Garden ~ Daffodils ~ New Recipe Tried

 

While out fetching firewood I walked out to check on the garlic.  All of the grow bags but one is doing great.

I brought in some daffodils to enjoy indoors.  It will drop to the 20's tonight.

Tried a new recipe.  Baked  buffalo chicken nuggets (The Stay at Home Chef).   I have to say I didn't follow it completely.  It said to use Frank's Buffalo wing sauce, and I made my own  wing sauce and bread crumbs.  It was not as crunchy as they said it would be, but had great flavor.  I think if I had an air fryer these would be very good.  Now....where would I store an air fryer in this place?  Hm.  Not sure I want to add more appliances, but....

From Pile to File Recipe

 

I tried Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts.  The only thing I did not do is add the additional salt or top with salt.  I may try it that way too, but this way was delicious!  I was amazed.  It's replacing traditional buckeye candy this year.  I used all organic/non-gmo ingredients.   It's a keeper.  Recipe is online at Detoxinista.

Question ~ From Pile to File Recipe

 Has anyone  purchased this book?

“The Medicinal Herb Grower” book–volume 1, by Richo Cech

I am unable to borrow it from our library (or interloan).  I am wondering if it's worth purchasing, considering I have purged a log of my books recently.

Tried a new dessert recipe.  I had some orange gelatin on hand, so it was a go for me.

(Trying this brand for the first time too)

I had all the other ingredients oddly.  Results?  Very good!  Although my husband says "more pecans" ha ha!  He does love pecans.

Handiwork from on the road and other ramblings

During the recent road trip, I took along yarn and easy projects.  I got one set of pot holders finished, crocheted two washcloths and two facial scrubbies.

While we were gone, the bananas were not eaten, so I tried a new recipe.  It's more of a breakfast, but looked good and healthy too.

I made Almond Butter Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal (from A kitchen Addiction).  We loved this.  No flour and just a bit of either honey or real maple syrup to sweeten it.

Miss Thelma's Shenanigans ~ New Recipes Tried

My mornings are spent sipping coffee, stoking the fire, and listening to the snow plows hard at work outside.  It also has me thinking it's time to get back on the treadmill in the mornings (haven't had the motivation lately).

In case you missed the post, I caught Miss Thelma inside the feeder the other day.  Well, I went out yesterday after putting spikes on my muck boots, shoveled off 4 inches of snow and ice off the ramp (not easy with rungs on it either), to fetch eggs and feed/water the chickens.

I happened to look down inside the feeder (which when I am standing on the ground looking in, I have to tip it sideways).  She laid eggs in there.  They are confused as to where to lay eggs.  I'm going to have to build something so they feel like they are crawling inside something (in the sides of the coop).

Dinner - two new recipes.  Up  top is sweet potato/lentil stew, and below is Skillet bread.  Both are online - stew is from Taste of Home, and bread is from I Heart Eating.  Both were delicious. Sorry for the bad photos, it's been dark in the house with the cloudy skies and snow lately.

Full Day in the Kitchen

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 cups of flour, and felt it should have had a bit more, as the dough was very soft.  Well, the bread rose nicely and tasted good. Now, when I cannot locate bread flour, I have this recipe to fall back on.

Dinner was a bit of work, but I decided on Chicken Spaghetti and corn.

Guess what?  My car is finally back home. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Even though I am home, which should keep the dogs calm, I now keep a kitchen radio on.  It keeps the dogs calm and they are more restful, which helps King stay relaxed.  Poor guy.  He hasn't had any more seizures, but this last one was bad.  Daughter ordered dog CBD oil.  Vet meds are too harsh for him.

Tiger has been hilarious and a pain lately.  He has been sticking his paw under our bedroom door again, and banging it back and forth at 4am.  It's funny when you hear about it, but 4am?  Then when I finally am able to let him in and keep an eye on him, he flares up and gets the zoomies like he just had a hit of catnip.  So funny.  Anyway, we got him a Kitty Villa and filled the bottom scratching pads with catnip.  Thought everyone could use a good laugh.  First time to figure out how to upload a video too.

I'm not on the hunt for a weather proof lock for the chicken coop.  We will see what we can find to rig up security for my ladies.

Saturday the weather was so nice, we hooked up with 17 people and 12 motorcycles.  Unfortunately, the couple that was leading the pack, and had the route planned didn't show up.  We re-routed and still had an all day sanity saver ride.

However, that meant work for Sunday.  It took all morning, but my husband got the chainsaw working again.  We also got a new seal on one of the house doors.  After that we took off on another short motorcycle ride.

Our 21 year-old's car broke down again last night.  So tired of this.  My car is still not back, so we are down a car again, and 3 working.  

Somehow, in moving yarn out and back into my closet (thanks to the revolving doors of kids moving out and in), I could not find one of my afghan hooks.  Sigh.  I literally went online and ordered another one.  I have no idea where it is, and you can bet your bottom dollar, that I will find it a year from now.  Or today.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather outside is . . .

Nice!  High of almost 80 degrees today.

On the breakfast plate this morning . . .

(photo to be added)

Bacon/egg/cheese sandwich, coffee

Change of plans - when the bacon was done we made bacon/bean/egg burritos.

As I look outside my window. . . 

On the to do list today or this week . . .

For the day:

-dishes, tidy kitchen, sweep and mop

-laundry

-clean master bath

-vacuum

-dump ash pan and clean out wood stove

For the week:

-clean up office area in kitchen

-clean up bedroom (the craft supplies have gone awry)

-split wood

-put air conditioners in storage

-put new seal on garage door

Currently reading . . .

On the TV for this week . . .

The Man with a Plan

On the menu . . .

-breakfast for dinner

-chicken/basil meatballs

-Tex Mex Macaroni

-possibly something grilled tonight

Something fun to share . . .

Zuri, our one daughter's mountain cur/pit mix, is my chicken whisperer.  Louise flew the coop yesterday and she helped me catch her by literally just standing guard and not letting her pass (she didn't make a move).  Good doggie.

New Recipes we tried. . . 

I made homemade garlic cheesy bread for the first time last night.  It was delicious.  The family gobbled it up.  I made it to go with leftovers.  The dough was pretty easy to make too.  Recipe is free online at 

I also tried the Cheesy Chips in the Food Babe's cook book.  I used store bought tortillas, while I'm waiting on supplies to try her recipe for homemade corn tortillas, and the first batch was not crispy.  I had to bake them 30 seconds longer for the crispness, and used too much of the topping on the first, and didn't have enough for the second. Next time I'll split it in half before sprinkling it on.  They do have great flavor though. Overall, I think the homemade tortillas will work much better.

Not a recipe, but I made a new organic, cooked butterscotch pudding and the family loved it.  I added the suggested egg yolk too.  Very creamy and very good.

From the camera . . .

On the prayer list. . .

Our President, America, our state, for the virus to go away, King, and any personal requests.  Our daughter's car to be fixed, and finally fixed.

Possibility ~ New recipe and other randomness

I have a possible place to set up and sell my handicrafts before the year ends.  Although I didn't think it would happen, I'm considering it.  However, I have to go in and speak with them directly about a one day special event cost.  I have a feeling that it will be more than I can really spend to do this.  I'm gathering photos to email them prior to visiting their store, so I guess we'll see how it goes.  The store is a filled with handmade vendors, and I'm told the building is large, so if they charge what the flea markets charge it's still a possibility.  It's a new permanent business, open daily with workshops almost every month (like learning to make a blanket with large blanket yarn etc).

I have also realized in taking photos, that I have only 2 dish scrubbies made.  Yikes.  Where does the time go?

I had to switch up dinner last night.  Sweet potato chili.  I needed a one pot complete meal.  Wood splitting was planned.  That plan went out the door when rain arrived about 3:30pm and never stopped.

New breakfast casserole we tried.  I used organic ingredients (yes our store sells non-gmo tater tots, but pricy).  The family loved it. (Buns in my Oven, Tater Tot Casserole recipe found online)  I'm just trying new breakfast dishes for Christmas morning.  The recipe however is not an overnight recipe.  You use frozen tater tots.  You could however cook the meats ahead of time and toss it together in the morning.

Purged some books from the garage.  I would have loved to set them out for free, but with Covid and stuff, they all went to Goodwill.  Luckily, my daughter's hair salon is almost next door to Goodwill.

Strained my sage tincture.  

I finally got more orders done online.  I even bought some books and picked out a free one I earned.  Now to find jumper cables for the girls for Christmas, which will be the gifts they "need" this year.  I may get into town this weekend if someone is home.  Got a call about the car.  He had to put it off, due to someone from FL up here who had an emergency (needed a new engine).  My car doesn't even have the new engine in it yet.  So frustrating.

New Recipe Updates

 

The new chicken tetrazzini recipe (from Stay at home chef) was a non - keeper.  Bland, dry and not worth the work.  Healthier, but had zero flavor, and dry.  

The Kamut (flake) granola bars were delicious.  A keeper recipe for us.  I still like my other recipes, but it changes up the grain and we will make these again.  Recipe is online at their own site.

It poured down rain yesterday morning.  I think my friend recorded a whopping 3 inches.  Where was all this rain when we needed it over summer?  I am glad it's filling the well and watering my fall planted garlic.  

Our temperature is to rise back up to the 70's today.  However, more rain as well.

I've been successful at cleaning one shelf a day in the fridge.  Tackling it one day at a time has been much easier than doing the entire thing in one day.  

All of my totes of yarn have been moved back to my bedroom closet.  It's not what I wanted for sure, but nothing I can do about it until another kiddo moves out.  Oh, and moving it prompted me to whip up a fall item.  I hope to share it soon.  Not like I need a "new" project or anything.

I don't see that happening for a while with this dang plan-demic going on.  One daughter is trying to find a new job.  I told her, maybe she should hold off.  Her job is essential and if they shutdown again, she'd lose her job.

This and That

I had so much mundane tasks to do Monday, the onions never made their way to the dehydrator.

 Tuesday they finally got into the dehydrator.  

My yarn totes are made their way back to my bedroom closet sadly.  They were headed upstairs until one daughter moved back in last March.  I can't live with my office full of totes, so I'm making room (again) back in the closet. Then I can use my office once again.

I made 3 new recipes.  We loved the rosemary walnuts and the Southern sausage enchiladas with sausage gravy.  We will be cutting the Kamut granola bars and tasting them today.  All recipes are online.  I am thinking of trying a new recipe for dinner tonight.  The breakfast dish I made a few changes - left the seeds in the jalapeno, and I used butter (vs the grease left from the sausage) to make the gravy.  The original photo of the breakfast dish makes it look like you have lots of ooey gravy, but you don't.  It tasted great though.

Rosemary Walnuts  -  Sara Moulton online

Southern Sausage breakfast dish - online with Spicy Southern Kitchen

Kamut granola bars - online at the Kamut direct site.

I'm slowly cleaning the fridge again.  One shelf a day.  It's been crazy lately with trying to keep things stocked up for whatever happens in this crazy year.

 

More Canning ~ Tomatoes

 

I canned another (and the last) batch of hot pepper jelly  I've already had two people say they would buy a jar.  I have 3 hot banana peppers left to freeze, but a bag full of jalapenos.  I'm tempted to give them away ha ha!

I tried a new recipe for dinner last night.  Crockpot Taco Chicken soup.  It was okay, but nothing fantastic (but filled our tummies).  I made buttermilk cornbread to go with it.

Believe it or not, the tomatoes and I have another date with canning.  I'll be checking the remainder I brought in and start freezing some.  I am pretty sure I am getting down to where there is not enough to can anything specific, although I may do a small batch of crushed tomatoes.  I'm just thankful for a good tomato year.

Things are looking so-so in our area.  On a good note, one daughter said that fast food joints in the "Big City" are now opening their lobby area.  On another downside, they are some restaurants shutting down due to someone getting sick or a patron (for deep cleaning).  We are just eating at home and avoiding shopping until needed. 

Okay, I need to take a dog out (he's an early riser) and get cracking on the tomatoes.  I'd like to have some crochet time today.

This and That

The snow is back this morning.  Too tired to go take a photo for you all, but you can imagine how we feel.

It's been a rough few weeks.  My husband had to work 3rd shift again last night, and he was told Tuesday would be the last night.  We, at this point, have no idea when he'll be back to 1st again.  I've added a can of WD-40 to my shopping list. One thing I've realized, while trying to be quiet during the day, is that all my doors squeak.

On a good note, the boys showed up Wednesday, and one rode the Harley up to the shop.    It's getting new tires, etc. to get it ready for riding season.

I couldn't even remember what day it was this morning.  Literally.  With no days off, and the backwards routine, no wonder Hubby's stomach is bothering him.  He loved dinner last night - chicken with hot pepper mustard sauce, wild rice and "Full Throttle" sweet potatoes.

New recipe tried - Gochujang glazed meatloaf with green beans, and steamed broccoli.  The meatloaf and green part was new, I just added the broccoli. I used ground organic oats in place of "saltines" and it worked beautifully.  The sauce can be bought organic with non-gmo soybeans, and you can make it yourself (which I plan to do the next time).  We loved this.  However, the recipe stated to cook it all the same cooking time, and the green beans do not need 55 minutes, so there was adjusting.  It was our first time tasting a Korean sauce.  We all loved it.  

I located the recipe in a library book, but there is a recipe online with Good Housekeeping for the meatloaf..  I mixed about 2 Tbsp. Gochujang with homemade ketchup and coriander (ground) and tossed the green beans (pulled frozen garden green beans from my freezer for this), and just baked on rimmed pan until done.   The green beans were a bit spicier, but my family still loved it.

Well, I have chattered on already this morning, so I'll be off to do my yoga and exercise now.  If there is one good thing out of all this routine switch-a-roo, it's that I've been up earlier and to bed earlier, even though 4am or 5am beats me to my alarm.