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.

Adopted Motto

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

Showing posts with label Crockpot Vegetable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crockpot Vegetable. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Sitting on the Front Porch in February

 

Update on the Tex Mex Sweet Potatoes and Onions:  Delicious!  However, I keep forgetting that our jalapenos from last year, were very "hot" in flavor (hence the small amount on my plate).  

It ended up very spicy, but next time I will cut the jalapenos to a smaller amount, ha ha!  I cannot find the recipe online, so you'll need to borrow the cookbook from your local library.  We served the side with homemade chicken enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce.

My chicken enchiladas are filled with sauce, then a layer of cooked onion, chicken, chilies, and black beans (salt and pepper), and some cheese.


The enchiladas are super easy to make.  I cooked my chicken in the crock pot the day before, and the sauce can be made up to 3 days before (stored in the fridge).



On Monday, we had a 65°F day!  Sitting on the porch in February is unheard of in our area, and I took advantage of it.


Not once in the day, but twice I got to enjoy our front porch.  When my husband got home, and after dinner. we enjoyed the front porch until the cooler air set in.  

Tuesday, we hit a record for the month, and the day.  We heated up to a whopping 73°F (a feels like temperature of 76°F).  I got another day of reading on the front porch in February!

Rain moved in with thunderstorms overnight, but should end today.  The weather is to dip to a very cold 13°F (feels like) by tonight.  We may even get snow later today, after the rain stops.

Yes, I said that right.  Crazy weather.  The spring daffodils are starting to come up right now.  

Monday, February 26, 2024

Happy Homemaker Monday

 Today is definitely a "happy" homemaker day.  Waking up to new floors in the hall and the kitchen is a game changer.  It really brightened up the house.  If you didn't see the photos of the hallway progress, you can see the post HERE.  

Today is the last Monday of February 2024.  How will you be spending your day today?  Time flies by way too fast.

We are getting a lot finished on the to-do list, and boy it feels great.  No more pattern binders piled in the living room, another lap afghan finished, kitchen blinds/windows cleaned, and so forth.  We still have a bit of work in the hall, but it's 98% done!

We haven't decided on the next course of action, but with spring around the corner, we may be back to working on our waist high, raised beds (a project from last spring).  There is the complete garage clean out, and the drywall repair/new outlet and window project too, to think about.  

I think I forgot to buy new seeds for some winter squash for this years garden, so I need to get on that before the week is over.

Also, in the process of moving the refrigerator, I realized how many printed recipes I had on the side (with magnet clips).  Oh boy.  They have been there for a few years.  I guess I just forgot about them, and secondly, I just don't have the time to try them all.   Some are tried recipes, but for the most part are recipes to try.  Once again, I let them pile up.  A very bad habit of mine.  It's on the purge/clean list for the week.




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


The weather . . .

The sun will be out, but the rain moves in tonight.  It will be warming up too.


Right now I am . . .

Brewing another pot of coffee.


Thinking and pondering . . .

I had to toss out the plastic floor mat, that was under my computer chair (in the kitchen).  I'm considering replacing it to protect the flooring, but stores here do not carry the clear ones, or any for that matter, for non-carpet floors.  I had to buy the last one online.  My husband says we really don't need one, but the wheels do put wear and tear on the flooring.


How I am feeling . . .

Tired, but a good tired.


On the breakfast plate . . .

I'm thinking I will bake Cheddar and Chili Egg Casserole.

And blueberry link sausages.


On the lunch plate . . .

?

On the dinner plate . . .




I put about a half batch of a new recipe in the crockpot.  It'll be a side for tonight's yet-to-decide dinner.  I'll let you know if it's good.  The original recipe calls for 5 sweet potatoes and 3 onions.  Hence why I made a half batch of this.  I used frozen jalapenos from last years garden.


On the menu . . .

Again, I didn't have time to plan this yet.  I will work on this today.  I'm going to base my menu on what's in the freezer.  Stay tuned.


On my reading pile . . .



On my TV . . .

Whatever looks interesting.


Looking around the house . . .

 The kitchen was swept and mopped, and everything is finally moved back in their place.  We used those felt mover pads, and it worked for most of it.  We'll add felt floor protectors to the legs too. 


To-do List . . .

-breakfast for the next few days 
-sweep/mop the rest of the floors
-dishes
-any laundry left from the weekend
-put trash out

For the week:
-prime hallway entry door

From the camera . . .

Yikes!  I have nothing to share today, other than my crochet projects below.


What I am crocheting . . .


Finished this lap afghan.  The idea is to only use yarn I have, so the top and bottom are different gray colors, but it worked.


I'm back to working on this blanket, while the weather is cooler, but on warmer days I am not.



Devotional, Bible Verses, Prayers. . .

Prayers for our youngest, as she is sick and the doctor was unsure of what was the cause of it is.  I delivered her some homemade ginger-ale, but she is still pretty sick.

Happy Homemaker Monday  © Feb 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Friday, December 22, 2023

Crockpot Creamed Corn

 



A winner in the "tried new" recipe category.  So good!  The only ingredient I did not add, was the red bell pepper, because I didn't have any in the freezer at the time.  I will be adding it and making this again.  A keeper recipe.

The recipe is online at The Southern Lady Cooks - Slow Cooker Creamed Corn.

If you freeze your corn off the cob with butter, you can use that and add less butter too.  I save bacon grease, so I used that, and already had some bacon cooked that was leftover from another meal.  The sugar could be left out too.  I mean, it's only 2 Tbsp, but we freeze our corn with butter and sugar so I can leave it out.

A win-win recipe if you freeze your corn off the cob, and freeze your garden bell peppers.  Saving your bacon grease is always a frugal tip I share often.

Sharing for those looking for a new side dish for your own meals, or for potluck meals.  I've tried other variations in the past, and we really like this one.

I like to try new recipes exactly according to instructions, and ingredients.  Next time I will swap the corn starch with arrowroot powder and see if it makes a difference in consistency or flavor.  I do by organic corn starch, but for us arrowroot would be a healthier option.

Tip:  We cook up an entire package of bacon, and save half for a second meal or use it in another recipe.


Enjoy!