Wanna Be a Steader!

A Few of my Favorite Things...

I just love the feeling of community on this blog-site.  What a delightful, helpful bunch of folks!  I would like to return the favor and list a few of my favorite things...some are of my own concoctions or handed down from my family...and some I found from some of YOU right here on homestead blogger.  So, knowing that there are newbies finding various blogs everyday and knowing that we can't always read someone's blog (like mine!) everyday, I thought I would post some of my favorite recipes ... both for food and for cleaning.  I hope you enjoy and I hope this helps you and your family.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Kim's Absolute Favorite Herb Mix

I use this on SO much!  I spinkle it on chicken breasts (in olive oil w/a little Spike Seasoning), hamburgers, pork chops; any Italian dishes or sauces, I use it in dips, soups, stews, oil & vinegar dressings, herb butter, herb bread...it's an all-around awesome mix!

1 c. dried parsley

1/2 c. dried dill weed

1/4 c. dried chives

1/2 c. dried oregano

1/4 c. dried thyme

1/4 c. dried basil ~ optional

~ Mix together in a bowl w/a whisk & put into your favorite container.  Makes 2-1/2 c.  This amount fits perfectly in a Kraft parmesan cheese shaker.

Italian Seasoning

1/4 c. dried basil

2 TB. dried sage

1/4 c. dried thyme

1/4 c. dried rosemary

1/4 c. dried oregano

~ Mix together in a bowl w/a whisk & put into your favorite container.  Makes 1-1/8 c.

Zesty Zucchini Seasoning

8 TB. dried parsley

4 TB. dried chives

1 ts. dried marjoram

1 ts, dried oregano

1 ts. dried thyme

1 ts. dried basil

1/2 ts. celery seed

~ Mix together in a bowl w/a whisk & put into your favorite container.  Makes 3/4 c.

~ Flavor any zucchini/summer squash/tomato dish.

~ Add to salad greens & tomato wedges served w/a vinaigrette dressing.

Kim's Pico De Gallo

THIS IS IT!!  We used to go to a little whole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant that had THE best pico de gallo/salsa - I'm telling you, the chips were only used as a mere instrument to get the stuff into your mouth!  :-P  Unfortunately, it was little too whole-in-the-wall, the Mexicans apparently didn't get very good marketing advice and it closed.  OH, WOE IS ME!!  So, I set out to concoct the next best thing and, through trial and error and advice, I DO believe that I have it!  I hope that you will try this and let me know what YOU think...

4-6 Roma tomatoes, chopped

1/2 lg. onion, chopped

4-6 jalapeno peppers (depending on your taste and stomach lining), chopped

1 LARGE bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped

lime juice - to taste

sea salt or real salt - several large shakes, to taste

~ Mix together, break out the tortilla chips or Mexican food and ENJOY!!

Kim's Pasta Sauce

This came out of necessity.  One snowy night I already had the pasta in the water and found I had no sauce!  EEEKKK!!!  After scrounging through my cupboards I threw this mix together & my family - even my pickiest dd - LOVED it!  It has been modified a time or two, so play with it yourself.

2 cans Red Gold crushed tomatoes OR one 29oz. can of tomato sauce

1   6 oz. can Red Gold tomato paste

Several fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 small can of black olives, sliced

2 TB. onion flakes

Several liberal shakes of garlic powder

Several liberal shakes of my Favorite Herb Mix

~ Serve over pasta or as a dip for Italian bread.

Texas BBQ Sauce

This came from a Homesteadblogger, sorry I don't remember who or I would give them credit.  But my family LOVES this sauce!  Use it on burgers, steaks, chicken, hot dogs & brats...

1/2 c. Ketsup

1 TB. Worcestershire Sauce

3 TB. Sucanat (or brown sugar)

2 TB. Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 ts. sea salt OR real salt

1 ts. Dijon Mustard

1/2 ts. Spike Seasoning [my addition]

1/4 c. chopped onion

1/4 ts. garlic powder

~ Combine all ingredients in a bowl & stir well.  **Use immediately OR refrigerate for use w/in 3 days.

Taco Soup

This came from a friend of mine - THANKS ELLEN!  This soup is AWESOME!!

1 lb. ground beef or chuck

1 med. onion, chopped

1  15-16 oz. can kidney beans, undrained

1  14-15 oz. can corn, undrained

1  15 oz. can tomato sauce

1 pkg. taco seasoning

16 oz. of water

**I also add LOTS of cilantro & jalepeno peppers, chopped [KW]

shredded colby/jack cheese

sour cream

tortilla chips

~ Brown beef, onion, cilantro & peppers, drain.  Save back some of the cilantro to add to soup portion.

~ Mix everything together, including extra cilantro, in a dutch oven OR a crockpot.

~ Heat through in dutch oven for 45-60 minutes OR in crockpot for 2-3 hours on low.

~ Top w/tortilla chips (crumbled like crackers), shredded cheese & sour cream.

PERSONAL CARE

Natural Tootpaste

3 ts. baking powder (NOT soda!)

1-1/2 ts. hydorgen peroxide

1 drop of peppermint or spearmint or wintergreen essential oil

~ Mix together in a small sealable container.  Leave lid off until fizzing stops.

Natural Deodorant

1/2 c. baking soda

1/2 c. corn starch

2-4 drops of an antibacterial oil; I use lavender

HOME CARE

Automatic Dishwashing Detergent

1 c. Borax

1 c. Baking soda

~ Use 2 TB. each load.

I'll be honest with you here, it CAN leave spots of certain dishes/pots.  Make sure you have some white vinegar in the rinse container.

Mamma C's All-Purpose Cleaner

My mamma's handy-dandy clearner! 

3 c. water

3 TB. white vinegar

3TB. ammonia

2 ts. rubbing alcohol

~ Mix together in a clean spray bottle, shake well before using.

Carpet Cleaners

~ Deodorizing:  Sprinkle baking soda OR cornstarch on carpet, using about 1 c. per med-sized room.  Vacuum after 30 minutes.

~ Deodorizing:  mix 2-pts. cornmeal w/1-pt Borax; sprinkle liberally, leave for 1 hour, vacuum.

~ Disinfectant:  2 c. water, 3 TB. liquid soap, 20-30 drops of Tea Tree Oil.  Mix well in a spray bottle & squirt on everything from baby's bottom to the cutting board.

IT'S GOOD TO KNOW...

~ Removing candle wax:  from inside a holder, place it in the freezer for about 5-15 minutes.  When you remove it, the wax will be brittle & literally fall off the candleholder.

~ Fruit Fly Trap:  fill a small bowl w/red wine vinegar & a few drops of dish soap.  Sit on windowsill near fruit; the fruit flies are attracted to it & drown.

~ Oven & Microwave Cleaning:  Microwaves can be cleaned easily by putting a sponge soaked in white vinegar in the microwave & cooking it for 2 minutes.  Don't open the microwave for about 5 minutes.  The stuck on food should slide right off.

For ovens use a shallow pan w/a couple of cups of white vinegar and NO SPONGE.  Cook for 5-10 minutes & leave in the oven to cool for about 30 minutes.  Food will slide right off.

~ Squeeze lemon juice onto the sponge to keep it fresh - but to control germs, bleach it or run it through the dishwasher on a regular basis.       

White Wheat, Grain Mills and COOL list of recipes!

01:21, 2007-May-4 .. Posted by millersgrainhouse

First - let me say I LOVE that list of recipes! Thank you for sharing your eclectic list in such a USEFUL format! Between the food and the house/health recipes - you've got a great 'how to' booklet going for homesteaders! Bless you!

To answer your questions on my blog.

My FAV White Wheat is Prairie Gold.

We sell it (and the Nutrimill) on line at: http://stores.ebay.com/TheMillersGrainHouse

If you look up in ebay Guides and Reviews - there is a guide I wrote on how easy the Nutrimill is to use.

I actually have a breadmaking video getting edited as I type this! I use the Prairie Gold and Organic Hard Red in it - yummy!

I've been milling and baking fresh for years now and love all that I get to try and learn! Happy to share with you...glad the video was helpful.

Thanks again for all those tips and recipes! I hope to try out several of them over the week ahead - I'll let you know how they turn out!

In His Service!
Blessings in our Risen Messiah!
Donna

Me again...

01:29, 2007-May-4 .. Posted by millersgrainhouse

BTW: Do you have any recordings of you playing the dulcimer? If you do and have means to share them on line I'd LOVE to hear it! It is one of my FAV relaxing instruments. That and the mandolin.

I'm a music major (madrigal voice) and miss that sounds something aweful some times!

Sorry to double comment - I forgot last time!
Blessings in our Risen Messiah!
Donna

Untitled Comment

02:27, 2007-May-4 .. Posted by kayinpa

Great list! Thanks for sharing Kim!

Thank you...

12:56, 2007-May-23 .. Posted by Glammon

Thank you for sharing your recipes and tips with all of us. I can't wait to try some of them over the weekend. Enjoy reading your blog!
Take Care
~Gretchen