Gift Idea Using Hand Written Recipes

 

Did you know there are companies who can print your hand written recipes onto a kitchen towel for gift giving?  I just found this out, but have not done it.  I talked to the kids, and they said they "already" have Mom's recipe for hot cranberry punch, and did not want a towel.

Anyway, just sharing for those who may want to save a family recipe and do this.

 

Note:  Testing this post for some changes 

Gift Idea Using Hand Written Recipes © Nov 2023 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Email Hacked - Do Not Send Email to Listed Email

 Do not send any email to the "contact" email address listed on my profile.  It has been hacked.  All security options listed to sign in our not mine, and I am unable to open my account.

I am trying to change it, but this may be the end of my blog, as I am tired of dealing with security issues.  

If you know how to get help with Yahoo regarding a hacked email account please let me know.  The only option they give me is to call a 1-800 number and pay to get someone's help.

I am unable to remove the email address from my profile as of right now.  Blogger tells me an email for readers is required.  So for now, do not email me to that address.  Someone else is reading them.

Update:  I have removed the email for now. 

Also, my google account associated with this blog was compromised.   

On a side note, if there is anyone who can direct me to a YouTube or website to create a "contact us" form, that would be great.  To put on blogger so I don't have an email address showing, but also so it's user friendly.

Coop Door Set Back ~ Winter Projects ~ Container Storage Fixed

 Busy, but frustrated with progress around here.  I sort of feel like my chickens look like right now.  They are molting, and don't look so pretty right now.

The chicken solar run door has already stopped working, and we were just testing it out prior to actually installing it.  Instead of just sending and replacing the solar box with cord, they are asking us to return the entire door/parts.   We will look for another brand, and read reviews over, as no one I know could give us advice on any brand to buy.  One more frustration to deal with.

My husband is being yanked back and forth between here and there, so good luck with me getting his help.  He was asked to stop at a co-workers house to install something, he was asked to look at something at anther house, he's car shopping for a daughter, after car shopping for us (deer season is terrible this year), so one AC unit is still in a window.  Like a said, so much going on, and so many interruptions on making any progress.

My kitchen sink still leaks, and I have not put a thing in that cupboard yet.  I was drying it all out, and then "poof" it's leaking again.  He needs a day to look at it, and I think we'll need to replace some of, or most of the drain pipes.  Until I can get his complete attention, the cupboard's innards are on the kitchen floor, and I have cut the top off of a plastic water jug, and put it under the drain pipes (where I believe it's leaking).

I took one week to get things put back where they belong.  Like I said, so many interruptions, so things were (some still are) a hot mess round here.  

Camper stuff was all put in storage, or back in the camper finally.  Empty totes found a temporary home until the garage is cleaned.  Any yarn not being used, was put away.  I have stacked my "binder" purging project for a rainy/snowy day.  I'm not ready to revisit that project yet.

Washed and folded bed quilts were finally put in storage, and I have tossed more stuff into the current donation box.  The covered Christmas tree (yes, still in the master bath since last Christmas due to renovations) was moved to the living room.  I have started a deep clean on the master bath.

What I envisioned being done by this time of year, definitely didn't happen.  With that being said, we are not equipped to hold holiday gatherings are our place this winter. I am okay with that however.  We have already joked with each other, that we will not run out of "projects" this fall/winter and next spring.

If you are still with me, ha ha (sorry for the long post), this was the before photo of my food container drawer.  Our kitchen has more drawers than actual cupboards with doors.  I bought dividers and a unit for the lids, but over time it becomes a hot mess.  The dividers would easily slide out of place, and we both just got frustrated with it.

I took everything out, and put two inexpensive tension rods in up towards the front, stacking one above the other with a bit of space between the drawer front and the rods.  The lids store perfectly in the space at the front, and the containers behind it.  Why I never thought of this before is crazy.  Easy, inexpensive, and it works!  I keep toss away containers, in case the kids come over and take food home, so this was genius.  I can even put my two small cutting boards in that space with the lids, and not get them lost.

Spiced Nuts - Recipe ~ Buttermilk Pumpkin Einkorn Flour Pancakes ~ Cheesy Baked Pumpkin Pasta with a Twist

 

Just when we think we will have more free time, we don't.  It's been super busy around here.  Most of my recent days have been busy in the kitchen.

I tried a new roasted recipe (see below), but didn't feel it was worth the flavor. 

We prefer this recipe for Spiced Nuts (more variety of flavors):

1 egg white

1 tsp. water

1 Tbsp. maple syrup

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne pepper, ground

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground coriander

3 Cups almonds, peanuts, pecans, etc.

(we like almonds, cashews, walnuts and some raw pumpkin seeds)

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.  I use my rimmed pampered chef stoneware, but you can line a rimmed pan with parchment paper (possibly foil) too.  Coat with non-stick cooking spray.

In a med. bowl beat egg white and sugar until it is frothy.  Add sugar, cinnamon, salt, cayenne pepper, cumin, and coriander.  Beat the mixture until combined.  Add nuts and stir to coat..

Spread the mixture onto your prepared pan.  Bake 20-25 minutes, stirring once or twice.  Once the nuts appear dry, remove from pan and cool.  Store in an airtight container.

The recipe we tired was Chili and Rosemary Roasted Nuts (found online - The Real Food Dietitians).  It calls for fresh rosemary.

The recipe for the pumpkin pancakes are online with Jovial.  Delicious.

The recipe for the pumpkin pasta dish is online with Skinnytaste.  The original recipe calls for bacon.  I didn't want to do that, as I had chicken sausages that needed eaten up.  I cooked the shallot with butter/olive oil, and added the chicken sausages.  We loved this dish. I will be trying it with the bacon next time.  I used green lentil pasta with ours.   The recipe called for 15 oz. of pumpkin puree.  I used my scale to measure my pumpkin puree and it came out about 1 3/4 cups.  The recipe also calls for fresh rosemary, and it tasted delicious in this dish.

I thought about adding some broccoli to the dish as well, but was worried it would make the dish too watery.  Recipe is a keeper.

Cold Weather ~ Sage Tincture ~ Einkorn Pumpkin Muffins

 The water hoses (and I tell you, there are a lot) were all drained and put in storage, the camper winterized, and the last rosemary plant dug up and brought inside.  We had our first hard freeze now. It also snowed yesterday evening here.

I got one more jar of sage tincture started.  The tincture has come in handy for sore throats, and other uses.  Anyway, I was happy to have enough sage to use, prior to the hard freeze.

The most recent pumpkin recipe tried, was one using Einkorn flour.  If we make these again, I plan to cut the butter/sugar in half and try it that way too.  The recipe is on Jovial's site online I believe.

Pie Pumpkins Done~ Pumpkin Waffles

 I have roasted and preserved all of our garden pie pumpkins now.  I saved some puree for baking/cooking.  I typically freeze the puree in containers, but I ran out of them, so I froze the rest in ziploc bags, and froze them flat on a baking sheet to save space, and store more easily.

New recipe tried - White Bean Turkey Pumpkin Chili (SkinnyTaste online).  There are no tomatoes in this chili.  We found this to lack flavor, so I added more chili pepper and some diced jalapenos.  

I have also saved some fresh puree for making pumpkin waffles.  There may be some cookies, muffins or other baked this coming week.

Tip:  Did you know you can use pumpkin in place of eggs, butter and oil, depending on what you are making?  There is a good article about it HERE.  I am thinking of trying the Pumpkin Alfredo recipe shared on that article.

Kitchen Catastrophe ~ Medicinal and Winter Prep ~ Playing with Herbs ~ Preserving Lemons Question

 We have had non-stop problems with the pipes leaking under the kitchen sink.  When the kids lived here, they would shove stuff under the sink and bump the pipes, hence the leaks.  No kids, and now we have a leak?  I took everything out, and took assessments.  Not to mention, clean everything off, and wipe the cupboard dry.  Not the worst kitchen catastrophe, but I use my sink several times a day.

Once the pipes are all fixed, I will be replacing the cheap dollar store placemats I had in there, with this . . .

It's washable too!  If we spring another leak, at least it will protect the wood.  The absorbent fabric is USA made.  I found it on Amazon.  I'm not sure if stores have this or not.  I wasn't very patient for looking for a better solution (for keeping things dry).

I am late to the game so to speak.  I got one jar of Four Thieves started.

I got about 3 more trays dehydrated of sage, more thyme, and rosemary.

I am gathering a shopping list to make Fire Cider too, but my recipe in the book I have does not say how to properly store it after you add the honey and cayenne.  It's been many years since I have made it, and I cannot remember?  I just want to make sure I have a variety of "medicinals" on hand this winter/spring.

Is there a way to keep lemons fresh longer, or preserving them?  I like to have lemons and limes on hand all winter, but I am wondering about a tried and true method to preserving them.  Juice them and freeze the zest and juice?  Like freeze the juice in an ice cube tray perhaps?