All posts by Gary Huber

Not your mama’s liver….

I love liver and onions, unfortunately, my husband does not.  I don’t make this dish very often, but do try to order it whenever it appears on a menu.

Until the other night.  It was my weekend to celebrate 47 years on earth and I decided I was going to have one of my favorite dishes.  This dish turned out so good my husband even asked if we could have it again sometime.

The liver was purchased from Ebersole Cattle Company, they have some of the best beef I’ve ever tasted.  Plus Shanen is just a cool lady, she’s petite, like me!

If you have shied away from liver because of a bad experience, do give this a try.  It was tender and sweet, and the leftovers were pretty darn good the next day!

To prepare the liver, I rinsed it very well, trimmed any tough pieces(saved them for the dog), sliced it thin then soaked for bit in milk.  I let the liver soak while I prepared the onions and the rice.

1 lb beef liver
2 Vidalia onions, or cippolini or any sweet yellow onion
2 tsp sugar
milk
salt (I used Sylvia’s Soulful Seasoning)
pepper
1/2 c flour
butter
lard or cooking oil
1/3 c water

Rinse, trim and slice the liver, soak in milk while you prepare the onions.

Slice the onions in half, then into very thin slices.  Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a pan and add onions.  When onions are limp, sprinkle with sugar and cook until they caramelize.

Drain liver well, salt and pepper, then toss liberally with flour until each piece is coated.  Remove onions when caramelized, and in same pan,  melt a few more tablespoons of butter and a tablespoon or two of lard, or use cooking oil over med heat.  When oil butter mixture is hot, add liver, cook until browned on one side then turn,  only turn once.  Return onions to pan with liver, when liver is just cooked, add water and let cook and bubble until a gravy forms.

Serve over steamed rice.

Not your mama’s liver….
Recipe Type: Main
Author: Merry Aman
If you have shied away from liver because of a bad experience, do give this a try. It was tender and sweet, and the leftovers were pretty darn good the next day! To prepare the liver, I rinsed it very well, trimmed any tough pieces(saved them for the dog), sliced it thin then soaked for bit in milk. I let the liver soak while I prepared the onions and the rice.
Ingredients
  • 1 lb beef liver
  • 2 Vidalia onions, or cippolini or any sweet yellow onion
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • milk
  • salt (I used Sylvia’s Soulful Seasoning)
  • pepper
  • 1/2 c flour
  • butter
  • lard or cooking oil
  • 1/3 c water
Instructions
  1. Rinse, trim and slice the liver, soak in milk while you prepare the onions.
  2. Slice the onions in half, then into very thin slices. Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a pan and add onions. When onions are limp, sprinkle with sugar and cook until they caramelize.
  3. Drain liver well, salt and pepper, then toss liberally with flour until each piece is coated. Remove onions when caramelized, and in same pan, melt a few more tablespoons of butter and a tablespoon or two of lard, or use cooking oil over med heat. When oil butter mixture is hot, add liver, cook until browned on one side then turn, only turn once. Return onions to pan with liver, when liver is just cooked, add water and let cook and bubble until a gravy forms.
  4. Serve over steamed rice.

 

WFAN Home-Canning Field Day

Women, Food & Agriculture Network

1 to 4 p.m.
Saturday, September 17th,
near Harlan, Iowa

RSVP or Ask Questions by
Wednesday, Sept. 14

Lynn Heuss,
515.201.9450

OR

Ellen Walsh-Rosmann,
712.579.1933

 

It’s harvest season, and the number of people raising their own gardens and planning to preserve some of their fruits and vegetables is on the rise. Women who are new to canning and freezing, or want to brush up on their skills, are invited to join farmers Ellen Walsh Rosmann and Maria Rosmann at Rosmann Family Farms 1222 Ironwood Rd., Harlan, IA, on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 1 – 4 p.m. for Women, Food and Agriculture Network’s home-canning field day.

Bring your own fruits and vegetables to process for canning or freezing, or learn by helping others with theirs. Learn in a fun, informal environment with experienced canners on hand. To RSVP or to learn more about the event, call Ellen by Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 712-579-1933.

“Canning are freezing are skills that can provide families with healthful, nutritious choices year round,” says Leigh Adcock, executive director of WFAN.  “We are excited to sponsor this event and hope many in the central Iowa region will take advantage of the knowledge of Ellen, Maria and other food preservation experts who will be on hand.”

Women, Food and Agriculture Network is a non-profit, educational organization formed in 1997 to provide networking, information and leadership development opportunities to women involved in all aspects of sustainable agriculture. Learn more at www.wfan.org, or by calling 515-460-2477.

Dill Dressing

Dill Dressing
Recipe Type: Condiment
Author: Sheree Clark
Serves: 1 cup
Yield: one cup Equipment: Blender
Ingredients
  • 1 cup cashews, soaked rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons dried mustard
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients except dill in high-speed blender. Blend until smooth. Pulse in dill until combined.
Notes

© 2011 Sheree Clark | Fork in the Road | www.fork-road.com

Its so Chard….Swiss Chard!

I am loving the abundance of swiss chard!  My favorite way to have it here lately, is for breakfast.  This is a hearty breakfast, and will take you well into lunchtime.

You will need:

1  small Hubar family farm potatoes, diced small

1/4 small  Grinnel Family Farm cippolini onion, diced small

2-3 or more leaves Swiss Chard, sliced thin

2 eggs from the egg producer of your choice, cause their aren’t any bad eggs at IFC!

2 slices bacon, diced

1 clove Lo-Tech Acres garlic, finely diced (optional)

1 large La Tortilla Factory Wheat Tortilla (10 grams of fiber, you need this!)

Shredded Gouda, Cheddar or Goat Cheese crumbles – a few tablespoons

Cook the bacon about halfway, until it starts to let loose its lardy goodness, then toss in the onions and potatoes.  Stir and let this cook until the potatoes soften and begin to brown.  Toss in the garlic and swiss chard, stir and cook until the swiss chard is as soft as you like and the potatoes are browned.  Crack  in the two eggs.  For sunny side up, cover pan and turn off heat, let sit until eggs are to your liking.  For scrambled, make a well in the middle if the pan, crack in the eggs, stir and scramble until you are satisfied.

Place the tortilla on a plate, sprinkle on the cheese then place the potatoe mixture on the cheese.  Roll, or eat open face and enjoy!!

2nd Annual ARAG Green Fair

Time:
Friday, Septembner 30 · 11:00am – 2:00pm

Location:
Captal Square Atrium
400 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa

More Info:
Good Times Growing at the 2nd Annual ARAG Green Fair!

Meet your friends at the ARAG® Green Fair and discover eco-friendly products that are safe, healthy and cost-effective — all while making a difference to our environment. New this year, the Iowa Health System Stage will feature demonstrations on sustainability and the impact on public health, free samples, giveaways and more!

This free event is open to the public.

Alive and Well in Ankeny Wellness Conference

Mark Block, ankeny, iowa, wellness, health, fitness, adaptive sports, Do you have questions about how to live a healthier life? Are you overwhelmed with the many choices when it comes to exercise, weight loss, nutrition, organic and sustainable eating, running, cycling, supplements, massage therapy and more? Are you searching for a healthier MIND, BODY and SPIRIT?

Join us for the first annual  Alive & Well in Ankeny Wellness Conference
Time:
Saturday, August 27 · 9:00am – 2:00pm

Location:
First Family Church
317 S.E. Magazine Rd., Ankeny, IA 50021

 

The day will be filled with a wide array of local and national vendors offering information on everything from healthy foods, nutritional supplements and tools to help you live healthy!

We will be offering delicious and healthful samples of vendor products as well as a light lunch for a free will donation.

Working demonstrations will give you the insight to how to make little changes and increase your energy, lose weight, and feel better.

Breakout sessions will help you dive deep into everything from nutrition to choosing the right shoe.

Mark Block of Ankeny, Alive and Well in Ankeny Keynote Speaker

Alive and Well in Ankeny Wellness Conference at First Family Church announces Keynote Speaker Mark Block! Mark was paralyzed after a tragic car accident more than 20 years ago. Come hear how he overcame the odds & learned to walk, run and bike again.

 

Re-posted from FFCWellnsesAnkeny.com

Grinnell Heritage Farm Heirloom Tomato Tasting

RSVP on Facebook!

Time :
Sunday, September 4 · 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Location:
Grinnell Heritage Farm
1933 Penrose Street
Grinnell, IA

More Info:
Join us on the farm for our annual heirloom tomato tasting! In addition to the heirloom tomatoes there will be live local music, great food, activities for kids, and more.

 

Itinerary:
4:00 pm – Farm Tour
4:30 pm – Heirloom Tomato Tasting Begins
5:00 pm – Potluck

What to bring:
– You + Friends + Neighbors + Co-workers
– Local Foods Dish To Share
– Dinnerware (plate, silverware, cup, etc.)

We hope to see you on the farm!

 

Dehydrating 101: Dry it, You’ll Like It

The half-day class “Dehydrating 101: Dry it, You’ll Like It,” will cover what foods can be easily dehydrated and features demonstrations of healthy recipes using the dehydrator. The $65 tuition includes food samples. For more information and to register, visit http://www.meetup.com/RawFoodDSM, email info@fork-road.com or call (515) 249-2992.

The Des Moines Raw Food MeetUp Group welcomes Sheree Clark, health counselor and raw vegan chef, on Saturday, October 29 at Central Iowa Compounding, 2809 100th Street, Urbandale, Iowa 10:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. for a half-day class on using a dehydrator to preserve food.

Raw Food 101

“Raw Food 101” will cover the techniques of preparing such items as nut milks, entrees, snacks and desserts—all made with fresh, vegan, raw ingredients. The $129 tuition includes food samples.  For more information and to register, visit http://www.meetup.com/RawFoodDSM, email info@fork-road.com or call (515) 249-2992.

The Des Moines Raw Food MeetUp Group welcomes Sheree Clark, health counselor and raw vegan chef, on Saturday, October 1 at Bolton & Hay, 2701 Delaware Avenue from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for a day-long class on preparing raw food. (Bolton & Hay sells restaurant equipment and supplies to the wholesale trade, but is also open to the public.)

Bliss in the Blender

The half-day class “Bliss in the Blender,” will cover exciting ways to turn your blender into a lean, green, food-you’ll-love machine! The $59 tuition includes food samples. For more information and to register, visit http://www.meetup.com/RawFoodDSM, email info@fork-road.com or call (515) 249-2992.

The Des Moines Raw Food MeetUp Group welcomes Sheree Clark, health counselor and raw vegan chef, on Saturday, September 10, at Central Iowa Compounding, 2809 100th Street, Urbandale, Iowa 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for a half-day class on healthier eating.