Easy Peasy Cheddar Cheesy ~ Healthy Garlic Cheddar Biscuits ~ Tales of an Accidental Baker

The wind chill was a perfect time to bake a side dish to go with our big pot of chili.  I typically make a buttermilk cornbread, but we have to keep an eye on my husband's diet.

By the way, this morning we woke up to 23°F outside!  Wind chill is 14°F.  Feels like a heat wave after that sub zero weather we've had.

I resurrected this draft (while looking for something else), that I have had for a few years now. I have no idea who gave me the recipe, but there are so many variations of them.

I can't make this stuff up, ha ha!  

First, my "whoopsie" below happened from using my recipe in my recipes, not off of this blog draft (thankfully).

It wasn't until I made them again, that I realized my blog draft said "baking soda" and my home recipe stated "baking powder."  Had I not even found this draft, messed them up again, and looked at both recipes, I would have never noticed until someone else baked them. 

Photo is when I forgot to add the baking powder (baked for 10 minutes), and they were still very good!  I said something to my husband about how they were small-ish.  He said, "I like them that way."

Funny story (again), the very first time I made them I left out the butter, and they were still good.

I made them again, but this time used the correct ingredients.  They are taller, but I still want to make them again, and swap the sour cream with greek yogurt (just to try).

 Call me the experimental cook?  Accidental baker?  Oh boy, ha ha!

They are delicious, and a nice substitute for cornbread if you, or a loved one is watching their sugar/starch. Top them with a bit of butter, and they will not last long in the house.

 Here is the recipe for the "Low Carb" Garlic Cheddar Biscuits I made the other day:

1 1/2 Cups Organic almond flour (superfine)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. baking powder (non-gmo)
1/2 tsp. homemade garlic powder (organic)
1/2 tsp. homemade onion powder (organic)
2 large farm fresh eggs
1/2 cup organic sour cream (or homemade)
4 Tbsp. organic butter, melted
1/2 cup organic shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, set aside.  Mix wet ingredients, then add we to dry and mix well.

I lined my muffin pan with parchment cups for easier removal (which worked great), otherwise use a non-stick spray.

Makes 12 muffins. Batter is slightly thick, but bakes up so nice.

Bake at 450°F for 10-11 minutes.  

Note:  I sometimes freeze organic sour cream, and had thawed it, stirred it and used it in this recipe.  It will be a thinner texture of sour cream, but worked great for baking.

Easy Peasy Cheddar Cheesy ~ Healthy Garlic Cheddar Biscuits ~ Tales of an Accidental Baker © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

My experimental Einkorn flour biscuits did not go to waste.  We enjoyed (or I should say my husband) them with some freshly canned, reduced sugar strawberry jam.  Very good!  I will keep working on this recipe, and make them larger for breakfast sandwiches (although we do prefer a homemade muffin).  Einkorn didn't work out for English muffins. They would deflate so easily when I would move them from the tray to skillet.

During my internet searching, I've been looking at buying a new apron.  I do have a sewing machine, but the drive to sew one on my own is just not there.

(source:  Amazon)

I really like this style of the criss-cross back vs. ties.  Also, called Tessuti style.  I do like the two pockets too.  I see that some Etsy sellers have some online as well.  Just not sure on fabric/color.  Do any of you use aprons of this style?  Do you like them better than the ones that tie?  Does anyone here make and sell them?

I have totally ruined one apron, so it's dubbed solely for tomato patch work.  I have ruined so many shirts, with the green tomato stain, that you get while working around a tomato plant.  It's pathetic.  We have reduced the tomato plants, but the apron will come in handy for that work, and save my shirts from stains.

I did some more internet surfing, watched some Youtube tutorials, hand wrote a pattern, and started a smaller project for my on-the-go project.  I used to keep supplies for hot pads for this project bag, but I have too many of those in storage.  Anyway, I'll be back to show you that soon.  Oh, and it uses yarn I already have too.  Big bonus for me, ha ha!

I had to hand write the pattern, due to our  Microsoft Word on the computer expiring.  Apparently, the license is no good, and we installed it way back in the day when the kids were in high school.  I guess that is on the shopping list, as I use it very often.  Darn it all.  I use it to print labels, tags for crochet/knit packaging, print recipes, write letters, store patterns on the computer, write lists, and whatnot.  I'm cringing at how much it will cost us.  I mean, everything is so high priced right now.

The sun is shining today.  Thankfully, the rain is rotating with some sun as well, but we are definitely having a cooler June.  Actually, I am thankful for that.  We do not have AC in all of the house yet.  

I'll be honest, I am feeling a bit better, but not completely back to normal.   I'm going to take the rest of the week off of blogging.  I know, shocker, right?   I'm lacking interesting/homesteading content right now anyway.  If the weather is good outside today, I may soak in some porch time, but then again pollen is high right now.

About to lose my marbles!

 

The good:  I got rid of my "popcorn" ceiling which was half of the kitchen.

The bad:  Now I have to paint it.  Paint is already purchased.

The good:  Today, three new joists go in and sub floor.  Say a prayer this happens today.

The bad:  In the process of replacing the seal plates, the vibration knocked old insulation out and into a pile to clean up today.  Back when we bought the house, they had a trash compacter.  They knocked out a section of plaster wall to install the electrical line to run the compacter (we ripped the compacter out years ago when it stopped working - bags to use it were expensive anyway, and trash charged us more for pick up).  It's in that area that the insulation all came out.  Guess who has to now remove upper cabinets, remove paneling (from previous owner we painted), then knock plaster out and install insulation, then re-panel the walls or dry wall it?  

I'm about to lose my mind!  My stove is now in front of the dishwasher, so I can't use either, nor even my microwave, and have been left to use the air fryer.  My front porch is buried in old flooring preventing the use of the grill too.  I'm going nuts not being able to cook/bake.

I'm not sure what breakfast will be today either.  My husband joked he bought pop-tarts.  Yeah, no.  I want eggs, meat and whatever and it's clawing at my inner brain right now.  I am hoping the restaurant in our town is open. They have the next best biscuits and gravy to my homemade version.

I guess I'll be putting on muck boots and gloves and taking old flooring to the burn pile.  One garden cart at a time.

One person helping our hired help was to paint my ceiling, but not sure that person will be returning.  Ugh. Hence, it's now possibly my job.

The hired help was to be here at 9am yesterday, and didn't show up until 11am.  The frustrations just keep piling up and up.  

Kitchen-ness and Tidbits

 

Crockpot Queso

8 oz. organic pepper jack cheese, shredded

8 oz. organic Monterery Jack cheese, shredded

8 oz. organic cream cheese

1 4-oz. can organic green chilis, drained

2 herb garden green onions, sliced thin

1/2 cup organic whole milk

1/2 tsp. homemade garlic powder

Stir together all ingredients in a crockpot.  Cook on low for 4 hours or until melted.  Note:  Some organic canned chili's may differ in size, and you could cube the cheese too, but it will take a bit longer (block cheese makes a creamer dip vs. buying already shredded cheese).  Sorry for the bad photo, but my husband was gobbling it up, ha ha!  I do think it needs maybe a jalapeno next time.

Not sure if this is the reason my biscuits are flaky with layers, but it may be.  I watched a cooking show and if you "shred" the butter vs. cube you get a better rise with the biscuits.  I cube, but them use a butter blender to cut the butter chunks up a bit more.

I baked up some whiskey sticks for snacking.  I needed to use up some organic pretzels I had.

Not the best photo, but I finally got around to making biscuits and gravy for dinner one night.  I could not find my recipe for "fried" apples, so I used a new one and love it.  It's a "copycat" recipe and baked in the crockpot.

So thankful for the rain we got.  My garden and flower beds got a nice soaking.  The rainy days have also helped me get caught up with laundry and other indoor tasks.

One dose of Mother Nature's rain and the garlic ramps were one.  Now, if my radishes come up fast, I see some dip in the making.

I hope everyone is doing well.  I seem to see such a lack of blogposts lately.  Our state is back to normal thankfully.  All restrictions have lifted.  It has been so nice to see people's faces and beautiful smiles again.  I hope your weekend is fabulous!

A Mother's Thoughts

Started out yesterday morning with a power outage.  I literally had nothing I could do, but use my neck light and crochet.  I guess I could have read a book too, but anyway it was back on quite soon.

 I was at the computer looking over my emails, and Daughter E came running in and said, "Mom!  Mom!  Come help me open my trunk, I wanna show you something!"

She was so excited about moving out that she had gone shopping and bought herself kitchen cookware, a coffee pot, toaster, silverware and more. 

 

I'm happy to see her so excited, and hope it really works out for her, but deep down this Mother is not ready to see her "leave the nest" to say.

I gifted the younger two girls pastry cloths, a pastry blender and other items last Christmas, in hopes to teach them how to make homemade biscuits, and biscuits and gravy.  So far, it hasn't happened. 

Daughter K is never home, and when she is, she has a friend here (and all that friend does is bring Taco Bell food with her).

Daughter E said, "I can't wait!  You can come to my new apartment and teach me to cook!"  Ha!  Not sure that'll happen, but I can hope it will. 

I know I want to teach her how to make hummus, which will require her to have a food processor.  She loves hummus.

She bought some cute kitchen towels with coffee cup patterns on them.  I told her don't buy too many, I had gifted her hand embroidered kitchen towels with a cat pattern on each one for each day of the week (to put in her Hope Chest).

She even bought a lunch bag and reusable bowls to pack her lunch for work vs. buying take out.

She picked out this yarn for her hot pads (she likes blue and green and it has both, plus white), and I almost have the last piece done to sew them together.

She will need a few end tables, lamps, and at least a small-ish sofa, but we have a kitchen table and chairs for her.  A friend is giving her a microwave (kids today! Just want things quick).  She has plenty of coffee mugs and of course the dishes I packed up for her.  I gave her a radio/clock, and some decor.  She'll be taking a desk that she uses for makeup, a desk for writing, her bed, and dresser.  Sigh, I am just not ready for this, but hope it all works out for her.

I will make her a magnetic clip board and pen for her fridge, but spray paint weather is not here right now.  It dipped down to the low 30's last night.  I may have one all ready to go.  I'll have to check my craft stash.

Speaking of crafting stash, I am still going thru my "stash" and purging it.  I am keeping all my jewelry making, and some other items, but stuff the kids used while in school are going.

I have a stack of large tablecloths that I'm debating over.  I haven't used them in years, but they would be nice to have for camping or for outdoor cookouts with family/friends over.  Hm.  I just don't know yet.

Anyway, we will know for sure after May 3rd, if and when and what apartment she'll move into.  She has an appointment for a walk-thru.

Rain

 We got rain as predicted and I was happy.  I hopefully will have an easier time doing some digging in the garden.  I doubt I'll have much, but it must be done.

Yesterday's dinner was beef stew.  I whipped up some homemade biscuits too.

I still don't have a vehicle, and everyone working here is working long hours.  I had no milk.  I had to make these using powdered milk.  They were still good.

As for a vehicle, my car is supposed to get towed this week or next to get the new engine.  Cross you fingers.  It's been so long since I had the freedom to go out when I want or need to.  Living in the country I have no options but to rely on others as well.

I am back to my to-do list, but first I'll see if we got any good sized beets out there.  Then I'll make up a list of what I need and send it out to everyone with a vehicle in this house.  Just maybe, just maybe someone can bring it home for me.

I hope all is well with everyone.  With the garden slowing down, and my days not so long, it feels strange so I'm trying to allow myself to have handiwork time without guilt.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I had a very relaxing island getaway weekend with my husband.

We came back fully recharged mentally and physically.  I've got my to-do list written out and ready to take on the day.

The island has a huge wild flower area and you can't see from the photo, but it is loaded with mullein.  I could not believe how much was in this area.

Grab a cup of your favorite java.  Sorry, but this post is a bit of a long one.  Taking a few days off gives me some things to talk about today.

Before we left I got 3# of tomatoes in the freezer, and I'm drying all the skins for tomato powder.

We are still getting a few nice sized green bell peppers from the garden.  I haven't yanked the plants yet, and with rain coming, I'm leaving them in for now.  It's been a blessing to get so many this year.

I finally got the garlic harvest down from hanging and will be planting the larger ones today for my fall planting.  These will be planted in grow pots.

We won't run out of hot peppers this winter.  It'll be nice to have on hand for soups, chili, pizza toppings, all sorts of casseroles, breakfast and whatnot.

I also got locked in on our pre-pay propane rate before winter is here.  Glad I remembered to do it.

If you asked for the home canned ketchup recipe I updated my last post with the link, where it is on my blog.

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

The weather outside is . . .

The rain has now shifted from Tue/Wed to today.  So....with help of a daughter, and my husband, we picked all my black beans and we fall planted 52 cloves of garlic.  Although, I do need to plant more, but will need to buy it if I can find it so I have enough for next year's homemade garlic powder, minced garlic and so forth.  I use a lot of it with my canning recipes.  I also picked 3 more green bell peppers and one lonely cucumber.

Anyway, back to the weather, rain is 90% today, 78°F/48°F.

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Well, ready to take on the day, but a certain cat thought I needed to start my day at 3:30am.  He's not even my cat.  Sigh.

On my mind . . .

My to-do list.  I already checked off two for today that we did yesterday, so that makes my mind rest a bit.  I'm not looking forward to the shift my husband is working, as that puts all the garden work on me alone this week (one day at a time).

On the breakfast plate . . .

Bacon, Egg and Potato Casserole, Coffee

On my reading pile . . .

Seed catalogs.

On my TV . . .

We signed up for beast TV, so now with a box we can get all sorts of channels.  Hubby watched his favorite football team play last night and he's a happy man.

On the menu . . .

-beef stew, homemade biscuits

-homemade biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes

-roast, potatoes, onions and carrots

-possibly a cake or sweet item on the menu this week.

On the camera. . .

Picture of the moon I took last Friday night.  Strangest shape I have ever seen, but neat to see.

Looking around the house . . .

Well, the tomatoes are dwindling down, but at least the dishes were washed before I got home after our weekend away.  Romeo needs his toys restocked so one of these day I'll get that done.  He's acting up lately.

New recipe I tried last week or one I want to try . . .

Kahlua Krisipe Treats using homemade Kahlua.  I'll be test tasting these at dinner.

To relax this week I will . . .

Crochet. Maybe work on Christmas tree ornaments.

Something to share . . .

On my prayer list . . .

This country (FL and Idaho have lifted all restrictions, and FL said they would never shut down again and banned fines for people not wearing masks), my youngest daughter, our family, and any personal requests.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Sunday's rain that was predicted all day changed on us.  Thankful for that, as we had time in the morning to plant more flowers.  

(just a few snippets of our work)

We had 4 bags of mulch leftover from last year, but we still need to go get a truck load of it to finish the flower beds and add some pine mulch to my herb garden.  We worked the good part of the day beautifying the front of the house.  I'm debating on dropping some zinnia seeds today or not.  They keep saying torrential rain, but we are not getting it and so far completely wrong on when we are getting any and how much.

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

The weather . . . 

99% humidity, 73/59°F, Thunderstorms

How I'm feeling this morning . . . 

Ready to get back to a regular work out schedule.  With Hubby's crew off two weeks and on two weeks, I've been off track.

On my mind . . .

Just my to-do list, and making preparations for days to work more on the garden.

On my breakfast plate . . .

Sweet Potato/Black Bean Frittata

On my reading pile . . .

Call of the Wild

On my TV . . .

Re-watching The Ranch

On the menu this week . . .

-Spaghetti and meatballs, homegrown asparagus, homemade coconut flour garlic muffins

-Biscuits and gravy, potatoes, eggs (didn't make this last week)

-Turkey breast (crock pot), 

-4 beans and sausage (crock pot)

-maybe sweet potato and black bean chili

From the camera . . . 

Looking around the house . . .

There is a lot to clean up since we devoted most of our time to anything outdoors (veggie garden, flower beds, etc.)  There is a lot on the to-do list today. . . putting it here to stay on track this week.

-make a breakfast dish

-laundry

-dishes

-master bath

-sweep/mop

-vacuum

-dust

-tidy office area/pay bills

-clean windows

-clean up utility room now that the chicks are in the barn

-water plants

-re-pot lettuce starts

-drain Four Thieves Vinegar

-freeze bell peppers, freeze cauliflower

-make homemade foaming hand soap

-call vet (other two dogs need shots)

-make a list for the garden center

-restock freezer pizza dough and pie crust crumbles

-things need made, lip balm, and many other needs (homemade)

Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . . 

Mucking the coop.  If the weather is good, it'll be getting a clean sweep from winter pile up.  

To relax this week I will . . .

Journal, maybe handiwork.  I have Christmas tree ornaments  that need finished up as well.

On my prayer list . . .

My friend's eyesight, for this virus to go away, and personal requests.

Devotional/Bible Verse . . .

Happy Homemaker Monday

Quarantine day 29.

Last Saturday I started cleaning out the herb garden, and took a nice motorcycle ride to get dinner with friends (with 6 foot distance).  It's the only way to get a ride in right now with everything else closed.

I'm seeing re-seeded parsley plants popping up already. My green onion is looking much better this year than last year as well.  No asparagus out in the vegetable garden yet.  My chives are looking great too.

Checked off the to-do list - knock down wasp nests.  This one was about 8 inches across.  Hubby also cleaned 80% of the gutters as well.

My garden helper.  She loves (loves) to be outside, especially in the sun.  She is one dog that behaves without a fence.

Sunday the weather was not that good.  It rained, was cooler and rained again.  I worked in the herb garden and the flower beds in between the rain (light rain).  I made a batch of homemade dry Italian dressing mix.  My indoor basil plant is doing so well, I harvested some and got 3 trays of it dehydrated in my smaller dehydrator (I store the dried leaves whole).

The kids are helping out.  One helped me in the herb garden, the other did dishes and swept the kitchen.  So thankful for all their help.

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


The weather outside is . . .
Cold, and severe wind warnings.


How I am feeling this morning . . . 
Rested physically - slept in until 8am.


On my mind . . .
A lot.  So many reports with misleading numbers, how will we all function if this continues.....just emotionally stressed now with the death of another person we know.


On the breakfast plate . . .

Cheddar and Chili Egg Casserole (Rachel Ray)



On my reading pile . . .

On the TV . . .
Mostly the Governor briefing at 2pm.  In the evening it's whatever we find interesting.


On the menu this week . . .
-biscuits/sausage gravy, fried potatoes, eggs (no apples this time)
-tuna and noodle, mashed potatoes, corn
-chili, cornbread
-not sure about the rest yet.


From the camera . . .

Looking around the house . . .
Not much we can do on the list inside, besides work on the pellet stove.  Can't paint - too cold to open windows, can't shampoo carpets either, can't do anything outside today, maybe Hubby can purge his t-shirts.  Can't purge the garage - everything is closed including the dump.  If we can do a pick up order for the fencing or even the new bathroom shower and toilet, we may do that this week (one or the other).



Looking forward to . . .

Planting the garden.

To relax this week I will . . .
Watch movies and crochet.


On  my prayer list . . .
Our family friend's parents have both passed, so she and her family are in our prayers first thing this morning.  My Mom, our family, extended family, this country, our President and so many others.

Bible Verse . . .

Philippians 4:6 New International Version (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.