chickpea dip (not hummus)

Without tahini, it doesn't really taste like hummus to me.  But, this is still a pretty good snack, fro here.

Ingredients

• 1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
• 2 to 4 tbsp. water
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 3/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

Add the garbanzo beans, 2 tablespoons of water, the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to a food processor. Process until smooth and creamy. If needed, add additional water to thin out the hummus and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to your taste preference.

canning salmon

Notes so I remember next time. 

Last year I canned sockeye salmon because a friend's boyfriend had too much and so they shared, and it was FABULOUS.  I especially like the salmon patties I make with it.  Also of course I love it because it's free. 

Well, this year isn't free, but I found a source with coho.  He says it'll be great for canning because of all the good oil.  I'll give it a whirl. 

Last year I canned all pints (except a practice run with some past-prime pink fillets my friend's kid gave me; they were not great but dogs have enjoyed that).  This year I realized that half-pints would expand how often I use it.  It's a commitment to open a pint and have to eat it quickly, especially since the dog can't eat it (she gets stomach problems).  But a half pint I could make into a sandwich spread and eat for breakfast on toast.  Oh, yes.  So, I pulled out all the half pint jars and ... I need more.  It'll still be mostly pints. 

So, today I went and got the coho and it was such a delightful experience to chat with the fellow and learn. 

I got 20# with the heads on, gutted and bled.  That was 4 fish ($80 as it's $4/#).  I'll mark here when finished how many jars that makes.

I need a good fish knife.

It took me about 1.5 hours to process the fish - chop off the heads (save to make fish broth to can so that I can make salmon chowder in the deeps of winter, and then bokashi the fish heads since I can't just bury them outside), chop off the tail and fins (then chop to put into bokashi bin), cut into pieces.  I wash the fish off in cool water and scrape off easy scales, but I don't really scale the fish, and I don't remove bones or skin.  I don't usually eat the skin when canned, but it slides right off (MUCH less waste than trying to skin it raw).  The bones get soft and are crunchy, and a good source of calcium.

My canner (an electric Carey canner aka Nesco, that I use A LOT) only holds about 4 jars, but I think I can stack the half-pints on top of the pints, so I can do 4 pints and 3 half-pints per load.

Pressure can on high for 100 minutes. 

So I can do one load tonight and hopefully can finish tomorrow.  I have to let my canner cool down and rest between loads, but I'm guessing I'll be doing about 18 pints worth, so ... maybe 3 loads tomorrow?  I can start early since I just have to warm lids and fit it into jars and roll.  Then I'll make the fish broth and can that. 

Not bad.  Maybe two hours worth of work and $80 for 18 pints of fish and a few quarts of broth. 

If I'm still feeling chipper when all done processing, I'll ask him to try again for some sockeyes on his next run ($5/pound). 

I'm gonna need more jars!

scones

Sour cream to use up, wanting something satisfying dessert but not too much sugar.

These!

Mix together
2 c. flour (I used 1 c. freshly ground whole wheat flour - 130 g.)
1/3 c. sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Then grate into it:
8 Tbsp frozen butter
Use fingers to mix butter it in

in another bowl mix together
1/2 c. sour cream (yogurt would also be fine)
1 egg
1/2 c. dehydrated huckleberries or some other fruit or nut or whatever goodness is waiting to be used up.

Add wet to dry and mix up to combine and get into a ball.  Pat ball into a round about 7-8" and cut into 8 slices.  Sprinkle with some sugar. 

Bake 400 degrees 15-17 minutes. 

Now I just wish I had some clotted cream!

Chinese cabbage and egg stirfry

Just got some locally grown Chinese cabbage, and this looked like a good idea.

Ingredients:
- chopped (Chinese) cabbage
- 2 eggs, beaten
- fish sauce
- green onions (or garlic scapes)
- garlic
- carrot, grated
- (red) onion, chopped
- red chili
- sesame oil
- sesame seeds

Heat oil in wok.  Add garlic, stir a minute, add onion. Then add grated carrots. 

Stir in cabbage.

Add a bit of water (maybe 1/4 cup?).

Add chili, black pepper, (salt - do you really need it if adding fish sauce?), fish sauce, and green onions.  Stir and cook 2-3 minutes, until water evaporates. 

PUsh vegetables to side, add some more oil, then the eggs.  Let them cook in place a couple minutes, then stir eggs until cooked, then stir in vegs. Add sesame seeds.  Turn off heat and serve.