Pioneer Woman at Heart

  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 mos...

  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 ...

  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 ...

We are enjoying our garden potatoes.  I use the really small ones for breakfast scrambles or for soups/stews. New crockpot recipe tried - Beef Stew.  I cannot recall that I have ever made beef stew in the crockpot.  I have always used the oven.  I have to admit, I did not follow the recipe exactly, as it called for red wine.  I did not have any, and used additional beef broth and two tablespoons or organic red wine vinegar instead.  The one thing I will do different next time, is put the rosemary sprigs and bay leaves in a piece of cheesecloth tied with string (making removing them so much easier). Peas were added in the end, and the seasoning was perfectly delicious.   Next time I will be adding some sourdough bread, rolls or biscuits with it. Newest tea to try by itself, and as iced tea - Hibiscus.  I tasted and tried a small bottle of locally infused honey in the tea as well - Organic elderberry and hibiscus infused honey.  The honey ...

  It's been a long time since I participated in Happy Homemaker Monday.  I apologize for the length of it.  I tend to get a bit chatty and blabber on a bit with these posts. Today I am joining Sandra with Happy  Homemaker Monday.  The weather . . . Cold!  Sunday we got down to 27 degrees, our first hard freeze, and rain.   It's 18 degrees and snow arrived. Right now I am . . .  Brewing coffee, and writing this post. Thinking and pondering . . . Spring home projects/repairs, chicken brooders, volunteering...fun winter activities. How I am feeling . . .  Overall, good, but frustrated with those who cannot "listen" and I have to repeat myself over and over and over (not my husband ha ha! He's a great listener).  I have really learned from this, to be a much better listener. On the breakfast plate . . . Have no idea yet. On the menu . . . -(new recipes to try), crock pot mac n' cheese -crockpot flank steak tacos (new recipe to try) -Sal...

  Snow is predicted Sunday/Monday.  Nothing new.  It has snowed in October here.  I took one last look at the herb garden, before it rests for the winter.   I dehydrated more green onions, and froze a bit more.  The dehydrated ones were left whole to dehydrate, then I store them in a canning jar.  I do this with chives as well.  I mostly use the frozen ones for baked egg dishes. I use a small vacuum that works for regular and wide mouth jars.  So far, it's worked great, and I've had it for a few years now. I love to make ground vegetables, in cases where I have a larger harvest of something.  It adds flavor to any dish.  I ground some of the dehydrated green onions, and filled a repurposed spice jar. I had to keep adding the dehydrated green onions to the grinder, as they are so light, it helps the process of grinding it all down to a powder. A "first" for us this year.  I think it would be great on homemade crackers, and ...

  The very last advent gift was wrapped and stickers attached.  The bags are ready to deliver.   All fall decorations were taken down. Christmas decorations are slowly being put up.  No new recipes tried lately, but I have ordered a fiction Christmas themed book from the library.  I have more Christmas themed books on my own shelf to read yet too. I started a crocheted lap afghan for a Christmas gift.  It will need mailed to the recipient, so I hope to get it finished this month. A "first" for us this holiday year - Christmas Spice Extract.  I am making it homemade to try in baking recipes, but I do need to add peel from one organic orange yet.  Not sure if it's worth making until we use it in recipes.   7 Weeks Until Christmas   ©  November 2025 by  Kristina  at  Pioneer  Woman at Heart