Bill Me Later

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Homemade Pumpkin Pie, Butter Crust, & Whipped Cream

My 7 year old has had a terrible craving for pumpkin pie for days when he found a can I had planned on making pumpkin bread with.  I put him off for days because my mother in law usually makes me crust and she is not here, so that means I make one or buy it!  The buy it part did not go well, I kept forgetting, today after he had tears last night I brokedown and tore through Pinterest and found an awesome recipe for pie crust.

Butter Pie Crust--This recipe uses a food processor, I do not have a large one so I used my Kitchen Aid Mixer.

The Perfect Pie Crust {Butter Recipe}
makes two 9″ pie crusts
Ingredients:
1 cup butter (2 sticks)--really cold
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
6-8 tbsp ice cold water
Directions:
  1. Pull out butter and cut into small cubes, place in a bowl and put in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
  2. In a food processor add the flour, sugar and salt. Pulse a few times to mix.
  3. Place the freezing cold butter into the food processor and pulse 5-6 times or until the flour becomes crumbly.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon of ice cold water at a time and pulse a few times between each tablespoon until the dough will stick together when pinched (it took me 7 tablespoons).
  5. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut in half to make two equal balls.
  6. Trying not to handle the dough too much, quickly shape into a small disc, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour. 
  7. When you’re ready to make your pie pull out the dough and let rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.
  8. Roll out to a thin 12 inch diameter circle. Carefully place in a 9 inch pie pan and trim the extra dough around the edges. Fill with your choice of pie filling, and bake!
To Pre-Bake a Pie Crust
If your recipe calls for a pre-baked crust, as many custard pie recipes do, follow all the steps above until you get to the point where it says to put in the filling. Note that you will need to make only a half recipe if you are only doing a bottom crust. Freeze the crust for at least a half hour, until chilled. This is an important step in pre-baking. Otherwise the crust will slip down the sides.
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
When the pie crust is sufficiently chilled, line the pie crust with parchment paper, wax paper, or aluminum foil. Fill at least two-thirds full with pie weights – dry beans, rice, or stainless-steel pie weights.
Bake with weights for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cool a few minutes and carefully remove pie weights. Poke small holes in the bottom of the pie crust with a fork and return to oven (without the weights) and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the crust is golden. Cool completely before filling. You may need to tent the edges of the pie with aluminum foil when you bake your pie, to keep the edges from getting too dried out and burnt

I use the Libbys Pumpkin Pie Recipe, always works great!

Ingredients


Directions

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

POUR into pie shell.

BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before serving.
 
Here is a picture of my pie with the homemade crust and picture of homemade cool whip!  Plus of course I had no cool whip, but did have heavy whipping cream I turned into homemade cool whip.  Use a cold metal bowl, put in a pint of heavy whipping cream, a tbsp. or 2 of powdered sugar and teaspoon of vanilla.  Whip this for a couple minutes till thick, its that easy!
 
 


 

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Springtime in Bloom

Spring has been here in Middle Tennessee for several weeks now and I have been taking pictures but not getting them posted.  Our new little farm is coming right along, please enjoy my pictures.


This is one of our new peach trees!!!!


This is a close up of an apple tree in full bloom, the smell is amazing this year!
 

Safe to Eat Raw Cookie Dough

My clan here loves cookie dough, I made chocolate chips cookies today and stressed the whole time while they ate spoonfuls of  my raw cookie dough.  As I thought I remembered my sister had posted an awesome egg-less cookie dough recipe to eat.  It is pretty good recipe try just eating it or I like to mix it in ice cream!  Egg-less cookie dough to eat. Not to bake. Just to eat. Every woman should have this recipe on hand... perfect for pregnancy. Eggless Cookie Dough 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup butter, softened 1/4 tsp. vanilla 1/4 cup milk 1 cup flour Pinch salt 1/2 cup chocolate chips....yummm

Baby Boom!

In recent weeks we have had a baby boom here on our farm in Tennessee, we have piglets, chicks, ducks, kittems, chicks that hatched yesterday, and most importantly a new addition in Ohio, my new nephew.

My sister gave birth on Wednesday evening to a 7 lb 14 oz, 19" baby boy.  He is a super cute little chunk, I had to share him with everyone!  Honestly, I am jealous but my baby factory is not in production!







Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Ice Cream Cake

I and my whole family love ice cream cakes, but they are pretty pricey!  I like to cook and bake, I am not always the best but I get by!!  So I have been on a mission to find an easy yet tasty ice cream cake to pass the families taste buds.  I found the following recipe, its cute and simple.  I think I will try this when I am in a hurry, but I am looking for something a bit more detailed, so if anyone has an awesome recipe send it my way!  Beware I have tons of blogs heading your way with new things I have tried but I have been unable to upload my pics, grrrr!

Sometimes I am so busy thinking up new ideas, or searching for inspiration, I forget about some real classics I have in my arsenal already.  Does anyone else do that?  Forget that they haven’t blogged about some all-time favorites?
Well, this recipe is one of those.  It’s not a “real” ice cream cake, it’s… cheater ice cream cake.  You do need a few hours to freeze it, but the prep for this awesome dessert is seriously 10 minutes or less, and it’s always a hit!
Like most of my favorite recipes, this is 3 ingredients. ;)
To make an 8″x8″ cake, you need:
1 box (12 ct.) ice cream sandwiches
1 tub of Cool Whip (the small one)
topping(s) of your choice – I use a handful of mini chocolate chips
Your Cool Whip needs to be thawed before you begin.  Unwrap all your sandwiches.  This step takes most of the prep time.  Now, take half of them and layer them in the bottom of your dish.  Some cracks between sandwiches are okay, because we will be re-freezing this, and the Cool Whip will cover any gaps.
Most likely, you will end up with a leftover.  I just cut a piece the size I need and set the rest aside, in case I need it for the top layer.  Most pans are tapered slightly, and you may need more sandwiches on your top layer than the bottom.  
Now, add half your cool whip on top of the sandwiches.
Then, layer the rest of your sandwiches.  Again – cut them to fit as needed.  Enjoy anything that won’t fit. :P


Top with the remaining Cool Whip, and sprinkles if you choose.  Now, freeze it for at least 3 hours.  (This is a great thing to make up the night before.)  And that’s it!  Super easy, and great for summer celebrations!
I link up to these great parties!



Canker Sores, Ouch!

I have been plagued with canker sores almost as long as I can remember!  They are no fun I can not eat or drink right, I get a pounding headache and I am just flat out GRUMPY!!!!!!!!!  This was me the last week and a half I had a sore that would not go away, I watch what I eat I avoid too much acidy foods but still I get them!  SO I have decided to take a break from the diet and just eat it even if it is acidy, like tomatoes, and just try to remedy the sore as quick as possible.  I do gargle with salt water and I have used mouth sore creams but they taste terrible and I just can not stomach the ingredients anymore.  I found a helpful list this past week that might help others troubled by this issue.  Please check out this website, they have anything and everything that you use on a daily basis to help the canker sore problem.

http://www.findhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-mouth-sores/

http://www.findhomeremedy.com/home-remedies-for-canker-sores/

Homemade Taco Salad Shells

Chicken Taco Bowls Recipe


Chicken Taco Bowls
Print, share and save this recipe!
Makes: 4 servings, 2 "bowls" each
Active time: 45 minutes | Total: 45 minutes
Equipment: Muffin tin with 12 (1/2-cup) cups
This chicken taco bowl recipe uses the underside of a muffin tin as a mold to bake cute little homemade "tortilla bowls." The "tortilla bowls" are filled with a zesty chicken filling and topped like nachos. If you have 2 large muffin tins, you can make all 8 "bowls" at once. Bake them in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, rotating top to bottom about halfway through baking.
8 6-inch corn tortillas
Canola oil cooking spray
12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 cup prepared green salsa
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 cup thinly sliced lettuce
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 tablespoons sliced ripe black olives
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Heat tortillas until warm (see Tips, above). Coat each side of 4 tortillas with cooking spray. (Keep the remaining 4 tortillas covered.) Turn a 12-cup muffin tin upside down. Nestle a tortilla in the space between 4 cups to form a "bowl". Repeat with 3 more tortillas, making 4 bowls total. Bake until firm and beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining 4 tortillas.
3. Meanwhile, toss chicken with garlic powder and salt in a bowl. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until it is no longer pink on the outside, about 3 minutes. Add salsa and cook, stirring, until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle, about 3 minutes more. Cover and remove from the heat.
4. Fill each tortilla bowl with about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture. Top with 1 tablespoon each cheese and sour cream, 2 tablespoons each lettuce and tomato and a few olives.
Per serving: 401 calories; 21 g fat (7 g sat, 9 g mono); 74 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrate; 0 g added sugars; 25 g protein; 4 g fiber; 707 mg sodium; 395 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (35% daily value).
What's your favorite filling for a corn tortilla or taco?

Cleaning Fruit

I always wash my fruits and veggies, but never in this way till recently.  This mixture is a great idea because it uses vinegar one of my favorite things:)  The vinegar helps to naturally preserve your fruits to last longer.

Cleaning fruit - Fill sink with water, add 1 Cup of Vinegar, and Stir. Add all fruit, and Soak for 10 minutes. Water will be dirty, and fruit will sparkle with no wax, or dirty film. Great for Berries too, as it keeps them from molding. Do this with strawberries, and they last for weeks!


HOME CLEANING REMEDIES

I AM ALWAYS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR GREAT WAYS TO REMOVE ODORS OR STAINS WITH SOMETHING I HAVE IN MY HOME TO AVOID THE USE OF CHEMICALS, CHECK THIS OUT! THIS IS LONG BUT SO INFORMATIVE!!!!!

Most people are watching their dollars and working off a budget to make ends meet. Many are also now looking for natural alternatives to live a more wholesome and chemical free life. Following are a few ways in which you can have both of the above. These uses are becoming more prevalent and are easy to do it yourself. So, here are great easy uses for common household items to make your life more chemical free and your wallet a little fatter. SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND VISIT https://www.facebook.com/groups/evesskinnyfriends FOR MORE AWESOME TIPS!

1) Toothpaste: Buff a CD/DVD
Apply toothpaste to a cotton ball and wipe the disc. Wash with water afterwards and you’ve got a brand new disc!

2) Cornstarch: Untangle Knots
Sprinkling cornstarch into tough knots, such as shoe laces helps loosen them.

3) Walnut: Buff Dings out of Wood Furniture
Get rid of unsightly scratches and dings on wood furniture by rubbing a walnut on the areas. The blemishes will vanish quickly and your furniture and pocket book will be saved.

4) Club Soda: Make Your Breads Fluffier
When baking, where recipes call for water, add club soda instead to make pancakes, waffles and any other breads fluffier.

5) Salt: Keep Windows Frost Free
Pour a cup of salt into a liter of water. Sponge the liquid onto the inside of window to prevent frost from forming during the winter months.

6) Rubbing Alcohol: Remove Permanent Marker
Dab the surface that has the permanent marker on it with a cloth or cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol to make it disappear quickly.

7) Chap stick: Stops Bleeding When Nicked Shaving
Cut yourself shaving? Just swipe some chap stick over the cut to stop that constant bleeding. No more tissue squares!

8) Apple Juice: Removes Dandruff
Don’t ask how it works, but it does! Instead of buying a special shampoo, just wash your hair in apple juice to rid your scalp of pesky dandruff.

9) Aspirin: Get Rid of Armpit Stains on T-Shirts
Grind up an aspirin tablet or two, then make a paste out of it using water, lemon or vinegar. Spread the paste on the stained area and let sit for an hour before washing.

10) Olive Oil: Make Pets’ Coat Shinier
Add a bit of olive oil to your pet’s food to give them a healthier, shinier coat of fur.

11) Newspapers: Clean Windows and Mirrors
Instead of using a spray and a streaky cloth, use only newspaper to clean off your mirrors and windows for a streak-free finish.

12) Baking Soda: Remove Bugs from Windshield
Mix baking soda with warm water to make a paste. Spread the paste over your windshield for fifteen minutes. Then wipe or spray off with a hose.

13) Bleach: Extend Life of Flowers in Vase
Add a few drops of bleach to vase water to prevent the build-up of the slime caused by bacteria. It works just like chlorine in a swimming pool.

14) Kitchen Dish Soap: Flea-Killing Dog Shampoo
Kitchen dish soap (not dish detergent) can double as dog shampoo for its flea killing abilities.

15) Coke: Remove Blood Stains from Clothing
Soak the stain in coke until the stain is dissolved, then wash the clothing as usual. Wash before the coke dries, though.

16) Honey: Remove Blemish Overnight
Have a blemish you need to get rid of by tomorrow? Put a dab of honey on the blemish and cover it up (it’s best to use a Band-Aid) and the honey’s natural antibacterial properties will clean out the bacteria by the morning.

17) Wax Paper: Clean Can Opener Gears
Run a few small strips of wax paper through the can opener to clean out of the bits and pieces that have built up in the gears throughout the year. The wax will also rub off on the gears to protect for future use as well.

18) WD-40: Remove Crayons from Walls
Use the lubricant and a cloth to remove stubborn crayon marks from the walls just by spraying the wall and wiping with a cloth.

19) Chalk: Keep Ants and Slugs Out of the House
Ants and Slugs Won’t Touch Chalk. So, simply draw a line in front of your doorway where you are having problems with these pesky critters and they won’t cross it, meaning they won’t be able to get into your house.

20) Vinegar: Kills Weeds and Helps Flowers Grow
Vinegar is a magic wonder when it comes to gardening. It not only kills weeds but they help flowers grow as well. Douse vinegar all around your garden to prevent weeds from popping up and to help your flowers to grow healthy and strong.

21) Mayonnaise: Remove Bumper Sticker
Spread mayonnaise on the bumper sticker and let sit for at least thirty minutes. Then, rub the sticker off with a towel, leaving a clean bumper!

22) Tin Foil Ball: Replace Dryer Sheets Permanently
Instead of using a dryer sheet ball up one or a few sheets of tin foil and toss it in the dryer. It removes the static electricity from your clothes and one can last up to a year.

23) Banana Peel: Polish Leather Shoes
Use the inside of a banana peel to give shoes a professional and natural shine that will last for quite some time.

24) Mouthwash: Cure Athlete’s Foot
Pour mouthwash on cotton balls and then swab your feet. The alcohol will disinfect the bacteria completely if you continue this for a week or so.

25) Baking Soda: Clean BBQ Grill
Mix a cup of baking soda with half a cup water to make a paste. Dip your brush into the paste and scrub the grill. The caked on pieces and black residue will come off much quicker and using baking soda is much safer and cheaper than using cleaning chemicals.

26) Coffee Grounds: Fertilizer
Coffee is full of nutrients and vitamins that are very beneficial to soil. That’s why some people include it in compost piles. If you want to get the most out of your coffee, pour the grounds on areas where you want more grass or flowers.

27) Olive Oil: Shaving Cream
The smoothness of the oil can replace the need for shaving cream, and it also provides great moisture.

28) Dryer Sheets: Gets Rid of Static Electricity
Use dryer sheets to remove static electricity from things such as clothing, TV screens or your own hair. Tame fly away strands by running a dryer sheet over them.

29) Freezer: Freeze Candles to Make Them Last Longer
Put candles in the freezer for at least 2 hours before using. Once you burn them, the wax will melt at a much slower pace, making them last much longer!

30) Two glasses of water: Cure Headache
Water is the cure to most common headaches. To make the headache go away quickly, drink two cups of water very quickly.

31) Lemons: Deodorize Garbage Disposal
Toss whole slices of lemon into the garbage disposal then run it. The acidity of the lemon will rid your sink of all odors and leave a fresh scent that usually lasts for a few months.

32) Alka Seltzer: Remove Burnt-On Grease and Food Stains
When letting your pots and pans soak, throw in one or two Alka Seltzer tablets and the caked on residue from cooking will come off easily when you scrub/wash.

33) Apple Cider Vinegar: Relieve Diarrhea
Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into eight ounces of water to soothe your stomach. The taste may not be the greatest, but the antibacterial properties of the vinegar will end the unpleasantness of the bowel problems.

34) Toothpaste: Remove Scratches from Glass
Apply toothpaste to scratch, then rub with a cloth until the scratch is gone. Make sure the glass is clean beforehand.

35) Cheerios: Relieve Pain from Poison Ivy, Chickenpox and Sunburns
Pound one to four cups of Cheerios into a powder and add to your bath to soothe your skin while you soak. You may not feel relief while in the tub, but you will soon after.

36) Buttons: Sort Earrings
Organize your earrings and prevent them from becoming entangled by using spare buttons as holders for each pair.

37) Corn Oil: Prevent Hairballs for Pets
Add a few drops of corn oil to your pets’ food to prevent hairballs from forming. The thick oil helps the fur pass through the animal’s system much quicker and easily.

38) Whipped Cream: Remove Gum from Hair
There are many remedies for removing gum from hair, but this is a lesser known one. Give it a try rather than peanut butter the next time you’re in need.

39) Coke: Remove Oil Stains from the Driveway
Oil stains are very difficult to remove pavement, but one method guaranteed to work is Coke. The highly acidic drink will eat away at the oil until clean.

40) Brown Sugar: Facial Scrub
A scrub is good to do about once a month to remove dead skin and bacteria built up in pores and remove excess oil from the skin. Brown sugar does just as well as expensive products and will definitely result in a clearer and smoother complexion.

41) Dryer Sheet: Lint Brush
You already know that dryer sheets remove lint in the dryer. Well, it can do the same thing out of the dryer, too. When you’re in a fix, use a dryer sheet. It works just as well as a lint brush, and if you like the scent, it’s an added bonus.

42) Newspaper: Deodorize food containers and Food Drawers in the Refrigerator
For that stinky Tupperware or smelly refrigerator drawer that is too much to deal with, toss in a sheet of newspaper overnight before you deal with it. The paper will absorb the smell greatly reducing it or eliminating it completely.

43) Olive Oil: Unstick a Zipper
The oil will help the zipper slide more easily, fixing the problem!

44) Salt: Cool Something Quickly
You know that feeling when you’re having a BBQ and someone asks for a drink and you realize that no one has put them in the cooler? There’s nothing worse than a warm drink on a hot day. Chill a drink quickly, by adding salt and water to your ice. The drinks will be cold in a matter of minutes; saving your party and making you look smart all at once.

45) Scotch Tape: Prevent Wall from Chipping When Nailing
The wall can leave unsightly chips when hammering in a nail. Prevent this by simply placing a piece of scotch tape over the area you’re going to nail. The wall will be held tighter, preventing chips from occurring.

46) Alka Seltzer: Soothe Insect Bites
Dissolve two tablets into a glass of water. Then use a cloth or cotton ball to apply it to the affected area. The red will go down and most importantly, the itchiness will vanish usually in fifteen minutes.

47) Lemon: Whitens Whites
Add about half a cup of lemon juice to your load of whites to makes them extra white. You can use lemon juice with bleach or detergent, so don’t worry about mixing chemicals with the acidic lemon.

48) Banana Peel: Whiten Teeth
This may sound a little odd, but rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth twice a day for two weeks and you will receive the same effect from a teeth-whitening kit. Plus, you’ll save yourself money and the hassle of using chemicals.

49) Hair Dryer: Free Photos Stuck on Pages
If you have a photo stuck on a page that you can’t get free, try using a blow dryer on the back of the page. It will loosen the photo from the page and the adhesive holding it there.

50) Banana Peel: Heal Most Skin Problems
Bananas are the magical fruit, because they heal many common problems on the skin. By rubbing the peel on your skin, you can heal bruises and cuts and eliminate rashes, itching and warts. Basically if you have a common skin problem, it can be cured by this fruit.

I hope you can put some or all of these to good use to save money and make your home a safer environment. There are tons more DIY uses for common household items like these. make sure to share the info with your friends! ♥

Friday, April 19, 2013

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Corn on the Cob In The Microwave

I have never tried this, I really do not use the microwave ever!  It usually collects dust but I am thinking about trying this!

ow to cook corn perfectly, without having to peel all the husks and silky strings off! Slides right out of the husk!
1. Remove a few of the outer husks that might be dirty.
2. Cut the bottoms off of the corn. Be sure to cut above the part of the cob where the husk is attached. It would be above the part of the cob where it starts to round down.
3. Place a moist paper towel on the bottom of the microwave or on top of the carousel and place the corn on the paper towel.
4. Use this guide for your cook time. Remember the cooking time can vary for each microwave.
1 ear - 2 minutes
2 ears - 3 to 4 minutes
3 ears - 5 to 6 minutes
4 ears - 7 to 8 minutes
6 ears - 8 to 9 minutes
5. After cooking, let the corn sit about 3 minutes. It will continue to cook and will be cooler and easier to handle.
6. Pick the cooked corn up by the top (you might want to use an oven mitt if it is too hot to handle) and squeeze and lightly shake out the ear of corn. It should just slide out leaving the silk and all of the husks intact.
Source: http://www.holmfamilycookbook.com/apps/blog/show/15501931-the-magic-corn-trick


Photo: Girlfriend Tip!
How to cook corn perfectly, without having to peel all the husks and silky strings off! Slides right out of the husk!
1. Remove a few of the outer husks that might be dirty.
2. Cut the bottoms off of the corn. Be sure to cut above the part of the cob where the husk is attached. It would be above the part of the cob where it starts to round down.
3. Place a moist paper towel on the bottom of the microwave or on top of the carousel and place the corn on the paper towel.
4. Use this guide for your cook time. Remember the cooking time can vary for each microwave.
1 ear - 2 minutes
2 ears - 3 to 4 minutes
3 ears - 5 to 6 minutes
4 ears - 7 to 8 minutes
6 ears - 8 to 9 minutes
5. After cooking, let the corn sit about 3 minutes. It will continue to cook and will be cooler and easier to handle.
6. Pick the cooked corn up by the top (you might want to use an oven mitt if it is too hot to handle) and squeeze and lightly shake out the ear of corn. It should just slide out leaving the silk and all of the husks intact.
Source: http://www.holmfamilycookbook.com/apps/blog/show/15501931-the-magic-corn-trick

Much Girlfriend Love! ♥ Jo Ann
Click here: http://bit.ly/11XhcZy to be added to The Girlfriend Life Newsletter for encouragement, recipes and ideas!

Endless Green Onions

I love this idea!

For everyone who love green onion,this is one secret the grocery stores don't want you to know. The next time you buy some green onion don't throw away the root just put it in some water and it will regrow. Do this with a few dozen and you will have an endless supply. Just keep cutting and regrowing. Feel free to repost


Permanent Marker

This is an awesome idea, I have three boys our marker gets used by my little guy who just turned 3 in March!  I am sooo trying this on one of my comforters he "decorated".

Clothes – Hand sanitizer
Walls – Toothpaste or hairspray*
Carpet – White vinegar
Wood – Rubbing alcohol
Dry Erase Board- Dry erase marker

***Don’t scrub too hard with hairspray, you don’t want to remove the paint!
MORE AT http://cut.by/UBDbe


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Ducks & Chicks Update

Almost 3 weeks ago we bought six ducks and 10 chicks(soon to be hens) to expand our farm, plus the kids love them:)  I was amazed at how fast the ducks grew, it was literally daily.  If you ever grew zucchini and it was tiny on a Monday and by Friday it was a baseball bat, that's how I felt about how the ducks grew.  The chicks grew fast too but not at the rate of the ducks!  Next week we hope to have new additions from our incubator, we have 24 eggs getting ready to hatch!

With the growth of the ducks and chicks my husband and cousin went to work 2 days ago to build them some pasture housing.  The pasture housing needed to be something we could move everyday so they could have fresh grass and insects to eat, yet keep them safe because they are so small alot of flying predators would love to snatch them up.  I think they successfully succeeded, its a nice "chicken tractor" as it is called.  Take a look at their handy work!  I also forgot to mention our ducks seem to be getting some white feather and the chicks are starting to turn brown!!!

 Handy little contraption to keep the little guys safe and out getting their first taste of pasture!
 Look how much bigger the ducks are than the chicks, when we bought them they were the same size!!


Red Wattle-Tamworth Hereford New Arrivals

We have been raising pigs for 4-5 years, not just your normal pigs though.  Four years ago we went on a journey from Ohio to Missouri to buy a 8 week old piglet, a male, for $250.  Wow, I still can not believe he talked me into that!  We bought a Red Wattle pig, a heritage breed once endangered, he is all red and has the neatest wattles hanging from his neck!  Just a month prior to getting "Dizzy"(our male pig named after my dad), we had bought to Tamworth sows(moms) that were bred to a Hereford male.  Two months after the addition of Dizzy to our pig barn we had piglets from our Sows.  It was with these sows and Dizzy we would build our pig population.

We have had many, many litters of piglets over the years.  These litters of piglets were all raised on pasture, never gave birth in a gestation crate, and were fed an all natural diet designed by my husband. Our pigs have a unique flavor, a good flavor, that makes you think is the meat I buy at the store really pork when compared to ours!  Since our move to Tennessee we had 1 litter of piglets in early winter, but in the last week we have had two litters of piglets.  I wanted to share a couple pictures of them getting some sun.  If you have any interest in the learning more about heritage breeds or the one of the so called slow food hogs please just give me shout!

Five little pigs getting some sun!






Five little pigs getting some sun!

Here are some of the piglets with their mother.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Canned Potatoes

Do you hate  or want to avoid boxed or instant type potatoes but feel your always too busy to make real potatoes?  I have had that battle with myself over and over, but 2 years ago one of my best friends and I remedied this problem!  We had been on a canning spree two summers ago and she had an idea about canning potatoes, she used them all the time and worked somewhere that we could get potatoes at an affordable price.

So with all of this in mind we bought 50lbs of potatoes and got to work.  I do not remember how much we got from a 50lb batch but I am thinking 45-50 quarts!  Last fall before we moved I did several batches for my dad and brother in law since they sometimes forget how to use a knife, but can open a can of potatoes!

Here is the simple recipe we used:

You will need to tweek this to the size of your pressure canner.  My canner is small so I only do 7 quarts a a time.

Peel enough potatoes to fill your canner.

Next you need to decide if you want to cold or hot pack.

Cold Pack is easy fill your warm jars with raw potatoes(cut how you want or even whole if small), put 1/2 to 1 tsp of salt then fill the jar with hot water,leaving a 1/2 inch headspace.

Hot Pack, cut potatoes the way you want and boil them for about 3 minutes if cut small or 10 minutes if large or whole.  After they have boiled drain the liquid off.  Fill warm jars with potatoes, add 1/2 to 1 tsp of salt and fill with hot water, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. 

I like hot pack best because I can pack the jars tighter than I can cold pack!  Next put your lids and rings on and pressure can with 10 pressure for 40 minutes on quarts and 30 for pints.

I am bad at taking pictures lately, I did manage to get a picture before I sealed up the canner tonight!  This can be a little time consuming but rewarding on a busy night when you want some "real" potatoes.

Homemade Air Freshner







This is from Crafts Corner on Facebook, looks awesome!!! I was roaming around and I came across a recipe for homemade air freshener. This intrigued me! These gel air fresheners are the perfect.This project takes a total of five minutes to make, is highly economical, and each jar should last you about a month. This would also make great gifts! -Chera

Into make these little beauties, you first need a heat-proof jars, food coloring colors of your choice, and essential oil. You can find inexpensive essential oils of various scents at craft stores and some grocery stores. I chose a raspberry scented oil...it smells delightful!

Into each jar, drop a few drops (I repeat...a few...it doesn't take more than 2 or 3) of food coloring.

Then, put in about 30 drops of essential oil, give or take. The more essential oil you put in, the stronger the smell.

Now for the fun part. Gather up 4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin, a tablespoon of salt, and 2 cups of cold water.

Why salt? Salt (or vodka) apparently help to keep the gel from molding. Interesting fact, isn't it?!?

Get one cup of water boiling on the stove. When it begins to boil, whisk in the gelatin, stirring until it's all dissolved.

Then, pour in the other cup of cold water and the salt, stirring until the salt is dissolved.

Quickly pour the hot gelatin mixture in each of your jars, and then use a disposable stick or spoon to stir it into the oil and food coloring.

Let these gel overnight, and then voila! Air freshener!
— with Helen Rummell-Mateos.

Mosquito Be Gone




www.homesteadingsurvivalism.com | Modern technology has brought us many benefits, including mosquito traps that cost hundreds of dollars, but sometimes we overlook simple solutions to difficult challenges such as mosquito control. When it comes to controlling pests, research tends to focus on chemicals or concepts that can be patented. Unless someone can make a profit from an idea, the public may never become aware of it.

HOMEMADE MOSQUITO TRAP.

Items needed:

200 ml water
50 grams of brown sugar
1 gram of yeast
2-liter plastic bottle

Or US conversion:
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of brown sugar

HOW:
1. Cut the plastic bottle in half.
2. Mix brown sugar with hot water. Let cool. When cold, pour in the bottom half of the bottle.
3. Add the yeast. No need to mix. It creates carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes.
4. Place the funnel part, upside down, into the other half of the bottle, taping them together if desired.
5. Wrap the bottle with something black, leaving the top uncovered, and place it outside in an area away from your normal gathering area. (Mosquitoes are also drawn to the color black.)

Change the solution every 2 weeks for continuous control.
 — with Rebeka CveticJulie HuxsollJeffrey Hanley and 45 others.

Plant Sprouted Garlic




How to plant garlic
Copied From: Kim’s Krayness FaceBook site

How to plant garlic (one clove produces up to twenty more) - you can always have fresh.
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Simply plant garlic cloves individually if they've started to sprout, even better!

Otherwise plant them with the pointy end up.

Make sure they are in a sunny location and soil isn't too damp.

You can plant multiple cloves four inches apart either in your yard or in a pot.

It will fair well even if planted among other flowers or vegetables.

Then just sit back and wait for your garlic to grow.

If it's potted, water it occasionally but don't drown it.

As your garlic grows, it will sprout leaves.

Once the leaves turn brown and die, it's time to harvest your garlic.
(Don't harvest any earlier or your cloves will be too small!)

Once you harvest your garlic, hang the bulbs in a cool, dry location to dry them and prevent rot.

Your garlic should dry in about a week, at which time you can simply brush off the dirt and start cooking with the cloves or plant some more!
Copied From: Kim’s Krayness FaceBook site

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Sidewalk Chalk Spray

Side walk chalk spray

This is neat but could stain hands!  You could substitute crushed chalk.
Put in a tablespoon of flour, 10 drops of food coloring, and about a half cup of warm water in a spray bottle. Shake it up in the bottle and let your kid go nuts.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Homemade Bubbles

My  kids love bubbles but all too often they do not make it far from the bubble wand, try this!

Fried Rice

Fried Rice                                                                                          

3 cups cooked white rice (day old or leftover rice works best!)
3 tbs sesame oil(I use whatever oil I have in a pinch)
1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)--any frozen or partially cooked fresh veggie is awesome
1 small onion, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup soy sauce(I ususally leave this out)

On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok. Add the peas/carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender. Lower the heat to medium low and push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled. Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated! **You could really play around with this rice too! Try adding some diced ham, or green onion :) Yum!


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Homemade Seasoning Mixes


Make your own Ranch, Dry Onion Soup Mix and Taco Seasoning and store in small mason jars.  These recipes are great and come from Southern Gals Tips & Tricks


Taco Seasoning:

1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon sea salt
Put ingredients into a jar and shake.

Dry Onion Soup Mix:
2/3 cup dried, minced onion
3 teaspoons parsley flakes
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons turmeric
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
Mix all ingredients in a jar, then give the jar a good shake. I’d recommend shaking the jar to mix the ingredients well before each use.
Use 4 tablespoons in a recipe in place of 1 packet of onion soup mix. Store this in a dry, cool place.

Ranch:
5 tablespoons dried minced onions
7 teaspoons parsley flakes
4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Mix together and store in an air tight container.
For dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream.
For dip: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 2 cups sour cream.
Mix up a few hours before serving, so the flavors all blend.

Cinnamon Roll Cake

I made this cinnamon roll cake this morning for breakfast!  Everyone swore they were at Cinnabon!  It was really simple to throw together in less than 30 minutes.  I was pleasantly surprised when I had the first bite how close they were to Hardees Cinnamon Biscuits, with this in mind this recipe would be great with the addition of some raisins or even walnuts.


BATTER:
3 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping:
1 cup butter, soft to the point of almost melted*
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp cinnamon

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together except for the butter.
Once mixed; slowly pour in the butter. Stir into batter.
Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined.
Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife.
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Glaze:
2 cup powdered sugar
5 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla

While the cake is warm ~ drizzle the glaze over the cake. *This cake is outta this world!!!!!!*
 — This recipe is from Andreas Country Home Cooking