To all my faithful readers and friends of Nancy On The Home Front, I’m doing it. I’m stepping down from blogging and moving on to other adventures. After more than eight years, over 2000 published posts, 2435 subscribers to my blog and 114K followers on social media I am retiring from the world of blogging. The time has come to say thank you and farewell.
When I first started blogging I barely knew how to post a blog. I’ve learned so much over the years and met so many wonderful online friends. One of the most important things I learned is I don’t have to do it all by myself. There are so many people and groups out there that are willing to give advice and help you out.
Nancy On The Home Front started out as a way to share my love of gardening and our life in Vermont. We raised chickens, managed massive vegetables gardens and even raised bees. My focus was on preserving the harvest and having a full pantry. We lived within our means and had a really simple life.
As we got older and our children grew up and married and started having families of their own they all ended up living in Oregon and Washington. After many years of flying back and forth we decided we wanted to be part of our grandchildren’s lives and head west.
It was a long journey before our house finally sold and we were able to find another house in Oregon. We are now adjusting to living on a very small lot. No vegetable garden yet, and instead we are supporting our local CSA. I still try to preserve what I can and have a well-stocked pantry. It may look a little different from the pantry I let behind, but I am still prepared.
Do I miss life in Vermont? Absolutely, it was a dream, which turned into reality. Do I love living in Oregon? YES!, and I love seeing our children and grandchildren on a regular basis. Life goes by so quickly and we don’t know what the future holds so I enjoy every minute I spend with my grandchildren! I don’t believe in looking behind only looking ahead and the wonderful possibilities the future holds.
Perhaps in the future I may come back and start another blog but for now I am stepping away from the computer and I’m going to enjoy life to the fullest in Oregon. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your faithful readership, for the support you’ve given my blog and the many comments you’ve left over the years. I will miss you all. Thank you and farewell.
All the best for the New Year!
For the time being I will keep my Nancy On The Home Front social media sites up, where you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, if you want to keep in touch.
First of all I want to wish all my faithful readers a very Happy New Year! I enjoy the first of a new year, a time to reflect on what happened in the previous year and a resolve to do things better for the upcoming year. I like to look over our budget and see where we can save more money. As I examine at our annual budget there are many areas in which the budget is fixed and we can’t really do anything to change it. However, one area which you can change is your grocery budget. One thing that has really helped me over the years is to make a weekly menu plan. Saving money in the New Year is a yearly goal!
By planning ahead what we are going to eat I don’t have to think about what we’re going to have for dinner. Even if I don’t follow my menu plan exactly I know that I have shopped for these meals and have what I need on hand to make them. After I have planned my weekly menu I write a grocery list. I love this print out that I can plan a weeks worth of menus and a shopping list at the same time! When I go to the store I stick to the list. Using my list I know I will have the ingredients on hand to make the meals I have planned for.
Buying in bulk is another way you can save money on your grocery bill. You can buy in bulk through a food warehouse or a local co-op or just be aware of when certain items go on sale. It is important that you know your prices. If you can’t keep them all in your head make a price book. This is a little notebook where you keep track of the prices of items you purchase all the time.
Try to stay away from processed foods. Whole food is much better for you and often processed foods and convenience packaged foods are more expensive.
Eat one vegetarian meal a week. There are many options for meatless meals. This is also a great way to make sure your family is getting in those extra vegetables. One of my Christmas gifts was a wonderful cookbook called Eating Well In Season, it’s full of vegetarian recipes all of which look delicious!
Plan on eating leftovers for dinner once a week. Have fun and combine leftovers to make a nutritious dinner. Some of my best soups were made from leftovers!
Learn to bake! Making your own bread, cookies, granola is so much healthier for you and will save you money! A favorite in our house is homemade pizza, when you make everything from scratch this is a very frugal meal, which everyone enjoys.
Make your own cleaners and laundry detergent. It is so easy and the products you can make yourself work just as well as store bought products. Check out my blogs about making household cleaners and laundry soap. You’ll be amazed at what you can make at home!
Make saving money in the New Year a New Year’s resolution to try some of these ideas at home and save money on your grocery bill in the New Year!
It’s the end of 2019 and the start of a new year. I’ve made my goals for the year and I’m looking forward to what the New Year holds. I’m spending time with my family tonight and enjoying special time with my granddaughter. Wishing you many blessings for the New Year.
When I first started blogging I was hired by a company to make daily posts on “Prudent Living on the Home Front”. I was comfortable working on a computer, but there were so many lessons I learned while blogging.
Blogging is work and sometimes it is more work than I care to admit. I approached blogging like a job and was committed to spending a good part of my day on the computer. I posted five times a week. Some bloggers post three days a week, but for me five days a week was my goal.
It helps to have a schedule of what you plan to post each day. I would also try to have several weeks worth of blog posts done ahead of time. You never know when you might have an emergency in life, and if you want to keep your blog going it is good to have some posts on hand.
Always proofread before publishing! Even with reading and re-reading my posts and then having my husband read them I can still go back later and find typos!
Posts should link to other posts both internally and externally.
It takes at least a few hours to come up with a final blog post. Having good pictures is important. Often it is the picture that will catch someone’s eye and lead him or her to read your post. Posts can be fine with only 300 words or they can be much longer.
Your blog should have a look and feel. Readers should know what to expect when they come to your blog. Have a logo and consistent colors.
If you are on Word Press have Yoast SEO to help you with your SEO and readability. It’s almost like a game to make sure you get all green lights.
It’s ok to accept guest posts and to offer to write guest posts for others.
Social media is a good way to let others know about your blog. It’s ok to try and focus on just one or two social media platforms instead of trying to keep up with all of them!
One of the most important lessons I learned was you don’t have to do this alone. There are all sorts of blogging groups you can join to give you support and a place to ask questions. It’s also fine to join a group to host a blog hop where other readers share a post.
Have fun with blogging. Let your posts be entertaining, educating, informational and inspire your reader. You will find that the lessons learned while blogging are many!
Over the years I have been faithful to share a recipe every Friday. Usually the recipes I’ve shared have been my favorites, and it’s no wonder they’ve been popular with my readers. These are the top recipes on my blog. The list is long, but well worth looking through!
I love biscuits, especially flaky homemade biscuits. We’ve been challenging ourselves to eat from the abundance we have on hand which includes these amazing sourdough biscuits. I have a sourdough starter going all the time. It doesn’t take much time to maintain, and I love using the ‘extra’ for sourdough biscuits.
Sometimes a recipe is just so good you have to share it more than once! During the busy holiday season it’s nice to have a breakfast that you can mix up the night before.
When my husband and I got married my mother-in-law included this recipe in a collection of family recipes she gave me. I’ve been making this pie for almost 40 years! It’s easy to make and always a big hit.
This Baked Cauliflower Cream has been served at just about every Thanksgiving meal I can remember. The first time it was served there were numerous requests for the recipe. Since then no matter what part of the family is getting together this Baked Cauliflower Cream is served. It is that good!
My mother in law shared this recipe with me for Baked Spaghetti. It’s the perfect meal for a houseful of company. You can make it ahead; it feeds a crowd and is always a hit. I’ve shared this recipe before, but it’s worth repeating especially when you are looking for food for a crowd.
One special item we inherited from my husband’s grandmother was her Recipe Box. There are many fond memories of meals enjoyed around Gram’s table. I spent several months going through the recipes so that I could create a cookbook for all the extended family members. In going over the various recipes I came upon this Better Than Sex Cake recipe, I have to say the name caught my eye! Could it really be better? – I had to try the recipe. Luckily the various ingredients were on hand and we had a potluck party to attend. I knew exactly what I would bring!
I love making appetizers using the frozen miniature phyllo tart shells. They come together in no time at all and make such a nice presentation. These little Brie Leek Tartlet appetizers are always a hit every time I serve them!
One of my favorite cookbooks is The Enchanted Broccoli Forest; this cookbook was published in 1982, just a few years after we were married! It’s well loved and well used. One of my favorite recipes is their quiche recipe. They actually call it a quiche formula as it gives you the freedom to make a quiche using whatever ingredients you have on hand. The other day I had some broccoli and a few leeks on hand and decided to use their formula to make a broccoli leek quiche. It was so good.
I’ve shared our family favorite recipe for Ham & Egg Stir Fried Rice before. Recently I made basically the same recipe using cauliflower instead of rice. It was so good and quite honestly I didn’t even miss the rice! Apparently you can buy cauliflower rice in the store, but I made my own using my food processor. I just cut the cauliflower into small pieces and put them in the food processor. I then pulsed the cauliflower until it resembled rice. I’ve made this recipe twice in the last few weeks, the first time I made it I did not add diced ham, the second time I did. Increase the seasonings if you want more taste.
The chicken is grilled and could be done ahead of time; the wrap is good hot or cold. Which means if you have any leftovers they would make a perfect lunch the next day!
Several times a week we enjoy eating meatless meals. Finding a recipe that the whole family enjoys can often be a challenge. This delicious recipe for creamy spinach enchiladas feeds four but could easily be doubled. It’s just as good the next day for leftovers!
When we were busy raising our four children I made bread at least once a week. Our children really did not like store bought bread and much preferred my bread. I would bake three loaves at a time and freeze two to eat later. Sometimes this didn’t work so well as one loaf would get eaten right out of the oven. You have to admit there is nothing better than fresh baked bread still warm from the oven.
There are certain recipes I like to have handy in case we have unexpected company or I just need to pull something together quickly for dinner. This Emergency Soup recipe is just that kind of recipe. It’s delicious enough for company, makes a perfect soup to give a neighbor who’s under the weather, or to give to a new mom.
This Great Depression Cake has no milk, no eggs and no butter in the ingredients. It became popular after the stock market crash of 1929. It’s often called “Boiled Raisin Cake”or “Economical Spice Cake.” The great depression cake is moist, spicy and delicious.
My husband has been making pizza for years. Usually we stick to the traditional pizza such as Sausage or Clam and Bacon Pizza. However recently we tried something new – a Greek Beef and Mushroom Pizza. The ingredients were a little different, who ever thought of putting cinnamon on a pizza! However, the results were outstanding and we’re definitely going to try this pizza again. It’s a much lighter pizza with no red sauce and much less cheese. As a result you don’t feel so full after eating a couple of slices. If you’ve never tried a Beef and Mushroom Pizza before you don’t know what you’re missing!
I recently celebrated my birthday. What better way to celebrate than with a special homemade Chinese dinner with friends! Since we were out of town visiting my mother-in-law we took over her kitchen and created a fabulous meal.
One of my favorite soups is this Irish Yellow Broth. The steel cut oats not only add nutrition, but they give a creaminess to the soup. Usually I leave out the cream and the soup still tastes delicious!
I found this recipe years ago in the Nantucket newspaper. I’ve been making it ever since and it’s always a hit. One of these days I’ll modify the recipe to have the whole thing be from scratch, but it the meantime I will continue to use the recipe as is.
My mother-in-law is an excellent cook and has introduced me to many wonderful recipes over the year’s. Pineapple Casserole is one of those delicious casseroles that makes an excellent side dish. Maybe you want to serve it over the holidays. It goes wonderfully with ham. I’ve also served it with fish and it was amazing. As you can see from the photo we almost finished it up before I remembered to take a photo!
I grew up reading Little House on the Prairie and often thought about what life was like for the early pioneers. Between 1820 and 1880 the promise of free land tempted settlers to make the perilous journey westward by covered wagons. Having made the journey by car it’s hard to imagine making the same journey by covered wagon. I’m sure the early pioneers had different versions of pioneer bread, probably made with corneal and rye and wheat flour. Without commercial yeast they would have relied on either sodium bicarbonate as the leavening agent or a sourdough starter.
At first glance this may seem like just another macaroni and hamburger casserole. Not so! This Poverty Casserole recipe is good enough for company. The ingredients may start out like a normal casserole, but with the addition of sun dried tomatoes and a little cream this casserole becomes something special!
I often enjoy a salad with just a sprinkle of oil and vinegar. Sometimes I want a little more but don’t want to spend a lot of money for a store bought dressing. There is no need to spend money on bottled dressings, which are loaded with calories, preservatives and artificial flavorings. Instead mix up your own Raspberry Jam Vinaigrette dressing with ingredients on hand in your pantry.
Like the English Muffin Bread recipe this bread is perfect for toasting and enjoying with your breakfast or a cup of tea in the afternoon. By the way ½ cup shredded wheat crumbs is almost exactly what is left at the bottom of the box after eating all the shredded wheat!
Hopefully you read my book review on Wednesday about Michelle Visser’s book, Sweet Maple: Backyard Sugarmaking From Tap To Table. Today I am sharing Melissa’s recipe for The Best Ever Maple Scones. I love scones and the glaze used on these scones is reason enough to make them!
One of the things that made the cross country move with us was my harvest of Butternut Squash. I love Butternut Squash Soup and have shared many different recipes over the years. However the Simplest Butternut Squash Soup is a recipe my sister gave me years ago.
When I think of the perfect Christmas Pie I don’t think of a pumpkin pie or a pecan pie, I think of Cranberry Apple Pie. My (ex) brother-in-law shared this recipe with me many years ago and I have been faithfully making it every year since then. I am so thankful he shared the recipe with me.
These are the old-fashioned ultimate cinnamon buns you crave. You’ll make two sweet temptations–the classic iced cinnamon buns, and sticky buns with a finger-licking gooey caramel topping! Who doesn’t want to learn how to make the Ultimate Cinnamon Buns!
As you know I’m trying to eat healthier these days and this Vegetable Stuffed Sole recipe was a winner. This recipe works perfectly if you are following the 21 Day Fix eating plan! You can use any white fish for this recipe, I used sole.
I’ve recently been experimenting to create a Fettuccine Alfredo using zucchini noodles and a light sauce. This extra light Alfredo sauce for pasta gets its silkiness from fresh ricotta and grated Parmesan cheese. I think it’s a winner! Perfect all by itself or serve as a side dish with grilled steak.
I hope you have enjoyed reviewing the top recipes on my blog. Each recipe has been made many times and is a favorite in our home. Hopefully you’ll take the time to try a few!
I am not on the computer today, instead I am spending the day with my family. I want to take this time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Thank you for being a part of my blog. I do appreciate each and everyone of you!
For the past two years I have been posting about my goals for the year. At the beginning of each year I would share the goals for the year ahead and as each week went by I would give an update. It was a process I found very satisfying, it kept my goals at the forefront and as a result I was more apt to complete the goals each year. Here are my goals for 2020.
1.Complete my cookbook. As you know this was one of my uncompleted goals for 2019. I actually managed to get over 400 recipes edited and moved into a word document. Now I just need to do a little more editing and add drawings or photographs and get it published. Determined to do this in 2020.
2. Continue to make exercise a priority. Currently I am attending a low impact exercise class three times a week. I would like to add to this and find some sort of aerobic exercise to do.
3. Read 50 books this year. Last year my goal was to read 35 books and I actually read 46 books. Hopefully by moving the goal to 50 I won’t be overwhelmed. I love to read but this seems like a lot of books!
4. Complete 6 knitting or sewing projects this year. I still have a few knitting projects that need to be completed, and I have a quilt that I have been meaning to start for years!
5. Explore 10 Parks or Hiking Trails in Oregon. There are so many hiking trails to explore in this state. Last year we explored a total of 13 parks and preserves in both Washington and Oregon. This year our focus will be on exploring more of our new home state.
6. Incorporate 25 new recipes into our meals with the focus on healthy eating. This goal is five more recipes than I incorporated last year. Our yearly goal is exercise and healthy eating.
7. Visit cousins in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. We spent a lot of time visiting friends and immediate family this past year. This year the focus will be catching up with the distant relatives! Only 7 major goals made this year instead of 10. I still feel like it will be a good challenge to myself to complete goals for 2020
As we celebrate Christmas tomorrow and New Year’s Day next week take a moment to think about what your goals are for the New Year. They don’t have to be many, and by writing them down you may find you actually complete the goals you have set out for yourself.
“You’re never to old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.” C.S.Lewis
As we near the end of the year I like to look back and review what the top posts have been. Usually I just look back one year but this year I am looking back over the last eight plus years. Here are the top posts of all times!
I have to say the most popular post I ever wrote was a post I wrote in 2013 on Restoring a Wool Sweater! I shared this tip again in January of 2015. This post is still getting comments, several of them asking me why I was washing my son’s sweater (which I shrunk), and not having my son wash it! What kind of mother was I to raise children that don’t know how to wash their own sweaters! Too funny, as they totally missed the point of the post. I was just sharing a tip on how to restore a sweater that you may have shrunk by mistake!
Another very popular post was how to repot a Peace Lily. Apparently lots of people receive a Peace Lily as a gift, often as part of a funeral arrangement. Because the plant reminds them of someone they recently lost they want to make sure the plant does well.
Several years ago I was given seeds from the Gete okosomin squash. At the time these seeds were not available commercially. As a result I had people writing my from all over the world requesting any extra seeds I had. Thankfully these seeds are now available from Baker’s Seeds.
Over the eight years I have also made all sorts of homemade items. I’ve made everything from Beeswax Candles using our own beeswax to Peppermint Lip Balm. Thankful I also learned how to make hand lotion which was such a relief for dry hands. I also learned how to make my own bug spray which was so important during the buggy summers in Vermont!
It’s been fun looking back on the popular posts of the last eight years. I’m amazed at which posts end up being so popular! I hope you’ve enjoyed this time of looking over the top posts of all times.
Not sure what our New Year’s Eve plans are yet but you can be sure it will involve festive New Year’s Eve Desserts. I have quite a collection of desserts but these are the best desserts for New Year’s Eve.
Many of these desserts can be made ahead of time and several of these desserts can use up frozen fruit, which I usually have in my freezer.
This recipe come from a dear friend of mine. It’s adapted from Alice Medrich’s Pure Desserts. The recipe is true to its name; it is absolutely perfect! This cake is very rich so you only need small slices. I served it with Ginger Ice Cream and my company asked for seconds! That good! It would also be delicious with fresh fruit. Tightly wrapped the cake keeps for several days.
What better way to welcome in the New Year than with a Nantucket Welcome Cake! I found this recipe years ago in the Nantucket newspaper. I’ve been making it ever since and it’s always a hit. One of these days I’ll modify the recipe to have the whole thing be from scratch but it the meantime I will continue to use the recipe as is.
Perhaps you’re like me and have never heard the word affogato. My daughter shared this fabulous dessert just before the holidays and it was so easy and delicious. Affogato describes and names a dessert composed of espresso poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato. What could be simpler!
Are you looking for a low fat dessert to serve over the holidays? These Chocolate Mint Brownies are just the thing. No one will ever know they are low fat!
This recipe is from one of my favorite books; Simply In Season. This book is full of recipes that celebrate fresh, local foods and encourages you to eat in season! Fall and winter is a perfect time to make apple crisp.
I’m sure many of you have fond memories of those delicious icebox cakes made with the Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers. In all the years of enjoying them I never thought to make them as individual cakes. However I came across this recipe in a book called Cook What You Love by Bob and Melinda Blanchard. This recipe makes the most elegant but extremely simple dessert. You make it several hours ahead or even a day ahead so the cookies have time to soften and then serve as a fancy dessert the next night. This is my favorite choice when choosing festive New Year’s Eve desserts!
One of my favorite recipes to make is my Aunt Cathleen’s Fresh Apple Cake. My aunt shared this recipe years ago with my mom and it has been a family favorite ever since! It is delicious anytime of the year but especially good in the fall when the apples are fresh.
No matter what your plans are for New Years Eve having a selection of festive New Year’s Eve desserts will help you celebrate in style.
Nancy on the Home Front 