"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.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

What's Cooking? Homemade Meatball Recipe

 


My meal plan was going pretty well before we both got sick.   We had roasted more of our home grown mashed potato squash, and paired it with some air fryer (can be done in the oven too) blackened chicken tenders (local chicken), and I thawed some garden green beans and local bacon to make the BBQ crock pot green beans.

The blackened chicken is simply chicken patted dry, seasoned with a mix of seasonings, and air fried (or baked).  There are so many online recipes for the chicken, but we love it (first time trying it).

Here is the recipe for homemade meatballs.  A friend shared it with me.  We buy our meat from a local butcher, buy the organic oats from an Amish area that is a quick a drive, but the only place to buy it anymore.


Homemade Meatballs


Meatballs
3 pounds ground chuck (see notes)
2 cups oatmeal, organic
2 eggs
1 cup chopped onion
13 oz. can evaporated milk, organic
2 teaspoons salt
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder (I use homemade)
1 tsp. black pepper

Mix well.  Shape into balls (I use a large cookie scoop), place on cookie sheet and freeze until firm, package and freeze until needed (or bake).

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

Note:  I use half groung chuck and half ground pork, but you could use what you like.



The recipe uses oats in place of bread crumbs.  My recent batch was made with local pork sausage, because the butcher accidently gave me that instead of ground pork.  We'll see if how it tastes soon.  I already had the ingredients mixed before opening the meat packages.

I mix, roll the meatballs, and line a pan and freeze them.  I then bag them for future meals.  You could cook them ahead of time as well. It's all up to you.


What's Cooking?  Homemade Meatball Recipe © November 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Monday, November 18, 2024

Monday Madness

 


I'm calling it Monday Madness, as we return to a week of a regular work load, and trying to catch up for what we did not get done around here.  The bathrooms need a good cleaning, trash taken out, dusting, sweeping, dishes etc.  It also means, I am back to the kitchen for some homemade cooking and baking this week.

I'm dehydrating plantain, as the weather was good for it, and we needed it.  I have tinctures to strain, and salve making to do this month.

My husband is feeling better faster than me, and in doing so, has prompted the start of several projects that are overdue.  I'm not sure which one will be done first, but we have acquired the new window (will require some drywall work as well), lumber is ready to start the chicken run build (and we have stand by help for both), he's on board with the office purge (so old carpet can be torn out and the new flooring put in), utility room purge/clean up will once again start due to the fact we will soon need to remove the 16 year old washer and dryer.  Lastly, for now anyway, we have acquired a new heater for the master bathroom, and the old electric baseboard heater will be removed. 

Ha, and I thought we'd be slowing down this month.  I  am thankful that my husband is feeling better, but the holidays are approaching, so we'll see what actually progresses.


In the meantime, library books keep rolling in, and I have yet to even look at any of them.  The weekend went by way too fast, but I finished the last crochet lap afghan.


Here are a few photos I took, of the evil flying predator, known as the hawk.  I went out to see if it was still hanging around, and yes it is (they are unfortunately "protected" in our state).  The more I get photos of it hanging around, the more my husband is motivated to get the run built (will have a roof, and completely enclosed run).   Yes, I do need a rooster, but for now, we'll be focused on the enclosed run.




I'm going to attempt to keep a to-do list going, in order to stay on task around here.  I've already added more to it.  I asked my husband where we put the porch chair covers, and we both laughed.  We both have no idea.  Another job added, ha ha!

We are throwing ourselves into the week without a meal plan.  The only plan is to use what's in the freezer, needing to be used up first.  It should be fun.