Pioneer Woman at Heart

Our family gatherings are over for 2012, and the Chris tmas decorations come down on the 1st of the new year 2013.  We box up the tree lights, the outdoor lights and the Santa cookie jar.  We box u p the stocking s and homemade ornaments. ..until next Christ mas. Happy New Year! Have a blessed , safe, and pro sper ous 2013!  

I f inally got some time (and cash) to bake a few cookies.  This time, I utilized some oranges that a family member g ifted us.  I made  White Chip Orange Cookies .   These were delicious!

I was reading over a Christmas book that I purchased at a Goodwill store many years ago (for $.99). I cam e across this recipe that looked worth trying.  I think it is a pretty tasty side version of a bread rol l, but health ier, and baked like a muffin. Wheat-Corn Muffin s 1 cup whole wheat flo ur 1 cup cornmeal 4 t easpoons baking po wder 1/2 tsp. salt 2 org anic eggs, beaten 1 1/3 cups organic milk 1/4 cup raw honey 1/4 cup c anola oil 1/ 4 cup finely chopped white onion 1/ 4 cup shelled sunflower see ds I n a bowl stir together whole wheat flour, cornmeal, bakin g 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 p ans, filling paper liners ( See Note ) about 2/3 full.  Sprinkle tops with sunflower seeds. Bake in a 400°F oven for about 18-20 ...

I would have a ph ot o of our finished dish, but it was de voured.  L iter ally.

I made homemade deodo rant for the first time. I learned to be more resourceful.  Finished a crocheted bla n ket to take camping.  Had "wig" night with the kids (and pets too).  I baked more foods from scratch. (pho to take n by my daughter) Buried a very much loved barn cat named Joey.  D id many farm/barn repairs.  Tried new foods and recipes.  (photo taken by my daughter) Experienced the birth of two different baby goats. Took an "accidental" road trip with hubby. I added a few more useable anti ques to our home. I nvested in Araucanas .  (our daughter who tends the goats and makes the soap) Ha d successful soap making.   Partici pated in the Farmer's Market fo r the first time ever.   Got through m any trials and tribulations.  Took more time out for my self.  Made homemade ricotta cheese with our go at's milk for the first t...

Middle of the aftern oon on Christmas Day. The next day, same time. This morning.  Barn cats, Aurora and Sapphire, han g ing out while I took photos thi s morning.   That little stinker Auro ra, was a ctuall y in the house when I got up this m orning.  S he must have darted in when Hubby left for work.  These t wo were purring up a storm this m orning.  Like little moto rs.  Their food bo wls are a bit snowed in, and we still need to finish building an insulated cat house from them. We are snowed in, but not for long.  I'll enjoy it while it lasts anyway.  The driveway dri fted over in 3 pla ces, making it impossible to get in or o ut.  Hub by will dig u s out after work tonight.   Accor ding to the news, we only got about 3 inches of snow, and they had predicted up to 10.  It's the wind that makes the difference also. He got out with his 4-wheel drive, but I w ould need to pull a "Dukes of H a...

C onversation Ch ristmas Eve .  I n my bedroom with youngest daugh ter w rap p ing bones for the do gs. " Awwwwww , Jess e's peeking!" "Jesse come!" "Jesse!!!" "He's pe e king again! " "JE SSE!" When we were done, he c ame in and sniffed the ent ire floor area, nosing around for that bone he smelled.  He just kept walking do wn the hallway and s lowing pe eking into the bedroom door. That night he crawled up in bed wi th me and hubby, and lit erally put hi s head on the pillows b et w een the two of us.  I went to be d, thinking he'll get up and leave when he' s ready. Not! At 7:3 0am Chris tmas morning, when our youngest daughter came rolling in to wak e u s up, I saw that Jesse was still in the same sleeping position as he was when I fell asleep. Ha ha ha ha!  T hat little stinker knew he was getting a bone, and wasn't lea ving the area until he go t it. He has never don e this before. Ho...