Ground Cayenne

(dehydrate for 6-10 hours at 125°F, then grind into powder using a coffee grinder)

I finally got the dehydrated cayenne peppers ground into powder.  I believe I used my last spice jar, but I'm already set with homemade "fire powder"  (random mix of dehydrated hot peppers and ground into powder).  Look at that beautiful bold color next to the expensive organic store bought color.  

There have been 4-5 shipments of Mom's free 14 meals (via Fed Exp).  Non of which actually made it to her house.  There is another shipment that is due to arrive today.  

I have felt my uppity self lately.  Not sure if it's what's going on with our world, or the added stress and overwhelming race to get so many things done before winter. I'm just not feeling my motivated, good mood self.

Happy Homemaker Monday

We had a very muggy and hot weekend.  The humidity was so thick you felt like you were swimming in the air.  

We attended our grand niece's graduation party.  So proud of her.  She's about the same age as Daughter E.  She has 2 jobs, bought her own car, and has bought her own trailer to live it.  Most kids her age are living on unemployment these days.  Oh, and she graduated with honors, just like Daughter E did.

(hubby took a photo just after slicing he was so happy to get a blueberry pie)

Anyway, about the only other thing I got done, was bake a blueberry pie (didn't get that crust pinched together though) for my husband for Father's Day.  He was overjoyed.  It was completely spontaneous too.

Father's day was just us two.  It was also my first Father's Day without my Dad. The girls had to work and the others kids made no contact, so we took off on a motorcycle ride.  I thought it would be hard to get into a place to eat due to it being Father's Day, but that wasn't the case.  

It was difficult to find a place due to lack of employees.  First place had a long wait time, second place was closed, third place we got right in.  However, outside bar and seating closed and a slim staff.  I heard one guy tell a customer that they couldn't get anyone to work.  Even the cook was serving and seating people.  So sad.

Oh, and prices are up.  

This was posted at our table.  It's happening everywhere.  They can't get what they need, and when they do it costs double or more for them to get it.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

(will link up when she posts)

The weather . . .

78°F/48°F, Thunderstorms this morning so far, and so glad to get the rain.  We needed the humidity gone, and the gardens watered.

How I am feeling this morning . . .

A little overwhelmed with chores, but ...

On the breakfast plate . . .

A breakfast casserole - sausage, yellow squash, shallot, eggs and green onion.  Oh and some fire powder in it.

On my reading pile . . .

I finished reading this book, and it was so worth buying.  If you didn't see my post, I finished it in 3 days.  A record for me.  It was that good.

I'll be picking up another book I never finished.  Apparently, I have more than one to choose from.

On my TV . . .

Heartland ( I think we are in season 8)

On the menu . . .

-chicken chili
-baked walleye, steamed broccoli

-BBQ Pork chops, roasted brussel sprouts

-tuna/noodle, mashed tades and corn

-leftovers

On my to-do list . . .

-dishes
-laundry

-tidy up bedroom

-vacuum

-sweep/mop kitchen

-clean master bath

-bake a breakfast dish

What I am crocheting, knitting, sewing or creating . . .

Honestly nothing the last few days.  I spent my free time reading this past week.  Hopefully the rainy days will give me more time to pick up a hook.

Looking around the house . . .

(see to-do list)

To relax I will . . .

Read.

From the camera . . .

(see previous post for flower photos)

Something fun to share . . .

The only thing I can come up with for this prompt, is that I'll be dehydrating something new.  Stay tuned.

On my prayer list . . .

11 year-old Annabelle, Daughter E, personal requests, for the judge to rule in favor of keeping the pipeline open that runs thru MI to a state oil refinery.  If they shut it down, it will end thousands of jobs and really hurt the economy.

Shopping Day!

 

It's been a helluva week.  Dreary, rain, plans going ba-zonkers, now expecting more car repairs (when the car comes back it needs new brakes - guy is just putting in a new engine)......sigh.

However, one daughter was off work, so I was able to get to town for some last minute stock up items.  I also wanted to get to the dollar store for some waxed paper, tissues etc. 

I couldn't resist picking up a few more towels to rotate (in the bathroom) and some small ornaments to decorate the shower curtain and the small tree in the bathroom.  All at the Dollar Tree.

A breakfast I made a few days ago - tossed it together with sweet potatoes, bell pepper, onion, fire powder, eggs and dandelion greens.

Snow is predicted for us this weekend.  We are going to just go with the flow.  What gets done, gets done.  I'm working on a new crocheted Christmas ornament.  More news on that later.

Update on the home good store.  I went in to inquire on rental cost to sell my handiwork, as they requested.  First, the guy took forever to come to the counter, second, he was not nice from the get-go, and third he made a comment "everyone here gets along, so if you are not that type...."  Then he tells me $45 for one table (2 is not allowed).  Yeah, I won't be selling my items there.  Rude, too expensive and my instincts told me from the get-go he was not someone to rent space from.  I'm okay with that. 

Recipe Requests

There were a few requests interested in the recipe for the breakfast casserole.  The recipe is online from AllRecipes (Easy Broccoli-Cheese Casserole).  I simply used organic ingredients, and added 1 tsp. homemade garlic powder and a 1/4 tsp. homemade fire powder to add flavor.  In all honesty, I think this recipe would make a great side dish as well for family get togethers.  I like this one particularly because it uses less eggs.  

As for the family's recipe for Hot Cranberry Punch.  I have the recipe on my blog - HERE.  It's been a tradition in our family for years and years, and my youngest daughter wanted to have some with her cookies I baked (and wanted to learn how to make it).  It was sort of something to take her mind to a peaceful place I think, and I was thrilled she wanted to make it herself.

How to make Fire Powder:
Dehydrate a mix of hot peppers according to your dehydrator instruction book.  Grind the dried peppers in a coffee grinder.  Store in an airtight spice jar.  Add to anything to spice up a recipe.

Busy Kitchen Day ~ Dogs

Quarantine day 17.

Daily disinfecting of switches, knobs, toilet handles/buttons, wiped once a day.

Photos of my day yesterday.  Well, some of them.

Fed well.

Boiled eggs from last pick up.  Didn't have enough of my own, and was craving egg salad and just boiled eggs for snacking.

(computer screen) Worked on gaining more points to keep our health insurance cost down while the eggs boiled.

Picked out a favorite recipe for our next meal.  Four Beans and Sausage.

Breakfast frittata with onion, zucchini, spinach and fire powder.

Check out the difference from our farm fresh eggs and the ones from the store.  I am hoping for more eggs from them today.

I baked King Flour's recipe for flourless peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.  They are packed with peanut butter flavor, but I still like Einkorn flour peanut butter cookies better.  The family was happy anyway.

I didn't get photos of the dogs, as I knew I'd wake them up, and that wasn't happening.  Yesterday was a much calmer day as far as it goes with the dogs.  They were just under a lot of stress yesterday.  We may just get the dog fence knocked off the to-do list soon.

My chicks are getting wings feathers.

Happy Homemaker Monday

(boxed and ready to deliver)

I got a lot of crocheting over the weekend, and finished the baby blanket.  I delivered a few more crocheted orders, made a trip to the "Big City" when I could.  Hubby worked on the car, and no it's not fixed.  New parts were faulty, and returned.  New parts ordered online (auto stores did not have the one we needed with aluminum parts vs. plastic).

My planner is being used a lot lately.  Dates are filling up fast.  Got our daughter's rental hall booked for her grad party, and now working on a DJ for it.  I also booked an appt. with our daughter at her school for a hair cut.   I wanted to get in there before prices go up after she graduates.  April, May and June are getting booked up with plans as well.

Speaking of our daughter, she has already gotten a salon in line for a job.  Once she takes her state board exam she can start working, and they are excited to have her join.  She's young and can do up-do's, colors etc. and that's exactly what they were looking for.  The strange part, is we found out a friend of the family works there.  Who knew?  It's a nice salon too.  So happy for her and her hard work.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom


The weather outside . . .

On my mind . . .  
A lot.  We have a lot going on in March, including daughter's musical performance.  I won't be able to take any crochet/knit orders until late March either.  I think March is going to go too fast this year, but looking forward to some events.  Again, don't be alarmed if you don't see daily posts.  It's gonna be busy this month for sure.


On the breakfast plate . . .

A veggie loaded frittata with dash of Fire Powder for a metabolism boost.  Topped with garden swiss chard.


On my reading pile . . .

Still reading this, but had to write down the page, and return it to the library.

On my TV . . .
Hubby put on "By the Sea" until we realized it was an Ernest Hemingway movie (long and boring).

On the menu this week . . .
I have no idea.  We didn't make some from last week so...
-sweet potato and black bean enchiladas
-white chicken chili
-medicinal basil pesto pasta, beets (chickpea pasta, 23% less carbs)

-Snacking, home grown popcorn (holding onto one last jar), organic quinoa/chia tortilla chips and home canned salsa, fruit/nut/seed bars with organic coconut.


From the camera . . .
I haven't had my camera out lately.  Just my phone.  Odd, but true.


Looking around the house . . .
Not much to clean today thankfully.  I do need to tidy it up, do some laundry etc.

Chore I am not looking foward to . . .
I really can't pick one today.  It's simply routine, so I guess I'm just used to it all.

To relax this week I will . . .
Read if my book arrives.  I literally just ordered a copy from Thrift Books.  Considering I'm without a vehicle, my library orders are down to zero right now.


On my prayer list . . .
A friend of the family's mother, Mom, a continued grieving friend who lost her mother, our SIL who is has been moved to a different hospital.

Cardinals ~ Weather ~ Peace Treaty ~ Cookies!

More photos from the other day.  I went outside for these, and most flew off, but a few came back.  Much better to see instead of through a dirty window, ha ha!

Snow moved in, and we were told it could bring 4-6 inches 7 in other areas.  We woke up to maybe 2 inches and it is 32°F not the 8 degrees they said it would be.  It's still snowing though.  School has a 2 hour delay.

On the breakfast plate . . .

A garbage frittata with some sliced zucchini, topped with garden chives.  I added a pinch of fire powder to boost our metabolism too.

I've been taking treats (peace treaty) out to the chickens when I feed/water and fetch eggs.  So far, it's sort of working.  

In the morning I brought in 3 eggs, and later in the evening 2 more, but that darn rooster went at me again.  I think he has cabin fever or something.  I can't wait for a warmer day to send them out into the run.  Oh, he went at Hubby too. 

Speaking of eggs, I broke down and made biscuits for dinner.  Sigh.  Hubby isn't supposed to have all those carbs, but I've been doing so good at keeping them out of our meals, so I am caved in and made sausage and gravy for dinner.  Along with scrambled eggs etc.

I've been hankering a sweet treat lately.  I've stuck with the low carb/low sugar etc. thing with the Hub-ster, and I needed a treat.  Not being able to make my regular cookies, I googled for a low carb shortbread cookie and wa-la!  

However....they tasted terrible.   Like a mouth full of almond flour.  I'm just gonna bake my regular recipes, but only once in a while.

I got another cross bookmark finished, read my book a bit, and one yarn order arrived for the baby blanket.  I'm waiting on one more color to arrive and I can start that.

From the handiwork journal ~ Mexican Street Corn ~ Herb Garden Question

. . .finished these keychains.  I found them in my night stand.  I just had to sew in ends and add the chains (UFO completed).

. . .finished this order of purple hot pads.  Just need to deliver them.

Here is a photo of the Mexican Street Corn I made.

I didn't "char" the corn completely, but it was very good with using thawed (off the cob) corn.  I am sort of looking forward to re-vamping my herb garden now.  The corn contains green onion and parsley.  Yum!  It was also the first time to try the mexican cheese the recipe required.

Yesterday I got smart and did all of my cooking and baking first thing.  Dish washing went much smoother.  I pulled the very last ham bone from the freezer, some split peas, the last bag of frozen garden carrots, a few celery cubs from the freezer, added diced potatoes and some fire powder (vs. onion) from the pantry - split pea/ham bone soup.

I also made biscuits for the first time, using almond flour.  I wanted something to go with the soup other than a sandwich, but low carb.  I found a recipe online, and used my home ground garlic, home ground onion, sour cream I pulled from the freezer and a bit of cheese (all organic).   I literally forgot to add the 4 Tbsp. of melted butter.  

I was a bit worried they browned too much, but they were so delicious.  Very moist biscuit, and very flavorful.  No need for butter.  I will be making these again.  Even without the butter.   

Herb Garden Make Over 2020

Question for herb gardeners - is there a resource to buy green onion bulbs with greens on them (online)?  Or just bulbs vs. seeds?  Organic of course.  I really do not want to start with seeds again.  My green onions I had, I had for 15 years plus, by someone sending me a handful in the mail wrapped in a damp paper towel, in a plastic bag.  T

They grew great and multiplied like crazy until last year.   I will be digging my herb garden out, layering black mesh and cardboard and filling it in with new soil (which means digging out the problematic rose bed across the sidewalk).

Beautiful Sunrise ~ Fire Powder ~ Thyme

Yesterday's start of the sunrise.  Too beautiful to not take a few photos.  I was taking Romeo out, who was fired up with energy from the frost on the ground.  He wasn't sure what to do about it, ha ha!

First thing I had to do in the morning?  More dishes.  I literally made a mess of them, but after taking down all the laundry off the line, we were all pooped the night prior.  

Our 20 year-old came out for a visit.  I fed her leftover homemade enchiladas, spanish rice and hot taco dip (which she loved).

I finally got the hot peppers ground into fire powder.  I didn't have time the other day with all the other work.  I'm just glad I got my glady bulbs out of the ground, but the potatoes remain.  They may be there all winter depending on our weather. 

Some Christmas presents arrived.  I will thank my husband for buying these for me for an early Christmas present (he he).  Thank you Amazon.😊

Buttermilk waffles and sausage patties are breakfast goodies this week.  Haven't made them in a while.

Homemade Taco Dry Mix was restocked.  Love this stuff.

I sure hope the chimney sweep arrives Saturday, it'll be down to 25°F Friday night and we can't burn 24 hours prior to them coming.  They say we may hit single digits (sigh) next week too.  I'm glad I remember to buy a few new ice scrapers for the vehicles.

( I love my small batch dehydrator.  I filled it to the top)
My indoor thyme plant is doing so well, I snipped some and got it into the dehydrator.  I wish I had some oregano seeds to start an indoor plant for that too.  Both did terrible in the herb garden this year, but happy to stock up on thyme.

Face it.  We all have a cupboard where stuff falls out.  Or you did. 

Before

After (aside from the bowls on the rack on the left of it).  We can now find the lids, ha ha!  I also re-homed the serving trays.  We only use them for get togethers.  Fixed that problem with a set of organizers, under $15.00.  I also re-organized a drawer next to this one.

Update on the hot pepper jelly - Hubby's co-workers raved about it.  It's a keeper recipe and I cannot wait to plant next spring, so the weather Gods better be nice next year.

Tuesday Tidbits

While we are getting things checked off the to-do list, one thing remains - chimney sweep.  They called and canceled on me.  They guy called in sick.  They later called back and rescheduled me for Saturday, so any Saturday afternoon plans are now off the books.

We got new solar lights on our driveway poles have been installed.  I also put two reflector poles near the new trees we planted, so plowing won't destroy them this winter.  I got my garden house unscrewed from the outside spigot, but still need to put it away.  Today, I'm taking down my shower curtain and liner and washing them both.

It was cloudy yesterday, but windy.  Although I am down to two clotheslines (we took the 3rd one down), I crammed it all on including bedding.

While laundry was getting washed and put on the line, I delegated some chores to Hubby and Youngest.  They now have their own to-do list, and it frees me up and less stressed.

Since Plan A didn't pan out, Plan B went into place.  I tackled the hot peppers.

I used a new recipe for the hot pepper jam.  I was a bit concerned it would not set up thick.  We did a taste test.  I put all hot peppers in, with the seeds, including habanero.  It was amazing.  Hot for once.  It wasn't as thick as I would like it, but a nice spread for cream cheese and crackers.

I decided to drop all remaining hot peppers into my food processor and dehydrate them for "fire powder."  It was much faster than slicing to dehydrate.

After doing dishes again, I called it "quits" and brewed me a gallon of home brewed iced tea, and knitted for an hour.