Garden season brings us fresh jalapenos, and we use them for so many recipes, canning recipes, salsas, etc.
In anticipation for summer garden goodies. . .
I had a few fresh jalapenos leftover from a recent meal. Store bought of course.
I dehydrated those fresh jalapenos per the temperature guide that comes with my dehydrator. Many people today have dehydrator settings on their actual kitchen stove, or even their air fryer. I have an actual dehydrator. I do like my smaller one, now that we are cooking for two. I am able to dehydrate, using either 1 up to 5 trays at a time, so it's super adjustable.
Once the jalapenos were dry, I ground them in a coffee grinder (specifically used only for such foods/herbs).
I then mixed it equally with salt (and ran all of the mixture in the coffee mill/grinder), and I stored it in an airtight (or re-purposed spice jar) jar. I used fine pink Himalayan salt for ours. You can do your measurements however you like. Don't forget to label her jar.
Use the jalapeno salt on just about anything you'd like to use it on. I'm thinking this would be good on popcorn too.
We do use a lot of frozen (sliced) jalapenos in recipes all year long, and we use "fire powder" as well, but this combines the two for an easy addition to any meal.
Jalapenos contain capsaicin, which is said to give you a metabolism boost, as well as provide healthy nutrients etc.
Now, when I cook, and my husband says "it needs jalapenos" which he says almost daily, he can add it quickly. He can also use our fire powder (a dehydrated mix of mixed hot peppers at the end of the garden season, with no salt).
To read about our "fire powder" see this post: HERE.
Could Spring finally be here to stay? The heat has been shut off. The first mowing has happened, and the grass is a beautiful and bright green again. The flower beds look really nice again, and I have dug up and moved some flower bulbs. New fruit trees were planted, and porch furniture covers removed.
I've not been online much at all (hence the long post today, so grab a cup of java), and even hand wrote a letter this past week. I've done a lot of cooking, but mostly the prep work for fresh salads to go with meals. Soak, chop, slice and dice, mix....lots of good food, but a lot of dirty dishes too.
Third Year Asparagus.
First planted asparagus
Our first asparagus is sprouting, the asparagus beds have been cleaned up and ready for a Spring harvest. We planted more more new asparagus roots, and we are preparing a new area to expand the asparagus patch again (we never have enough to freeze).
I planted rosemary seeds prior to a good rain. I have more seeds to plant for other herbs.
I have transplanted a few house plants, and one does not look too healthy. I am hoping it just needed a larger pot. I have not had house plants in many years due to cats and dogs, but I inherited my Mom's plants when she passed away. I've been doing pretty well with their upkeep, but the cactus isn't looking too good (insert sad face).
I hope you had a nice Easter Sunday. As for us, we did not do anything in the way of a special meal/gathering (no invitations). My husband had to work, and the kids all spent the day with their other families or had other plans.
I spent the Easter holiday cleaning and lining the last kitchen cupboard, and other jobs around the house. Apparently, the double decker, lazy susan I bought from K-mart almost 17 years ago has broken. I'll need to find a replacement. Otherwise, that job is done. Tossed some rennet from 2016 (gulp!) I didn't even know we still had (from dairy goat cheese making days) it. I think I eventually went to a liquid rennet that needed to be refrigerated, so I was shocked to find old rennet in the cupboard.
Put those pesky toothpicks in a canning jar. The boxes are always breaking and I'm tired of shoving them in plastic bags. The lid is a repurposed lid that fits half pint Ball jars.
Food scale recommendations? Online or in store. I am in the need to replace ours (have had it since we raised dairy goats).
Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
I will link up when she posts today. I am up early.
The weather in our neck of the woods . . .
Rain early today, high of 71° and sunny later (hopefully).
As I look outside my window . . .
It's raining.
Right now I am . . .
Getting this blog post posted.
Something fun to share . . .
Cute! If you crochet anyway. My Mom had been after me for a few years to crochet cactus plants in crocheted pots, to sell at my craft shows. I never did get any made, but a few years ago one of my daughters encouraged me to crochet leaves and a pot, in which the leaves were cup/mug coasters. I donated a set to a plant bingo that was taking place last year.
In fact, I crocheted flower dishcloths and filled a cactus looking plant pot, to appear as a plant, and donated that too (you can see both of my plant projects in the blog post link).
Thinking and pondering . . .
To sell or not sell our wine making supplies. We made pear wine once, with our homegrown pears, and we learned a lot from the experience. I doubt we will ever make homemade wine again. Although, the way things are going in this world, the finished product would make a nice item to barter with. Just thoughts rambling.
To work on making something this year, to donate to the plant bingo next year. Maybe. Maybe not. I have time to consider it.
Make something for the advent gifts. I have a crochet project in mind. It's a useful item.
When God created me, did he make a "blooper?" Do you ever wonder what your God given "gift" is? I'm still wondering.
Possibly going back to work. Full time? Part time? Not sure.
I miss fun "snail" mail. My Aunt and I used to write hand written letters, and she was the last person who stayed in touch with me that way. I loved writing her a letter. I do miss that.
Not to make this post any longer, but have you ever actually written down your own happy list? A list of what truly makes you happy? What brings you joy? From simple to complex?
Being that this weekly, Monday "Happy" Homemaker post has "Happy" in the title, and the funny thing that this was the daily reading for Easter morning -
The book the daily readings are from. Some are pretty good, some are just meh.
Do you have a "happy" list? I did not. It got me thinking.
On my bedside table . . .
3 crochet hooks, yarn needles, notepad and pen
On my TV . . .
Ransom Canyon
Listening to . . .
Radio, 90's
On my reading pile . . .
Besides my three morning readings (two are devotionals, one is a daily positive reading, all of which I bought a year ago), I am currently reading this book:
ebook (my first ever ebook)
(photo source: Google)
On the menu this week . . .
-chicken fajitas -grilled burgers, veggie side -crock pot lasagna (new recipe to try), veggie side
-leftovers
On the to-do list . . .
-make a few calls -check asparagus -check wild violets
-handle some paperwork
-muck coop
-meal prep
-mail in a rebate
What I am crocheting, knitting, sewing or creating . . .
Picked up a free bookmark craft from the library. I plan to make this sometime this week. I just need to buy Elmer's glue (to secure the ends, according to the instructions).
My simple pleasure . . .
Nail polish. I only get the chance to polish my nails in between garden seasons.
Looking around the house . . .
I have extra bed pillows that need stored. I'm thinking the best way will be to buy those suction type bags, but they are very expensive (and in the past they don't hold items compressed very long). Hm.
From the camera . . .
These two were sitting out back a few weeks ago.
Bible Verse, Devotional, Prayers. . .
"God thank You that even hard days can be good days when we hold on to You. Guide me throught them with strength, peace, and the comfort of Your love. In Jesus' name. Amen." (180 Devotions for Your Best Day" Barbour Publishing.
