SEASONS OF THE HEART

Vanilla Ice Cream

I recently made vanilla ice cream and it was delicious!!  I wanted to share my recipe with you.   You can now find all my ice cream recipes (eggless recipes and non dairy too) and ice cream making directions here:  http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/makinghomemadeicecream.htm    If I have more recipes to post I will be adding them to that page.   

Vanilla Ice Cream

6 eggs
3 cups cane juice crystals
2 T vanilla (only the real stuff)
2 c. whole cream
Whole Goat Milk, as much as needed to fill ice cream maker container (whole cow milk will work too.. :)
1 T arrowroot powder (helps make the ice cream smooth.. but this is optional if you don’t have any) 

In a big mixer (like a Kitchen Aid or Bosch) mix together (with the wire whip) the eggs and cane juice crystals until light and lemony colored. Add vanilla and mix again. Add cream and arrowroot powder (if using). When all of this has mixed together completely pour it into your 1 gallon ice cream maker container. Add whole milk until you reach the "fill line" on your ice cream maker container.  Follow the instructions that came with your ice cream maker or click on the above link for general instructions.

Bulk Taco Seasoning Mix

We are having taco salad for dinner tonight.  I always cook up my hamburger and add taco seasonings to it before adding it to my salad.  I realized this morning I was out of taco seasoning and it was time to make more.  This is another product that I make myself now.  We are not real big fans of the taste of the taco seasonings I use to buy from my health food co-op and I wonder about MSG in it as well (the grocery store stuff definitely is full of yucky things typically).  I recently was reading an article (wish I could remember where now.. maybe Dr. Mercola? If I find it I will give the link).  It said that if a product lists “spices” in their ingredient list and they purchase bulk mixed spices from a supplier that adds MSG to their spice mix then the company that uses the spice mix does not have to claim that it contains MSG. So basically something can say it is MSG free but still may contain MSG if they have the word "spices" listed in the ingredients.  If you have MSG sensitivities like my hubby does or you just want to avoid it for health reasons …  read your labels carefully!   

Taco mix is so easy to make. It takes less than 15 minutes to make up a batch, the recipe doubles easily.  I usually make a double batch but today I did not have enough dried onion, so I settled for a single batch.   

Bulk Taco Seasoning Mix

¾ c dried onions
½ c chili powder
¼ c salt
3T garlic powder
3T cornstarch
3T ground cumin
1T to 3T cayenne pepper (depending on how hot you like it) 

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Store in plastic or glass container with a lid. 

It takes approx. 3T of this mix to equal one packet that you would buy in the store.   

This recipe makes about 2 cups.  I store it in a canning jar in my cupboard.

This Weeks Menu

Our 25th wedding anniversary!! 

Tobin works so no holiday bbq for us.. already had it!

A Beautiful Sunday

Direct my footsteps according to your word. Psalm 119:133

It has  been just a beautiful day today!  The weather was so nice and everyone appreciates it after the week we have had with the heat!

I had an early morning meeting at church, came home and went back with hubby for the morning service.  A wonderful lady was there today and really brightened the day for us all.  She had a stroke last August and has been in the nursing home since, today was the first day she came to church.  It was such a surprise to see her sitting there when we walked in............she is in a wheel chair and can not really speak, just a few words, but you could tell she was happy to be there and see all of us.  And her husband was just grinning from ear to ear all morning, he was so happy to have her there with him! God has a plan for her, we certainly do not understand it, but he does!!

We ate with Mom at the local cafe, then came home  and relaxed a bit.  I went out and rounded up some chickens to take and get tested this afternoon.  I took 1 rooster, 4 production red pullets and 4 Maran pullets.  They have to have a blood test in order to enter them at the county fair.  We will take them for the grandkids to enter.

One of our county fairs (we have 3 in our county) was last week.  The heat was unbearable those days!! Nick didn't enter his goats at this one, but I went to watch the goat show and it was hot.  I was kind of glad he didn't take his because of it.

I better get off to bed..........this week is going to be quite a crazy busy one!!!  Many extra things going on in our little community  for the 4th of July.  We are getting a float ready for the parade, baking extra for farmers market, have 4 special pie orders, want to make cookies for a contest,  our church is having a supper with fireworks on Friday night (have to make a side dish for that and make sure my work is done here so we can go!)  Sigh............tired already.  Good night

Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

It has been a long time...................

Direct my footsteps according to your word. Psalm 119:133

I have been missing here for way too long.  Three months ago today was my last post, so it is about time I get back.  I have checked in and read some blogs along, but just not taken the time to post.  Several of my homestead friends have inquired about me and I am thankful for your friendship and appreciate your concern!

Things are going well.  Hubby has just passed the 3 month mark following his heart surgery.  He is feeling better than he has for a long time.  We are so thankful for his recovery.  God is Good!!

We are busy with Farmers Market season.  I am doing a lot of baking and the garden is doing fairly well.  Some of it we got in late due to wet weather and hubby's surgery.  We have harvested radishes, onions, beets, peas, some green beans, and 1 tomato!

I have just weaned some of the baby goats, a few needed to wait a few more weeks.  Next year I hope they will be born much closer together.  We lost a doe recently so I now have a bottle baby.

As of this evening.............an incredible heat wave has just broken!  Out just before dark and it was beautiful out!!!  For 7 days it has been nearly unbearable to be outside.  Temps in the mid to upper 90s and up to 100, with heat index around 105-110.  Early mornings chores could be accomplished, but as it usually cools down in the evenings during the summer...........that just didn't happen this time.  The other night I heard the weather man say that at 10 pm the heat index was still at 95!  I have been wondering how folks years ago could sleep with heat like that??  I am very thankful for air conditioning!!!

I need to get to bed, this heat has worn me out, and we have a busy day tomorrow.  I have an early meeting at church tomorrow.

Glad to be back, and I will try to keep up regularly again, I have missed my friends here!

Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

Trusting!

Thank You Jesus For Everything!

Human Bondage

Each and every one of us believes that we are ruled by our bodies and the material world around us and all our suffering is the result of this belief.  If we look at the Old Testament, though, we can read in the story of Israel coming out of Egypt the story of human consciousness growing up out of bondage in the physical, and on into the spiritual.

And Jehovah said (speaking to Moses) I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cries by reason of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large land, unto a land flowing with milk and honey (Exod. 3:7,8).

These words express exactly how the Creator feels toward mankind, today.

Today, and everyday, God has been saying to us, His (Her) children:  “I have surely seen the affliction of you who are in Egypt [the darkness of ignorance], and have heard your cry by reason of your taskmasters [sickness, sorrow, and poverty]; and I am [not I will, but I am now] come down to deliver you out of all this suffering, and to bring you up out of that land unto a good land and a large land, unto a land flowing with milk and honey [a life of joy and comfort].”

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

I read this and wanted to share it with you.

We are doing great here in Ky. Garden is coming along. Hubby has not found a full time job as of it, although we are patiently awaiting our prayer to be answered.

God is showing us everyday trusting in Him truly is the way. We have all our needs meet to overflow. God is with us.

Love and prayers answered to all in the Universe, rilda *U*

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Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

 We made chocolate ice cream this week and it was delicious!! I promised to post the recipe so here it is!  This is a variation of my Strawberry Ice Cream recipe (recipe link at the bottom of this post).  As I try out new flavors I will post them here.. 

Chocolate Ice Cream
Makes 1 gallon  

6 eggs
3 cups cane juice crystals
¾ c cocoa powder
1 T vanilla  (only the real stuff)
2 c. whole cream
Whole Goat Milk, as much as needed to fill ice cream maker container (whole cow milk will work too..  :)
1 T arrowroot powder (helps make the ice cream smooth.. but this is optional if you don’t have any) 

In a big mixer (like a Kitchen Aid or Bosch) mix together (with the wire whip) the eggs and cane juice crystals until light and lemony colored.  Add cocoa powder and vanilla mix again.  Add cream and arrowroot powder (if using).  When all of this has mixed together completely pour it into your 1 gallon ice cream maker container.  Add whole milk until you reach the “fill line” on your ice cream maker container.  Follow the instructions that came with your ice cream maker or you can read here: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/strawberryicecream.htm  for basic instructions (the directions are for strawberry ice cream, but the basic “how tos” will work for any flavor). 

In my world

Thank You Jesus For Everything!

Hallelujah!! It is a beautiful day here in KY. I have enjoyed this year around home so much cause hubby is home now more and we are getting some much needed things done. It is awesome when we wait and trust..... things just come to us that is needed.

I have been creating cards

Our Kitty Joy enjoying his life.

 Our flower bed a few weeks back

Sending God's blessings your way for that is His will to bless ...not curse. Only In Jesus' Holy Name!!

Lovingly, rilda

Saturday on the Homestead

Today has been a fairly quiet day.  The weather turned cool and wet so I have had a break from watering and weeding the garden.  I am sure the next dry day I can get in the garden I am going to find that the weeds have grown twice as fast as the veggies! LOL..  I also need to get the unplanted area rototilled this next week.   

I was able to check several things off my to-do list today.  I packed orders, paid a bill online, started a batch of beef stock, caught up on my Quicken, made dinner and packed hubby’s lunch and got him out the door to work, did some laundry, and did a little writing.  Emily and Leanne were working today so it was just me and the younger kids.  I had them clean their rooms; they were a bit of a mess to say the least.  Now I am getting a little computer time and listening to Tim McGraw.   

Emily had mid-terms this week from her online college courses.  She had the tests proctored by the library so it was very convenient. But it was a bit of a stressful week for her and for mom too..  it always seems when my kids stress so do I!    

Tomorrow is Father’s Day and we are making chocolate ice cream and some oatmeal cookies for dad.. he will like that  .    Dinner will be chicken alfredo and a salad and maybe some dinner rolls.   

Now it is time to look to my week ahead and see what needs to be done.  The kids have their year end homeschool testing (CAT testing, officially).   Sierra is the only one left with school work to finish up but she should be done soon.  Jacob is glad to be done with his school work because he has several summer jobs lined up with the neighbors.  They appreciate a young man who knows how to work to help them with chores around their homesteads and he appreciates being able to make some money .  

Tobin will be finishing up with Emily’s car maintenance this week; he is going to be replacing something that has to do with the steering.  He has replaced shocks, struts, brakes, and more (not being a mechanic myself I can’t remember all he has done.. but it has been a lot!).  The car should be set for another several thousand miles. Then he needs to work on his Jetta.  We still have wood to get in and house projects that need to be done so he is feeling a bit stressed by all that needs to be done before the summer is over.. and it just officially is starting!  

Well that is all from my homestead.  Hope you having a great weekend on your homesteads..