Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.  Although I posted already today (go back one post to catch up on), I need to stay on track, and making a list will help.

On the breakfast plate. . .

Leftover fried potatoes, gravy with homemade sausage, homemade biscuits and home raised eggs (photo from yesterday).  Homemade yogurt will be my lunch with this lumber-jack breakfast (again).


Right now I am . . .
Heading out to do hen chores and empty ash bucket.


The weather outside . . .
Wow, warmer and in the lower 40's.  Although cloudy, the warmer temps are much welcomed.



Looking around the house . . . 
 I see I need to tidy up and wash a few tablecloths.



On today's to-do list . . .in no particular order
-exercise
-hen chores
-laundry washed, bedding etc. and on the line
-empty ash bucket
-bathroom 
-bake cookies
-make brittle
-fetch mail
-check library returns
-water plants
-walk dogs
-vacuum, sweep
-dinner prep
-refill my nettle hair rinse
-refill ice cub trays
-bring in firewood
-write
-fold towels and put them away
-dry and put away washed dishes



Currently reading . . .
 Not reading anything currently - busy, busy, busy.


On the TV. . . 
 Library movies


On the menu this week . . .
I have no idea, going on a whim this week.


If I have a few minutes to myself, I will . . .
Crochet.


Looking forward to this week . . .
 Hm.  I guess I would have to say baking Christmas treats.


Favorite photo from my camera . . .

Devotionals, Scriptures, Key Verses, Quotes. . .

1 Corinthians 13:4-7New International Version (NIV)

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

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

Low Provisions

I have to admit, that when we are low on pantry supplies, low on food in the freezer, accompanied by low finances, I can get depressed.  However, I love to be creative in the kitchen, and make new recipes with whatever we have on hand.  I also find inspiration from other sources.

Our family loves to watch Little House episodes, and it often reminds me to get creative.  We recently watched the episode where they are in an abandoned house in a snow storm, and are about to shoot their horse for food.  Thankfully, an Indian comes to their rescue.

This week we are out of canola oil, about out of flour, sugar, brown sugar and milk.  I decided to put some of the remaining flour into homemade biscuits, and make homemade gravy with the marked down sausage I had in the freezer.  Thanks to the chickens we'll enjoy eggs too.  Because I am aiming to get away from processed foods, I chose to make an cake from scratch, using canned fruit.  I can't wait to can pears, apples, and other fruits next year.  I will find so many ways to cook with them.

Thankfully, the good Lord urged me to buy a few extra pounds of butter when it was on sale for $1.50/lb.  Those had gone in the freezer, and have helped with baking biscuits and making lunch packings.

Weekend Updates

Youngest Daughter had her Halloween party.  She even had candles that drip "blood."  Orange lights were up, blinking light candles going, scary movies playing etc.  With all the company over, and another daughter here for a visit, Mia got a case of the "zommies."  Every rug was turned up, ha ha!  I wish I got it filmed for her Mom.  So funny.

Saturday morning we woke up to cold, rainy, and windy weather.  Hubby had to work all weekend, so I couldn't even do the major deep cleaning projects (need the extra muscle to move stuff).  Oh darn (ha ha!).

Daughter had one friend sleepover, and Hubby was working his double shift, so I whipped up some larger homemade biscuits and cooked some homemade sausage patties for egg/sausage biscuit breakfast sandwiches.  I used my largest biscuit cutter and it worked great.  I just have to make the patties thinner next time.  Yum!  I even saved some for Hubby.

So....

Had a long talk with the ladies and gent first thing, and told them if they don't start giving me some eggs they're gonna be in the stew pot soon.  Then again, they do deserve a night break after all that work this year.

I then had to fetch wood from the barn, one arm-load at a time.  All the wood on the porch was wet.  The wind blew the rain under the roof and "poof" saturated the wood.  Oh well, I got extra steps on my fitbit.

I fired up "Big Red" and drove to the library and did a major book drop off, and majorly big pick up.  Daughter picked out some movies for the weekend.  Free movies are the best kind of movies you can get.  We love supporting our little library too, and love to see me (ha ha!).  Hubby loves it, because I am not filling the house with purchased books too, however I do love my own little stash and need some crochet and knitting books yet.

I lugged 3 full tote bags inside to return, and only took one filled bag home this time.  On the way in, I saw a huge rack of free magazines.  On the way out a lady was standing in front of it (small enclosed entrance-way), so not wanting to stand around and wait, I talked myself into walking right out the door.

I baked sorghum cookies, giving us a dose of iron, copper, vitamin B-6, magnesium, potassium etc.  The sorghum I buy is locally grown and sold at an apple orchard we get some supplies from (not apples, they spray).  Anyway, they were delicious.  I'll bake them one minute longer next time.  These do not taste like gingersnaps.  Almost like a sugar cookie maybe, but no strong molasses flavor either.

I cut strips of netting to embark on restocking the most requested item I sell - dish scrubbies.  Each one takes 20 yards of netting (cut into a couple of strips) to crochet.  I'm all out of blue, so these are the colors getting made.  Next requested item is knitted dishcloths, then the pot holders.

Sunday the dogs woke me up at 3:30am.  I checked all the perimeters and saw nothing, but 20 minutes later I heard a 4-wheeler of some sort pull out of the field and ride past the house.  The temperature was about the same - 38°F and more rain.  No wind in the morning though, so that was nice.  The sun was even out in the morning hours.

Hubby slept most of the morning, as he worked the graveyard shift all night.  Mia missed him so much she slept at the bedroom door until he woke up.  

Today it's a warmer 40°F thankfully. 

Homemade Biscuit Recipe and other Random Chit Chat

I was asked about how I get my layers in my homemade biscuits.  Click "Here" for the recipe on my blog.  I hand cut the butter into the flour.  I also don't work the dough to much, and when I cut them, I roll them out with a rolling pin, but the least amount of rolling I have to do.  Hope that helps.

I got another small batch of strawberry jam canned.  I am tall, so I can a batch daily until the strawberries are gone.  That's a lot of standing to do.

First I have to wash them all, and hull them.

Then I have to cut them up and crush them.  Then can the jam.  It's a process for sure. Our favorite produce stand has them now, but want $5/qt.  I paid $30 for a flat at the other source, and that comes down to $3.75/qt.  I did not have one bad strawberry in the last 4 qts I canned either.  When I buy the other kind, I get about 3-5 bad strawberries in each qt.  I may stick with this new source this year.

Super excited to see my soap order arrived, and it came with a sample of citronella!  Thank you Debby at Ole Lake Farm!  You saved the day!   I still can't find anyone local with raw goat's milk, and our youngest daughter can't use anything but goat's milk soap.  They all smell so good too!

Snow ~ Cold Temps ~ Random Tidbits

Saturday Hubby and I tackled the 2nd felled tree we left sit (bad decision).  It was frozen to the ground, but we managed to free up enough to fill the back of the pick up.

The only downside, I woke up Sunday with a rash on the backs of my calves, and I can't figure out if those limbs had poison ivy or not.  I was covered up fairly good, so I hope it's not.  I had jeans, work boots, long carhartts, a carhartt coat, short cowl, hat, work gloves etc.  The best I figure, it that it's a "heat" rash from all those layers.  I don't have any poison ivy cream, so I first tried chickweed salve.  It took the itch out, but didn't seem to help dry it up.  Today, I applied a heavy layer of calendula cream on.  Time will tell.

I don't give up that easy either.  I have back up ideas in line if that cream doesn't do anything - dandelion poultices, organic aloe vera gel, etc.

Tuesday Tidbits

Nothing more creepier than hearing something crunch through the tree line, while hanging laundry out at 8:30am.

Meal ideas come to me and the oddest times.  While washing the morning dishes yesterday I decided dinner would be Sloppy Charlies (organic ground beef and homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup), corn and zucchini saute and roasted brussel sprouts.

Speaking of the weekly menu, here's what else I came up with so far:

Breakfast (or dinner):  Homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, fried potatoes and scrambled eggs

Dinners:
-Creamy mac n' cheese, sweet potato hash browns, BBQ green beans with bacon, Chicken with home canned hot pepper mustard sauce, quinoa, broccoli, a spinach/parsley pesto pasta....still working on it....

Even though I wrote out a list for Sunday errands, I realized I forgot to buy borax and washing soda.  Urgh.  So cleaning the bathroom was put on halt until today.

Breakfast today is a sweet potato (thank you Garden Gods), and black bean frittata.

Hunter's Moon

In case you missed the Hunter's Moon Wednesday, here you go.  We woke up to 33°F yesterday morning.

Here is the moon this morning.  We woke up to a chilly 28°F.  I got up at 5:30am to take the dogs out and stoke the fire.  Typically, I put Mia on a leash and let Jesse go do his business within sight of our pole light.  However, after I called for him, a group of coyotes moved through, and they were close.  Loud too.  I had to yell "treaty" to get him running inside.  I will be taking him on a leash now when it's dark.  They were across the street somewhere, and the corn is still up there.  My hands were literally shaking, they were that close.  Coyotes were always an issue when we had kid goats.  Thankfully, they are not around our area as much as other areas.  This is the second time we've heard them this year.

I only worked outdoors yesterday for about 30 minutes yesterday - too cold.  I can't function pulling weeds etc with too many layers on.  This week is going to be interesting.  Rain is in the forecast, so I'm yanking weeds and dead plants as fast as I can.  I'm not sure when I'll be out there today.  It'll have to warm up first.

Last night I made breakfast for dinner - homemade sausage in sausage gravy, over homemade biscuits, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes.  By the way, I made the eggs first, cooking them almost done.  I then put them in a crock pot on low while I cooked everything else.  It worked great and freed up my stove top.

Mia literally put her bone in my lap yesterday, while crocheting, ha ha ha!  Funny dog.  However, she goes after cats.  Urgh.

Excerpts from a Journal Junkie

from the craft journal . . .
     taught myself to knit, and taught two of the girls.  Worked more in my "possibilities" journal, and finished a DIY craft article.

from the garden journal . . .

     beets and swiss chard seeds have sprouted.  I can't believe the size of my heirloom runner beans.  I can't wait to see them blossom.

from the homestead journal . . .

    the new chickens are still not getting along with the reds.  They mind their own business while free ranging, but fight in the coop at night.   Orion's horn is growing in downwards, and we may have to de-horn him.  
   taught the younger two girls how to make homemade biscuits, and each made their own.
   made a batch of homemade tick repellant for the dogs.

from the gratitude journal . . .

   ~today I am thankful for the cooler weather
   ~today I am thankful I bought knitting needles a few years at a cheap price
   ~today I am thankful for my bike
   ~today I am thankful the bountiful lettuce in the garden

from the exercise journal . . . 

   rode two bike rides yesterday, totaling about 12-13 miles, rode another 4 this morning.

Baking Biscuits

I know I'm definitely a Pioneer Woman as Heart today.  I woke up early, donned my Farmgirl apron, and whipped up homemade biscuits and gravy.  It just felt natural.  I haven't made them in years.  I am sure the fact that the kids are out of school makes a difference in my morning patience.

Now that I am getting back into baking our breads myself, it feels pretty good.  I love to bake, and the weather is much better today. 

The farm repairs continue.  Today it's a water spigot.  When we bought this farm house, it did not have any outside water spigots on it.  My husband installed one, but it had a 1/2 turn plastic handle.  Unfortunately, someone who was helping us with the septic last year, cranked on it too hard, breaking it.  


During the last week, when I needed to water the garden, it would not shut off.  Even if we shut off the valves under the sink.  I had to keep turning off the well, and back on when needed.  Otherwise we'd be paying a high electric bill and lose a lot of water from the well.  


The rain we received yesterday was a huge blessing.  I was able to complete many indoor projects, including a recycled craft.  I hope to submit it to a magazine next week.  


I was also able to make a few more garden markers.

These are fun to make, and we add new ones each year.  These are made by using cut pieces of wire hangers and pushed through two holes at the top.  These slide easily in to the ground, and are reused year after year.

The Porch Speaks ~ Baking Bread and other Tidbits

I thought I would take a few photos of this year's newest porch signs.  Hubby found a new hobby, ha ha!  Looks like I need to brush down spider webs too.

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.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
My kitchen has been pretty busy lately.   Hubby had to work 10 hours on Saturday and 12 hours on Father's Day, so his "dinner" was made Saturday night for him.  The kids seriously need to learn to cook.  

I made homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes.  English muffins on the side with home canned strawberry margarita jam.  Already sold 2 jars of the jam too, although selling any more is halted.  The rain is halting u-pick farms from operating.  Unless I can get another flat of strawberries, the remaining will be for just us.

I also made whiskey butterscotch sauce and a half batch of flourless brownies - Family Circle, recipe is also online (we still have strawberry pie to eat).  I was in my pj's by 5pm.  I was just whipped from canning, baking and cooking.



The weather outside is . . .

(view off the porch on Sunday)

Foggy, 61°F, humidity 91%, dreary, cloudy, and only a 25% chance of rain today.


On my reading pile . . .

Movies or shows I watched over the weekend . . .

On the menu for this week . . .
Tequila-Lime and onion sandwiches, fireball grilled pineapple
Pulled pork sandwiches, steamed broccoli and corn on the cob
Pesto pasta, beets
Fried chicken, mac n' cheese, mashed tades
Leftovers
Flourless brownies, whiskey butterscotch sauce
Make pie crust crumbles for the freezer


On the to-do list . . .
Laundry
Master bath
Sweep and mop kitchen
Can more reduced sugar strawberry jam
Freeze strawberries
Muck coop
Scrub chicken's watering unit
Cut garlic scapes (hoping for some Garlic scape-Radish Spread soon)
Trip to the library
Make Doc appt. for Youngest (school required vaccine - ugh)


What I am creating . . .
Christmas ornaments, embroidered towel, scrubbies, a knitted dishcloth and more.  More photos to come soon.



Looking forward to . . . 
A dry day and a long motorcycle ride.  A camping trip.  An island trip.  


Looking around the house . . .
I have drying racks everywhere.  Darn rain.



From the camera . . .

I canned more strawberry jam - reduced sugar. Definitely not my favorite jam to can - so much chopping and crushing involved.


One of my simple pleasures . . .
Camping.  Another one of our "sanity savers" and we haven't had one trip this year due to Hubby's long work hours and heavy rainfall.



Prayers . . .
Our entire state, where rain has devastated growing season, 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 . . .