Colder Weather (again) ~ 43 degrees! What?!

 I have yet to remedy the websites using my blog for whatever they are using it for.  The views cut down by about 200, but considering I posted a very, very short post yesterday, it's still getting 300 views from advertiser businesses and other businesses.  All to read about how they are using my blog too.

It is very annoying to be honest.  I have not had a lot of time to work on putting a stop to it, but I did look into a few of the sites to "opt" out and there were no options to remove my blog.  Not sure what to do next.  If I do remedy the situation, I will remove the page breaks on my posts.

The majority of viewers are from Hong Kong and Singapore (huh?).  Like it's been suggested, AI may be the reason, and one we cannot avoid, as Blogger has very little privacy options.

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

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

Snow ~ Side Story ~ Try It Recipe Update

 

The photo pretty much depicts the recent snow storm.  We did get a slight bit of sunshine yesterday.  I think we got about 3 inches.  My husband finally got to use his drivable mini snowplow (he bought it from an auction a few years ago and never needed it).  He walked in the door that day giggling that he was happy to finally try it out on snow.  Ha!  I have to say it worked perfectly.  All those years I joked he was a collector of such do-hickies, but it sure came in handy for us.

However, I did hand shovel the side patio to get out to tend the hens (there is a side story to this) and get the mail that particular day.  There was 2 foot drifts to get to the coop, and I slipped slightly on the underlying ice (which I didn't see until I shoveled).  Anyway, when I put my right foot down to catch myself, it shot pain right up that already beat up leg.  

I put in a call to our main doctor, and the nurse called me back.  I, and I have no idea how, missed her call.  I think ice packs will ease the agitated leg, but we'll get better advice when the nurse calls me back.  FYI - spikes are back on my boots for the winter.

A big fat squirrel out digging for whatever he/she can find.  An odd sight for winter time.  

I cannot wait for the garden this year.  The cucumbers in the stores are not so good lately.  We have been making very good at keeping the grocery list to fresh fruits and vegetables, and focusing meals on what's in the freezer and pantry.

The temperature remains in the teens, and this is what the egg stand looks like today.  I am thankful they are laying again, but it is very slim pickin's.

Side story about the slip and not falling, and going out to tend the hens.  I get an email almost daily from an old friend (been friends for years).  I mentioned my slip, and shoveling and ice, and her response (no kidding), was to butcher all of my hens, and start over in the spring!!!!!  Just to avoid a slip on the ice!?

It was like she thinks I am a hermit and never needs to leave the house, because I do not "work" outside the home.

I could not believe a good friend would come up with that solution.  Not one bit.  I need new friends, but most winter activities here are in the evenings when my husband comes home from work.  I don't have the equipment for zoom to do  online type meetings (book clubs, Bible study etc) either. 

 Anyway, I was absolutely shocked that all the years I've known her, and that was the only response?  I was just keeping up with recent news, and felt she could have cracked a joke about bubble wrapping me or some other response, but I'm still shocked. 

Okay, off my soapbox.  Thanks for listening to my winter time banter.

I worked a teensy bit on my new project and hope to share soon.  My husband is even happy about it.  I think anyway.

We tried the slow cooker ground turkey stroganoff and it was delicious!  Oh my!  No cream cheese in it.  I used arrowroot powder to thicken it, and made it a comfort food meal with homemade mashed potatoes and extra wide Amish noodles.  I roasted garden green beans from the garden to go with it.  I know it's a sugar spike (potatoes and pasta) for the hub's, but it is about once a year that I make mashed potatoes vs. sweet potatoes.  The recipe is online with Kroll's Korner called Slow Cooker Ground Turkey Stroganoff (use that homemade condensed cream of mushroom for a healthy version).

I never thought about it until I just mentioned mashed potatoes, but those mashed potato squash we grew last year would be absolutely delicious with this too.  Note to self for next year's garden.  Insert happy face.  I have a few small squash left (totally forgot about them). 

Have a fantastic Wednesday.  Find the sunshine in your winter day, and prayers for the people in CA (fires) right now.

Snow ~ Side Story ~ Try It Recipe Update © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

What's Cooking? Homemade Meatball Recipe

 

My meal plan was going pretty well before we both got sick.   We had roasted more of our home grown mashed potato squash, and paired it with some air fryer (can be done in the oven too) blackened chicken tenders (local chicken), and I thawed some garden green beans and local bacon to make the BBQ crock pot green beans.

The blackened chicken is simply chicken patted dry, seasoned with a mix of seasonings, and air fried (or baked).  There are so many online recipes for the chicken, but we love it (first time trying it).

Here is the recipe for homemade meatballs.  A friend shared it with me.  We buy our meat from a local butcher, buy the organic oats from an Amish area that is a quick a drive, but the only place to buy it anymore.

Homemade Meatballs

Meatballs
3 pounds ground chuck (see notes)
2 cups oatmeal, organic
2 eggs
1 cup chopped onion
13 oz. can evaporated milk, organic
2 teaspoons salt
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder (I use homemade)
1 tsp. black pepper

Mix well.  Shape into balls (I use a large cookie scoop), place on cookie sheet and freeze until firm, package and freeze until needed (or bake).

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

Note:  I use half groung chuck and half ground pork, but you could use what you like.

The recipe uses oats in place of bread crumbs.  My recent batch was made with local pork sausage, because the butcher accidently gave me that instead of ground pork.  We'll see if how it tastes soon.  I already had the ingredients mixed before opening the meat packages.

I mix, roll the meatballs, and line a pan and freeze them.  I then bag them for future meals.  You could cook them ahead of time as well. It's all up to you.

What's Cooking?  Homemade Meatball Recipe © November 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Last Day of October - New Recipes Tried and End of Garden Tidbits

Grab a cup of java.  I apologize, this post ended up too long.

 October was a busy month for us.  We had so many plans, our plans had plans.  Whew!   Three weddings - one in another state up on a hill (they drove us up with a tractor and wagon) over looking a river, the other on a hill at a castle, and the third we didn't make it to.

There were car shows, trunk or treats for the littles, a long distance trip to re-stock baking/cooking supplies (it's hard to find organic non-gmo in our area), garden work,  yard work and more.  

One thing that did not happen, was our last camping trip, and it's probably a good thing considering.  The state put a burn ban on the campground, and the nights were down to the 40's.  The whole point to go camping (for us anyway) is to go off grid, enjoy nature, campfire cook, and enjoy an evening campire.  No being allowed to have a campfire, was the ticker that crossed the last camping trip off the calendar.

Our days are finally approaching a slowdown (yippee!) for us here on homestead.  My kitchen table overflows with squash and pumpkin to roast and freeze, but if you check our weather pattern below, it's been too hot to heat up the kitchen this week.

Weather

October 14th - 55°F High, 40°F Low, Rain, Cloudy

October 16th - Woke up to 37°F (windchill 32°F, Freeze Warning) with a high of 55°F

October 17th - Woke up to 33°F (Freeze Warning), High of 61°F, Sunny 

October 21st - 81°F High, 49°F Low

October 24th - Woke up to 37°F, with a high of 62°F

October 25th - Woke up to 41°F and rain for the first time this month, high of 68°F.

October 28th - 32°F in the morning, High of 66°F, Sunny

October 29th - 81°F high, 63°F low, very windy

October 30th - 80°F High, 67°F Low, Cloudy, Warning day for unharvested crop fires due to drought

October 31st - woke up to 66°F (feels like 76°F due to 75% humidity), forecasted high of 77°F with possible rain (I will believe the rain when we see it - still in a drought here)

I tested our first round of frozen breakfast burritos, that I made late September.  I wanted to make sure we had a breakfast for Monday mornings, after busy weekends and such.  Oddly, I have never frozen breakfast burritos.  I thought it would be better than sandwiches.  Anyway, they tasted great and came in handy all month.  I'd like to try freezing an egg combo muffin of some sort next.

Something else I did during our crazy month. . .

I used a pill keeper to store my daily vitamins in, so when we were on the "run" going places I had them in this handy container to simply grab and go.

The next plan was to get some quick dinners in the freezer, other than stuffed bell peppers.  Typically, I freeze chili or other hearty soups that re-heat nicely.  We ended our bell pepper harvest (harvest was 203 this year) with stuffed bell pepper soup (using up an assortment of odd size peppers).  

Pie pumpkin harvest was pretty sad.  Two rotted, and only one grew to size.  It was a bad drought year for us.

We also planted a new pumpkin, and we got one from that harvest.  Crazy year for sure.  It is a Jarrahdale blue pumpkin.  It weighed in at 13 pounds 14.8 ounces.

The mashed potato squash harvest was a bit better than I thought.  Some of the squash were small, but overall, we are happy with our harvest.  

You can see one small spaghetti squash in that basket.  We actually had 3 out there, but 2 rotted.  Our drought year was a bit difficult this year.  Last year we harvested 9 and it lasted us all winter in the freezer (you can read about my post where I froze them all HERE).

Two types of sage.

It was a race against mother nature, but herbs were put up for winter.  Our freeze/frost came very early this year.  There are so many medicinal properties in so many herbs and wild growing "weeds" for our health.

The month of October brought us a bunch of pesky Minute Pirate Bugs.  They are tiny, but they are a pain in the rump.  They swarm and bite, and will leave you a nasty welt.  I tried to enjoy the porch on the warmer days, but the bugs were horrible.  I found that if I sprayed myself down with homemade bug spray, and then also burned a citronella candle, it helped keep them away.

New recipe tried!  We baked butternut squash fries for the first time, and oh my gosh they were delicious!  We didn't even want to make the dip for them.  The final coating is grated Parmasan Cheese.  I did learn from this, that I need to oil my parchment paper.  These will stick to the paper, and make it difficult to turn, but overall tasted wonderful.

The other new recipe we tried, is called Sweet Potato Chicken Patties, but I used ground turkey.  I'll be back to share the recipe if I can locate it again.  I love an "all real food" recipe.  These froze great too.  I accidently made the patties/burgers too thin, but I re-shaped them after they thawed.  Recipe said 3/4 of an inch thick, and I used our grill burger smasher tool. either way, these were delicious.

We also tried a new 3 bean salad.  The dressing is similar to other dressings, but overall we loved this one.  I used garden jalapenos for it.  The recipe is online from CleanFoodCrush.  It's called Marinated 3 Bean Salad.  There were two things I did not do as instructed by the recipe.  One, I used the juice of one entire lemon (it was maybe 1 Tbsp more juice), and two, I chopped up about 1/2 cup of olives vs. one entire cup.

Other days have been busy in the kitchen, or in the garden.  I have yet to replace my blender, so I made our basil pesto using my food processor instead.  I am just not happy with what I am seeing in stores.  I will keep looking.  

The garden was completely cleaned out and tomato stakes put away.  Our cheap fencing we put up for the green beans was finally taken down and rolled up for next year.  We have tilled it, and fall garlic was planted.

Flower beds are being weeded, as the leaves continued to drop. As of today, the geraniums in our hanging pots are still blooming.  It's crazy!  We've typically taken down dead plants by the end of Septemeber, and put up outside Christmas lights by now.  

Did we get any fun in our month of October?  Well, sort of.  In fact, I have a funny story about visiting an antique store.

We went into the store to look for a small table, and to simply look at kitchen chairs.  We walked by a shelf of used books and my husband randomly pulled a book about a donkey.  He said I should buy it and read it.  To humor him, I agreed.  As we walked to the cashier to pay for the $4 book,  I hear him say I could have a donkey too.  The excited me, turned around, only to see him laughing and holding a glass donkey!  Oh, he thinks he's is so funny some days.  We both got a laugh.  I still want a donkey, ha ha!

I have yet to read the book, as my husband (oddly) has already started reading it and said it is very good so far.  

 I am so happy that we can finally slow down, or rather get things done that need done.   Winter is approaching, where we spend more time inside, so I may be moving some furniture around, changing bed covers, washing curtains, and doing a deep cleaning here and there.

I finished the baby blanket with the new pattern (thanks to so much traveling this month).   The pattern is from the Crochet Crowd online, and the pattern is free.  I'll have to look up the actual name of it for you all.   I love it, but now I want to make one in blue, and I have zero baby yarn in blue ha ha!  Oh, boy.  I may have to sneak some yarn into the house.  

Lastly, I have questions for those who can and preserve. . 

I think someone here mentioned this to me before, but I cannot find it on my blog, but is there a stainless steel water bath canner that is better to buy?  Brand name or location to buy would be helpful in deciding on what to upgrade to.

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe, for making and freezing cold/flu bombs?  I have two recipes, but the comments for both say to change a lot of the recipe.  Anyone?  These are mixed up (lemon, garlic, honey etc.), strained, and frozen in ice cube trays, to drop into hot tea for relief during a cold or flu.

Best cookbooks for sourdough bread baking?  Believe or not, it's the one bread I have yet to even tackle, and I really want to do this.  Tips?  Suggestions?  What not to do?  Starter suggestions?

Last Day of October - New Recipes Tried and End of Garden Tidbits © October 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

End of September Garden ~ Winter Medicinal Prep ~ Tidbits

 We finally got rain on September 22nd, and it just kept coming, and coming.  The hurricane rolling in by Florida is bringing us much of the rain our way, forcing us to cancel our third planned camping trip.  There was no point in hauling the camper over an hour away, only to spend the entire weekend inside the small camper (there was not much to do in the area indoors either).  No campfires, no campfire meals, and no hiking.  I was pretty sad hitting that "cancel" button.

(husband's packed breakfast with daikon root hashbrowns)

One vegetable I did not get to plant this garden season - daikon radish.  I am however experimenting with it in recipes, and actually grating it for a healthier hashbrown, and using it cubed in place of potatoes in some soup recipes.  I have yet to make kimchi, but it is still on my list.

New to the garden this year, and new to us - Mashed Potato Squash.

One mashed potato squash came off the vine, so I brought it in a second one and roasted them.  I have never grown these, so I am relying on whatever baking instructions I can find online. 

We tasted it by itself, and then we seasoned it with salt, pepper and a bit of butter.  Oh my goodness!  Tastes better than mashed potatoes.  So good!  I will be planting these again.  It is a squash you cannot find at any produce stand or grocery store.  I have a few more to roast, and may even try mixing in some pesto.  We are both amazed at how good these squash taste.  I cannot believe, that not one produce stand grows and sells them.

The bell peppers rolled in all month long.  I made stuffed peppers for breakfast, stuffed peppers for dinner, froze stuffed peppers, froze the peppers diced and sliced, and made other "stuffed" recipes with them.

Dug up the last of the garden potatoes.

I tried a new crustless quiche and we loved it.  I am taking advantage of the herb garden as long as the season lasts. The quiche had asaparagus, dried oregano (from the herb garden), fresh green onions, and chives (I measured those fresh herbs with my heart).

I was harvesting goldenrod for one of the kids, and learned that it not only helps heal a runny nose, but also sinus infections, and helps treat the flu.  I also started a tincture.

Tips:  I keep extra lids from my mayo/peanut butter jars, as they fit any regular lid canning jar.  When I give dried herbs for cooking or teas to a friend/family, the lids come in handy.

I also keep disposable teabags on hand.  I gift them with the dehydrated teas when someone is sick or needs a tea (most people do not own a teaball or such).

Pickled radishes with a garden jalapeno.  These won't last long, but they are good for up to 6 months, according to the recipe.

My husband finally got his homemade corndogs.  I told him I would only make them once a year, as he is diabetic, but it has been about 3-4 years since I made them.  I use all organic ingredients in the batter (all beef hotdogs), and this time we made homemade fries with home grown potatoes and fried them in local beef tallow.

I started a jar of Four Thieves Vinegar.  It will last up to one year, and we like to have it on hand "just in case" for feeling ill or preventing illnesses.

A "sleepy time" tincture started (we still like our evening tea too), and a new honey based elixir for a new "cure all" for winter/spring.  It will last up to 2 years, so we are trying something new, along with the Four Thieves.

Walking is the elixir to mental health, overall health, and just feeling physically healthy.  I'm so glad we are spending more time with nature this year.

We have been getting a few hikes in this month (until the rain rolled in).

The only handiwork that got made during the later part of the month  - another dish scrubbie for us.

Strawberry Margarita Pie

I am still purging books, and am trying new recipes from one of the cookbooks (deciding on donating or keeping), and other home updates/repairs.  The dishwasher (we bought used) quit working, and now the dryer is on the fritz.  I had to use it, as the mowing was getting done, and the rain was arriving, but glad I used it.  I had not used it all summer long, and it is almost 16 years old.  Time to start looking for a new washer and dryer.

I hope all is well with everyone.  We will be getting rain until the very last day fo the month (maybe more).

End of September Garden ~ Winter Medicinal Prep ~ Tidbits© September 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Garden and Tidbits Mid-August

The start of August regarding rain. . .

I do not have a rain gauge here, but I will be getting one for next garden season.  The news finally called it a drought, but said lots of rain was coming.  We had a tornado warning, and a boat load of rain with it, but that has been all we've gotten this month (so far as of today August 14, 2024).

The squash bugs were infesting all of our squash.  Do you have a sure fire solution to organic pest control for squash bugs?  We have tried Captain Jack's organic garden dust, and we have tried organic neem oil spray.  

We may not plant squash next year, in hopes to eradicate the nasty varmits (squash bugs).  It will mean no squash at all.

I don't know what continued to eat the greens, but the neem spray did not keep it away.  Just when it was looking great, it started looking like this.  Frustrating for sure.

(2 1/2# that I had planned to can into hot pepper mustard sauce, and I still had another 1# to freeze that day)

On a positive note, the hot banana peppers produced a nice harvest.  However, I gave one to my husband to taste test (he loves hot peppers), and then I tasted it.  It was not hot at all. It tasted like eating a green pepper.  We had purchased the plants this year, and from a new produce stand.  I am wondering if they labeled them wrong.  Anyway....

I decided to not waste the days picking (good source of vitamins and fiber), and made easy pickled banana peppers.  I did not use gloves, as they did not "taste" hot.

The next hour my hands were burning.  Did you know you can submerge your hands in vinegar to remove that painful hot pepper burn in your hands?  It works.   

Somewhere in that mess of hot banana peppers, there was an actual hot one.  I don't know what is going on with the hot peppers this year.  Last year, they were too hot in taste.  Crazy how one year can be so different.

The jalapeno peppers produced in mass amounts, I have yet to go pick them.  They have somewhat gained some heat in their flavor.  They are definitely not as hot as they were last year, but tasty.

The green beans started to roll in too.  I picked enough for dinners, however not enough for freezing. Picked our first bell pepper August 12th.  The cucumbers are starting to form strangely (not pollinated fully?) and the plants look terrible.  I'll take what we get. By the way, the Fresh containers I bought last year work great to keep cucumbers fresh in the refrigerator.  I'm so glad I bought some. 

We are getting a few more zucchini and yellow squash, but not enough to freeze any of it.  Last year we go so much, we could have had a road side produce stand.

New to the garden!

Mashed Potato Squash

I planted something new in the garden - mashed potato squash.  Have you heard of it?  I never heard of it until last winter, and bought the seeds.  I have not found one person who has grown this squash nor eaten it.  

The winter squash plants are trying their best to hang on, but for some reason, the acorn plants only produced one acron squash (last year we got 3).  I will buy seeds from another source, or just buy them next year.

If you are still with me, ha ha!  I apologize for the long blog post today.  I guess I'm feeling chatty, as I am enjoying this absolutely beautiful 58° weather this morning (first thing out of my mouth "it feels like camping weather").

The bathroom shower tile floor is done!  It did not get completed without headache with this guy.  He did do a nice job, and for the first time in 16 years, the shower has a finished tile floor.  

Why it took so long?  Raising a lot of kids can put jobs way down on the priority list (or even off the list).  It's the only room with tile too.

Anyway, he left messes that I didn't see prior to inspecting his work.  We however, are glad for the shower to be done, and that room is soon to be checked off the project list.  I  just need to do a full floor tile/grout cleaning, and touch up paint that this guy chipped of the wall trim (yes, an eye roller).  

We have sort of started the garage clean out too.  On days we have time, we are focusing on removing what we don't need/use or haven't used for years.   Progress is better than no progress.

Until next time . . .

Garden and Tidbits Mid-August © August 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart