Gooseberry Patch

Happy New Year!

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Ready to Ring in the New Year?

 

Only a few days left in 2011...can you believe it? We can't either, but we're looking forward to ringing in a new year and wish all of you the very best to come.

 Is there a special dish you enjoy on New Year's Day to encourage good luck to come your way? Whether it's pork & sauerkraut, black-eyed peas or another family recipe, tell us...

What's YOUR favorite NEW YEAR'S DAY recipe?
Share 'em all in today's Recipe Round-Up!

 

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Here's a recipe to inspire you from Jolly Holidays, one of our only cookbooks to feature a whole chapter of New Year's Eve and Day recipes, crafts and ideas!

Barbecued Pork
Shared by Darrell Lawry of Kissimmee, Florida, it's delicious served as an open-faced sandwich on crusty bread…add some slaw and you'll get your good-luck cabbage in too!

1/3 c. plus 1 T. water
2/3 c. onion, chopped
1/2 c. carrots, chopped
1/4 c. catsup
2 T. vinegar
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. brown sugar, packed
1 t. chili powder
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. pepper
2 c. pork, cooked and thinly sliced
1/3 c. celery, sliced
2 t. cornstarch

Combine 1/3 cup water and next 9 ingredients together in a 4-quart saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in pork and celery; simmer, covered, 5 minutes more. Whisk cornstarch with one tablespoon water; stir into meat mixture. Heat and stir until thickened and bubbly. Makes 4 servings.

 

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Comfort & Joy for the Week!

This week, we're featuring another of our favorite Christmas titles and as the holiday draws closer, we like to focus on what makes this season so special. The title of this cookbook seems to sum it up for us...we hope it does for you too!

We love a little...

Comfort & Joy! 

With all of the coziness of Christmas wrapped up in one book,
you'll love the chapters inside...

And, since each chapter has its own subheading, you'll know
just where to look for what kind of inspiration!

Tune in later this week for a last-minute touch of cheer from Deck the Halls and another recipe to enjoy on Christmas Eve - it's only 4 days away! The recipe below is from Season's Eatin's...enjoy it with YOUR family at the holidays or any time of year!

Oven-Roasted Ribs
This recipe was shared by Art Berkowitz of Los Angeles, California...thanks, Art! We think they're just fancy enough for company and still easy enough for every day!

1 c. peach preserves
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. Dijon mustard
4 lbs. beef or pork ribs
salt and pepper to taste

Combine preserves, lemon juice and mustard; mix well. Arrange ribs in a large roasting pan sprayed with non-stick vegetable spray. Add salt and pepper to taste; spread sauce on top. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until tender. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

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Recipes for Good Luck!

Eat just one bite of either of these recipes from our cookbook, 101 Slow Cooker Recipes, and you're sure to have good luck all year long.

Best of all, they both simmer away in the slow-cooker, so your day is free to enjoy with family and friends.

Happy New Year (a day early) to you!

German Roast Pork & Sauerkraut
Thanks to Sherry Doherty of Medford, New Jersey. 

3 to 4-lb. boneless pork roast
salt and pepper to taste
1 T. shortening
32-oz. pkg. sauerkraut
2 apples, cored, peeled and quartered
1 c. apple juice or water
14-oz. pkg. frozen pierogies

Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper. Heat shortening in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown roast on all sides; place in a slow cooker. Add undrained sauerkraut, apples and juice or water; blend. Gently add pierogies so they are partly submerged in the sauerkraut (as the roast cooks, more liquid will cover the pierogies). Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 9 hours. Serves 4 to 6.


Mom’s Black-Eyed Pea Soup
Thanks to Dana Cunningham of Lafayette, Louisiana. 

16-oz. pkg. dried black-eyed peas
10-3/4 oz. can bean with bacon soup
4 c. water
6 carrots, peeled and chopped
2-lb. beef chuck roast, cubed
1/4 t. pepper
Combine dried peas and remaining ingredients in a slow cooker; mix well. Cover and cook on low setting for 9 to 10 hours. Makes 6 servings.

Share the good luck however you like...click the button below for lots of options!

You'll Flip for These 3 Dips!

Did you catch us on Fox28's Good Day Columbus this morning?
Just in case you missed it, here are the recipes we made...
they're great for all your New Year's gatherings!

 

Want to make some of these goodies for your parties?

All three recipes appear in our cookbook, 101 Homestyle Favorites
and we're sharing them here today!

Robert’s Corn Dip
Thanks to Carole Snodgrass of Rolla, Missouri.

3 11-oz. cans sweet corn & diced peppers, drained
7-oz. can chopped green chiles
6-oz. can chopped jalapenos, drained and liquid added to taste
1/2 c. green onion, chopped
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. sour cream
1 t. pepper
1/2 t. garlic powder
16-oz. pkg. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
corn chips

Mix all ingredients except corn chips together and refrigerate. Serve with corn chips for scooping. Makes about 6 cups.

Pizza Fondue
Thanks to Michelle Golz of Freeport, Illinois.

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 10-oz. cans pizza sauce
1 T. cornstarch
1-1/2 t. fennel seed
1-1/2 t. dried oregano
1/4 t. garlic powder
2-1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
2 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese
bread sticks

Brown ground beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat; drain. Add remaining ingredients except bread sticks; simmer until cheese melts. Serve hot with bread sticks for dipping. Serves 6 to 8.

Creamy BLT Dip
Thanks to Barbara Thurman of Carlyle, Illinois.

1 lb. bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. sour cream
2 tomatoes, chopped
Optional: chopped fresh chives

Blend together bacon, mayonnaise and sour cream; chill. Stir in tomatoes just before serving; sprinkle with chives, if desired. Makes 2-1/2 cups.

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What's New in 2010?

Happy New Year! We have always loved the start of a brand new year. Hopes are high, dreams are cast...and everyone gets a fresh start.

It’s a new year for Gooseberry Patch, too. We're welcoming it with a little video...click below to see it!

We’ve been growing our community of cookbook lovers and contributors since 1992, and the heart of our cookbook community is you! You’ve told us year after year how much you’ve loved collecting our cookbooks, sharing them with family & friends, and contributing recipes for them.

Gooseberry Patch has many exciting plans for the New Year. We are planning on publishing more & more cookbooks throughout the year! This means there will be more ways for YOU to get your recipes published. Our cookbooks will now be offered in even more great retail stores in your local neighborhood like Cracker Barrel, Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores, Kroger, Safeway and many more to come. And of course, you can always find our cookbooks conveniently on our web store at www.gooseberrypatch.com.

Focusing all of our energy on cookbook publishing does mean one big change for Gooseberry Patch...we will no longer be offering a mail-order catalog. We know you’ll miss our “Country Store in Your Mailbox” as much as we will. But the future of Gooseberry Patch cookbooks is very bright. We are very excited about expanding our publishing so you’ll have lots of new cookbooks to enjoy for many years to come!

We’ll also be having more contests and giveaways than ever! We’ll continue to grow our online community by writing this Blog, keeping up with friends on our Page on Facebook and on Twitter. We’ll be traveling across the country and attending more events, like the Country Living Fair. We’re planning lots of new ways to meet our Gooseberry Patch friends, like you!

Most of all, we want to thank you for your continued friendship and support. Gooseberry Patch exists because of YOU! We look forward to sharing our love of cooking with you more than ever in the coming years.

So we wish you a Happy New Year...may yours be filled with family, friends and lots of yummy
Gooseberry Patch recipes!

Warmest wishes,

Happy New Year!

Make Your Own Good Fortune!

Good fortune will smile on everyone with these fun, be-ribboned favors! Whether you're watching the ball drop at a party or cozying up at home (our favorite!) they make a fun addition to any celebration!

Good Fortune Favors

scissors
8-1/2" x 11" sheets colored paper
colored pens or markers
fortunes or fun quotes
curling ribbon
clear plastic or glass ornaments

Cut strips of paper one to 2" wide, as needed to fit into ornaments, and about 
8-1/2" long. Write a fortune or quote on each strip of paper. (We've given you a few examples to get started below!) Roll each fortune into a tight scroll and tie with ribbon, leaving end of ribbon long. Place one fortune into each ornament; allow excess ribbon to trail out of top of ornament, if using glass. Leave ribbon inside if using plastic. Stack the favors in a dish and let guests choose (and read!) their fortunes at the strike of midnight!

Here are a few sample fortunes
to get you started...

Remember, success is a journey, not a destination.

You will receive a new perspective in the new year.

Make every day in your life a special occasion.

Don't just spend your time. Invest it in what you love.

Keep an open mind...ideas come from everywhere.

Every mile is covered one step at a time.

The time is right to make new friends.

Follow your dreams and you'll never go wrong.

How are YOU celebrating the big night? We'd love to hear about it!

Do You Make Resolutions?

We go back and forth every year...should we make resolutions or let the year unfold as it may? This year, we decided to go ahead and make them, even if they're just hopes for the new year!

This year, I'm taking my usual "exercise more" resolution to the next level...I'm training for my first 5K run! I'm also really looking forward to making more time to be crafty and heading back to my knitting classes! Vickie, let me guess...you'll be cleaning out your barn?

Jo Ann's right...much like the last 10 years or so, at the top of my list is cleaning out the barn! We use it for storage but you wouldn't believe the treasure that's stored out there...my old majorette boots and fire baton, a few years of Rolling Stone magazine, stacks of flowerpots, croquet balls, old computer equipment, ice skates...you name it, it's out there! This year is the year that's it's getting organized though, or at least I hope so!

How about you...what are your resolutions (or hopes) for the new year? We'd love to hear about them!