The smell of home-made bread and a big pot of soup simmering is a reminder of the visits to Grandma's house. Winter months would find her big wood stove with a pot of stew or soup on the back keeping warm just in case someone came by. And, it was a hot, nutritious meal for the men when they came in from doing chores in the freezing weather.

This is the time of year that eating big, filling meals to ward off the cold is commonplace, even today. The time of year we put on our hibernation layer! The time of year we are able to still enjoy the bounties of the harvest while dreaming and planning for spring.br

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Quick Jump to Recipes in this Section
Bouquet Garni Packets | Shortbread | Carrot & Beet Loaf | Hamburger Soup | Hot Chocolate Mix | Baking Powder Biscuits | Kahlua |

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Bouquet Garni packets

• 3/4 cup onion flakes
• 3/4 cup parsley flakes
• 1/4 cup dried thyme leaves
• 2 Tbsp dried marjoram leaves
• 1 Tbsp dried rosemary leaves
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 6 by leaves ~ broken

Mix together and set aside

Cheesecloth and cotton string
Cut cheesecloth into 24 - 8” squares. Place two squares together for each packet. Set aside. Spoon about 2 ½ tsps of spice mixture into the center of each 8” square. Bring corners together over the seasonings and tie tightly. Makes12. Store in an airtight container.
Use in making soups, stews and poached fish.

Makes a wonderful gift from your kitchen.
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Shortbread

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter (must be butter)
• 2 cups flour

Mix all ingredients together. Working with hands until smooth. Roll out to about ¼” thick and cut with cookie cutters. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until light brown ~ about 5 to 7 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on ovens true heat.
**NOTE**
2/3 cup of icing sugar can be used in stead of white sugar. The old fashioned recipe calls for white sugar; however icing sugar makes the dough a lot nicer to work with.
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Carrot & Beet Loaf

• 1 cup oil
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup shredded raw beets
• 1 cup shredded raw carrots
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup nuts (optional)
• 3 egg whites

Beat egg whites until stiff. Set aside. Mix all other ingredients in order listed. Fold in egg whites. Mix well. Bake in a loaf pan at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Freezes well.
Thanks goes to Amy Sawby ~ Airdrie, Alta. for providing this recipe.
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Hamburger Soup

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 1 med onion ~ finely chopped
• 4 carrots ~ sliced fine
• 3 stalks celery ~ sliced
• 8 Tbsp pearl barley
• 1 - 28 oz can spiced stewed tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 3 cups beef broth (3 cups water & 3 bouillon cubes)
• 1 can tomato soup
• 3 - 4 bay leaves
• 1 Tbsp parsley
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• Pepper to taste

Brown beef and onions. Drain. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Simmer covered for at least 2 hours. Serves 10.
Freezes well. This is a meal in itself. Serve with a salad and buns.
Thanks from Sheila Ashton - Calgary, Alta. for providing this recipe.


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Hot Chocolate Mix

• 32 oz can of instant hot chocolate**
• 25 oz coffee cream
• 8 cups powdered milk
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 small package of miniature marshmallows

Mix all ingredients together very well. Store in a 1 gallon jar One cup serving ~ 2 heaping tsp. of mixture. Fill cup with boiling water.
**NOTE**
Use instant hot chocolate that is to be mixed with water only
Thanks to Ellaine Hawrylak - Maple Creek, Sask. for sharing this recipe.
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Kahlua

• 2 oz of instant coffee
• 2 cups water
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 - 26 oz bottle of vodka

Boil coffee, water and sugar to thick syrup. Place vanilla bean in dark ½ gallon bottle with a good sealing lid or cork Add cooled syrup to vodka, stir. Pour into bottle with vanilla bean seal. Place bottle on its side. Turn regularly for 4 to 6 weeks. Enjoy!!!
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Baking Powder Biscuits

• 2 cups four
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt**
• 1/4 cup shortening or margarine
• 1 cup milk

Mix dry ingredients together. Blend in shortening to crumble consistency. Make a well in dry ingredients. Add milk. ONLY MIX UNTIL MOIST ~ over mixing will cause the biscuits not to rise as well. Turn dough onto lightly floured board and knead lightly for a FEW MINUTES. Pat to desired thickness (I like ¾ to 1 inch). Cut dough with glass, cookie cutters or knife. Place on ungreased baking pan and bake at 450 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until nicely browned. Makes 8 to 14 biscuits depending on what is used to cut them out.
**NOTE**
Omit salt if using margarine. Recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.
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