Spiced Nuts (Recipe)

 

We've been making spiced nuts for the last 18 years.  Crazy, how much time has passed while writing this blog.  

Christmas time brought us recipes that used mixed nuts, and other ingredients, that never got used up (or used at all).  There was a lot going on this past holiday, so I'm slowly using up the unused ingredients. 

I had about a cup of cashews (should have been cashew brittle at Christmas), a bit of walnuts, and I had some mixed nuts (I buy these non-gmo, with zero bad oils, but it contains way too many almonds), we also had some pumpkin seeds, and.....

....we had some of these non-gmo chocolate type candies (healthier option to M & M's in Christmas cookies).  By the way, we bought both to test out for holiday baking.  We did not really like either one, and both are very expensive options.

I tossed all of the nuts and pumpkin seeds into a bowl, and roasted our favorite spiced nuts.  Let it cool completely, and then tossed in the leftover chocolate candies.  It filled two quart jars for snacking.  Most importantly, we found a way to utilize it all, and the small amount of chocolate bits make it a perfect on-the-road, every day, or hiking snack.

Here is how we make it:

Spiced Nuts

1 egg white - whisk this until frothy

(add that egg yolk to your morning breakfast)

Add: 1 tsp. water

1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. cayenne pepper (1/2 tsp. for less heat)

1/4 tsp. salt (or more if you'd like)

Toss in 3 cups mixed nuts/seeds and coat well.

Roast at 325°F for 25 minutes, on a rimmed baking dish (I use parchment paper or my stoneware baking dish), and stir at least once while baking.  Cool completely, and store in an airtight container.  Enjoy!

If 3 cups is too much for you, share with a neighbor or friend.  Winter time is hard on many people.

Spiced Nuts (Recipe)  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Home Canned Pickled Jalapenos ~ New Recipes Tried

 

Did you can pickled jalapenos last garden season?  Or last year with farmer's market jalapenos?  It was a "new" to us item to add to our pantry, and here is the update regarding the two cornbread recipe trials.  One is actually more like the traditional corn casserole, often served at the winter holidays.

The first recipe we tried, we loved!  If you remember my post, it was a more dense cornbread, but with some home canned pickled jalapenos.  A nice spicy cornbread for soups/stews and chilis. I was incorrect on the source for this specific recipe.  It is online free at Bowl of Delicious.

We adapted organic ingredients, and if you make the recipe with buttermilk, it's even better.  We really liked this recipe.

The next recipe was more of a "corn casserole" type baked dish, very similar to the traditional "corn casserole" one might bake at the holidays for a side dish.  The recipe was from an online source (Farmhouse on the Boone).  I adapted organic ingredients, and used our home grown, and home canned pickled jalapenos.

The results?

The casserole recipe uses less flour, and cornmeal, and ends up a more "spongy" texture and more of a "pudding" type dish vs. a bread type dish.

It was edible, but we did not like it enough to keep the recipe.  The recipe requires a lot more work to make it than the first recipe mentioned first.  Our pick was the first recipe, but you would have to try for yourself.  The second recipe requires a can of whole corn, and a can of creamed corn.  

The winner pick for these two, was the first recipe (by Bowl of Delicious), with adapted organic ingredients, and home canned pickled garden jalapenos.

It was fun trying these recipes, and it's always fun to find a new way to utilize something home grown, and canned.

Home Canned Pickled Jalapenos ~ New Recipes Tried  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Warm Up

 We are finally out of the deep freeze, and on the way to a warm up.  The last time I brought in 5 eggs, they were all completely frozen (and cracked, sigh....).

Home repairs are resuming, and supplies purchased. I've already broke out the spackle and putty knife. We had to purchase a tub wrench to remove the tub drain, but it was not too expensive.  Thank goodness for so many YouTube tutorials on repairs and whatnot.

Purging continues with clothing, and other items.  I'm purging the pantry too.  Little by little we are getting organized again, and using up what needs used up.  I found a bag of lemongrass ginger herbal bulk tea, so it's being brewed and enjoyed.  

Errands are much more enjoyable with the warmer weather now.  

Warm Up  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Ditch the Doubt ~ Toss it Out! New Recipe Tried and Misc. Tidbits

I have finally sorted the odd assortment of Christmas items from last month's purge, and yes some went into the trash.   If you need permission, ditch the doubt and toss it out!  The rest donated.  Job complete. ✔  

What else can one do when it's -15°F (again), and there isn't even "wind" outside.  It's cold here.  More snow is in the forecast.  

One new recipe that also went into the trash - a millet bar recipe.  I thought it would be "fun" to buy some organic puffed millet and make a really easy recipe, but it tasted horrible.  The small amount of puffed millet cost me $1.33. 

A recipe I will keep!  Oh my goodness it was so good.  By the way, it was a recipe I had, and wanted to try to the last two years.  Literally.  I don't think I have ever roasted acorn squash, because it was always one squash that never grew to size here (have no idea why as we can grow all other squash).

My husband kept telling me how his Mom baked acorn acorn squash, and insinuated that I make it the same way.  I did not.  I tried this recipe, and I prepared the inner mixings the day before (minus the squash), so it can be done that way too.

The recipe is online with Farmhouse on the Boone, called "Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage and Apples" but be aware that the website is heavily loaded with ads (recipe states "apples" but you use one apple).  Very annoying ads.  I used my cell phone to obtain the recipe, and even that way can be annoying, but the recipe is worth trying.  Especially if you have apples in your cellar or basement from your fall producing apple trees and/or garden grown garlic.

Who knew?  Sometime last year, a hotel we stayed at gave guests a free newspaper.  We found a free full page puzzle page for our entertainment, but I brought it home for "on the road" reading too.  Who knew it would come in handy for re-potting plants indoors during winter?  We don't get a newspaper here, so I was thankful we still had it "messy" jobs around here.

I can now take homemade hand lotion, and other toiletries that require refilling, on the road (travel or for home).  I have used amber glass jars for a long time, but when it comes to taking something on-the-go, glass is tricky.  These tubes came in two sizes, and the refill hole is a nice enough size to refill as often as needed.

I have a homemade hand lotion recipe that I make, but it leaves my hands "oily" for too long of a time.  I'm now on the hunt for a recipe that is much closer to one that I purchased last year (also homemade with organic ingredients).  It was thick, and it absorbed much better.   Thank goodness for the library and their inter-loan program, in order to access many books for this hunt.

One more fun item to share:

I honestly forgot about, until I came across them again to wash up.  I did not find these in your everyday box store either.  I found them at a store operated by the Amish last year.  They are salt and pepper shakers, with spring top lids to keep them closed off.  I thought they'd be great for outdoor grilling and/or camping.  They were just a few dollars too.

I don't have anymore "new" recipes to try, but I'm sure a few will sneak into the meal plan here and there. Oh, we do have one more recipe to try that uses home canned pickled jalapenos.

Ditch the Doubt ~ Toss it Out~  New Recipe Tried and Misc. Tidbits  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

Most of our days here have been snow covered, and no sunshine.  We are tickled pink, when we do get some sunshine.

Raise your hand if you put on 14 layers of outerwear, then trudged thru mountains and hill-slides of snow and ice to tend your hens, came back inside and removed the layers to realize you forgot to get the mail from the mailbox?  Yep.  My hand is up, ha ha!  I'll chalk it in as exercise.

I know you are probably reading this and thinking, "this blog can't get any more entertaining" ha ha!  Well, it can.

The hubster strikes again.  He wanted to know if we still had some mini tubes of krazy glue to fix something.  I dug around his "catch all" drawer in the kitchen to take a look-see.  

First, the drawer is "his" because he puts anything in there after completing a home repair/job when he is too lazy tired to put it away where it belongs.

Second, my hands came back out of a corner of the drawer, all purple and goopy.  He put a small canister of purple primer in the said drawer, and the lid was not tight.  Hmpf!  It spilled all over, and is not meant for bare hands.  Nor for a kitchen drawer.   What a mess.  I am pretty sure, after a good scolding, he won't do that again (but most likely will).

I've also have more days than I'd like, where it's been super busy "kitchen" days, followed by a mountain of dirty dishes.  Anyone who cooks/bakes from scratch is going to have dirty dishes in a mass form.

The feed store peas are sprouting nicely for the ladies (chickens).

New recipes tried. . .

Lima Bean and Ham Soup.

I used dried beans as the recipe stated.  I went by the recipe online, shared by Just a Pinch Recipes.  Don't skip the bacon in this soup.  We loved it!  Seasoning of course is thyme and oregano from the herb garden.  

The lima beans have left the cupboard I am "baking/cooking" my way out of now.  I do believe this is the very first time to even use dried lima beans.  It's not a regular go-to bean, so it was fun to try this soup.

I adjusted the soup to a crockpot soup.  Tip:  Plan this soup the day after you make bacon for breakfast, and save 4 strips for the soup.  Save your ham bones from the holidays for winter soups like this.

Jalapeno cornbread.  I think this is the second new version to try.  My husband said, "this is the best cornbread ever!" when he devoured it.  It contains honey, and a small bit of brown sugar, but it is all real ingredients.  I'll have an update on this, as we compare it to one more new recipe in the near future.

I used our home canned pickled jalapenos for this recipe.  I love a recipe that not only utilizes something I canned, but also the brine in which it's canned in.

Current larger crochet afghan.  It's about 36 inches by 36 inches right now.   I am going to research a new lap afghan pattern for the next donation blanket, but I may have enough scrap yarns (again) to whip up a scrap yarn lapghan first.

I called about my back ordered yarn, that was due to ship back in December, then gain in late January.  They are saying it's due to ship in March now.  It's cotton yarn, so I hope this is not how it will be locating yarn for a project.

This and That  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

 We had some delightful, and much needed, beautiful sunshine over the weekend.  We however, had a sick raccoon climb the old chicken coop fence one afternoon.  There was another coyote (daytime) sighting not too far away.

I am joining Sandra at Diary of  Stay at Home Mom.

The Weather . . .

Not out of the negatives just yet.  A brisk -8°F, and snow on the way.

Right now I am . . .

Writing a list, writing this blog post, and sipping hot coffee.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Well, letter writing back-fired on me.  I wrote to an extended family member on my husband's side, thinking it would be a fun snail mail exchange (I really miss the letter writing I did with an Aunt who has passed).  Instead of writing me back, she texted ( a  long text ) back to my husband.  Sigh.  I even bought special writing paper. 

Pondering a list of where, and when, to donate lap afghans, baby blankets etc. to this year.  I have a list with new locations, in addition to the current donation locations.

Pondering - Starting a cooking club at our house once a month.  Hosting a book exchange/swap sometime this year.

How I am feeling . . .

Tired.  Extremely cold weather can zap one's energy.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Breakfast burritos with meat/eggs and veggies.  Coffee. 

On the menu . . .

Chickens are getting sprouted peas for winter nourishment.

. . .for us?

-Lima Bean/Ham soup, and a new type of homemade cornbread

-Stuffed Acorn Squash

-a new sheet pan dinner to utilize the freezer

-leftovers

-possibly a healthy snack, homemade hummus (with veggies)

On the TV this week. . .

-Movies:  Walk the Line, and a few others, Hallmark movies a few times.

Looking around the house . . .

The magazine shuffle has ended!  They are gone, and I found a thinner cookbook underneath the stack of all things.  Not even sure how I obtained the cookbook, but it's what's left to take a look-see at.  

Painting may resume when the temperatures improve, but we are on the fence with when (and who) will do the wall repairs (yes lots of wall repairs thanks to the kids etc) upstairs.  New light fixtures are badly needed, along with new window coverings.

To-do list today . . .

(all week vs. just today)

-pay bills, run errands etc.

-housework (laundry, dust, dishes, floors)

-library returns and pick ups as needed

-try a few new recipes

-make a call, send messages/inquiries

What I am creating . . .

Catching up on granny squares for my crochet book blanket.  Matching them the best I can with scrap yarn on hand. 

Crocheting a current larger afghan, and still waiting on back ordered yarn for another project.

From the camera. . . 

Devotional, prayers, Bible verses . . .

Prayers for two families who lost their long time 17 year old dogs (both different people we know, and both with dachshund dogs).

No personal prayer requests today.

Prayers for the southern states dealing with the weather hardships right now.

Happy Homemaker Monday  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

 

What am I reading?

Another yet cold day here.  A bit warmer but still in the negatives.  -6°F, but we may now be in the clear and rise above zero this next week. I'm still crocheting a current blanket for ourselves (odd occurrence, as it's usually for donation).  I do need to check in my back ordered yarn.  It's the very last day of January today, and it was said to be shipped a week ago.  Then again, roads are not in good condition, and the temperatures are cold.  I think a new soup should be tried with more snow on the way (oh joy!).

I am getting caught up with crochet book blanket granny squares.  I'll try and remember take a photo of them.

 

Funny story to share.  One year I was so pumped for a new "thing" to do (a new venture with gusto), I decided to read all of Ernest Hemingway's books in one year.  I had them on my shelf of course (why wouldn't I? Ha ha ha!).

You can see the original post HERE and HERE if you need some winter time entertainment.  

The funny part?  After a few books, I ditched his books and said nope, not reading anymore.  He was either drinking, on the way to the bar, or with women, or both drinking and with women.  I soon disliked his writing, no matter how famous the author became.  I should have picked another author, but it is a funny story to share.  If you read his books, you know what I'm talking about.

Cheers to the blog poster who shared this book!  I love a good book that is not a romance, and just literally a good story overall.

Sigh.  I am embarrassed to admit, that I've had it for a while, but I am finally reading it and I love it so far!  Thank you to whomever it was, but I think it was Far Side of Fifty.

Winter time limits outdoor physical activity for us, but we do have some winter hikes on the agenda (weather permitted).  Do you try to get outside or get moving in the winter?  Do you do daily indoor exercise?  Daily stretching?  Do you weigh yourself weekly, or do you just have it checked at the doctor when you are there? The doctor cleared me for exercise, but I'm still waiting on more information from the doctor's suggestions (to see if they are better, different or more helpful).

Do you do anything intentional for your mental health over winter?  Herbal, uplifting teas, meeting with friends/family, or possibly journaling?  Make travel plans of some fashion?  Visit the library more often?

New word I learned for the month:  Parsimonious.  Overly stingy or frugal, unwilling to spend money/resources.

Ending the month with some thoughts to chew on so to speak.  I did absolutely nothing for a Christmas countdown for 2026.  I can say, that when I did this last year (countdown), it was a lot of fun trying new recipes for the holidays.

What am I reading?  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Celery Seed ~ When you have an abundance (whoops) ~ Homemade Celery Salt

Winter weather continues, but slightly better I guess.  However, we continue to have below zero temperatures.  The cold spell has been the longest, below zero, cold spell I ever remember.

 On the downside, more people are getting sick.  My poor husband has to ride in a truck with a co-worker (part of the job), and his co-worker for the day was coughing.  The worker wore a mask, and then took it off and left in on the console of the truck.  My husband had to sanitize the inside of the truck after that.  Praying he does not catch any of those nasty germs.

I've been dealing with sinus issues, and thankful for goldenrod tincture, mullein tea, ginger and peppermint teas and so forth.  I never got any Four Thieves Vinegar (Rosemary Gladstar's recipe) made this past fall, and I do plan on making some next fall.  I think "life" just took over my brain cells for a while.  I am very thankful I had made homemade vapo-rub.

Deep cleaning?  Well, not really.  Mostly regular cleaning this week - running cleaner in the dishwasher, and the washing machine.  You could say I'm cooking/baking my way through a kitchen cupboard too.  I removed my recipe boxes before surgery, and placed them on the counter top to avoid lifting. 

 Apparently, while the recipe boxes were on the counter, groceries were placed in the cupboard, filling the space up.  My oh my.  It is sort of fun to meal plan, in order to free up that cupboard again.  We also had a lot of ingredients, that I only purchase in abundance for holiday cooking, and we did not bake any cookies or treats at all.  So far, I've reduced the all-purpose flour, some pasta, and peas.  I also purchased more organic celery seed, and whoops, we already had enough for this upcoming garden year.

Sigh, it's so hard to believe that this is the last day of January already.  Where did this month go?

 I use organic celery seed often, and especially during garden canning season.  If you watch prices (and use celery seed), you will notice that "ground" celery seed of any kind, is twice the price of whole celery seed (organic or not).

I don't use celery salt too often, but I do use it, so I made celery salt from whole, organic celery seed.  A "first" for me this year (woohoo to another "first time").

4 Tbsp. Ground Organic Celery Seed (grind and measure first)

3 Tbsp. Kosher Salt

Simply mix the following ingredients, and place in a spice grinder, or coffee bean grinder, and grind into a fine mix.

If you have a better mix of the two (different measurements for a better flavored salt), please leave a comment.

I use a smaller coffee grinder that is specifically used for grinding dehydrated or dry whole spices.

I store the celery salt in, either re-purposed spice jars (friends, family or neighbors can save these for you), or new spice jars.

Celery Seed ~ When you have an abundance (whoops) ~ Homemade Celery Salt  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Homemade Four Thieves Household Cleaner Spray ~ Homemade Window Cleaner Spray

I said we were getting a "slight" warm up, but it's a smidgen of warmth.  The temperature today is 0°F with a windchill of -11°F.  The wind has settled, but they are saying we may get a teensy bit more snow.

Oh boy!  Why I cannot have magazine subscriptions.  I used to LOVE getting magazines from my Mom, after she read hers.  I haven't had magazines around since Mom passed.  I picked these up at the library book sale for free, but that was a year ago.  The magazines are all Cook's Illustrated magazines.  I have moved them from kitchen table, to end table, to coffee table and back to kitchen table.  Sigh.  The magazine shuffle madness must end!  I am forcing myself to get thru them, and pass them on.  Good grief.  However, it is part of my "take back the organized house" mode I am currently in.

Is there something you "shuffle" around for one reason or another?

On to the cleaners part of the post. . .

 I have been using a homemade cleaning spray for a few years, but for some reason, could not find my original post on it.  I have mixed up another batch this week, and I love this for the counter tops, and especially the stove top.

The "thieves" recipe is online with Mountain Rose Herbs - Thieves Household Cleaner.  I use an amber glass spray bottle for this cleaner.  I do use distilled water for this one.

Before (see the grease on the vents?)

After being cleaned.

It smells great, cleans great, and cuts the grease on the stove top.  I have not used it for anything else in the house.  Mostly bathroom sink counter tops, kitchen counter tops, door knobs, light switches etc.

The other homemade cleaner, that I absolutely love, is the homemade window cleaner.  It's very easy to make and oddly has arrowroot powder in it.

It has not failed me in keeping the windows or mirrors clean.  Love this stuff.  I have no idea which friend shared it with me, but they are blog writers, so here is how to make the window spray . . .

I buy a BPA re-fillable spray bottle for this spray.

Mix the following ingredients in a spray bottle.

1/4 cup white vinegar

3 Tbsp. rubbing alcohol

1 tsp. arrowroot powder

3/4 cup distilled water

I do use distilled water for this cleaner as well.  We have well water, and it's not the best for a cleaner such as this.  I double this for a large spray bottle.  It's great for windows and mirrors.

Homemade Four Thieves Household Cleaner Spray ~ Homemade Window Cleaner Spray  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Kitchen Tip ~ Cornmeal Shaker ~ Baking Easier

 

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 another recipe (fruit cake for one) post up soon.  I'm going thru a lot of sticky notes lately.  I may need to restock those soon (insert big chuckle).

A good cook may already use this tip, but it never occurred to me, until I was rooting around a drawer and found this unused shaker.  A Tupperware dealer gifted it to me many years ago.  I think there is another one somewhere around here too.    The holes in the shaker part are a bit big for salt and pepper (say for a camper), but perfect size for cornmeal.

I was making homemade biscuits (new recipe), and needed to "sprinkle" cornmeal onto the baking dish.  I also sprinkle cornmeal when I make homemade English muffins and other items as well.

I decided to wash this little shaker up, and fill it with organic cornmeal for my "shaker" now.  One more item out of a drawer and being used, and baking just got better (easier). 

Kitchen Tip ~ Cornmeal Shaker ~ Baking Easier  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Biscuits ~ New Recipe gets a Whirl ~ No milk, No problem

 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 and eggs as the "liquid" and there is no milk in these.  They are stated as a "protein rich" biscuit.  I wasn't out looking for a high protein biscuit, but with the colder temps, and well it heated up the kitchen, I gave the recipe a whirl.

I'll be honest.  I did not roll and cut the biscuits per the instructions.  Second, my fingers were covered with dough, I had to wash them, and butter my hands well, and dig back into the dough.  It's a sticky dough, and I did not want oil in the biscuits, so hence butter (and it worked well).  I also used my square biscuit cutter and just flattened the dough with my hands.  No rolling pin needed, but you could if you wanted to I guess.  I am sure I lost a whole biscuit after realizing I should have buttered my hands first (oh well, lesson learned).

Recipe said to sprinkle the baking sheet with corn meal.  I used organic of course.  You do want to do this when baking these biscuits.

I love how these biscuits turned out using my square biscuit cutter.

These are a more dense biscuit, but very good.

Here is the recipe:

Quick Cottage-Oat Biscuits

2 cups unbleached organic all-purpose flour

1 cup of organic oat flour (or grind your own)

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1/4 cup butter, organic (cold)

2 eggs, beaten well

1 1/2 cups low-fat organic cottage cheese

Organic cornmeal for dusting the baking sheet

In a large bowl, combine the flours, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cream of tartar.  Blend butter into the mixture using a pastry blender or fork and knife.  Combine the beaten eggs and cottage cheese, and add the mixture to the flour mixture.  Knead dough for a few minutes (butter your hands to keep dough from sticking).  I just pressed the dough and used a biscuit cutter, leaving the dough about 1/2 inch or so.  You can do what the recipe states, as well, which is cut the dough in 3 pieces.  Roll each piece into a 3 inch roll, and slice the roll in 1/2 inch pieces for your biscuit. You could also roll the dough like a "drop" biscuit I think.  Sprinkle a dusting of cornmeal onto your baking pans and bake the biscuits for 10-12 minutes at 425°F (mine baked in 12 minutes).  I cooled the biscuits on a cooling rack.

Recipe is from Jane Brody's Good Food Book (1985), which I purchased for $2.50 at a thrift store (it's a big book).

The biscuits made delicious mini breakfast sandwiches with egg, cheese and bacon.

Of course we had to try them with sausage gravy too!  So good, and the biscuits tasted great with the homemade gravy.  I have yet to see how well these biscuits freeze, but that is on the plan yet.  By the way, we bought the last 3 cans of canned evaporated milk (our store sells organic) due to people panic buying during the snow storm.

Different?  Yes.  Good?  Yes.  No milk?  No problem.  I still like our traditional biscuits, but these offer a biscuit with zero milk and less butter.

Biscuits ~ New Recipe gets a Whirl ~ No milk, No problem  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Post Snow Storm

 The snow storm has passed, and most places here got about 9-10 inches of snow.  The worst part for us, is that the frigid temperatures now return with a deep freeze.  They are still talking about temps dipping to -25°F after all this snow dumped.  The cold temperatures are said to be with us for the next week.

First issue was to find someone to plow us out.  Second was to shovel a path to the coop, and finally order more pre-paid propane (bad timing) for delivery.  

More snow is on the way.  

Plowing was accomplished, and very thankful for that.  The trash bin will need shoveled out before trash day, but all is well in our neck of the woods.

Deep cleaning is being done, but I ran out of one cleaner I make (does well on any grease on the stove vents etc).  I will need to restock my distilled water (we have well water). Exciting winter news right? Ha!

You know those small vents on the oven door that are inconveniently behind the stove handle?  Thank goodness for saving old toothbrushes to assist in the job.  The vents are all cleaned and looking spiffy.  I often wonder why the handles, and on all appliances, are made with those annoying tiny groves that constantly need scrubbed clean.

Those who own an electric (coil burner) stove, and can over summer will understand.  I let my burned on ring around the burners go until winter (thank you big canning pot), when I can tackle the scrubbing action needed.  All is clean again, and looking spiffy as well.

On to more interesting news...maybe.

The snow storm gave me more crochet time, and I finished the large blanket to be gifted.  It looks small-ish in the photo, but I have big feet, ha ha!  It's maybe 60 x 70 plus inches.  Whew!  It's ready to gift when the weather is more suitable.

I'm still waiting on the back-ordered yarn.  Not sure it will be delivered any day soon, but the roads are clear as of this post.  Plow trucks have been super busy.

I'm still trying new recipes, and tackling some restocking, but thankful the sun pops out every now and again.  We get very little sunshine during the winter months.

Post Snow Storm  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Books. . . because it's Winter and Winter is Wintering

I don't watch the news often, but we do try and listen to the weather report if we can.  

We are dipping into another very cold, cold spell here.  The news is warning us that the temperatures could dip as low as -25°F with the windchill (the forecast changes hourly).  Not only that, but they are predicting snowfall in abundance.  The snow expected could be 10 inches and up in areas here.  The weather predicted, is said to last another week.  They are calling the weather "Mother Nature's Fury."

The snow does not concern us, as much as the sub-zero temperatures do.  

We have been to town to re-stock a few items, but typically we avoid town when people are panic shopping (thank you news people).  We were low on chicken feed and a few other necessary items.

Now...about books.  First, I have had very little reading time if you can believe it.  When your house is 6 weeks behind in cleaning and what not, there is no problem with staying "busy" around here.  Talk about Better Crocker meets Mr. Clean, ha ha!

 Not very often do I really have the motivation/interest in reading a memoir.  Back in February of 2025, we went to a concert by the Righteous Brothers.  It was a farewell type tour, with Bill Medley and a new singer with him (as Bobby passed away).  I purchased the memoir book, written by Bill Medley and Mike Marino.  I had put it on the shelf, and literally just forgot I bought it (happens to those who buy too many books, ha ha!). 

I decided to read it, and make a change in my typical genre, and give it a whirl.  It was definitely a "palate cleanser" as far as a change in genre.  I really liked this book.  It was very interesting.

Fun facts I learned?  The Righteous Brothers were not actually brothers, and how they got their name was....well, you'll have to read the book to find out.  Very, very interesting book, and I'm keeping this one.  My kids would never understand, nor be interested in it anyway, but boy I enjoyed this book from the very first page.

(I have not yet crocheted my granny square for this book)

I added these two to my homesteading bookshelf.  The first one states it is for beginners, but it has recipes that I want to try, that I have not seen in other herb garden growing books.  the second, is packed with recipes, and I cannot wait to dig into it.

Side note:  I have two tea stores on my visit list. One store is newer, but both will be new-to-me.  They will require travel, so hence waiting for better weather.

I'm still a coffee gal, but tea is still interesting and has never ending knowledge to learn.

Not to leave our little tiny, local library out of the loop of business....

I think I have about 6 or 7 books out of the library right now.  Most are on recipes with different mushrooms, and a few on more herbal tea recipes.  I am reading recipes that use a variety of mushrooms, that we have yet to try.  We have a resource for locally grown mushrooms now, and learning to cook with more mushroom options is one of my "learn something new" subjects this year.

Do you cook with Lion's Mane mushrooms?  Shiitake?  Oyster?  I'm told shitake will freeze well in homemade mushroom soup, but I have yet to try them.  Have you grown your own mushrooms?

A bit boring of a post for most, I am guessing, but when it's polar bear weather the "what's going on" slows way down.  The chickens, however, are still laying eggs for us.

Meanwhile, we'll be bundling up, hunkering down, and getting ready to clear all that predicted snow.  

Nothing like putting on 15 layers to leave the house.  One year, it was so cold, I had to wear snowmobile goggles to go outside to water/feed the goats and the chickens.  The cold hurt my eyes that badly.

Books . . .because it's Winter and Winter is Wintering  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart