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Thursday, October 8, 2020

Encouraging Hearts and Home 10.08.2020

Pumpkin Cheese Ball, Using Salt in the Laundry Room, How to Make Christmas Tree Napkins, and Self Sufficient Living are this week's featured posts. 

 Hello and Welcome!

I cannot believe another week has gone by. With my job working at the organic farm and canning for our own household in the evenings after work, I am amazed at how much I am getting done. I never planned out exactly how I wanted my retirement years to go, but I think not working, after so many years of working was a bit harder on me than I thought it would be! I do believe we feel best when we are accomplishing things important to our heart's desires. Feeding my family (and apparently another family as well) healthy organic food is part of what I hold dear. 

Encouraging Hearts and Home Link up and Blog Hop. Stop by and say hello! Check out the great links to visit @ Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household.
Home-canned plums from our own trees!

The jars you see in the sink are plums I canned from our own plum trees! This is exciting only because when we purchased our property last year, the fruit trees had not had any care or maintenance in many years. These jars are quite gratifying! I canned 28 quarts of plums, and will also fill the food dryer, plus there should be enough for a batch or two of jam. Now to have that kind of luck with the apricot tree!

When canning fruit in a sugar syrup I like to wash the jars (and remove the ring) before putting my bounty away in the root cellar. It doesn't take many trickles of syrup before the ants come marching in...

And now let's talk about dinner. Specifically, side dishes that you can serve to make dinner not only delicious but easy on the cook as well.  Here are three of our favorites, plus they are all easy to make. Each one has an advantage, they each call for a cooking style that will complement your busy schedule. 

"Dusty Potatoes" A super easy, delicious potato dish the whole family will love!
Dusty Potatoes, these potatoes defy explaining how good potatoes sprinkled with a few bread crumbs can taste! I guess you will just have to try them yourself...

Cilantro Brown Rice and Red Potatoes, made easily in your Instant Pot!
Cilantro Brown Rice and Red Potatoes. This easy dish is made in the Instant Pot! This dish happily cooks itself while you get the rest of the dinner completed.

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese, the easiest side dish ever!
Everyone needs this easy Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe. This family favorite will be requested time and time again!

And now, for This Week's Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop!

 

Join your Encouraging Hearts & Home Co-Hosts each week for encouragement and support for your heart & your home. We hope to provide a space that builds each other up and lends a helping hand along the way. With all the negativity in the world, let's shine a positive light!

And me, Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household. 

The post with the most views from last week:

This Pumpkin Cheese Ball! Just in time for Halloween celebrations!

A few of my favorites from last week are:
 

Using Salt in the Laundry Room. One of my favorites this week at Encouraging Hearts and Home, link-up your creations, right here at Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household!

This informational post on using salt in the laundry room


Self Sufficient Living, what does that mean? One of my favorites this week at Encouraging Hearts and Home, link-up your creations, right here at Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household!

And, what does
Self Sufficient Living really mean?

Use the form below to share your family-friendly posts this week, and please consider these nice things you can do:

  • Follow and/or subscribe to your host's blog.
  • Visit a few other bloggers and show them your support. We all love getting comments, and who knows what inspiration you may find? Be sure to share the love--that's what a blog hop is all about!
  • Check out our Encouraging Hearts & Home Pinterest board where each host pins her 10 favorite posts each week.
  • Join us every Thursday!
  • If you are interested in co-hosting, contact Linda at Apron Strings & Other Things!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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