Brussel Sprouts and Butternut Squash (roasted) ~ Bell Pepper Oven Fries ~ Wild Rice Soup (with chicken) ~ Turmeric Honey?

 I decided to try this combination, after seeing it on SkinnyTaste online.  They recipe simply states to add 6 sprigs of fresh thyme and black pepper.  Well, in my opinion, it needs more flavor, such as garlic perhaps.    Anyway, I had the butternut squash in my freezer, and it needed rotated out, so I thawed it and used that.  The squash cooked to a soft texture, but it was all good.  I will try fresh butternut next time, and add garlic powder or even sliced shallots or onions.  

I make this side about once a year, with homegrown bell peppers.  I used the healthier version of "panko" this time, and we loved it.  The dip is hand made as well.  I believe the recipe is online with Delish (Bell Pepper Oven Fries).

What are you cooking for your fall side vegetable dishes?

Thank you for the tip on freezing chicken rice soup.  I found a recipe that I will be trying during our next cold spell.  It is on another blog, and the recipe is here:  Wild Rice Blend Soup.

On another note regarding medicinals, has anyone used a blend of turmeric and honey for illness?  It's not a jar method, but mixing ground with honey and using on the spot.  I'm just trying to be prepared.  Two weeks of feeling ill was not fun, and we want to have many options on hand if people start spreading sickness again.

Green Bell Pepper Powder ~ Dehydrating

 

I decided to dehydrate some of the last of the green bell peppers.  Sorry for the bad photo.  I am using my cell camera for now.  My download cord to my actual camera died, so I need a new one (it's on the way).

I made green bell pepper powder.  I will try this in scrambled eggs, sauces and dips for now.  It smells so good!  Have you made/used green bell pepper powder?

Green Bell Pepper Powder ~ Dehydrating   © Oct 2023 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Chickens Carving a Pumpkin

 

We gave the chickens a pumpkin from the garden, and scratched the surface to get them to start carving it.  At first, they were not sure about the pumpkin, but by day two they were enjoying it.

Keeping Produce Fresh ~ Cucumber Tip

 

It was suggested that I buy these larger Fresh Longer containers for keeping summer cucumbers fresh "longer."

The tip:  I was told, when I bring in a lot of cucumbers, but cannot can them the same day, to immerse them in cold water first, then put in these containers.  I'm always taking notes for the next year, so if you immerse in cold water, is there a reason for that?

Well, out of the blue I spotted these three at a local grocery store about a month ago.  On clearance!  I paid $6.49 for the large one and $2.50 each for the smaller ones.

Our bell peppers were huge in harvest this year, so I put some in the large container, and I can tell you they stay fresh!  I had the ones on the right in that container for over a week, and the ones on the left in the bowl only were going soft in one day.

I will be buying one more larger container for summer harvest.

Lily Sugar n' Cream ~ Peaches and Cream Cotton Yarns

 

Look the same, but they are not.

Top one says "Made in Canada from 100% USA Cotton

Bottom one says "Made in China from 100% Cotton

We are slowly being deceived.  You may have to biggy-fi some of these photos to read the labels.  I discovered this while in bed recovering from a recent sickness.  I am not only sad, but mad about this.  I have always been so proud to sell a hand knitted dishcloth made with USA grown cotton, even when the yarn was made in Canada. 

I have not bought cotton yarn (in the smaller balls) for 2-3 years, so these were all in my tote stash.  Apparently, over the years, China bought it.  They bought the label, and at one point took off the USA flag, and made the print smaller, only to take over the manufacturing.

It now has labels looking the same, but without the USA flag, so you don't think twice unless you read the label.  It is so sad that America would rather have money than be reliable on USA made, support USA made or create USA made.  It really makes me sick to my stomach, that an American company will sell out to China, giving them more power over our country.  I won't be making dishcloths, unless I can locate more older balls of USA cotton yarn.

The one on the left - made in China, thinner, longer, same weight.  The one on the right, USA grown cotton, made in Canada, thicker cotton yarn.  Note:  both labels still say the same Canadian address, but the one on the left says "Made in China."

The newly produced cotton yarn from China is thinner, and does not even feel like it's cotton.  It almost feels like it has stretch to it.  I have one ball of Peaches and Cream that says it was made in China, and it was wound back up.  I am not sure what I will do with it, but I am mad that I was duped to thinking I was buying the same USA grown cotton yarn I had been buying for years.  Same label, same look, but if you look closer, the yarn is not the same.  The cotton is not the same.  

If you have any extra balls of either of these brands, that were still being made in with USA grown cotton, you are lucky.  They made a much nicer product.  

By the way, I tried googling when China bought these yarn manufacturers, and could not find anything on the internet, but a few articles from 2011 when they stopped making yarn in the USA and sold to Canada. 

Just sharing for those who knit/crochet.  Okay, off my soapbox, but had to share in case you care and didn't see these labels.

How I Grind My Dried Hot Peppers ~ Garlic Honey ~ Winter Medicinal Preparedness ~ New Meat Source

I forgot to load the photos yesterday, on how I grind my dehydrated hot peppers.  I also use this method for grinding other dried foods, like garlic powder or onion powder.

I have an electric coffee grinder that I specifically use for this purpose.  The inner piece is removeable, making it easy to wash for the next use, and the cord winds up, and is stored in the lower inside of it.

I use mini funnels to pour the ground hot peppers into a spice jar or recycled glass jar.  The color and flavor of our "Fire Powder" varies due to the mix of hot peppers.

 I mentioned making a new "medicinal" and here it is . . .

Garlic Honey.  You fill your jar about halfway with cloves of garlic (instructions say add how many you want on most that I have read), fill the jar with raw honey and cap it.  You have to burp the jar daily for about 2 weeks.  Some instructions say to flip the jar each day to coat the garlic with the honey.  

Need a boost?  Take some honey.  Feeling sick?  Eat the garlic.

I'll let you know if this was worth making or not.  Raw honey is not cheap around here.  Have you made and utilized garlic honey?  I would love to hear your feedback on it.  I'm late on getting winter medicinals made, but back at it now.

Speaking of medicine and illnesses, we did have covid.  We are finally back to feeling somewhat "normal."  There were employees going to work with covid, and not staying home, so the spread continued after my husband stayed home.  I guess these people were not showing many signs, but enough to know they should have stayed home.

Moving on to some chit chat . . .

We discovered a butcher with non-gmo/free range/no antibiotics within a 2 1/2 hour drive from our homestead.  We picked up a turkey tenderloin, 1 # sausage, 1 # ground beef, and a slice of smoked ham.   

We have already tasted the turkey and it was delicious!  We are talking a real turkey tenderloin.  Not that stuff at the grocery store they pump with sodium. 

We have also tried the sausage.  It does contain brown sugar, but it is not anywhere as sweet as what you buy in grocery stores, and it tastes almost like they smoked the meat for it.  We have also now tried the ground beef by grilling burgers.  The ham will be part of today's breakfast.  We will be taking a cooler back before winter, and stocking up.  

It's a small locally owned business in the Amish community.  They only accept cash/check, and are closed on Sunday.  We are looking forward to a trip to re-stock now.  We may try other cuts of their meats as well.  They do cut their bacon thick, which we are not a fan of (thick cut), but we my try it after another trip there.

Tuesday Tidbits ~ Dehydrating Hot Peppers ~ Ground Fire Powder ~ Using the Last of the Garden Hot Peppers

 I'll admit, the cooler weather has been nice lately.  We've had to turn a few heaters on too.  The rain is moving in, and for several days.  

If you blinked, you would have literally missed this beautiful sky Monday morning.  It was there one minute, and gone the next.  I was lucky to get the camera in time.

Wash, slice and dehydrate the mix of garden hot peppers.  Keep those seeds for more heat in the "fire powder."  I used my mats to keep those seeds.  In the past, I used parchment paper.

Dehydrate according to you dehydrator instructions.  I have a small coffee grinder I used for grinding herbs, and I when these are dry, I grind them up, and pour them into a recycled spice jar and label.

It's a great way to use up all those leftover hot peppers in your garden.  You could freeze them too, but I find that drying them and grinding them, makes a nice spice flavor to add to meals.