Surprise Mail and Other Homestead Happenings

There is a lot going on this weekend.  One surprise I can't tell you about until tomorrow.

The mail surprise was a blessing. My cousin messaged me that he had his Mom's knitting needles and crochet hooks and wanted to know if I'd like to have them.

I said yes of course.  My Aunt is the Aunt I hand wrote letters to so often, along with "happy boxes."

Zippy Carrots ~ Tidbits

I've been flipping trough the new recipes and picking out ones I have ingredients on hand for.  The next to try was a side dish - Zippy Carrots.

I you freeze carrots and green bell peppers, grow garlic, can ketchup, make your own butter, you'll like this "from storage" side dish. 

I'll admit, plain carrots are boring anyway. I used all organic ingredients.

Gettin' Cold Again ~ Random Tidbits

I had the most amazing day on Tuesday.  I was able to spend several minutes on the front porch.   The weather was awesome.  I cleaned almost everything on Monday, so I felt much less guilty partaking in the porch on Tuesday.

I took out several books and decided on one that I purchased on a recent getaway by James Patterson.

I am also reading (or skimming) through library books.  Currently, I am skimming through one titled "Tonics"  but actually has meal recipes in it.  I can't say yet that I would buy it, but I'm finding a few I may want to try (ha!  Here I go again!).  I ordered this book from the library because I thought it would have tea recipes.

Ground Chickory Root -~ Herbal Coffee ~ Tidbits

There are some days I have the hankering for a coffee in the middle of the day.  I don't buy decaffeinated coffee.  Although, I noticed our grocer just started carrying an organic decaffeinated coffee.

I've known for a long time that chickweed root can be ground for a coffee flavored, healthy drink, but haven't grown it here (yet).  We've see a few around, but not enough to dig up.

Signs of Spring ~ Herb Bread

The daffodils and hyacinths are up and about to bloom.  No signs of tulips, except at my little garden alongside a log.  I hope to start bringing in fresh flowers soon. Once again the weather people were wrong.  The high 70's that were forecasted for early this week?  Not happening.  If we are lucky, we'll get up to maybe 60°F today, then drop to the 40's and 50's for a few weeks (or so they say).

Camping Prep ~ Crochet Projects

Remember all those English Walnuts we bartered for?  I was still cracking them this month.  Apparently, the kids have lost their mojo with helping me.

The shells are always saved from these walnuts.  My older brother and his wife gift me their cardboard egg cartons.  

Four dozen campfire starters are in the making today, and I have more shells.

From Pile to File ~ Random Tidbits

I really liked this new recipe we tried recently - Pasta with Spinach and Ricotta.

You boil 8 oz. of rotini pasta and drain.  They suggested the tri-color veggie noodles, but I can only find organic regular noodles.

While the noodles are boiling, drain and squeeze a frozen and thawed box of  chopped spinach (or use equivalent of homegrown).  Place in a 12 inch skillet, add 1 minced clove and heat 5 minutes.  Add 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup water and 1 1/2 Tbsp (I didn't measure) of Parmesan cheese.  Add salt and pepper.  When heated, add drained rotini and serve.  

I doubled it for our family, and had to buy the spinach, but I can typically find organic ricotta at our one grocer.  It was very good.  I had practically no leftovers.