Gooseberry Patches The Harvest Table {A Goosey Review & Giveaway}

It's that time again for another Goosey Review! I know what you're thinking why is she featuring a Harvest cookbook and it isn't even Fall?

I know it's hot outside 90 degrees to be exact here in Texas, but just set that thought aside and indulge with me for a moment.

As a Early Bird Reviewer I'm blessed with the opportunity to be able to review soon to be released Gooseberry Patch Titles.

I have to say that I enjoy it very much. It's so fun to get a sneak peek before anyone else and I love sharing my thoughts along the way. I know it's hot outside, but let's look at this kind of like Christmas in July.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons especially for cooking and baking. I love all the pumpkin and apple recipes, football food and hearty soups and stews. I was so excited to be chosen to review "The Harvest Table". It was nice for just a bit to be taken back to the flavors of Fall. This cookbook just like so many other Gooseberry Patch cookbooks is packed full of great recipes and clever tips.

The Harvest Table has six delicious chapters:
Hearty Autumn Brunch, Soup Supper with Friends, Simple Harvest Suppers, Thanksgiving with all the Trimmings, Festive Fall Flavors and Save Room for Dessert.

This cookbook has a great selection of recipes. For starters it has some pretty tasty brunch and breakfast ideas, Iced Coffee, Jack O Lantern Flapjacks Banana Waffles, Coffee Cakes, Egg dishes and Farmhouse Gravy.

I chose to try the Nutty Skillet Granola first . I always prepare my granola in the oven, but this recipe uses the simplicity of a skillet. The granola calls for quick and old fashioned oats, pecans, almonds, walnuts and more.

It also uses real maple syrup which gave this granola a great flavor. I can honestly say that my husband and I both love this granola recipe better than the one I have been using.

Next I moved onto Glorious Cheese Grits. Grits are one of those foods that you either love or hate. If you're from the south than chances are that you love them just like me. I like my grits plain with butter or with cheese and baked.

The recipe I'm sharing today aren't your regular run of the mill grits, but they have the addition of breakfast sausage and cheese. I thought the crumbled breakfast sausage gave these grits a nice meaty flavor.

At least with the sausage added my husband actually gave them a try. Even with this recipe I still don't think I sold him on the whole grits thing. Oh well I will keep trying.

I have made the recipe above for Tasty Turkey Rolls for as long as I can remember. This recipe comes from the Simple Harvest Supper chapter. Boxed stuffing is cooked and stuffed inside store bought turkey slices, rolled up and topped with turkey gravy. It doesn't get any easier that than that my friends. (click on the title to get this recipe)

Now it's time to move on to a few desserts that have to be mentioned. The Save Room for Dessert chapter has a whole bunch of holiday recipes. It has recipes for a Caramel Apple Cake, Black Midnight Cake, Lemon Upside Down Cake, Toffee Cheesecake and a Halloween Poke Cake. I actually made the Halloween Poke Cake last year and everyone loved it.

I don't want to forget to point out all the creative tips they have scattered throughout the cookbook. The one on page 207 works wonders on just about any holiday. I practice this tip every year to keep all the little ones from getting under foot.

There you have it! All the recipes that I chose to make. I have to say this is one of my favorite fall cookbooks that I have in my Gooseberry Patch Collection.

Would you like to get your hands on a copy of "The Harvest Table". Well you can! Gooseberry Patch has been generous enough to include a second copy to share with one of my MK readers. See below to find out how you can win a copy for yourself.

I also wanted to mention that this cookbook will not be available for purchase until June 16Th. Right now you can pre-order a copy from amazon books for $11.53. That's an amazing price my friends and it's available with free super saver shipping on orders over $25. Now onto the giveaway.

How To Enter The Giveaway:
Just leave a comment on this post telling me what you're favorite fall recipe is? (mandatory entry) For me it's pumpkin bread, apple cobbler and hot tamale cider.

Additional Entries:
You can do any or all of the following for extra entries. Please leave a separate comment for each one.

1. Become a Fan of Gooseberry Patch on Face book. When you have done that, return to this post and leave a separate comment letting me know that you are a fan.
2. Join Gooseberry Patch "Circle of Friends" so you can stay Gooseberry Patch updated.
3. Become a fan of Mommy's Kitchen on Face book. (If you're already a fan that counts too)
4. Mention this giveaway on your face book page. Come back and leave a comment telling me so.
5. Tweet the following for another entry: Win a copy of @gooseberrypatch "Harvest Table" @mommyskitchen http://tiny.cc/a9ytew #giveaway

Last day to enter this giveaway will be Sunday June 3rd, 2012 at midnight (CST). I will pick a random winner using random.org and announce the winner on this blog, face book and twitter.

Contest is open to U.S & Canadian Residents only due to shipping charges. If you leave an anonymous comment please include your email address so I can contact you in the event that you're the winner. Good Luck!!!

Nutty Skillet Granola

1 - cup quick oats, uncooked
1 - cup old fashioned oats, uncooked
1 - cup chopped or sliced almonds
1 / 2 - cup chopped walnuts
1/2 - cup chopped pecans
1/2 - cup wheat germ
1/4 - cup oil (I used coconut oil)
1/2 - cup maple syrup
3/4 - cup brown sugar
1 - cup raisins, optional

In a large bowl, mix oats, nuts, wheat germ; set aside. In a large skillet over medium heat, combine oil, maple syrup and brown sugar. Cook stirring constantly until sugars melt and the mixture just begins to bubble. Add oat mixture; stir well to coat completely. Reduce heat to medium - low. Cook stirring occasionally until mixture begins to sizzle and toast 3-4 minutes. Be careful not to burn the mixture. Remove from heat and stir in raisins or other dried fruit. Cool for 10 minutes ( I cooled for 30 min.) transfer to an airtight container. Makes 7 cups.

Glorious Cheese Grits

4 - cups water
1 - cup long cooking grits
3 - cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 - tablespoons butter
1 1/2 - teaspoons garlic salt
1 - teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ( did not use)
1 - egg. beaten
1 - lb pork breakfast sausage, cooked, crumbled and drained

In a large saucepan bring water to a boil over high heat. Stir in grits; bring to a second boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 5-10 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, add 2 cups cheese, butter, garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce. Mix until combined and cheese is melted.

Stir eggs slowly into mixture. Transfer half of the mixture to a buttered 2 quart casserole dish. Add cooked sausage; top with remaining grits mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. (I did not do this step)

Remove from refrigerator and let set on counter for 30 minutes. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and top with remaining cheese. Return to oven for several minutes until cheese is melted. Makes 4-6 servings.

Gooseberry Patch provided me with a copy of "The Harvest Table" for the purpose of this review. They also provided an additional copy to use in a reader giveaway. With that being said the opinions & comments stated above are entirely my own. I would like to thank Gooseberry Patch for choosing Mommy's Kitchen as a "Early Bird Reviewer"

Click here to continue reading and get recipe.

First Zucchini of the Season {Recipe: Chocolate Zucchini Bread}

We have received a lot of rain here in North Texas the last two months. It's been a welcome blessing heat wise as well as for our garden. All the rain has gotten our vegetable garden going in just the the right direction.

I'm happy to say that last week we picked our first zucchini of the season! Since then we have had two more pop up so it's been quite a great start for the year. Out of everything we planted I was hoping the zucchini would really take off, because I have lots of plans for those green beauties.

I have all my favorites that must be made, zucchini pickles, squash relish, zucchini bread muffins, grilled veggies and my sons favorite Chocolate Zucchini Bread. This is one of Carson's favorite snack breads.

What better way to celebrate our first zucchini of the year than with a delicious batch of chocolate zucchini bread. Carson was pretty excited when he came home from school and saw the zucchini bread cooling on the counter. Two slices and a big glass of milk and I had one happy camper.

I finally broke the news to him that there was zucchini inside that yummy bread he was eating. He looked straight up at me and said mom it's in my bread? I said yes and you have been eating it for years. He said you tricked me, but it's OK cause this is good.

If you love regular zucchini bread than you need to give this chocolate version a try.
I promise you won't be sorry.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

3 - eggs
1 1/2 - cups sugar
1 - cup vegetable oil or
1/2 - vegetable oil + 1/2- cup applesauce
1 - teaspoon vanilla extract
2 - cups grated zucchini
3 - cups all purpose flour, sifted
1 - teaspoon salt
1 - teaspoon baking soda
1/2 - teaspoon baking powder
1 - teaspoon cinnamon
1 - 3 oz box instant chocolate pudding
1/2 - cup pecans, chopped, optional
1/2 - cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs, sugar, oil, (or oil applesauce combination) and vanilla extract. Fold in the zucchini. Sift the flour and combine with salt, baking soda and baking powder, cinnamon and pudding mix.

Add to the egg mixture and mix well. Fold in the nuts if using and the chocolate chips. Pour into two greased loaf pans or 4 mini loaf pans.

Bake for one hour, or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool on rack for 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool completely. If making mini loaves bake for 20 - 25 minutes.

Recipe yields: 2 loaves or 4 - 5 mini loaves
Recipe adapted from: The Red Hat Society Cookbook

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Banana Cream Poke Cake & More Banana Recipes

Bananas are pretty popular in our house. It's the one fruit that every family member seems to love. There are so many ways to enjoy bananas, but here are just a few of my families favorites. Bananas are the perfect portable treat so just eating them plain is at the top of our list.

We also love banana's in homemade banana pudding, smoothies, shakes, pancakes, salads and baked goods. By far quick breads and pies are my favorite, but when the bananas start to get over ripe I like to make Banana Bread and Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins. Those seem to be my family's favorite sweet treats.

Besides breads and pies I also love to bake cakes, so today I want to share an easy recipe for a Banana Cream Poke Cake. Y'all know I love my sweets so when Walmart asked me to share a recipe using bananas I didn't waste anytime coming up with this yummy poke cake recipe.

I love the vintage jell-o and pudding poke cakes, so for me bananas, pudding and cool whip just sounded like the perfect combination. I have to say this banana cake turned out really good. I actually think it taste better the second day after the flavors settle in. If you love pudding poke cakes you need to try this version.

I purchased everything I needed at my local Walmart:
1 - 8 oz cool whip, 2 - bananas, sliced, 1 - 18.5 oz yellow or golden vanilla cake mix, 2 - boxes of instant vanilla pudding. (I think one would be enough because I had plenty pudding left over).

Bake the cake according to package directions for a 13x9 inch pan. Let the cake cool for 15 minutes, then poke holes in the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon. Try to space the holes a little less than 1 inch apart and make sure they're pretty deep.

Combine one box of pudding mix and 2 cups of milk in a large mixing bowl (preferably one with a spout) Using a whisk beat the pudding just until smooth - -about a minute. Pudding should still be thin and runny.

Carefully pour the pudding into the holes. Do this slowly until holes are completely filled, but pudding is not flowing all over the top of the cake. Put the cake in the refrigerator and chill for about an hour.

Remove cake from fridge. Slice the bananas and lay them on top of the pudding layer. Frost with cool whip and return to the refrigerator and let the chill until ready to serve.

Enjoy!

Banana Cream Poke Cake

1 - 18.5 oz white, yellow or golden vanilla cake mix,
plus eggs, oil and water as directed on box
1 - 3.9 oz box instant vanilla pudding
2 - cups milk
2 - bananas, sliced
1 - 8 oz container regular or light cool whip

Bake the cake according to package directions for a 13x9 inch pan. Let the cake cool for 15 minutes, then poke holes in the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon. Try to space the holes less than 1 inch apart and make sure they're pretty deep.

Combine one box of pudding mix and 2 cups of milk in a large mixing bowl (preferably one with a spout) Using a whisk beat the pudding just until smooth - -about a minute. Pudding should still be thin and runny.

Carefully pour the pudding into the holes. Do this slowly until holes are completely filled, but pudding is not flowing all over the top of the cake. Put the cake in the refrigerator and chill for about an hour.

Remove cake from fridge. Slice the bananas and lay them on top of the pudding layer. Frost with cool whip and return to the refrigerator and let the chill until ready to serve.

If you're looking for more banana recipes, I have included a few of our favorites.

Southern Banana Pudding, Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, Blueberry Banana Cheese Pie and Chocolate Covered Banana Pops.

We love smoothies, so here are some yummy smoothie recipes. Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Green Monster Smoothie, Blueberry Banana Smoothie and Bananarita Smoothie.

Also did you know that you can freeze bananas? Well you can click here for my step by step tutorial on how to freeze bananas. Just thaw and use in smoothies, muffins, bread and baked goods. Don't throw over ripe bananas in the trash freeze them instead.

I'm part of the Walmart Moms Program. Follow me and my other fellow Walmart Moms and our ideas. Walmart has provided me with a gift card and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. Participation in this program is voluntary and the opinions stated above are entirely my own.

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