What a beautiful day day we have been given to celebrate Independence Day! Grilled chicken wings, fresh green beans from the garden, macaroni salad, and banana pudding poke cake are on the menu. Yum!
Enjoy your day!
Vicki
Our Vegetable Garden
Before we go inside, there are some pretty, pretty flowers growing right outside the gate. They are extra special because we collected the seeds from a friend’s garden last fall.
Notice the green bean plants climbing the fence. 💚
And now, welcome to the jungle. I promise myself every year it’s not going to look like this. I know, I know never make a promise you can’t keep. I say I’m going to prune my tomato vines, and I try. I guess I just don’t know how, but but they are delicious anyway, so I will just give thanks and fill my tummy.
I am really looking forward to some spaghetti squash. There are plenty growing in various sizes. I sure hope they beat the squash bugs. Pesky little critters!
So far these jalapenos have been just right. A little heat but not too hot.
We have already eaten quite a bit of broccoli, and this one is ready anytime now.
I have only picked a few peas to have in salads so far, but these are growing in the shade. So hopefully there is still time.
The corn patch is looking strong and healthy. I can almost taste the fresh corn.
There are lots of goodies growing in tires. I wonder who had to buy new tires last month.
The tomatoes on the deck are doing quite well too.
So much goodness!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
Vicki
Talkative Tuesday
I think little Nemo has the right idea on this cool, rainy day.
I’m kind of lost with no yard or garden work to be done. But there is always something to be found that needs doing.
I dropped my oldest off at her temporary job, did a little shopping, and am now home and have a whole chicken cooking in the smoker. Yum!
I am happy to be getting the rain which will hopefully give the garden a good boost. It is growing exceptionally well. We planted in a new spot this year, and boy am I happy to be picking all sorts of things. Yesterday’s breakfast was eggs fresh from the coop with tomatoes and jalapenos, lunch was a fresh picked cabbage sauteed with garden squash, zucchini, and garlic, and supper was a freshly picked salad of lettuce, kale, chard, spinach, green peppers, radishes, cucumbers, and tomatoes. I added some of our boiled eggs, venison steak, and shredded cheese. Double yum! I love days like that. So Much fun!
We are getting plenty of eggs from our chickies. We have a broody hen that is hopefully sitting on fertilized eggs. If they are the daddy chicken is our silky rooster. We are expecting some funky looking chicks.
I am still pretty much in love with my pyrenees pup who is now nearly two years old. He is a good guard dog, and gentle with our animals even if he does like to chase them and give hugs. We are expecting him to be a daddy in a few weeks and will get to keep one of his puppies if everything works out. We will pick a female and are hoping she will be a tad bit smaller than Andre. We have noticed that dogs that used to look large to us now don’t look so big anymore.
I have some tidying up to do, will pick up my daughter from work soon, and relax and enjoy the evening with my family.
This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Vicki
First Big Snow of 2017
Winter has arrived! We got our first big snow and cold, cold temps along with it.
It’s been fun, winter. But I’m ready for spring now!
:)Vicki
Happy New Year!
Looking forward to sharing everyday life with you in the new year!
:)Vicki
Merry Christmas!
Hoping everyone had a very Merry Christmas!
:)Vicki
Christmas Candy:Velvet Fudge
This fudge was so fast and tastes great! If you love dark chocolate, you will love this fudge.
- 2 1⁄2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 (14 ounce) can condensed milk
- 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
- Melt chocolate chips.
- Remove from heat, stir in condensed milk and salt.
- Stir to blend well.
- Spread into buttered 9″ pan.
Only 12 more days ’til Christmas!
:)Vicki
Gingerbread Cookies
This is a really yummy gingerbread cookie recipe! Madison made up the cookies and icing for us, and we had fun decorating together.
Me, my husband, our cabin in the woods, and pet dinosaur. 🙂
McKenzie’s, Quentin Jr.’s, and Madison’s , and my gingerbread houses.
First Row-McKenzie. Second row-Quentin Jr.(His sad gingerbread man represents your average North Korean citizen. He loves to study his history). Third row-Madison. And last row-mine.
Gingerbread cookies are a ton of fun!
:)Vicki
Christmas Baking: Cream Cheese Cookies
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1⁄2 cups flour
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F Lightly grease cookie sheets.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg yolk and vanilla.
- Stir in flour until well blended.
- Drop dough by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet (or use a cookie press). If desired, make an indentation in the center with your thumb or other object; fill with preserves, or press candy into center.
- Bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven.
- Cookies should be pale.
Tastes like a sugar cookie, only fluffier.
Happy Baking!
:)Vicki
Venison Meatballs Recipe
There is always an abundance of ground venison this time of year. Our ground meat is mainly from the ribs and neck. I have found it’s ok to use it in any beef recipe. A lot of people look for recipes specifically for venison to get rid of the gamey taste. We don’t have a problem with our meat tasting gamey. My husband guts his deer in the woods, hangs , skins, and quarters them as soon as he gets home. The meat is then packed in ice and worked up over the next week. Just drain the water as your ice melts and replenish with more ice. My uncle gave us meat that he had done at a butcher once. The ground meat was very bloody, and the steaks were bloody and still on the bone. We couldn’t eat either one. It all has to do with how you care for your meat.
I wanted to find a meatball recipe that everyone loves because we like BBQ meatballs along with our Christmas Eve snacks. This one was a hit. We tried it last week with a jar of our homemade BBQ sauce and last night in our spaghetti. I have to say my son hates spaghetti but discovered he loves spaghetti and meatballs!
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3⁄4 cup breadcrumbs
- 4 teaspoons minced sweet onions(I used 1 tsp onion powder)
- 1 teaspoon crushed oregano leaves
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 egg
- In a large bowl beat the egg.
- Add the remaining ingredients and blend together with your hands.
- Roll the mixture into 1 1/2″ balls with your hands and place on non-stick cookie sheet so that they are not touching.
- Cook in pre-heated oven for 10 minutes at 450 degrees.
- Turn meatballs over half way through cooking.
- The meatballs will not be fully cooked at this point.
- Add to your favorite sauce and simmer for 1 hour.
- Serve over pasta.
Fast, easy, and very tasty!
:)Vicki
OneAndaHalfAcreHomestead 