Pioneer Woman at Heart

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 entertainme...

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...

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 usin...

  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...

  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...

  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 sto...

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...

  I brewed up a "Christmas" spice extract last year, and gifted a few bottles for Christmas.  I finally tried it, and made a homemade coffee creamer. I thought the cinnamon/clove flavors would make a nice coffee creamer.  Before I go into a "recipe" for the creamer, I just used online recipes as guides, using maple syrup for the sweetener, and my homemade vanilla and Christmas spice extract.  I ended up adding a 3rd tsp. of the Christmas spice extract for more flavor.  Honestly, I didn't think the extract had enough "spice" flavor in it. I will be trying it in baked goods, and maybe cookies.   I most likely will be adjusting the ingredients to more cinnamon sticks, and maybe more clove for the next batch of this too. Here is how I made the first batch of this extract. In a canning jar (or other glass container) combine the following: - 2 1/2 cups vodka (do not use the bottom line brand) -6 vanilla beans -12 whole cloves -3 cinnamon sticks -6 whole card...

  First time to cook with organic split green peas.  If I have, it's been a very long time, and we cannot find these (organic) in our area stores.  I re-stocked while out restocking, where bulk foods are so much less expensive. Of course seasonings are dried herbs from the garden (other than the bay leaf). I can say, that we loved the soup, but I adjusted a soup recipe from stove top to crock pot (again).  The split peas do break down in a crock pot soup, but I will be buying more of them, especially over winter months.  I will be using a different meat next time too I think.  We did not have "Farmers Sausage" so I adapted, but still good. The recipe is from Mennonites Girls can Cook - Anderson's Pea Soup. It will be 14 degrees warmer today, but the bitter cold plans to return again.  I am so busy making up for the 6 weeks of not being able to clean like I normally clean/upkeep, but it's getting done.  I completely forgot to get a photo of the cu...

  Homemade eye make up remover.  Two ingredients.  I have already tried it a few times, but will use when needed, and return with results.  The recipe is free online with a source I have used for years for my facial toner, homemade hair detangler, and a few other recipes  - DIY Makeup Remover  I don't always wear makeup, but on an occasion I do, and so far I am really liking the two ingredient recipe. Our weather has gone from cold to frigid.  It's only been weather suitable for penguins and polar bears.  This morning? We are experiencing a -17°F windchill. I'm on the hunt for a heater that sits underneath the water unit in the chicken coop.  We have a few we are looking at, but we have not needed such heating system options for years now.  We don't need it often, and in fact, have not needed one in years now. Unfortunately, the frigid temperatures are said to continue for about another week and a half (or so).   We have been g...

  Our weather is all over the map. One day it was sunny and 65°F, the next dreary and rain all day, and then the next?  Cold and snow.  Yep.  That's how it's been.  Now we roll into a a cold snap. I have had some later than usual work.  I filled the dehydrator with parchment lined paper, and got busy with about 10 heads (or bulbs) of home grown garlic.  I apologize to those who have already read posts about making garlic powder.  Back in 2020 I hosted an online Pampered Chef party to help out a friend.  Never in my life did I think so many people would order, and I ended up with lots of free items.  Two items were the garlic peeler and slicer.  The above is the "peeler" for the garlic cloves.  You do separate the head of garlic, then place a few cloves inside the tube, and roll it back and forth in with the palm of your hand.  The dried peeling will crack and very easily come off the clove of garlic. I use disposable latex...

  Black-eyed Pea and Cabbage Soup - The Southern Lady Cooks ( recipe free online ). My take on this soup.  I made it as a crock pot soup.  I used a can of organic black-eye peas vs. dried.  It was delicious.  I will be making this again.  I also used my homemade jalapeno salt to season the meat in it. Hearty 3-Bean Soup - Clean Food Crush ( free recipe online ) My take on this soup - I made it as a crock pot soup, and did not cook any of the veggies in tallow on the stove first.  I used a can of organic fire roasted tomatoes vs the sun dried tomatoes.  I would use home canned tomatoes if we had them. I've made this 3 different times, and each time used up some leftover broth (vegetable, chicken and beef) from various recipes, and we have loved it! I have a new biscuit recipe to try, that I have had sitting around for a few months now.  I thought it would be nice for the soup meals.  If I ever get around to making it, I will be sharing th...

  The new year brings new beginnings.  It's a year of ending a few things as well.   Many of the gatherings this year were small.  Either sickness hit most, some didn't want to be around people, and some did not get together over the holidays.  Either way, I did not cook/bake for the gatherings, and that was actually nice for once. January brings winter weather.  The weather is doing what it does - wintering.  Wintering in a weird way too.  If I was traveling, it would be a very good month for travel.  The temperatures are warming between 50-60 degrees, and rain. (shallots and butter) (homemade condensed mushroom soup, prepared as equal to one can of soup, to freeze) We are seeing more stores closing as the new year rolls in, and we have also found out that our nearest grocery store will no longer sell shallots.  I use shallots and butter as my starting base when making homemade condensed mushroom soup (which I freeze, one containe...