Apr 30, 2009

Fortunately, Unfortunately.

Fortunately, The Man-of-My-Dreams is almost done with the out-of-state job he has been working for over a year.
Unfortunately, They are talking about sending him to RUSSIA next!

Fortunately, The garden-killing drought is over.
Unfortunately, it's over because we got 9 inches of rain in ONE DAY! (this can also be a garden-killer)

Fortunately, I perfected snickerdoodle scones and root beer cookies!
Unfortunately, My diet is not nearly as effective now that they are in my life.

Fortunately, I have the cutest pug puppy in the world and he has captured my heart.
Unfortunately, he is also the most stubborn pug puppy in the world and he has no intention of pooping outside.... ever!

Fortunately, my short people and I have spent lots of quality time together watching moves during the rainstorms.
Unfortunately, I may have to lock the Little-Foreman-in-Pink in a closet if she casts one more Harry Potter spell on me with her "magic" chopstick.

Fortunately, It's Spring!! Spring makes my heart sing and my garden grow.
Unfortunately, it's spring, and Spring makes my nose run, my eyes water, and my chest rattle.

Fortunately, I finally convinced the Little-Foreman-in-Pink to wear shoes when she goes outside.
Unfortunately, all of MY shoes are now full of dirt or missing, because I forgot to mention that she should wear HER shoes.

*sigh*

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Apr 29, 2009

Snickerdoodle Scones.

I love scones!
But I've always been intimidated to make them, they seemed difficult for some reason.
Until I found this recipe!

They couldn't be easier!
They are light, tender, perfect scones!
And they taste just like one of my favorite cookies!
Snickerdoodles!
whats not to love??

Find the complete recipe and more pictures HERE.


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Apr 28, 2009

Root Beer Cookies!

They are soft and tender.
Full of Root Beer flavor.
A nice cookie!

The Complete recipe can be found HERE

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Apr 26, 2009

BLT Pasta Salad

When my tomatoes are ripe, I practically live on BLT's.
All summer long, I eat them! I LOVE em!
When I found this recipe hidden in the back of my mothers recipe cards,
I knew I had to make it.

This is a wonderfully refreshing summer salad.
It's great to take to picnics or cook-outs.

Complete recipe can be found here.


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Play Ball!!

The Little-Foreman-in-Pink has started playing T-Ball.
She Loves it!...Well, she loves MOST of it!...
Continue Reading.....


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Apr 25, 2009

Brown Sugar Coated, Peppered Bacon.

Bacon.
Just hearing the word makes me drool.
Bacon Makes Everything Better!If Bacon makes everything better,
I've found a way to make Bacon Better!!

Thats DOUBLE-BETTER!

This bacon not only tastes better than any other bacon you've made before,
It's easier & less messy...
Because you cook it in your oven!

The brown sugar caramelizes on the bacon,
making an incredible bacon experience!

Try it!
You'll never regret it!
The full recipe and pictures can be found
By Clicking HERE

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Apr 23, 2009

How To Study Like a 16 Year Old Boy.

In the past 16 and a half years of my life, I have had the opportunity to watch my young men folk grow and learn to make their way through life.

First steps, first words, first stitches, first heartbreaks, first jobs, first cars, first kiss..
There have been lots of firsts and lots of accomplishments.

Take school, for instance, when they started I helped steady their little hands as their chubby sticky fingers tried to hold the pencil the right way.
I helped them form their first squiggly ABC's with fat brightly colored crayons.

I spent hours flipping flashcards containing multiplication tables until they memorized them all.
There were countless pre-spelling test tests at the kitchen table.

There were even several late nights helping finish that forgotten project that was worth a major grade and due the next day.
I've helped them study for tests, teaching them good study habits.

Now that two of them are in High School, they don't need my help anymore.
They study alone.
They know how to do it.

Besides.... I am no longer the smartest & prettiest Mommy in the world like I was when they were in 1st grade.
I have morphed into an annoyance who knows NOTHING and who's sole purpose in life is to bother them.

As they are preparing for some major tests this week, I have tried my best to let these men handle it.
I am not butting in.
I am not telling them what to do.

Tonight was a MAJOR study session.
I sat aside and observed.
My boys have studying down to a science, and I thought I would share it, step by step, with you.

Get ready to take notes....
Your gonna need em someday to share this amazing study technique with YOUR little scholars.

Click HERE for the step-by-step tutorial.

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Apr 22, 2009

Happy Earth Day!


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Garden Report (April 21, 2009)

The garden is looking good!
In spite of the 9 inches of rain we got on Saturday.
In spite of the marble-size hail storms.
In spite of the rogue rabbit thats running around,

Tomatoes are ripening.
You say Toe-May-Toe
I Say YUMMMMM!
See this one?? That one right up there?
It won't even make it into the house!
It'll be gobbled up right there in the garden.
I can almost feel the juices running down my chin.
We are Getting close, people!! really close!

This is the first year I've grown cabbage and lettuce.
Sol far so good!
Sauerkraut and salads will abound!

The babies!!!
Soft, fuzzy, green, babies!

"Beans, Beans, my favorite fruit....
The more you eat...
The more you...." Oh never-mind.
Green beans don't do that to you!
**sigh**
I life with too many boys... every story can become a fart story!


Onions! I LOVE onions!
I use them in everything!!
I'd stick em in chocolate pudding if I could figure out how to make it work!

Dana Loves the little Onions....
All the onions of the world...
Red, green, yellow, sweet, and white...
They are precious in my sight,
Dana Loves the little onions of the world!

Grapes are growing too!
Can You Say Homemade wine??...
No?
Ok... say Homemade jelly!
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
a peck of pickled peppers,
Peter Piper picked,

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
What the HECK was he doin in MY garden??


Here is the squash.
I have nothing clever to say about squash.
I think I broke my clever button.
Sorry.

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Apr 21, 2009

My Chinese Left-Overs Can Beat-Up Your Chinese Left-Overs! ( Shrimp-Fried Rice)

I've said it before,
I'll say it again...
I love Chinese food!
I will learn to re-create my favorite Asian dishes at home!
So far, I've gotten Shrimp Lo-Mein & Bourbon Chicken & Spring Rolls perfected!

Now... for another one of my favorites!
Shrimp fried rice!!
mmm mmm mmm!

Click HERE for the complete Recipe and pictures.

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Apr 20, 2009

The "Turd" or... Things that bring great Joy to a 16 year old country boy.

A country boy and his fishing boat...
It's a beautiful thing.
Unless...
Unless you're talking about THIS boat!
Worker #1 has wanted a little boat for our pond.
He searched and searched for one that he could afford.

He had grand plans.
It was gonna be a nice boat!
He would be the envy of all his friends.

But my boy is not shallow.
He follows his heart.
His heart fell in love...
With...
The "Turd"
The first time he saw the Turd, abandoned in a pasture, he knew it was meant to be.
When the owner of the property told him he could have it for free, it almost brought tears to his eyes!

He didn't care that its wood was all rotten.
He didn't care that it needed patched and painted.
He didn't care that it was full of termites and fire ants.
All he knew was that he had to get it home and it was his.. all his!!
(I didn't bother to tell him not to worry, because no one else on Earth wanted it anyway!)

It is his place to "get away from it all".
His place to find solitude.
His private fishing spot.
His place to be totally alone.

His place to glare at his benevolent mother when she tries to take a picture of him!

And...
His place to practice his fierce modeling poses...

**sigh**

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Greek Pasta with Shrimp

Remember when I posted My Greek Salad recipe?
I love Greek salad!
I was cleaning out the refrigerator & looking for something to make for lunch.
I started tossing things together and ended up making one of the BEST meals I have ever eaten!

Find the complete Greek Pasta w/ Shrimp recipe
by clicking--> HERE
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This post is to convince you that I haven't been swallowed by my kitchen... really.

Just popping in to let you know that the Homesteading Housewife hasn't become a cooking-only site.

I know..
I know...
I've always been this way - I find something that I love and really throw myself into it and become kinda-sorta like a dog with a bone.

I've always loved cooking, and I've always shared recipes and cooking tips here.
But since the debut of Craving Comfort, (my cooking-only site) I've had food on the brain...
And my counters, and my shirt, and my shoes...

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, there are BIG changes comin'.
This is how I hope it works out.

There will be three sites.

The Homesteading Housewife = Ground Zero; you'll see everything I post here.
It will also be the home to all gardening, homesteading, farm-life, critters, and frugality posts.
It will also show you when and what I post on the other two sites (with a link to the complete posts and pictures).

Craving Comfort = all things food & cooking.

Mom in Time-Out
= parenting, family life, personal stuff.

Stay tuned....
BIG things are coming...
And just wait till I tell you about the Turd.
You'll meet the Turd tomorrow.

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Apr 19, 2009

Jam Making 101 (EASY Rich Strawberry Jam)


There are few flavors that scream "SUMMER" like the flavor of a fresh-picked, juicy, sweet Strawberry!
When the strawberries are ripe, we eat them until we are about ready to burst, then it's time to make Strawberry Jam.

Wouldn't you love to have the summertime fresh strawberry taste next winter?
This is the way to do it!Once you taste your own homemade strawberry jam, you'll never want store-bought again!

I understand that canning seems intimidating if you've never done it before.
I promise... this will be easy!!

Once you try it, you'll wonder why on Earth you waited so long!

If you've never canned anything before, there are some supplies you'll need.
A beginners canning kit is a great start, but you don't have to one or anything fancy.
This wonderful Strawberry Jam only has 3 ingredients!

The recipe only looks long...
Thats only because this is Jam Making 101...
I have explained (and probably OVER explained) just about anything I can think of!

Jam Making 101 (Rich Strawberry Jam)
Complete recipe and directions can be found by clicking HERE


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Apr 15, 2009

My Chinese Left-Overs Can Beat-Up Your Chinese Left-Overs! (Bourbon Chicken)

As I continue on my quest to make my favorite restaurant meals at home
I have been spending a lot of time testing Asian foods.

I love Chinese food!
I perfected Shrimp Lo Mein.

Now, I have the perfect recipe for Bourbon Chicken!!
Did you know that there is no actual bourbon in Chinese Bourbon Chicken?
What's up with that??

I made it for the kids and their various girlfriends last night.
All the plates were licked clean!!
It tastes just like it does in my favorite Chinese joint!
And, trust me when I tell you, my kids are the best litmus test for any food!

WINNER!!!


Dana's Bourbon Chicken

The complete recipe can be found on my cooking site,
Craving Comfort. or by Clicking HERE

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Things I would have appreciated someone telling me before I had 5 kids, but of course, no one bothered to tell me!

When a woman announces that she is "with child" she becomes a magnet for information and advise.

Her mother tells her about the way she felt when she was pregnant.
Her friends give her all their helpful tips for combating morning sickness.
They tell her where to find the cutest maternity clothes.

When she starts to look pregnant, even strangers begin to share their knowledge with her.
Women in the grocery store checkout line suddenly feel comfortable sharing intimate details about their bodies.

The mom-to-be hears the pros and cons of breastfeeding, vaccines, organic baby foods, TUMS, the OB departments of all the local hospitals & how to avoid the dreaded stretch marks.

But there are many things that no one bothers to tell you!
Things that it would be really REALLY nice to know!
It's kind of like some sick initiation into some super-secret sorority.. It's HAZING! And I'm pretty sure congress outlawed hazing for a reason!
Continue reading... HERE
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Apr 13, 2009

Pucker Up!! (Glazed Lemon Cakes)

It's spring!
One of my favorite spring or summer tastes is citrus.
Lemon is my favorite!
Fresh Lemonade, Lemon Meringue pie, and of course
Glazed Lemon Cakes.

These lemon cakes are the perfect combination of sweet and tart.
They are closer in texture to a pound cake than a light and airy cupcake.
The fresh lemon juice and zest in the glaze takes it over the top!

Glazed Lemon Cakes
Complete recipe and Directions can be found
By Clicking ---> HERE

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