Update October

This week was pretty busy in spite of doctor appointments, impromptu trip for critter bedding, and visitation with mom, plus the usual agenda squeezed in there too.

First thing this past week I made my liquid soap I had been wanting to try out. More about that later this week.

Wednesday we had planned to work in the house and school but Bowie the dog had other plans. Buddy the little dog is forever in big dog’s (Bowie) face. Growling every time he turns around. Bossing him, nagging him, snapping at him, etc. You get the idea. So Wednesday when the weather man was calling for it to cool down and with frost in the forecast, Bowie gets in Buddy’s bed, drags his nice warm bedding out and shreds it to pieces. How’s that for revenge? Off to town we go to get something that can be used that night.

Coincidentally Dad left work at half a day and had a dr. appt. so we met up with him and did a little grocery shopping afterwards.

Once home I took the fleece throw I bought at Goodwill and made two pillow beds for Bud. So he was snug as a bug in a rug that night.

Thursday we went to see mom and take her new pajamas. Last week we went on a Wednesday and she was really sleepy. I couldn’t get her to wake up enough to visit. But this week on Thursday she woke up and talked to us for a while and gazed out at the sunshine. We had a nice time.

This is how Friday morning started out bright and early. The guys started while the temps were still under forty degrees.

We had a clog in the drain pipe that leads outside from under the house. It has plagued us for awhile but kept getting worse and worse until it wouldn’t be ignored any longer. The guys started while the temps were still in the thirties.

Brrrrr……

I worked in the shed getting things moved around to make room for the patio furniture.

Then moved it all down there.

Now the deck is bare.

Saturday the guys put up another clothes line for me. This one is across the deck so I don’t have to wade the mud or wet grass during the coming months. Pics coming tomorrow about this.

With a few mornings of frost the rose bush blooms took a hit but there were a few still pretty so I took them inside to pretty up the kitchen.

We still have the roof to do once Charlie is up to it . We also have to work on Bowie’s new dog house.

The air line in the shop still hasn’t been completed. But we are getting there. If new projects would stop popping up we could complete the ones on the list!  :)

Got several things to post this week. Coming up Wednesday will be the next installment of Use It Up. This week will focus on Saltine Crackers. Hope to find you there!

Have a great week and I wish you luck on completing your own projects!

Until next time……..Kristi.

Words

The days were growing shorter and the nights were cooler. One night Jack Frost passed by , and in the morning there were bright colors here and there among the green leaves of the Big Woods. Then all the leaves stopped being green. They were yellow and scarlet and crimson and golden and brown.

House in the Big Woods -Laura Ingalls Wilder

Use It Up: Onions

Onions are inexpensive and used in most recipes. When sales are at their peak, you can pick up a bag for very little money and you tell yourself  you’ll use them up before they go bad. But life has other plans. Unexpected things come up and suddenly all those new recipes as well as the oldies get put aside.

Once things return to normal you’re staring in your pantry thinking, “Now what?  Those suckers may grow legs any minute and walk right out of here."
But don’t worry there a few things you can do to salvage some, if not all, of these mutant creatures now taking up residence in your onion bin.
First up you can always chop them up and place in a single layer on a foil lined cookie sheet. Place in your freezer until frozen, then place in resealable bags to cook with. Do note that the texture is some what chewy once thawed, so really they are only useful in recipes.

One recipe I absolutely love, and fall back on anytime I have a surplus of onions, is Onion Casserole. The following recipe is the original. I tweak it just a little. After making it by the recipe the first time, I found I’d rather dice my onions instead of leaving it in slices. It makes a prettier casserole and less cutting for the eater. I also usually just make up a chicken flavored white sauce using chicken base and use in place of the soup and bouillon. The chips are really tasty on it but I have used saltine cracker crumbs and it tasted fine.

Onion Casserole

¼ cup butter

9 large onions, sliced

1 (7 ounce) bag sour cream and onion flavored potato chips, crushed

1 cube beef bouillon

1/2 cup water

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350* . Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute onions until tender. Transfer to prepared dish and top with crushed potato chips. Dissolve bouillon in water and mix with mushroom soup; pour over chips and onions. Top with cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

If you love munching on French’s French Fried Onions or need some to top a Green Bean Casserole then make your own. These are really yummy. They make great snacks for movie night. Don’t worry if you don’t have sweet onions. I made these out of the little white “great for cooking” onions, (you know the ones that water your eyes and make your nose run just looking at them?) I made them out of those and they were a hit at our house. If you happen to have sweet onions then onion rings may be the easier route for you.

Deep Fried Onions

Onions

Around 2 cups buttermilk or (soured milk - 1 Tbsp white vinegar to about 1 cup milk)

2 cups flour

Salt (about 1 Tbsp)

Pepper

Cayenne pepper (¼-½ teaspoon)

Oil for frying

Slice onions very, very thinly (see your knife through the slices thin).Separate slices into rings and place them in a shallow dish. Cover rings with buttermilk or sour milk. Soak at least an hour. Place flour, salt and both peppers in a bowl. Heat oil to 375*. Dredge rings in flour mixture, shake off excess, and fry until golden.

(Note: When dredging don't worry about dipping one ring at a time in the flour,  just use your tongs and grab a bunch, drop them in and toss flour over them, roll them around, whatever floats your boat, then grab back up with tongs and shake the excess flour off and drop in the oil.  Much easier that way with less work!)

There doesn't seem to be anything sweeter than caramelized onions. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote a book about her husband's childhood, entitled Farmer Boy. One of his favorite dishes was Apples and Onions. 

Apples and Onions


6 medium onions, sliced and separated into rings
2 Tbsp. bacon drippings or butter
6 medium apples,cored and cut into 1/4 inch wedges ( tart apples are best)
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
 
In large skillet cook onions in grease or butter over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.  Add apples and top with brown sugar.  Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes until apples are tender. 


One last word about onions.  If you ever have the misfortune of burning yourself, reach for a fresh onion.  Cut it in half and rub over the burn.  The juice from it really helps. 

There you have it!  The incredible, edible, ...... I mean the ornery, honorary, onion. 

Until next time......Happy Eating!

Kristi

FYI

I fixed the broken link on the Much Ado About Beans post.  Sorry about that.  If you click the link it should now take you to the previous post about pinto beans.  Again, sorry for the inconvenience. 

Also if you scroll down below the blog archive on the right side of the blog( web version for those of you on mobile) I have the post listed by labels.  This should make it easier to find what you are looking for.  For example, if you want to catch up on the Use It Up recipes you just click recipes and it brings up all past posts with recipes. 

Coming up tomorrow:  Use It Up-Onions

Thanks for reading!

Kristi

Update in Pics

These are pics from last week that I didn't get to post due to internet problems.  Lots of projects needing done before the temps drop later on this week. 

Touches of fall.

***********************

Now that's a big tater!

My what big eyes you have!

New bed for Bud in the office.

Stake of granny squares for mom. 

Kyler trying out the field on Chuck's bike. 

   Chuck managed to fix a leaky faucet this weekend in between riding and working on the field.   We also did a little stock up shopping to replenish the food storage.

Lots to be accomplished this week but busy hands are happy hands!

(Y'all tired of me saying that yet?)

Have a great day!

Picture Thought

This reminds me of a cabinet in Granny's kitchen.

Just Cause

You often hear on the news about a person or group of people fighting for a Just Cause and I can understand that totally. 

For example, if Zach comes in the kitchen and asks why I'm making a cake, I reply "just 'cause". 

Or if I give someone a gift and it isn't their birthday, I did it just 'cause. 

If our dog got his bedtime cookie too early, it becomes a just 'cause cookie and he gets a new one deemed bedtime snack. 

All very good reasons for taking a stand in my book. 

Just saying.....just 'cause this is my blog!  (smile)

Have a great day!