Green Hot Pepper Sauce

6 or so tomatillos, papers removed & washed

3 jalapeno peppers (depends on heat you like), cut off stems & wash

1 big white or yellow onion

Juice of 1 lime

salt

In a cast iron skillet put just a dab of oil. Get skillet hot & then add the peppers, tomatillos, & onion. Allow to char a little. -Where it will turn brown but not burned. This will take no more than 3-5 minutes.

Then blend all together with the lime juice & about 1/2 tsp salt. Taste & you may need to add a tad more salt or lime.

Serve with chips, on tacos, or whatever needs a little heat!

Enchilada Sauce

Upon request I'd love to share my enchilada sauce recipe, but I really don't have an exact one.
What I did is wash & core my garden tomatoes. Then put them into the blender in batches & blended them up very well. I also blend up an onion or two & a couple of jalapeno peppers. Next poured it all into my big stockpot. Then added the following spices:
oregano
basil
chili powder
cumin
garlic powder (or fresh chopped garlic)
salt
pepper

It really just depends on what your tastes are. I used about 3 tablespoons of the spices (except the salt & pepper)

Let this simmer for at least an hour. Taste it & if it's desired, put in jars & pressure can.

Basic Beef Enchiladas

1 lb ground meat
1 small onion, chopped
2-3 cups shredded monteray jack or cheddar or mixed
1 jar homemade enchilada sauce
corn tortillias

Brown meat & onion in a skillet. Drain off any fat.
Heat enchilada sauce in a pan.
Dip corn tortillia in sauce to coat (do it fast as the tortillias will break easily)
Then place in a greased 9x13 casserole dish.
Put in a little meat & then some cheese. Roll up or just fold in half.
Continue until pan is full.
Pour extra sauce over all.
Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes until all is bubbly & melted.
*Optional- when done drizzle with a little mexican creama...oh so good!

Tuesday- Baking and Cooking Day

What will I make today? 2 loaves of bread & 1 batch of cinnamon rolls.

Yes, we grind our own wheat. My mill is a nutrimill & our preferred grain is hard white wheat.

Monday around the homestead

Around here Monday is the designated laundry day. I've got my last load going right now & then when the children get up they will each have a load or two. We've done laundry several different ways but I find it easier if they each have a clothes basket in their rooms and they do their own. Then I don't hear "Where's my this or why am I missing socks, etc." They are responsible for doing their things from start to putting it away in their drawers.
I've got some milk in the fridge that's just starting to go sour so instead of wasting it I'm going to make a bunch of pancakes this morning. I plan on giving some of them to my sister for her children. When I make pancakes, waffles, or french toast I usually make extra. Allow them to cool & then place in gallon size freezer bags & freeze. They are still really good re-heated.
Today is also a school day so we will be getting that going around 9:00.
We're having friends over this afternoon so we need to get everything done before then.
Hope ya'll have a great day!

Canning Log 2010

This is just what we grew and canned this year.

7 qts/1pt crushed tomatoes

5 qts/15 pts tomato sauce

13 pints red enchilada sauce

15 qts pasta sauce

15 half pints pizza sauce

18 pints salsa

7 qts green beans

6 qts potatoes

9 half-pints strawberry jam (I bought the strawberries at farmers market)

8 pints peach jam

11 half pints squash sweet relish

6 pts/4 half pints pickled banana peppers

5 pints pickled jalapeno peppers

I still had quite a bit from last year so we are pretty much full for a while on most things.

Our Carly

We went to look at some pigs for sale last summer & ended up not getting one. We did, however, leave with a cute little puppy in my daughter's arms. We saw both parents & they seemed nice. We thought oh neat, a cattle dog for the little farm. -Now as with anything, we should have done some research. You should NEVER bring home any animal without much research. I know & knew all of that, but that day we disreguarded everything we know & "Carly" became part of the homestead family.

She is an outside dog & gets along pretty well with the other dogs but she has grown to be the leader of the pack. She is very friendly but will definately bark & let us know when things are awry.

She has hearded pigs out of the chicken pen & well, tries to heard just about everything! Chickens, ducks, children...

We have had to put the ducks up as I don't think she really means to hurt them, but will put a big paw on their back & then then start squaking & flapping & then the rat terrier thinks that is the green light for him to get involved. (not good)

So the ducks now have their own pen with a little pool to swim & will hopefully be let out to the big pond when it is full.

Carly is unlike any other dog I've owned. She is highly intelligent & sweet but has also come with some definate draw backs. She is probably the most hard-headed, hyper dog we've owned as well. She chews up everything possible, including dog food bowls, wood, pool toys, the side of the storage building, and then some. She is finally after about a year getting to where she will finally stop jumping up on us.

Truth is I know we should have worked with her more & I'm doing it more now. I don't at all think it's too late, but it's a long process. After researching I find that these dogs need lots of attention & need a "job." I am hoping to get a couple goats in the near future so I have been researching this and I think this will be a good activity/ "job" for her to do some.

My main point to all of this is a cute cattle dog just seems to go along with the farm picture...And she will, but please do not get any animals without research, even if they are really, really cute!

Not all homeschoolers fit into the same box...

I thought I'd share just a bit about how the Robinson is going....In a word, GREAT!

We've learned a few things already though...Saxon Algebra is a long lesson if you aren't familiar with it. The RC says to schedule in 1 hour for math so I did, but really thinking it wouldn't take nearly that, but after watching the lesson & doing the book problems (around 30) it does take the hour...or longer depending on how much your child focuses. ;) -The teacher cd is wonderful for the mom who may not be totally gifted in the art of algebra.

The reading is going ok too. To be honest I have really enjoyed the couple hours of silence the house has during this time. I have been reading during this time as well. The vocabulary is good also. We are also using the flash cards from "English from the roots up" as vocabulary to get Greek & Latin roots down. My daughter has already quoted some of them at different occasions so I know they are sinking in!!!

The writing assignments have been good for my daughter as she actually seems to enjoy writing stories. My son doesn't enjoy it at all, but it's getting done.

I've also enjoyed that they seem to already understand that "they" are responsible for their own work. Not coming to mommy every 5 minutes asking what to do, etc. They each have a calendar & a reading log that they fill in & I check off. I also check their math after they are finished. -That is one of the main focuses of the RC is to make them responsible for themselves.

So I would say the children rate it at a 5-6 (just because they would) I would rate it at a 9 because nothing is perfect! lol

Baking and Cooking Day Around the Homestead

I've dedicated Tuesday's to my baking & cooking day. Most of the time we are home on Tuesday's so it made sense. Today we'll be making:
Regular bread, hamburger buns, & chocolate chip cookies.
We're going to get this going early so the house won't be too hot around afternoon. The only reason I haven't started already is I want my daughter to help me. Actually I don't need the help, I'm going to teach her how to make the bread. I have a daughter who really could care less about cooking most of the time, but at her age she should know how to do a little more, I think.
Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Sharing

http://raisinghomemakers.com/2010/the-beauty-of-titus-2-give-away/

They are having a contest over at raising homemakers. Best wishes to you, but I still hope I win! lol

Jeremiah 29:13

In Jeremiah 29:13 God promises...
When you seek me with all your heart you will find me.

My Banana Cream Pie

Now I know there are very complicated recipes out there for banana cream pie, but I'm not the complicated type. You can buy all of the ingredients ready made or if you chose to make everything from scratch then good for you. It just depends the mood I'm in...

Here is the quick version:

1 graham cracker crust

1 box banana OR vanilla flavored instant pudding

1 2/3 cups whole milk

2 bananas

1 container cool whip

Wisk up pudding mix with milk for about 2 minutes. Pour into crust. Slice bananas over that. Top with cool whip. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until ready to serve.

Easy as pie!

Good Morning!

Today is our first day of homeschool for the 2010-2011 school year!
Also the first day of my new routine...mainly the same but it includes getting up with hubby. Which for me is very early. I can only go one day at a time so today was a good start.
Hope you all have a nice day. As for me I'm headed for another cup of coffee & to turn on the news...

All-around home organization...

I didn't want to say at the time, but my children were on vacation to Alabama & Virginia with my mother for a couple of weeks. So I was here all alone during the work days. I got so much accomplished though & worked out a few things around the home that I'd been putting off for one reason or another.

In my home binder: a new monthly menu planned, pantry/shopping lists, bills in order, & new daily routines printed out

In my home: kitchen floor down, cubbords wiped down & organized, fridge wiped down & organized, all bookshelves organized, slip covers washed, bathroom cabinets all washed & organized, I also bought a potato/onion bin at a yard sale for $5 and love it...now I just need 2 more!

Homeschool: All books ordered & are now here ready to go, put a couple things on ebay, school supplies bought

I had plenty of extra time on my hands so I was able to accomplish alot. I mostly wanted to get things in order so come school time we can get back to a routine & be able to basically "upkeep" what was done.

Another thing I worked on was scheduling in a baking/cooking day. Now I prepare the majority of our meals anyway, but I am meaning like a day to bake our weekly bread & extras to freeze. I'm really trying to keep eating healthier and part of the drawbacks to all scratch meals is time. I usually have the time, but when it's getting late & we've been out or whatever then it's like what do I do now. So I made up a few things that are in the freezer now & will make at least 1 extra thing on baking day to keep it stocked.

Right now I have 2 meals frozen:

chili & vegetable barley soup

Other I made:

1 gallon bag filled with french toast

1 bag of pancakes

2 loaves strawberry bread

2 single layer zucchini cakes

All made with low or no sugar (honey) and my freshly ground flour so they are more healthy.

Old Fashioned Peach Jam

Our last peach tree was picked the other day. Small peaches, but tasty. So I made a batch of peach jam. The insides were very dark so my jam looks more like a very bright fushia instead of peachy in color. ~It looks pretty~

Old Fashioned Peach Jam

4 cups peaches (peeled, pitted, & mashed)
5 1/2 cups sugar --yep, jam takes alot
2 T. lemon juice
1 box pectin

Pour peaches & lemon juice into a pot. Then sprinkle with the pectin. Stir. Bring to a rolling boil. Then add all the sugar at once. Stir until boils again. Allow to boil for 1 full minute. (sugar should be dissolved) Then pour into clean jars. Wipe rims & put lids & bands on. Turn upside down on a towel & let set for 5 minutes. Then flip up-right & let set until sealed. (You can also waterbath can these, but this works) --Make sure the lids have sealed after a few hours. If not refrigerate the ones that didn't & use that first.

Thank Goodness

Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.
Beatrix Potter

***

Well, I have all of our materials ordered and most of them delivered for our schooling this year. We are mainly going to go by the guidelines set in "The Robinson Curriculum." I have done homeschool a few different ways in the years we have homeschooled. I have come to realize that no two children are alike...

There are things that have worked for my son, the oldest, that just did not seem to connect with my daughter. I've also learned that it's ok to let them learn at their own pace!

My son will be completing his homeschooling this year! Our plan is for him to take his GED at the end of the year & the for him to go on to college.

My daughter will technically be in the 6th grade but to be honest I've come to realize grades really don't matter.

While everyone needs to evaluate what they want for their children & should make their own choices, I will share what we will be using this year now that it's finalized.

***

Son:

The Robinson Curriculum (as a spine & for reading lists)

Saxon Math (with the teacher cd's) & GED math study book

GED Language arts study book

English from the Roots up flashcards & vocabulary words from RC

Science- will be suggested readers in the RC

History- will be suggested readers in the RC but focusing on American History

Also per RC he will do writing every day

***

Daughter:

Basically the same schedule with the readers for her ability & without the GED books.

***

I did also order a magic school bus science kit because my daughter really enjoys experiments. If it's good then we'll probably order another one or two during the year.

***

My son is really wanting to get a part-time job so that will basically be his extra curricular activity. I am hoping to get my daughter involved in GEMS.

***

~So that's the plan~

Been a busy couple of days

I've been getting quite a bit done in the past couple of days. Friday we spent the day at the flea market. Saturday I go up early & went to rummage sales with my sister & we got alot done around the homestead. Sunday we drove my mother-in-laws camper down to the lake for her & spent the day there. Then yesterday I went through all of the boxes of pictures & things we still had from the remodel of the kitchen & decluttered alot. I bought a nice tall bookcase at the rummage sale for $15.00. I almost ordered one online for much more & was so excited to find this one for such a good price! It is now sitting in the hallway dusted & organized.
Today I plan on deep cleaning the bathrooms. The children's bath has a mess going on under the sink so I definately need to tackle that.
Temperatures for the next couple of days are in the 100's and that's the actual temps, not the heat index. So I will probably spend most of the day indoors, other than a quick dip in the pool perhaps. I might make a run to the library, but that will be about it. Hopefully I will find a good movie there to watch.
I've got another batch of tomato paste in the crockpot. It should be ready in a couple of hours. This time I added some italian seasonings & a tad of sugar to it so I'll label it "italian tomato paste." So that will make 2 gallon size bags of tomato paste in the freezer. -That should last quite a while.
I hope you all have a great day!