Pioneer Woman at Heart

I wish there was 6 of me to get all the "things" done around here right now.   Work has been done based on the weather and needs.  Basically, there are projects/jobs around here not completely finished.  It drives me bonkers, but we work on them daily.   If my husband was retired, it would be much different, but it's not the case.   On top of losing the tomatoes recently, we have a plethora of rabbits. Apparantly this is a wide case issue in the area this year.  Rabbit stew?  They are a huge problem if they continue to eat my herb garden and get into the vegetable/fruit garden.  It may come to that if grocery prices continue to rise. Is it me, or are prices soaring again?  I could not believe the cost of blueberries at the grocery store the other day. I actually considered going back to work vs. doing the garden/homesteading thing this year.  I also contemplated getting a part time job and still maintain a smaller garden....

  I had a handful of mushrooms to dehydrate.  I used my smaller "Dash" dehydrator.  It has 5 trays, and I can dehydrate with how many trays I need.  They only thing I don't like, is no way to set a time on it.  I set and watch it, shutting it off when they are dry. Do you make mushroom powder?  I am reading up on that, but what I'm thinking, is why powder?  I just rehydrate for meals.  How would powder come in handy?  Thoughts on this? I didn't really get a definitive answer on blanching rutabaga or flash freezing, so I opted for blanching this time around.  We do love them, so I will be doing this every year.

  I decided to dehydrate some of the last of the green bell peppers.  Sorry for the bad photo.  I am using my cell camera for now.  My download cord to my actual camera died, so I need a new one (it's on the way). I made green bell pepper powder.  I will try this in scrambled eggs, sauces and dips for now.  It smells so good!  Have you made/used green bell pepper powder? Green Bell Pepper Powder ~ Dehydrating   © Oct 2023 by  Kristina  at  Pioneer Woman at Heart

  The arrival of fall, and end of garden season (for the most part), is bittersweet.  I am thrilled to get a break from the work, but will really miss the fresh vegetables.  Next year I am planting cantaloupe and watermelons.  The price of fresh fruit this year was outrageous, and you can't really "clean" a cantaloupe from the store.  At least here, I know what is put on it or not put on it.  I may add honey dew to that list too. The last of the last yellow squash was taken care of.  I know I said I wasn't going to freeze any diced, but I was at the point of just being "done" with it. The last of the picked jalapenos were sliced and flash frozen for the up coming months.  I think we will have enough, although the hot peppers produced a lot less this year. Order is resuming in parts of the house, and it feels pretty darn good.  It's funny how just having all the sinks in the house clean at the same time can make a person feel more at...

  I finally got around to make a full batch of meatballs.  I like to get this done before the freezer fills up. One year I barely had room to flash freeze, and made a mess with meatballs stuck to the wire shelf above, ha ha!   While the meatballs were flash freezing, I shredded up the very last of the picked zucchini.  I made us a batch of the most delicious chocolate zucchini muffins I have ever had.  I found the recipe this year online, and it is a keeper.  Yum!  I uses Einkorn all-purpose flour. I had two pounds of pork, so I prepped it for homemade sausage with home grown sage.  I let it sit in the fridge overnight before cooking it, so the ingredients can produce good flavor.  I apparently have two different recipes for this, and I added extra seasonings, so this will be interesting. I saved a few boiled eggs for snacking, and topped some chicken salad with them.  I may add boiled eggs to my chicken salad next time.  ...

First time making a breakfast with butternut squash, but it was rather easy, and simple ingredients.  I pre-cut the squash the day before though.  I used the homemade turkey sausage I pre-cooked and froze as well.   I do need to freeze more spinach.  I better put that on my grocery list right now.  I would like to do a breakfast with ham, but it's hard to find.  The last "organic" ham we bought tasted terrible. I blanched and froze the other butternut squash I bought. The guy who was to come quote us for gutter cleaning 9 days a go, has not messaged, or even come out.  The guy to come give a free quote for the removal of the popcorn ceiling has also been a no-show, and not even a text message.  I guess we are going to do that ourselves now.  You just can't count on anyone anymore. Our handy-man's supply run was another long part of the day again.  The hardware stores, in either direction, are between 25 to 30 minute drives. ...

  I got a bit more cauliflower blanched and froze.  It's hit or miss at the store, so I grab it when I see it.  We did not grow any over the summer.  I asked my husband to bring home sweet potatoes, and he said they did not have any.  It's a growing concern.  I will watch for them, and mash and freeze when I do see them. Getting to the store during the week is about hit or miss as well.  Guess who has to go get more wood for the floor?  So, yeah, my truck is borrowed way too much for my liking.  I have already had the discussion with my husband, that if we hire someone we know, they must have their own vehicle, and we'll get supplies over a weekend.  I'm just (whining I know) tired of not being able to just go when I please, get my hair cut, etc. I didn't get any answer yesterday on to blanch or not to blanch butternut squash, so I guess I will try and do more research.  I am unable to get to any of my homesteading books right now. ...

  I made 2 batches of green onion pesto, and froze it for winter.  I took advantage of the herb garden before winter weather takes over it. I also froze, what may be the last, of the bell peppers in the vegetable garden.  I most likely will be pulling those plants soon.

  I got some more dandelion greens blanched and froze for winter. Blanched and froze more asparagus. Yesterday was a bit rough all around.  First, there hasn't been a death at the refinery in 100 years until yesterday.  Two, the two men that died were brothers.  Fundraisers are being set up.  I only know that one was young with a wife and new born baby.  Thank you for all of  your prayers.

  We are not going to get a lot of carrots this year.  Sadly, the derecho we had washed out the seeds. I picked up some organic carrots and decided to try something new - pickled carrots. We'll toss these in salads, on sandwiches and even on tacos.  I'll let you know how they taste when we do taste them. I spent about 3 hours cleaning the upstairs.  Some items went to the roadside for free, some were donated and I filled the trash, cleaned one closet out completely, and shampooed most of the carpet.

  I sliced up 6# of apples and cooked them down, while I multitasked.... ...and sliced and diced 6# of onions and filled my large dehydrator. Part of them will be ground into onion powder and part will be saved as they are. I'll probably make applesauce again.  I didn't write down any notes on my recipe (basically instructions with number of pounds), and may have doubled it last time.  Thankfully I thought ahead for the busy day.  I put an all-in-one dinner in the crock pot.  Four beans and sausage , with home grown green bell pepper and home canned ketchup. I cut up yellow netting, and it took almost 3 hours to cut enough strips for 11 scrubbies.  It's sort of back breaking work, as it is a lot of netting and I cannot just simply fold it over several times (10 yards) and cut it quickly.  I'm not sure how many more years I'll be selling them. By the way, two tips with homemade scrubbies.  I've had someone buy them for her husband and said he uses ...

  Stocked up more on broccoli, asparagus and bell peppers. Stocked up on a few more of these disposable pans.  They have come in handy for delivered dishes.

Froze the last of the green bell peppers. Jalapenos and green bell pepper went into this breakfast, topped with freshly cut chives. Froze the last of the mad hatters and some more hot banana peppers. Made hot sauce with some of the habaneros.  New recipe.  I'll let you know if it's good or not. Filled the dehydrator with a mess of peppers for more fire powder. Dinner last night.  Something I haven't made in a long, long time - pumpkin/ricotta stuffed shells (recipe is still online with Country Living) with basil and sage.  I sliced home grown carrots and put them in the crockpot with honey, butter and thyme. Sadly, another extended family member on my husband's side of the family, had passed away from covid.  

  I was watching a foraging video on making dandelion pesto, and the person mentioned using "soaked and dried" nuts (unroasted) or seeds for the recipe. I had to google it, and yes there are video's on doing this process.  Apparently, it helps you digest them, brings out their flavor and nutrition. I did not even know that re-usable freezer bags, that use a handheld tool, existed.  The tool removes the air from the bag.  They re-seal and are washable.  I bought one (not the one I wanted, as I don't think it is being made anymore), but trying it out to see if the bags keep the air out after months of being in the fridge.  I hope it works out well.  I just put hot peppers in the freezer.  I can take out a bit, re-seal and put back in the freezer.  I love the fact that it will cut back what I spend on ziploc bags.

  My hot peppers are rolling in like crazy.  I'm thankful for that. I canned some hot pepper mustard sauce with the hot banana peppers. I also made fresh salsa, and now have tomatoes on the table ready to can more stuff.  Feels strange to be canning again, but very thankful. My zucchini plants are dying, but thankful I picked up some free zucchini. Breakfast frittata with zucchini, leftover taco meat, jalapenos and cherry tomatoes from the garden. Got some jalapenos frozen as well.