Plaintain

This is the last one for tonight. Another "weed" we tend to overlook in our yards. So many wonderful uses for this as well. I will be sharing the links to several below.

https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/10-things-to-make-with-plantain/
https://www.feathersinthewoods.com/2015/05/harvesting-and-drying-plantain.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&m=1
https://www.studiobotanica.com/plantain-medicine-the-ultimate-soothing-healer/
https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/10-things-to-make-with-plantain/
https://mommypotamus.com/plantain-salve-recipe/
https://abetterwaytothrive.com/simple-first-aid-salve-with-plantain/
https://abetterwaytothrive.com/simple-first-aid-salve-with-plantain/

Wineberries

Remember that app I was telling you about? I used it to identify this as well even though I was already familiar with it.  When my children were growing up they waited patiently for these small berries to make their appearances so they could pick them and enjoy them. 
Over the years we have eaten them right off the bush, made sorbets, eaten them in salads, dropped them in tea and more!

https://wingingitonthehomestead.com/wineberry-vinegar/
http://www.twobearsfarm.com/2015/07/wineberry-sorbet-recipe.html?spref=pi
https://homeiswheretheloveis.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/wineberry-pie-and-a-new-dinner-recipe/
https://www.lifeslittlesweets.com/wineberry-recipes-collection/
https://www.backyardforager.com/wineberry-wildcrafted-cocktail/

Here are some links to recipes and ways to use them, Enjoy!

Dandelion

How many of you have Dandelion in your yard? How many of you consider it a dreadful weed? Are you aware of all the things you can make with it?

I went on a walk today and used an app called "Picture This" to identify all the cool things in my yard. This is one of many things I found.

It wasn't until recently that I found all the marvelous things you can make with it. You can even eat the leaves! Check out some of the links I posted and let me know if you try any of them!

https://www.simplycanning.com/dandelion-jelly.html
https://simplybeyondherbs.com/dandelion-salve-and-lip-balm/
https://www.growforagecookferment.com/dandelion-recipes/
https://moonandspoonandyum.com/dandelion-recipes/
https://canadiancookingadventures.com/recipe/dandelion-iced-tea/

Homemade Butter

Butter has got to be one of the easiest things to make!  All you need is heavy cream and salt (if you wanted salted butter).  That's it! Do it yourself or let your kids make it.

Put it in a mixer with whisk attachment or put it in a jar and shake it.  Easy peasy!

I made 3 small bowls in a matter of minutes.

Blueberry Bagels

My daughter loves blueberry bagels for breakfast and we couldn't find any last time we went shopping. Well I have tons of blueberries in the freezer so I thought why not try and make my own!

They didn't turn our pretty or exactly how I envisioned but they do taste good! I also learned a few things that I will do differently in the future such as roll them smaller and thicker, leave them on a floured surface to rise (not parchment paper) and move the oven rack down some.  Simple enough!

This is the recipe I used..
https://findingbakersbliss.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/blissful-blueberry-bagels/

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Being stuck in the house with no where to go have you feeling blah? Try this recipe for a nice surprise for the family.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 square unsweetened chocolate, melted and cool
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 packed brown sugar
3 Tablespoons cocoa
1 1/2 cup boiling water

In large bowl measure flour, 2/3 cup sugar. 1/2 teaspoon salt, baking powder, milk, butter, chocolate and vanilla. Beat on low speed until mixed and then beat on 4 minutes at medium speed. Pour into an 8x8 dish.

To make sauce mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt. brown sugar and cocoa in medium bowl. Sprinkle over chocolate mixture.  Pour boiling water over all. DO NOT STIR Bake at 350 for 60 minutes. Cake will separate into cake and sauce layers.

Cool slightly and serve with whipped cream.

Whipped Cream 

heavy whipping cream
powdered sugar to taste
1-2 tsp vanilla
Mix using a whisk attachment until desired consistency.

Stevia

Years ago my sister gave me a book called "Growing and Using Stevia ". Not sure why I held on to it but I am glad I did.  Before we were told we have to stay home except for essentials I ran out to the local greenhouse and low and behold they had Stevia plants! I picked up two and came home, grabbed my book and started reading. 

Reading the book I have learned how to start stevia from seeds, cuttings and transplants, how to grow them outdoors in the garden or in containers, how to harvest the leaves to make green stevia powder or liquid stevia extract and several recipes to use it in.

Now I am excited to watch them grow and take advantage of both plants to try new things including trying to start my own plants.

Does your local greenhouse carry the plants?

Dr. Bonner's Castile Soap

Does anyone here use this soap? I do for certain things. Today I was looking around the internet at all the different uses and recipes for it. Needless to say I am pretty certain I will be getting all the different ones and using them more! In the meantime, looks like I will be making a folder of recipes just for these.  Below you can find a few links you can use. There are plenty more!

Please share any recipes you have tried or your favorite scents.

https://prettysimpleideas.com/2014/05/uses-for-dr-bronners-castile-soap/
http://www.lifewithlovebugs.com/how-to-make-castile-soap-body-wash-diy/
https://www.lisabronner.com/dilutions-cheat-sheet-for-dr-bronners-castile-soap/
https://www.naturallivingideas.com/castile-soap-benefits-uses/
https://greencleaninghacks.com/castile-soap/

Protein Ball Recipe

Protein Ball

1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup dark cocoa ( I used Black Dutched with this batch)
1 scoop protein powder (Use whatever is your favorite)
2 TBSP Chia seeds
2 TBSP Flax seeds

Mix honey ans peanut butter until well blended. Add the rest of ingredients mixing well. Roll into small balls, put onto pan lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for approx an hour until set.

Snack Cake Mix

This recipe has always been a favorite of mine and the family.  Just mix up the entire recipe, preportion into bags or containers and label.

Snack Cake Mix
8 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 TBSP baking soda
1 TBSP salt
5 1/4 cups granulated sugar

In large bowl combine all ingredients with a wire whisk. Divide into 6 portions (Approx 2 1/3 cup each). Store in bags or containers and label with date and contents. Store in cool dry place for 10-12 weeks


Applesauce Snack Cake
1 pkg snack mix
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup applesauce
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 325. Pour snack mix into ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking pan and set aside.

In small bowl combine egg, oil, cinnamon, applesauce, allspice, and cloves beating with a fork to blend. Stir into snack cake mix. Stir in nuts and raisins. Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool - Makes 9 servings

Banana-Walnut Snack Cake
1 pkg snack mix
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
1/2 cup buttermilk, milk or water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Pour snack mix into ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking pan and set aside.

In small bowl combine remaining ingredients beating with a fork to blend. Stir into snack cake mix. Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool - Makes 9 servings

Carrot Snack Cake
1 pkg snack mix
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup grated carrots
3/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Cream-Cheese Frosting, below

Preheat oven to 350. Pour snack mix into ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking pan and set aside.

In medium bowl combine egg, oil, carrots, orange juice and cinnamon, beating with a fork to blend. Stir into snack cake mix. Stir in nuts. Bake 35-40 minutes. Prepare frosting and set aside. Cool cake and then frost- Makes 9 servings

Cream Cheese Frosting
3 TBSP butter or margarine
1 3 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 2/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
In small bowl cream butter or margarine and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.


Double Chocolate Snack Cake
1 pkg snack mix
2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup water
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350. Pour snack mix into ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking pan and set aside.

In medium bowl combine water, egg, oil, and vanilla beating with a fork to blend. Stir into snack cake mix. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate chips. Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool - Makes 9 servings

Gingerbread Snack Cake
1 pkg snack mix
3/4 cup hot water
1/3 cup molasses
1 egg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Preheat oven to 350. Pour snack mix into ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking pan and set aside.

In medium bowl combine water, egg, oil, cinnamon, ginger and cloves beating with a fork to blend. Stir into snack cake mix.  Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar- Makes 9 servings

Purple Dead Nettle

Have you ever heard of such a thing? Me neither! BUT guess what? I am pretty sure you have it in your yard because my yard is overrun with it. So with that being said I decided to follow a recipe and make some Purple Dead Nettle Salve. I picked my nettle, dried it in the dehydrator (can just leave it out to dry), crumbled it, put it in a jar and filled with oil (I chose avocado and olive). Please click on the link for instructions.  While I only made the regular oil, I hope to make the others soon.

https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/purple-dead-nettle-salve/?fbclid=IwAR0k7fFaa86mtqiDizVuWQDo8GwZvt2a4ENTooFxwTGvCCDs_gEmWeZdedE

Extracts

I have been making my own extracts for a while now. It is so simple and the taste in incredible!

Vanilla Extract
7-10 Vanilla Beans (I get Madagascar beans off Amazon)
8oz vodka or rum (I use vodka)

Run a knife lengthwise down the center of the bean to open it up. Chop the bean into 1" pieces. Place into a clean jar/bottle (I use a brown tinted bottle). Pour the alcohol over until beans are completely submerged. Put on lid and shake.

Place Jar in cool dark spot. Shake every few days for about 6 weeks.  The longer you go the more intense the flavor becomes.  I refill as needed and get several uses out of the beans.

Mint Extract

3/4 cup - 1 cup mint leaves
vodka

rinse and pat dry leaves. Roll and crush leaves between fingers. Place into a clean glass jar (I use a brown bottle).  Pour vodka over until fully submerged.  Put on lid and shake.

Place Jar in cool dark spot. Shake every few days for about 6 weeks.  The longer you go the more intense the flavor becomes.  Once its at the desired strength, strain and discard leaves.

Chickens

Good evening everyone.  I hope tonight finds you all well. What have you been up to?  As for me, I have been doing things around the house and finding things to help my family become more self sufficient. 

A few days ago we got baby chicks and purchased a used chicken coop. A few days after that we were offered 4 laying hens so we purchased them as well. We ordered a pen and all the supplies, did a curb side pick up and started getting things ready. We even got our first egg today! The babies are Bantam of some sort, a silver laced wyandotte, and 4 barred rock. The hens are 2 Rhode Island Red and 2 black sexlink. Now here's hoping none of the babies are roosters!

We cleaned, power washed and painted the coop. We got it moved tonight and hopefully tomorrow we will get the pen up. Then hens have been housed in a large dog crate at night in the basement but tonight they are spending the night in the new coop. I pray we have it secure enough! Below are the before and after pictures.

I am so excited for all the yummy eggs to come! Maybe in the future we will try our hand at meat chickens and/or turkeys.

Spaghetti Bread - Bread Machine

Spaghetti Bread  - Bread machine

1 package yeast
3 cup bread flour
1 TBSP sugar
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 TBSP olive oil
1 1/2 cup warm water

Place all ingredient into the pan of your bread machine in order recommended by the manufacturer.  Program for a basic white bread and press start.  If you would like you can take the dough when finished and let rise in a pan and bake in the oven

Staples

What is a staple?
To me a staple is something you use often such as flour, sugar, salt, pepper etc..

To my husband a staple is celery, carrots, cup of noodles etc...

This is a definition I found.

A staple food, food staple, or simply a staple, is a food that is eaten routinely and in such quantities that it constitutes a dominant portion of a standard diet for a given people, supplying a large fraction of energy needs and generally forming a significant proportion of the intake of other nutrients as well.

Staple food - Wikipedia

What are your staples? some of mine are below..

sweetener - bread

flour - spices

yeast - bouillon

milk - coffee

butter - creamer

rice - noodles

potatoes - pasta sauce

cheese - pet food

Rice Side Mix

Rice Side Mix

3/4 cup uncooked rice

1/2 cup uncooked spaghetti or orzo

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp salt

Break spaghetti into small pieces or use orzo. Add everything together and keep in a jar or bag.

Rice Side Dish

1 recipe mix

2 Tbsp Butter

2 Cups chicken or vegetable broth/stock

brown butter in skillet. Add mix and liquid. Cook, stirring frequently until rice and pasta are cooked through.

Herbed Garlic Rice Side Dish Mix

1/2 cup uncooked spaghetti

3/4 cup uncooked rice

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp dried parsley

1 tsp salt

Break spaghetti into small pieces or use orzo. Add everything together and keep in a jar or bag. To cook:

brown butter in skillet. Add mix and liquid. Cook, stirring frequently until rice and pasta are cooked through.

Spanish Rice Side Dish Mix

1/2 cup uncooked spaghetti

3/4 cup uncooked rice

1 tsp salt

1 tsp minced onion

1 TBSP dried tomato powder (see notes below) OR 1 cup diced in place of 1 cup of the liquid

1/2 tsp chili powder

Break spaghetti into small pieces or use orzo. Add everything together and keep in a jar or bag. 

To cook:

brown butter in skillet. Add mix and liquid. Cook, stirring frequently until rice and pasta are cooked through.

*Notes - make dried tomato powder..Slice tomatoes into very thin pieces and dehydrate for at least 10 hours at 150 degrees. Keep in airtight container or freezer until ready to use. Store whole or grind into powder

Chicken Helper - DIY

Chicken Helper

1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1 TBSP minced onion
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups uncooked bow tie pasta

Mix all together in a bowl until combined. Store in jar or a bag.

1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
1 recipe mix
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken broth/stock
2 cups diced tomatoes
Parmesan Cheese

Add everything to a skillet and simmer until pasta is cooked through. Top with a bit of Parmesan cheese before serving.

Gluten Free- use Gluten Free pasta
Dairy Free - skip the Parmesan cheese and add an extra cup of broth instead of milk.

Beef Stroganoff Mix - DIY

Beef Stroganoff Mix

2 cups uncooked egg noodles
1 TBSP cornstarch or arrowroot powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon minced onion

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until blended.  Store in jar or a bag.

Beef Stroganoff

1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1 recipe of the mix
2 cups milk, or beef broth/stock
1/2 cup sour cream

Brown ground beef in a skillet. Add mushrooms and cook until everything is browned. Pour mix into skillet and add the liquid of choice. Let simmer until pasta is cooked. Add sour cream just before serving.

Gluten Free - Use gluten free pasta
Dairy Free- skip sour cream and use broth or stock instead of milk

Hamburger Helper - DIY

Hamburger Helper

1 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

Stir all together until mixed well. Store in pint size mason jar or quart size storage bag.

Variations

1 pound hamburger
1 recipe of the mix
2 cups milk
1 cup filtered water
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cook ground beef and drain. put back in pan and add in mix, milk and water. simmer until cooked thoroughly. Stir in cheddar cheese right before serving.

Chili Cheese - add 1 TBSP chili powder to mix
Gluten Free - use Gluten Free pasta
Dairy Free - use 2 cups chicken or beef broth in place of milk and skip the cheese or use a replacement.

Ants, Ants and More Ants

I think we can all agree that ants are horrible little critters that like to invade our houses every year despite our best efforts in keeping them out!

I learned years ago that ants DO NOT like lemon. One day I even sprayed lemon Pledge on my counters before going to bed because I didn't have anything else and believe it or not it worked!  Then I went to using any lemon type cleaner. Well then I found out that cucumbers are toxic to ants and that they cannot stand the smell of peppermint or vinegar!

Ant Spray

Peels from 1 cucumber
1 cup warm filtered water
15 drops peppermint essential oil
1/4 cup vinegar

Put cucumber peels on baking sheet and bake on 400 for 5-10 minutes being careful not to burn them but make sure they are dry like a potato chip.  Let Cool and then process in a blender or food processor until they are in powder form.

Pour the water, peppermint oil and vinegar in a spray bottle, using a funnel add the powder. Shake until it dissolves. Spray where you want it.