Strawberry Crisp

For the two of you who wanted the recipe to this delicious Strawberry Crisp, I give you--- 

Fruit Crisp:

Wheat Grinder Life Hack

Taking a break from the Cedar Chest Makeover because, well, I have to.  I don't have the hardware to press on so I'm baking bread today.

Because I'm a good 30 minutes--in good driving conditions--away from a grocery store and 45 minutes away from a decently priced grocery store, I decided to make bread.  Not a foreign thing for me to do, I mean, I've posted it on here how many times?  But this time I am grinding my own wheat.  Have wheat, don't have whole wheat (WW) flour.  Have white, not WW.  Also what I don't have is a room that I want covered in a fine dusting of flour.

So I had an idea.  I don't know if this qualifies as a "life hack", but it sure made my life easier.

I put a XL Space Bag over my grinder and let it roar.  I left the zip lock open partially because it needs air to work, but it worked like a charm.  A clean-kitchen-after-grinding-wheat charm.

Now you must know that I LOVE my wheat grinder and it is quiet for a grinder and it is clean for a grinder, but it still spews some fine flour dust in a two feet radius and today I just didn't want to deal with it.  My creative side of my brain has been working on ideas how to create a "space" where I can grind and not leave a Mt. St. Helen's kinda mess* because my lazy side of my brain didn't want to deal with the mess anymore...


Voila!

homemade chocolate chip cookies

The term "chocolate chip" cookie doesn't quite do this cookie justice.

They're more like "everything but the kitchen sink" cookies.

But that's just the way we like 'em!

Now if you're the kind of person who likes to throw everything into a mixer then this is not the cookie for you. But if you're the kind of person who loves a delicious cookie then you'll need to get your hands dirty.

 But BONUS you can lick them. But don't tell the kids.  I won't let them "because of the eggs..."

I didn't believe the hubby when he said you need to mix the dough with your hands and I tried a batch in my mixer a while back. I don't know the science behind it, but they did not turn out. "SO Yeah", I mix them "by hand" now.

If you're "jones'n" for a "kitchen sink" kinda cookie, then roll up your sleeves.

Brian's Cookies

2 1/4 Cups (all purpose) flour
2 Sticks (1 cup) butter (softened)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup Brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 bag (11.5 oz bag) butterscotch chips
1/2 bag (11.5 oz bag) chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
2 cups oatmeal

candlestick cake plate

It's crystal clear that I have a problem.

I'm addicted to treasure hunting...

Addicted, Collector, Treasure Hunter. The titles all apply.

I may or may not have like a half dozen candlesticks waiting for tops to be glued to them...

I can feel my Hubby rolling his eyes right now...

homemade liquid hand soap and homemade soap dispenser

I have wanted to try a "discover-ment" as my 6 year old calls it.  I've been wanting to make my own shampoo.  But since we are out of liquid hand soap, (and not out of shampoo) I settled for 'trying my hand' at hand soap.

And BONUS, I tried my hand at videography too. 

Lucky you. :)

So like the many recipes out there, I used 8 cups of water, one Kirk's Castile Soap Bar, grated, 1-2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil and one Upcycled Oversized Pickle Jar. (and some spray paint)

Tea Time

It's cold and flu season here.

We've been trying to cut out sugar and eat more healthy to combat all the yummy treats that were had over the Christmas season.

We've also been downing the Yogi tea.

We love it at this house.  Well, the littlest will only take a few obligatory sips, but the rest of us really enjoy it.  We've tried other brands of Echinacea tea and they don't even compare.

I love the uplifting notes on the tea bag tag and the yoga hints on the side of the box.

Homemade bread

It snowed.

So I made bread.

Internet is off and on again so that leaves laundry and cleaning and baking.

At least baking is fun...

I'm going to break out the crock pot and put some soup on to go with that delicious bread.

I guess there are a few good things about the snow...

Variation on the theme- Muffin Ma'am--Homemade Banana nut Muffins

I know I've already posted about muffins, but when two of your kids wake up and tell you they both dreamt about banana nut muffins, it's probably a sign. The only problem was that we didn't have any nuts and the closest grocery store is thirty minutes away.

But we do have chocolate covered nuts.

You know where my priorities are.

Homemade Play Dough

I have noticed that TV watching brings out the fighting in my kids. I don't know why, but it does.

So I've banned it...(for a week)(and then we'll see)

 

Here's a recipe for homemade play dough that my kids love and is easy and lasts for a long time. Making it is half the fun.

 

Homemade Play dough:

1 cup flour
2 teaspoons Cream of tartar
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon oil
Food coloring

 

Directions: Cook all ingredients slowly, stirring until it forms a ball. Cool and knead until lumps are gone.

 

I stir with a whisk and there aren't any lumps to knead out. Also, I divide the dough into 3-4 portions, put them in zip lock bags, add food coloring and knead the color into the dough inside the baggie.

 

This recipe comes from the Cookin' With Home Storage cookbook, but I've seen the same recipe on the Martha Stewart show. And if it's good enough for her...

 

 

So make some homemade play dough today and keep the Momster away...

big country ;)

So we've moved. 

Yep, we just up and Beverly-Hill-Billied it to rural-town U.S.A. 

We moved to "the city" six months ago, and it just didn't do it for us so we took a leap of faith and moved our family to one of the most wonderful places on the face of the earth.  Population 212.  +7

welcome gift