MEADOW SWEET GROVE
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog-Recipes & More
  • Blog-Folklore & Magic
  • Payment, Shipping & Policies
  • Sold Archives & Reviews
  • About
  • Contact
  • Midnight at the Grove
  • Ruby Lane Shop
  • Finding Service
Picture

​
​
~ Blog - Recipes & More ~

Picture
Picture
Enter Midnight at the Grove ... if you dare!

February - when there's snow on the snowdrops

2/2/2017

0 Comments

 
~ Last Week at Meadow Sweet Grove ~
"Another tricky fairy habit is to never, ever throw out food.  It can usually be "reincarnated" into something else.  Fruit and vegetables that seem "on their way out" can often be turned into a useful dish or ingredient. Just remember the last time you had "sticker shock" and how much you paid for those groceries!  And before you toss anything out, always have a quick think about what else you might be able to make with that expensive food."
Picture
Snowdrops in Meadow Sweet Grove
​The first few days of February mark the beginning of the end of Winter ... and the beginning of the beginning of Spring!  But it's not over yet.  While we continue to carry that torch of hope for Springtime and the new growth it will bring; it's a good time to remember that we still need to make it through the rest of winter ... and get the most out of the food we buy and never, ever throw out food ... except as a last resort! ​

PictureBringing springtime to the Grove

The first little signs of Spring are showing as the crocuses and snowdrops push through the earth.  And as seems customary here in Meadow Sweet Grove, as soon as they poke their little heads through ... another snowfall settles in!  The fairies hold strong that maybe a wee show of faith is needed to bring springtime to the Grove again.  Hence, their little well is decorated with a few faux flowers to encourage Spring to keep on keeping on!  ​​


~ ​​Never throw food out (continued) ~

"Pull-It-All-Together" Macaroni & Cheese

 
On an evening when money is tight, reach into your fridge for all those little chunks and gratings of left-over cheese that you saved. Also all those last "bits of the block" for a scrumptious and comforting Macaroni & Cheese:


After boiling and draining 2 cups of pasta, toss all those bits and pieces of cheese together (cheddar, mozza, swiss - they're all good), into a bowl with the warm pasta, add any left-over sour cream, cottage cheese or unflavoured yogurt.  Beat up an egg and toss it in if you like.  Stir it all together with a bit of black pepper.  Butter a sufficiently deep baking dish and ladle the mixture in.  Pour a little milk evenly over the mixture - if dry, add a bit more.  Toast up 2 slices of bread and when cool ... 
crumble over the top evenly.  Grate any remaining cheese that you might have on
 

​Delicious Banana Bread

​
Black bananas?  Nothing for the kids' lunches?  Turn them into this delicious banana bread quickly:

2 cups flour                              2 beaten eggs    
1 1/2 tsps baking powder   4 mashed bananas
1/2 tsp baking soda              1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon    1/2 cup melted butter

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg         


Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices in a medium bowl - set aside.  Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat and set aside.  Mash the bananas in a medium bowl, add the beaten eggs and melted butter together with the sugar.  Add the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir lightly (batter should be lumpy).

Bake in a lightly greased loaf or muffin tin at 350°.  About 20-25 minutes for muffins or small loaves.  Up to 40 minutes for a large loaf.
PictureFeed the birds
top of the bread - have a little bit of leftover parmesan? Grate (ha ha)!  And for an extra-special touch - definitely sprinkle on a little bit of Hungarian Paprika!  (It has to be Hungarian).  So nice. Cook at 325°  for about 1/2 hour - maybe longer - and there you have a "Pull-It-All-Together Macaroni & Cheese" - different every time you make it!

But what if you truly 
do have to throw out food?  Here's some options for continuing the life cycle of your food:

Feed the Birds - Not even "Tuppence a Bag"!
The little woodland creatures in the Grove appreciate many leftovers.  Crows will eat any amount of left-over bread, crackers, chips and the like.  Save your bacon fat in a tin beside the stove and spread it on the bread for smaller birds - this makes it almost a suet for them and helps them to store their own fat.​

​
Last but not least - Compost
Finally compost anything left over that you can such as: spoiled fruit, vegetable peelings, old Jack o'Lanterns, and even a limited amount of teabags, egg and nut shells, etc.  There are very small composters available now that fit into tiny spaces.  In the Spring, you will save money once again by reducing the amount of costly dirt and fertilizers that you would ordinarily buy.  Composting is very worthwhile and is seriously like "rocket fuel" for your plants!

© Meadow Sweet Grove, 2017
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
          ~ SHOP ~

    FREE SHIPPING WHEN YOUR ORDER TOTALS $99 CDN!
    Enter Coupon Code: FREESHIPPING at checkout and hit "Apply".
    (Offer available within Canada & USA only)


    CA$7.99
    CA$9.99
    CA$24.99
    CA$29.99
    Picture
    Let this blue fairy magically transport you to the Store!
    Picture
    Picture
    The Fairy Shop
    Meadow Sweet Grove
    Articles Archives

    Categories

    All
    Animals
    Canning / Preserves
    Children's Stories
    Christmas / Yule
    Crafts
    Easter / Spring
    Expressions / Idioms
    Fairies
    Fairy Tales
    Fantasy Creatures
    Garden
    Genealogy
    Hallowe'en
    Magic
    May Day
    Mother Goose
    Musings
    Recipes
    Spells
    Summer Solstice
    Thrifty Tips
    Vintage Rescues

About
Blog-Recipes & More
Blog-Folklore & Magic
Contact
Finding Service
Midnight at the Grove
Ruby Lane Shop
Sold Archives & Reviews
Picture

Shop

Payment, Shipping & Policies
*amounts paid of $3 or more above actual shipping cost are refunded
PayPal Logo
See "Payment, Shipping & Policies" for other payment options.
Disclaimer: Many of the items sold are vintage or pre-loved. Quality of vintage items vary with the manufacturing methods available at the time of production. They are not made to current standards of manufacturing ... and in my opinion, that is usually a good thing! They tend to be higher quality, last longer and include more attention to detail than today's products. However, safety standards do change over time, items do deteriorate with age, and it is up to the customer to decide how they will use each product.
All rights reserved. No part of this website, including but not limited to written articles, photographs, graphics, videos or animations, may be reproduced, in any form, written or digital, without the express and prior written permission of the author: V. Buchanan of Meadow Sweet Grove. Requests for said permission may be directed to: [email protected]. (GIFs graciously provided by: animatedimages.org & R. Buchanan)
Follow the Grove at:
Proudly powered by Weebly
Copyright © Meadow Sweet Grove / V. Buchanan 2016 - 2025
  • Home
  • Shop
  • Blog-Recipes & More
  • Blog-Folklore & Magic
  • Payment, Shipping & Policies
  • Sold Archives & Reviews
  • About
  • Contact
  • Midnight at the Grove
  • Ruby Lane Shop
  • Finding Service