Pioneer Woman at Heart

I have two kitchen tables.  We use both during tomato season then potato season.  They are perfect for feeding family during get togethers (which I miss dearly).  Anyway, my larger table has become he spot to drop stuff and not put it away.  Yesterday I cleared it off.  Everything went to their home. New tablecloths were put down, and yes that one on the table behind it is a Christmas one.  I really want a Christmas cloth for the smaller table in blues.  The one I have works for now. I also tried a new bread recipe.  First, I wanted to try it due to the lesser amounts of ingredients and it didn't require bread flour.  Second.  I needed bread to make a french toast breakfast. The recipe for the bread is a 4 ingredient recipe, which makes 2 loaves.  It's online (Simple Amish White Bread Recipe, Donna Elick).  I used all organic ingredients. I was skeptical at first.  It uses all-purpose flour and no eggs. I used the full 7 c...

I finally had time to bake bread.  I literally messed it up the first time, and had to start over.  Sigh.  I am re-writing this recipe and filing it.   I spent yesterday sorting all my recipes and sent an SOS to my 21 year old to bring home tab dividers.  Oh boy.  I can't lose another recipe again. Updates on the cars.  My car is still here, but will be towed tonight to get a new engine.  The other car was delivered yesterday to the same guy for guess what?  A new intake.  Our 21 year old is working long days.  She's working almost 25-30 minutes from home right now (and long hours, which puts doggie daycare on me). We went to pick her up after my husband got home. Speaking of her, she looked absolutely exhausted from wearing a mask on her all day shift.  Her checks were red, her eyes looked like different and she acted different.  I am so concerned with her wearing a mask that long.  It's horrible to see your kid...

The garden is too wet, and now frozen.  I think if I even get the last tomato stakes out, I'll be happy.  I woke up to a chilly 21°F this morning. Yesterday, after a few chores, I went to drag out Christmas tree #4.  The day ended up with an all day date with this: First, I noticed the study chair was needing a good cleaning (on my way to open cubbie to get the tree), so I thought I'd get two things done - the chair, then my dresser top, to where the ceramic tree would go. I flipped the chair upside down and saw spider webs (Yikes!) so off I went to find the vacuum cleaner.  I ended up cleaning the entire desk, cubbie door, chair and my dresser top.  I then proceeded to pull drawers out and wipe them down and the inside of the dresser, which led me to more cleaning, and on and on it went. However, Christmas tree #4 was put in place.  Whew!  I had to text Hubby that I needed another pair of rubber gloves.  I need them for today's co...

I made a loaf of bread using the recipe Sam I Am shared at her blogspot - farmgirlsam . How did it turn out? Pretty darn good if I say so myself.  Thanks for the recipe! Hubby and I were to be meeting up at 7am this morning, and riding the Triple Nickle Ride today.  Last night those plans changed.  It takes great concentration to ride a curvy, twisty road, with hills and surprises at the top.  He came home in pain from the dentist last night.  That's okay.  I think we'd rather go do that ride, and stay the night vs. ride the motorcycle back late, and so tired.  It's about a 60 mile ride, but first you have to get there.  Getting there takes about 3 hours. I had accounted for the loss of gardening time for this ride too, but taking advantage of being home now. Guess who is driving now?  Youngest just went to the "Big City" and obtained her driver's permit.  Last one to learn to drive.  

The rabbits are definitely an issue this year.  This is the worst year ever.  One had babies in my chicken run.  Big mistake.  The chickens killed them all. Bread needed baked.  New recipe too.  The recipe is here . I turned to the internet for this recipe, and was quit pleased. In fact, Youngest Daughter saw the bread, made a sandwich, and raved about how soft and delicious it was.  Used 1 Tbsp. brown sugar vs. white sugar.  The recipe called for 2 cups of milk and room temperature. I had exactly 1 1/2 cups left in the house.  I made a 1/2 cup using dried milk to make up the difference. Library books need returned and new ones picked up.  Ha.  Yeah, like I'm a gonna' get time to read 'em. I however am enticed by the Home and Health one - 501 recipes. I may have to add a few to my Christmas "wish" list. I should have the kids monitor me when I multi-task.  I almost burned a frittata.  I set the timer, wa...

Last Thanksgiving was my first attempt at making homemade rolls by pre-freezing the dough.  It was somewhat of a fai l. I decided to experiment with other roll recipes.  I made Honey Oat Pan Rolls.  A recipe in my pile of "try its ."  This is a "Taste of Home" recipe that was in my 2014 Country Woman magazine and is available online.  The rolls are made with part all-pur pose flour, a bit of whole w heat, and o at meal. Oh, and there is a bit of butter too.   I did n o t use the E inkorn , only beca use I am wai ting on a nother delivery.

My lunch yesterday, and this morning it's Hubby's breakfast.  It was one of those throw-it-together scrambles.  I had just enough chard in the garden to make it, and used another jalapeno to flavor it up.  My sweet potato stash is dwindling quicker than I want it to.

I used a portion of a head of cabbage to make a carrot/cabbage/potato frittata (loaded with fresh chives).  I found 4 pea pods while gutting the garden, so not to waste them, they went in too.

Although I don't have a photo of the soup, we recently enjoyed some crusty baked bread with some homemade potato leek soup.  Our leeks did not do well, but we found an organic source this fall. Leeks provide cardiovascular support, and we love the soup.   Homemade bread baking has resumed. Two chairs now have a fresh coat of paint on them.  One more job off the to-do list.  Although , the wicker sofa remains to be pa inted.  We had a few days in t he lower 70's .

It's been a whirlwind of routine changes.  Hubby was switched to nights ( temporarily ) and is home sleeping all morning now.  I have to change my work load, and we have to be very very quiet.  I have to take my laundry out the front door and around the house, so I don't wake him up, going in and out the door.   Also, I ha ve to have dinner done b y 4pm.  That is impossible.  So....each dinner (done by 8pm now) is Hubby's ne xt day meal to take to work .  A d j ustme nts made. This basket of goodies was from day two of picking green beans (and peas and cucumbers).  Today is day three.  I'm thrilled to be filling my freezer once again.  And of course we ate a lot at dinner the other night.  I also cooked peas one night.  Oh my gosh they smelled so good when I boiled them!  I have had to buy these in stores for two years now, and am so thankful for this bounty.

Tuesday I spent less time in the kitchen.  Kin d of.  The sun was out and the temperature was nice, so out went the laundry. Meanwhile, inside, I boiled eggs and bake d a few loaves of white bread.  I figured I needed a break at dinner so it was egg s alad, homemade bread, salad on the side and whatever fruit we had.  I love the s mell of bread baking. 

The daffodils and hyacinths are up and about to bloom.  No signs of tulips, except at my little garden alongside a log.  I hope to start bringing in fresh flowers soon. Once again the weather p eople wer e wrong.  The high 7 0's th at were forec asted for early this week?  Not happening.  If we ar e lucky , we'll get up to maybe 60°F today , then drop to the 40's and 50' s for a few weeks (or so they say).

Rainy days are good for bread baking.  I made my first Jalapeno Cheddar Artisan bread the other day.  Yum!  If you 'd like to try th e recipe it 's from Candy at Lazy J Bar C Blogspot   Delicious !  I baked it to go along with ham bone soup for dinner.  The w eather continu es to be we t an d cold here.  I made a trip to the library and brought ho me these:

In the past several years, I knew that my dehydrator had a temperature for rising bread dough.  It was not large enough, height-wise.   My new one however, is perfect for rising bread.  I placed a small tray of water in the bottom, removed all my racks but the bottom one, and covered the dough with a damp cloth.  My dehydrator has a clear door on it, so I can see the results without opening it.

Now that I am back to baking bread, I made a new sandwich bread recipe , that my Uncle told me about just a few days ago.

I decided to bake my first cinnamon-raisin bread. Yes, that is today's big news story.   This "pioneer" woman has not baked this tasty treat until yesterday.

I thought I would take a few photos of this year's newest porch signs.  Hubby found a new hobby, ha ha!  Looks like I need to brush down spider webs too.

I'm not really a fan of baking yeast rising breads when it's colder in my house, so I wanted to try this 1969 cookbook recipe for a sandwich bread. Homemade Bread, By the Food Editors of Farm Journal © 1969. The recipe caught my eye, because it uses carrots in the recipe.  My first choice in "shortening" in this recipe would be real lard, but I do not have access to any.  I used organic, non-hydrogenated shortening.  If I keep coming up with reasons for lard, Hubby may reconsider raising our own pigs too.

Yesterday I made 2 loaves of homemade Steel Cut Oat Bread.  This was a first time recipe for me.  I have never used steel cut oats in a homemade bread before. This is another "from pile to file" recipe....

I have some exciting news!  We got a letter from Son, who is at Parris Island, SC. He asked for us to send photos, especially of his dog.  I'll admit, he sounds homesick, but he's never been away from home before (other than short camping trips).