"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Playing Around With More Ricotta (again)



I tried another recipe from Allrecipes:   Grandma Johnson's Scones.  I used my homemade ricotta in place of sour cream and used frozen blueberries.  They were soft and moist, and the family loved them.  I think they did need something like nutmeg or cinnamon, but they were still delicious.



I ventured around the Internet the other day, in search of a dinner that would utilize our homemade goat's milk ricotta (once again).  This crock pot macaroni and cheese dinner was delicious.  Just to warn you, it's not your creamy mac n' cheese, but still good.  I did spice this recipe up, by adding some grated gruyere cheese in place of about 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese.  The kids loved it!  Oh, and I doubled it, all except the butter.  Yum!

3 Cheese Mac Crock Pot Recipe 

I am selfishly taking the day off for myself today.  Although I have laundry to do, I am going to refresh with a good book, good tea, and God's beautiful sunshine. Just don't tell Hubby I am not planting in the garden or weeding the flower beds today.  

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Phew! I'm Back ~ Family Funny


I'm back, and a day early.  The tulips are blooming and we have beautiful colors surrounding the front porch - pink, purple, red, and white.
 
My break from blogging gave me more time to work on our "extreme" house cleaning.  I got all the windows washed and cleaned of winter mildew, washed all the curtains, a few walls, and boots are put away.  I spent time cleaning out my closet (holds my crafts supplies, so you can imagine how packed in it is), and tidying up and dusted.  I also got work done in the gardens.

Here's what else I got accomplished:



I finished the brightly colored tablet cover.  It was too short for my youngest daughter's tablet, so it went to my 13 year-old.  However, I will still make her one.  I just won't make these for sale.  They will make great gifting ideas though.  The pattern is on Sugar n'Cream (http://www.sugarncream.com/search.php?pspt=o&advps=y), and you do need to register to view the free pattern.



I finally found a hot pepper jelly recipe that tastes hot, but it turned out too thick.  I've only had this problem once, but with another jelly.  If you have a hot pepper jelly recipe to share, I'd love to give it a try.   The one I made yesterday used habanero and green peppers, and the peppers get strained out.  Hubby said he'll eat it all, but I can't sell  any of it, so I'm a bit bummed about that.  It's just too thick.

~The Funny ~

I was sitting at the computer this morning, loading photos, updating blogs, and making the last of the market signs, when I hear my 13 year-old screaming in the bathroom.

Those of us who were up, began looking at each other, wondering what was going on in that bathroom.  I thought, hmm?  maybe a spider?  

I got her to unlock and open the bathroom door (after much more screaming, and by then I was thinking snake?).  We found her sitting on the top of the toilet, with her feet up on the sink, screaming even more.

Guess what it was?

A mouse!  Ha ha ha!  We got the biggest laugh.  Even though we sent in a mouser cat to get it, it escaped through a tiny crack in the floor. 

I was still laughing when the school bus arrived. Ha ha ha!