Pioneer Woman at Heart

  One of my extreme clean projects (craft binders) landed on the kitchen table, and it made me realize, I need the table for tomatoes.  Yikes.   Tomatoes, although we are getting black rot on some, are rolling in, so I have set up a small camping table for the extras, as they are not all turning red at the same time this year.  The sound of locusts outside, reminded me to wash our bathrobes while I still had good clothesline weather.  Plus, they were on the bathroom door, and I need that door taken down to paint anyway.  Eventually. I didn't get a photo, but that clothesline was full.  I washed all the towels, clothing and anything else to beat the rain. Speaking of laundry, my washing machine is now acting up.  I am getting codes, and it will stop completely.  We got it running again, but it is 14 years old.  It may be the next appliance to be replaced.   So, what would eat jalapenos?  I have one plant almost eaten c...

I was slicing up jalapenos early in the morning.  I wanted to make sure Daughter was up in time to leave for school super early.  They all went to a hair show today.   Speaking of show, the 2 hour craft show wasn't that great.  Hardly any customers, but I sold a slouchy hat, a wrap around scarf and a set of boot cuffs.  Also, we learned a lot from the other ladies there - one sold organic non-gmo body care line (very cool stuff), and one knew a lot of info about natural healing.  My girls learned a lot even if we didn't have a lot of customers.   I saved the ends of the jalapenos to freeze for meals.  Nothing wasted in this house for sure.  Especially with little to put up. I dehydrated the little bit of rosemary I grew this year. Oregano is next today I hope.  The weather will turn much colder this week.

I decided to make the second trial run, using Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar (vs. white organic/non-gmo vinegar).  I have access to it by the gallon, and white organic vinegar is not available in stores. And it more expensive by the gallon.  So... Here is what I did for this jar of hot pepper pickled eggs.

So, you know how I blogged about adding greens and adding the nuts, and "boom" my weight started coming off?  And my nails grew? Well, come to find out, I found this article on " Why Adding Copper ...." from Clean Eating.  Makes sense to me.  Maybe I was lacking the copper in my diet.   I knew my thyroid was wonky, but the more I read the more I learn. And for a twist on things.... I took one afternoon off from tomatoes (hoping they didn 't over -ripen), but jalapenos were having t heir day, thanks to someone who bought two pounds a t the Farmer's M arket.  That would be me of course.  The th ird pound came f rom my own garden.

Now that the kids have associated summer gatherings and cookouts with baked beans, I think I have come up with a nice homemade version.  In fact, I think I'll take pre-soaked beans to our next camp-out.  I would love to try cooking these over the campfire all day long. (They were steaming in the photo.  I had just taken some out of the crock pot)

I was searching the internet one day, and found this recipe at

I made Honey-Jalapeno Grilled Chicken the other day.  I have to say, it was pretty good.   

We've been experimenting with new cucumber recipes, and tried this cold pasta salad.  It's great with onion or with radishes.

Blanched and froze 40 cups of sweet corn. Staked 20 more tomato plants. Froze 7 cups of shredded zucchini. Canned 4 more pints of Sweat Pickle Relish. Dug up 2 rows of red potatoes. Number of eggs we got in June: 121 Baked up some beet chips for the first time every.  Delicious!  A bit of olive oil and sea salt.  These were amazing.  Now I have to buy a mandolin.  Otherwise, these won't bake evenly and some will burn. I used Martha Stewart's recipe for reference on temperature etc. Spent days and days weeding out all the flower, herb, and vegetable/fruit gardens.  Weeds, weeds, and more weeds. Purchased 12 wooden fence posts for the new goat pen. The 4-1/2 pints of apricot-jalapeno jelly that I made are half gone already.  Hubby loves it so much I am down to 2 jars.  I hope I get more peppers after the next rain. I need to can more to sell. Planted 4 more loofah seeds.  I'm taking a chance and tryin...

There are many versions of recipes for this jelly.  One of my larger stove top burners stopped working, so I got out my Ball Jam Maker and took a look at the recipes that come with that.