Pioneer Woman at Heart

I got 25# of tomatoes off my tables, but went out and picked more, bringing 22.5# more back in. Pizza sauce is restocked now. Somehow, in all that work of canning, I put chili in the crock pot for dinner, but did not have the time or energy to make my delicious buttermilk cornbread. I made this spread the other day, and haven't made it since we had dairy goats I think.  The recipe is on my blog:  Easy Layered Dip. This was at our local area Meijer the other day.  I sent it to a friend who was looking for wide mouth quart jars.  They also had other sizes, but no lids. My indoor rosemary plant got a new pot.  My cilantro did as well, but you don't a picture of that one.  I sort of neglected it, so hopefully, it will spring back having been re-potted for winter. I haven't had any time to do handiwork.  Hopefully soon, as the garden is starting to slow down a bit.  I brought in another dozen bell p...

It's been on the cold side here.  We will be a high of 69°F today. Due to some last minute business I had to do in the afternoon yesterday, I could not can with tomatoes as planned.  I instead took a slower day and tackled other jobs.  I folded neglected towels, washed bedding, made homemade laundry detergent, refilled our homemade foaming hand soap and other stuff. I went out and picked some plantain and dried it in the dehydrator.  It wasn't as much as I wanted, but it's been slim pickings with the drought.  The recent rain brought some up, and I wanted it done before the mowing resumed and colder weather gets here.  I will be infusing a plantain oil, which I will use later this winter to make a salve. I got all those bell peppers put up.  I'll be picking a few more to try a new recipe I found.  Hopefully, I will have time one of these days to do it. I haven't had time (or the space, with all the tomatoes in the kitchen) t...

My sauce maker is in full swing right now.  I restocked our tomato soup.  It's so good too.  The photo makes the jars look weird, but it's just that I took the photo when it was dark out.  The recipe is in the Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications - Canning, Preserving+Freezing and drying issue.

Eggs are rolling in good.  Fixing the sides of the coop so I don't have to crawl in there is on top of the list. Ka-Bam!  41# of paste tomatoes, brought in a few big boy type, cherry tomatoes, some zucchini, 1# hot banana peppers, #3 of jalapenos, and 24 bell peppers.   The jalapenos were canned yesterday, but today I tackle some of the tomatoes.   I was lacking time for laundry, but managed to get a pork loin (not my favorite, need to re-stock roasts) in the crock pot. I sliced the zucchini and baked them with herbs and parm cheese.  I totally forgot to take a photo.  I was just plum tired. 

While I should have been canning, my husband and I took off for a getaway, and took a boat tour.  Well worth it.   I am up early to wash dishes that were left on last Friday, and the one daughter who was home and on vacation, left more.  Everything I need to can was still dirty.  My mental health vacation needs another one.  All I can say at this point, is that I am pretty sure my husband is on board with the lack of help and respect around here.  He finally sees what I have been dealing with. It's been a long day already. Yesterday was the one year mark we lost our 4 month old grandson, so we made a quick trip over to see them before retiring for the night last night. Oh, while out on our getaway, I scored canning jars.  There were no lids to be had, but I got myself jars with lids (which I needed, as I am down to my last 9 jars or so of half-pints).  I also finished a crochet project during our drive.  I hope to ...

The bell peppers are one thing that is doing well in the garden as well as the tomatoes.  I was able to do a half batch of stuffed peppers and got them in the freezer.   A few were used to can BBQ sauce yesterday. I caught a few beautiful photos just before the sun came up the other day. The dogs were barking about 3pm while I was reducing the BBQ sauce.  Guess what?  Another raccoon.  I got the ladies in safe, but lost sight of the dang raccoon.  Sigh.  It's definitely been a rough year.

Yesterday I took a much needed mental health day.  My 21 year old and I went on an adventure visiting two towns and local shopping.  I did some antique shopping too. We went to Wal-mart so she could pick out yarn for a Christmas present she asked me to make.  I went to the canning section just to see (but knew well it's be empty). This smells amazing! Although I didn't find may towels, I found a few tablecloths to use and even a Christmas one. Today I have another date with tomatoes, which I am happy about.  The cucumber plants and squash plants are starting to die off and the yellow squash either didn't produce or gave us only a few sadly.