Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Saturday, March 19, 2016

From Pile to File ~ Random Tidbits

I really liked this new recipe we tried recently - Pasta with Spinach and Ricotta.


You boil 8 oz. of rotini pasta and drain.  They suggested the tri-color veggie noodles, but I can only find organic regular noodles.

While the noodles are boiling, drain and squeeze a frozen and thawed box of  chopped spinach (or use equivalent of homegrown).  Place in a 12 inch skillet, add 1 minced clove and heat 5 minutes.  Add 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup water and 1 1/2 Tbsp (I didn't measure) of Parmesan cheese.  Add salt and pepper.  When heated, add drained rotini and serve.  

I doubled it for our family, and had to buy the spinach, but I can typically find organic ricotta at our one grocer.  It was very good.  I had practically no leftovers.
 


I've been slowly adding furniture to the porch.   Hubby is back to trying to take over my porch again.


What do you think?  We may add a thin shelf to the right of it, to add a few potted flowers.


Although the temperature here has dropped this weekend, it will be back to the 60's next week.  The ashes were all cleaned out and firewood restocked.
 



We are taking a look at hooks and latches from the old big barn to recycle into the goat barnWe might as well start removing things we can use.

I took a few moments for myself on the porch.  A hot cup of homemade hot chocolate was just what I needed to keep the chill away.  I dug out my garden journal, and started to plot out this year's plan.  This journal has graphing paper inside.  I can look over last year's layout, and change it for this year.

We finally got our red seed potatoes.  We are planted 20 pounds vs. our usual 30 pounds.  We bought the last the had.  They are non-gmo.  Hubby brought home fingerling to plant as well, but forgot sweet potatoes.  Last year we planted 240 onions.  This year he brought home about the same. I sure pray that this year's garden is bountiful. 

There's been a lot of talk going on at the homestead.  Build this, build that, fix this, fix that, buy this, buy that....but not a whole lot of doin'.  I'm afraid the list is growing.  Yikes.

Today, Hubby's truck is being towed to a nearby family member's garage.  Oldest Daughter has her belongings in our garage, and we can't get a vehicle in there (that is soon to change).  Anyway, we think it's either the fuel line plugged or the fuel pump.  This put the ka-bosh on us getting work done - load of stone for the driveway.  



  

9 comments:

Kim said...

Ahhh the ever growing springtime to-do list that is still being worked on in the fall!! We have one of those as well. That pasta dish looks great, and so easy too!

Mama Pea said...

The glimpses of your porch always look so inviting.

We have organic tri-colored spiral pasta at our co-op and I use it in a lot of summer salads. Adds a bit of color and interest so I can envision how it would look in this new dish you made.

Vehicle problems! Can't live with the darn things and sure can't live without them. (The vehicles that is . . . not the problems.)

My onion sets and potato sets have been ordered and paid for. Just waiting now for the right time for the two companies to ship them. Sure not ready to plant yet! We are nearly out of potatoes from last year. Crop wasn't as good as it should have been so I decided to order new tubers hoping they will be stronger and yield better this year.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mama Pea, so glad you have organic tri-color pasta. I hope our store starts carrying it soon. I like to set my potatoes in boxes in front of the wood stove. It helps them grow eyes faster. Stores were late getting them in, and we were a week late buying them.

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

We have lots of list making too. Not much in the way of work is getting done it seems.
It's like we've taken a turn for the worse!
I'm feeling somewhat complacent.
...it's thin ice for sure. So much to do-- TIME MANAGEMENT is on the radar. I'm hoping to fine tune our days and get more done, along with studying.
I was going to take a summer class closer to home but am thinking of taking a break for summer. We'll see.
Your porch looks inviting. Like there is room for everybody. Not sure about Hubby taking over the porch, unless he takes over the porch like my hubby does,...meaning, he thinks it's extra storage?! That's how it goes here. Things piled on the porch and no place to set a glass of tea!
Hope your able to get the new goat barn done. Having the garage cleaned out to work on vehicles seems like a big deal. We don't have a covered shelter for car repairs... but they somehow get done.
We're thinking of building a car port this year. We'll see!
(it's on the list) LOL!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Patricia, your list sounds about as long as mine, ha ha!

RB said...

I hope everyone's mending at your house.
Ya know, there's a market for old metal fixtures, so whatever latches and such you can't use from the old barn, you might be able to sell on Ebay or some similar site, or even at some of the sales you sell your crafts at.
Your porch looks so comfortable and welcoming. A little shelf with a trailing plant like petunias beside it would be sweet.
Chilly here this weekend, so I got a pot roast in the oven with small potatoes, carrots, garlic and mushrooms, and boy - was it ever good.
Prayers everyone has a safe happy week.
God bless.
RB
<><

Michelle said...

Will have to try this recipe. I love anything with spinach. I have a long list for my husband . Unfortunately I also have one for myself. There always seems to be something that needs to be done.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

RB, thanks for those tips. Your dinner sounds great!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Michelle, it was very good. I have a running list for myself too, as well as big jobs. I think it keeps us sane.