Pioneer Woman at Heart

  I finally got parsley put into the dehydrator (sorry for the bad photo).  I love the aroma of freshly cut parsley.  Our weather is changing too quickly.  Rain is still in the forecast, which makes putting the garden to bed difficult. Even after dehydrating the aroma was still strong and smelled delicious. We got rain almost all day yesterday, so the refrigerator is completely cleaned and re-organized. I also spent the day working on boxing up my computer area in the kitchen (aside from the computer itself).  We are prepping to move things to the living room to rip up the kitchen floor later this month.  I didn't realize how much stuff I had that needed thrown out, donated or things I just don't use anymore.  My computer area involves a kitchen counter with 6 desk drawers.  I will tackle the drawers, then start on the cupboards that will be taken out.  What a job!!  And this is just the prep work. In a way I'm glad it's happening, ...

  You can dehydrate the last handful of hot peppers in any form, but I place them in my food processor and grind them up to small bits. (dehydrated in the photo) I then spread them out on parchment paper and dehydrate in my dehydrator.  If you have an air fryer, most have a dehydrate option. When they are all dried, I put them in a coffee bean grinder (used only for grinding dehydrated items), and grind into a powder.  I store in an air tight spice jar. Add the ground powder to any recipe to add flavor.  I use it a lot in our breakfast casseroles/frittatas and scrambles. Yes there are Christmas towels in there😂 I fear for our world we now live in.  More and more people we know are sick with covid.  It's spreading like wild fire in our area.  A co-worker of my husband's could use prayers.  He is the same age as me, and was moved to a different hospital with covid.  Both of his lungs collapsed.  His name is Lauren (not sure if I'm spellin...

Pie pumpkins are also called sugar pumpkins, but the perfect pumpkin for pumpkin puree for baking and cooking.  Simply cut the pie pumpkins in half, and roast in a baking dish/pan at 350°F for 45-50 minutes.   The best tool to clean the pumpkins is my melon baller. I lay the cut side down, and prick the skins with a fork a few times prior to baking.  Allow them to cool, scoop the pumpkin off and puree in a food processor.  Freeze in air tight containers. One of our favorite dinners, using pumpkin puree, is pumpkin/sage macaroni. Our family motto - use it up!  Don't forget to save those seeds. Roast them, and toss the rest of the pumpkin innards to the chickens for a nice fall treat.  Nothing wasted. Our favorite recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds:  Whiskey Bacon Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (any whiskey will work) I finally packaged up all of the remaining dried seeds for next year's garden. I know many of my followers already know how to roast and puree ...

My hot pepper plants still give-ith.  If there is such a word.  This mess was ground up and put on parchment paper in the dehydrator.  Once dry, it will be ground into, what I call, Fire Powder. I haven't had time to pull anything else from the garden.  Now we are dodging rainfall for the entire week. I attempted to get my to-do list tackled, but it rolled over into today.  I did however, remember to drain a jar of homemade vanilla extract I had sitting on my counter for a few days. Last weekend I bought the Sunday paper.  I haven't read a local newspaper in a long, long, long time.  The comics were the only good thing in it.  I remember as a kid we'd take silly puddy and press it onto the comics.  Dad would save the comics for wrapping paper.  Oh the good ol' days.

  I dehydrated more rosemary, froze more mad hatter hot peppers, cleaned up the kitchen, and other housework.  My husband finally mounted the new solar post lights for the driveway (the old ones were broken and knocked off by the snow plow last winter).  The new lights are screwed into the poles, so nothing can be blown off this winter. Hubby also fixed a toilet that was running.  We have one that has those buttons to flush on the tank.  After helping him, I told him I'd rather replace it with a handle flush, when we need to replace it in the future.  It was not fun to work on. Daughter E is back to work and feeling much better.  She now, after having us deliver food when she was sick, wants to learn how to cook (ha ha!).   Several friends and family have either just gotten over covid or have it currently (including a baby that had to be rushed to a hospital for oxygen). Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I'll link up w...

. . . finished this yellow set of pot holders . . . started back on daughter K's cardigan (other arm) . . .finished another dish scrubbie . . . made two sets of pumpkin cup coasters. . . .made 2 sets of candy corn cup coasters. Once again Rebecca is giving away a planner (which I absolutely love).   Go here:  Rebecca's Heart and Home I love these planners and one it one year.  I'm sharing so you all can have the chance to win one too.

  Yesterday I made a double batch of sweet potato chili (click here to find the recipe).  I'll be delivering some to Mom and Daughter E.  We love this stuff.  Especially with a dollop of sour cream on top. We are having the most beautiful weather right now.  Although my laundry is drying on racks inside.  Mower guy was coming over. I'm working on a few new items regarding crochet work.  I hope to get a handiwork post up soon.