As you might have guessed, this was one of my gradma's recipes. It is for a cheese sauce that you make in bulk and freeze so that you have a sauce ready to grab for a quick meal.

Ingredients: 

• 8oz sharp cheddar cheese
• ¾ cup boiling water
• ⅓ cup butter or margarine, melted
• ½ cup instant blending flour
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 2 tsp worcestershire sauce
• ½ cup milk powder
  

Directions:

• Shred cheese with electric shredder or grate. Place the shredded cheese in a blender.
• Pour boiling water into the blender and blend until smooth and cheese is melted. 
• Add remaining ingredients in order listed then mix. 
• Pour sauce into 8 ½ “ x 4 ½ “ loaf pan or aluminum ice cube tray. 
• Freeze until consistency of ice cream. 
• Cut into 16 one-inch cubes; remove to chilled tray. 
• Freeze until solid.
• Package and store in freezer.

To Use:

Vegetables: Cook one, 10-oz package frozen lima beans, broccoli, or asparagus in ¾ cup lightly salted water until tender. Add 4 cheese sauce cubes. Stir and cook until sauce is smooth and thick.

Pasta Sauce: To prepare a separate sauce, stir 3 cubes into ¾ cup milk. Cook over medium heat until smooth and thick. Use with macaroni or vegetables.

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#Recipes #Recipe #preserves

Two open kangina full of red grapes in Afghanistan. Image Source

What Kangina Are:

Kangina is an ancient preservation technique still used in Afganastan today that makes use of clay. Produce is sealed within two clay bowls, and stored somewhere cool.

It is thanks to Kangina that even people in remote communities can still enjoy fresh produce in winter months. [1]

If stored somewhere cool, they will remain fresh for up to 6 months. This is because the vessels are a form passive controlled-atmosphere storage. Due to restricting the airflow and moisture, is is harder for microbes to thrive, but at the same time, the clay still supplies enough oxygen to keep the grapes alive. 2

How They are Made

After making bowls out of clay, they are left in the sun to bake. Once they are completely dried, they are ready to use. [3]

The produce (often grapes) are placed inside a bowl, and another bowl is placed on top and the seams are sealed with mud. [4]

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#preserving #preserves #food #TraditionalSkills #GreenLiving