mix

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“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”  – Humbert Wolfe 

Fall is here in all its brilliant glory and my soul rejoices. 

. fall Everything about fall excites me

Spiced Apple Cider Mix: The spicy fragrance greets friends and neighbors at our door, welcoming them in without a word being spoken. As I walk the neighborhood, beautiful maple trees robed in exquisite jeweled colors of red, yellow and orange, shimmer and shake in the wind. Air as crisp as new linen sheets reaches out and greets me. fall2 Fragrant pine needles assault my senses as they are crunched beneath my feet, demanding to be noticed, not wanting to be left out in this little foray of sights, smells and sounds of fall, while I bask in the magnificence of God’s creation.

Spiced Apple Cider Mix: The spicy fragrance greets friends and neighbors at our door, welcoming them in without a word being spoken. Along with fall, comes cooler weather and for me, the desire to create. I am hard pressed to create the sights and smells of fall as they are so expertly done in nature, but that doesn’t stop me from trying. Spiced Apple Cider Mix: The spicy fragrance greets friends and neighbors at our door, welcoming them in without a word being spoken. Spiced Apple Cider is one of my best efforts.

Spiced Apple Cider Mix The spicy fragrance greets friends and neighbors at our door, welcoming them in without a word being spoken.  

Spiced Apple Cider
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Ingredients
  1. 6 oz whole cinnamon sticks
  2. 10 whole nutmegs
  3. 1/3 c star anise
  4. 2/3 c dried orange peel
  5. 2/3 c dried lemon peel
  6. 3/4 c whole cloves
  7. 1/2 c allspice berries
  8. 1/3 c finely chopped crystallized ginger
  9. 20 small bags with drawstrings
Instructions
  1. Place cinnamon sticks, nutmegs and star anise in a zippered freezer bag and close, pressing out all the air from the bag. Place the bag on a cutting board and pound with a mallet or rolling pin until sticks and nutmegs are broken into pieces. Chop ginger into small pieces.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
  3. Spoon 1 1/2 - 2 tbsp mix into each bag, gather drawstrings tight and tie ends.
Notes
  1. To Make Spiced Apple Cider
  2. Combine 1 gallon apple cider and 1 spice bag in a crock pot or a large pot on the stove. Heat for 30-40 minutes or until hot. Remove spice bag. Serve hot.
Pure Grace Farms https://puregracefarms.com/
 Spiced Apple Cider Mix shared with:

2 Crochet Hooks: Retro Re-pin Party *Weekend Craft: Creative Spark *The Newlywed Pilgrimage: Moonlight and Mason Jars

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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