Mug Rug for the Football Fanatic ~ Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

The pattern is really for a place-mat, but I call it a mug/snack rug for a football fan.  I just finished one for a Christmas present for hubby.  These look pretty nice when they are finished.

The pattern can be found at

Applesauce Chicken Dinner

(Applesauce chicken cooking in the crockpot)

Hubby and I are officially back to the gym.  The means frugal and easy meals, that are also healthy.  Although pioneers didn't have crockpots, this meal is very self-sufficient.  It could easily be cooked over a fire using cast iron pans too.

First, I went searching for cookbooks on meals using applesauce, but I didn't find any (just baking cookbooks).  I found a crockpot dinner recipe on-line, using chicken and applesauce.


Anyway, back to the frugal dinner.  If I don't raise it, I do buy organically grown chicken.  It's not frugal, but worth our healthy lifestyle. And of course I buy when it's on sale or clearance, and freeze it too.

Then I needed a side dish.  Red Quinoa? Yep, but after checking the cupboard, I was out.  Sweet potato fries?  Yep, but not conducive to working out at the gym, and expecting kids to turn the fries every 15 minutes.  Hmm?  My side ended up frozen carrots that we grew and froze over summer - a  self-sufficient, chemical free meal.

I used the recipe that I linked (above), but used organic apple cider vinegar, organic cinnamon, home canned organic applesauce, organically grown chicken, etc. I may be making homemade hot sauce next season too. Cayenne and hot sauce are a great substitute for store bought hot red pepper flakes.

This was very good, and all of the family loved it.

   

Applesauce Banana Muffins

If you are wondering what I'm going to use my home canned applesauce for, here is one recipe I make with it.

National Novel Writing Month ~ Are You Ready?

I have been waiting for NaNoWriMo for a while now.  Yay!  It starts tomorrow and ends at midnight the last day of November.  

If you are a writer, go to their site, and sign up to write a novel (50,000 words or more) in 30 days.

It's fun.  It's spontaneous.  It holds me accountable.  It keeps my mind in tip top shape.  Anything goes.

Now go tell everyone you are going to be writing a novel next month.  I am. 

I Forgot the Back Porch Furniture....

Sunday we officially started to use the wood stove and corn/pellet burner.  It's taking time getting used to the routine of stacking wood and loading stoves again.

Yesterday the kids helped me put all of the front porch furniture in the barn and cover it up.  However, in our hurry, we forgot the back porch furniture.  Hmpf.  That's one of the pieces in the photo, covered with morning sleet.  It looks like snow, but it's really icy sleet.

Yesterday morning I fought the rain, at getting my laundry dried. I ended up bringing it in and drying it on racks in front of the stoves (including the bed sheets).

The school had a scheduled 2 hour delay for a teacher work day, but we would have had one anyway.  The sleet continues to come down.  I'm so glad my son helped me re-stock the wood on the front porch.

I hope we get another break in the weather soon.  We have much more winter prep to do on the chicken barn. 

Family Funny ~ You've Been Shrink Wrapped

I have one regret - not getting pictures. 

After my 16 year-old daughter helped me shrink wrap gift baskets for a fundraiser donation, we had a few pieces of basket shrink wrap left over.

They girls were him-hawing at the table later, and I was in the front room knitting.  

"You know what we should do?" one asked the other in the kitchen.  "We should shrink wrap "K's" stuff  before she gets home."

(My 13 year-old was out shopping with hubby, and would be home to go to a sleepover)

"Let's do it," responded the other with a devious eyeball response.

(giggling)

So they got the hair dryer out, and shrink wrapped their sister's hair brush, flat iron, eye liner, and mascara.  

When she got home, and looked at her items to pack for the sleepover, she was very confused.  

"What happened to my makeup?" she asked me. 

(more giggles)

"My hairbrush?!"

(more giggles)

"And my flat iron?!  Really?"

        

Cinnamon Cider Jelly

I make Cinnamon Cider Jelly every fall.  I typically give this away for gifts versus selling it.

Cinnamon Cider Jelly
4 cups apple cider
1/2 cup cinnamon imperials (red hot candies)
1 box powdered pectin (1-3/4 oz)
4 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  
Add cider, cinnamon candies, and powdered pectin to a 6-8 quart stainless steel pan.

Heat and stir on high, until it reaches a rolling boil.

Add sugar, and stir on high until it reaches a rolling boil.  Boil for 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and skim.  Pour into sterilized, hot jars,  wipe jars with a clean wet towel, and add lids and rims.  

Place jars into canning pot.  Process for 10 minutes.

Remove from canner and place on towel lined counter/table.  Let sit for 24 hours.  Place any jars that have not sealed into the refrigerator.

Yield:  Approximately 7 half pint jars.


For Candy Apple Jelly, simply use organic, unsweetened apple juice in place of the Apple Cider.