Here are two easy recipes that are so yummy and get you out of the kitchen fast on hot days. Our temperature gauge out back says it’s 105 here today! I’m thawing some previously made black beans for vegetarian tacos tonight! Happy weekend everyone! And now the recipes…

Orange Cranberry Couscous

Prepare couscous according to package directions. Add freshly ground pepper, salt, and white wine vinegar to taste. (I add a few Tbs and then taste it, sometimes adding more after it’s cooled.) Refrigerate until cold, then stir in about 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries, 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, the juice from 1/2 of an orange and the orange cut up in small chunks, and more seasoning if you need it. That’s it! Tasty and simple. You could add shredded carrots to get in some veggies as well!

Easy Freezer pickles

2 quarts sliced cucumbers (about 30 small)
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbs pickling salt
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tsp celery seed
About 3/4 cup sugar

Sprinkle the sliced cucumbers and onions with salt, mix well and let sit for about 3 hours, covered. After 3 hours, rinse well with cold water and drain thoroughly. Mix together vinegar, celery seed, and sugar; pour over cucumbers and onions. Mix, cover, and refrigerate overnight or about 8 hours. Pack pickles in straight sided containers. Cover with liquid, leaving 1 inch space at the top. Seal and freeze. Defrost in the refrigerator for 8 hours before serving. This recipe was adapted from my new cookbook mentioned in the last post- ‘Simply In Season’.

Side note~ I’m finding more and more that Jude is really helpful in the kitchen when I set him up with a simple task! Although I could probably get the job done faster myself, I love seeing him enjoy working along side me, talking about what we’re making, what we have been doing that day. Owen loves to bat at his toys these days and will spend little chunks of time trying to get the toys dangling above his head, giving me small windows of time (plus naps:) to get my summer projects done. I’m trying to stock my freezer full for winter with all the yummy summer goodies the garden and farm stand have to offer!