Food Favorite

Howdy Homemakers!!

Today is just a quick share. For those of you that are extremely food conscious and savvy about what you buy with what ingredients, you may not like this product. While I care about what we eat and ingest, I also believe that a little leniency here or there is OK.

Anyway, moving on!

This here is a wonderful product! Simple tortilla strips. What gets me though is the chipotle cheddar. I put these on everything! Casseroles, burritos, tacos, nachos, soups (especially good on a hot bowl of split pea soup), salads and even as a snack to just munch on! 

If you want to add a little crunch, a little tang and zest to what you are eating, toss a handful of these onto your plate/bowl. You won't be disappointed.

Happy Homemaking!!

A Favorite: My Bucket

Howdy Homemakers!!

In homemaking one of the keys to keeping up is finding what pattern, routine, schedule, product, etc, that works for you and your home. 

One of my issues is keeping to a set routine gets me bored. I have tried so many times to utilize the "bathrooms on Tuesdays, Windows and baseboards on Wednesday" sort of thing. It just gets too mundane, in an already repetitive profession. 

Something I have found, however, that works really well for me is the bucket. 

Just a regular bucket, with soapy water, a fresh sponge and a towel. 

I can take this bucket all over the house and clean all sorts of things. Ranging from windows, to cupboards, all the way to toys and shoes. 

It is portable, maintains the "mess" after cleaning the mess to one area, and offers the flexibility to clean something besides the same ol', same ol' routine. 

Go on Homemakers, find what works for you. If you feel stumped, grab a bucket, fill it up and move around your house cleaning things. I bet you find things that need cleaned that you haven't thought of for months. 

Happy Homemaking!!

A Recipe - Cinnamon Roll Swirl Cake

Howdy Homemakers!!

Boy do I have a grand recipe for y'all today. I actually found this recipe floating around FB, from Andrea's Country Home Cookin' page. 

Andreas-Country-Home-Cookin

It was fun and easy to make. The results however, are the best part. This tastes so much like a cinnamon roll, yet, so much like cake! Win/win!

So here we go homemakers:

This is the batter spread into a 9x13 pan. It is a thick batter, but really fun to smooth out.

This is the "swirl", in a bowl.

Now this part was a bit tricky. Because my melted butter was still a bit warm, you can see where the mixture wanted to 'pool' instead of swirl in. Instead of over mixing everything, I just let it pool...this worked out for the best in the end result.

I couldn't help but take this photo of the cake when I flipped it out of the pan. It came out almost perfectly, but it was SO pretty! The marbled swirling looked too good to pass up a photo opportunity. 

I put this cake onto a foil covered cookie sheet. Everything about it turned out wonderfully. The smell, the look, the texture. Everything. This photo shows the beauty of this recipe, and why I recommend it so much.

Glazed and then cut. This was one of the best snacks ever. Everyone loved it, and I truly hope you do too!! 

CINNAMON ROLL SWIRL CAKE

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.

Happy Homemaking!!

A Recipe - Cake Batter Blondies

Hey y'all!!

This is a delicious dessert. Unless you simply don't like these sorts of things, I can't imagine anyone NOT liking this tasty treat!  The Good Lord knows, I love making some tasty treats!

I actually found this recipe and had made it before. I wasn't completely satisfied with how they turned out, so I figured this time I would change some things.

Well, I didn't change much! All I did was double the recipe. 1/2 cup of everything instead of 1/4 cup. 2 boxes of cake mix. (I used a "spring mix" this time because I found some boxes on sale for $.45 per box.)

Here is the link to the recipe:

Cake Batter Blondies

Please believe me when I say, DOUBLE this recipe, your results will be SO much better.

I am also high altitude, and I didn't have to change any of the measurements. 

The only other thing that I did differently was instead of mixing in the white chocolate chips, after I put the "dough" in a 9x13 baking dish (glass and greased), I just put the chips on top. 

This recipe rises well, cuts well after complete cooling, and will surely please the masses! I took some to church today for Sunday School, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed them. 

Happy Homemaking!!

Food Favorite

I have discovered this wonderful seasoning!

I watch a woman's videos on YouTube and she always uses this seasoning. At first I thought, eh, what I use is fine, I'm happy with my normal spices. 

Then, I was in the store and getting some spices and saw that it wasn't that expensive, so I'd get some and try it out.

Oh my gracious people!! I don't know why I lived under a rock that didn't include Zatarain's Blackened Seasoning! This stuff is wonderful!

It gives food a spice kick, without a lot of actual "spicyness", while still creating TONS of flavor.

I have used it in soups and stews. I have used it in meat rubs, and meat brines for marinating. Used it in taco meat, in meatloaves (YES! It can make even the BEST meatloaf, better!!), I bet even in hamburgers it would be good. I used it to spice egg salad (yum!) and have used it in potato salad as well. Even added it to gravy. 

Let me tell you, if you haven't tried this seasoning, it is absolutely worth the "go for it!", because it adds wonderful enhancement to things you normally make.

Happy Homemaking!!

Weather Watch

Howdy Homemakers!!

This is a different kind of a post, but relates directly with our homesteading and homemaking. 

The weather. Knowing the weather. Ultimately, being prepared for the weather.

In my neck of the US, the weather can get really frigid, and really precarious, very quickly. Even if our last couple of winters have been what we Wyomingites would consider 'mild', we still have to prepare for these storms. 

We are supposed to have some snow blow in tomorrow and the next day. It isn't that we are supposed to get that much (8" at most 1" at least) snow, but the storms that blow the storms in can cause a ruckus. 

What I have found is that it is much easier to track the weather systems in your area and the areas surrounding your town, and prepare; rather than be caught off guard and not have what you need.

If you have wood stoves, bring in that wood.

If you have medications that are needed, make sure plenty are stocked.

Make sure water is there, if pipes freeze.

Generators, batteries, flash lights, candles for back up light sources. 

Being an organized homemaker goes a long way here as well, as there is no fumbling in the dark. 

Being aware of your weather surroundings, ultimately helps you be able to have all you need, in case you can't get out, or hunkering down becomes the only option.

Today I got errands ran, and last minute things stocked. I will pick up some ground beef and milk and make one last stop at a store to return an item that I ended up not needing. 

Also a great way to motivate you if you haven't picked up dog messes in a while, is to get them cleared before a storm.

I hope little reminders like this help you build a lifetime of good habits to carry into the lives of your children. Preparedness is a great character attribute. 

Happy Homemaking!!

What's For Supper Tonight?

Hello Homemakers!!

Today started out slow, and ended up being my sisters, daughter, niece and I doing some shopping and having lunch together. It was a beautiful thing. I very much enjoyed the sisterly fellowship, and shopping with my daughter. Watching her try on clothes that fit and that she likes herself in. As I said, it was a beautiful thing. 

I wasn't in the mood to make anything fancy for supper, but definitely wanted/needed something filling. It is cold out, all of 22 degrees right now, so I wanted it to be warming too. 

I had 2 quarts of left over chicken soup that we ate a few nights ago. I made it over noodles originally, but didn't save it with noodles in it. 

Since I had them sitting in the fridge, and I was tired, I figured this was a perfect time to reinvent that soup into something for tonight's supper. 

I quickly chopped and whipped up some mashed potatoes (don't forget to skim those impurities!). 

I dumped the 2 quarts of chicken soup in a pot. I added some flour to thicken it like a gravy, and some more spices. Mainly more salt and pepper. 

Then I just boiled up some green beans.

That was it folks. That simple. 

I served the "gravied" soup over the mashed potatoes, with the green beans on the side. 

Nothing fancy, yet very warm and filling. Exactly what I was going for.

I of course added some pepperoncinis and garlic stuffed green peppers to the side of my supper. I love to eat both of those as a compliment to almost anything. 

I hope y'all enjoyed this quick meal. It is truly a no-brainer and something the whole family enjoys.

Happy Homemaking!!

Helpful Homemaker Hint

Howdy Homemakers!!

This here is my next helpful hint!

STEEL WOOL!!

This stuff is fabulous. 

I use it for so many things, but mainly, I love to clean the bathtubs with steel wool. We have those newer tubs, that are the tub and walls all combined. It is a "vinyl/plastic" sort of material.

Anyway, I have used magic erases and wash cloths, every cleaner under the sun...to only partial happiness with the cleanliness of my tubs. 

Here enters, Steel Wool!!

It cleans deep down into the grit of the soap scum, shampoo, grease, and everything else that gets left on a tub and shower surface. It cuts through a water ring where baths are take often, as if it were butter. 

I am telling you what! If you have a hard to clean item in your home, grab some steel wool and elbow grease and get to crackin'!

It has made a world of a difference in my cleaning that is for sure.

Enjoy and....

Happy Homemaking!!

Helpful Homemaker Hint

Howdy homemakers!!! 

Today, I bring you a small, yet wonderful tip.

It is something that I never did/used for a long time. Then I decided when I got new baking sheets, I would give it a whirl, to try and prolong the blackening of my pans.

Have you guessed it??

Parchment paper!! 

This is a handy, simple, fairly cheap (especially with coupons!) little kitchen helper that I have found to be a lovely addition! 

Baking is easier, pans are cleaner, clean up is easier! 

This sounds like an all around win to me.

So, if you haven't ventured into the use of parchment paper, and are still using greases, sprays and lard for your baking needs....I say, Step on out into using parchment paper, and save yourself some hassle!!

Happy Homemaking!!

Helpful Homemaker Hint

Today, I am going to talk about coffee!!

I love coffee. Granted, I didn't start drinking it until a few months after the birth of my second child, I have grown very fond of coffee, and it is a daily drink in our home. 

Now, good coffee can be very expensive. Unless you have the money to spend, or budget well (or have a coupon!) bulk coffee is the best bang for the buck.

The bad part? Bulk coffee sometimes doesn't taste too well. Or the flavor is too strong, or not strong enough.

There is a simple way to fix this, to add flavor and robust to a cup o' joe!

When you fill your filter with coffee, simply add some spices. Here is a short list of some spices that would add depth and flavor to your brew:

Cinnamon (I like sticks, but ground would do fine)
Nutmeg

Allspice

Pumpkin Pie spice

Ginger

Cayenne (YES! Not too much, but a little will add a spicy kick and roasty depth)

Chinese 5-Spice powder

That is a good start! If there is anything you like to add to your coffee grounds, that I didn't mention, I'd love to hear what you have done!

Happy Homemaking!!

A Recipe - Snack Time

I don't normally use the canned Pillsbury crescents, but I had a couple rolls in the fridge that I wanted to use up, that I had left over from a party. 

I needed a quick before-dance snack for my daughter (and the rest of us). 

I simply mixed together about 3/4 of a bar of cream cheese with maybe 1/4-1/2 cup of powdered sugar and a splash of vanilla extract. 

Then I opened the crescents and  put a smear of this mixture along the large end of the crescent, then rolled up like normal. I lined my baking sheet with parchment paper and baked them at 350 degrees F, for about 11 minutes (or until golden brown).

I then sprinkled powdered sugar on top :)

Super easy and quick snack. 

Loved by all. 

MANY variations possible.

Enjoy!!!

Homemade Carpet Deodorizer/Sanitizer

Hello folks!!!

This here is a VERY easy, VERY fabulous, VERY quick item to make that just makes the house (where there is carpet) delicious! There are so many variations to this one, you can really let your scented creativity soar!

I took a 1 quart mason jar. Added about 1/2 cups of baking soda, maybe a little less, and a heaping 1/2 cup of borax. Then I added for fragrance to this batch, orange essential oil (just a bunch of drops in there) and 2 cinnamon stick halves.

I shook it up really well to disperse the essential oil, as it can clump otherwise. Then I let mine sit overnight because of the cinnamon sticks.

This is beautiful smelling!! 

Simply shake over your rug, and let sit for 20 minutes. Then thoroughly vacuum your floors.

VOILA!!

Sanitized carpets, and a fresh, seasonal smell in the room.

Hope y'all enjoy this one!

A Beauty Recipe: Exfoliating Shave Oil

Hello folks!!!

This here jar, is filled with a fabulous concoction!

Whilst perusing the internet, I ran across a "homemade" shave oil of sorts. So I decided since I had a forest growing on my legs, this would be a good time to try it out.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup coconut oil (I suppose you could use EVOO too)

3 TBSP Lemon juice (you could also use lime)

I put it in that mason jar, and shook it a few times and it turned into a paste. 

I figured this would if nothing else, at least get the dead skin off my legs.

OH BOY did I underestimate this stuff!! It felt SO GOOD going on my legs. Revitalizing for sure. 

It shaved off, in such a clean and smooth manner. I have honestly never had a closer shave in my span of shaving. (which has roughly been 20 years)

I recommend this to anyone. I was told though, the lemon will dissolve the sugar, so this is a make before you use sort of product.

Also, I used it on my arms, and body. Feet included! It felt lovely to have this, even if it wasn't used as a shave oil.

All the ingredients are in your kitchen, right on hand. 

*Tip* Wipe out shower when done, so the next person doesn't slip on the left over oil.

Enjoy!!!