Dreaming of Gardening and some free seed catalogs

 Are you located in a chilly, ice cold, snowy area that will in a few months be a beautiful place for spring?? Well that is where I am as well. So during this time when I can not get out and work in the garden I gather seed catalogs and other books to start planning. During winter is a time to rest and plan. There is a lot of work when it comes to gardening. Tasks such as pruning, planting, fertilizing, mowing can all wear one out. So when winter comes we get a chance to rest a bit and plan for that garden.

There are several places where you can request a free seed catalog to help you plan. One of these great places is Rare Seeds. They also have a book that they will sell that offers heirloom seeds. Johnny Seeds is another great seed company that offers a free seed catalog through the mail and one that is digital and can be used online So take it easy start planning that garden will be there this spring with all the normal task work that you love

please consider retweeting this post or sharing on facebook or tweeting

Peanut Butter day a bit of history and a whole lot of Cookie

Hello!!! It is January 24th and it is national peanut butter day. Oh how I love peanut butter whether alone or used to make a dish. It may seem that peanut butter has been around forever, but this is not truly the case. The first to find out the great taste of peanut butter was the Incas. However , a few hundred years later peanut butter was introduced to the world by an American. 

The individual that introduced peanut butter to the world belong to a famous food family all ready . The Kellogg family had all ready found fame because of their cereal but when John Harvey Kellogg filed for a patent for a machine that would make peanut butter the fame would grow even more. But it was not peanut butter like we enjoy today they were making, rather they were grinding nuts that had been boiled into paste that was easily digested by the patients of Battle Creek Sanitarium. 

Soon companies like Peter Pan and Skippy would bring peanut butter to the masses. So that is how the peanut butter went from South America where natives enjoyed the spread to companies putting on shelves for all to eat. 

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg  
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
• Parchment paper

Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together peanut butter and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl until well blended. Stir in chocolate morsels. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12 to 14 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets on a wire rack 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack, and let cool 15 minutes

please consider sharing on facebook and retweeting

shared at 

vintage charm party

Time to Deep Clean the Kitchen

 If you are anything like me then the last couple of months have been busy in your kitchen. Between the extra goodies that were made, time home off work and school, and now the winter days are here not getting out as much all add up to havoc in the kitchen. Time to take a break and do a little bit of cleaning but where to begin?? First of all take a look around you most likely are going to have to get a bite to eat for the family to ensure that the cleaning does not interfere with anyone's scheduled meal. 

After getting all something to snack on or meal to enjoy now you are ready to clean. Behind the fridge where dust bunnies, magnets and bits of food and other items may have started to gather. Start here by vacuuming the coils, doing this routinely will help to keep the fridge running energy efficient. 

A messy fridge is one thing in your home you may not be aware of that is costing you money. When the refrigerator becomes so full that it is hard to find items then there is an issue with waste. Things get hidden and forgotten and not ate. Leftovers get overlooked as well. In addition, produce and other items will go bad before we have a chance to use because they get covered up and forgotten.

 Start by getting a cooler with ice to keep the food in the fridge from getting hot or going bad. After all the food is out then get a bucket with a mixture of baking soda and warm water. Wash the door of the refrigerator first when necessary use a butter knife to get off any hard crusty places. While cleaning the door fill the bins with warm water with cleaner or baking soda as well. This will allow them to soak. After the door is clean grab your rag you may have to change or warm your water as now you are going to wash the shelves. 

Now time to put all the items back inside the lower part of fridge. Wash off all bottles and make sure lids are on securely. This will allow you to keep the fridge in cleaner shape and should be done every so often after using items. After the food is back in fridge turn your attention to the freezer. Here you will want to remove all food that is expired as well as anything that looks in a big clump that may have melted and refroze or is brown as that is not nature. 

Its a good idea to go ahead and place quick clean fridge on your daily cleaning routine this will help next season when it is time to deep clean again. 

please consider retweeting post or sharing on facebook 

shared at blog parties creatively crafty from artsy fartsy 

wonderful wednesday at ducks in a row

Rhubarb Crisp in the Slow Cooker

Growing up in the 1970s my parents had a yard full of plants, a large garden area as well as many fruit trees, other trees and shrubs. One item the neighbors loved about my parents admiration of having a garden was that they were able to share the harvest. Rhubarb was one such crop that the neighbors loved. Whenever the rhubarb was ready to harvest everyone knew it was pie time. 

Rhubarb is fleshy edible stalks which are cooked and used for food. The plant that produces the stalks is a perineal that comes back yearly. The rhubarb plant has large triangular shaped leaves that are filled with oxalic acid which makes them poison if digested. The rhubarb plant was used for medicinal purposes in Europe and as a vegetable crop in England and Scandinavia. 

 Rhubarb is a vegetable but many in the culinary world treat it as if it is a fruit. The large stalks of rhubarb are cooked with sugar and used in pies and other desserts. What they get is a strong tart taste 

Rhubarb can be grown in a number of areas. Some grow in greenhouses where it then can be found the entire year. Rain and cold temperatures are both desired by the plant. Rhubarb grown inside of heated greenhouse is redder, tenderer and sweeter tasting. Rhubarb is often one of the first food plants harvested as it will be ready mid to late spring. 

• 
  4 cups rhubarb cut into 3/4 ” pieces
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 ⁄4 cup flour
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon

Topping

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 ⁄2 cup rolled oats
• 1 ⁄2 cup melted butter

mix together the cut rhubarb, fresh or frozen, we used frozen, with the white sugar, a little bit of flour, and cinnamon. Dump it in your slow cooker. Mix together the remaining, creating the crumble. Spread the crumble over the top, place lid, and cook on low for 3 hours.

please consider sharing our post on facebook and retweeting

shared at blog linkup party

vintage charm party at our hopeful home

Wonderful Wednesday at Pennys Passion

recipe source

Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls

 Dough:

1 cup warm milk (110° F./43° C.)

2 eggs, room temperature

1⁄3 cup butter, melted

1 teaspoon salt

1⁄2 cup white sugar

4 1⁄2cups bread flour

2 1⁄2teaspoons bread machine yeast

Filling:

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 1⁄2tablespoons ground cinnamon

3 ounces cream cheese softened

1⁄4 cup butter softened

1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon of salt

Glaze:

1 1⁄2 cups confectioner’s sugar

cold water

Put all of the ingredients in the bread pan in the order indicated and select the dough course. When done, dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out until about a 1/2 inch thick. Let rise while you make the filling.

To make the filling combine the brown sugar, cinnamon salt and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Mix the butter and cream cheese combination until well blended and then carefully spread the mixture over the top of the rolled out dough. Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture evenly over the surface and smooth with your hand to distribute. Preheat oven to 375° F./190° C.

Starting at one edge, roll up the sheet of dough into a log and with a very sharp knife cut the log into 12 equal sized circles of dough. Using the back edge of a knife, make an indentation along one edge of the dough rounds and pull towards the center. You’re beginning to make a heart shape. Using the sides of two knives or spatulas press the dough round together at the bottom opposite the indentation to finish the heart shape. Arrange the heart shaped cinnamon rolls on a lighted buttered baking sheet and bake at 375° F./190° C. for 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.

While the rolls are baking make the glaze out of confectioner’s sugar and water. Add a very little bit of water to the powdered sugar in a mixing bowl and stir with a spoon until you have a creamy consistency. When the cinnamon rolls are done, remove from the oven and place on a platter. Let them cool for about 5 minutes and then drizzle the glaze over the tops of each roll. Serve

recipe source 

Please consider sharing this post on facebook  or retweeting

shared on facebook groups blog comments  also shared at blog it better on blog post share

 recipe shared at these blog hops / parties 

You're The Star

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Time to Clean OUt our Email Inbox

 Keeping out our inbox can be a tedious task at times. Some individuals will simply keep it all stating that they know where it all is and they want to keep it that way. Others may throw it all losing items that need answers, have important information, etc... How do we know what to keep and what to toss??

ONe way to do this is to take a look at the emails and see which ones are needing answers or neeing you to do something. Something to think about is what have we signed up for>??? Who have we given an email to, limiting the number of emails coming in may help quite a bit. However, there may be emails that are important that you need to hang onto. These emails need a special folder within your email. 

Those emails that you have sent and are awaiting an answer are important as well. Use the calendar and sub folders to keep track of these important items as well. Perhaps you also have subscriptions to groups, pages etc that you no longer use or want. Delete these if you can and if you want create a folder for the ones you want to keep

I hope that these tips and ideas will help you clean out your inbox as well. Perhaps it has inspired you just a bit that you will soon have an organized  inbox

blog linkups inspire me monday Lou Lou Fabolous Party

Please consider sharing this post on facebook  or retweting

shared on facebook group Click thru blogging --- social and posts

Week of Prayer

For over 100 years Christians around the world have taken part of prayer for Christian Unity. The goal is still as at the Lords Prayer at the Last Supper that "they all may be one." During the week of prayer promotional and preparatory materials are produced and shared amongst the churches. Materials that have a common theme between the pictures, prayers and music that will be shared. Scriptures, readings, commentaries and question and answer sessions will be shared to bring a unity and awareness of Christ. 

you shall love the Lord your God ... and your Neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27)

• During January leaders, missionaries and others have been trying to unite Christians around the world. week of prayer January 18-25th lets remember our leaders and praying that thru them some gains can be made
• please consider sharing this post onfacebook  or retweeting
• post on facebook group awesome bloggers --- post   blogging newbs -- post

• post shared at 
• busy monday
• Really Crafty Linky
• 
  

The Blond Brownie Recipe

 

These little blondies are sure to fill the need of anyone's sweet tooth. These little blond brownies are thick with a chewy texture and have a taste similar to butterscotch. The rush begins when the entire house begins to fill with the aroma of these treats baking in the oven. In addition, make extra to share to sell at bake sales or give to friends. 

Blondies are similar to their counterparts known as brownies. Ingredients are similar calling for both consisting of flour, eggs, butter or oil and sugar. The main difference is that one treat is more of a blond or vanilla color and the other is chocolate based. 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 8×8 pan with cooking spray or coat with butter.
• In a large bowl, mix melted butter and brown sugar.
• Add eggs and vanilla and stir 
• vigorously until smooth.
• Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir until well incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out.
• Place in the oven to bake for 45 minutes until edges are golden and toothpick comes out mostly clean.
• Allow to cool completely, then cut into squares.

recipe source

Please consider sharing this post on facebook or retweeting

shared at 

Happiness is HOmemade blog party

Handmade MOnday

shared at faceboog group 

social ninja --- blog

awesome blogger ;; blog share