Pioneer Woman at Heart

We've been watching a family of 4 bald eagles out in a field by our homestead.  As long as the leave my barn cats and chickens alone, we are enjoying watching them. I made homemade seasoned salt for a recipe I needed it for yesterday.  It was better than store bought seasoned salt. I used my homemade onion powder and garlic powder to make it too. Homemade Seasoned Salt 2 Tbsp. salt 2 tsp. sugar 1/2 tsp. organic paprika 1/4 tsp. organic turmeric 1/4 tsp. homemade organic onion powder 1/4 tsp. homemade organic garlic powder 1/4 tsp. organic non-gmo corn starch Mix and use in any recipe.  

I have tried a few new recipes, but not sweet treats.  I do have one of those sweet treat recipes to try, but I have just not had the mojo, nor the time to make it.  🎄🎅🤶 Here is what I did make to try. . . Crockpot  Scalloped Potatoes {Slow Cooker recipe from Mennonite Girls Can Cook } I am always looking for ways to make sides without the oven, due to space constraints on some holidays (or I used to).  I gave this recipe a whirl, and yes, you can use homemade condensed mushroom soup for a richer flavor (because it's made with shallots and fresh mushrooms with butter). It is a much easier way to take potatoes to a get together, but I also consider if there will be enough outlets to keep the crock pot warm too.   One year I took a sweet potato dish (in a baking dish), and it was left in the oven during the entire meal, so I went home with the entire dish. Anyway, back to the potatoes.... Slice those bad boys up with a mandolin, as well as the onions, and...

Finished this Christmas book and matching book blanket granny square.  It's about the 6th of 16-18 books of a box I bought at an antique store very early in the year.  I'll attach it to the blanket soon. Two of the kiddos who received the 24 day advent gift bags, have been in touch, and so far have really enjoyed them (and found it fun and love the "useable" theme I tried to adhere to).  One kiddo I have not heard one iota from.  Not even a thank you.  One loved the hand crocheted dust cloth (as it is reusable and saves them money), while one was ecstatic about the tiny sample jam jars we included.   The Christmas Spice Extract I "brewed" up was ready to strain and bottle.  Just a few lucky ones will be receiving it to try this Christmas season.  I was able to bottle this up early December, but have not tried it yet. The had-it-on-the-plan, but did not happen.  Yet. Homemade Seasoned Salt for another quick and easy gift idea. My Mom loved th...

From the Homesteading Journal . . . Garlic was planted this weekend.  It will be harvested next spring. The heat wave we had is over, and they are calling for much cooler weather.  I also made homemade seasoned salt. I used my homemade garlic and onion powder to make it.  It's the first time making it, so I am comparing it to the smell and taste of Lawry's from the store. Recipe I used:

New salad recipe tried.  A white bean salad with garden cherry tomatoes and some chopped Red Russian kale.  There are many recipes for this type of recipe. I believe we added garden parsley and some feta cheese.  I am using our chive infused vinegars for many dressings as well.  I honestly cannot recall which recipe we actually used, but  there are many Mediterranean seasoned recipes online for this. New salad recipe tried.  I did not use every single ingredient, but pretty close.  We loved this just as I made it too, but next time we may just try adding avocado to it.  I used organic quinoa, our homegrown cucumbers, basil and green onions, local sweet corn, and the dressing was made with my home canned Blueberry-Basil Vinegar (instead of the sherry vinegar the recipe called for).  I sprinkled extra sunflower seeds on top of our salads, and we really liked it.  I also used one clove of freshly minced garlic in the dressing. The recipe is...

  New Sweet Tasty Treat!  New Recipe Tried. Pomegranate-Vanilla Cashews. These would be great for simply gifting at Christmas, to take and add to your charcuterie board, a side to go with a cheese appetizer, etc.  They are addicting, so be careful, ha ha!  They would be tasty as an ice cream topper too, if you do a sundae bar for a gathering or for own ice cream treat. 3 cups of raw (unroasted, unsalted) cashews came out to about 1 pound (16 ounces) of cashews.   One note:  I think I would use a slotted spoon to spoon it all out onto the parchment paper, vs. dump the entire mix onto it. Here is why. Where the extra coating puddled, the cashews stuck a lot more to the parchment, and although they are also still on the crunchy side, I felt the pieces that sat and baked in the extra coating came out more soft and sticky.  To get all the pieces nicely crunchy, and come off the parchment much easier, I think eliminating the extra liquid would help....

We've hit the 20's here lately, and dipping into the teens at night.  The cold can really get to you, but I'm taking advantage of it with indoor jobs etc. Now that the house is getting back to normal, I can get back to the kitchen. Garlic powder and granulated garlic was made.  Just one more way to preserve my garlic without a root cellar (basement or proper storage area).  I then use these to make homemade spice/herb mixes, including homemade seasoned salt. Strained another tincture.   Found a quick fix for the coop door that leads out to the outside ramp.  It'll go on the inside, so both sides are secured.  I'm without "wheels" again (Big Red just needs replaced in my opinion), so it was work with what I had.  There has been no animal sightings whatsoever.  Hubby feels that the idiots in the woods (most likely illegal hunters) were the cause, but we still don't know. I still had one daughter's dog (Mia)...

  Homemade eye make up remover.  Two ingredients.  I have already tried it a few times, but will use when needed, and return with results.  The recipe is free online with a source I have used for years for my facial toner, homemade hair detangler, and a few other recipes  - DIY Makeup Remover  I don't always wear makeup, but on an occasion I do, and so far I am really liking the two ingredient recipe. Our weather has gone from cold to frigid.  It's only been weather suitable for penguins and polar bears.  This morning? We are experiencing a -17°F windchill. I'm on the hunt for a heater that sits underneath the water unit in the chicken coop.  We have a few we are looking at, but we have not needed such heating system options for years now.  We don't need it often, and in fact, have not needed one in years now. Unfortunately, the frigid temperatures are said to continue for about another week and a half (or so).   We have been g...

It's confirmed that one family member will raise the meat birds in the spring for extended family.  We will all chip in for how many we want.  We are thankful for that. I finally finished the sleeves on the cardigan.  I am now finishing up the back panel and have one shoulder panel to do, then I can sew it up. I'm tickled pink that my husband bought me this as an early Christmas present.  I can keep a few projects organized and not sitting all over in different project bags. Question for those who buy faux fir balls for hats:  where is the best place, for the best price, for the best quality to buy online?  Neutral colors?  I don't want 4 inch ones either.  I am looking for the ones that are a bit smaller and less awkward looking. I finally got around to getting some more homemade seasoned salt made.  It's great for a lot of recipes.

  My meal plan was going pretty well before we both got sick.   We had roasted more of our home grown mashed potato squash, and paired it with some air fryer (can be done in the oven too) blackened chicken tenders (local chicken), and I thawed some garden green beans and local bacon to make the BBQ crock pot green beans. The blackened chicken is simply chicken patted dry, seasoned with a mix of seasonings, and air fried (or baked).  There are so many online recipes for the chicken, but we love it (first time trying it). Here is the recipe for homemade meatballs.  A friend shared it with me.  We buy our meat from a local butcher, buy the organic oats from an Amish area that is a quick a drive, but the only place to buy it anymore. Homemade Meatballs Meatballs 3 pounds ground chuck (see notes) 2 cups oatmeal, organic 2 eggs 1 cup chopped onion 13 oz. can evaporated milk, organic 2 teaspoons salt 2 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. garlic powder (I use homemade) 1 tsp....

  I found a few printed recipes in the back of my binder, when I changed them out to new binders recently.  I found a recipe I had printed back in July of 2021, and gave it a try (without reading any reviews).  Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole. It's delicious.  However, the next time I make this, I will finely dice the sweet potatoes, roast them, and then layer it all to bake.  I found the shredded sweet potatoes gave it a "mushy" bottom texture.  It is very light, and not a "heavy" breakfast.   The only thing I did different, was that I used real meat instead of the "vegetarian" meat the recipe called for.  Oh, I also added 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground garlic (homemade) for added flavor and some salt and pepper. I found it strange that the recipe did not call for any seasoning at all.  The recipe is still online at allrecipes. Tidbits. . . We woke up to 21°F this morning.  The cold has returned, but thankfully no snow this March (like...