Wild Violet Jelly

 

I had a request to share the final wild violet jelly after it was processed and made, and I am finally getting the photos together to share that.   I apologize for the delay.

2 cups of wild violets with 2 cups of boiling water poured over them to infuse).  I was told to let it sit up to 24 hours, but I have let my infusion stay in the fridge after that for up to 3 days.  Strain the flowers from the liquid.

Add juice of one organic lemon.  The mixture turns from a blue-ish color to a more pink color.

Add the liquid to a pot on the stove, and add one box of powdered pectin.  Stir and bring to a boil.

Don't forget to get canning pot ready and prepare jars and lids.

Once it comes to a boil, add 4 cups of sugar and bring to a hard boil for 1 minute.

Fill jars with 1/4 inch head space, wipe rims, add lids and I put my jars in a water bath for 15 minutes.  The recipe I was shared, did not have a water bath time, but most jelly recipes say 10 minutes.

There are many recipes online for this jelly, and I read some stated add 1/4 cup lemon juice.

The lemon I squeezed measured exactly 1/4 cup, but not all lemons are the same size.  I have always used the juice of one lemon either way.

The recipe I used made about 8 - 4 oz. jars.

The final jelly is delicious.  I guess I would say a fruity? Either way, it turns into a beautiful colored jelly, delicious, and gift worthy.

I think I gifted this one year for Christmas, but to be honest cannot remember.  It doesn't make a lot, so we tend to consume it all ourselves, and the pantry thieves (kids) take a few too).

Enjoy! Do some research on your own on foraging wild violets. My next venture is to research more recipes using them in breads, salads, and cookies.

Yes, I have made dandelion jelly too, but for the amount of work, it really lacks flavor (just my opinion).  We do like the flavor of homemade Queen Anne's Lace jelly (also a fruity-ish flavor), but the color is almost clear for that jelly (note:  I am told if you are trying to get pregnant, do not consume the Queen Anne's Lace Jelly, but do your own research please).

I have also baked Dandelion Bread, and we loved it.  In fact, I totally forgot about it, with the dandelion season springing into action.  Although we mow often, so picking them is hit or miss, but the bread is delicious and worth the time to make (according to my taste tester reviews here).

Wild Violet Jelly  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Dehydrated Asparagus Powder (woody ends)

It's been raining here since last Thursday, so that makes 7 days of rain straight in a row.  Some days, partial day rain, and others full out thunderstorms. Some days it's been so cold we need jackets, so there has been no good time to work on the gardens (any of them).  A few days the rain has let up, and we got to see a teensy bit of sunlight, but most days have been misty, foggy, rainy, and gray skies.  Oh and colder.  I'm getting a wee bit concerned about planting the garden.  They posted a flood advisory Monday night.

The asparagus patch is about to the end of the harvest season for us.  Although the rain brought up a few more stragglers for us to enjoy.

 May started out with another new "first" for me.  I dehydrated the woody ends, leftover from the asparagus we recently prepared.  You can simply save them in the freezer for soup, but those bags can get buried easily.  Does anyone actually remember they are in the freezer?

I do not know anyone who has dehydrated their woody asparagus ends, so I did as much reading on this as I could find. 

Everything said to blanch the asparagus first, to break down the fiber, for better results.  One Youtube video said to not use an ice bath on the woody ends after blanching, so they would continue to "cook" on the trays as they dehydrate.

A lot of our very first asparagus planting grows up much thicker than the newest plantings, so I sliced those pieces smaller to dehydrate better.

I blanched the woody ends (not to waste them, or you could compost them too), and they were dehydrated, and then ground into a powder.

I'm storing it in a canning jar and vacuum sealing it for now, and adding to it as the asparagus rolls in.  I'm thinking cream of asparagus soup, adding it to any soup or stew, adding to any breakfast or dinner casserole, and it can even be added to homemade taco seasoning.  Nothing wasted, and nothing buried in the freezer.

Dehydrated Asparagus Powder (woody ends)  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Mashed Potato Squash ~ Does it Freeze Well?

Last fall, I roasted the last of the mashed potato squash we grew in the garden, and froze them.  I thawed a container for a dinner, and it thawed very nicely.  Hardly any water in it, and I just gave it a good stir before reheating.

Reheated with some salt and butter, and it tasted as good as freshly roasted mashed potato squash.  Yum!  I'm happy to report it worked out very nicely to roast, freeze, thaw and reheat.  

We will be growing mashed potato squash again this year.  I'm so glad we discovered this squash.

Mashed Potato Squash ~ Does it Freeze Well?  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

End of April

                 

I've been spring cleaning so to speak.  Really, the entire house needs swept and mopped, so I'm tackling one room a day when I can.  I am moving furniture and washing any rugs.   I have also been washing bed covers/comforters.   The weather is up and down for using the clothesline.

I pampered myself with a home hair treatment.  It saved me  $$ from going to the salon.  Well water is not my hair's best friend.  We all deserve to pamper ourselves.

Another "finish" for April - set of cotton hot pads to donate.

                             

The deer have started to roam the homestead, and we are not happy.  We have not gotten the fencing up (deer jump fence if it's too short).  There has not been time to do it. Heck, we haven't even had time to buy the rest of the supplies to get the job done. 

In the meantime, my garden solar alarms are up.  They will annoy the heck out of them until we can install a garden fence (on the 2nd garden area).

I may just get my donkey yet.  I already have a name picked out too.  They are great protectors, in case you are wondering.  They have legs that can kill a coyote.

Last Sunday we went back to colder weather, with a frost warning.  The morning started with a brisk 35°F.  Not unusual for us.  Monday was 39°F in the early morning, but we warmed up to the lower 70's.

Thankfully, I have the asparagus patch buried with straw for added protection, and it continues to provide for our meals.   I am almost out of all of the pesto I made last summer and froze.  

(chicken with basil pesto, potatoes and garden asparagus)

The freezer has swallowed the Thai basil pesto however.  I shall find it yet, ha ha!  I had it in the door to located quickly, but someone here moved it on me.  Anyway, we are down to that and some red pepper pesto.

By the way, I used my homemade jalapeno salt (first year to make and try this) in this easy egg/sausage/spinach breakfast casserole.  Delicious too.

April did not pass by without adventures, despite my husband's very long work hours.  We found joy in each day, added some new "first time" events to our lives, did a lot of outdoor walking, more small-ish homestead updates, did some foraging, read more books than April of last year, and was so thankful for everything (April of 2024 was a bit of a bummer). 

End of April   ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Foraging ~ Purple Dead Nettle ~ Pesto and Tea Making ~ Dandelions

 Any foragers here?  I have a few reference books, but zero information in them in regards to if Purple Dead Nettle and Henbit both have the same nutrition/medicinal benefits to the body.  Anyone? I know, it's crazy question, and there are not many homesteading blogs still blogging anymore these days.

Spring rain is great for a lot of things, but it is always the reason we get stuff planted so late.  The gardens are soaking wet, and this is what most of the vegetable gardens look like.  Not kidding.  They are too big to cover for winter.  We use a lot of space.  They are full of purple dead nettle and chickweed.

The last few warmer days should start to dry up the gardens for us.

I have added spring chickweed to salads and other meals in the past, but according to my blog (and other notes), we have not yet tasted purple dead nettle.

Foraging was pretty easy (just look at the above photo, ha ha!).

I did a lot of reading, and yes, I have a few foraging books (not all of them have pesto recipes).  I used to follow a blogger that posted all about their meals being foraged, based on the seasons.  However, like many bloggers, they stopped blogging several years ago.

I try to not add my parmesan cheese until we are ready to eat it, so if I am freezing the pesto for future meals, I leave that out until the day of preparing meals with it.  It's just my preference.

Pesto is our number one recipe for this medicinal/healthy Spring "weed."  If you want to try it, you can research the recipes available online or check foraging books from your library.

I like to dehydrate some more purple dead nettle for tea.  

You can find more recipes online with dead nettle and even chickweed.  There are even classes online to (you have to pay a fee) to learn to forage too.  We had local classes a few years back, but those are hard to come by anymore.

Dandelions are up now too.  I see some dandelion flower bread, or other foraged meal. 

I actually have a cookbook for dandelions.  Yes, I have made dandelion jelly, but the work vs. the flavor are not that amazing to us, so we only made it once.  There is more flavor (in my opinion), with wild violet jelly and Queen Anne's lace jelly (on my blog too).

Happy foraging!

Foraging ~ Purple Dead Nettle ~ Pesto and Tea Making ~ Dandelions ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Thriftiness #1

 I've gotten off the path of sharing my "thrifty" or "frugal" anything on my blog.  Many of these are repeats, but each time I go the thrifty route, we save.

Used my clothesline instead of the electric dryer.  Free solar dryer.  I use the clothesline year round, but from Spring to Fall it's used in place of the dryer.  I'm thankful to have a clothesline.

Made breakfast with steel cut oats we bulk buy (cost is a lot less), and only a cup makes enough for us two for a few mornings.

I brew my own teas, and tea infusions with bulk ingredients or free foraged ingredients.

I use the library to look for new recipes, books, movies, etc.  Free.  Our library also provides free bookmarks. I try to go to the library during their book sales, because they give their magazines away free.  Yes, you can borrow them for free too, but I can read them at my own pace, and/or pass them on to someone who uses them for crafting.

On my most recent visit to the library, I not only brought home free borrowed books, but more free magazines, free bookmarks, and a free adult bookmark craft. We could choose which one we wanted to bring home to make.  

I bulk buy (saves us $$) many of our spices.  I refill the jars instead of buying new jars (cinnamon, chili powder, cumin, paprika etc.). 

I was inspired to share frugal living tips again, thanks to the thrifty week posts by Harvest Lane Cottage Blog.

Thriftiness #1   ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Homemade Self-Care Updates ~ Other Homemade "stuff"

I made homemade hair detangler last year, and used it all year long. I even bought a small spray bottle for traveling with (and it worked great).  I have added lemon essential oil to it now.

I discovered a hair brush, after my hair dresser used one on my hair one visit.

 It's called a detangler brush, and they do exist in your big box stores.  I bought one, and wow!  I can brush out my hair much more easily with this tool (it's a small brush, but hard to tell in the photo).  Not sure how they make the brush, but I use a lot less homemade detangler now, and it takes a lot less time to brush my wet hair out with the detangler brush.  

Remember the homemade face toner? As well as the homemade face serum?  I am still using both, and love them both.  In fact, the serum (I made my own rosehip oil for it first), is said to reduce scar damage, and help the skin grow new skin cells.  I used it all year on a very small scar on my chin and it's barely visible anymore.  I am also using it on the spider bite scar, and my husband was shocked at how it's hardly visible as well.  It takes time, but the "serum" works great on scars too.

I'm not sure if I have a past post on the facial serum, but the recipe is from the same source online.

Homemade body wash.  I love this stuff!  Here is how I prepare it (with organic ingredients):

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup jojoba oil

1/4 cup castor oil

1/4 cup pure liquid castile soap (I use Bronner's)

1 1/2 Tbsp. Glycerin

20 drops Frankincense essential oil

I used a funnel (used only for such homemade items), and poured it into a BPA free squeeze bottle. I just shake it up before using, but you could put it in an amber pump bottle too.

I started with a small amount first, because I read that some people can have allergic reactions to castor oil.  I did not, and I really like the body wash.

Homemade nourishing nail oil.  I am still using it, but it's too early to say if it's doing what it should be doing.  My cuticles look much healthier however.  Long work days outside, may require this extra self-care. 

Homemade Yarrow Salve.

We love this stuff.  After someone told me that you can simply put fresh yarrow leaves (and not by a doctor) into your nose to stop a nose bleed, I was interested in making a salve.  Guess what?  I tend to get a few nose bleeds in the winter, due to dry air (or longer than usual stays in a dry air motel/hotel room).  Twice I have used the salve on a tissue to stop my nose bleed, and it worked within a very short time vs. without it.  We've used it for cuts, and for it's healing properties too.  I will definitely make this on a regular basis, and next time will fill a travel container too.

Homemade Window Cleaner.

Love this stuff.  It's worked great on mirrors and windows.  I just used it to clean the outside of a window, to see how it would dry (or even clean) during these cold days, and it worked great.  It makes bird watching, or wild animal watching much clearer, ha ha!  I do have to mix up some more.  I can't say if it is costing me less, but it is inexpensive to make.  The best part, is contains no weird chemicals.  

The ingredients are from an online source (on my blog post here):  "Looking around the house . . ." It is ingredients most people have around the house, other than buying distilled water.  We have well water, so I can't say I have tried city water for this.

Homemade Self-Care Updates ~ Other Homemade "stuff" © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Homemade Plantain Salve

                       

(old photo of picked plantain, but I used both broad leaf and narrow-leafed plantain for the salve)

 I completely forgot to share our newest addition to the medicine cabinet  - plantain salve.  It's a homemade drawing salve.  Plantain  (a weed that grows wild) is what saved me when I had a very nasty spider bite years ago.  I asked my husband to go outside and pick it, macerate it, and make a poultice.  I used it until I found a decent doctor (which was hard to do at the time).

I used 1/2 cup infused oil (used grapeseed oil to infuse it), and 2 Tbsp. of beeswax.  Heat together until the beeswax is melted, pour into jars and cool completely.  You can add essential oils too, but add them after you take the melted oil/beeswax off the heat.

By the way, before this was made, and I needed a drawing salve, I used a mix of homemade calendula oil, some store purchased chickweed salve (has plantain in it), and homemade yarrow salve.  It worked until I had my own salve made.  Not sure if one ingredient was better, but together it did the job.  

You can use dehydrated plantain for making tea (soothes an upset stomach), and infusing oils with dried plantain and chickweed to make a chickweed/plantain salve (great for mosquito bites, poison ivy, burns, rashes etc).

(from my experiences with plantain)

Has anyone eaten the young leaves in a salad? I also read the older leaves can be stewed or boiled for soups.  Anyone?  I am very interested in this, as I am learning about the nutrients in the leaves.

Homemade Plantain Salve © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Mashed Potato Squash ~ Roasting and Freezing Trial #1

 Mashed potato squash was a new garden treasure to grow last summer.  There is very little information about it online, and very little information if it freezes well.  

We do not have a root cellar, so as of now, freezing our roasted squash is are best option at preserving it for the winter months.

I roasted the last of our mashed potato squash, and allowed it to cool.  I scooped out the flesh and froze it.  I know it will thaw somewhat watery, as it is that way after roasting it.  

The plan will be to mix it with pureed squash, add it to tomato sauce, or other dishes.  I am not sure if it will not be solid enough to enjoy on it's own, after thawing.

I'll update as we thaw and use it in our meals.  I purposely waited to roast them, thinking it would help heat up this house.

Mashed Potato Squash ~ Roasting and Freezing Trial #1  © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Nothing "Christmas" Going On (yet)

The newest tincture has been strained.  It's a "Sleep" tincture.  We have not tried it yet, not actually needed it (oddly).

While our handy-man continued working on the rest of the drywall sanding, painting and trim work, I baked us up some delicious beef and bean breakfast burritos (minus the rice).  I actually found a new seasoning recipe on YouTube, and will be using that for any future beef/bean burritos.  We loved it.  She calls the seasoning "All Around Seasoning" and it is perfect for the breakfast.

All Around Seasoning.  In case you are wondering, her burrito recipe is also on YouTube.

Speaking of YouTube, it's a handy resource for just about everything.  From Fix-It videos to "Fix" your body videos. I found myself needing stretching exercises, and I am amazed at how well they are working out for me.  As we get older, health issues can sometimes catch us off radar.

In light of how our bodies change (as we age), we have been looking for line dancing classes.  So far, the local classes have already taken place.  I think it will not only be fun, but keep us physically fit.  Hopefully, we will find something in the next few months or so.  There is no hurry, but the search has been a positive spin on life.

Dinner plans changed last night, and I was patiently waiting on my husband to get home from work.  Little did I know, that he stopped at a restaurant for a Christmas get together for work.  I was binge watching Christmas movies and in the midst of waiting, and finished this blanket.  It's larger than my typical lap afghans, and I do not have a zipper storage bag for it.  It's on the shopping list for now (the storage bag).

I plan to dig out a few Christmas cookie recipes today, but I can't promise anyone that they will be baked this year.  

Cookie baking is not off the radar, but we are still working on the old office room.  I can say, that the drywall, flooring, and all painting (including trim) is finally done.

New Recipe!  I mixed this together yesterday, and the recipe stated to chill it overnight.  I do believe I will be adding some feta cheese to it.  It does not have tomatoes.  It's a "dip" recipe for an appetizer or simply a snack.  It's definitely a bit different.  It does not have lemon juice nor lime in this one.  I'll be back with an update soon.

I did not get my Christmas cards out this year (I did find them ha ha!).  So far, we  have gotten two cards mailed to us.

We got about a half inch of snow last night.  I had plans to muck the chicken coop yesterday, but got busy with indoor housework.   We may get a white Christmas here this year.

Nothing "Christmas" Going On (yet) © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Hot Mess Express

 

Hot mess express checking in for a quick minute.  October has been, and still is a crammed month of commitments, projects and whatnot.  More so on the commitments (preventing other work to be done).

I feel like the days are so out of control, but I dug out my new jars and recipes.  I realized I had not dehydrated comfrey or plantain, and needed it for one recipe.  Of course, we just mowed too.

The kitchen is full of baskets of herbs and medicinal weeds, which are all waiting their moment in the dehydrator.

Our weather changed rapidly, so I am working quickly.  

Sticky notes to the rescue!  Without them, I would be a double hot mess express.  I finally made a phone call for a quote, that should have been done a year ago.  I was to complete that job today, but someone took the wrong vehicle to work this morning.

Purging continues, but not as productive as it should be.  Garage clean out remains on the to-do list (did I mention too many commitments this month?).

Of course, in the midst of trying to stay sane, and cooking/baking from scratch, it appears that many of my homemade baking items need refilled at once - pumpkin pie spice, taco seasoning, and vanilla extract etc.

Saw this deer as we returned home from the farm/feed store.  It was literally walking to us.  We have seen quite a bit of deer this year.

I would say, that I still have about 80% of the garden to pull yet.  I need to hire help possibly.

I have a few new recipes to hopefully share soon.  Like I said, it's been a wild and crazy month here.

Hot Mess Express  © October 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart