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This and That





We are enjoying our garden potatoes.  I use the really small ones for breakfast scrambles or for soups/stews.

New crockpot recipe tried - Beef Stew.  I cannot recall that I have ever made beef stew in the crockpot.  I have always used the oven.  I have to admit, I did not follow the recipe exactly, as it called for red wine.  I did not have any, and used additional beef broth and two tablespoons or organic red wine vinegar instead.  The one thing I will do different next time, is put the rosemary sprigs and bay leaves in a piece of cheesecloth tied with string (making removing them so much easier).


Peas were added in the end, and the seasoning was perfectly delicious.   Next time I will be adding some sourdough bread, rolls or biscuits with it.




Newest tea to try by itself, and as iced tea - Hibiscus.  I tasted and tried a small bottle of locally infused honey in the tea as well - Organic elderberry and hibiscus infused honey.  The honey itself tasted more of elderberry, but good.  It paired very nicely with the hibiscus tea.  Very pretty too.


Not a crockpot recipe, but a new breakfast recipe.  It was in a 22 year old cookbook I already had, and it's very similar to Rachael Ray's Cheddar and Green Chile Egg Casserole, but added ingredients, and it calls for Tabasco in place of chili peppers.  I used jalapenos, jalapeno salt, doubled it (expect the butter).  I used breakfast sausage.  It gives us breakfast for several days (no bread, no potatoes).  I thought I took a photo of the recipe for this post, but it has flown somewhere into cyber world.  


               
Regarding the blanket pattern for this lap sized afghan . . .
It is free and printable online with yarnspirations.  The pattern is here:  Free Easy Red Heart Lattice Lapghan (Yarnspirations).  I am using Red Heart color Aran, and an "I" hook (5.0mm).

We are researching on what type of brooder we want to build for the chicken coop. 

(not my photo)

We are collecting photos on possible builds for the brooder.  It will be built inside the actual chicken coop, so we'll also need access to electricity (or solar if available, as we have not looked into it yet).  

This and That  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

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Comments

Betsy said…
Thank you for the pattern! I think it will made a great prayer shawl too with a few adjustments to size. Your beef stew sounds delicious. I've never made stew in the oven but always use the crockpot. Just opposite of you.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
November 13, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Anne in the kitchen said…
I enjoy hibiscus tea for both the flavor and the color.
November 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
🌺 Debby/From My Shasta Home said…
I made beef stew last week - yum. Tonight it’s baked potato soup with crispy bacon, green onions and sour cream and chives.
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Betsy, you are welcome. That's funny about crockpot beef stew. I guess when the kids were all home, I used to make a bigger pot of it.
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Anne in the kitchen, yes, the color is beautiful.
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Pioneer Woman at Heart said…
Debby, potato soup sounds wonderful.
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 AM
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