Pioneer Woman at Heart

                        I am on a biscuit mission, to enhance side options for breakfast sandwiches, soup dinners and even get togethers.  These were Cheddar and Chive Biscuits. We once, on our adventures this year, tasted the most delicious breakfast sandwiches, there were served on a cheddar and chive biscuit (made in the restaurant from scratch). Results:  Delicious! I used all organic ingredients, and cut the chives fresh from our herb garden.   The recipe uses a different method to incorporate the butter and makes a very light and fluffy dough (a tip from Cooks Illustrated?). Note:  The above biscuit recipe is online if you are interested:  Ridiculously Easy Cheddar Chive Biscuits (The Café Sucre Farine) Note 2:  Be sure to flour your biscuit cutter (or it will stick a bit). Homemade Biscuits   ©  April 2025 by  Kristina  at  Pioneer  Woman at Heart

  Do you ever buy a used cookbook from a thrift store, because of something "shiny" you see inside?  Then do you go home, put the book down, and completely and utterly forget what you wanted to try? Well, I did just that with a thrift store cookbook purchase.  I bought it early a year ago (or longer, ha ha!).  I have had it out on the table, then counter, then table, then counter, then the kitchen island, and then back and forth.  I finally.....finally (screaming from the rooftop), made a recipe I decided on. First, let me tell you, the cookbook is all about high carbs (the good kind).  I do plan on reading the forward in the cookbook another day.  Much of the recipes are not for our liking, but I did try a biscuit recipe (that I had been wanting to try for months!!).  On a side note, this cookbook, has a lot of reading sections in it, as well as recipes.  I'll be taking a closer look at it soon. The recipe called for lowfat cottage cheese an...

We've been using this recipe for years.  I like the  fact that it's basic, similar to what the Pioneers used.  I can use milk from my goats or future cow, and I can make my own butter from cream.  These are delicious with buttermilk also. 

I had a request for the link to my homemade biscuits:  Click "Here" to get the recipe.

The wind chill was a perfect time to bake a side dish to go with our big pot of chili.  I typically make a buttermilk cornbread, but we have to keep an eye on my husband's diet. By the way, this morning we woke up to 23°F outside!  Wind chill is 14°F.  Feels like a heat wave after that sub zero weather we've had. I resurrected this draft (while looking for something else), that I have had for a few years now. I have no idea who gave me the recipe, but there are so many variations of them. I can't make this stuff up, ha ha!   First, my "whoopsie" below happened from using my recipe in my recipes, not off of this blog draft (thankfully). It wasn't until I made them again, that I realized my blog draft said "baking soda" and my home recipe stated "baking powder."  Had I not even found this draft, messed them up again, and looked at both recipes, I would have never noticed until someone else baked them.  Photo is when I forgot to add the baking...

  The temperature here plummeted again to -15°F and below.  The wind is so bad, you can hear it inside the house.  The wind is causing drifting across the already plowed roadways now.  It looks like we'll be sub zero for another week, before it very slightly warms up.  Meanwhile I still get that ice cold fresh air every day one way or another.  The chickens are not laying eggs every day, but we are still getting them thankfully. You'd think I'd have enough "snowed in" time to read a dozen books, but that's not the case ha ha!  It seems I can find all sorts of things that need done around here, leaving me very little reading time.  Phooey!  Positive Petunia here, has gotten quite a bit organized and back in order, but the deep cleaning continues.  I am thankful for the time to get it done however.  No one wants to do "inside" work in the spring/summer and fall.  Unless it's a rainy day of course. I have made tedious notes to get...

In case you missed the Hunter's Moon Wednesday, here you go.  We woke up to 33°F yesterday morning. Here is the moon this morning.  We woke up to a chilly 28°F.  I got up at 5:30am to take the dogs out and stoke the fire.  Typically, I put Mia on a leash and let Jesse go do his business within sight of our pole light.  However, after I called for him, a group of coyotes moved through, and they were close.  Loud too.  I had to yell "treaty" to get him running inside.  I will be taking him on a leash now when it's dark.  They were across the street somewhere, and the corn is still up there.  My hands were literally shaking, they were that close.  Coyotes were always an issue when we had kid goats.  Thankfully, they are not around our area as much as other areas.  This is the second time we've heard them this year. I only worked outdoors yesterday for about 30 minutes yesterday - too cold.  I can't function pul...

from the craft journal . . .      taught myself to knit, and taught two of the girls.  Worked more in my "possibilities" journal, and finished a DIY craft article. from the garden journal . . .       beets and swiss chard seeds have sprouted.  I can't believe the size of my heirloom runner beans.  I can't wait to see them blossom. from the homestead journal . . .     the new chickens are still not getting along with the reds.  They mind their own business while free ranging, but fight in the coop at night.   Orion's horn is growing in downwards, and we may have to de-horn him.      taught the younger two girls how to make homemade biscuits, and each made their own.    made a batch of homemade tick repellant for the dogs. from the gratitude journal . . .    ~today I am thankful for the cooler weather    ~today I am thankful I bought knitting ne...

  We got rain as predicted and I was happy.  I hopefully will have an easier time doing some digging in the garden.  I doubt I'll have much, but it must be done. Yesterday's dinner was beef stew.  I whipped up some homemade biscuits too. I still don't have a vehicle, and everyone working here is working long hours.  I had no milk.  I had to make these using powdered milk.  They were still good. As for a vehicle, my car is supposed to get towed this week or next to get the new engine.  Cross you fingers.  It's been so long since I had the freedom to go out when I want or need to.  Living in the country I have no options but to rely on others as well. I am back to my to-do list, but first I'll see if we got any good sized beets out there.  Then I'll make up a list of what I need and send it out to everyone with a vehicle in this house.  Just maybe, just maybe someone can bring it home for me. I hope all is well with everyone....

  The good:  I got rid of my "popcorn" ceiling which was half of the kitchen. The bad:  Now I have to paint it.  Paint is already purchased. The good:  Today, three new joists go in and sub floor.  Say a prayer this happens today. The bad:  In the process of replacing the seal plates, the vibration knocked old insulation out and into a pile to clean up today.  Back when we bought the house, they had a trash compacter.  They knocked out a section of plaster wall to install the electrical line to run the compacter (we ripped the compacter out years ago when it stopped working - bags to use it were expensive anyway, and trash charged us more for pick up).  It's in that area that the insulation all came out.  Guess who has to now remove upper cabinets, remove paneling (from previous owner we painted), then knock plaster out and install insulation, then re-panel the walls or dry wall it?   I'm about to lose my mind!  My st...

I had my own sous chef yesterday, so I got a lot done by 2pm.  Hubby was my chopping helper and enjoyed it actually.  I told him he needs to hurry up and retire. I kind of like having him at home. I roasted the last two pumpkins for making pumpkin butter - delicious!!!  One container for the fridge, and two went into the freezer. We'll use it to top waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, biscuits, toast and more.  Maybe use it in a dessert if the need arises.