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Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Sour Cream, Pickled Red Onions and Capers
How to make Pear Butter, easy and so delicious!
Have you ever made Pear Butter? If not, I hope you do soon. With a few simple ingredients, you can make one of the best-tasting preserves ever! It is a favorite around here and I think your family will love it.
Pear Butter is on my mind! It is quite different from the usual apple butter, which I also love by the way. Pear butter is bright in flavor with a touch of orange and nutmeg. I hope to put a batch or two of Pear Butter into our root cellar right beside the jars of jam we are so fond of.
We have a pear tree here on our little homestead. It has needed to be nursed back to health after years of disregard. But our first year here, it has a few pears on it right now as I type out these words. Not enough to can up into quarts, but I believe enough for a batch of Pear Butter! I have been making this recipe for many years (30+!), but this will be the first time that I will be making it from fruit from my own tree...
Encouraging Hearts and Home 08.27.2020
Hello and Welcome!
Mustard Oregano Chicken or Chops
Mustard Oregano Pork Chops |
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In order stack, a thick slice of onion, green beans, chicken thigh, cheddar cheese, more green beans, and another thick onion. The onion slices cook up tender and offer moisture for the green beans and chicken to cook without drying out. Season generously with garlic salt, pepper, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I prefer to wrap in parchment paper, then heavy-duty foil.
Tip: double wrapping in foil allows you to take the outside layer off, keeping your hands clean while you open the packet to enjoy your dinner.
Stir Fried Red Cabbage with Ginger and Chives
How to Make Homemade Woolen Dryer Balls, eliminate dryer sheets for good!
Do you want to eliminate commercial dryer sheets? The ones full of chemicals and paraffin? We did too. I made the switch and we have never looked back! With Homemade Woolen Dryer Balls you can eliminate artificial fragrance and the waxy residue from your laundry. And your clothes are just as soft when you take them from the dryer...
Homemade Woolen Dryer Balls from re-purposed sweaters. |
Encouraging Hearts and Home 08.13.2020
Hello and welcome!
I wish I could tell you that our days are filled with neverending exciting activities, while at camp, but alas...being at camp is much like being at home. There are meals to cook, dishes to wash, a bed to make, and other chores as assigned by the Ranger. But it is an excellent trade-off because we love being in the forest, breathing in the fresh air, and observing the changes in the season as the days go by. The best part? Meeting the hundreds of wonderful people who have come to camp. It is definitely a bonus!
And just like at home emergencies and routine problems come up. In the very early hours of the morning, we had lightning strikes that started a fire high up on the ridge. On the south side of the lake. My hubby got dressed and went down the hill towards town to be within cell range to call 911 and report it. All in all, there were six fires started by lightning in the Bitterroot Valley, all were put out as the day went on. The fire crews are quick to respond and get the job done! We got to observe the helicopter repeatedly flying low over the lake to dip a "bucket" for water and then fly over the fire and drop a sheet of water to put it out. We heard the buzz of helicopters until early afternoon. It was a reassuring sound, to say the least.
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Steel wool fills in the gap on the right side of this cupboard. |
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Not pretty, but very effective! |
And I can also give you some tips on having a mouse (or 3!) in your house...We heard them, they even walked over the countertop each evening searching for food, quickly climbing down into the open space behind the propane stove, the little devils! We learned for our co-host that steel wool is the best material to fill any holes in the trailer and any gaps in from one cupboard to another. Steel wool is the one item they will not chew on! We also were successful in using a live trap to capture and release the mice. We did not want to use any poison as the birds eat the mice...and while it took a few attempts, in the end, we were pleased with the outcome!
If you or anyone you know has an interest in becoming a volunteer for your local campgrounds, national parks, and federal forest lands campgrounds, I hope you visit volunteer.gov, opportunity is calling!
Oven Roasted Tomatoes for Sauce or freezer storage.
How to make Oven Roasted Tomates, for sauce and future meals. Another recipe for your "freezer pantry". Oven Roasted Tomatoes are perfect for the home gardener, who is harvesting more than can be eaten fresh, but not enough for production line canning and preserving.
Having this container of Oven Roasted Tomatoes is the ticket to a quick meal by tossing with cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese. But don't stop there, pureed this batch of Oven Roasted Tomatoes is the start to many meals where rich tomato flavor is wanted. This is the perfect recipe for a no-waste method of preserving to make sure every single summer tomato is enjoyed.
Oven Roasted Tomatoes is a perfect first step in preserving for the first time preserver. This recipe (more a process than a recipe) will ease any anxiety associated with preserving. I know I had my share way back when I first took on the challenge of canning and preserving for my family. Plus this process teaches that preserving does not take all day, nor do you have to invest hours of your time in a hot kitchen!
How to Can Rhubarb from the Garden
Encouraging Hearts and Home 08.06.2020
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Chimichurri Sauce, a delicious spicy parsley sauce to enjoy!
Chimichurri Sauce is vibrant and more than a sauce for grilled meats, although it shines in that role. It is also a condiment that knows only the boundaries of your own taste buds! Feel free to enjoy it often...because parsley is high in vitamins, so you could say that enjoying this Chimichurri Sauce is good for your health!