"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Showing posts with label Christmas Gift Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas Gift Ideas. Show all posts

Monday, May 12, 2025

33 Weeks Until Christmas 2025

I have tried a few new recipes, but not sweet treats.  I do have one of those sweet treat recipes to try, but I have just not had the mojo, nor the time to make it.  🎄🎅🤶

Here is what I did make to try. . .

Crockpot  Scalloped Potatoes {Slow Cooker recipe from Mennonite Girls Can Cook}

I am always looking for ways to make sides without the oven, due to space constraints on some holidays (or I used to).  I gave this recipe a whirl, and yes, you can use homemade condensed mushroom soup for a richer flavor (because it's made with shallots and fresh mushrooms with butter).

It is a much easier way to take potatoes to a get together, but I also consider if there will be enough outlets to keep the crock pot warm too.  

One year I took a sweet potato dish (in a baking dish), and it was left in the oven during the entire meal, so I went home with the entire dish.

Anyway, back to the potatoes....


Slice those bad boys up with a mandolin, as well as the onions, and this is the easiest potato side dish ever!

Top with shredded cheese for some more goodness like we did.  Not limited to the holidays, but boy is it a nice additional side for any holiday.

Yum!  It's a keeper recipe.  Although, the first time making these, we said it was "good" but no "wow" factor (had used a mix of mushroom and celery soups).

Notes:  Recipe states you can mix mushroom soup with celery.  We found that more bland than using all mushroom soup (homemade is the best!! So much more flavor).  We also felt it needed more seasoning than just pepper and paprika.  Cheese on top adds even more flavor.  We will make these again, and add either ham or even chopped up Canadian bacon and try them that way next.

Of course, the recipe is not limited to Christmas, but we tend to have little oven space when cooking for a crowd at the holidays.


Now on to the next recipe we tried.


Pea Salad.  Also called Bacon Pea Salad.  New Recipe Tried, but not limited to "Christmas" or holiday meals.

Delicious!

Honestly, I'd crumble the bacon and add it right before serving to give it a crispy crunch to the salad.  

The original instructions I got were to mix it all up.   I used organic peas from the store, but if your garden produces some wonderful home grown peas, you are in business.

You could also use homemade mayo if you have fresh eggs, and of course make your own sour cream if you have what's needed to make it.  




Here is how I made it.  First cook 8 strips of bacon, cool and crumble them.  If you raise your own pork, kudos to you.  If not, like myself, I buy from a local butcher if I can.

Continuing . . .

In a bowl mix:

4 cups of organic frozen peas, thawed
1 "handful" of shredded organic cheddar cheese (I used a medium cheddar, and hand shredded)
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup organic sour cream
1/3 cup organic mayonnaise
2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
(1 Tbsp. sugar - optional?? Was told to add this, but does it really need it?)
A quick dash of salt and pepper 
Add the cooked bacon.  Stir and chill.  Enjoy!  

I'm definitely adding this to my all year round side dish, and for just about any meal, picnic, summer outing, holiday gathering etc. 


Lastly, if you are still with me with this much longer post . . .

Crockpot Turkey Breast (bone in)

Have you ever thought to cook your holiday turkey in a crockpot?  Not me.  Not ever.  It does save oven space and it is very convenient.

I did not go buy a turkey breast either.  I had one in the freezer from a gathering fail here, so I needed to rotate it out of the freezer.  Nothing like 3 days of turkey ha ha!  Healthy anyway.

I had a 5 pound organic turkey breast.  I went searching on the internet, and there are many recipes for a turkey rub for cooking your turkey breast in the crockpot.

I adapted my own seasonings to a recipe I found online, but cannot link it for you, as it is heavily loaded with ads. 

 Allrecipes has one recipe, but they use a packet of dry onion soup (if you make your own). It might be good.  I went with a mix of homemade seasonings, with some others.

What I used:

-homemade seasoned salt

-homemade Italian seasoning

-homemade garlic powder

-homemade onion powder

-Paprika, and black pepper (salt is in the seasoned salt)

I used olive oil to make all of the seasonings stick to the turkey.



Cooking time is based on the size of your turkey breast, and if you have completely thawed it, or partially thawed it. I used a thermometer to check ours.

I read a few recipes, and cooked ours on high for 1 hour and then turned the crockpot to low.  The turkey turned out great.  

By the way, the only way I have ever (and I mean ever) had a tenderly, moist cooked turkey, was when one of my brother's smoked one.  Oh my gosh, it was the best turkey I have ever had (if you have a smoker, and we do not).  

The crockpot perfect for cooking a turkey breast with bone in.  We are so glad we tried this.


On another note, yes, my brain is drumming up these ideas and for one last share. . .

                                   

December of 2020 I gifted a few family members homemade Paprika Dry Rub.  I saved jars from organic tomato paste I think (smallish, but not really small). The recipe is online with Taste of Home. 

I did not have any made, but you need to note (if you are diabetic) that the dry rub from Taste of Home contains brown sugar.  The rub is good on turkey or chicken.  I have not tried it on pork, but a pork tenderloin might be good with it.  

That's all for this Christmas countdown post.  I hope you enjoyed it, despite that it's May.

 33 Weeks Until Christmas 2025 ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart


Saturday, March 15, 2025

41 weeks until Christmas ~ Christmas Shop and Other Fun News

 New Recipe Tried?  I had a recipe in the lineup to try, but after reading the "notes" I decided not to try it.  It was a Puppy Chow recipe, but used freshly made popcorn vs. store bought cereal.  It said to store it in the freezer and consume straight from the freezer.  Not really a winter go-to Christmas treat if you ask me.  The recipe stated the popcorn goes soft after you coat it, so hence we ditched the idea.



However, I purchased a trial size of Christmas Jam to try.  I know it won't taste like a home canned jam, but if we like the taste, I may look into any good recipes similar to it.

We do can a jelly at Christmas that everyone absolutely loves - it's a cinnamon/candy apple flavored jelly.  It's definitely not made with healthy ingredients (ha ha!), but I do not know one person who does not like it at Christmas.

The jelly is called Cinnamon Cider Jelly - Recipe on my blog.


I finally convinced my husband that we needed to visit the largest Christmas store in our state (open year round).  They decorate it beautifully, and we are told there is much more on display and for sale, the closer it gets to Christmas.  I purchased a few tree decorations, and plan to go back (love this store!).  The store has 3 floors.  Prices are rather high, so you have to really consider your purchases here.  By the way, we have been to the famous Bronner's in Michigan, and we like this store better.


I also purchased a new tree ornament at an antique store.  It was an inexpensive, whimsy purchase.  I do make many crocheted and handmade ornaments, but thought it was pretty glittery and would look nice on our tree.  If not, it will make a nice gift for someone (the husband is not too sure he likes it, ha ha).



I have purchased two more advent gifts (the ones above are small journals I snagged for $1 each) for the advent calendar.  I think I will plan to save paper bags to use for wrapping the gifts with.  I believe this puts me to 6 advent gifts per gift bag.  I'll have to get wrapping and re-count them.  I'm trying to stay with useable gifts.


Gulp!  Guess what I did ha ha ha ha!  Oh boy.  I bought a box of 18 Christmas books that I have not read.  Not sure I'll get them all read this year, but I'm stocked up for a while now.  Good grief, I should not be buying more books.  Cost of the entire box was $6.00, and some look brand new.  I thought for sure I had read the Clark book, but according to my book journal, I have not.

It has taken a few years for me to find my joy in the Christmas holiday since Mom passed away.  I found so much joy in planning her homemade gifts, or other gifts, and when she passed, my joy for the holidays passed with her.  I'm finally in place where I can enjoy it, and now crochet and donate lap afghans to those who need them or can use them, and that brings back my joy (Mom constantly got compliments on her lap afghans, and expressed that to me often).  

Thank you Anne in the Kitchen for inspiring me along the way to a fantastic, upcoming Christmas this year too.   

41 Weeks until Christmas ~ Christmas Shop and Other Fun News ©  March 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart


Sunday, January 12, 2025

49 Weeks Until Christmas 2025

I'm joining Anne in the Kitchen (blogspot - Cooking and All that Jazz ) with her Christmas countdown preparations and fun planning posts.

Preparing for the next Christmas season.  January is the best time to work on crochet Christmas gifts and/or ornaments.  My family has been overwhelmed with my gracious and over abundance of ornament making over the years.  I need to find another outlet for them now.  Maybe nursing homes?  Adult assisted living facilities?  

 We have located a non-gmo Christmas cookie sugar sprinkle for next year's cookies.  I had no idea they even made them, and our Menard's sells Watkins brands.  They make this in "green" too with no artificial dyes.


Current library book for Christmas possibilities:

Delicious Foods to Make and Give Homemade, by Judith Choate.  A good library find for holiday planning if you are doing so during these slower winter days.

It has many recipes and ideas.  However, what in the world would you use parsley jelly for ?


The book suggestion is for a glaze on poultry, fish, veal or lamb.  Honestly, I would rather dehydrate my herb garden parsley and use it that way.  Would you use the jelly?  Just wondering.  It is an odd recipe, and with sugar too.

I have printed and saved one adult game for our binder.

I have not yet tried any new recipes for the next holiday.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Homemade Gift Ideas ~ Food Gifts

 








I borrowed this book from the library recently, and it does contain another version of a Chicken soup starter in a jar recipe.  I requires dried celery, but I have not seen that in our stores (other than celery salt).  I could dehydrate celery, but just a heads up on that ingredient.


(photo from google)


I've been borrowing books from the library regarding homemade gift ideas (just a hobby of mine this time of year), and I came across this online the other day (photo from google).  Just another idea to share.

If anyone has a homemade coffee mix with peppermint and mocha, please do share.

My husband is getting a laugh about my search for organic/non-gmo candy canes.  I had a box of them on Amazon in my cart, then got busy with breakfast, and when I went back to place my order - bam!  Out of stock.  Ha ha!  Jokes on me I guess.

I'm finding it very hard to find organic/non-gmo corn syrup this season.  Our big grocery store carried it last year, but this year nothing.  I may change what I bake and make this holiday season, per what I can find.  I guess we'll see first, if I get my kitchen and living room back in time.  Our hired help was a no-show.  I may need to paint myself, and I do not want to.

It's been raining here the past few days.  No sunshine whatsoever.  Dark and dreary.  I just put on some up-beat music and get to work. 


Thursday, April 13, 2023

How Big? ~ Great Weather and Fresh Air

 

Back in the darkest corner of the depths of our walk-in closet, I found several bottles of Homemade Kahlua.  They were dated 2016!  Not sure what happened that holiday season, but they were long forgotten and unseen.  Until now.  According to my blog, I gifted it that year so maybe I had extra I just completely forgot about?


(hard to see in this photo, but glue is darker on some of them)
I also found several glass jars I had recycled and added a handmade label (intended for Christmas gifting).  Over the years, the glue sort of looks strange on them.  One survived looking great.  I'm guessing I used different glue on them.  You can read how I made these on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.  You can get the homemade granola recipe:  HERE.

The closet was part of the addition from the last people who lived here. It was built at the grand size of 8 feet by 16 feet (no one needs a closet this big!)  They were odd about shelving placement, so we put in a few portable shelving units, and had to install a rod for hanging clothes.  By the way, this old farmhouse has zero linen/towel/coat closets.  You can imagine how much was stored in this one single addition closet.

The last family who lived here, had a father who owned a cabinetry and cement business, that eventually went belly up while we lived here.  

Anywho, those Kahlua bottles were dumped, soaked and cleaned.  Sigh.  Like I said, I am so glad we are having to do this, as it gets me even more organized.

Thankfully, I finished the closet. I only have to pull out some empty shelving units prior to the carpet removal.  Meanwhile, the grass is getting cut while we have this 86°F day.  

Windows are open to get some fresh air circulating with all the dusting going on.  I'm taking advantage of the sun and warmer temperature while we are getting it.  It won't last past the weekend.