Friday, December 30, 2022

Lamb chop dinner


I grew up in cattle country. Beef was king!.
Never had mutton or lamb in the house. Tolorated wool, because it was warm.
So lamb of any sort is a novelty to me. This year, I tried lambs shank. I was told it would stink while and after it cooked. Not true.  I look forward to my next venture with this meat source.
Here is a meal plan that includes the broiled lamb recipe I posted a while back.


Sunday, November 13, 2022

Our 2022 costumes







November 13 update

My bad, I've not kept this blog up to date this year.  
I did not decorate for Halloween, this year. For most of September, I was too run down, thanks to COVID, to do much of anything.  and once I was able to do more that the very basics it was too late to really want to do much after that. 
I have decorated for Autumn but just some generic items.  A few Signs welcoming Autumn, and some leaf garland around a doorway and two wreaths on the walls.  
I hope to do much better for next year.

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Shared from southernliving.com: King Ranch Chicken Recipe

Hailing from an era when casseroles were king, this Tex-Mex dish still reigns supreme at church suppers and neighborhood potlucks. Though not an invention of the famed King Ranch%2��it's more likely the creation of a ladies' Junior League%2��the spicy flavors of chili powder, roasted peppers, and toasted cumin never fail to please. Read More: https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/king-ranch-chicken-0?utm_source=emailshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mobilesharebutton2

Saturday, June 18, 2022

Halloween is coming

Yes, I know, it is still a few months away but Halloween is going to be here before we know it. I am looking for yard decorations to put out in our yard. and this one looks like a fun one to slip under our living room window.




I think the only change I might make is to add some  knees to the legs by wrapping the pool noodle with a little tape about halfway up them.  


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Halloween in Wonderland Treat Holder

Here is a YouTube video on making a Halloween in Wonderland Treat Holder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3zP9b5DEVU

I know, Who thinks of Halloween in May, right? but why not.  if it's too hot to be outside then why not make decorations for fall or early winter.


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Caramel apple pops

Not my recipe, but sure looks nice.

https://diycandy.com/caramel-apple-pops/


Delicious Fall Treat: Caramel Apple Pops

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Thursday, April 28, 2022

anothr recipe, for Fall


Hot Cinnamon Apple Butter
Serves: 32 (about 4 cups)
4 pounds apples
3 cups apple cider
1 cup sugar, plus more to taste
1/2 cup Brach's Cinnamon Imperials
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 

Quarter the apples (do not peel or core). Place the apples in a large pot, add the apple cider, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until apples are soft, about 20 minutes. Press the apples through a chinois sieve or a food mill into a large bowl. Discard the remaining peels, cores and seeds in the chinois. Return the pulp and all of the liquid to the pot and stir in the sugar, cinnamon candies, vinegar, cinnamon and nutmeg until well-combined. Cook over low heat, stirring regularly to prevent scorching, until the apple butter is thicker than apple sauce, 4 to 8 hours. After 3 hours, taste for sweetness and add up to 1/2 cup more sugar if needed. Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal. Let cool to room temperature before serving.
 
 
Source: Southern Kitchen






Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Some Recipes to try, this year.

Halloween Monster Sugar Cookies
Yield: 32 cookies
 
Author: Meg's Everyday Indulgence
Ingredients
For Cookie Dough:
  • 2/3 cup butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup shortening
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. milk
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
For Buttercream Frosting:
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp. milk
For Decorating:
  • Gel food coloring
  • Sprinkles
  • Candy eyeballs
  • Candy corn
  • Black gel frosting in tube
  • 3-inch round cookie cutter
Instructions
  • In a stand mixer, cream together the butter and shortening. Add sugar and mix until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, incorporating one at a time. Add vanilla and milk and mix until combined.
  • Slowly add flour, baking powder and salt to cookie dough until it is all incorporated. Divide dough in half, form into disks and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour or up to overnight. 
  • When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or coat with nonstick spray. Generously flour a flat surface and rolling pin. Divide each disk in half and roll out one portion to 1/4-inch thickness (keep dough not being rolled refrigerated). Cut cookies using 3-inch round cookie cutter. Place on prepared pan 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 minutes. Allow to rest on pan for 2 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool. 
  • For the frosting: cream the butter until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and cream until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Divide frosting into small bowls and color them as you wish with gel food coloring. 
  • Frost cooled cookies and decorate as desired. Store in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between each layer to prevent them from sticking together. 



Halloween Snack Mix
Need a fun snack for October? This Halloween Snack Mix is the perfect combination of sweet and salty ingredients and will be a huge hit with your family.
Prep Time35 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: halloween snack mix
 
Yield: 8 servings
 
Author: Meg's Everyday Indulgence
Ingredients
  • 3 cups pretzels twists
  • 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup Halloween sprinkles
  • 3 cups Cinnamon Chex cereal
  • 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup pumpkin spice marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup mini peanut butter cups
  • 1/2 cup M&M's
  • 1 cup candy corn harvest mix
Instructions
  • Grab a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spread pretzels in a single layer. Add white chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, microwave another 30 seconds if needed.
  • Add melted white chocolate to ziplock bag, press out all the air and seal. Cut a small bit off the edge of the bag. Drizzle the white chocolate over the pretzels. Sprinkle with the sprinkles. Allow to harden.
  • In a large bowl, mix all remaining ingredients. Once pretzels are hardened, carefully mix them in. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.



Source: Meg's Everyday Indulgence



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Source: Mrs Happy Homemaker


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Sunday, April 17, 2022

April 17, 2022 Easter


Today is Easter Sunday.
I didn't do any decorating for this holiday, this year.  I put up two "Flower" posters but they are not strictly Easter. Just flowers. We had Dinner at Heathers. Ham, which I brought a lot of home with me, since they do not eat left-overs and there was a lot of ha left on the bone, and I got the bone as well, for a pot of beans I want to make on Tuesday. We colored eggs last night, at her house. 
WE got the Greenhouse put together and put in it's place by the house, but I may move it to the back later. I filled 36 plastic cups with some potting  soil and seed starter mix, and planted some seeds into each cup. They are now in the Greenhouse, sitting in my wagon, waiting to be put on the shelfs. That is my plan to work in in the morning. watering, checks and setting on the shelves. 
After Dinner, just before we left Heather's home. She wanted to know more about the community garden. She wants to help me get the set up and see what she can learn to grown, and she would like to see each box filled. I told her one of the main things we need right now. is filler and soils to plant in. Each box has very little left in them. A lot of soil is needed. She may know someone who can help with that. And no only wants to grow but what we don't need donate to the food bank and, and anything I grow, I want to donate  to the Senior Center.  There are w few more seeds to buy. Onion and zucchini are what I remember she put on the list. She said corn and I an mot adverse to growing corn, but we need some land tilled in order to do that. maybe some potatoes as well. 
I found a small electric tiller that runs off of a battery that is reasonable priced and I am trying to talk Jerry into buying it for me.  Heather mentioned that Mother's day is only three weeks away. So, maybe I will get it for that day.  
It took me two years, but I got the large sind chime restrung. I lost the tound stricker from it, ut the sind paddle has been working just fine for stricking the chimes on it.  I never did get the cards made, but I have that on my list to make later and can give them out, next year.




Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Friday, April 15, 2022

April 15, 2022


It's been a week and it's not over, yet.

We had some windy and heavy rains, and I have forgotten which evening that was. Tuesday, I think.
Jerry had a Heart doctor's appointment on Monday. A couple of med changes. But his heart sounds good and the blood tests look good as well. He has a Ultra sound on Monday, and then another visit with the Cardiologist.  He is still retaining water, so he's on more diuretics. I am thinking that is why his back has been hurting the last few days, It maybe rough on his kidneys. That is one of the questions he is going to ask.

Tuesday, besides the storms, was un-eventful. I started putting the Greenhouse together We got it about half way done and had to stop for the evening. I was getting cold and tired and the weather was not looking good either. We had rain,, just not as much as we had the night before. 
Wednesday, Senior Center, and two new people came in and Dell joined in the Rummy game.  And stayed after lunch to play some more. His daughter joined in putting puzzles together and we may have talked her into joining the card games as well. I was too sore from working on the Greenhouse to work on it so it had to sit for a while. I moved it around to the side of the house to get it out of the way.
Thursday, We finished the Greenhouse. I could do all but the peak of the thing. I am just too short and I can not raise my left arm that high, any more. We left it in the front yard over-night. Weighted the bottom poles of it with rocks to keep the wind from taking off with it.
Today (Friday) Jerry had a different Doctor's appointment, for a shot in his eye. These shots are going to be for the rest of his life. I rode with him, this time. He usually has SETHRA take him, but since it is Good Friday, they are not working outside of Dialysis and Cancer treatment people. So we had to drive in. When we got back and rested a ew minutes,  Jerry fixed one of Heather's push mowers, and then used it to mow where I am keeping the greenhouse, After moving it. I was trying to string a wind chime when he started asking me where it was going. I dropped what I was doing, and not gracefully, but we had it out, and cooled off. then I Moved it where I wanted it. Then he had to move it back out, and mow some more, then put it back. I cut some plastic cups in half. to use for seed starting cups. I cut 36 of them enough for 3 trays worth. the trays are really the tops off of some Deli trays or cake trays from the store and each one holds 12. I planted a few of each of the seeds I have. I still have 6 packets to get a few seeds from and see if the will sprout or not.  I did this, on the porch and put the trays in my folding wagon, to make it easier to get them from the porch to the greenhouse. We were taking Heather's mower back to her, so I just parked the wagon in the greenhouse and will put the trays on the shelves in the morning.

tomorrow, we are going to be busy. In the morning we are helping doing some cleaning of the building where the HAM Radio club has it's quarterly meets.  Just before Noon, He is taking me to the community gardens and I will stay there for about an hour. The weather is getting better, so who knows if we are going to get anyone to show up or are they all going to Easter Egg hunts.  There is a Garden information meeting at the Building the Senior Center is in, but I am not going to it, this time. Unless we get finished quickly at the Gardens. Then I might consider going to that.  Baily has to work until 4. So we will go up to Heather's around 6 to color eggs with her family. We all have lots of fun doing that together each year. Sunday, we will spend most of the day at her home,  If Jerry's legs get to hurting him too much, we will come home early.



Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Saturday, April 9, 2022

Spider Halloween Treat Gift Jars


Posted: 23 Sep 2018 03:12 AM PDT
I thought these Halloween Treat Containers from Recycled Jars would be a cute idea. A large pom-pom and four bump chenille pipe cleaners created a furry spider on top of the lid. I pinched some Trick or Treat ribbon and wrapped the bottom of the front leg around it. A spider ring adds a decoration and an extra little toy. This jar is a small 4oz jar, you could use any size you'd like. And of course they can be filled with the candy of your choice:@)

My spider is kind of floppy and friendly looking...
You can make it spookier by bending the legs up and into more of an upside down V shape.

Directions:
  1. Remove label from jar (if necessary), thoroughly wash and dry jar and lid.
  2. Cut a circle from scrap book paper or construction paper to cover top of lid if desired. I left mine as is.
  3. Create legs from four pipe cleaners. Either hot glue individually to lid, or wrap another pipe cleaner around all four and hot glue that as I did below. 
  4. Use large pom-pom for body/head. Glue it on top of legs. 
  5. Glue googly eyes to pom-pom. 
  6. Add embellishments and decorate jar as desired.



Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Friday, April 1, 2022

video on rose cuttings in water

I got some rose cuttings from around the Senior Center and have put them in water, in hopes of making rose bushes.  I am trying the way it was done in this video

It is NOT my fideo.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re3Bd9zBmZ0

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b