Grueling Week

Although I've had a strenuous week, and had goat duties to cover my daughter's absence, I got the chance to hold and kiss the cutesome twosome (my name for the twin bucklings).

I pampered myself with fresh roses and tulips.

Today is the last day for Driver's ed. classes, and the first day of spring break (for the younger ones). 

The younger two girls have already bombarded me with sleepover runs, and so forth.   

Sharing a update on "Dark Days Challenge"

Breakfast has been farm fresh eggs, along with homemade whole wheat bread we bought, topped with hormone free (locally made) butter, and my home canned jams/jellies.

    This is the easiest recipes I have come up with.  Last summer we were gifted home canned Pepper Mustard Sauce.  I was told it would be delicous over meatballs.  However, I simply placed organic chicken tenderloins in the crock, then topped it with a jar of sauce.  Wa-La!  Dinner is served!

I served it over organic brown rice, along with broccoli and cauliflower.  

Snack?  Well, you'll get to see that tomorrow. 

Oh...and I plan to can that Pepper Mustard this summer, so watch for a recipe too.  We very much enjoyed it, and I very much enjoyed a stress-free dinner prep. 

 

Using Up

It's been a while since I posted anything regarding the Dark Days Challenge.  Yesterday, breakfast was fresh farm eggs, and organic waffles.

Dinner was a pasta dish using my home canned tomato sauce, frozen (garden) green peppers and dehydrated mushrooms.  My home canned, organic applesauce is a wonderful side for breakfast, lunch or dinner (or for baking too).

This week I have had a hankering for iced tea.  I have been making a gallon almost every day.  Mmmm!  

Today, I will be scrambling up 2 dozen eggs, and adding onion and green peppers (from last year's garden), and adding frozen spinach.  This makes it easy for hubby to grab a quick breakfast burrito before he goes to work.

Evening, wind down time, usually involves hot tea.  I purchased organic, loose leaf tea from a small (privately owned) local business.
 

Wacky Weather

We went from this on January 26th, to ....

...this a few days ago - warm and muddy mess.  I had to wear mucking boots out to put my laundry on the line.

  Today it's snowing again. 

All in a days work.

We now have three of us down with the crud.  I may have to make homemade cough syrup yet.  Looks like one of the kids will be cooking dinner again.  

My oldest daughter, although started getting sick later last night, stepped up to make dinner.  She was creative and scrambled eggs with my home canned salsa, and made egg sandwiches on English muffins.  For the side she cut up potatoes and fried them with cumin.  I regret not getting a photo.

Fighting Two Kinds of Colds

I woke up yesterday feeling worse than the day before, and just wanted to rest on the couch, drink hot tea, and warm up with homemade chicken noodle soup.  I'm not sure if it's a cold or possibly trouble with sinuses.

I didn't have the energy to cook chicken, and had leftover turkey.  I made a crock pot of homemade turkey-noodle soup, with homemade noodles.  I think it was the last of the noodles I had in the freezer too. 

With temperatures anywhere from below zero, to the teens, it warmed me up, and will hopefully help my body fight off this sickness that creeped in on me. 

Today, there is another 2 hour school delay.  Again, bone chilling temperatures.  Again, we have frozen pipes.  I hope we have enough in jugs to water the horse, chickens, goats, dogs and cats. 

Frugal and Healthy Soup/Stew

It's the still-needing-a-name-soup/stew.

It turned out more of a stew than a soup.

I did not use any broth or stock either.  

Baking with Homemade Ingredients and Real Magazines

I don't subscribe to many magazines, but I do utilize my local library.   Just before the library closed for the holidays, I picked up a few of my favorites.  I also picked up one that I typically don't read - Ladie's Home Journal.

In this particular issue, I found another unique recipe, and one worth trying. Luckily, the recipes are also on-line, so I don't have to type it out, and I can direct you to the correct source.

Fruit Jam Crumble Bars
(Adapted from Ina Garten's Raspberry Crumble Bars)

I used the idea of Ina Garten's recipe, but utilized my home canned pear jam and homemade granola.  I initially wanted to use my canned wild black raspberry jam, but we ate it all.

I did not have sliced almonds and could have used more of the crust mixture, for the topping, but these were wonderful.  It was almost like eating pie with your fingers.

I used an 8 oz. jar of jam also, even though her recipe calls for a 10-12 oz jar.

And of course, my ultimate goal is to some day, use my own homemade butter.

Here is the link to the recipe for the granola.  It was in our local newspaper, and submitted by another writer who belongs to my Christian Writer's group. 

It was also one of the homemade gifts I gave this past Christmas.

Good Morning Granola

We are taking a trip to the library today.  They closed their doors just prior to Christmas and are opening them again today. 
  


 

Breaking out my Apron for Some Good Old-Fashioned Baking

I was reading over a Christmas book that I purchased at a Goodwill store many years ago (for $.99). I came across this recipe that looked worth trying.  I think it is a pretty tasty side version of a bread roll, but healthier, and baked like a muffin.

Wheat-Corn Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup cornmeal

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 organic eggs, beaten

1 1/3 cups organic milk

1/4 cup raw honey

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup finely chopped white onion

1/4 cup shelled sunflower seeds

In a bowl stir together whole wheat flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp. salt.   

 In a separate bowl combine eggs, milk, honey, oil, and onion.  Add all at once to the dry mixture.  Stir until moistened.  Batter will be thin.

Spoon into lined muffin pans, filling paper liners (See Note) about 2/3 full.  Sprinkle tops with sunflower seeds.

Bake in a 400°F oven for about 18-20 minutes.  This makes about 1 1/2 dozen muffins. 

(Source:  Adapted from  the Better Homes and Gardens Treasury of Christmas Crafts and Foods, © 1980, ISBN: 0-696-00025-3)

I think this recipe could qualify under the dark days challenge - our whole wheat flour and cornmeal comes from a local mill, our honey is local as well, and the eggs came from our chickens.  This also challenges me to grow more onions and dehydrate more, for recipes like this.

Note: These muffins do stick to paper liners.  I highly suggest a non-stick spray in a good muffin pan, or lining with parchment paper instead.

Cooking with Dehydrated Garden Potatoes

I would have a photo of our finished dish, but it was devoured.  Literally.

Pasta Salad

~1 pkg. Hodgson Mill Veggie Rotini (no preservatives etc)