Random Bits

 

(A Year of Positive Thinking, by Cundie Spiegel)

Picked this in the rain.  So thankful for the harvest.

I restocked our homemade condensed mushroom soup.  It is so good, it is so worth the time to make it and freeze it for quick access while cooking.  It's just shallots, fresh mushrooms, butter, a bit of flour, milk and vegetable broth, a bit of black pepper (organic/non-gmo ingredients) and that's it.  I always salt everything while cooking, so I do not add salt.  So good.  I would have had 5 "cans" in the freezer, but I ran out of shallots.

Current library loot.  I am so far behind on reading these, and/or simply looking for what I am looking for, that it's crazy.  I have been doing "stuff" and rather busy, despite rainy days.

Random Bits  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

 We have had three days of rain (again).  I for once, was happy for it, as I had planted flowers, and had a new tree and bush to plant.  I have not gotten to the point of dragging out all of my garden hoses, so it was a relief for the sake of everything being "watered" (including the garlic and asparagus).

The herb garden was ready for some rain too.  I have everything planted, other than buying a new parsley plant (cannot find my seeds).  

I have a bit more weeding to do, but for the most part, all is doing nicely.  

Oh, and it's been a terrible tick year here for us.  Although I make my own tick oil, and use it, I often forget.  I have come inside with a tick on me twice now.  Very unusual too.  I have a post it sticky note to remind me now (to apply the tick oil).  The wind can carry those buggers just about everywhere.

The keeper of the herb garden.  He was sitting in the chives, and there are stray oregano plants growing in them now.  I do need to dig those out soon.  I left him be, as I was working in another garden, yanking a fence to prep for tilling.

This is a truly "this and that" post today.

Speaking of asparagus....

We are continuing to harvest asparagus, thanks to the recent and current rain.  I, for sure, thought we were at the end of harvest, but the good Lord is still providing us some.

One of our meals made from the crockpot turkey breast - turkey a la king.  I made this is a crockpot as well, and it was fantastic.  I used homemade condensed mushroom soup, and other goodness.  I have to write down exactly how I made this, so we can make it again.  I topped it over a wild rice mix, that was cooked in leftover chicken broth I had to use up.

I have had to make some changes in my "intentional" exercise.  By intentional, I mean the exercises I do on purpose vs. the garden/yard/housework exercise.  I've been consistent with some stretching exercises for the last 6 months, and I'm glad I've stuck with it.  I have even taken my yoga mat while traveling too, along with exercise bands (no excuses).  I have found that the older we get, the more flexibility is a blessing in all day activities.  Plus you feel better all over at the end of the day. 

Garden work is easier and less physically stressful, climbing stairs is a piece of cake now, walking and hiking a longer lengths, and so forth.  Planting 3 flats of marigolds will give you the best glute work out of your life (you'll feel it the next morning, ha ha!).

Speaking of garden work. . . .

I was out and about, looking for something.  I can't recall, but it may have been my watering can.  Anyway, I saw something move up in the rafter and I swore it was a raccoon.  I slowly moved out of the barn, and looked back.  Ha ha ha ha ha!  It was our resident barn cat that adopted us.

Back story to this cat, is that I saw it a year ago, and the year before that, but only a few times.  One day it was pouncing in the taller grass in a nearby field chasing and eating mice.  I laughed and laughed.  

Next thing I know, there is a "gift" left at my front door (this was about a month ago).  I laughed and laughed.  If you have ever had a barn cat, this is a gift (sorry, but by gift, I mean remains, or part of remains, of their latest kill) to show their love and your dedication to feeding them.  I had left food out whenever I saw this cat.  We all got a laugh.  The cat is a very good hunter, lets just say that.  

I have yet to find out if the cat is a female or male, and to properly give it a name now.  My husband said we should call it "Spooky" for scaring the heck out of me (thinking it was a daytime meandering raccoon).

We have used free loose rocks from the homestead, to border the flower beds for almost 17-18 years now.  I'm now watching marketplace and other sites to look for actual landscaping stones to make flower bed prep much easier.  I'm down to two areas that need them (a form fitting, taller landscaping stone that holds the dirt and mulch inside).  Otherwise, every spring, I have to pull the rocks, push the dirt back, re-align the rocks, and tidy up the borders.  It still looks nice, we do plan to upgrade the borders.  Until then, the free rock border works.  Both areas are not an issue for the mower, so it's last to upgrade and make much less work.

We are eliminating our mailbox flower bed.  I have already removed all the rocks but a few, and we will be digging out the extra dirt to level it.  In the past we had a rose bush, but it brought too many bees to the mailbox. We tried annuals, but the care for it was way too close to the roadside, so we are just taking it out.  One less thing to take care of.

We have already seen our resident hummingbird, and I have actually seen a new one this year.  I have also seen two Boston orioles (very rare sight), and they have the prettiest song ever.  I just wish I could get a photo for you all.  They are both quick to fly here and there.

I recently finished this book.  It's a newer book, and much different than most that I read.  I really liked it. I still need to check my yarn scraps/stash and see if I have any matching yarn to crochet a book blanket granny square.  I am still behind on attaching some squares to the blanket.

This and That ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

33 Weeks Until Christmas 2025

I have tried a few new recipes, but not sweet treats.  I do have one of those sweet treat recipes to try, but I have just not had the mojo, nor the time to make it.  🎄🎅🤶

Here is what I did make to try. . .

Crockpot  Scalloped Potatoes {Slow Cooker recipe from Mennonite Girls Can Cook}

I am always looking for ways to make sides without the oven, due to space constraints on some holidays (or I used to).  I gave this recipe a whirl, and yes, you can use homemade condensed mushroom soup for a richer flavor (because it's made with shallots and fresh mushrooms with butter).

It is a much easier way to take potatoes to a get together, but I also consider if there will be enough outlets to keep the crock pot warm too.  

One year I took a sweet potato dish (in a baking dish), and it was left in the oven during the entire meal, so I went home with the entire dish.

Anyway, back to the potatoes....

Slice those bad boys up with a mandolin, as well as the onions, and this is the easiest potato side dish ever!

Top with shredded cheese for some more goodness like we did.  Not limited to the holidays, but boy is it a nice additional side for any holiday.

Yum!  It's a keeper recipe.  Although, the first time making these, we said it was "good" but no "wow" factor (had used a mix of mushroom and celery soups).

Notes:  Recipe states you can mix mushroom soup with celery.  We found that more bland than using all mushroom soup (homemade is the best!! So much more flavor).  We also felt it needed more seasoning than just pepper and paprika.  Cheese on top adds even more flavor.  We will make these again, and add either ham or even chopped up Canadian bacon and try them that way next.

Of course, the recipe is not limited to Christmas, but we tend to have little oven space when cooking for a crowd at the holidays.

Now on to the next recipe we tried.

Pea Salad.  Also called Bacon Pea Salad.  New Recipe Tried, but not limited to "Christmas" or holiday meals.

Delicious!

Honestly, I'd crumble the bacon and add it right before serving to give it a crispy crunch to the salad.  

The original instructions I got were to mix it all up.   I used organic peas from the store, but if your garden produces some wonderful home grown peas, you are in business.

You could also use homemade mayo if you have fresh eggs, and of course make your own sour cream if you have what's needed to make it.  

Here is how I made it.  First cook 8 strips of bacon, cool and crumble them.  If you raise your own pork, kudos to you.  If not, like myself, I buy from a local butcher if I can.

Continuing . . .

In a bowl mix:

4 cups of organic frozen peas, thawed
1 "handful" of shredded organic cheddar cheese (I used a medium cheddar, and hand shredded)
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup organic sour cream
1/3 cup organic mayonnaise
2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
(1 Tbsp. sugar - optional?? Was told to add this, but does it really need it?)
A quick dash of salt and pepper 
Add the cooked bacon.  Stir and chill.  Enjoy!  

I'm definitely adding this to my all year round side dish, and for just about any meal, picnic, summer outing, holiday gathering etc. 

Lastly, if you are still with me with this much longer post . . .

Crockpot Turkey Breast (bone in)

Have you ever thought to cook your holiday turkey in a crockpot?  Not me.  Not ever.  It does save oven space and it is very convenient.

I did not go buy a turkey breast either.  I had one in the freezer from a gathering fail here, so I needed to rotate it out of the freezer.  Nothing like 3 days of turkey ha ha!  Healthy anyway.

I had a 5 pound organic turkey breast.  I went searching on the internet, and there are many recipes for a turkey rub for cooking your turkey breast in the crockpot.

I adapted my own seasonings to a recipe I found online, but cannot link it for you, as it is heavily loaded with ads. 

 Allrecipes has one recipe, but they use a packet of dry onion soup (if you make your own). It might be good.  I went with a mix of homemade seasonings, with some others.

What I used:

-homemade seasoned salt

-homemade Italian seasoning

-homemade garlic powder

-homemade onion powder

-Paprika, and black pepper (salt is in the seasoned salt)

I used olive oil to make all of the seasonings stick to the turkey.

Cooking time is based on the size of your turkey breast, and if you have completely thawed it, or partially thawed it. I used a thermometer to check ours.

I read a few recipes, and cooked ours on high for 1 hour and then turned the crockpot to low.  The turkey turned out great.  

By the way, the only way I have ever (and I mean ever) had a tenderly, moist cooked turkey, was when one of my brother's smoked one.  Oh my gosh, it was the best turkey I have ever had (if you have a smoker, and we do not).  

The crockpot perfect for cooking a turkey breast with bone in.  We are so glad we tried this.

On another note, yes, my brain is drumming up these ideas and for one last share. . .

                                   

December of 2020 I gifted a few family members homemade Paprika Dry Rub.  I saved jars from organic tomato paste I think (smallish, but not really small). The recipe is online with Taste of Home. 

I did not have any made, but you need to note (if you are diabetic) that the dry rub from Taste of Home contains brown sugar.  The rub is good on turkey or chicken.  I have not tried it on pork, but a pork tenderloin might be good with it.  

That's all for this Christmas countdown post.  I hope you enjoyed it, despite that it's May.

 33 Weeks Until Christmas 2025 ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Crazy Weather and Other Tidbits

 

What a whirlwind of weather here.  We got more rain (yes, more) yesterday, and a lot of wind.  It's a really brisk 33°F this morning here, and now they are saying we may just get up to 60°F. I had high hopes the 72°F forecast for today would be correct.  Brr!  We need dry days to dry up the garden to till, plant and get on with this garden season.  My word.

We are still enjoying stuffed bell peppers I froze last fall.  When you eat your garden goodies, it's hard to not want to grow a garden (although it was on the possible list to not grow one this year).

Thanks to the massive amounts of rain, I picked more asparagus (in the rain, ha ha!).  I do see a few more coming up to enjoy.  I also see new baby shoots from seeds randomly dropping last year.  Yay to that.

Let's talk herbs. . .

My husband bought me a tea mix months ago, and I have been enjoying it, but the flavor is not very strong.  I plan to start dehydrating this Spring, and mixing my own.  However, I have lemon balm and not lemon verbena.  

I do not know the medicinal differences of these.  I'll be doing some reading, to see if I need to plant a new herb, but in a pot, which means shopping for a new plant and pot.  To be honest, I don't even know that I have seen lemon verbena in the green houses. 

Despite rainy days, I have not had a lot of time to read nor do handiwork.  I finished a stack of hand crocheted dust cloths, one jar opener/gripper, one book, and one book blanket granny square.  The book was a random pick from a used book store.  One more off the home shelf. I am behind on the book blanket oddly.  Did I mention I was busy with all sorts of things going on?

Anyway, I hope to catch up with the book blanket and get the recent granny squares attached.  Meanwhile, I'm babying the indoor garden plants and having conversations about bountiful harvests.

I think the biggest part of my busyness is cooking and preparing meals here.  We eat all meals at home, zero out.  Some days I feel like I am in the kitchen all day long.

Eee-ghads!  I have found another book I want to read.  Sigh.  I currently have another started (off my shelf), and another ebook going at the same time.  To buy it?  To borrow it?  To check around with friends first?  Maybe I will make it a reward for finishing a few more shelf books, ha ha!

I have no current handiwork going.  I'm lacking the "sit" time, which is normal for Spring time here. I have a lot of garden work needing done soon too.

Crazy Weather and Other Tidbits  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Wild Violet Jelly

 

I had a request to share the final wild violet jelly after it was processed and made, and I am finally getting the photos together to share that.   I apologize for the delay.

2 cups of wild violets with 2 cups of boiling water poured over them to infuse).  I was told to let it sit up to 24 hours, but I have let my infusion stay in the fridge after that for up to 3 days.  Strain the flowers from the liquid.

Add juice of one organic lemon.  The mixture turns from a blue-ish color to a more pink color.

Add the liquid to a pot on the stove, and add one box of powdered pectin.  Stir and bring to a boil.

Don't forget to get canning pot ready and prepare jars and lids.

Once it comes to a boil, add 4 cups of sugar and bring to a hard boil for 1 minute.

Fill jars with 1/4 inch head space, wipe rims, add lids and I put my jars in a water bath for 15 minutes.  The recipe I was shared, did not have a water bath time, but most jelly recipes say 10 minutes.

There are many recipes online for this jelly, and I read some stated add 1/4 cup lemon juice.

The lemon I squeezed measured exactly 1/4 cup, but not all lemons are the same size.  I have always used the juice of one lemon either way.

The recipe I used made about 8 - 4 oz. jars.

The final jelly is delicious.  I guess I would say a fruity? Either way, it turns into a beautiful colored jelly, delicious, and gift worthy.

I think I gifted this one year for Christmas, but to be honest cannot remember.  It doesn't make a lot, so we tend to consume it all ourselves, and the pantry thieves (kids) take a few too).

Enjoy! Do some research on your own on foraging wild violets. My next venture is to research more recipes using them in breads, salads, and cookies.

Yes, I have made dandelion jelly too, but for the amount of work, it really lacks flavor (just my opinion).  We do like the flavor of homemade Queen Anne's Lace jelly (also a fruity-ish flavor), but the color is almost clear for that jelly (note:  I am told if you are trying to get pregnant, do not consume the Queen Anne's Lace Jelly, but do your own research please).

I have also baked Dandelion Bread, and we loved it.  In fact, I totally forgot about it, with the dandelion season springing into action.  Although we mow often, so picking them is hit or miss, but the bread is delicious and worth the time to make (according to my taste tester reviews here).

Wild Violet Jelly  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Dehydrated Asparagus Powder (woody ends)

It's been raining here since last Thursday, so that makes 7 days of rain straight in a row.  Some days, partial day rain, and others full out thunderstorms. Some days it's been so cold we need jackets, so there has been no good time to work on the gardens (any of them).  A few days the rain has let up, and we got to see a teensy bit of sunlight, but most days have been misty, foggy, rainy, and gray skies.  Oh and colder.  I'm getting a wee bit concerned about planting the garden.  They posted a flood advisory Monday night.

The asparagus patch is about to the end of the harvest season for us.  Although the rain brought up a few more stragglers for us to enjoy.

 May started out with another new "first" for me.  I dehydrated the woody ends, leftover from the asparagus we recently prepared.  You can simply save them in the freezer for soup, but those bags can get buried easily.  Does anyone actually remember they are in the freezer?

I do not know anyone who has dehydrated their woody asparagus ends, so I did as much reading on this as I could find. 

Everything said to blanch the asparagus first, to break down the fiber, for better results.  One Youtube video said to not use an ice bath on the woody ends after blanching, so they would continue to "cook" on the trays as they dehydrate.

A lot of our very first asparagus planting grows up much thicker than the newest plantings, so I sliced those pieces smaller to dehydrate better.

I blanched the woody ends (not to waste them, or you could compost them too), and they were dehydrated, and then ground into a powder.

I'm storing it in a canning jar and vacuum sealing it for now, and adding to it as the asparagus rolls in.  I'm thinking cream of asparagus soup, adding it to any soup or stew, adding to any breakfast or dinner casserole, and it can even be added to homemade taco seasoning.  Nothing wasted, and nothing buried in the freezer.

Dehydrated Asparagus Powder (woody ends)  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

The rain here has been off and on.  I got some herb garden seeds planted - cilantro, dill, Thai basil and feverfew.  I still need to get more planted, but it's progressing as the weather allows.

I now have a set of 4 square biscuit cutters.  I have not used all of them yet, but it should add some "fun" to the kitchen baking.

 

Remember the free magazines I brought home from the library?  Did you know you can pickle fruit?  I guess I just never thought about it, nor considered it, but now I will.  It would be a nice addition to a bowl of yogurt or to an appetizer board.

Does anyone make their own kombucha?  I do not personally know anyone who does, and I'm pondering the option to make it or keep buying it.  I'm guessing it will be less expensive in the long run.

I have been looking for individual alcohol pads for months.  I am adding them to our camping/travel tote.  It's much easier to have on hand than trying to store a bottle in the camper, and it's nice to have in the travel case for any travel.  I found a box of 100 at our Meijer for $1.49.  

I made the free adult craft from the library - beaded, string bookmark.

This and That  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart