Nancy on the Home Front

Warm Farro Cereal

Recently a friend of mine introduced me to the grain farro. Have you heard of it? Farro is a type of hulled wheat that is typically used in salads, soups and side dishes. It has sort of a nutty flavor. Farro looks very much like a wheat berry.

The clearest explanation (and the one most useful when shopping) is from Ancient Grains for Modern Meals (Ten Speed Press, 2011), by Maria Speck, who writes that the term farro is “commonly used when referring to three ancient wheat varieties first cultivated in the Fertile Crescent and still grown in Italy: farro piccolo (also known by the German einkorn), farro medio (also known as emmer, the Hebrew word for mother), and farro grande (also known as spelt).”

Emmer wheat, cultivated in biblical times — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most imported Italian farro available in the US is the emmer variety. It cooks up quickly in about 25 minutes. This comes in handy if you are trying to cook up a hot breakfast or a quick dinner. Farro is not gluten-free but is is considerably lower in gluten than commercial wheat varieties. People with mild wheat sensitivities often find it easier to digest.

I first enjoyed Farro in a cold salad with tomatoes and herbs.

Doing a search on the Internet will give you all sorts of recipes from salads to soups to everything in between. I found a warm farro cereal recipe that I just had to try. Our mornings are still rather chilly and I enjoy a nice bowl of warm cereal to start my day.

Warm Farro Cereal with Dried Cherries

Serves: 2

½ cup farro 1 cup water
¾ cup coconut milk
½ cup sliced almonds
½ cup unsweetened coconut chips
1 tablespoon honey
pinch salt
¼ cup dried cherries

Soak cherries in warm water for five minutes to soften them. Drain and discard water.

Bring the water, coconut milk and salt to a simmer and whisk in the farro. Return to a simmer. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 35 to 40 minutes, or until farro has absorbed most of the moisture.

While hot cereal is cooking, preheat oven to 325 F. Toast almond slices and coconut chips for 5 minutes or until fragrant and golden.

Once the farro is cooked portion into two small bowls and top with toasted coconut, almonds and dried cherries. If you’d like top with a drizzle of honey.

Serve immediately.

Making a Veggie Bag

Cut down on plastic bags with this simple cloth bag. It will help keep vegetables fresh, letting them breathe and absorbing excess moisture. I had some extra muslin from another project and it took me no time at all to sew this veggie bag! I now have two ideas for homemade Christmas gifts for next year; dryer balls and these veggie bags!

Materials

½ yard of 100% cotton cheesecloth, gauze or coarse muslin, at least 21 inches wide.
Ruler or measuring tape
Pencil
Sewing thread
Sewing Needle
Sewing Machine (optional)

On your material draw a rectangle 21” wide and 15 ½” long. Mark ½ “ seam allowances along the sides and bottom. Mark two ½” hems along the top. Cut out the rectangle. Press under ½” twice along the top edge, for the hem. Using a 1/8 ” seam allowance, stitch the turned inner edge. Fold the bag in half, right sides together, with the side edges lined up. Using a ½ “ seam allowance, stich down the side seams, pivot around the bottom corners and stitch the bottom closed. Press the seams open and turn right-side out.

If you cut several bags out at once you an easily make yourself many bags to keep on hand. I love the fact that these bags are reusable, just throw in the wash and use again!

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Vegetable Stuffed Sole

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.

Vegetable Stuffed Sole

Ingredients:

1 large carrot, cut into matchstick strips
½ red pepper, cut into matchstick strips
1 zucchini, cut into matchstick strips

4 (5oz) sole fillets, each halved lengthwise
4 tsp butter, softened
1 ½ Tbsp fresh dill
1 tsp lemon zest
¼ tsp fennel seeds, crushed (Optional)

Lemon Wedges

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9 x 1 baking pan with nonstick spray.

Combine the carrot, bell pepper and zucchini and parboil for about 3 minutes. Just until crisp tender. Drain and let stand until cool enough to handle.

Place the fillets, skinned side up (whoops, I did skinned side down, but it came out ok). Place about ½ cup of vegetables at the wide end of the fish and roll up jellyroll style. Place seam side down in the baking pan. Cover the dish with foil and bake until sole is just opaque in the center, about 12-15 minutes.

While the fish is baking combine the butter, dill, lemon zest and fennel seeds in a small bowl. Just before serving spread the fish with the butter mixture. Serve with lemon wedges. The leftovers were even delicious the next day!Linked to some of my favorite link parties!

Happenings On The Home Front

The calendar says it’s spring but we have lots of snow to melt before we’ll be seeing green grass. I thought I would share some of the photos of the various critters that we have On The Home Front. There is always evidence in the snow of visitors.Sometimes we are lucky enough to see the visitors in person! You probably remember the photos of the Barred Owl that visited us. The owl seemed quite comfortable to just hang out close to the house or on the bird feeder!Although we’ve seen tracks we haven’t seen any coyotes this year but we have in the past.The one pictured was actually chasing a young deer.

The deer dashed around the house and the coyote stopped. Luckily the deer got away.We’ve also had several mink and an ermine come visit. I was very glad they didn’t get into the chicken coop! They may be small but they can do a lot of damage!We have an abundance of birds. My husband’s favorite pastime is to feed the birds and watch them at the feeders. We have quite a variety, from nuthatches to a large flock of Redpolls.We even have a large flock of turkey that come to visit.Sometimes the turkeys get quite bold and come up onto our deck!We also have a small herd of deer that walk by every day.They are very cautious and always on alert!We often wonder what walks by the windows when we’re not looking!

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Fragrant Wood Cleaner

Do you have wood cabinets or wood furniture in your home? This fragrant formula will clear away sticky grime and is safe for most finishes. Always test wood-cleaning formulas on an inconspicuous area of your furniture, like the inside of a leg or a panel underneath, before treating the entire piece. This step is a very important as certain wood finishes can be adversely affected by essential oils.

Fragrant Wood Cleaner

½ cup lemon juice
1 tsp liquid Castile soap
4 drops geranium or sweet orange essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a small plastic spray bottle. Apply to wood and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Wipe again with a dry cloth.

I used this all up in one cleaning session, not sure how well the lemon juice would last if set aside for another time!

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Also shared on WildcraftingWednesday

Essential Pantry Items: Baking Soda

Last week I mentioned that I consider Salt to be an essential pantry item. Two other items I consider essential are baking soda and vinegar. Odor, germ and bacteria removal, laundry softening, heavy duty scrubbing, they can do it all! Buy them in bulk because there are many ways to use them in your home!

Today I am talking about the benefits of baking soda!

Baking soda is the trade name for the chemical compound sodium bicarbonate. In baking, it’s used to help foods rise. Around the house it absorbs grease, odors, and stains, and scours gently. But it is so versatile that you’re bound to discover uses beyond those I’ve listed.

There are numerous ways to use baking soda in cleaning.

It can be used as a multipurpose cleanser on kitchen surfaces, cutting boards, ovens, barbeque grills, grout, bathroom surfaces, toilets, and washable painted walls.

Shampoo your carpets or use it to get rid of pet stains.

To boost liquid laundry detergent, add ½ cup of baking soda to each load.

To degrease dishes add it to hot sudsy water or sprinkle on dishes in the dishwasher.

Clean and deodorize your coffee maker – brew ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 quart of water. Rinse with plain water before using.

To gently clean tarnished silverware and jewelry, place the silver on a sheet of aluminum foil in a pan of hot water and baking soda for 10 minutes. Rinse and wipe clean with a soft cloth.

I know winter is almost over but did you know you can use baking soda to de-ice stairs and walkways?

Use baking soda to extinguish small flare-ups on the stove. Water will not put out a grease fire but baking soda will!

To make an air freshener combine baking soda and scented bath salts in a small dish and set it out in your room.

To remove rust from metal, make a paste of baking soda and wipe onto the rust, scrub it off with a ball of aluminum foil!

This summer remember that baking soda can sooth sunburn. Soak the sunburn in lukewarm water and baking soda. You can also make a paste to relieve bug bites and bee stings. Apply a thick paste directly to the bite.

Have you discovered other uses for baking soda? I’m amazed at all it can do. It is definitely an item you will find in my pantry!Linked to some of my favorite link parties!

Clam and Bacon Pizza

I grew up near New Haven, CT, home of Pepe’s Pizza!

Pepe's Pizza, worth the wait! — Pepe’s Pizza, worth the wait!

They make the best pizza anywhere and one of their specialty pizzas is a scrumptious white clam pizza. We visit Pepe’s whenever we can but don’t get there very often. My husband and I decided to recreate their white clam pizza at home. The bacon is not found on Pepe’s Pizza but it’s a delicious addition. This pizza would be excellent cut into small squares and served as an appetizer. It also makes a very satisfying Sunday supper!

Clam and Bacon Pizza

Directions:

Prepare pizza dough. We use our regular pizza dough recipe. While the pizza dough is rising prepare the clam and bacon topping.

Ingredients for the Clam and Bacon Topping:

4 oz sliced bacon, diced
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tsp oregano
Pinch of dried red pepper flakes
1 ½ cups of minced clams, fresh is best
1 ½ Tbsp parsley
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Sauté the bacon in a skillet under-cooked but not crisp. Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel. Add the olive oil to the bacon grease in the skillet. Stir in the garlic, oregano and the pepper flakes and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the clams and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Removed from the heat and stir in the parsley and bacon. Set aside. Punch the dough down and form your pizza crust. Thankfully my husband makes the best pizza dough! Spread the clam topping evenly over the dough. Scatter the Parmesan cheese over the top. Bake at 500 for 15 minutes. When done, cut into slices and serve.Best eaten hot.

If there is any left it is delicious for lunch the next day.

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Gardening DIY, or Call a Pro?

Deciding whether or not to tackle a gardening job yourself will depend on many things. How much strength you have, your level of knowledge, your time, and your degree of interest in taking on the project. It’s never wise to take on something you can’t finish, or you can’t do properly, because unfinished projects cost you most in the long run.

There are many good DIY projects for example:

Planting a Garden
Building Raised Beds

Transplanting small scrubs and trees.
Amending the soil with compost.

gardening, composting, prudent living — Compost

Making compost bins

composting, prudent living — Three Bin Composter

Creating new garden space.
Drawing Up a Landscape Plan.

Building a cover for your blueberry bushes

berries, protecting, prudent living — Blueberry Cage

Tasks For a Pro:
Major grading and terracing
Correcting major drainage issues
Felling trees
Digging out large tree stumps
Removing large boulders
Building Retaining walls.
Pruning and cabling large trees

What sort of tasks do you handle yourself? What tasks do you leave for others.?

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Saving Energy in your Home

One of the major expense in your home is probably your energy bill(s), with most of it going to heating and cooling your home. Here are several low cost solutions to help make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.

Cover Drafty Windows
Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or use a window sealing kit to cover your windows during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is tightly sealed.

Find and Seal Leaks
About 1/3 of hot (or cold) air escapes through leaks and cracks. Some of the quickest dollar saving tasks you can do are caulk, seal and weather-strip seams and cracks in your ceilings, walls and floors.

Seal air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.

Add caulk or weather-stripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.

Install foam gaskets behind wall outlet and switch plates.

Install a programmable thermostat
Over an 8 hour period, a savings as much a 1% can be gained for each degree that you set your thermostat back. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to automatically set back the temperature in your home. Some models allow you to adjust your home temperature through smartphone apps!

Replace traditional incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs to produce less heat, which can cut energy costs associated with home cooling. They also use less energy than traditional bulls.

English: Image showing both a fluorescent and ... — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lower your water heating cost by turning down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120). Properly cover your water heater tank with an insulating blanket.

Have an annual tune-up for your heating system. This will help extend the life of your heating system while ensuring that it’s operating safely. If you have an older system you can replace it by installing a new, highly efficient system.

Hire a professional to come in and take a look at your current home and see what they would advise for ways to save on your energy costs.

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Prudent Pantry: Salt: An Essential Pantry Ingredient

table salt, kosher salt, sea salt, prudent pantry

While you may think of salt as simply a white granular food seasoning, there are many more uses for salt. It is true; salt does accent the flavor of meat, brings out the individuality of vegetables, and deepens the flavor of delicate desserts. No other seasoning has yet been found that can satisfactorily take the place of salt.

Salt also has many other uses around the house and for this reason I find salt is an essential pantry ingredient. When doing the dishes salt will remove tea and coffee stains from light colored cups and mugs. Just rub the stained areas with salt and a little water. Wash as usual.

Salt can be used to clean a copper bottom pan. Spritz the bottom of the pan with white vinegar. Let sit until you see the tarnish evaporating. Sprinkle salt on top of the vinegar and scrub the entire surface with a no scratch scrub sponge. Rinse and repeat as necessary.

Salt added to water makes the water boil at a higher temperature, thus reducing cooking time!

Salt will also extinguish a grease fire. Just toss the salt on a grease fire to smoother the flames.

Cleaning your sink drain. Pour a strong salt brine down the kitchen sink regularly to eliminate odors and keep grease from building up.

Use salt to clean your wooden cutting board. Clean a wooden cutting board with Dawn dishwashing liquid and a little water. Follow cleaning by dipping a damp cloth in salt and wiping the board until the salt is gone. The salt treatment will leave the board looking, smelling and feeling fresh!

Red Wine Spill. Next time you spill red wine on your tablecloth, immediately blot up all the moisture from the red wine spill, then sprinkle the area with salt and let sit for 15 minutes. Clean the area with a mixture of one part vinegar and two parts water.

Did you know you can add ½ cup salt to the wash cycle to prevent colored fabrics from running?

Need to get rid of a mildew stain? Make a thin past of lemon juice and salt; spread the paste on the mildew stain. Lay the clothing out in the sun to bleach it, then rinse and dry.

Preventing mold. To prevent mold on cheese wrap the cheese in a cloth dampened with saltwater before refrigerating.

Want a natural way to get rid of weeds? Boil 1 quart of water, then add 2 Tbsp of salt and 5 Tbsp of white vinegar. While the water is hot, pout the mixture directly onto the weeds that creep up between the cracks in sidewalks and in your driveway.

With the many uses of salt you can see why I consider it an essential pantry ingredient!Linked to some of my favorite link parties!