Mississippi Mud Brownies

Mississippi Mud Brownies ... ~Sherry~
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mississippi-mud-brownies-50400000111522/

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
... 1 (4-oz.) unsweetened chocolate baking bar, chopped
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups miniature marshmallows
Chocolate Frosting

Directions For Brownies:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.

2. Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in sugar and eggs until well blended. Stir in flour. Spread batter into a greased 13- x 9-inch pan.

3. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Sprinkle warm brownies with toasted pecans and marshmallows.

4. Prepare Chocolate Frosting. Pour over pecans and marshmallows; spread to edges. Let cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

Chocolate Frosting:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup milk
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions For Chocolate Frosting:
Cook first 3 ingredients over medium heat in a large saucepan, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes or until butter melts. Remove from heat, and beat in powdered sugar and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.See more

Franken~ Foods

In case you buy your veggies(as opposed to growing them) this is very informative.

Easy to remember if the produce label starts with the #8 it is genetically modified.
#8 PLU 5-DIGIT LABEL: GENETICALLY ENGINEERED or Lab Created "Franken-Food," mixed with Animal DNA and Genes.

Remember too that labeling like this is not required and is completely optional so dont expect it to be an absolute fact.

Also some say this is true : http://www.plantea.com/genetically-modified-foods.htm
and some say its not true : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/plu-codes-do-not-indicate_b_473088.html
You be the judge and be informed. It is your life and your family. Try to grow your own if at all possible.

Not all thieves are stupid

Not all thieves are stupid.This gives us something to think about with all our new electronic technology.

GPS


A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football game. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.


When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so theyknew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear thatthey had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.



Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen
MOBILE PHONES


I never thought of this...


This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet, etc...was stolen.


20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.' When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bankaccount.
Moral of the lesson:


Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list



Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc...



And very importantly, when sensitive info is being askedthrough texts, CONFIRM by calling back.



Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came fromthem If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet'family and friends' who text you.

Fluffy biscuits

Basic Double-Recipe of Biscuits
Makes about 18 (2-1/2 inch) biscuits

This biscuit recipe comes together quickly. Though not as flaky as cutting the butter into the flour mixture by hand, the biscuits are still quite tender and fluffy.

Ingredients:
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons baking powder
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 10 pieces, plus extra for brushing
1-1/2 cups milk

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a food processor, whir together the flour, salt and baking powder. Sprinkle the chunks of butter over the top, then pulse the mixture until it resembles a coarse meal. Pour this into a bowl.

2. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the milk. Bring the dough together using a fork. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Try to bring the mixture together quickly and without overworking it. Roll the dough until it is about 1/4-inch to 1/3-inch thick. Use a biscuit cutter or top of a glass to cut biscuit dough into rounds.

3. Place the rounds close together on an ungreased baking sheet. They should be close, but not touching. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. As soon as the biscuits are out of the oven, brush the tops with melted butter. Serve warm.



Sweetened Biscuits
Makes about 18 (2-1/2 inch) biscuits

These biscuits are great for mornings with jam or desserts.

Ingredients:
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 10 pieces, plus extra for brushing
1-1/2 cups milk

Directions:
Use the same method as for the basic biscuit recipe above.
http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/807032/biscuit-recipes-how-to-make-fluffy-biscuits

Dumplings

Dumpling Recipe
Use this easy dumpling recipe for perfect dumplings every time, making the crucial substitution to achieve the best results.

•2 cups of white flour
•4 tsp. baking powder
•1 tsp. salt
•4 tbsp. soft margarine or butter
•1 cup of milk (or more)
Method:

1.Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
2.Cut in butter that's been kept at room temperature or use soft margarine.
3.Stir milk lightly into the flour mixture with a wooden spoon and adjust amounts to make sure that you have a moist dumpling dough.

Dumpling Cooking Tips

•Make sure your soup or stew is on a gentle simmer. The liquid does not have to be boiling to achieve tender dumplings. Remember that pot temperature rises with the lid on and you don't want the contents to stick to the bottom and burn.

•Drop dumpling dough into the liquid by teaspoonfuls or for larger dumplings use a tablespoon. There's no need to worry about shaping perfect dumplings because they will puff up as they cook. Cover your pot with a lid so that the dumplings can steam.

•Check your dumplings after 10 minutes. Use a knife to cut a slit to check inside. Cook until dumplings are no longer raw in the middle.

•Do not overcook dumplings. Dumplings may disintegrate if left to cook too long.


Read more at Suite101: Easy Dumpling Recipe: Simple to Make Drop-In Morsels Suite101.com http://melodyrhodes.suite101.com/easy-dumpling-recipe-a41905#ixzz1niYPXZYg

Purple dog food feed sack tote

The feed sack tote says Ranch Hound on it. I really like these smaller bags. They are still quite roomy and big enough for most of my needs. They also have a nice pocket inside.
This and other tote bags are available in my Etsy shop.

Outdoor Elegance

Around here there are so many live oak tree that this would work with. Its beautiful. Will you come for tea?

Rufus Hussy

Pretty red bag

I made this bag today with a feed bag sent to me in a trade. I didnt make it near as big as some I have been making. I like it a lot. I also got a few purple bags in the trade which I will get busy on soon.
This and other tote bags are available in my Etsy shop.

Footstool slipcover

This is a slipcover I made this morning for our footstool. It was lime green and quite nasty looking, what with having feet on it so often, after all it is a footstool. I used the legs of jeans that I save when the jeans are worn out. I fashioned it so I could use the hem already on the jeans for the bottom hem of the slipcover. I will be able to easily take this slipcover off and wash it. I think I will also look for a pillow blank the right size to make it a little bit more comfortable. Right now I put a couch pillow under the slipcover. Besides the legs of worn out jeans I also save the pockets and zippers for other applications. My next project is to make a new chair pad for my granddaughters high chair.

Happy Birthday Shelby

Today is my granddaughter Shelby's 8th birthday. The picture is of my two oldest granddaughters Dana and Shelby. They moved to Wyoming and really like it there.

Bacon grease

A while back the manager of the store where my daughters work told me she would save some bacon grease for me if I wanted it. I said I sure do want it. Well time passed and I never got any bacon grease. I figured she had changed her mind. It wasn't that they didn't have any because they cook about 5 lbs. of bacon every three days or so. Well this evening I just happened to stop in the store as they were getting ready to take the grease out to the grease dump. I brought home at least 3 cups of bacon grease. I am excited to be able to use the bacon grease when I cook.

My husband has been out of town since Thursday morning and he just text ed me and said he is going to be gone at least until tomorrow. Bummer. He should be making good money working on the weekend and out of town. It will come in handy because we are saving up for a car. We pay cash as much as we can for our purchases and we don't have a credit card. As soon as we find a new to us car we will begin to save up for the next one so that by the time one is needed we have at least a good portion of the money needed already saved.

I brought home five laying hens from a friend of a friend we visited this weekend. I took the hens to the landlords house and put them in the chicken pen with her hens. Hopefully they will all integrate well there and we will be able to get fresh eggs whenever we need them. The lady said they are good layers she just had too many for her small hen yard. Also they couldn't sell them or eat the eggs fast enough to keep up. I will be bringing her a gift basket of my soaps and lotions when next I visit. I am quite grateful that even though I am not able to have laying hens I had this opportunity to give some to my land lord and will still have fresh eggs.

Tomorrow I plan to get back to sewing, I have not sewn at all last week except to mend jeans for Jeff and one of the girls. I enjoy sewing, especially the crafty items that I make. The little aprons I make from jean pant legs are really quite cute. I also need to get busy making a new cover for Kastyn's high chair. We will be seeing her in March and she will probably be ready to use it.

Have you noticed?

Have you noticed that every one that is pro abortion has already been born?

I found this on a friends facebook and wanted to share.

Pineapple Inside-Out Cake by Lani Olson-Thompson

Pineapple Inside-Out Cake
This pineapple cake us not upside-down.
It is inside out.
It starts with a cake mix for a fast and easy dessert.

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Total Time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

Solid vegetable shortening for greasing the panFlour for dusting the pan
1 package (18.25 ounce) plain lemon cake mix
1 can (15.25 ounce) crushed pineapple packed in juice (divided into two 1-cup portions)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean or sunflower
4 large eggs
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 10-inch tube pan with solid vegetable shortening, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pan aside.

Place the cake mix, 1 cup undrained crushed pineapple, sugar, oil and eggs in large mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The pineapple should be well blended into the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the rubber spatula. Place the pan in the oven. Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger and just starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, 48-50 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto a rack, then invert onto another rack so the cake is right side up. Allow it to cool completely 30 minutes more.

Meanwhile, prepare the glaze. First, drain the remaining 1 cup crushed pineapple and reserve the juice. Combine the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice and the lemon juice in a small bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Place the cake on a serving platter. Spoon the glaze onto the cooled cake. Spoon the remaining 1 cup drained pineapple on top of the glaze.

Slice and serve. Yield: 16 servings Store this cake, covered in plastic wrap or under a glass cake dome, at room temperature for up to a week. The remaining 1 cup crushed pineapple will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to a week. I made this for a pot-luck, very good (and easy).

recipe by Lani Olson-Thompson

Whats for supper?

Whole chickens are on sale this week at HEB for .57 a lb. so I bought one. I have cooked it all day in the crock pot with seasoned salt, garlic and herb seasoning and a little ranch mix. I also cooked up a jar of home canned bacon and split it between a batch of funeral potatoes and cabbage slaw mix that was marked down at the store last week. I had planned this as a nice dinner for my husband but he got called out of town yesterday and wont be back until sometime Monday so the girls and I are going to eat it.

What are you having for dinner/supper tonight?

Ginger glazed carrots

Ginger Glazed Carrots
3(16 oz) bags of carrots (I use baby carrots)
4Tbs. Butter or Margarine
... 2Tbs. minced, peeled, gingeroot or 1Tsp.ground ginger
2Tbs. Light brown sugar
3/4c water

If using whole carrots peel and cut lengthwiseand in half. In 12" skillet over medium heat heat carrots, butter ginger, brown sugar and water to boiling. Reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes until carrots are tender. Remove cover and continue cooking, stirring gently until liquid evaporates and carrots are glazed, about 5 minutes. Serve's 8

recipe by: Alisa Strohmier

Mini hamburger steaks in onion gravy to can

Ingredients for Onion Gravy

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups chopped onion

1 1/2 cups of finely chopped bell pepper

1 tablespoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 – 32 oz. carton Beef broth

1 pkg Lipton Golden Onion Soup mix

½ pint ROUX, (Approximately)

1 can cream of onion soup

Heat the olive oil in a large size pan mix the chopped onions and stir well sauté them and add the chopped bell pepper and sauté together about ten minutes. Add the salt, black pepper and garlic powder and stir well.Add in the beef broth and stir well. Stir in approximately ½ pint of Roux tomake a gravy texture. Stir in cream of onion soup.

Heat for about twenty five minutes or until it is brought to a boil. Set aside in covered pan to set until ready to can.

Ingredients for Mini Hamburger Steaks

5 lbs. fresh ground beef

1 ½ cups of chopped onion

1 ½ cups bread crumbs

1 ½ tablespoon sea salt

1 tablespoon garlic powder

½ tablespoon black pepper

4 raw eggs

Mix all of these ingredients well. Roll this mixture out ona cutting board about ½ inch thick and then cut or roll out the miniHamburger-steaks, heat olive oil in a skillet and place the miniHamburger-steaks brown quickly and turn over and brown the other side. Set aside until ready to can.

(10-11 pints or 6-7 quarts)

Canning:In heated pint jars: place 3 mini Hamburger-steaks in each jar, OR 6 mini Hamburger-steaks in each quart jar. Pour the onion gravy mix over the mini Hamburger-steaks leaving about one inch of space in the jar. Seal and put into canner. Ones the canner gets to10-11 pounds pressure can pints for 75 minutes, quarts for 90 minutes.I like to serve these over white rice.

I found this recipe in the canning group I am a member of online.

Homemade taco seasoning

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
... 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
Use as you typically would a packet of taco seasoning.
About 3 tablespoons per 1 lb of ground beef or turkey depending on your taste.
Mulitply the amounts to make this in buld for future meals store in airtight container.

Fourty Knots

Click on picture for a larger view.

Funny signs

Make your own chili powder

Did you know that today is national Chili day? I am making a pot for us to have later tonight, but when I went to the pantry (after cleaning it :) I found that I was almost out of chili powder. So...I went to work, here is the recipe that I use for making your own!
2 Tablespoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons garlic powder
... 1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Put these ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until it looks like course powder.
Recipe by Missy Logan
This is a post from facebook by Missy. I am not making chili just so you know. She let me post the recipe on my blog.

What has America become?

This is getting nationwide attention.
It was published on July 17th.

Check out where Tawas City, Michigan is.
Actually, it's on Lake Huron
and has a population of just over 2,000.

A Small Michigan Newspaper Editorial...
Short and to the point...




I got this in an email and thought I'd pass it along.




Click on picture for larger view.

Eddie Rickenbacker

It happened every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun resembled a giant orange and was starting to dip into the blue ocean.

Old Ed came strolling along the beach to his favorite pier.. Clutched in his bony hand was a bucket of shrimp. Ed walks out to the end of the pier, where it seems he almost has the world to himself. The glow of the sun is a golden bronze now.

Everybody's gone, except for a few joggers on the beach. Standing out on the end of the pier, Ed is alone with his thoughts...and his bucket of shrimp.

Before long, however, he is no longer alone. Up in the sky a thousand white dots come screeching and squawking, winging their way toward that lanky frame standing there on the end of the pier.

Before long, dozens of seagulls have enveloped him, their wings fluttering and flapping wildly. Ed stands there tossing shrimp to the hungry birds. As he does, if you listen closely, you can hear him say with a smile, 'Thank you. Thank you.'

In a few short minutes the bucket is empty. But Ed doesn't leave.

He stands there lost in thought, as though transported to another time and place.

When he finally turns around and begins to walk back toward the beach, a few of the birds hop along the pier with him until he gets to the stairs, and then they, too, fly away. And old Ed quietly makes his way down to the end of the beach and on home.

If you were sitting there on the pier with your fishing line in the water, Ed might seem like 'a funny old duck,' as my dad used to say. Or, 'a guy who's a sandwich shy of a picnic,' as my kids might say. To onlookers, he's just another old codger, lost in his own weird world, feeding the seagulls with a bucket full of shrimp.

To the onlooker, rituals can look either very strange or very empty. They can seem altogether unimportant .... maybe even a lot of nonsense.

Old folks often do strange things,
at least in the eyes of Boomers and Busters.

Most of them would probably write Old Ed off, down there in Florida . That's too bad. They'd do well to know him better.

His full name: Eddie Rickenbacker. He was a famous hero back in World War II. On one of his flying missions across the Pacific, he and his seven-member crew went down. Miraculously, all of the men survived, crawled out of their plane, and climbed into a life raft.

Captain Rickenbacker and his crew floated for days on the rough waters of the Pacific. They fought the sun. They fought sharks. Most of all, they fought hunger. By the eighth day their rations ran out. No food. No water. They were hundreds of miles from land and no one knew where they were.

They needed a miracle. That afternoon they had a simple devotional service and prayed for a miracle. They tried to nap. Eddie leaned back and pulled his military cap over his nose. Time dragged. All he could hear was the slap of the waves against the raft..

Suddenly, Eddie felt something land on the top of his cap.
It was a seagull!

Old Ed would later describe how he sat perfectly still, planning his next move. With a flash of his hand and a squawk from the gull, he managed to grab it and wring its neck.. He tore the feathers off, and he and his starving crew made a meal - a very slight meal for eight men - of it. Then they used the intestines for bait.. With it, they caught fish, which gave them food and more bait......and the cycle continued. With that simple survival technique, they were able to endure the rigors of the sea until they were found and rescued (after 24 days at sea...).

Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond that ordeal, but he never forgot the sacrifice of that first life-saving seagull.. And he never stopped saying, 'Thank you.' That's why almost every Friday night he would walk to the end of the pier with a bucket full of shrimp and a heart full of gratitude.

Reference: (Max Lucado, "In The Eye of the Storm",
pp..221, 225-226)

PS: Eddie started Eastern Airlines.

Catalina Salad Dressing

Catalina Salad Dressing
Makes about 1 qt.


1 cup ketchup, fruit sweetened if possible (.39, non fruit sweetened price)
1 cup apple cider vinegar (.09)
1 cup light olive oil (1.00) (.26, canola)
1 ½ cups cane juice crystals(.80) (.24. white sugar)
1 t minced garlic
1 T season salt

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix on medium until everything is completely combined. Store in a quart size canning jar and put in the fridge until ready to use.

Cost of dressing made according to recipe: $2.28 (not using fruit sweetened ketchup)

Cost of dressing using canola oil and white sugar: $0.98

source : http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/catalinasaladdressing.htm
I found this recipe at Crystals a long time ago and its the best one I have found so far.

Change

There's an old sea story about a ship's Captain who inspected his sailors, and afterward told the first mate that his men smelled bad. The Captain suggested perhaps it would help if the sailors would change underwear occasionally.

The first mate responded, "Aye, aye sir, I'll see to it immediately!"

The first mate went straight to the sailors berth deck and announced, "The Captain thinks you guy...s smell bad and wants you to change your underwear."

He continued, "Pittman, you change with Jones, McCarthy, you change with Witkowski, and Brown, you change with Schultz."

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: Someone may come along and promise "Change," but don't count on things smelling any better.

Author unknown

Potato Csserole

2 (16oz) containers sour cream ( I will use my homemade)
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
2 (3oz) bags real bacon bits
2 packages Ranch Dip mix
1 large (28 - 30oz) bag frozen hash brown potatoes - shredded kind

Combine first 4 ingredients, mix in hash browns. Spread into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 400 for 45-60 minutes.

source : http://www.plainchicken.com/2011/01/crack-potatoes.html

Garden Basket

This is a great idea for a garden basket. Vegetables are easy to wash once gathered.

Homemade After Shave

•1/8 cup peppermint essential oil
•2 cups rubbing alcohol
•1 cup witch hazel
•1/8 cup lavender essential oil
•1/4 cup glycerin
•1/16 cup eucalyptus essential oil
•A clean, empty bottle
For four easy step-by-step directions, read more.

•STEP 1: Combine the ingredients (except the essential oils) in a jar and mix thoroughly.
•STEP 2: Add the essential oils in slowly, especially the lavender since you don't want to overdo it.
•STEP 3: Close the jar and shake thoroughly. Refrigerate the ingredients for three or four days and shake it about once a day.
•STEP 4: Your aftershave is ready. Tip: Tell whomever you are gifting it to that it is important to shake the container before each application. The bottle should last about six to eight months.

source : http://www.bellasugar.com/DIY-Spa-Treatment-Peppermint-Aftershave-1703226

Homemade vapor rub

■3 Tbs. Coconut Oil – melted
■3-5 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
■6-10 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

1.Place oil into a small container and add in essential oils. You will want to start out at the lower amount of essential oils and work your way up as you will get to decide what your desired potency is.

2.Then just rub on chest, under nose (carefully) and even feet. Rubbing on the feet and then covering with socks is said to be particularly great for coughs.

source : http://suburbhomestead.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/homemade-vapor-rub/

Edited to add: I made this vapor rub this morning was was quite surprised that it smelled just like vicks. I was glad I went back to the recipe for a second look because I would have switched the two amounts of the essential oils. The coconut oil melts as soon as it touches your skin. I put some on my lips and they stayed moist for some time. I will try it on my nose tonight when I go to bed. I am glad I made this recipe. Its good to find a product that does the job and does not use petroleum products.

Mary's little lamb

Mary had a little boy, his soul was white as snow;he never went to Sunday School, cause Mary wouldn't go! He never heard the tales of Christ that thrilled the childish mind; while other children went to class, this child was left behind.

As he grew from babe to youth,she saw to her dismay, A soul that once was snowy white, became a dismal gray. Realizing that he was lost, she tried to win him back...,but now the soul that once was white, had turned an ugly black!

So she started back to church, and studied the bible too, she begged the preacher " isn't there somthing that you can do?" The preacher tried , failed and said, "we are just to far behind, I tried to tell you years ago, but you would pay no mind." And so, another soul is lost, that once was white as snow,Sunday School could have helped, but Mary wouldn't go!

General Tsao's Sauce

The General sauce is super easy and cheap - just take one cup vegetable or chicken broth, one half cup water, a little ginger, onion, and peppers, and about 6 tbsp soy sauce, mix together, and thicken with cornstarch.
The spicy kind. You can either put whole ones in and let it think about itself in the fridge overnight, or sprinkle in spicy red pepper flakes, or use some cayenne! The nice thing about making it at home is that you can choose how spicy or mild it is. I also use a little more soy sauce than the traditional recipes call for, so you might want to start with 3-4 tbsp of it instead of 6.
Recipe from Allyson Waller

Make it homemade

HOMEMADE CREAM SOUP DRY MIX

Using a quart jar, combine and whisk well:

2 cups instant non-fat dry milk mix
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup chicken bouillon granules
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Store in your pantry or a cool, dry place; airtight.

This recipe will yield 3 cups dry mix or 9 cans of creamed soup reconstituted.

TO MAKE THIS SOUP (RECONSTITUTE):
Combine 1/3 cup dry mix and 1 1/4 cups water. Heat over medium heat until thickened.

VARIATIONS:
CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP: Add chopped sauteed mushrooms.
CREAM OF CELERY SOUP: Add chopped sauteed celery.
CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP: Add chopped sauteed or steamed broccoli florets.


You can also make HOMEMADE DRIED ONION SOUP MIX

HOMEMADE DRIED ONION SOUP MIX #1

1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet
1 cup dried onion

Whisk onion powder, salt and sugar in small bowl. Drizzle Kitchen Bouquet over mix; stir until this mix is uniformly brown. Add dried onion and continue to mix until uniformly brown - this will take a bit of time.

Transfer to jar with tight-fitting lid. THIS MIX MUST BE STORED IN THE REFRIGERATOR! Stir before each use.

This recipe will yield 1 cup of Onion Soup Mix which is equivalent to two 1/5-ounce envelopes of dried soup mix.



HOMEMADE DRIED ONION SOUP MIX #2

2 cups instant non-fat dry milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup beef bouillon granules
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Store in an airtight container in your pantry. Stir before each use.

To use (reconstitute) combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/2 cups water. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until thickened.


HOMEMADE DRIED ONION SOUP MIX #3

3/4 cup instant minced onion
1/3 cup beef-flavored bouillon granules
1 tablespoon PLUS 1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon celery seed, crushed
1/4 teaspoon sugar - optional

Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Store in an airtight container in your pantry. Stir before each use.

Five tablespoons of this mix equals one 1.25-ounce package of store-bought dry soup mix.



While you are at it - we can all use a nice browning sauce - whether it is for gravies or any other recipes. This will also thicken gravies.

HOMEMADE KITCHEN BOUQUET

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 cups water

Place brown sugar in heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and allow it to parch (just about burn)stirring slowly the whole time. When the brown sugar turns a dark brown, add water; stir well.

Store in tightly covered glass jar or bottle. Use as you would Kitchen Bouquet or Gravy Master.

source: http://www.oldfashionedhomecooking.net/2010/01/make-your-own-dry-cream-soup-mix.html

I was really excited to find the Kitchen Bouquet, this is a super cheap and simple recipe. I like to use it when I am making gravy that looks too milky. I had no idea all it was is brown sugar and water. I am going to save my bottle and make a small batch of this to refill it.

Another neat garden idea

You all know how much I like to post neat garden ideas. Here is another one. I think they are using it for herbs but I think it would work nicely for strawberries.

Make your own ketchup

In many dishes we prepare tomatoes play a part in them including ketchup. It’s no different in survival or back packing cooking, we need to have tomatoes in most of the foods we like to eat but can tomatoes are not a candidate for long term food storage and too heavy for back packing, however tomato powder is the option.

I came across tomato powder several years ago and it is amazing how good it tastes. I immediately began storing it to replace can sauces and pastes.

Ketchup is something we all have in the refrigerator, but what happens if the grid is down, the stores are closed and you’re out of ketchup? Well, make your own! I’ve played with this recipe for a while and this is dead on for the store bought stuff.

Here’s the recipe:
6 tbs tomato powder (or 6 oz can of paste if you have it)
½ cup white vinegar
¼ cup water for thick ketchup (or add 2 or more tablespoons of water for a thinner ketchup)
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp garlic powder

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and serve.
I know the cinnamon sounds strange but it is the secret ingredient in ketchup.
Add more water to make it as thin as you like.

source: http://livingprepared.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-04-15T18:55:00-04:00&max-results=10

Kastyn is two months

Daddy and Kastyn 2 months.

Kastyn playing.

She's a pretty girl.

Mommy and Kastyn. Burrrr

Bright eyes.

Hannah and her pig wallow or a teenager playing in the mud

Jeff and I took a nap and this is what the kids did while we slept. They didn't worry one bit they would get in trouble, in fact they wanted us to wake up so we could see what they were doing. Mollie didn't want to join in this time because she has to go to work.

What do you mean there is nothing to do? Its been raining for the last few days and there is nothing planted in the garden because its too wet.

The logical thing to do is a redneck mud spa. Some might look at this and say it looks like a pig wallow. I say its a teenager playing in the mud. I'm glad she still has some silly little girl left in her. Plus we do have the outside shower she can easily rinse off under. She did forget that we do have neighbors. Hope they didn't see too much.

Homemade Italian Dressing

Homemade Italian Dressing
1 C. vegetable oil
1/2 C. cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. crushed chili pepper
1/2 tsp. minced garlic

Mix all ingredients together well. Store in an airtight bottle or jar. Chill several hours before serving. Shake well before serving.

sorce: http://www.copykat.com/2009/05/10/home-made-italian-dressing/

Take time to listen to this~~its worth it

The Big Waste

Good advice

1] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout.

2] So a Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on.

3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4] All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

5] Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!

6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE.

Make your own dishwasher soap

I dont have a dishwasher but I have friends who do who may want to try this recipe since dishwasher soap is so expensive.
Dishwasher Detergent ingredients:
1 box Borax (4lbs 12 oz or 76 oz ) (2.15 kg) found in the detergent isle
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55 oz or 3 lbs 7 oz) found in the detergent isle
24 packages of unsweetened lemonade drink mix, like kool-aid. (**Note: lemonade will stain soap dispenser yellow, another option would be to use citric acid instead of lemonade. You can usually find citric acid in the canning isle )
3 cups Epsom Salt

Lemi Shine rinse aid (this recipe does not work very well without it) You can find Lemi Shine in the dishwasher detergent isle at just about any store. You can also use vinegar as a rinse aid. If your dishes are coming out with spots on them that means you do need a rinse aid.

source: http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2011/01/dishwasher-detergent.html

I'm lucky to have any hair left

My hair turned completely gray within a month of my husbands death. I was still quite young and not ready to be gray so I colored it. And colored it and colored it for years. Now I am at the stage in my life where I think I would not mind having gray hair. I thought it would be like kinda like having blond hair. All four of my sisters have blond/blondish hair, some more blond than others but I have always had darker hair, don't know why. My hair also grows quite fast so I have to color my roots quite often. Like every three or four weeks. I don't like to spend the time to color my roots so often.

A few days ago my roots were almost an inch long so I thought if I lightened the rest of my hair the gray roots growing in wouldn't be so noticeable so I tried a lighter color but I didn't put any on the roots. The results were a little lighter hair and really blond roots. I figured I just needed to buy a more expensive hair color, I always buy the 2.96 colors at Walmart, so I spent nearly 10.00 on a box of hair color specifically made to color dark hair blond, really blond. I followed the directions except for the strand test and left the bleach/color on for a whole hour, I could have left if on for another 30 minutes. Then I had very light blondish orange hair. Jeff kept saying we can just get it cut. I am trying to grow my hair out, I am tired of having short hair. The girls tried to be nice but said they didn't want to go anywhere with me for a while. Jeff kept saying we could get my hair cut, I heard you already and whats with the we stuff anyway, its my hair that looks like I don't know what.

The girls went back to their camper and Jeff went to bed. I sat there thinking about the box's of brown hair color I had stuck in the cabinet. I knew that if you do too much to your hair too often you can ruin it and end up with hair that is like jelly, and you have to get it cut really short and when you throw the jellied hair outside even the birds wont touch it to make a nest. I know these things, been there, that was my story. Still I was thinking that I had only bleached it the one time, the other time I had just tried to color it a lighter color. Most colors I put on my hair turn red because of something in my system, they have always done that so I have to be careful what colors I buy.

When I looked in the cabinet the first box of hair color I found had a reddish tint to it so I put it back and dug deeper. Ah, there was a nice brown hair color. I will just put this on to get rid of the ugly blond, orange stuff that's on my head right now. I colored my hair starting with the roots so they would not be glaring at me any more. Then I didn't feel like there was enough to cover the rest of my hair good and I sure didn't want brown hair with blond orange ends so I grabbed another box of color and mixed it up, this time I did grab one with the red tint, I figured if I was only using it on the ends and the roots and most of the ends were covered with the other brown hair color I would be all right. I waited the required 20 minutes. So far my head wasn't burning and didn't smell funny. As I rinsed the color out my hair still felt like hair, so far so good. Today I have a lovely brownish hair color that I think my family will have no problem being seen with. My hair feels soft and strong and not like jelly.

I guess I'm just not ready to go gray.

Celtic Heart Knot

missionary update

Hello Friends,

Just a quick note to let you know Bush Bunny Brenda Lange will be the guest of David Warren tomorrow on The Roadshow radio program.

You can listen live from 12 noon to 1PM (Central time) on 90.5FM on KNYD in the Broken Arrow / Tulsa area. if Tulsa is not in your listening area, tune in via the internet at www.oasisnetwork.org/knyd.asp

Blessings,
Linda Ferguson
Orphans Unlimited

Sweet Cronbread recipe

1 c. cornmeal
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/3 c. sugar
2 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2/3 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. melted butter
2 Tbs. honey
4 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 c. whole milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or a medium cast iron skillet. In a large mixing bowl, stir the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pour in the vegetable oil, melted butter, honey, beaten eggs, and milk, and stir just until moistened. Pour the batter into the greased baking dish and bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. The cornbread will turn lightly brown and have slight cracks.

Raw milk to cheese

I found a source for raw milk about 30 minutes from our house. Yesterday Jeff and I went in search of the dairy. We had a nice drive and easily found the dairy. The milk was $5.50 a gallon so we bought two gallons. You could see clearly at least three inches of cream on the top. I almost jumped up and down. When we got home I tried to pour off the cream from both gallons. I am going to buy a good turkey baster for next time.

Then I made a half a gallon of yogurt using Yolanda's recipe for the crock pot, you can read the directions here: http://simplyhomemaking60.blogspot.com/2011/02/easy-yogurt.html

There was enough cream left in the milk that the yogurt looks so rich and creamy. I put about half of the yogurt in containers in the fridge and put the rest in a damp cloth lined colander to make cream cheese.

This morning I am making 30 minute ricotta cheese using this recipe: http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/homemade-ricotta-cheesein-30-minutes/

Later after church I will be making some bagels to eat with the cream cheese. Here is the recipe I will be using from Tammy's recipes.
http://tammysrecipes.com/homemade_bagels

Yesterday I ordered the cultures so I can begin to learn cheddar cheese making. Oh the possibilities.

Here is a sign for your garden

It was pretty small so I made it bigger, now its blurry but you get the drift. I thought it was cute.

Plant wall

Spices stop blood clots better than drugs

Health Secrets Newsletter) Spices do a whole lot more than liven up food. Research has found that the active ingredients in several common spices can help keep you alive by preventing platelet aggregation and blood clot formation up to 29 times better than aspirin, offering a much safer alternative to anti-clotting drugs such as Plavix. And they do it without side effects.

Scientists in India have done extensive testing to determine the health benefits of spices traditionally used in Indian cuisine. The latest research to come from the Central Food Technological Research Institute evaluated the effect of the active principle spice compounds eugenol, capsaicin, piperine, quercetin, curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, and allyl sulphide on human platelet aggregation. They demonstrated that each compound evaluated was able to significantly inhibit blood clotting. Furthermore, the compounds performed their anti-platelet aggregation activity against several different factors that promote the clotting of blood.

Eugenol and capsaicin were found to be the most potent inhibitors of induced platelet aggregation. This ability was shown by the other tested compounds too in the declining order of curcumin, cinnamaldehyde, piperine, allyl sulphide, and quercetin. Eugenol was found to be 29-fold more potent than aspirin in inhibiting ararachidonic acid induced human platelet aggregation. Both eugenol and capsaicin inhibited production of clotting factors in a dose-dependent manner.

Cardiovascular disease and inflammation often go hand in hand. Earlier research by this team of scientists found that eugenol was highly effective at inhibiting inflammatory conditions in humans.

Spices are powerful medicines

Eugenol is the active compound that gives cloves their aroma. It is also found in cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon balm. Eugenol is also used medicinally as a local antiseptic and analgesic. It has antioxidant and pain relieving properties.Not Getting Your Greens
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Spicing up food with cloves or other spices containing eugenol is best way to get this active compound into your diet. Eugenol is also available as essential oil for use in lotion and massage oil, or as aromatherapy in diffusers. Extracted eugenol should not be consumed internally.

Capsaicin is the active compound in hot peppers and the one that creates the heat. It is found in hot sauce, chili peppers, or as cayenne pepper. Aside from reducing platelet aggregation, capsaicin has a distinguished history as a cancer fighter through its ability to make cancer cells die. It is particularly effective against prostate and other hormone dependent cancers. Capsaicin sooths the digestive tract and may be a cure for inflammatory bowel disease. Eating chili peppers has been shown to protect against the effects of aspirin on the stomach.

Capsaicin protects the heart through other mechanisms besides inhibition of platelet aggregation. It reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, and has been shown able to dissolve fibrin, another action through which it can protect against blood clots. Cultures around the world that use hot peppers liberally have significantly lower rates of heart attack and stroke than cultures that do not.

Getting red pepper into the diet is easy. It is often kept on kitchen tables in the form of hot sauce, and sprinkled on meat, fish, side dishes, and snacks. Hot sauce is a natural accompaniment to Mexican and many other foods. Chili made with fresh tomatoes and hot peppers offers the two major players against prostate cancer in one meal. Even a simple bowl of beans gets up to dance when hot sauce is added.

For anyone wanting a quantifiable amount of capsaicin, there are capsules available.

Curcumin is one of the best known herbal healers. It is the active ingredient in turmeric, one of the staples of Indian cooking. Turmeric has been used for centuries to help treat health conditions and is also a tradition in Chinese medicine. It has recently been shown to strengthen and order cell membranes, making cells more resistant to infection and malignancy. Turmeric treats digestive issues, arthritis, menstrual problems, and liver and gallbladder issues. It is one of the best natural pain relievers and has shown to be more effective at relieving pain that NSAIDS such as ibuprofen, without side effects. Turmeric also offers strong defense against colitis.

While curcumin is preventing blood clot formation, it is also preventing the oxidation of cholesterol, offering protection against blood vessel damage and plaque build up that can lead to heart attack and cancer. There is even mounting evidence that curcumin can keep away neurodegenerative disease through its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and act as an antioxidant.

Turmeric can spice up anything from baked potatoes to elaborate curries. It is a highly tasty addition to lentils. Both turmeric and curcumin are widely available in capsule form.

Cinnamaldehyde comes from cinnamon and provides that heavenly fragrance and spicy taste loved by almost everyone from childhood on. Cinnamon has been a popular healer for more than 2000 years, and is a powerful regulator of blood sugar levels. Taking one half teaspoon a day can completely normalize blood sugar for many people. Cinnamon has a beneficial impact on cholesterol, lowering LDL levels. It is a digestive aid and antibacterial.

Piperine is what gives black pepper its kick. It provides an overall health boost and is effective against colon cancer and inflammation. Sprinkling black pepper on food increases the bioavailability of its nutrients. Piperine can be ordered in capsule or tablet.

Allyl sulfide is found in the oil of garlic and is one of the compounds that gives it such a unique odor. The health benefits of garlic are legendary. Allyl sulfide is not available as a supplement and must be obtained by eating garlic or buying garlic supplements. Crush a clove of fresh organic garlic just before eating and add it to your food. The taste will be sensational, and you will get all the benefits garlic has to offer. Many of these benefits are lost if garlic is added to food while it is cooking.

Buy traditional spices from a spice shop

Cloves, red pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, and garlic are all sold at traditional supermarkets and discount stores, often in ground form. These products may add a small amount of flavor to food, but they are deficient for anyone trying to get their health benefits.

To buy high quality herbs, visit a local spice shop or order them from a spice retailer online. This way you can get organic herbs and spices that have their full range of nutrients and are not irradiated or sprayed with pesticide.

When you order herbs as tablets or capsules, unless the product states it is organic, it is not. Organic herbs sold in capsule form are difficult to find and are quite expensive. It is much more economical to purchase from a spice shop. The top spice shops package their spices in glass bottles that assure a tight seal. They can be kept in the freezer for many months.

Taking a quantified dose of a whole herb that is not encapsulated may seem like a chore, but it can be quickly gotten used to. Remember that these are herbs, not drugs, so there is not the need to be overly precise about the amount taken. Once you have established the amount you wish to take, put it in a 1/8 or 1/4 sized teaspoon, open your mouth, place it on the back of your tongue, and swallow with water or tea.



About The Author:

Barbara is a school psychologist, a published author in the area of personal finance, a breast cancer survivor using "alternative" treatments, a born existentialist, and a student of nature and all things natural.

source: http://www.alignlife.com/articles/acidity/Spices_Stop_Blood_Clots_Better_Than_Drugs.html#.Tt2z3W4fk69.facebook

Make your own train

I don't know if they put seats in these, it looks like they did but the wheels are just cheap two wheel dollies you can get at Harbor Freight.

Isn't this a fun idea?

missionary update

From: "Brenda Lange"
Date: February 7, 2012 10:23:44 AM CST
Subject: Feb. 7, 2012 blog

WOW! Getting back to the fast paced USA has been a bit of a shock to my bunny system!
It’ was overwhelming to go into Walmart for the first time after having only shopping in a little one room store for 9 months.

All is going well in Mozambique, as Eric Dry, my Associate Director, is keeping me well informed of all that is going on.
Much rain has made travel and work very difficult, but this is our “norm” from Dec. to March.

I was heartbroken yesterday when Eric wrote to tell me that our precious little 2 year old ESPERANCA from Impire Village, took ill with malaria last week.
Even though she received treatment, she only lived 2 more days before leaving us to go live with Jesus.

For those who may not know her story, Esperanca was declared DEAD IN UTERO 2 years ago by our Balama Doctor.
The mother refused to accept those words, and came to our church, asking Linda Stanley and our women’s prayer group to pray for her.
After prayer, there was no movement or other sign that the baby was alive, so the mother walked back to her village (15 miles into the bush) very disappointed.
Three weeks later, she went into labor. The nurse at the Impire Village Clinic checked her but found NO HEART BEAT.
Jesus performed a resurrection miracle and that baby received LIFE AS SHE EXITED THE BIRTH CANAL, SCREAMING her entrance.
Shocking everyone, she was found to be in perfect health.
Linda and 2 year old Esperanca can be seen together on this year’s DVD update.
Many die of malaria each year due to inadequate treatment in remote clinics.
This is one of the “roots” that orphans so many across Africa.

Our DVD updates will be available where ever I speak this year for a $5 donation to cover our cost for making it.
If you cannot get to one of these meetings, then you may obtain a copy of the update by contacting Linda Ferguson at our office in Texas.

I’m in Eagle Lake, TX at the moment, staying with my parents.
On Thursday this week, I will leave for Kansas and travel none stop till the middle of March hoping to see many of you as I travel to 7 states.
If you need to contact me, e-mail is the best way. (Brenda@orphansunlimited.org)
If you need to speak to me, then you may text or call me on my USA cell: 210-912-3919.

I really look forward to visiting with as many of you as possible.
Blessings,
Bush Bunny Brenda on tour

"Bush Bunny" Brenda Lange

LOVE GIFTS TO:
ORPHANS UNLIMITED, INC.
11152 WESTHEIMER RD., PMB 391
HOUSTON, TX 77042

LOVE GIFT TO: ORPHANS UNLIMITED in RSA
Standard Bank-Hatfield
(branch code) 011-54515
Name: Orphans Unlimited
Acct. # 017743036

PERSONAL NOTES TO BRENDA
brenda@orphansunlimited.org
ALL OTHER INQUIRIES:
LINDA FERGUSON
linda@orphansunlimited.org
phone: 979-234-3422 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 979-234-3422 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 713-854-9197 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 713-854-9197 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Brenda’s Blog is Posted at:
www.orphansunlimited.org/blog
or SUBSCRIBE to receive the blog by e-mail.

People are so funny

I went with hubby out of town for a get away and now for some reason we are invited out for dinner tonight and tomorrow night. Last time hubs was here they acted like he had leprosy, his boss's boss got mad and made them beg for him to come this time, they did, now he is popular for some reason. Oh could it be that he is saving their butts from the g-ment cause he is getting them up to snuff on programs that had to be done for regulations. lol How funny and all I brought was t-shirts. Jeff is an automation controls specialist and he does programing for PLC's and wonderware. I think I spelled those wrong and don't ask me to explain what they are, lol.

I am so silly

I was looking at the map to see who was visiting my blog and I saw it said that someone was on here from Padre Island Texas and then I remembered it was me. LOL

Mini Vacation

Jeff had to go out of town to work for three days. Its only three hours away but too far to drive each day so he would be getting a motel. He asked me to come along so here I am. The only expense for me to come is the gas because I cant ride in the company vehicle (dumb rule) and what ever I decide to spend. I think we can share the evening meal and the breakfast is free with the motel so there shouldn't be too much expense.

I was surprised that a fancy motel like this wouldn't have a fridge and microwave in the rooms. I met the maids and mentioned something about it and they asked if I wanted them that they are free so they ordered some to be delivered to our room. That's good because then if we have leftovers at supper I can save them for my lunch the next day and cut expenses even more. I also found out I don't have to leave the motel while the girls clean. They didn't mind a bit to have me sit at the desk while they cleaned the bathroom and made the beds. We even visited a bit.

I did drive around some today before I found out I could just stay here while they cleaned and found a really nice Goodwill store just a few blocks from here. I imagine Jeff and I will visit there when he gets off work today. I can always use more tops and capri's and Jeff can use shirts. We found that Walmart has some nice jeans for $10.99 and Goodwill charges $9.99 for used so for $1.00 we can buy new.

I brought along my crochet so I will have plenty to do while we are here. I hope you all have a great day.

Upcycle old chandaleer's

As a hanging planter~~~~~~or

A hanging bird feeder. Both cute ideas.

Appearances can be deceiving.

This is awesome

I just had to share this awesome stairway. Talk about craftmanship. Isnt it beautiful?

Travel trailer as a BOV

You have how many children?

Bio sand water filter

2nd Place ~ Good job

Hannah entered her drawing in the Houston Livestock and Rodeo show and won 2nd place. Not bad for her first try.

Candy apple jelly

Ingredients
4 cups apple juice
1/2 cup red-hot candies
1 (1.75 ounce) package powdered fruit pectin
4 1/2 cups sugar

Directions
In a large kettle, combine apple juice, candies and pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; skim off any foam and undissolved candies. Pour hot liquid into hot jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Adjust caps. Process for 5 minutes in a boiling-water bath.
source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Candy-Apple-Jelly/

Pickled Beets

My husband has started eating pickled beets at work and he really loves them. Today he asked how they make them and here is what the guys do.
1 gallon sliced beets
1 gallon clean empty jar
2 c. sugar
2 c. apple cider vinegar
Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar. Put the beets and vinegar mixture into the jar and let the flavors meld for 24 hours in the refrigerator.

I need to find a source for gallon glass jars.

Yogurt and ricotta cheese

Yesterday I made yogurt loosely following Yolanda's recipe for the crock pot. I added strawberry jello at the same time I added the starter and its really good. I may add peach next time.

Today I would like to try making the ricotta cheese I posted about a few days ago. I never did get the mozzarella cheese made but there is always another day. I just wish there were a dairy I could buy milk direct from around here, one that doesn't use drugs and chemicals. Dream on. I bet there surely has to be one somewhere close. Our landlord has Pygmy goats but they don't milk them, they only have them for the amusement of their grandchildren. Seems like a waste to me. But alas it is not my land or goats.

This week I have made banana bread, rolls, bread sticks and yogurt. Not too bad.

I was looking at the grocery ad for this week and it seems like each week there is less and less that I think is even close to a good deal. The only thing I see that may be a good deal is picante sauce and Kleenex so I guess I will get some of that. I also want to buy some oranges and bananas. I won 6 months free bananas a while back and the coupons are good until June or so. I gave some to the preachers family and some to Kaleena and I still have plenty left but I need to use them and not waste them.

I made a nice meatloaf last night from free venison hamburger and .99 ground turkey. I really like it and there is enough for about 4 more servings so I have lunch for a couple of days depending on which of the girls is working and which is home.

It rained last night and they are calling for scattered showers and 75 degrees so I bravely am washing and hanging my clothes today. It looks to me like it will clear up and the clothes will dry fine, if not I guess they will tomorrow. It would be nice to have a carport over the wash area so I could hang clothes no matter whether there is rain or not.

I need to stop by the seed store and pick up some seed potatoes and maybe onions. They are suppose to be planted by presidents day.

Well you all have a great day. Leave a comment and say hi, especially the readers who never leave comments.

Oh and I was wondering why I havnt heard from Bush Bunny Brenda when it dawned on me that she is traveling to the US. Keep her in your prayers if you will.

Banana Cream Pie

Ingredients
•1-1/2 cups cold fat-free milk
•1 package (1 ounce) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
•1/3 cup fat-free sour cream
•1 carton (8 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed, divided
•3 medium firm bananas, sliced
•1 reduced-fat graham cracker crust (9 inches)
Directions
•In a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Stir in sour cream until smooth. Fold in 1-1/2 cups whipped topping.
•Place half of the banana slices in the crust; top with half of the pudding mixture. Repeat layers. Spread with remaining whipped topping. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours before serving (pie will be soft- set). Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 8 servings.


Nutritional Analysis:
One slice equals 260 calories, 7 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 1 mg cholesterol, 284 mg sodium, 42 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fruit.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Banana-Cream-Pie-3

My kinda sorta bread recipe

Several people on face book have asked me to share my bread recipe and since I don't measure anything but the water its kind of hard to share, but here is a guesstimate of what I do.

I can only sorta tell you. I put 2 cups of warm water in the bowl of my kitchen aid. Add some yeast and sugar, maybe 2 T. of each? This time I also added about 1/4 c. instant potatoes Let sit until its bubbling or working. Then add a glug o...f olive oil maybe 1/3 c. or 1/4 c. then add about 1/3 c. powdered milk, flour and some salt, I just mix it and add flour as needed. When it cleans the side of the bowl I let it mix for a bit then take it out and oil the bowl, turn the dough around the bowl to get oil all over it and cover the bow. I let this sit until doubled in bulk, 45 min to an hour. Then I punch it down and form into what ever I am making that day.

How is that for a precise and clear as mud recipe?

Bread baking day

Every few days I make bread so I don't usually say anything about it or that would be very boring. But today I am making rolls and bread sticks with my dough. I thought I'd drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil over the bread sticks and then sprinkle garlic salt and a bit of Parmesan cheese. They look good. As you can see I gave them a twist and put them side by side. This will make them a softer bread stick. If you want your bread sticks to be harder then just leave space between them so the heat from the oven can circulate all around and brown them.

I make bread and don't use a recipe or measure anything except my water so its hard to share it with others.

Today I cut up 4 pretty nice pairs of my husbands jeans. I cut the legs off and then the back pockets. They were pretty good jeans yet but I decided that if I donate them then they will resell them maybe, but if I cut them up and reuse them I can get 8 aprons out of them and several quilt squares. I can sell each apron for about $10.00 unless I give them away making a profit of $80.00 that I would not otherwise have made. I think I can get an adult size apron out of each leg and not just a toddler apron. This makes it more profitable in my mind as adults tend to really use aprons more than children do. This may be all wrong but that's ok, its just a thought.

Today I also worked on making yarn out of our discarded t shirts. I am able to get quite a bit of yarn out of each t shirt as well as 4-6 good rags out of the top part. The part I throw away is very small. For some reason this gives me satisfaction knowing I am using most of the t shirt.

I am not sure where I got the bug to reuse and recycle things but it sure seems like I do this in most areas of my life.

I will list a small portion of things I reuse to give you some ideas:
~empty bottles with lids, these I either use to store leftovers, or new concoctions
~empty woven feed sacks, these I make tote bags, purses and occasionally an apron from
~t-shirts, these are used to make a nice cotton yarn which I then crochet into rugs.
~jeans, I make aprons, quilts and all kinds of stuff from. The fabric is quite sturdy.
~bath towels, these can be cut down to make wash cloths or as a lining in a pot holder among other things.
~hummm, cant think of anything else right now but I am quite sure there are other things I reuse.