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

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

(Snow!)

Our weekend went way too fast.  We actually went out for breakfast with family, had a kiddo and her boyfriend over for a late lunch, and did not do a lick of work.  It rained Saturday, and snowed Sunday.  Sunday was more of one of those days you just wanted to curl up with a good book or movie and stay home.

I also shared some of our bell pepper breakfast ideas with the kids, and by golly, I need to make these again soon.  I miss the stuffed ones for breakfast too.  Here I was telling my husband, we should take a year off from the garden and let it (and us) rest, but I miss those fresh bell peppers.  We could always hunt down a produce stand, but even people we know who have a stand, spray their garden.

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

I'll link up when she posts.

The weather . . .

It's still cold today, but we are to warm up this week for a bit, then cool back down again.

Right now I am . . .

Sipping coffee and posting this.

Thinking and pondering . . . 

We've been discussing foods we only eat when the garden is producing fresh goodies.  I sure do miss roasted beets with onion, and rosemary and thyme from the herb garden.  I will be checking prices on organic beets in the store.  We are also missing my spiced pickled beets.  We are out of them.  

How I am feeling . . .

Tired.  We do not like the time change, and we had to "spring" forward Sunday.  It's an adjustment for sure.  On a good note, we are back to longer days and later sunsets, and in time for our spring gardening work soon.

Since I met two fitness goals earlier in the year, I have come up with two more.  

I am back to making weekly nettle tea infusions.  I have not been making them in the winter, but with the warmer days, my allergies act up, and it's great for allergies.  As a bonus, it's great for my hair and nails.

On the breakfast plate . . .

. . .to be decided on yet.

On the menu . . .

-cod, roasted asparagus and roasted rutabaga
-grill burgers with home canned condiments, sweet potato "fries"
-homemade pizza with chickpea crusts

-leftovers

On the reading pile . . .

I'm still reading this book.  I spent more time on the crocheted blanket over the weekend, as it was very cold here again.

On the TV this week . . .

Not much.  We mostly listened to music.

Looking around the house . . .

It's pretty tidy, other than a box of books to donate, and some of my leftover yarn to deal with.   I'm actually making up a plan to distribute my books in a few free little libraries.  The one free little library that I went to recently, is very full right now.  

I also started to purge the office.  It's a slower process, as I am still working on the hallway painting, and of course have regular chores, and cooking from scratch (that is time consuming). Not to mention, we all need to make sure we take time for ourselves in each day.

On the to-do list . . .

-prepare a new breakfast for the next few days

Organic hannah sweet potatoes roasted in garlic powder, roasted black beans and corn, onion, bell pepper and a bunch of spinach, topped with two eggs, and homemade cilantro sauce and green onions.  So good!

-dinner prep

-brew another nettle tea infusion

-brew a gallon of iced green tea with garden spearmint

-cut up a whole watermelon and a whole pineapple
-catch up on any laundry
-dishes
-sweep/mop any floors
-finish cleaning one bathroom

From the camera . . .

If you missed my post, READ HERE to see what I took pictures of, that is growing around here.  In the above photo, are my chives growing up in the herb garden.

What I am crocheting . . .

I'm still crocheting this large blanket (photo from last week).  My goal is to finish it before the end of March. 

Colors are, from bottom up: 

-Heather Grey

-Real Teal

-Soft White

-Claret Bordeaux (all Red Heart yarns)

I am still slowly working on an XL pot holder for us.  It is in my on-the-go bag for when we go to town or longer drives.  Once these are done, I have a few more unfinished projects.  I also have some crochet Christmas tree ornaments in a project bag.  I totally forgot about them.

Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verse . . .

No current prayer requests.

Happy Homemaker Monday  © Mar 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Brussel Sprouts and Butternut Squash (roasted) ~ Bell Pepper Oven Fries ~ Wild Rice Soup (with chicken) ~ Turmeric Honey?

 I decided to try this combination, after seeing it on SkinnyTaste online.  They recipe simply states to add 6 sprigs of fresh thyme and black pepper.  Well, in my opinion, it needs more flavor, such as garlic perhaps.    Anyway, I had the butternut squash in my freezer, and it needed rotated out, so I thawed it and used that.  The squash cooked to a soft texture, but it was all good.  I will try fresh butternut next time, and add garlic powder or even sliced shallots or onions.  

I make this side about once a year, with homegrown bell peppers.  I used the healthier version of "panko" this time, and we loved it.  The dip is hand made as well.  I believe the recipe is online with Delish (Bell Pepper Oven Fries).

What are you cooking for your fall side vegetable dishes?

Thank you for the tip on freezing chicken rice soup.  I found a recipe that I will be trying during our next cold spell.  It is on another blog, and the recipe is here:  Wild Rice Blend Soup.

On another note regarding medicinals, has anyone used a blend of turmeric and honey for illness?  It's not a jar method, but mixing ground with honey and using on the spot.  I'm just trying to be prepared.  Two weeks of feeling ill was not fun, and we want to have many options on hand if people start spreading sickness again.