Pioneer Woman at Heart

Not much going on in the way of Christmas countdown, other than trying new recipes lately.  I am borrowing books from the library to do this fun research too (other than one recipe). I picked up one more advent gift, and it was a very good price.  A hand towel and hot pad set.  Yes, it's store made and not handmade, but it was perfect for an advent gift (useful and inexpensive ).  I'm working on the next gift, and it will be handmade. I am still trying to locate stores that offer paper bags.  I have plans to use them to wrap the advent gifts, but it's hard to find paper bags anymore.  I even visited one Wal-mart to find that brown craft paper on a roll.  Nope. Nothing.  I'll keep looking when I am out and about.   New Recipes Tried and my very first fruit cake! Butterscotch Shortbread.  I was very much intrigued to try this recipe, simply for the "butterscotch" in the title.  I made the recipe.  It sliced very nicely too. ...

There were a few requests interested in the recipe for the breakfast casserole.  The recipe is online from AllRecipes (Easy Broccoli-Cheese Casserole).  I simply used organic ingredients, and added 1 tsp. homemade garlic powder and a 1/4 tsp. homemade fire powder to add flavor.  In all honesty, I think this recipe would make a great side dish as well for family get togethers.  I like this one particularly because it uses less eggs.   As for the family's recipe for Hot Cranberry Punch.  I have the recipe on my blog - HERE .  It's been a tradition in our family for years and years, and my youngest daughter wanted to have some with her cookies I baked (and wanted to learn how to make it).  It was sort of something to take her mind to a peaceful place I think, and I was thrilled she wanted to make it herself. How to make Fire Powder: Dehydrate a mix of hot peppers according to your dehydrator instruction book.  Grind the dried peppe...

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Yield:  12 You don't even need a mixer for this dough! Step 1:  1/4 warm water with 2 1/4 tsp. yeast (or one packet) - allow to dissolve for 5 minutes. In a large bowl add: 1 cup warm water 1/3 cup sugar Stir. Then add dissolved water and yeast 1 organic egg, beaten 2 tsp. homemade vanilla extract Using a wooden spoon add 2 cups of organic all purpose flour.  Stir for at least 100 strokes with the wooden spoon.  Cover bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and allow to sit for 15 minutes. It will look like this after 15 minutes. Step 2:  Add: 1 1/2 tsp. salt Then add: 4 Tbsp. organic butter, softened Add: 1 3/4-2 cups more flour, adding it about 1/2 cup at a time.  Stir well each time you add flour. Flour your hands and knead the dough right in the bowl when you can't stir it any long (2-3 minutes). Step 3: Place the ...

I adapted this family recipe with homegrown, organic ingredients.  The original recipe is from my own Mom, and called for "shortening" so feel free to use organic shortening if you can't find real lard or process your own lard. The crunch is also a thin dessert.  It is not thick and will go quickly, as it is so good.   Rhubarb Crunch 1 cup flour 1 tsp. Baking powder 2 Tbsp. lard (or shortening) 1/2 tsp. salt Cut lard into dry ingredients.  Add 1 beaten farm fresh egg.  Pat into the bottom of a 13 x 9 in. baking pan.  Scatter 2-3 cups of diced rhubarb over the crust. Mix: 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup butter Cut butter into mixture and sprinkle over the rhubarb.  Bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes.

Friday night we took Youngest to our favorite, locally owned steak house.  Sadly, we will not ever go back.  First our appetizer was served burned (first time to send back food), secondly, when served our steak I noticed the roasted half of garlic not on the plate.  I asked about it, and the waitress said something like "cutting corners."  I tasted my steak - over cooked and not the same steaks as they previously served us (over the years).  It tasted like liver.  We all didn't like it. The steak is now much thinner than any steak we've eaten there. Oh, and the butter isn't real anymore either.  They used to serve it topped with herbed garlic butter - real butter.   I noticed the "butter" not even melting on my steak.  I did not eat much of it, and we all decided to spread the word of mouth about it, and not return.  Sort of sad too, as this place is biker friendly with biker parking.  I told Hubby my kitchen is my favorite r...

The kids were wondering if I was trying to speak a new language when I mentioned "succotash" for dinner.  I have never made succotash before, so I was thrilled to try a new recipe of sorts.  I however, did not put it over fish.  I put fish in it.  I call this dish

I'm not from the south, and my husband has family that is from (and still lives) in the south.  I have been under pressure to get some real soup beans made, and I did.  I'm back to share how I made mine. They are what I call a "Home Grown Recipe" as it can be completely homegrown, other than the tiny bit of brown sugar I used.  Although I may attempt this with sorghum molasses in place of brown sugar, but Hubby may say "don't mess with this recipe!"  We have been growing pinto beans for a few years now, but we don't grow enough I think.  Anyway, here is how I made them, and Hubby absolutely raved over them.  I am pretty sure I got the "southern" part of it down right.

The house needed to be quiet yesterday, but dinner needed prepped too.  I spent my hours in the kitchen (making more dirty dishes, ha ha!) First up? Homemade sausage patties, for breakfast sandwiches for the next few days.  I used 1 lb. for Sunday breakfast, and saved the other pound for patties. Next up?

I have had a few requests for the Blueberry-Strawberry Muffin recipe.  It is on my blog, just click on: Blueberry Strawberry Muffin Recipe

Friday was like my typical Monday - busy, busy, busy.  I removed everything from kitchen counters, sorted, washed, washed and dried and put away, washed some more and scrubbed and .....reclaiming my kitchen.   I set the rules straight with the girls, but this morning I woke up to dishes drying on a towel.  Sigh.  I had high hopes they'd get the message when I told them the kitchen was closed until they finished their "to-do" list I gave them.  I want to wake up to a clean kitchen every morning now.  That is the goal anyway. I posted a few days ago, that I made our traditional Hot Cranberry Punch on Christmas this year.   I guess over the years I have forgotten to share the recipe.   Although it's a Christmas/New Year's tradition,  I have made this punch throughout winter.  Just be sure to stock up your fresh cranberries while they are in season in the fall first.  I freeze mine, and they work just fine for this reci...

Years ago, we discovered a recipe that was a family favorite.  However, it contains three cans of condensed cream of chicken soup and one of celery soup.  Needless to day, I have not made it in many, many years. Yesterday I made the recipe, and used homemade soups, organic chicken, and organic tortilla chips (which were made with non-gmo oils, believe it or not).  It took a few days to make my soups ahead of time, but it was worth it.  Here is the recipe.  

First, the night before. . .   make a batch (best, or make ahead and freeze), of homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup.

Today I am sharing a family recipe that came from my Mom.  Only this time, I made it using homemade cream of mushroom soup .