This and That

I resurrected yet another old blog draft ( I think I am down to 80 or less of them now).  By the way, the last trip to Amish, the same store (below), gave out samples of a "health" bottled blend (called Good Health).  My husband took a sample, and he said it tasted just like the Four Thieves Vinegar I make for us.

Enjoy!  Let's talk pineapples.

The last time we ventured out, we re-stocked some supplies, like organic oats, organic steel cut oats, sesame seeds (I use them in homemade granola), and other items.  We cannot buy them here in bulk, so it's a bit of a drive.  We made the most of it.

We brought back a pineapple for $1.99 and it was delicious.  The one store we shop at, has a machine inside that cuts your pineapple for free.  We'll be sure to bring back a few each time we venture out for baking supplies.  I wish our stores around here had one of those machines.  I don't buy pre-cut fruit, due to recalls, and it is a pain to cut one at the house.

You place your whole pineapple in the top of the machine (to the right in the photo), put your pre-priced container in the bottom, press buttons, and poof!  Your pineapple is cored for you for free.

I just has to slice it, and dice it, and then enjoy it. 

The cost to buy a pre-cored pineapple is about $5-6 and if you want it all cut up, it's even higher (almost double that).

Do you own a pine apple corer?  Do you recommend one?  Also, do you have any tips on picking out a fresh whole pineapple?  I made a guess.

This and That © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Just the Bits

The fog that rolled in recently.  We have been, and are still getting rain.

The chickens are loving this warmer weather, and the eggs are rolling in again.  However, it's "mud" season here, and the coop run is a mess of mushy mud.

My husband requested more sausage/egg/cheese cups with sage sausage.  One pound of sausage, makes approximately 3 dozen of these egg cups.  It helps make the most of your money with the sausage vs. making sausage patties to go with scrambled eggs.  I cook up a pound, use 1 cup and freeze the rest for future egg cups for breakfast.  They re-heat well too.

Winter Project Progress:

~Hallway~

Window curtains washed, window blinds cleaned, and windows cleaned.

Door to garage painted, but it will need a second coat.

 

Just the Bits © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

 

A beautiful sunrise from Monday morning.  The rain moved in, and so did the freezing rain.  Now the fog has rolled in.

I put my big girl bloomers on, and watched YouTube and read a few "how to drywall patch" a hole.  One job done, but two more drywall patches need done (from moving a light switch and moving a ceiling light fixture.   Add this to my "what did I learn new" this year list.

I finished painting one more entire door and two door frames, including trim inside each room and outside.  The door to the garage has been primed.  I'm making progress, but feels like it's taking forever to finish.

I finished the pink/white lap afghan. They will all be donated to a cause, and soon I hope.  

Low-carb egg, ham and cheese breakfast quesadillas.  I used to make my own tortillas (so many varieties), but my husband brought home carb friendly ones from the store.  I am using the ham we were given at Christmas, that we diced up and froze.  I also freeze the cheese, so I have it on hand, with less trips to town.

I have been pretty successful at planning meals based on what is in the freezer/pantry.  I had to laugh the other day, when I cooked meatballs for our dinner.  My husband asked, "these aren't those meatballs from the store are they?"  Ha!  Nope.  I make a big batch, and freeze them for several quick meals.  I make them using oats vs. bread crumbs too.  

Sharing the recipe again:

Meatballs
3 pounds ground chuck (see notes)
2 cups oatmeal 
2 eggs
1 cup chopped onion
13 oz. can evaporated milk (see notes)
2 teaspoons salt
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder 
1 tsp. black pepper

Mix well.  Shape into balls (I use a large cookie scoop), place on cookie sheet and freeze until firm, package and freeze until needed (or bake).

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

Notes:  I use half ground beef and half ground pork.  

Lamb could be used if you like lamb.  As for the milk, I used fresh goat's milk when I had dairy goats, so if you have raw milk that works too.  I use all organic ingredients.  

These freeze well, and come in handy all winter long - meatball subs, spaghetti and meatballs, topped with BBQ or Hot pepper mustard sauce, etc.  I have also used 2 lbs. ground beef and mixed with 2 lbs. pork and it still tasted great (getting about 72 meatballs or so).

I sometimes cook them frozen, then toss them in the crockpot with a sauce for 3-4 hours, so I can whip up a quick dinner with a rice blend or quinoa and a vegetable.

Enjoy!

This and That © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Happy Homemaker Monday

Sunday weather started out at 12°F (wind chill of 5°F).  It was snowing as well.

Stray cat chasing a bird?   I have not seen any cats around here lately.  Interesting.  

 

 

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

The Weather . . .

19°F  with a wind chill of 8°F

Right now I am . . .

Brewing coffee and posting this blog post.

Thinking and pondering . . .

If you have chickens, are you team "fill the roosts with straw/bedding"  or nothing team?  We put straw in ours, and our eggs are clean.  I was given some eggs a few weeks ago (team nothing in the roosts), and the eggs were very dirty.  Also, since I have not been putting straw in the roosts, they are laying on the floor of the coop, so I'm going back to putting straw inside the roosts.

How I am feeling . . .

Pretty good.

On the breakfast plate . . .

(before they cooled completely)

Egg/sage sausage/cheese cups to go with an oatmeal bake.  When I bake the egg cups, I like to put the solid ingredients in each cup first, then mix up the 6 eggs, 1/4 cup heavy cream (I used Greek plain yogurt and a splash of  milk, salt/pepper and 1/2 tsp. baking powder, and evenly pour it over the other ingredients.  It's just so much easier to evenly distribute the ingredients.  I baked this for 18-20 minutes at 350°F.

By the way, this helps make one pound of sausage make more meals.  I used 1 cup cooked sausage and 1 cup or less of pepper jack cheese that I hand shredded.

Also, I know they are not cheap, but I use parchment cups, because no matter what I grease my pan with, they always stick.

On the lunch plate . . .

Leftovers.

On the dinner plate . . .

Meatballs over wild rice, asparagus or green beans

On the menu . . .

-Cabbage Lasagna

-crock pot meatballs over wild rice or quinoa, roasted green beans
-Chicken sheet pan dinner

-leftovers

-Breakfast:  Egg/ham/cheese low carb quesadillas, Egg/sausage cups, pumpkin pancakes

On the reading pile . . .

Still reading this book.  I'm just lacking reading mojo lately.

On my TV . . .

Netflix - This is Us.

Looking around the house . . . 

One more day of painting, and I will have finished another door.  I have also managed to get more door trim painted.

I'm in full swing on the hallway project as well.  It was the "drop station" for all things that had to be moved for carpet removal.

I have started another donation box, gotten rid of a few things, and now I am focused  on chipping away at our winter project list.

To-do list . . .

Deep Clean - Clean Washing Machine (it has a "clean washer" cycle), clean microwave.  If you do not have a "Clean" cycle on your washing machine, you can buy tablets to toss in your washer and run on a hot cycle to clean your washing machine.

-dust
-laundry

-dishes

-bake a breakfast

-paint one side of a door, prime some door trim

From the camera . . .

(see yesterday's post on my handiwork update)

Devotional, Quote, Prayers . . .

Happy Homemaker Monday © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

. . .from the handiwork journal

Snow storms have been moving in all around us, but it's soon turning to nastier weather.  

It's a perfect time to use up yarn, and work on larger crochet projects.  Large blankets only get crocheted in the cold of winter.  

Do you remember this random blanket I crocheted in the winter of 2022/2023?   I used up some yarn from leftover projects, and I dug it out during this freezing cold weather we are having.  I sewed in the last of the ends.  My husband wants to keep it.  I had planned to just sell it, but it is larger (approx. 72 x 56 inches) and will fit the spare bed perfectly.

(link goes to my blogpost regarding the pattern I used)  I really like the pattern, but I do not like the enormous amount of ends to sew in.

. . .I finished a matching hat to the scarf.  It is Red Heart yarn, and not my favorite for a hat and scarf, but it's warm and comfortable.  Hat pattern is Mountain Ridges Crochet Hat, by The Friendly Red Fox (free pattern online).  However, her pattern says "J" hook, and I used an "H" hook with medium worsted weight yarn.

It is the same yarn as the scarf I finished last week.  The remaining yarn will be used for scrap lap afghans I think.  The pattern for the scarf is by "Hooked by Robin" called Easy Crochet Scarf (online video tutorial).  I think this is my favorite scarf pattern so far.

Yarn for both scarf and hat - Sutherland Stripe, Red Heart Super Saver.  I used an entire skein for the scarf, but length is always up to you.  

. . .another lap afghan on the hook to eventually donate.  I donated to two places last winter, but I am getting concerned about not getting a response back from one location this winter.  I will have to make a few phone calls.  Colors are from Red Heart yarn, soft white, petal pink, and Lt. raspberry.

I have a lot of pink yarn right now.  Some of the brighter ones were for crocheting nail polish Christmas ornaments, but the rest I purchased to make Mom a blanket using the first pattern on this post.  I never got the chance to even start one, so I may be doing more lap afghans.  I guess we'll see.

. . .another larger ripple blanket on the hooks.  I'm using up some leftover yarn from my daughter's cardigan, and some from the last blanket and craft show items.  I'm not sure I'm thrilled with the color combination, but it's on the hook.  By the way, I bought the yarn for the cardigan years ago, based on their suggestion of how much for the size I crocheted.  I have more leftover, so I hope this blanket uses it up and looks good.  I'll be back to update, and share the colors I used.

I have a feeling this blanket will continue into next winter.  I am really working hard on our winter project list right now, so my handiwork time is limited for now.

. . .what would you use leftover cotton scrap yarn for?  The only thing(s) I can think of, are random cup/mug coasters and face scrubbies.  I may contact the school to see if the art teacher can use it.  The leftover balls are too small for rug making.  I don't think there is enough yarn on the balls to make lip balm holders either.

I dug out my journal, so I can make written records on what colors I used for certain projects, and to note patterns, hook size etc.

There are more projects on the hooks, but I was too lazy to go photograph them.  I really need to get the doily finished.  It's been a year now, but it's smaller stitches.  I just need to get in the mood to work on it.

. . . from the handiwork journal  © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Butterscotch Sugar Cookies ~ Cookie Exchange Idea

 Colder weather is the perfect time to use the oven, and try a new cookie recipe (for possibly next Christmas).

I have found some of the best recipes in fiction books.  The latest recipe is from Joanne Fluke's book - Wedding Cake Murder.

I have to confess, that I have not yet read the book.  I had to return it before finishing it.  I'll get it out some day soon.

In the meantime, her recipe for Butterscotch Sugar Cookies are not only delicious, and addicting, but they make a ton!  I'm freezing some to see how well they thaw as well.

I found the recipe on another blog as well (Make My Day Camp).  I'm glad I found her blog, as she talks about cutting the recipe in half, and still getting a lot of cookies.

1. Her (Make my day camp blogspot) measurements for flour are not the same as the recipe in the book.  The book calls for 4 1/4 cups.  Her blog states 4 1/2 cups.

2. I used a 1 Tbsp. scoop, so I baked them for 15 minutes and let them sit on the pan for a minute, then cooled on racks.

3. The cookie by the oven light gets browned more in my oven, so I rotated the baking sheet half-way.

4.  It's best to have 4 large cookie sheets for this recipe, or you are baking all day using smaller ones.  I have 2 large ones, so I plan to buy 2 more large for all my baking needs.

5. I tossed in about a handful of mini butterscotch chips in the batter at the end.

6. The batter is very soft at first.  If you let it sit a few minutes, it will firm up and will be easier to handle.

7. When you flatten the balls of dough on the cookie sheets, use a flat spatula.  After a few times, the dough will stick to the spatula, so dust it with some sugar every now and then to continue flattening the dough balls.

They are a crispy, thin cookie.  They would make great gifts too.  I followed the recipe in the book, cut it in half, used a 1 Tbsp. cookie scoop and got 5 dozen cookies.  

The next time I make them, I may try not flattening them so much, for a chewier center.  I do like them crunchy, and they would be great in a bowl of ice cream, maybe topped with some homemade whiskey butterscotch sauce too.  Oh boy, that would put a person in a sugar coma for sure, but doesn't that sound good?  Maybe for gifting? 

My husband said, they are good, but would prefer a chewy cookie vs. a crunchy cookie.   These are obviously not low fat, nor sugar free.

Butterscotch Sugar Cookies ~ Cookie Exchange Idea © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

Our new winter egg "basket" as we are in slower egg production, and this helps keep track of the oldest to newest egg.

I made another new recipe by The Real Food Dietitians - Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal.  It is very good, but so far I think my favorite is the pumpkin one.

My pamper me moment - merino wool socks.  They were on sale for $2 at the farm store.  I could learn to knit my own socks, but I've put that off for so many years now.  You never know.  Until then, I bought these to keep my feet warm during this winter freeze.

Entertainer for the Day

 I don't know how I get into such conversations, but I do, and I did.  I not only entertained the dentist at my last appointment, but the dental assistant as well.

It was freezing cold out, so the conversation started there.

I was talking about tending the hens, which led to talking about dressing for the weather.  I mentioned that I always take my cell phone and a house key with me, when I go outside for anything.  They both giggled at my entertainment, when I told them I was once locked out of the house by one of the dogs, in the heat of summer, and had one dog with me.  I had no cell phone, no key and we live in the boonies.  Literally.

I guess I'm traumatized enough to continue to carry both a phone and key after that happened.  Glad I could make them laugh.

Winter Tea

I recently shared a link for a seasonal stress tea recipe via Mennonites Can Cook blogspot.  Well, they shared another recipe the other day for "Winter Blues" tea recipe.  It looks interesting. Here is the link:   Winter Blues Tea.  I think I have all the ingredients to try this, other than the lemongrass and rose buds.  I wonder if I could use my lemon balm?  Is there a big difference in lemon balm and lemongrass?  I used to have lemon grass planted in a pot, but it has since died off.

Comfrey/Bruise Update:

I made us a comfrey mix salve a while back, and for some reason did not post it on my blog.  I will have to do some searching in my recipes to find it.  I have been using it on my bruise from my fall, and it is helping heal.   I may still mix up a few poultices with dehydrated comfrey, depending on how fast/slow this heals.

This and That © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart