Using Apples and Kitchen-ness ~ Soup for the Sick ~ Hot Peppers

I tried a new apple oatmeal breakfast dish to change up breakfast.  It's called Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal, and if you have canned applesauce from last year you need to eat up, this recipe is for you.   I used one apple from our trees as well. The recipe is online with "The Real Food Dietitians" and honestly, I have no idea how I found it.  It has 1/4 cup maple syrup/honey in it, but in moderation, it did not bother my husband's sugar levels.

I made these banana muffins a second time.  I noticed the recipe does not call for salt, but calls for baking powder.  I added 1/4 tsp. salt this time.  They contain organic quick steel cut oats and Einkorn flour, and no sugar/sweeteners.

 

Homemade Granola.  I think I used every measuring cup and spoon I own ha ha!

I used one of our apples to make a mayo free slaw salad.  It was pretty good too.  Simply juice from a lemon, some olive oil and salt.  I added chives from the herb garden.   It was 1/4th of a cabbage, one carrot, one apple, and some chives from the herb garden.

I was prepared to whip up a mayo free dressing, if needed, but we like it this way.  Just something different to try, and healthy.

Meals were adjusted again, off the meal plan.  I had some barley that needed used up, so I ended up making a vegetable barley soup.  My husband was still not feeling well.  I roasted a rutabaga and added it to the soup.

I went out to pick jalapenos for our next meal this week, and it was slim pickin's.  Not much.  I was hoping for a round of "fire powder to end the season, but there is not much out there.  

We are to have a few cooler days, but we warm back up to the 80's soon, so I'm am hopeful, but I guess we'll see.  I did not check the bell peppers, but will today unless it's raining.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and words regarding my husband being sick.  He came home with a runny nose.  I brewed up a few cups of hot yarrow tea, and he was feeling much better this morning.

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. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Beautiful sunrise this morning.

I had to frog the second cardigan sleeve.  Not sure what is wrong with my brain, because I know how to crochet.   I will put it off for another day and get back to it.  

An odd sighting on Sunday - a man jogging down the country highway with a USA flag.  A car was behind him with hazard lights on, but I couldn't read what was on the side of the car.  I'll admit, I lifted my spirits to see him doing that.  I would have had a photo if I had my phone in my hand, but I had a cup of coffee in my hand instead.

Daughter E came out for a visit.  That was a blessing, considering my husband and Daughter K were both working.  She took more of her belongings, and we chatted for a while.

I called the General Store, where I may be selling one of my items.  They have not yet emailed or called me back.  I know they are busy with fell festival stuff, so I may need to call again this week.  Or I may stop in with the items.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

I'll link up after she posts this morning.

The weather . . .

86°/65° F, sunny

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Exhausted, but mostly because my husband worked all weekend, so I worked at the house.  Not having a weekend to sleep in is exhausting.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Frittata, coffee.   Lots of coffee.

On my reading pile . . .

Nothing, again oddly

On today's to-do list . . .

-laundry

-boil pinto beans for bean dip and freeze most of it

-pick peppers from the garden

-freeze more hot peppers

On my tv . . .

Whatever we find interesting on Netflix

On the menu this week . . .

-Leftover Chicken Spaghetti

-Baked walleye, veggie

-honestly, have no idea yet, ha ha!

From the camera . . .

The rain gave us more hot peppers.  Maybe fire powder for Christmas gifting?  I really don't want to can, but I may be canning hot pepper mustard sauce.  I guess canning first.  There won't be any family holiday gatherings again this year.

Looking around the house . . .

My kitchen, for once, is beautifully cleaned, tidy and a fresh breath of air.

To relax I will . . .

Crochet

Something I want to share . . .

Look what I made!  Oatmeal/vanilla soap.  I can add soap making to my craft show days next year.  I'm so excited I tried a kit first.  I think the smaller bars will be great for people who rent out homes for Airbnb or similar.  Question.  What is the best source to buy a goat's milk soap base?  I found some on Amazon, but wondered if there is a lower priced base elsewhere?  

New Recipe I tried or one I want to try. . .

I've printed this out for the next time I need it. Thought I would share.

I also tried a homemade "fritos" recipe.  I adapted organic ingredients.

I want to try a smashed brussel sprout recipe soon too.

Devotional, Inspirational, prayer list or Bible verse . . .

Husband's sister Patty (covid), Mom (she's getting a bit better)

Puppy Mayhem ~ Random Tidbits

Zuri had just had play time with the other pups and was finally going down for a nap.  I had to wait to get photos. All of the photos I tried to take earlier, were all blurry.  Even this photo is sort of blurry.  They were zipping around the house playing.  The don't sit still unless they are soundly sleeping.

Kitchen-ness

 I picked up some local orchard apples, so I baked us an apple pie.  Not the healthiest way to start the new year, but I did.

I freeze my pie crust crumbles, so all I have to do is add the ice water and roll the dough (recipe is online with King Flour's website).

The recipe is from a very old book of mine - Farm Journal's Complete Pie Book, printed in 1965.  I haven't bake an apple pie in a long, long time.  I used to can apple pie filling when all the kids still lived here.  The pie was not a pretty thing, but tasted okay.  I have only baked Dutch apple pies if I remember correctly.  I will bake it again, but not too soon, and tweak the recipe. 

I also realized, I only have one pie cookbook on my homesteading bookshelf.  Do you have a favorite pie recipe book that you use?  Do you have a good old fashioned apple pie recipe?

I have gotten tired of breakfast sausage and bacon lately, so I switched things up, dug into the freezer, and baked us a breakfast pie. I tossed this together with eggs, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, and a few more ingredients.  There are no potatoes in this, so it's healthy, and we won't be eating it for 3 days, like our scramble breakfast.  We are due for some greens on our breakfast soon too.

As you can see, the news around here is a bit boring.  The rain left us, but the colder air is with us.  

It doesn't look like much, but I finally got around to using some thawed spaghetti squash.  If you follow my blog, I roasted all of our garden spaghetti squash and froze it.  I tested it out with a combination of healthy ingredients.  I call it chicken spaghetti.

What's in it?  When it's sort of like the recipes I found online for using an instant pot (don't have one), but I baked it in the oven.  If you google for recipes, you will find many recipes to give you ideas.

I cooked the chicken the day prior in my crock pot, and shredded it.  I thawed 4 cups of frozen spaghetti squash, added tomatoes, cooked onion and garlic, seasoned it all, added some sliced bunching onions from the herb garden, tossed in some cheeses and baked it.  

It turned out very good, although, we both were him-hawing on adding some flavor to it.  Maybe some jalapenos, possibly some "fire powder" or even homemade taco or fajita seasoning.   I may add some black olives too next time.

I have written it all down, to also tweak, but we are very happy with the thawed spaghetti squash in this vs. pasta.  I am also happy with the thawed spaghetti squash.  I didn't have a lot of liquid in it, as I drained it prior to freezing it.  Overall, happy I froze it the spaghetti squash.

Kitchen-ness © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

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).

All things random. . .

I thought I had a plan yesterday, but when I went to do my laundry, I found this.

I scraped the barrel for one load of laundry.  And don't you hate it when you get all the laundry into the washing machine only to walk down the hall (or where ever) and find one long lost sock that fell out of the dirty clothes pile you were carrying?  Happens to me every time, ha ha!

I am lucky to have one batch of unscented goat's milk soap.  Our daughter made it just before we re-homed her goats last summer.

This and That

I am finally back to the stove for making a good and healthy breakfast.  Swelling in my foot and leg has gone down enough to stand a bit longer.

It's another scramble this week, but I haven't made a breakfast in over 2 weeks now - eggs, potatoes, onion, bacon, zucchini, dandelion greens, fire powder and garlic.

I was almost full swing back into my routine - sorted mail, washed, dried and put away a mound of dirty dishes, ran the dishwasher, washed a load of towels and hung them on the line, watched the pup, spritzed my sprouts (which are already sprouting, emptied trash, washed more clothes and put them on drying racks, and crocheted.  I have an order for a set of pot holders and another order for dish scrubbies.  Nylon netting was cut, but not much.  

I also got around to making crock pot beef burgundy, noodles and mashed potatoes and corn.  Thankful for a good meal and thankful I can pack a lunch for the Hubster (as well as breakfast).  A bit of "normal" has been reinstated.

No call from the surgeon just yet. Praying they call soon.

The totaled car has been hauled away thankfully.  

Hubby said we are having a pepper picking day this weekend.  He said we do have peppers.  I guess I need to check my empty jar supply today.

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.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Just 2 days after finding out we could set up meals on wheels for my Mom, the newspaper printed an article about food shortages and "problems" getting meals to seniors.  I sighed.  Just when we found a solution, the darn covid issues stomped them.  The article mentioned bulk food prices for them went 4 times higher than in 2019. They are making adjustments.

Our local schools are experiencing the same food shortages, and now they lack enough bus drivers due to covid and sick drivers.  They had an emergency meeting.  They may have to go back to in-home schooling again.  Currently, they are asking parents to share rides.  Some parents are not able to do this.  We gave family and friends with kids in that school system.

My husband worked all weekend.  We were up early drinking coffee and I realized I need to get the garden hoses off the house and put into storage.  It also meant I needed to pull the beets and carrots (need the hose to wash the dirt off as we have a septic and cannot run dirt down our sink).

I got that done, and realized there was more to do outside than I thought.  Beets did not do well this year.

We got a good chuckle with Daughter E last night.  Ha ha! She called and said she didn't know how to turn the heat on in her apartment.  We had her send photos and she didn't know what a furnace was.  So funny.  Her heat is on though.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

I will link up later when she posts.  I'm an early bird.

The weather . . .

62°F/45° Rain all day

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Tired.  We both didn't get to sleep in over the weekend.  

On my mind . . .

The kitchen floor project.  I hope our crew is all healthy when we finally set the date.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Sausage, potato, eggs, swiss chard, bell pepper, and jalapeno breakfast burrito, organic coffee

Right now I am . . .

Posting this, then jumping in the shower to get my "power shower" and get this day started.

On my reading pile . . .

Honestly, I haven't been reading anything lately.  I need to get back with a good book.

On today's to-do list . . .
-freeze bell peppers and more hot peppers

-make more fire powder
-laundry, and get it on the drying racks

-sweep and mop

-pull bedding from the camper and start winterizing it

-take more totes upstairs

-change light bulbs

-dishes, dry and put them away

On the TV. . .

You Bet Your Life (Jay Leno) Love this new show.  The show makes me laugh and I have fun guessing the answers.  Cooking shows when they are on.

On the menu this week . . .
-Grilled chicken kabobs, baked smashed brussel sprouts

-pumpkin/ricotta stuffed shells, crock pot carrots

-Cheese sandwiches, home canned tomato/basil soup

-Turkey, carrots

From the camera . . .

I picked a lot more hot peppers than I thought. 

Looking around the house . . .

Looks like I need to buy a few storage totes.  I washed up the towels from the camper, and some hot pads.  I will store that, and the linens in the house this year.

New recipe I tried last week . . .

I tried a baked donut recipe.  It was good.   We are going to try a new grilled chicken kabob recipe this week.  I also have a new crock pot recipe with chicken to try.

To relax this week, I will . . .

Crochet

Something I want to share . . .

Fun fact I learned:  you can eat the tops (pesto, sauces etc) and they have more vitamin C than the root itself.

On my prayer list . . .

Mom (heart health issues), Mike's family (passed away from a car/semi accident), the world, the USA

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.