Pioneer Woman at Heart

  I've made this twice now, and the second time remembered why the vegetables don't cook.  I even cooked the veggies for 20 minutes before adding the chicken.  The recipe is online, but seriously it has it's flaws.  I was in a hurry, so I just looked it up to check bake time on it.   It's a balsamic/honey recipe, but it doesn't work, as the recipe states to coat the veggies with the mixture.  They will not cook with the vinegar (my duh moment).  Even if you cook the veggies 45 minutes. So, to remember what not to do, I'm posting to remember on what to do. Cook the chicken on a separate pan.  The mixture of the vinegar and honey makes the chicken so tender and delicious.  Cook the veggies on a different pan do do not coat in the vinegar sauce. I personally, like rosemary on roasted potatoes, and a bit of parmesan or other herbs on the carrots.   Sauce recipe states 1 cup balsamic vinegar with 1/3 cup honey, bring to a ...

  We really liked the flavor in this first recipe we tried, for Whipped Feta Dip.  The recipe stated to heat the hot honey with the red pepper flakes.  First, this recipe used sour cream, so it whipped up to a very light dip.  We prefer a thicker dip, so we will be "whipping" up (ha ha) a trial #2 soon with another recipe.  If you want this recipe, it is online with Greens and Chocolate - Whipped Feta with Honey Honey. Results:  Very good flavor!  Just not thick enough for our liking.  We did top it with chives from our herb garden. Tip:  Make the dip at the same time you heat the honey, so it is room temperature.  Otherwise the honey will harden on the dip.  Also, we felt this was way too much for 2 people, so consider cutting the recipe in half, unless you are entertaining.   We are still getting asparagus from the garden.  We are thankful for that, but I still need to dig up the raspberry sprouts in that part of t...

I've created a "on the back burner" to-do list now.  Sigh.  It's just reality for right now.  I've just accepted it.  By accepting, I stress less.  With the list, at least there is a future plan in place. We have had a long week of cold nights, dry and very windy weather.  It has been an issue with the garden, and now we head into very hot weather. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I will link up later after she posts.  I have to get this day started early. The weather . . . 80's/90's with lows in the 60's As I look outside my window . . . No traffic, as it's a holiday and most normal people have the day off.  Not my husband though. Right now I am . . . Listening to the weather, making coffee, and getting ready to water the garden. Thinking and pondering . . . Considering cutting back on how many times I write a blog post.  Do you read blogs daily?  Every other day?  Once a week?  Once a month?...

  It's probably a good thing I didn't have anyone around me this holiday weekend.   I'm a depressing, oh' poor me, kind of person.   The garden fence is not up, and I've lost 6 bell pepper plants, and all of my blazing hot peppers.  It's not our fault other than the fact work hours prevent the fence getting up.  I can't do it alone, and everyone else is having backyard barbeques, out on motorcycle rides for Bike Week, or camping.  It's not just me either.  My husband came home and said the same thing.  He's feeling very depressed.  Also depressing is the weather pertaining to the garden.  It's dry.  I watered, but the ground is so dry it's cracking.  I'm glad we didn't plant any annual flowers right now.  I'd literally be watering daily for weeks. I tried to perk myself up with some quiet reading on the front porch.  Nope.  Bees were attacking all over the place, and the bee removal has not come ou...

  You can go to my post HERE to see the jar/rack kit I purchased.  I bought it on Amazon, but can't remember the brand etc.  Anyway, I love this set!  The jar lids are wide lids, and fit any wide lid 1 quart jar (came with 2 as well).  The lids have groves to hold the jars sideways, which is needed to keep the jars drained between daily rinsing, and the tray underneath is perfect to catch any drips.  I had been using a kitchen towel.  Anyway, this was the next day after soaking and rinsing day 1.  Works perfect, and no hassles trying to balance the jars on the counter. This was 2 days after initial soaking.  By the way, I soak for the first day, rinse and drain for the night.  I rinse daily.  I will be sprouting some microgreens for us soon using these.  Current sprouts are lentils, I sprouted for the chickens.  I take the black out cover off to rinse, then wipe the jar and cover again. Day 3 after the initial soak and dra...

I've gotten, what I can, planted in the garden.  Not sure we'll get the raised beds built in time for the rest I wanted to plant.  My husband is working 16 hour days with little time in between to rest/sleep between shifts.  I need last few rows tilled, and can plant the last of what is actually getting planted in the larger garden. I'm sort of worried about what has been planted in the way of a plant start right now.  Today we woke up to a chill factor of 42° (feels like), with an actual temperature of 44°F.  It's been pretty cool for nights in May this year. I've finally added some dill seeds to the herb garden. Again worried I planted too early with the temps here lately.  Speaking of herbs, I need to mix up a batch of "fire it up" mixture again.  The recipe is on my blog post HERE . I'm getting more handiwork time in my evening, and not by choice.  Last night, however, I was so tired I did not want to work on the blanket.  I tried.  ...

  It's a brisk 44°F this morning.  We are having a much cooler May this year.  Days are in the 60-70's, but yesterday the wind was horrible.  I'm not in a hurry to get into the garden today.  Pretty chilly out there.  Our internet is going in and out for some weird reason as well, so I will get this posted. One day I had to run into a Dollar General for a funnel for cleaning spray, and saw these cute placemats.  Of course I bought some for us.  They were only $1 each. I did not get any advice on a magnifying glass for crafting, so I went in search of one, and decided on this one.  It's portable, not too large, and converts to a handheld version, which makes it easy to store.  There are 3 light options on it. You cannot move the magnifying glass upwards, to make it taller or shorter, but you can bend the lens part to your desired placement.  I will let you know how it works out for small crafting, such as jewelry.  It will come ...

Today's post is photo free, and short and simple.  The tiller took a poo.  It's going to take some serious repairs.  I've been hand hoeing out any weeds, that are popping up in the garden.  Not good timing as we just paid a fortune to get the truck out of the transmission repair place.  Do you ever have one of those days where you are just not into the garden to-do list, and want to "throw in the towel?"  I had one of those days yesterday.  I still got out there, but I know I was not as productive as I should have been.  It's also dry here now, so it's more difficult to dig out weeds. I have disassembled my garden start rack(and lights), but it has yet to make it's way to the barn.  I'm waiting on the bee removal service to come give us an estimate.  These are not honey bees, before anyone gets upset.  They are big bumble type bees.  Did you know there are actually two types of them?  Anyway, we have a swarm here this year...

  Due to a "stop and drop" that we did on Sunday, so we could go do something fun for ourselves, work rolled into the week full blown.  By stop and drop, I mean stop working, and drop the tools and go do something fun. We are getting great weather for clothesline drying, so that is a bonus, but it's been one of those weeks.  In order to take the laundry outside, I had to go get the leaf blower and blow all the helicopters (from the maple tree) off the back patio, so I didn't drag them back inside.  It has been a start to the week like that - have to do something before I can do the actual job on the to-do list kind of week. More spring blooms. Questions~ If you own a cordless, rechargeable stick vacuum, with detachable handheld vacuum (with canister on top), which do you recommend?  We are almost carpet free. I have searched reviews for days now, and I like the black and decker, but the reviews are not good.  I really don't want a Dyson.  I would prefe...

  The weekend went by pretty fast.  Gardening continues daily, as well as yard work. We are planting less than usual, and making some changes.  We have yet to get the raised beds built, and that is due to life in general. The weather has been nice in the 50's at night and 70's in the day time.  We won't see rain for a week or so however. The new chicks have finally figured out the ramp into the coop.  Getting them all inside at night is going much smoother. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I will link up when she posts. The weather . . . As I said above, nights are about the 50's, with days in the 70's.  As I look outside my window . . . The sun is up. Right now I am . . . Making coffee, and getting this post up. Thinking and pondering . . . So, I am thinking we need a garden bed, or raised bed just for potatoes.  They don't grown well with so many other vegetable plants.  I have some to plant, but they may go in grow bags...

Warmer days are arriving, so this may be put on the back burner until fall.  We'll see, I guess.  It's still in progress. Another wire crocheted/beaded pair of earrings, but this may be the last.  I am donating all the beads I have soon. On good weather days, I'm spray painting these last small clipboards.  I will add magnets to the back for fridge note paper.  I just wanted them done and ready for gifting if needed.  I should have just donated them, but it's getting done. . . .still working on the other square doily for the living room. . . .and lastly (that I know of ha ha!), this scarf is finished!!!  However, I have a bit more yarn, so a matching hat may be my go-to, on-the-go project soon.  

  The garden is going in now, but it feels like slow motion.  So far, I am doing the planting by myself (thanks to my husband's once again eye rolling work hours).  I have gotten all the tomatoes in, but feel we should buy a cherry or grape tomato plant.  I put my tomato stakes in when I plant, as it keeps the animals out.  We don't have fencing for all the gardens this year.  Solar lights also keep the deer out of this garden. I got all the hot peppers planted.  I'm not sure the habanero will make it, but I guess we'll see.  It never does great starting by seed, as it needs much more heat. I had planned to get all the bell peppers in today, but the rain arrived last night, and it rained the entire night, leaving everything very wet.  It's a good thing for all that is planted, but will put me behind a bit on the rest of the garden.  We scaled back from 100 tomato plants to about 52 this year.  Next year we will scale back on the jal...

  Tip:  I drop my hydrated oregano (and other herbs) off of the dehydrator tray, and onto a piece of waxed paper.  I gently take the dried leaves off the stems. I hold each side of the waxed paper, and with a canning funnel in the top of a quart canning jar, slide the dried herbs into the jar. I do not crush the dried herbs.  I wait until I am cooking and then crush what I need.  It helps them retain flavor longer. Another tip:  Check those lids you get on anything you do buy.  I saved a lid from a jar of organic mayo we bought over winter, and it fits perfectly on my quart canning jar. It's a task, but I wash and dry all the trays before dehydrating another food in the dehydrator. Happy Harvesting!

We woke up to a brisk 36°F outside this morning.  I'm so glad I brought in my hanging potted flowers, and all of the veggie plants.  I was worried about getting things planted late, but this year I am glad we are behind.  I even brought in my potted comfrey plant.  Brr. I failed to write down my meal plan, and discovered I had a pound of ground beef, and a pound of sausage thawing at the same time.  I cooked both up, put some sausage in the fridge for dinner, and split up the rest to freeze for the up coming week.  I guess you could can I made a plan from a failed plan ha ha! I made us some air fryer stuffed mushrooms for the first time.  These had some sausage in them. They were delicious, but now my husband wants me to try other recipes, ha ha! No gardening these past few days.  It's been too cold, and my husband was called off to help a family member, so no more tilling either.  I dumped all the grow bags, and every single one had holes in...

  I took another look at the weather yesterday.  Not liking this dip.  We had to re-till the garden, so that has been started, but the planting will wait until this chill passes. The roots we planted this year are coming up.  Just had to share how cute they look. We are still harvesting asparagus from the very first year we planted.  Some are huge! Tip:  I'm not sure you can say this is an organizing tip, but it worked great for me.  I have a few pairs of casual boots that are not stored in a box.  They were falling sideways.  For a cheap fix, buy a pool noodle and cut it to fit.  Slide that puppy right inside your boots.  Wa-la!  You are welcome.   The truck went to the the transmission guy.  Sigh.  It will cost us a pretty penny to have it rebuilt.  It almost left me stranded last week.  We both knew it was going to be bad news.  Like $4200.00 bad news. On top of that the dental insurance we...