. . .from the handiwork journal

Snow storms have been moving in all around us, but it's soon turning to nastier weather.  

It's a perfect time to use up yarn, and work on larger crochet projects.  Large blankets only get crocheted in the cold of winter.  

Do you remember this random blanket I crocheted in the winter of 2022/2023?   I used up some yarn from leftover projects, and I dug it out during this freezing cold weather we are having.  I sewed in the last of the ends.  My husband wants to keep it.  I had planned to just sell it, but it is larger (approx. 72 x 56 inches) and will fit the spare bed perfectly.

(link goes to my blogpost regarding the pattern I used)  I really like the pattern, but I do not like the enormous amount of ends to sew in.

. . .I finished a matching hat to the scarf.  It is Red Heart yarn, and not my favorite for a hat and scarf, but it's warm and comfortable.  Hat pattern is Mountain Ridges Crochet Hat, by The Friendly Red Fox (free pattern online).  However, her pattern says "J" hook, and I used an "H" hook with medium worsted weight yarn.

It is the same yarn as the scarf I finished last week.  The remaining yarn will be used for scrap lap afghans I think.  The pattern for the scarf is by "Hooked by Robin" called Easy Crochet Scarf (online video tutorial).  I think this is my favorite scarf pattern so far.

Yarn for both scarf and hat - Sutherland Stripe, Red Heart Super Saver.  I used an entire skein for the scarf, but length is always up to you.  

. . .another lap afghan on the hook to eventually donate.  I donated to two places last winter, but I am getting concerned about not getting a response back from one location this winter.  I will have to make a few phone calls.  Colors are from Red Heart yarn, soft white, petal pink, and Lt. raspberry.

I have a lot of pink yarn right now.  Some of the brighter ones were for crocheting nail polish Christmas ornaments, but the rest I purchased to make Mom a blanket using the first pattern on this post.  I never got the chance to even start one, so I may be doing more lap afghans.  I guess we'll see.

. . .another larger ripple blanket on the hooks.  I'm using up some leftover yarn from my daughter's cardigan, and some from the last blanket and craft show items.  I'm not sure I'm thrilled with the color combination, but it's on the hook.  By the way, I bought the yarn for the cardigan years ago, based on their suggestion of how much for the size I crocheted.  I have more leftover, so I hope this blanket uses it up and looks good.  I'll be back to update, and share the colors I used.

I have a feeling this blanket will continue into next winter.  I am really working hard on our winter project list right now, so my handiwork time is limited for now.

. . .what would you use leftover cotton scrap yarn for?  The only thing(s) I can think of, are random cup/mug coasters and face scrubbies.  I may contact the school to see if the art teacher can use it.  The leftover balls are too small for rug making.  I don't think there is enough yarn on the balls to make lip balm holders either.

I dug out my journal, so I can make written records on what colors I used for certain projects, and to note patterns, hook size etc.

There are more projects on the hooks, but I was too lazy to go photograph them.  I really need to get the doily finished.  It's been a year now, but it's smaller stitches.  I just need to get in the mood to work on it.

. . . from the handiwork journal  © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Butterscotch Sugar Cookies ~ Cookie Exchange Idea

 Colder weather is the perfect time to use the oven, and try a new cookie recipe (for possibly next Christmas).

I have found some of the best recipes in fiction books.  The latest recipe is from Joanne Fluke's book - Wedding Cake Murder.

I have to confess, that I have not yet read the book.  I had to return it before finishing it.  I'll get it out some day soon.

In the meantime, her recipe for Butterscotch Sugar Cookies are not only delicious, and addicting, but they make a ton!  I'm freezing some to see how well they thaw as well.

I found the recipe on another blog as well (Make My Day Camp).  I'm glad I found her blog, as she talks about cutting the recipe in half, and still getting a lot of cookies.

1. Her (Make my day camp blogspot) measurements for flour are not the same as the recipe in the book.  The book calls for 4 1/4 cups.  Her blog states 4 1/2 cups.

2. I used a 1 Tbsp. scoop, so I baked them for 15 minutes and let them sit on the pan for a minute, then cooled on racks.

3. The cookie by the oven light gets browned more in my oven, so I rotated the baking sheet half-way.

4.  It's best to have 4 large cookie sheets for this recipe, or you are baking all day using smaller ones.  I have 2 large ones, so I plan to buy 2 more large for all my baking needs.

5. I tossed in about a handful of mini butterscotch chips in the batter at the end.

6. The batter is very soft at first.  If you let it sit a few minutes, it will firm up and will be easier to handle.

7. When you flatten the balls of dough on the cookie sheets, use a flat spatula.  After a few times, the dough will stick to the spatula, so dust it with some sugar every now and then to continue flattening the dough balls.

They are a crispy, thin cookie.  They would make great gifts too.  I followed the recipe in the book, cut it in half, used a 1 Tbsp. cookie scoop and got 5 dozen cookies.  

The next time I make them, I may try not flattening them so much, for a chewier center.  I do like them crunchy, and they would be great in a bowl of ice cream, maybe topped with some homemade whiskey butterscotch sauce too.  Oh boy, that would put a person in a sugar coma for sure, but doesn't that sound good?  Maybe for gifting? 

My husband said, they are good, but would prefer a chewy cookie vs. a crunchy cookie.   These are obviously not low fat, nor sugar free.

Butterscotch Sugar Cookies ~ Cookie Exchange Idea © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

Our new winter egg "basket" as we are in slower egg production, and this helps keep track of the oldest to newest egg.

I made another new recipe by The Real Food Dietitians - Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal.  It is very good, but so far I think my favorite is the pumpkin one.

My pamper me moment - merino wool socks.  They were on sale for $2 at the farm store.  I could learn to knit my own socks, but I've put that off for so many years now.  You never know.  Until then, I bought these to keep my feet warm during this winter freeze.

Entertainer for the Day

 I don't know how I get into such conversations, but I do, and I did.  I not only entertained the dentist at my last appointment, but the dental assistant as well.

It was freezing cold out, so the conversation started there.

I was talking about tending the hens, which led to talking about dressing for the weather.  I mentioned that I always take my cell phone and a house key with me, when I go outside for anything.  They both giggled at my entertainment, when I told them I was once locked out of the house by one of the dogs, in the heat of summer, and had one dog with me.  I had no cell phone, no key and we live in the boonies.  Literally.

I guess I'm traumatized enough to continue to carry both a phone and key after that happened.  Glad I could make them laugh.

Winter Tea

I recently shared a link for a seasonal stress tea recipe via Mennonites Can Cook blogspot.  Well, they shared another recipe the other day for "Winter Blues" tea recipe.  It looks interesting. Here is the link:   Winter Blues Tea.  I think I have all the ingredients to try this, other than the lemongrass and rose buds.  I wonder if I could use my lemon balm?  Is there a big difference in lemon balm and lemongrass?  I used to have lemon grass planted in a pot, but it has since died off.

Comfrey/Bruise Update:

I made us a comfrey mix salve a while back, and for some reason did not post it on my blog.  I will have to do some searching in my recipes to find it.  I have been using it on my bruise from my fall, and it is helping heal.   I may still mix up a few poultices with dehydrated comfrey, depending on how fast/slow this heals.

This and That © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

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

Brunch Pie with a Twist

Temperatures remain cold here - 3°F with a wind chill of -15°F this morning.

I follow the blog Mennonites Can Cook, and they recently shared a recipe for Brunch Pie.  I can easily get distracted with new recipes, or they can inspire me to use up what I have (so I did).

I used canned mushrooms (we do need a lot of that vitamin D in the winter).  I need to dehydrate more next winter.  

Although the sun was shining for a few days, I'm not always out in it long enough.

I decided to try it next, but I swapped out the frozen hashbrowns with frozen rutabagas, that I froze last year.  

Also, from the freezer, I used my garden green onions, (I had fresh bell pepper) and added frozen and cooked watercress greens and a pinch of homemade fire powder.  Hot peppers are a good source for a lot of goodness for our health.

Not to forget about all the condiments I canned last year, we topped the breakfast with some home canned cowboy candy too.  

We added a side of fruit.

Brunch Pie with a Twist © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Teabag Tidbits

We made it to 8°F with an early wind chill of -6°F this morning.  The snow is falling as well.  Hot water is flowing again, but somewhere my husband heard we will hit a -15°F tonight, and through Wednesday afternoon.  They have issued a wind chill warning.

My husband was the next one to take a fall.  He beat me to the chicken coop, and as I was reaching for the door, I see him down on the ground, chicken feed scoop flown, and watering unit busted in pieces.  

I brought up the fact it was high time to get those spikes on our muck boots, and we never did go looking for them.  It's first on the to-do list today.

We've put in place all of the "just in case" happens.  We are always pretty much prepared, but we did refill propane grill tanks (in case we needed extra heat, but our propane heat stays on if the power goes out), and we picked up a small propane tank for the small grill (as an alternate source to cook).  

 Let's talk "tea" today.  I have blackberry leaf tea, but do any of you tea drinkers have a favorite "brain boost" tea or tea mixture?

I also like this tea for evenings, to help with a good night's sleep, but do any of you like a different tea for that?  

Do you find better health results by buying medicinal teas bulk and using a tea infuser/teaball or homemade teabags?  

My holy basil finally showed up, so I mixed the tea for seasonal stress (Backyard Patch Blog) I shared and made my own brew bags.

Also, I accidently bought brew bags for a full tea pot to brew.  Oops.  I may be using those for summer iced teas.

Teabag Tidbits © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Still Cold

 Today the weather is 0°F, with a wind chill of -15°F. 

The forecast was for cold weather for the weekend and maybe Monday.  Now the sub-zero weather is predicted the entire week.

We have cold water, but the hot water pipes froze.  Many people in our area are dealing with all frozen pipes.  We installed heat tape over a year ago too.  The horrible high winds, combined with the bitter wind chill are just too much this winter.

Here is the crocheted scarf I finished.  It literally used an entire skein of yarn.  I'm happy with the coloration too.  Just in time for this freezing weather we are having.

Stay warm!

Still Cold © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart