Happy Homemaker Monday

 I tried a new recipe, and we love it - Southwest Chicken Quinoa Casserole (The Real Food Dietitians online).  It was similar to a "bowl" recipe we like that is layered, but this recipe is much easier and quicker to prepare.  I used frozen bell pepper from the garden, and frozen jalapenos from the garden, so that created more liquid as it cooked (note to self: use less chicken broth).  I used homemade tomato sauce for this too. 

The chicken coop roof is finally done.  We may be moving the coop's location.  Not sure just yet.  

We also got the fallen pine trees moved, but it took part of the lilac bush with it.  It is about half the height, so hopefully, it will recover.  I think we removed about 6 fallen pine trees.  One more job checked off the to-do list.  Actually two, if you count the chicken coop roof being completely done.

I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

The weather . . .

Over the weekend we hit a high record.

However, with this, came more rain, and now much cooler.

Right now I am  . . .

Getting ready to post this blog post.

Thinking and Pondering . . .

What needs to be on the to-do list today/this week.

How I am feeling . . .

Fantastic!  I completed two fitness goals.  Now onto the next few goals....

On the breakfast plate . . .

Sausage, egg, potato, and bean breakfast burrito.

On the lunch plate . . .

Chicken salad cucumber bites and omega 3 nut mix.  I used part home canned hot pepper relish, and part sweet for the chicken salad.  So good!!  Can't wait for summer cucumbers again.

On the dinner plate . . .

Not sure just yet.

On the menu . . .

-Chicken spaghetti using spaghetti squash (new recipe)

-Cauliflower crust homemade pizza, with our pizza sauce

-Jalapeno Chicken Cheddar Fritters, veggie

-possibly a fish dinner of some sort

On the reading pile . . .

I'm still reading this, and my goal is to finish it before it's due back.  It was not what I thought it would be, but so far okay.

On my TV this week . . .

Any movie that looks interesting.

Looking around the house . . .

I have one more craft show tote to go through, and more yarn to put away.

On the to-do list . . .

I still need to write this out for the day/week.

From the camera . . .

I got some sitting time in the good ol' sunshine.  It took the "crankies" away for a while.  The weather was gorgeous (until the rain moved in).  

Something to share . . .

Homemade Omega-3 Nut Snack Mix:

Some of you may already roast your own snack mixes, but I finally started to make our Omega-3 mix myself.  The packets have changed (they started adding chocolate bits to it), and it's expensive.  I found some of the non-gmo (no oils) nuts at Menard's and the rest at other grocery stores.  I then add the dried cranberries (the packets had too many cranberries). 

I roast (all non-gmo, with no added oils):

-1 cup raw walnuts
-1 cup raw almonds
-1 cup raw pecans
-1 cup raw pistachios
-1 cup raw pepitas 

Roast at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, cool and add 1 cup dried cranberries.  Store in an air tight container.  One serving - 1/4 cup.

If you have a Costco or other membership, look for non-gmo bulk nuts.  We do not, so I have to really look around for them.

Christmas ideas, DIY's, tips and recipes . . .

Egg Soufflé (Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole)

I love to make this recipe with homemade bread.  Our favorite make ahead breakfast.

Devotional, Quote, Prayers. . .

No Root Cellar? No Basement? Have lots of Spaghetti Squash?

 I've been freezing our spaghetti squash.  I do not have a root cellar, or basement, and the garage is not ideal for storage. 

I had one more on the counter too.  I always tell myself not to plant so many, but here they are again.  I had one more on another counter.

Day 1:  I roasted 4 spaghetti squash in my largest pan.  I cut them across and not length-wise, so I could fit more in my pan.

Day 2: 

I used the jar lifter hack to fill my freezer bags.

I have never frozen baked spaghetti squash, so I had to do some reading on this.  Everything I read, said to let the baked squash sit in a strainer (in a bowl), in the refrigerator over night.

I did that, and then bagged it for the freezer. 

1 pound spaghetti squash = 1 1/4 cup cooked strands.  I'm using this method to mark the bags going into the freezer.  It's a first time doing this, so I am hoping for good results when thawed.

TIP:  I had no idea this worked, but there is a YouTube video on sealing freezer bags with a method to remove the air, without a seal/store system.  Or vacuum (I am out of my bags for my vacuum).

You fill a tub or pot with water, large enough to dip your freeze bag into it.  Seal the bag up to a corner, and dip the bag into the water.  The water pushed the air out, and as you get the bag dipped down to a corner, close the rest of the seal.

The only downside, is you now have to dry off your bag before placing in the freezer.  Also, it did not work as well for the squash.  The straw method to remove air worked better in this case, but the heavier your food is the better the water dip method works (for example for meat).

Video to watch is here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrZPLF0ezw8

Camper Mug ~ Adult Christmas Game Idea

 

I was recently gifted a new mug.  I love it!  It's a camper, and inside the mug, says "home is where you park it."

Sometimes, what mug you drink your morning coffee/tea in, can create your mood for the day.

It was not from my husband, and not a Christmas present.  It was just a gesture of love.  

Speaking of new mug, there is a Christmas game that involves gifting a new mug. You each buy a mug of some sort, and fill it with small gifts.  You all sit around the room and either pass left or right when told, and then when the game ends, you keep the one you are holding.

I thought I would share, as we are trying to think of adult games that are fun, but don't break the bank.

Homemade Fajita Dry Mix

 It's very convenient to buy the packets of dry fajita mix at the grocery store, but you can make it yourself.  I've been making our dry taco mix for several years now.  

You most likely will have all of the ingredients to make this at home.  I buy some of my ingredients in organic/non-gmo bulk, which saves us money and allows me to have extra on hand to make many other dry mixes homemade.  Let me know if you make your dry Fajita mix without the sugar, and if it changes the flavor.  

Homemade Fajita Dry Mix

(makes about a 1/4 cup of dry mix)

I use all organic/non-gmo ingredients, and bulk buy some of them, as I make a lot from scratch

4 tsp. Chili Powder ( I buy bulk)

2 tsp. Ground Cumin (I buy bulk)

2 tsp. Paprika (I buy bulk)

1 tsp. Garlic Powder (we use homemade from homegrown)

1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (use more for more heat)

1 1/2 tsp. salt

Optional:

1/2 tsp or more of onion powder (we make this homemade)

1-2 Tbsp. sugar or brown sugar if your heat seasonings are on the spicy side, otherwise there is no need for sugar

2 Tbsp. = 1 store packet of dry mix

Packing Your Emotional ToolKit ~ Struggling During the Holidays? Or not Struggling?

Off the subject of homesteading, but on the subject of life. . .

However, homesteading is work, so it pertains to it in a way too.  It can be stressful.  Physically and mentally.  Or you could be the one person who zips right through the day without a thought.

We all have an emotional toolkit.  Whether we realize it or not.  We reach for a mood booster or a stress reliever when our chips are down or when we are feeling at our lowest.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are so close together here in America, it can be very stressful and many are struggling for various reasons.

It could be a loss of a loved one, an estranged adult child, someone close who is sick/ill, or anything really.  Just cleaning the house for a large gathering can be stressful.  The cost of buying all the food, and the time making all the dishes can be overwhelming. It could be an unexpected medical bill(s) for some.  It could be an tragic accident, or even unexpected home repair bill.  

We have a friend who is struggling due to the loss of her husband.  Another friend is worried about her unborn grandbaby (doctor stated it will have health issues), and at the same time her Dad fell, is in a nursing home and was recently diagnosed with cancer.  

What do you have packed in your emotional toolkit?  What is your mood improver?

Ideas:

-Gardening (hard to do here in winter)

-Exercise

-Cooking/Baking

-Cleaning/Deep Cleaning/Purging 

-Going for a walk

-Travel

-Music

-Getting off social media 

-Read a book

-Call a friend or meet up with your "tribe"

-Journaling (writing a thankful page can be very helpful for some)

-Praying

-Do something nice for someone/donate a meal or service

-Volunteer somewhere

-Work on favorite hobby or start a  new hobby

-Go to the library and browse books for free.  It's a great start to looking for a new hobby, home project, or just find a good book to read.

-Watch funny or feel-good movies.  Do you have a list?

-Update your home with a new look.  Move furniture around, paint a room, change your curtains, or add a rug or new pillows.  The list is endless for this one, and can perk you up.

-Get outside

Any positive way to increase your positivity is the way to go.  

It's easy to get outside and get some sunshine when you have pets or farm animals.  Do you try and get sunshine in the winter?

What is your winter mood improver?  Holiday stress mood improver?

This and That

 Not much to talk about right now.  Going into the Christmas holiday, and winter time seems idle at the moment.  We've now had more rain, and the weather is said to be rain all weekend.  Not what we wanted to hear, with the coop work in progress.

I'm still not listening to Christmas music, nor decorating anything else.  Maybe I'll get there, and maybe I won't.  I tried to listen to Christmas music at the beginning of the week, and I just couldn't do it.  Not yet.

I'm missing my Mom this Christmas. Last year, this exact time, we were ripping out our entire living room floor and replacing the joists and flooring.  I think we were so busy working, that we didn't have time to "feel" during the holidays.

I did dig through some Christmas totes (was not easy to get to), for one daughter's Christmas stocking.  She came home from the hospital Christmas Eve in this handmade stocking (donated by a local resident).  

I can't believe all the ornaments we've accumulated over the years.  I will be going through those totes whenever we get a day to purge the garage.  

Buying more yarn at the check out at our local Meijer.  Yep.  Out of all the yarn I own, I did not have enough to make a matching scarf for my husband.  Luckily, Meijer had 2 skeins left.  Oh, and by the way, they had a section of hooks up now.  The last time I went, there were zero hooks for sale.  Anyway, I'm hoping I have enough yarn to finish his scarf. 

I do not have all of my yarn put away in their homes.  Not yet anyway.  I had some in every room in the house, ha ha!  I have also written down all of my unfinished projects and tucked it into my planner, so I can focus on getting them all done (before starting a new one).  My poor husband.  I had so much yarn in the bedroom, that I had to put it in bags to take back upstairs, ha ha!

I am working smarter this time around with unfinished handiwork.  The half-made items, along with their patterns, were all put inside one tote.  I was even smarter, by writing down the hook size on any pattern that did not state size.

I have already crossed off one unfinished project.   The ends are all sewn in, and the hot pad is tucked into my kitchen drawer.  These were fun to make, and it is a way to use small scraps of cotton yarn (on the inner areas anyway).

I have lost one knob for the master bath hardware.  We took one to the hardware store to make sure the screws we bought were correct.  Well, now that knob is hiding somewhere.  I am sure it's in a bag around here.

I made a batch of Einkorn peanut butter cookies.  However, I warned my husband that these have brown sugar in them, and are rolled in white sugar.  I sent some home with one of the kids, and next time I make them, I will try monk fruit in them.

I do miss all the holiday baking I used to do.  I miss the kids sitting around the table helping roll the buckeyes, and frosting my famous butter cut outs.  There maybe cut outs this year.  I guess we'll see.  

I would love to return a tradition with my grandkids, but  worried my grand daughter would want to eat all the candy.  They built sugar cube candy castles.

Question:  does anyone have a sugar free powdered peppermint mocha coffee creamer recipe?  I'm looking for something that is giftable (why I said powdered), but sugar free, and sugar substitute free (other than monk fruit)?

I looked online, and found some with liquid vs powdered. Thanks in advance!

Last Craft Show

 

The weekend went pretty fast, and with ugly weather.  The rain never stopped.

The craft show is over with, and we did okay.  I have also sold the blanket yarn I have in stock (what I had left), that I used only for the water balloons.  I have emptied a few totes thankfully.  However, like my husband said, no one has money right now.  Most of what was sold, was very low priced items.  

The cost to participate with a 10 x 10 foot area, was a whopping $45.00 this year.  It will be marked as the very last craft show for us.  It was a dreary, rainy day, and not many people went out, plus there were a ton of other area craft shows going on during the same day.  So many people, who told me they were coming to the show, never even showed up.

I gifted hats to a few of the kids, and packed up displays to put up for sale at a later date.  

A local lady, who ordered 6 knitted dishcloths picked them up at the show.  She was thrilled to get them.  She said craft shows are not "craft" shows anymore.  She is right.  There are so many other vendors using cricut machines to sell shirts/mugs/bags, pampered chef, Tupperware, and the like.  There were about 4 booths with crochet work there.

Now the abandoned, unfinished projects will resume.  There is much to work on yet around here.