Homemade Montreal Steak Seasoning

 

We love a good seasoning on our steaks, but we love to use it on grilled burgers too.  My husband purchased the Grill Mates steak seasoning, per a suggestion of a co-worker, and we love it.  However. . .

Check out the ingredients in the Montreal Steak seasoning.  Onion in anything will clump up, so I'm guessing the sunflower oil is to keep the seasoning from caking.  Anyway, I went on a mission to make our own.

I found a recipe online, and it had so many reviews, I decided that would be the recipe to try.  I don't like to put links in my blog posts anymore, as they so often stop working, but if you google for "culinaryhill.com" and "Montreal Steak Seasoning" and "copy cat" recipe, you should be able to locate it online.  By the way, that site has more homemade seasoning recipes you may like too.

I followed her recipe exactly, but used homemade garlic powder, and homemade onion powder.  It says it makes 8 oz, but I stored mine in a recycled spice jar and put the extra in another spice jar.  The smaller one still has the shaker top, to make it easy to use on burgers, chicken, steak etc.

Tip:  I used my coffee grinder (used for these purposes), to grind up the larger ingredients like the red pepper flakes, kosher salt, peppercorns, and dill seed.  I then mixed everything together.

We'll be trying this on grilled burgers first, but will give an update after several taste testings.  

Homemade Montreal Steak Seasoning  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Too Many Eggs?

 

I have not baked an angel food cake in a few years.  There were just not enough eggs.  However, with my foot fracture, the eggs multiplied here at the homestead.  I decided to bake us one, and it is delicous!  I also now have a recipe for a frosting for the future (family recipe).  We are enjoying this one as it is, but a drizzle of fruit or whipped cream will be nice too.

On a side note, I checked my blog, and I last baked one in 2022, and guess what?  It was raining, ha ha!  Well, it wasn't raining yesterday, but it is today.

I saved all of the yolks, as I was already making us a breakfast scramble, and added them to the scramble. You can save the yolks for pretty much anything.

I used another dozen eggs for the breakfast.

From the freezer - garden green bell pepper, diced ham from the last holiday, and I thawed some dandelion greens and added those too.

In the end, I tossed in some chives from the herb garden, and some tomatoes.

I saved the egg shells for the vegetable garden.  However, too many egg shells is not a good thing for your garden.

I have another 2 dozen eggs in the refrigerator, that I will boil soon.  I love having them on hand for snacking, a quick meal, egg salad, or adding them to other meals.  I'm shocked that so many new chicken owners do not know you can boil them. We keep the coop clean, and the roosts as well.  You just have to wait it out a week or two, so they are older, otherwise they will not peel when you do boil them.

We woke up to more rain, and I am not mad or sad about it.  It will give me a break from weeding the flower beds.  I am making progress, but at a slower pace this year.  It will be nice to give my back and knees a break.

If you got to the end of the post, I can share a little chicken story for you.  My husband has been working double shifts (3rd midnight and 1st shift back to back).  He finally got back to his regular work hours, but fell asleep early.  I went out to put the chickens in for the night, and found out that 3 had flown the coop!  Ugh.

I chased and chased.   Mind you, my foot is fractured.  Ha.  There was no way I was going to wake up my husband.  I finally got them all in, but was exhausted.  I went back out and rigged the run fence.   So far, so good.  Sigh.

Too Many Eggs? © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Dehydrating Onions ~ Onion Powder

 I took advantage of a few rainy days, and dehydrated onions. Yes, the windows were open for this yearly event.  I may dehydrate one more time this year, but it's a start to re-stock.  

I chop a few onions at a time, and toss into my food processor.  I pulse the onions until they are about evenly diced.  I have had this simple food processor for about 13 years now.  As you can see, there are few options.  I do plan to buy one with more options when this one stops working.  Also, you can use a hand chopper for a smaller batch as well.

I spread the diced onions onto parchment paper lined dehydrator trays, and dehydrate at the temperature recommened for my dehydrator.

Once dry, I use latex gloves to remove the onions from the parchment paper.  I then grind the dried onions in a specific coffee grinder, that is dedicated to grinding dried food items.

I dump out the current onion powder, wash the container and add the newer ground onions first, then the older.  Otherwise, I rotate two jars.  What ever works for you, but remember to use the older ground onion up first.

I made us some onion powder, but will need to dehydrate more onions for making minced onion for future meals.  It's a go-to staple in our house.  I do use a dehydrator, but now-a-days, the newests ovens have a dehydrator option, and smaller batches can be made in most air fryers.

I have stored our onion powder in the freezer for years, because dehydrated onions re-absorb moisture quickly.  I keep it in an airtight jar.  I often times, have to wipe the rim before putting it back, but otherwise, the moisture stays out of it.

Converstion charts are available online to decide how much of the powder or minced etc is equal to fresh onion. 

Example:  1 tsp. ground onion powder = 1/3 cup fresh chopped onion.

Dehydrating Onions ~ Onion Powder  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

 

Here is a photo of the other crochet tension ring.  It's hard to get a close up photo.  Each one is different.  There are actually YouTube videos online, and other videos, to view how to use them.  

The rain is back.  Again.  I have a few new recipes to try.  No surprise there.  I seem to collect them again, but it's not all me ha ha!  My husband keeps finding a few for me to make.  One is a wrapped date recipe, but I am out of medjool dates right now.

We seriously need to hire someone to get up on the roof.  We need a net or whatever they call it installed on the chimney of the woodstove.  We had another bird fall into the woodstove.  Just another job added to the to-do list around here.

I used up a few more bags of our garden green beans in the freezer.  I have many more to use, so that is a good thing.   I actually doubled the most recent green bean dinner, so we have some to freeze for go-to quick meals, which seem to be needed around here lately.

A photo of the other half of the dinner.  I typically make it in the cast iron skillet and then heat it in the skillet to serve.  It is delicous.  I'll have another post regarding the seasoning in the near future.  By the way, remember the green bell pepper powder I made last summer (thanks to a bumper crop)?  I used it in this recipe, and we were very happy with the overall flavor.  

This and That © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Update on Thawing Shredded Zucchini in Waxed Paper ~ Thawing Pumpkin Puree in Freezer Bags

 Last summer, we had a plethora of zucchini in the garden.  

I came across a different way to freeze shredded zucchini.  Here are my thoughts on it....

The idea is to place a cup of shredded zucchini in the center of a piece of waxed paper, and twist both ends.  You then place as many as you can in a gallon freeze bag, label and store in the freezer.

The idea was to waste less zucchini.  For example, if you thaw it in a smaller freezer bag, it's harder to get all of it out of the bag (unless you turn it inside out).  The waxed paper freezer version works great, as it leave very little mess on the waxed paper.

The way you freeze shredded zucchini is entirely up to you, but there you have my results.  The only con I have with the waxed paper, is that it takes more freezer space to store.  The pro, is that it is less expensive, as you use less freezer bags.

I honestly can't remember why I froze the last of the pumpkin puree in freezer bags, but I did.  To empty the bag, I cut a corner and squeezed it all out.  However, the con for freezing it this way, is you do lose some of the puree, as it is hard to get all of it out of the bag.  I much prefer a container, although freezing it this way saves you a lot of space.

Update on Thawing Shredded Zucchini in Waxed Paper ~ Thawing Pumpkin Puree in Freezer Bags © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Lemon Facial Toner ~ Butterfly Pea Flower Tea? ~ Weeding

I am trying a new facial toner to use at bedtime.  It's made with real lemon juice.  In the past, I have made one with rose petals.  I do have yet one more new recipe to try, but it uses a flower I would have to buy.  I'm on the fence with trying it yet.

Question for tea drinkers?  Has anyone tried butterfly pea flower tea?  Any benefits of drinking it?  Good sources to purchase the dried flowers for tea making?  

Question for those who crochet - what's the best beginner crochet kit for someone who wants to learn?  I have all the supplies, but I thought a kit would be a great way to teach the basics and actually make something too.  I see Knit Picks has kits, but wondered if any of you had suggestions.  I have another person asking me to teach them.

Or....if you have a book suggestion, and then I can put together the yarn and hook for the person, that would be great too.  I learned from my Mom, so have no "how to crochet" beginner books here.

(One of many books)

I have a bunch of library books to look at yet.  I have just been putting it off, as I'm exhausted at the end of the day.  I flipped through a few of them, and that's about it. 

The song "with a little help from my friends" comes to mind on a daily basis here lately (ha ha!).

I was gifted these garden knee pads by one of the kids.  I've used them once already, and love them.

I am back to weeding, but have only had one full, good day of it.  The weather is whacky for us again.  It goes from storm weather, to rain, to cold and windy, and so forth.  I have purchased disposable covers to put over my medical boot to keep it clean and dry.  It works for now.

 I have not meant to turn my blog into a "recipe" blog, but with everything I do, taking 5 times the amount of time to get done, there hasn't been much to post about.  I don't think you'd enjoy me prattling on about how I managed to get myself to my dental cleaning, and survived the long walk to get in and out of the place.  It's always busy, and the parking lot is always full.  I was actually late, but they smiled as they saw me hobbledehoy into the office (see, I'm prattling on...).

Having said it takes me longer to get things done, I have had little time to read or to crochet, but I have added a few more rows to the current baby blanket. 

I have also finished another baby washcloth (using discontinued thin cotton yarn).  

Lemon Facial Toner ~ Butterfly Pea Flower tea? ~ Weeding  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

What's Cooking?

 

We are still enjoying our home canned herbed tomato sauce (Ball Recipe).  Our newest, and favorite way to use our frozen (previously roasted) spaghetti squash is with the sauce and homemade meatballs (also previously frozen, with oats, not bread crumbs).  It's delicious and easy.   

To make this in the crock pot I thaw the spaghetti squash and squeeze out any water first.  I layer that in the crock pot, with sauce, then the cooked meatballs (cooked from frozen), then more sauce.  I set it on low all day to enjoy later.

We are also using the freshly snipped green onions from the herb garden.  

I have a few items in the freezer we are highlighting on our menus right now, so we make sure they are eaten.  Those items are the ones we grew a lot of last garden season.  

Green beans top the list.  I'm planning on a few sides with those.  We have plenty of diced and sliced bell peppers, more spaghetti squash, shredded zucchini, and pumpkin (just to name a few).

Every year the garden produces differently, and it all depends on what and how much we plant.  There were years we got zero zucchini, and last year it was the largest producing year of all years.  I think we ate it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack.

The chickens are patiently waiting on us to get their new home finished.  I'm patiently waiting too.  I have a few new breakfast recipes too try soon.

What's Cooking?   © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Welcome May! What's Growing?

 

We a getting more asparagus thankfully, but I need to (again) plant more this year.  We are also getting rhubarb from the garden.  Yum!  

The lilac bush is blooming, and it smells wonderful when I am outside.  You can even smell it clear on the front porch.   I"m so glad the pine tree did not ruin the bush.  It did some damage, but I think it's recovering.  It just doesn't have as many blooms, but boy it smells divine.

Herbs in the herb garden.  Just ignore the weeds for now.  I hope to be back to that job sooner than later.

Green Onions

Sage

Thyme

Oregano

Chives

Lemon balm

Peppermint

My bleeding heart is blooming.  Terrible photo.  It was very windy when I took the photo.

I have so many volunteer chives just about in every crack and nook around the herb garden this year.

Yarrow

What is this?  Wild garlic?  Wild onion?  They are growing up singular, and all over my flower beds this spring.  I can't even tell from smelling the bulb, and cutting a bulb to smell.  These are tall, but the bulb is small.

They do not look like green onions or chives, so I'm stumped.  

Meanwhile.....

The rosebed with hostas from h-e-double hockey sticks.  If I wanted to harvest clevers, this would be a great time for that ha ha ha!  I see a mullein plant in there too.  I see several days of weeding this one too.  I don't think I could pay someone to weed for me ha ha!

I have a few spring perennials coming up, but have not bloomed yet too.  It's not quite time to plant any annual flowers, herbs or plants/seeds in the vegetable garden just yet.  I am pretty sure we are not planting any peas, considering I can't get out there to put up my pea fence right now.

Welcome May!  What's Growing?  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Washcloth/Cleaning Cloth Pattern ~ This and That

 

Here is my post for the pattern link (pattern is free online), that I used for both my makeup and regular washcloths, and for the cleaning cloths.  I use 100% cotton yarn and an "H" hook, although her pattern states to use an "I" hook.  I used leftover small bits of cotton yarn from those smaller balls they sell (maybe 2 to 2.5 oz?).  

I actually posted a "review" of all of the washcloths I made over the years.  You can read the post - HERE.  I used to keep the smaller version of the washcloth in our camper, but now take this size.

I picked out two different blue crocheted pot holder sets to give to the two families that had the house fire.  

I grew anaheim peppers last year, with the plan to can them.  I got the plants to grow, but they produced very late and very small peppers.  I never canned any.  I am just wondering if it's worth the canning hassle?  I mean the little cans of diced chilies are not that expensive.  Does anyone can these?  I still may look for plants this year.  I forgot all about  the seeds for these peppers, until I made us breakfast yesterday.  By the way, organic cans are now $2.49 each, while non-organic brands can be as low as $0.79/can.

Cheddar and Chile egg casserole.  It's not for  everyone.  I learned about this Rachael Ray recipe when I was cooking for a few vegetarian kids here.  

It's not tomato or garlic harvest season, but the green onions are doing great right now.  My husband requested this dip.  I used a lower fat cream cheese on the bottom.  I am not trying to gain weight right now ha ha!  I went over board on the green onions.  Yum.  We use almond flour organic crackers or homemade. 

Easy Layered Tomato Dip

I'm thrilled to see my peppermint plant is springing back to life.  My spearmint is not yet however.  I will clean the leaves out after the last chance of frost is over with here.

Not wanting to send my husband on a shopping hunt, I just ordered this online and had it conveniently delivered to my door step.  

I had been applying comfrey at the onset of the fracture, but from my research, you should only allow this into your body so many weeks in one year.  I have tried to grow arnica here so many times, and could not for some reason, so I just bought the cream.

Washcloth/Cleaning Cloth Pattern ~ This and That  © April 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart