5 Layer Pot Casserole

Since our opening, Jakes has collected old and new cookbooks to create our Recipe Library. Included in the library are also customer family recipes that we like to share.

The most recent of these customer recipes came from Janis McMahan. I do not know if it is her personal creation or one of those word of mouth shared recipes you happen upon....but, I tried it this week on my better half, Rick and he gave it a thumbs up. One more bonus this recipe has is not just its simplicity, you can also prepare the ingredients in advance and toss together at the last minute for a quick comfort meal.

Ingredients: (vary the amount based on # of persons)
Ground hamburger meat
Idaho baking potatoes
Medium onion
Bell Pepper
Diced Tomatoes
Water
Salt @ Pepper

Directions:
Wash and drain potatoes, onion and bell pepper.
While hamburger is browning, slice your potatoes and onion into thin rings and chop bell pepper into strips.
Drain fat from cooked hamburger meat. Layer onion rings onto hamburger. Salt & Pepper.
Layer potatoes next. Salt & Pepper.
Layer bell pepper next. Salt & Pepper.
Open can of diced tomatoes, layer onto bell peppers. Salt & Pepper
Add enough water to cover potatoes.
Simmer on medium heat until potatoes are done.

Suggestions: Use tomato juice in place of water for liquid. Add other layers to personalize this dish for your family.

Acorn Squash Dip

Yesterday was our pumpkin carving day. A big thanks goes out to our neighbors Andy, Patricia and Matthew with their carving assistance. Kitty was also helpful in setting up the refreshments inside as well as loaning us here Mr. Coffee to offset the cool temps outside.

A repeated request yesterday was on my recipe for Acorn Squash Dip. I found this simple delicious recipe on the CDKitchen website while researching Halloween this week. We enjoyed it at our gathering and I hope you will at yours too.

Acorn Squash Dip

Ingredients:
1 large acorn squash, halved and seeded

3 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt

3 tablespoons sweet onions, diced

3 teaspoons honey

3 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin seed

1/4 teaspoon ground paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 dash hot red pepper sauce

Directions:

Bake squash, covered, in a conventional oven at 350F for 45 minutes, or in a microwave for 15 minutes at high power, until fork tender. Allow to cool enough to handle. Scoop out flesh and discard the skin. Mash all ingredients together. Serve dip warm or at room temperature with crusty bread and vegetables.

Pumpkin Bread Recipe

It is the time of year we think of apples and pumpkin....as well as soups and chilli. Last night was time to try one of those thoughts....pumpkin bread.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup Flour
1 cup Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 cup Pumpkin
1/2 cup Olive Oil
2 Eggs, beaten
1/4 cup Water
1/2 tsp each Nutmeg, Allspice, Cinnamon
Dash of Ginger and/or Clove (optional)
1/2 tsp Chopped Nuts (optional)

Preheat oven 350°
Combine Flour, Salt, Sugar, Baking Soda in small bowl. Set aside
Combine Pumpkin, Oil, Eggs, Water & Spices in large bowl. Add dry ingredients.
Do Not Mix thoroughly. Stir in Nuts.

Pour into prepared 9x5x3 loaf pan. Bake 50-60 minutes or until skewer comes out clear. Turn out of pan and let cool.

This is a heavy sweet bread much like Banana Bread. Because each person's preference is different, you may want to vary the amount of sugar to make sweeter or even experiment with brown sugar vs white sugar.

Happy baking!
Lisa @ Jakes

Fall Festival

Jakes Produce closed this past Saturday to participate in the 1st Annual Cherokee County Animal Shelter Fall Festival. It was not only fun but educational for everyone involved as it was a first for the entire group.

Although the festival hours was from 12 Noon to 4 PM, we decided to get there early for setup...and it was a good thing.

We were fortunate to have great assistance from the Animal Shelter volunteers and local high school seniors assisting in setting up the tent and unloading the pumpkins, apples and canned goods. Volunteer Pud Mudd was our engineer in setting up the borrowed 10' x 20' tent. One of the local high school volunteers, Jansen from the Towne Lake area was our favorite volunteer with her willingness to pitch in and we can't forget her fabulous cookies! Notice the Snake Gourd wrapped around her neck....cool!

Kitty, Patsy and myself were kept busy throughout the day, arranging and selling pumpkins and canned goods. We met lots of new people at the festival and was glad Cherkee Animal Shelter staff and volunteers were able to accomplish their goal for finding homes for some of the many dogs and cats they take in at the shelter.