Nancy on the Home Front

Pantry Challenge: Cleaning out the Freezer

As we continue to de-clutter and get rid of things it’s time for an end of the year pantry challenge! My goal is to clean out our chest freezer so that I can sell it. When the house eventually sells we are not planning to move our beloved chest freezer. The freezer is almost empty so what better time to do an end of the year pantry challenge.

For the next two weeks I am going to only purchase items from the grocery store that are absolutely necessary such as fresh vegetables and possibly some dairy. I will give myself a budget of $50 for the two weeks. I will be utilizing food from our pantry and freezer. Hopefully by the end of the two weeks our chest freezer will be empty and I can list it for sale.

There is actually not a lot in the chest freezer at the moment other than some frozen peas and some frozen spinach, a few chicken breasts, some ground beef and a package of sesame seeds. I will work on eating out of the refrigerator freezer as well so any items still left in the chest freezer can be moved. At the end of the two weeks the chest freezer just needs to be empty!

This is what there is to work with for the next two weeks: in the upstairs freezer thare are two containers of applesauce, some cooked chicken meat, two small containers of mushrooms soup, a container of spaghetti sauce with meatballs and a hambone. Plenty to work with!

This challenge begins today! First up on the list is making some homemade split pea soup. Who doesn’t enjoy a nice bowl of soup for dinner? I will use the applesauce to make some applesauce bread. Hopefully I can make a couple of small loaves to give away over the holidays. That is if I have enough room in our upstairs freezer!

Pantry Challenge Menu

Monday: Split Pea Soup

Tuesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Thursday: Turkey Meatloaf

Friday: Baked Chicken breasts

Saturday: Meatball grinders

Sunday: Mushroom Soup and a salad

For breakfast we alternate between oatmeal, homemade granola and eggs. If inspired I might even make pancakes or waffles (much to my husband’s delight, he claims they are an excellent excuse to enjoy our local maple syrup!). Lunch will be leftovers or sandwiches from what is on hand. I’m hoping this will inspire me to make better use of the food we do have in stock. I usually cook meals from scratch but don’t always do a good job with using things already in the pantry! Next week I’ll give an update on our progress! If you’re a local reader let me know if you’re interested in a chest freezer! It is still under warranty!

If you’d like any of the recipes I’m going to be making please comment below and let me know, I’d be glad to share them! This challenge is something we’re taking on personally, would any of my faithful readers like to join us in our end of the year pantry challenge?

Weekly Update 11/26

I don’t often publish a weekly update but there is so much going on this week I thought I’d send out an update today. Don’t want anyone to miss anything!

Stanley Toolbox Giveaway

Enter to win a Stanley Toolbox! Last day to enter is November 27th

Cooking for Jeffrey Giveaway

Enter to win an autographed Cookbook and $75 cash! Last day to enter is November 29^th!

Give Thanks Giveaway

Enter to win a set of 3 candles and candlesticks! Last day to enter November 30^th.

Cozy Giveaway

Enter to win a prize bundle including a $100 gift card from chadwicks of Boston, $50 cash or amazon gift card and a plush throw! Last day to enter is December 18^th!

Slow Cooker Apple Pie

6 Lessons from My. Miyagi

The Karate Kid: an instant classic, and the ultimate underdog movie. Ask anyone between age 25 and 45 to explain “wax on, wax off” to you and they’ll instantly know what you mean. When the Karate Kid was released in 1984, it met with more commercial and critical success than you’d ever expect from a kid’s movie.

Winter Blooms: Forcing Bulbs

There is nothing like winter blooms to brighten up your house during the cold winter months.

Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop

Stop by and be entertained, educated and inspired! Still time to share your blog post!

Best Ever Banana Bread

Recently we had an abundance of bananas ripening on the counter, solution; make the best ever banana bread! This bread is best made with the ripest bananas possible. When I have bananas that We will not be able to eat I just peel them, pop them into a zip-close plastic bag and freeze them for making bread of muffins another day.

Best Ever Banana Bread

Recently we had an abundance of bananas ripening on the counter, solution; make the best ever banana bread! This bread is best made with the ripest bananas possible. When I have bananas that we will not be able to eat I just peel them, pop them into a zip-close plastic bag and freeze them for making bread of muffins another day.

Although this banana bread is delicious as is, I often add ¼ cup of mini chocolate chips. If you are trying to cut back on the amount of snacking you are doing just slice this bread into single servings, wrap in double layers of plastic wrap and freeze. When ready to use, simply unwrap and toast or defrost the frozen slices at room temperature.

Best Ever Banana Bread

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
½ cup fat free buttermilk
¾ tsp homemade vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
¾ cup toasted wheat germ
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
¼ cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 4 x 8.5 inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.

With a wooden spoon, beat the sugar and butter in a large bowl until creamy, Add the eggs, banana, buttermilk, and vanilla; beat until combined. Combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in another bowl. Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture; stir until just blended. Fold in the chocolate chips if using.

Scrape the batter into the loaf pan. Bake until done, 45-55 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for ten minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on the rack.

This bread is delicious warm. It is also good with cream cheese! The bread freezes well and the recipe is easily doubled.

Winter Blooms: Forcing Bulbs

There is nothing like winter blooms to brighten up your house during the cold winter months. I love having fresh flowers in the house. During the summer months I can cut fresh flowers from my garden, but during the winter it takes a little more planning. By forcing bulbs you can enjoy winter blooms during the darkest days of winter. Not only will you be able to enjoy the blooms yourself but you can give bulbs that you’ve started as presents. Who wouldn’t appreciate a gift of bulbs when the world is white with snow! Tulips, narcissus, hyacinths, crocus and lily of the valley can be forced into flower in late winter or early spring. A pot of tulips on your windowsill in February can brighten your spirits! Narcissus bulbs are very easy to force and I found some very healthy looking bulbs at my local garden center.

Buy a bag of white crushed gravel to use in your containers. Rinse the gravel to get rid of any dust. Fill each of your bowls with gravel about 2/3rds full.

Nestle the bulbs in the gravel ½ to 1 inch apart, placing the pointed side up.

Then fill in gravel around the bulbs, leaving the top halves exposed. Place them in good light and add water up to the base of the bulbs. Keep the water level at this height. Place the pots in a cool area. Within a few days roots will appear. When green shoots appear, move the pot to a cool, sunny spot. Keep the plants watered and in just a very short time you will have a profusion of blooms. Start a few each month and you will have beautiful winter blooms to enjoy through the dark days of winter!

Slow Cooker Apple Pie

Imagine coming home to the wonderful aroma of a slow cooker apple pie. It’s a perfect dessert when you’re hosting a fellowship night at your home. It is delicious served with vanilla ice cream on top. You can also use a larger crockpot and double the recipe if you are serving more than 8 people. I served it to our small home fellowship group, hoping they’ll like it so much it would be gone buy the end of the night! That way there would be no temptation the next day!

It would also be an easy dessert to have waiting for you at the end of a long workday. Throw the ingredients in the slow cooker before you head to work and come home to a warm dessert waiting for you.

Slow Cooker Apple Pie

Ingredients:

8 tart apples, cored, peeled and sliced
1 ¼ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
¾ cup milk
2 Tbsp butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 ½ cup biscuit baking mix, divided
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp chilled butter

Directions:

Once the apples are sliced toss them with the cinnamon and nutmeg. Place the apple slices in the bottom of a lightly greased slow cooker. Combine the milk, softened butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and ½ cup biscuit mix and spoon over the apples. Combine the remaining biscuit mix and brown sugar. Cut in the chilled butter until crumbly. Sprinkle the brown sugar biscuit mixture over the apple mixture in the slow cooker. Do not stir the mixture. Cover and cook on a low setting for 6-7 hours or until the apples are tender and the top is cake like.

Serve warm with a little vanilla ice cream on top. Let me know how your family enjoys this tasty dessert! I thought it was awesome and apparently so did our home fellowship group as there was very little left!

Disasters – Are You Ready?

Are you ready for any emergency disaster that might occur in your life? Why be ready? Emergencies can happen for any reason, blizzards, floods or even windstorms. Last week I had the chance to attend a local preparedness meeting. It was an interesting meeting and encouraged folks to be prepared. The meeting not only covered the steps to being prepared but they encouraged folks to get involved. There are many agencies such as CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and the American Red Cross that are always looking for volunteers.

I think every community should host such a meeting. Some of us may already be prepared for any disaster that might come along but there are many people that are not. One of the officials talked about the storm Irene which did so much damage to the state of Vermont. He said the difference between people’s experience during the storm was whether they were prepared or not.

Hurricane Irene was not expected to do much damage to the state but instead it dumped over nine inches of rain in a very short time and cause major flooding. We had all of our children here for a visit including our new grandchild. We were without power for over a week. It wasn’t fun but because we were prepared we did not have any major problems. We had food and water and our home did not suffer any damage. We were lucky.

Are you ready for the next disaster that might affect your area? Here are a few tips to help you get ready.

First get informed about what might happen. Find out what emergencies are most likely to happen in your area and request information on how to prepare for them. Think about emergency plans for your workplace, your child’s school, or other places where your family spends time. Many of the things you can do to prepare for an emergency, like having a kit ready and making a family plan, are the same for both manmade and natural disaster. The differences in how you should prepare are based on each type of emergency so do the research and make those changes to your plans.

Make a plan for what you and your family will do. Be prepared to evaluate the situation. Exercise yours plans, use common sense and most importantly take care of yourself and your loved ones. Create your family emergency plan. Explain the dangers of all hazards such as fire, severe weather, and hurricanes to children. Plan to share the responsibilities and work together as a team.

Create a shelter in place plan. Sometimes the best thing to do is to remain indoors to protect yourself. Examples of this would be a chemical release or more commonly, severe weather activity, such as a major snow storm.

Build a kit of emergency supplies. It is very important that when an emergency happens, you and your family need to be ready to respond. Too much time can be lost when trying to scramble around and get things together. Having a ready bag that can be easily transported to where it’s needed will not only ensure that you have the necessary items should an emergency happen, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing that you have what you and your family needs. They suggested using a white bucket to store these items in:

1. Water and food for three days. Be sure to include a can opener.

2. A weather radio and flashlights, be sure to include extra batteries.

3. A first aid kit that includes any prescriptions medication.

4. An extra set of car keys and credit cards, cash or travelers checks.

5. One change of clothing and a blanket or sleeping bag.

6. Special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.

7. Small toys, games or books to keep children occupied.

8. Keep copies of important family documents in a waterproof container.

8. Food and water for your pets.

9. Safety equipment such as a multipurpose tool, thick gloves, heavy shoes and protective eyewear.

Obviously all these items may not fit in a white bucket but keep the items in a designated space so that should an emergency arise you know where everything is and you will be ready to go.

Are you ready? Disasters can happen anytime, with or without warning. Take steps now so that you will be ready for the next emergency that might occur. You’ll be glad you did.

Making Seed Balls for Simple Gifts

Several months ago one of my faithful readers, Heather, suggested I do a post on making seed balls. I have made seed tapes using carrot seeds before but never seed balls! After searching online I found there are many ways to make seed balls. Basically the recipes include equal amounts of compost and clay. Of course you also need your seeds!

I wish I’d found the time to make these seed balls with my grandchildren when they were visiting. This would be a wonderful craft activity for your children. Instead I will have to send them some for Christmas! They will have fun planting them in the spring.

Ingredients for Making Seed Balls:

Seeds

Clay

Sifted aged compost

Water

The completed seed balls should have a 1:1 ratio of compost to clay. First moisten the clay with water until the consistency is like that of yogurt or soft ice cream.

When the clay is moistened and has the right consistency combine the compost with the clay; it is almost like creaming butter and sugar! Add more water as needed, you want the balls to hold together but not be sticky. Be prepared to get your hands dirty!

Pinch off a seed ball’s worth of the mixture and add your seeds. You only need to add 1-2 seeds unless they are hard to germinate then you may want to add more. I was using marigold seeds so I only added a few. If you add too many seeds they will be competing with each other when they germinate.

Roll the clay-compost mixture into a ball and let dry at room temperature. When completely dry store in an airtight container or place a couple of balls in a small bag for gift giving.

I think this will make a wonderful Christmas gift! So glad my wonderful reader Heather suggested this project!

Ready For a Stress Free Thanksgiving?

Several weeks ago I shared a post on getting organized for Thanksgiving, are you ready for a stress free Thanksgiving now? Hopefully your menu is set and you’ve realized that you can’t buy all the food in one shopping trip. Instead stock your pantry ahead of time with the basic items that don’t need to be refrigerated. Buy the perishable items just a few days ahead.

When planning your menu don’t go overboard. Consider how many people are coming to the meal. Most people don’t want to over eat but want to enjoy the company of others. Include a few healthy choices for those watching their weight. Skip the fancy appetizers and just serve nuts, good olives or figs and prosciutto. Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes is another idea for a healthy choice!

Create a game plan so you know what needs to be made when. Figure out which tasks can be done a few days ahead. Delegate! If you’re hosting this year don’t try to do everything yourself! Ask each person to bring a favorite dish or give them choices as to what they could bring. Remember your goal is to have a stress free Thanksgiving!

Do as much food prep ahead of time as possible. Pies, blanched vegetables and cranberry sauce can be made ahead of time and refrigerated.

Identify which of the dishes that have to be made on Thanksgiving Day will take the longest. Work backwards from the time you want to eat, allow 10 minutes extra per recipe.

Figure out the cooking temperatures and see what can go in the oven at the same time. Have your recipes on hand; make copies if necessary to cut down on the clutter!

When your guests arrive give them all a chore such as setting the table or pouring the water. My sister in law has a wonderful way of letting everyone be a part of the preparation. She has chores written down ahead of time and when you arrive everyone draws one or two chores to do. Everything from setting the table to clearing the table is covered.

Take a few moments between eating the dinner and dessert. Set up a desert station on a side table with forks, plates, pie servers and coffee cups. Have the coffee pot ready to go so that all you have to do is hit brew.

Once the table is cleared put the dishes right in the dishwasher. If you are particular about how your dishwasher is loaded at least have the dishes soaking in the sink.

By planning ahead and delegating the food and clean up you will be able to enjoy a stress free Thanksgiving. I love hosting Thanksgiving! I use these same tips whether I’m hosting a dinner party or a holiday meal. It helps keep the stress of the day to a minimum.

Baked Cauliflower Cream

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!

This recipe can easily be doubled as well if you have a large gathering. It’s also a very easy side dish that can be prepared ahead and then heated up to serve. Give it a try you’ll be glad you did.

Baked Cauliflower Cream

Ingredients:

1 ½ pound cauliflower
3 Tbsp butter
1 chicken bouillon cube, crushed
1 medium onion, roughly chopped
1 small clove of garlic, chopped
1 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper
Parsley for garnish

Remove the greens and core the cauliflower. Cook it whole in 3 quarts of water for about 15 minutes. Drain and cut the cauliflower up.

Melt 1 Tbsp of butter in a medium skillet and stir in the bouillon cube over medium heat. Stir in the onion and cook for one minute. Add the garlic and cook for another four minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Place the sour cream in a food processor. Add the onion mixture and the cauliflower. Add the remaining butter and process until the consistency is like mashed potatoes. Add the salt and pepper. Bake in a one quart buttered dish for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

This recipe can be made ahead of time and then bake until heated through, about 30 minutes. This recipe makes six generous servings and can easily be doubled. This is one of those recipes that can help make your holiday meal stress free as it can be made ahead!

Do you often serve cauliflower at your holiday table? Have you ever tried baked cauliflower cream? Let me know how you like it!

Simple Christmas Gifts

I love to give gifts at Christmas and simple handmade Christmas gifts are the best kind. This year we are cutting back on our gifts, instead I am working on making several simple Christmas gifts.

In years past I’ve shared many of my ideas for simple Christmas gifts. I have made Friendship Soup Mix, Homemade Holiday Potpourri, Homemade Beeswax Candles and Homemade Snax Mix. I’ve also made Homemade Dog Biscuits which are always a big hit with the dogs in the family.

When our grandchildren were visiting recently my granddaughter fell in love with a simple book tote bag a friend had made me. She really wanted to take it home. Instead I told her I would make her one. I found a simple pattern online and decided to make two, one for my granddaughter and one for my grandson, her brother. They are perfect for taking to the library or anywhere you want to bring a few books. I found the tutorial on the blog moonthirty.

Another fun gift idea that I’ve made before is the fleece pillow-blanket. Who doesn’t love a fleece blanket during the cooler months? There are various patterns online but I actually have a pattern that I’ve used before. Basically you only need two yards of two different fleece patterns. The only sewing you need to do is around the edges and then forming the pillow.

Since I was on a roll the third gift idea I had is making Christmas napkins. Since I was going to the fabric store for the fleece material and the book tote material I picked up several yards of Christmassy material to make some napkins. A number of years ago we made some cute Christmas tree napkin rings and I figured a set of napkin rings with the Christmas napkins would make a cute gift.

Christmas is only 47 days away and the way time is flying by it will be here before you know it! Hopefully I will finish these projects this week so that I can come up with a few more ideas in the weeks ahead! Are you hand making any gifts this year? What sort of gifts will you be making?