Ground Chickory Root -~ Herbal Coffee ~ Tidbits

There are some days I have the hankering for a coffee in the middle of the day.  I don't buy decaffeinated coffee.  Although, I noticed our grocer just started carrying an organic decaffeinated coffee.

I've known for a long time that chickweed root can be ground for a coffee flavored, healthy drink, but haven't grown it here (yet).  We've see a few around, but not enough to dig up.

Signs of Spring ~ Herb Bread

The daffodils and hyacinths are up and about to bloom.  No signs of tulips, except at my little garden alongside a log.  I hope to start bringing in fresh flowers soon. Once again the weather people were wrong.  The high 70's that were forecasted for early this week?  Not happening.  If we are lucky, we'll get up to maybe 60°F today, then drop to the 40's and 50's for a few weeks (or so they say).

Camping Prep ~ Crochet Projects

Remember all those English Walnuts we bartered for?  I was still cracking them this month.  Apparently, the kids have lost their mojo with helping me.

The shells are always saved from these walnuts.  My older brother and his wife gift me their cardboard egg cartons.  

Four dozen campfire starters are in the making today, and I have more shells.

From Pile to File ~ Random Tidbits

I really liked this new recipe we tried recently - Pasta with Spinach and Ricotta.

You boil 8 oz. of rotini pasta and drain.  They suggested the tri-color veggie noodles, but I can only find organic regular noodles.

While the noodles are boiling, drain and squeeze a frozen and thawed box of  chopped spinach (or use equivalent of homegrown).  Place in a 12 inch skillet, add 1 minced clove and heat 5 minutes.  Add 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup water and 1 1/2 Tbsp (I didn't measure) of Parmesan cheese.  Add salt and pepper.  When heated, add drained rotini and serve.  

I doubled it for our family, and had to buy the spinach, but I can typically find organic ricotta at our one grocer.  It was very good.  I had practically no leftovers.

Homemade Pomegranate Syrup

I'm sharing yet another new recipe.  I had already written this recipe down on a recipe card, so once again, I have no idea where I obtained it.  I'm sure I've had it in my recipe pile for over 6 years or so.

I'm sharing because there are days when I am hankering for pancakes for waffles and have no syrup on hand.

You make this by using pomegranate juice and honey:

First Herbs ~ New Additions to the Homestead ~ Tidbits

I am happy to say my herb garden is springing to life again.  I chopped my first chives of this year.  Boy was it a good feeling.  My kids thought I was nuts when they saw me smelling them while walking in the house.

They went into the butter I made for the steaks yesterday, and I chopped more for eggs.  It really is a good feeling. 

I also added a tab divider in my recipe box.  I reads "butters."

Guess what I brought home? 

Open Window Weather

These few pieces of furniture made there way out to the porch over a week ago (tee hee).  Although there was a teensy chill, I opened windows (again). 

I tried another "new" recipe from the pile last night - overnight french toast casserole.  I didn't really follow it completely, and used a topping recipe from another recipe.  It was good, and easy to make.  Just very sweet, so a vegetable hash side would have been nice.