New Recipe Tried and Other Tidbits

 

I found a few printed recipes in the back of my binder, when I changed them out to new binders recently.  I found a recipe I had printed back in July of 2021, and gave it a try (without reading any reviews).  Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole.

It's delicious.  However, the next time I make this, I will finely dice the sweet potatoes, roast them, and then layer it all to bake.  I found the shredded sweet potatoes gave it a "mushy" bottom texture.  It is very light, and not a "heavy" breakfast.  

The only thing I did different, was that I used real meat instead of the "vegetarian" meat the recipe called for.  Oh, I also added 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground garlic (homemade) for added flavor and some salt and pepper. I found it strange that the recipe did not call for any seasoning at all.  The recipe is still online at allrecipes.

Tidbits. . .

We woke up to 21°F this morning.  The cold has returned, but thankfully no snow this March (like last year).

I have somehow lost my blog writing mojo.  Maybe it's the transition from winter to Spring, with it's back and forth weather?  I don't know, but I just haven't had much to write about this month.

I took advantage of the cooler weather and seasoned our new cast iron pan.  I had asked if anyone had one, and there was no answer, so we are giving it a try.  Even the clerk at the store, gave me her name, and asked for me to give her a review the next time we were in the area (not sure that will happen, ha ha!). Anyway, I will be cooking with it, and if we like it we very well may go back for a 2nd one.   

We are still focusing meals based on what's still providing from last year's garden.  We still have frozen garden vegetables, canned sauces, and of course the copious amounts of green beans.

I have yet to jump on the sourdough bread band-wagon.  We just don't eat bread that often, so two loaves of Amish baked sourdough, went into our freezer.  We have a friend who also bakes it, so I may just buy from her next time (all organic ingredients).  

We are still getting more outdoor walking in this year despite weather changes.  In fact, 100% more than last year (we did not do outdoor walking this  time of year, last year).  In fact, last weekend we walked 3.31 miles (we tracked our distance for health purposes).  My husband's sugar reading tests are much lower, and we are very happy about that.

Our Spring Daffodils continue to emerge, but no actual blooms just yet.

Although the weather is on the chilly side today, there is nothing more invigorating than a deep breath of morning fresh air.  

New Recipe Tried and Other Tidbits  ©  March 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Crocheted Baby Blanket ~ Greens ~ Frozen Stuffed Bell Peppers and Home Canned Sauce

 The weather has been bringing us some of the most enjoyable Spring weather days lately.  The weather is also bringing coyotes thru the area (we heard them the other morning). 

Today it's starting at 39°F with possible snow (yes, I said snow, ha ha!), but tomorrow it is to start out as low as 26°F.  It's hard to believe I sat on the porch and read a book for a bit in almost 70 degree weather yesterday. 

 

It's typical Spring weather here, and even with the up's and down's.  We had rain showers last night, with thunderstorms.  It will be fun to see what Mother Nature brings the rest of the day today.  If it's cold enough, I may be seasoning my new pan.

I'm finally putting the edge on the the current baby blanket.  The mother is due about May, so I'm happy to be finishing it up. I feel like this blanket took a long time to work on.  However, as the weather is changing, it's hard to find time to read or to crochet.  We are taking advantage of any/and all nice days lately.

It also feels like there is always housework that needs done.  How does that always happen, ha ha!   Cleaning toilets, sweeping and mopping, dusting, dishes, baking and cooking (when you are a from scratch cook/baker it uses a lot of time), porch sweeping, chicken tending, laundry, errands, cleaning windows, etc.  

Every time I turn around, there is something else that needs done like re-filling the homemade vanilla. Or forgetting I bought several bunches of organic dandelion greens (a powerhouse that we often eat in a breakfast) that need blanched and frozen.  Both happened yesterday.  The last photo is watercress.  I could not believe I found both dandelion greens and watercress in the same day.  The watercress (also a power house of goodness) went into the day's salad.

I think we notice all the things that take up our time, as the hunkering-in months start to disappear.  It's why I try so hard to get indoor jobs/repairs done before Spring (and a few of those are lingering here).

We are still enjoying those lovely stuffed garden bell peppers from the freezer.  I just pull some out, top them with a jar of home canned tomato (herbed) sauce, and bake them.  I top them with some freshly shredded mozzarella cheese at the end of the bake time.  So delicious, and the best, easiest dinner when you have a nice day and want to go for a walk outdoors.  A very self-sufficient meal, however we will need to grow paste tomatoes this year if we want more sauces (of any kind) canned this year.

On a side note, that red crocheted XL hot pad was the very first extra large one I crocheted almost 17+ years ago. It still washes up nicely, and still looks very good after all these years.

It was a trial making to create my own pattern.  I have been using it since, but have changed the way I make them, as per my Mother's request (before she passed). She preferred them to be the size and shape of a 9 x 13 pan.  I had requests for more of this (it's more square in the photo) size, so it could be used for anything like pizza pans.  The one above also has different stitching than what I currently make them with.  Anyway, just a tidbit story to share.  It brings back good memories when we used to set up for craft shows.

Crocheted Baby Blanket ~ Greens ~ Frozen Stuffed Bell Peppers and Home Canned Sauce ©  March 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart