Nancy on the Home Front

Recipe Box: Company Muffins

This is the perfect time of year to make these muffins, soon my house will be filled with family. Nothing better than having a healthy, delicious muffin to offer in the morning. This recipe comes from my favorite book, Simply in Season. I love this book for the simple recipes it contains and the fact that they are geared to helping you eat in season.

These muffins are perfect for breakfast or for a good snack. They can be cooked in a regular muffin tin or a mini muffin tin, which works well if you are using them for a snack.

Before you read the recipe remember to enter my giveaway for a 23 Quart Pressure Canner and a Water Bath Canner! Enter HERE!

Company Muffins

½ cup flour
½ cup whole-wheat flour
1 cup oat bran or rolled oats
¾ cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt

In a large bowl combine the above ingredients. Set aside.

muffins — Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

2 large tart apples, peeled, cored and shredded
1 ½ cups finely shredded carrots
1 cup chopped walnuts or flax seed meal
½ cup raisins

Add the apples, carrots, walnuts and raisins to the dry mixture. Stir to coat and make a well in the center of the mixture.

In a separate bowl combine
2 eggs
½ cup milk
¼ cup oil

Pour into the flour mixture. Stir just until moistened. Fill your muffin tins about ¾ full and bake in a preheated 375F oven for 18-20 minutes.

These muffins are delicious and keep well.

These muffins remain moist for several days.

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My Garden: Cold December Garden

In December the garden is not much to look at, it is frozen and covered with a light dusting of snow.

Instead I enjoy the color I find inside with my houseplants. There are flowers in abundance. From the cascades of orchid blossoms.

To the abundance of narcissus blooms.

Even my cyclamen is covered with blooms.

I am most pleased with the new growth on my bay plant, looking forward to harvesting my own bay leaves!

Remember the Aloe Vera plant I transplanted? It is also doing well.

I may be dreaming of the gardening season to come but in the meantime I am warm and cozy in our home enjoying the greenery found inside!

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Frugal Tips: Can I Recycle My Pizza Box?

Do you recycle? I have been recycling for years. Growing up my mom started a recycling program in our hometown. The money raised by selling crushed glass and aluminum cans was used to purchase land to be added to the towns land trust organization; the Guilford Land Trust. A win win situation.

As the years have gone by the way we recycle has changed. In many towns it is mandatory. Some towns require that the recycling be separated, glass, plastics and metal. In our town everything goes into one recycling container. However there are numerous rules we follow. For example when recycling glass you can not recycle light bulbs, dishes, Pyrex, drinking glasses, window panes or ceramics.

Cardboard can be recycled such as cereal boxes, shoe boxes, clothing boxes, soda and beer carriers, egg cartons but no laundry detergent boxes! No frozen food boxes or drink boxes. Can I recycle my pizza box?

The short answer is yes and no. If there are grease spots or food residue on the lid and base, then the answer is no. If the food residue and grease is only on the bottom, then toss that part and recycle the rest.

While grease from food doesn’t tend to contaminate the recycling process when it comes to metals, glass and plastic, food does present serious problems by way of contaminating paper recycling. The slurry that is created when recycling paper and cardboard is formed through mixing the recycled objects with water.

And water just doesn’t mix with oil and grease from food, which rises to the top of the slurry mixture. When this occurs, which it inevitably does when food grease is introduced into the process, then the various paper and cardboard fibers cannot properly be separated during the pulping process. The entire batch is contaminated and cannot ever be recycled. The grease and oil on the pizza box makes difficulties in the binding of the fibers, adding contaminates – when the water is eventually squeezed back out of the pulp, the oil created holes and spots that render the paper quality severally poor or unusable.

Other paper products like napkins; paper towels and paper plates also should not be thrown in with the recycling. And if you do dispose of the “clean” sections of your pizza boxes, remember to remove any stickers or coupons, whose adhesives also contaminate the recycling mix.

In the meantime take time to separate your trash and recycle. It will cut down on your garbage saving you money and helping the planet at the same time.

Linked to: TheThriftyHome

Prudent Pantry: Winter Vegetables

Before you read today’s post, have you entered my giveaway for a Pressure Canner, a Water Bath Caner and a Recipe Book? Click HERE to enter!

Here in Vermont the winter is upon us. The days are short and cold. What vegetables can you find in the local Farmers Market this time of year? If you want to buy vegetables that are local your choice will be limited. It is the time of year for citrus but it is shipped in. Local vegetables are limited to beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, rutabagas, turnips and winter squash.

Beets are in season in temperate climates fall through the spring, and available from storage most of the year everywhere else. Buy your beets with the greens still attached if you can. They are delicious steamed or added to a soup.

English: A bundle of organic beets from a loca... — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cabbage is bright and crisp when raw and mellows and sweetened the longer it is cooked. The cooler the weather it grows in, the sweeter it tends to taste.

Carrots are available from winter storage from local growers in many areas. I have often grown enough carrots to get us through the winter. Unfortunately this year I did not have a good crop and will have to rely on local growers.

Carrots on display at local greengrocer — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Onions can be found in your local farmers markets or perhaps you grew enough to store over the winter. I find I use onions all the time.

Onions on a neutral, mostly white background — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rutabagas are also known as yellow turnips. They are nutty root vegetable, which are perfect in stews, roasted or mashed. If you haven’t tried this vegetable pick some up and give it a try!

Turnips have a sharp but bright and sweet flavor. We enjoy them mashed every Thanksgiving.

Winter Squash comes in all sorts of varieties and can be used in so many ways. I love winter squash and have used it in soups, salads, and casseroles.

Our gardens may not be producing but there is still an abundance of local vegetables to enjoy this time of year.

Linked to: HomesteadBarnHop, AHumbleBumble

Cranberry Orange Marmalade

This cranberry orange marmalade is a wonderful recipe to make when cranberries are at their peak between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The scarlet cranberry lends a tartness to compliment the orange of this marmalade. This marmalade would be a wonderful addition to your holiday table.

Cranberry Orange Marmalade

Ingredients:

2 medium oranges
1 lemon
3 cups of water
2 cups of fresh (or frozen) cranberries
4 cups of sugar

Directions:

Remove the thin outer rind of the oranges and the lemon and cut into very fine strips, you can also use a zester.

Place the rind and water in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover and reduce the heat. Boil gently for 20 minutes.

Remove and discard the remaining white rind and seeds from the oranges and the lemon.

Finely chop the pulp and the cranberries in a food processor and add to the saucepan.

Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat and cover and boil gently for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the sugar to the fruit mixture. Return to a boil over high heat and boil rapidly uncovered until the mixture forms a gel, about 20 minutes. Stir frequently. After 20 minutes remove from the heat.

Ladle the marmalade into sterilized jars and process in your waterbath canner for 15 minutes. Makes about 5 cups.

My Garden: Gifts From The Outdoors

I love homemade gifts. One of my favorite gifts received over the years was a candleholder my youngest son made for me. It was made out of a white birch log and I just loved the simplicity of it. This year I decided to try to make one myself with a little help from my husband. We have numerous white birches on our property so locating a tree to cut down was easy.

trees, homemade gifts — White Birch Tree

My husband cut the tree into several pieces.

Once the tree was cut, the log lengths were cut in half.

A few holes were drilled into the wood to hold the candles.

I love the red candles against the white log.

You could also add a few dried flowers or greens if you wanted. Think I might make a few to give as Christmas gifts.

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Frugal Tips: Are You Ready For Christmas?

If you’ve been following any sort of twelve-month plan you should be able to avoid the packed stores in December and the big bills in the New Year. All that’s left to do is mail out cards with a family photo, decorate the house, put up the tree, finish wrapping the presents and enjoy the season! Does that sound a bit too organized?

Frugal Tip, prudent living — Preparing for Christmas?

Hopefully you’ve started preparing for the Christmas season in advance. Shopping for sales during the year and making small purchases here and there instead of waiting until the last moment.

It’s important to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and not get caught up in the busyness of the season.

Even if you’re not completely ready there are still many sales going on this month to help you out. From the day after Thanksgiving stores have huge sales in hopes of boosting their holiday retail sales. You can find everything from toys to computers, shoes to perfume and crystal to party food on sale.

Black Friday Sale — (Photo credit: Lester Public Library)

For the next few weeks as we get closer and closer to the big day take a few moments each day to prepare. If you’re sending out cards organize your mailing list. Take an evening to address the envelopes or print out labels on your computer.

Finish up the shopping and make food plans. If possible freeze some extra meals for the weeks ahead. Make and freeze cookie dough. Finish up the shopping and the wrapping of presents. Remember to keep it simple.

English: Gift ideas for men - wrapping paper e... — (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The day after Christmas is the perfect time to clean up on holiday décor, candles, wrapping paper and inedible gift items. It’s become a tradition for me to purchase the Christmas wrapping paper after the big day. It’s one less thing I need to think about as the holidays approach.

I also keep a Christmas notebook. I use the same notebook year after year until it is filled. I keep track of the family and friends I purchase gifts for. I also keep track of the gifts received each year. It’s a place where I can mark if thank you cards have been sent and jot down ideas I have for gifts throughout the year. I suppose I could also do this on the computer, but for me the notebook works well.

What tips to you have for enjoying the Christmas season?

Linked To: ServingJoyfully, FeedingBig

Prudent Pantry: Gifts From the Pantry

I love receiving homemade gifts as much as I enjoy giving them. This delicious soup mix can be layered in glass jars to give as gifts. With a few additional ingredients your friends and family can have soup simmering on the stove in just minutes.

soup, gifts, homemade — Ingredients to layer in a jar.

Friendship Soup Mix

½ cup dry split beans
1/3 cup beef bouillon granules
¼ cup pearl barley
½ cup dry lentils
¼ cup minced onion
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ cup uncooked long grain rice
½ cup alphabet macaroni or other small macaroni

Additional Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
3 quarts of water
1 can (28oz) diced tomatoes, un-drained

In a quart jar, layer the first eight ingredients in the order listed. Since the macaroni is added separately when making the soup I wrapped it in plastic wrap before putting in the jar.

soup, homemade gifts — Wrap macaroni separately.

Seal the jar tightly.

Include the recipe and the following directions with your gift.

To Prepare Soup:

Carefully removed the macaroni from the top of the jar and set aside. In a large saucepan brown the ground beef; drain. Add the water, tomatoes and soup mix and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add the reserved macaroni; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the macaroni, peas, lentils and barley are tender.

Serves 16.

soup mix, homemade — Friendship Soup – Ready for gifting.

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Butternut Bisque a Simple Soup

One of the things I love about the colder months of the year is making soup. Nothing tastes better to me on a cold day than a warm bowl of soup. I usually grow an abundance of winter squash in my garden and often use them in making soup. I interchange recipes using pumpkin and winter squash with good results. I have to say that Butternut Bisque is one of my favorites.

Butternut Bisque
Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup diced carrots
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups cooked winter squash
½ cup plain yogurt
1 cup evaporated milk or additional plain yogurt
2 Tbsp maple syrup

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion and carrots and sauté over medium low heat for about 5 minutes.

soup, bisque — Add the 3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth to the onion and carrots and simmer for ten minutes.

Add the cooke winter squash, the yogurt, evaporated milk and the maple syrup to the broth mixture. Using an immersion blender puree the soup until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender just use a regular blender to puree the soup.

soup, butternut — Cook over medium heat until hot. Season to taste with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder. Serve hot and garnish with pumpkin seeds or sour cream if desired. This Butternut Squash Bisque freezes well if you have any leftovers.

My Garden: Carse In Bloom

As you know gardening in one of my passions. I share this passion with a very special friend, Katharine. Katharine and I have been pen pals for over 20 years. We became acquainted after being paired up in a gardening magazine years ago. For years we wrote back and forth but now we communicate via the Internet. We haven’t met in person yet but I have talked to Katharine on the phone and do hope we can meet in person one day.

Katharine is not only a talented gardener but she is also a wonderful writer and has kept me entertained with the stories of her gardening adventures. I’ll never forget the story of their gardening group going by bus to attend a local garden show. The trip home was very crowded with plants sticking out the windows because everyone picked up something special to plant in their garden!

Glencarse, Scotland is Katharine’s home. In the past few years their local group, The Carse In Bloom, has been very busy with various projects to beautify their town.

This group was established in early 2010 and has been working to improve the quality of the environment for local residents and visitors, to the villages of St. Madoes and Glencarse, through horticultural activity, encouraging environmental responsibility and community engagement. The work of the group is carried out by a team of dedicated and enthusiastic local residents, all of whom have volunteered their time and expertise to make the villages cleaner, brighter and better places to live and visit.

Their Community Garden opened up officially in June.

During their annual Pearhshire in Bloom they won Silver Gilt, which was better than the previous year’s Silver. They even have a Facebook page on ‘Carse in Bloom and a website carseinbloom.org.uk. I enjoy looking at the pictures of their activities and the beautiful flowers they have planted.

Katharine wrote to me about the problems they’ve had, “The only problem we really have had is damage by the local ‘Little Darlings’ playing with footballs & bikes across the garden. The insect towers are not a success. Scruffy heaps of pallets in the middle of the garden, which have received some sharp comments from local residents.

We hoped to remove one of them quietly but then realized that by now the insects will have settled in hibernation & will have to be left until spring! Another problem unforeseen was the installation of power to the garden run off the streetlight on the road side. The idea was that the local Kirk would hold a carol service round a lit up Christmas tree in the garden during December & there could be BBQs there next summer but it turns out that the power is only on during hours of darkness so none available during the summer! You can’t make this stuff up can you?”

It may be cold and wintery here in Vermont but Katharine always brightens my day with her wonderful emails about gardening in Scotland!

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Cranberry Orange Marmalade

Ingredients:

Directions:

Butternut Bisque Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

Directions:

Butternut Bisque
Serves 4-6