Chinese Cabbage Salad

I am still digging through tubs in the barn attic!

Hope fully before winter arrives, I can find a spot for everything.

This past weekend was our annual family reunion on my moms side.

She came from a family of 8 kids.

When we all get together it makes for a large group!

I was trying to find a great recipe that would make quite a few servings.

I remembered this salad from a group luncheon last year. It made a nice, big batch.

This was a pinterest find from last summer.

Chinese Cabbage Salad

It takes a little while to put it together. But so worth it in the end!

2-2 1/2 pounds nappa cabbage

5 green onions chopped

3 packages ramen noodles

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup sesame seeds

Dressing:

3/4 cup peanut oil (or 3 T peanut butter + canola oil to equal 3/4 c)

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup rice vinegar

2 tbsp. soy sauce

This is a nappa cabbage.

( I bought seeds this spring to start and grow these lovelys. But the seeds never got started. This one came from the Farmers Market.)

Cut off the bottom of your cabbage.

Thinly slice the rest of your cabbage and put it in a large bowl.

(And you will need a big bowl!)

Slice your green onions and add them to the bowl.

Put your Ramen noodles in a large plastic bag.

Pound them into small pieces.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Melt your butter.

Add your almonds and Ramen noodles.

I couldn't find my sesame seeds. So I left them out this time.

Cook the mixture making sure you stir frequently. It can burn quickly.  It turns a nice crunchy, toasty brown.

Set this aside to cool.

Onto the dressing!

I had a hard time finding peanut oil around these parts. So I made my own.

Place 3 tbsp's of peanut butter into a glass measuring cup

Add enough canola oil to make 3/4 cup.

Put the peanut butter/oil mixture into the microwave and heat it for 30 seconds.

Give it a good stir until the peanut butter melts.

Pout this mixture into a medium sauce pan.

Add your sugar, along with the rice vinegar and soy sauce.

Bring this mixture to a rolling boil over medium heat. Let it boil hard for one minute.  I stir mine the whole time. I have had a sticky hard mess when I forgot to stir.

Set it aside to cool.

When you are ready to serve toss the cabbage and green onions with the ramen mixture.

Pour the dressing over the top, stir to coat.

I forgot to take a picture of the end result. This came from the original website I found the recipe at.

I made this for some girlfriends last summer and added seasoned grilled chicken breasts to the mix.

That made a great luncheon salad!

This will serve 15 nice size servings!

I got lots of compliments at the family reunion, even a few requests for the recipe.

Hope you enjoy this tastey salad!

Liz 

The Move Is Over!

The move has been completed! 

We signed the papers for the sale of our house Monday morning.

I have spent most of this week trying to unpack boxes and tubs.

Lots of things still remain in the barn.

Just not enough room for everything in the farmhouse!

I love stepping out the backdoor to this view every morning!

The first night we were able to sit outside and relax a bit, we were treated to this beautiful sky.

The garden was busy producing while we were in the moving process.

The green beans are getting hard to keep up with.

I just found a recipe for pickled green beans. That will have to wait until next week.

My chili peppers are looking great.

They will be hung up to dry when they turn dark red.

After drying I grind them into chili powder. 

My supply of that is running low!

Good thing it looks like a bumper crop.

One of my favorite things out of the garden this year has to be the zinnias.

It is so nice to pick a fresh bouquet ever day.

I have buckets of them decorating the porch.

Things were a little stressful the last couple of weeks trying to prepare for the move.

But now that we are at the country house permanently, everything leading up to it was worth it!

Let country living begin! 

Not crazy yet!

I haven't gone crazy yet!

I almost thought I would talking to our satellite server today.

Why do they make a simple move so complicated!

They moved up our closing date by a week.

The official move is next Thursday!

I have been busy posting things on line to sell.

And the stuff is selling like hotcakes!

My parents have been here the last 2 days helping me tag items for a huge moving sale Friday and Saturday.

I am not selling my bakers cabinet!

The computer room is full of Christmas items.

Don't worry I have stockpiles of  more!

The person buying our house wants the washer and dryer.

I am hoping to make enough at our sale to purchase a new pair.

I hope I don't have to much left over to box up and move!

The puppies are confused with all of the moving things around.

They will be so happy when the can run at the farm

All in all things are going smooth, 

fingers crossed they continue that way! 

Be back in a week or so!

Liz

Things I will miss!

Things were a whirl-wind over the July 4th week.

We had 2 house showings, which means clean the house top to bottom.

Make sure the yard is pretty.

(pick up dog doo doo)

Load the dogs with their cages and disappear for a couple of hours.

This time we just went to the farm for a couple of days.

But it finally paid off!!

We got a solid offer on the house!

Woo-hoo!!

On the 4th we met with our realtor to sign papers and get the ball rolling.

The official closing date is July 29th.

Three weeks from today!

I have a lot of stuff to do between then and now.

There are quite a few things I sure am going to miss at this house.

Our view from the deck.

Many hours have been spent relaxing under the gazebo, just watching the pond.

Paddle boat rides with the niece and nephew.

The geese who arrive every spring and fall.

Decorating the fireplace for Christmas.

Hosting our New Years Eve parties in the basement.

The thing I will miss the most is going to be my kitchen!

When canning season is happening, I always have all kinds of room!

It will be sad to leave this wonderful house we have called home for the last 8 years.

But I am so excited to begin our life on the farm!

Liz

My Hometown

I grew up in a pretty small community.

The average population usually runs right around 1400.

Of course everybody knows everybody.

This past weekend the town celebrated its 150th birthday.

In the weeks leading up to the event a small museum had been created with donated items representing days gone by.

It was fun to browse so many wonderful memories!

 The museum was housed in my parents former hardware store.

A place I hadn't been in since they retired some 10 years ago.

The weekends events were kicked off by the arrival of the pony express on Thursday night.

It was delivering mail with a special commemorative postmark.

Saturdays activities were hampered by rain showers.

But I did enjoy watching the community choir perform in our park.

My dad is a member of this group.

They had pork chop dinners, lemon-ade stands, bands and beer gardens through out the weekend.

Then on Sunday the sun came out nice and bright for the end of the celebration parade.

Lots of fun!

What a great turnout of friends, family and long ago residents to our little towns big celebration!

 All though my grandson won't remember it, he got to see his first parade with his grandma.

I will always love my hometown!

Liz