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.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Still Canning and other tidbits



Yesterday I had to get some hot peppers taken care of.  I canned 5 1/2 pints hot pepper mustard sauce and 7 jars of hot pepper jelly.  I also got a few more bell peppers frozen.  All that, including washing some dishes and taking dogs in and out several times, and I called it quits by 2:30pm.  I put turkey/zucchini meatballs in the crocky and picked turnips for dinner.

I gotta get cracking on my to-do list today again.  There was a lot I didn't even get started on.  I am motivated by another weekend off from the kitchen and garden.  I only brought in another 7.5# of tomatoes, so some can sit and wait on me.

 

Monday, September 21, 2020

Happy Homemaker Monday

 Woke up Saturday to 42° (feels like 39°F).  I knew it was coming, but man I was not ready.  I do know that it's just for a short time though.  It'll warm up again.  However, we canceled the one and only last camping trip we had booked.  Way to cold to be camping in a pop up (even with a few small heaters in there).


Instead we went on 2 motorcycle rides.  I gifted a hand crocheted blanket to our friend's daughter who had a baby shower over the weekend.  


Keeping my to-do list here to stay on top of things today:

-can hot pepper jelly

-dinner in the crocky (turkey meatballs, chili sauce)

-label more canned jars and put in pantry

-write up grocery list

-laundry

-refill paprika

-vacuum

-check emails

-get a crochet set up for sale

-there's more but can't think of it until I walk by it or remember



This is probably the most boring homemaker post you'll see.  Just a lot going on here emotionally and physically.



Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.



The weather . . .

73°F/43°F


How I am feeling . . .

Tired.


On my mind . . .

My youngest daughter.


On the breakfast plate . . .

Coffee.


On my reading pile . . .

Nothing.


On my TV . . .

Heart of Dixie


On the menu this week . . .

Have no idea.


From the camera . . .

I got nothing.  Sadly.


Looking around the house . . .

I still have tomatoes in my kitchen. 


New recipe I tried last week . . .



We tried a new baked green bell pepper "fry" recipe and it was delicious.  


To relax I will . . .

Crochet


Something I want to share . . .

Nothing.


On my prayer list . . .

Our youngest daughter, for this Covid to go away so life can resume to normal.

Friday, September 18, 2020

The Start of the End ~ Garden Season


 While another batch of tomato soup reduced, I got some cherry and other tomatoes put in the dehydrator.


I yanked all of the hot pepper plants yesterday.  Such a good feeling to get them out.  We ended up getting 21.47# of jalapenos this year, making 4 batches of cowboy candy and even selling some.


I also started yanking tomato plants.  What's worth saving is being brought in before the weekend.  It's gonna be pretty chilly Saturday morning.  Woke up to 46°F this morning.





I some how got beef stew made in the crock pot as well, and I got one bite.  Hubby had 2 bowls before he accidentally dropped all of it and he said it was the best he's ever had.  Sigh.  Wish I had gotten a bowl, but he was so mad I didn't say a thing.  I will have to make it again.


 




Thursday, September 17, 2020

Jalapenos and other tidbits (new recipe tried)


The morning sunrise keeps reminding me winter is coming. It's moving direction way too fast.






The jalapenos are coming to an end.  I made a 4th batch of cowboy candy and I'm selling it.  We will not eat that much, but so thankful for having it for all my canning recipes, to put up in the freezer and use for meals.  I put more in the freezer for winter chili, baking, and other recipes (I use them a lot in my homemade breakfast meals).

Sage made it's way into the dehydrator and I started a tincture for winter.


Fresh Salsa.  Yum.

I took a look at the turnips.  Not large, but not small.  I thinned them out a bit and will leave them in as long as I can to hopefully have a good harvest.

Last night's dinner.  Chicken Tetrazzini (with a twist) using Jovial pasta, and baked bell pepper oven fries with homemade dip (the best ever, and I'm not a fan of panko).  The bell peppers were from the garden.  Recipe for the bell pepper fries can be found online with Delish. You dip in flour, then egg/water, then in panko/garlic/paprika etc.

I'll say it again.  I do NOT like the new blogger.  I'm too tired to figure new things out, and today I could not "revert" to the old blogger.  I am guessing that's why I don't see many posts from anyone anymore.  Maybe I'll post in the afternoons vs. my normal morning hour?  I dunno.  I'm up at 4:37am today.  Couldn't sleep, but have to make some tomatoes disappear.



Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Carrots, or lack there of....

I finally took a look-see at the carrots.  I managed to grow the world's smallest carrots in 5 months of watering.  Dang drought.  Oh well.  I can't leave them in the ground either.  They will never grow to size by Nov even if I left them in.  Sheesh.  We did get a chuckle out if though.  Our one daughter's rabbit will love to munch on some of these teeny tiny nibblets.

We've harvested 95 bell peppers so far this year.  The season for them is winding down.

We've harvested 19.47# of jalapenos so far this year.  They have done amazing this year.


Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Canning is in full swing



Big weather change here.




Canning is going daily lately.  I have to label all of this and put it in the pantry before I start chopping more tomatoes.  I brought in more.



The weather dipped to 45°F last night, so I brought in everything I could that was above ground.  The green bell peppers are about done.  I brought in 5 more bell peppers.  I have a few small ones on, but with the weather, they may not develop.  Hot peppers are on, but it's hard to tell how much more I'll get.

My life as I know it. 


Saturday, September 12, 2020

Pizza Sauce and other tidbits

I got 25# of tomatoes off my tables, but went out and picked more, bringing 22.5# more back in.


Pizza sauce is restocked now.



Somehow, in all that work of canning, I put chili in the crock pot for dinner, but did not have the time or energy to make my delicious buttermilk cornbread.


I made this spread the other day, and haven't made it since we had dairy goats I think.  The recipe is on my blog:  Easy Layered Dip.


This was at our local area Meijer the other day.  I sent it to a friend who was looking for wide mouth quart jars.  They also had other sizes, but no lids.




My indoor rosemary plant got a new pot.  My cilantro did as well, but you don't a picture of that one.  I sort of neglected it, so hopefully, it will spring back having been re-potted for winter.

I haven't had any time to do handiwork.  Hopefully soon, as the garden is starting to slow down a bit.  I brought in another dozen bell peppers, another 2# of jalapenos, a few ounces of hot banana peppers as well.