This and That

I harvested one last bit of Russian Red Kale.  I saw new sprouts of our Swiss Chard.  It makes me happy to see it growing this late in the season.  I am already missing the garden.  Crazy as that sounds, but I am. 

A funny to share.  I was working on the dinner in the kitchen when my phone rang.  Ha ha ha!  It was my husband.  He was home, so this was strange to me.  He said, "Well, I have discovered one problem with the coop.  Can you come let me out?"  Ha ha ha ha ha ha!  The door shut, and latched on him.  We are still laughing about it.  We will be doing something to rectify that from happening again.  Oh, they are still not laying eggs, but they deserve a break too.  They still get treats and such, so hopefully they will be laying again shortly.  Then again, they have new roosts, so they may be acclimating to them.

Our little library is celebrating 100 years, and they are having a "home" Bingo game, but the numbers are called on social media, so I have to check there every day to play.  A little bit of fall fun.

I may have shared this for crochet folks, but did you know that Boye is not making the "I" hook in 5.5mm size?  They only make them in 5.25mm now.  It sort of messes up my patterns I use.  I am still trying to find more of these to keep on hand. 

I ordered one from Herrschners online, which stated 5.5mm, and when it arrived it was 5.25mm.  Just a heads up on that information.  You can buy other brands in the 5.5mm size.

Here is an update on the larger lap afghan I am crocheting for a gift.  I am not yet halfway done, and the month is going by way too fast right now.

I have already been going through the yarn stash to make the next gift (it may end up after Christmas, but the recipient knows).  I have not narrowed down the colors just yet. Can you tell the recipients of both blankets like green? Ha ha!  Blankets take a good amount of time to crochet.

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

Lima Bean Hummus

 

I found it very difficult to find a selection of any lima bean recipes.  I asked around, and only one person I know ate them as a kid, and not ever as an adult.  

I purchased canned lima beans in the Amish area we visit this year.  They are very hard to find around our area for some reason.  I have had them sitting around waiting to try.  

I used them to make hummus.   Delicious!!

(source:  Google images)

I did not cook the lima beans, as I do not when I use chickpeas, but I may try cooking them next time (to see if it would be creamier, and/or cook from dried beans).  I do not mind the texture regardless, and it tastes just like chickpeas in my own hummus recipe.  Of course, I used home grown garlic, and it makes it the absolute best flavor.

I just swapped out the chickpeas for the canned lima beans (rinsed and drained), and it was fantastic.

My traditional hummus RECIPE.

Red Lentil Hummus

In the past we have tried beet hummus, black bean hummus, pumpkin hummus, green bell pepper hummus, white bean hummus and others.  I think the only one yet we have not tried is sweet potato hummus.  

Lima Bean Hummus  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

5 Weeks Until Christmas

 

Not new, but sharing a hand crocheted XL (for those 13 x 9 size pans/pizza pans etc.) pot holder I created and gifted one Christmas.  I made one for each of my sibling's family, Mom, and a few friends one year for Christmas.  I used to put together a box or container of handmade gifts for each family, and had so much fun creating the gifts too.  

As one blogger stated recently, life requires us to make "adjustments" sometimes.  I have a few local people to gift this Christmas, and it's not happening this year.  I had plans to can a ton of "Christmas" jelly, but it will have to wait until Holiday season of 2026. 

Note:  My husband is already trying to assist, and help can jelly sometime after late January.  He's so sneaky really.

I have looked into adopting a person in a nursing home/assisted living facility.  I plan to keep that a year long commitment if I can locate a facility.  Many facilities are doing things like fill a stocking for someone etc. I am looking for someone who gets zero visitors.  It's harder than you think, as most out reach programs help kids more than single elderly adults.  I will be asking around with the local people as well.

Another past gift item for Christmas . . .

I may have shared these before.  Sorry if it's a repeat.  Not much going on, other than decorating right now.

              

Homemade Vapo-Rub

Herb garden, home grown rosemary, dehydrated and put into recycled jars.  I also included a recipe to use the rosemary.  Even the kids bus driver was gifted rosemary that year.

Every year I had fun coming up with unique, useful homemade/handmade gift ideas (one post here, what I gifted in 2015).

The Christmas decorations have made their way out of storage, thanks to my husband.  I am slowly, going through all of it, and filling a box of donations, and some actually were so worn out they went into the trash (no kidding there).  

I have a pile of duplicate handmade ornaments for the kids to look through.   I used to make a new ornament to gift every single year, and the extras must have made their way to the Christmas totes.  Whatever they do not want, will be donated to an area 55+ living facility (to put on their "free items" table).

Many of the older decorations are retiring and moving on to a new home (not handmade).  I found items that belonged to the kids and their past homes (after moving back in again, leaving things behind).  I found ornaments that the kids bought and they no longer want, and even childhood stockings.  

It is simply a good time to sort it all, purge, toss, and narrow it down to a better collection of decorations.

I have about two or three new recipes to try, but have yet to try any of them.  Two advent gift bags were delivered (one left to deal with).  The Christmas tree is up and is being decorated.  yes, we still put up a tree, even if no one comes home for the holidays.  It brings cheer to the homestead.  I am about halfway done with the larger lap afghan crochet gift.

As for house cleaning for the holidays, I really need to clean my oven, but it may not happen until after Christmas.  

5 Weeks Until Christmas  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Using a Spiralizer and Garden Basil Pesto

 

I tried another new crockpot recipe, and we loved it.   The only thing I discovered, is my crockpot "low" setting is pretty hot, and I can lower the cook time on this, and it lacks "color" due to the homemade basil pesto.  We think adding some red bell pepper next time would be nice.  

Also, it did not make a lot.  It's about a 3-4 serving dish, but it ended up a 3 serving for us, ha ha.  I would double this for leftovers.

What is it?

Chicken with Zucchini Noodles and Basil Pesto

Where is the recipe from?

                         

I prefer to cook my raw chicken separately, and not with other vegetables, when it comes to crockpot cooking.  It's just me.  I cooked the chicken the day before (in the crockpot), shredded it and cooled it (recipe called for chicken breast sliced).

I simply added the chicken at the end of cooking, as well as grated parmesan cheese, because I froze our homemade basil pesto without the cheese this last time.

We thought it was so filling too, and wow, so healthy.

I bought a new hand crank spiralizer about a year ago, and I (gulp) finally used it.  Wow, it is so much easier than the little gizmo I used to use.

Advice:  Grow an herb garden.  Even if you have to grow it in pots.  You will have so many options for your meals, medicinal options, and you will have so much fun in the process.  I'm considering teaching classes for herb gardening, but the actual classes to be "certified" in any way, per say, are expensive.

Using a Spiralizer and Garden Basil Pesto ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Easy Crockpot Recipes

 

What is was supposed to be?  A new recipe - flank steak tacos (recipe is in the first cookbook below).  what it ended up as?  Round steak fajitas.  First, I've only cooked a flank steak once in my lifetime (no kidding there), and two, we couldn't find flank steak, so we used a round steak.  

The seasonings were exactly as the recipe called for however, and it shredded up very nicely.  Although, I would cut back on the seasoning, it was very good, and mostly very, very easy to prepare for the crockpot.

We got 4 servings (2 meals for 2 people), plus we had more leftover after that. Super easy, many possibilities, and a good bang for the buck.

The above cookbook was probably my favorite of all the cookbooks I have borrowed this month.  You don't have to be diabetic to enjoy any of these either.  They are very healthy recipes.  I have many more to try yet.

I found this one to have a lot of recipes with very little ingredients, but most of the recipes ask for a can of this or than, a package of this or that - processed food ingredients.  If you are like me, many of the recipes can be adapted to your homemade ingredients, home canned, or if it's summer your your home grown ingredients.

A soup recipe I converted from a stove top recipe to crockpot.  We have made it twice, and each time with different broth (based on what needed used up first), and we have never had to freeze any of it.  We like it that much.  Odd for a meatless soup too, but we really do like the parsnips in place of potatoes in this recipe (no pasta, no corn, no rice etc).

It's free online with CleanFoodCrush.  Recipe is called Hearty 3 Bean Soup.

My slight changes:

-I don't sauté any of the veggies, so no oil

-I don't use sun dried tomatoes, I use one can of diced tomatoes (or home canned or fire roasted diced)

I toss everything in the crock pot and add additional broth if needed, and cook all day long.  I try to add my seasonings at  the end of cooking, but if I'm going to have a busy day, it all goes in first time in the morning.

Easy Crockpot Recipes  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Warm Weather ~ Knitting Hats?

 

Beautiful sunrise, and the weather has been in the 60's, with yesterday almost 70 degrees.  A nice break in the weather.

I'm already writing up a list of new herbs to plant next year.  It may be the weather break inspiring me.

Winter home repairs are on hold for now, but I'm taking notes, making lists, and so forth.

Crazy me, as about 4 crochet blankets on the hooks, but for different occasions (I love a single yarn pattern for "on-the-go" etc.).  No hurry on any of them, other than one for a Christmas present.  I've had more "sit" time than I'd normally prefer, so I'm taking advantage of it.

Do any of my blog followers have a knitted hat pattern (easy) for beginners (or links to free online patterns)?  I have knit dishcloths, but would like to expand my ability to knit hats (before I attempt socks).  

Maybe a pattern you shared on your blog perhaps?  One of my grandmothers used to knit, but of course I was too young to even think to learn it before she passed (to be honest was never introduced to knitting by anyone).  Would love to expand my handicraft knowledge and experiences.

I'm thinking a baby hat, child hat and adult hat.  I was told that hats were more needed for donations than scarves (our school stated kids don't wear scarves anymore, but will wear hats).  Not that I will stop making scarves, but thought I would ask here, as so many of you are talented.  I would love to pair up baby blankets with hats, as an area pregnancy center has asked for donations.

Warm Weather ~ Knitting Hats?  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

What's Growing?

 

Organic lemon balm sprouting up in an indoor pot, for the first time ever.  I have not planted it indoors before, nor brought in a plant or portion of a plant.  It's being started from organic seeds.

I brought in some chives and rosemary.  We'll see if I can master the ability to keep them both alive indoors this winter.

Sage and Thyme from the herb garden (brought in before our first hard freeze):  dehydrated the thyme, but next year I think it would be useful to make a thyme tincture (for any medicinal reasons).  Do you make a thyme tincture?  If so, what do you keep it on hand to treat?  It totally slipped my mind this year.

I dehydrated most of the sage, but used some fresh to start a tincture (this is great for sore throats when you don't want to/or can't make hot tea).  Just my experience with a sage tincture.  If you have other uses, please share. 

 I ground some ( a first for us ) of the sage and filled a re-purposed jar.  It will be used mostly for mixing up chicken breakfast sausage patties (or turkey).  I will be finding out if it stays pretty good in the ground form or not.  It will make breakfast preparations a bit easier for me.

What's Growing?  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart