Hot Days of Summer

Well, I'm feeling sheepish and ashamed for not being a better blogger. Somehow life takes over and I spend too much time doing worthless stuff and wishing I'd spent my time better. Not to say I'm not doing important things a lot. Just that I could do better.

This is my entry for now. It probably wouldn't do anyone much good at this point, but then again, in lots of places there is time to plant a late garden. This is the first success I've had with basil. It grew and grew and some of the plants I put in the ground were on their deathbed before I left on a trip. I thought they'd be dead when I got home.

So, here is the tip. Although I've heard that herbs don't need lots of rich soil, our soil is really terrible. We found a mushroom growing company that sells their mushroom compost that has already been used. We bought a huge trailer load of it, and for the first time, out garden has grown. Any really good compost would work, but you need lots of it for bad soil. I'm not sure, but I think the more compost, the better, even if your soil is good. The little plants that were about to keel over, caught up with the great big plants I bought at Lowe's and they are all producing like crazy. The key to getting them to bush out and produce is to pinch back the centers and it will make them branch out. As they get bigger and bigger, harvesting them will only make them grow more. I am happy about my basil.



On the other hand, why are my mums blooming now instead of the fall? I guess not all of them are, but on the second pic you can see the mound that has bloomed and on the first , if you can look past the marigolds, you can see just an inkling of the bush that is starting to bud and bloom. This is also the first year I had some mums come back and grow HUGE. I love them. I swear it's the mushroom compost. Ask around if you have trouble growing stuff. I just know that I always want a basil supply for fresh pesto, and there is NO WHERE to buy as much as I'd need, unless I was willing to buy about 30 little bags at 3 dollars each for one batch of pesto.

Pesto recipe anyone? This one is great, doesn't need those expensive pine nuts and tastes just as good in my opinion. This recipe came from Lucy, www.mybyrdhouse.blogspot.com a couple of years ago, and I have used it ever since.

Walnut Pesto

2 cups of packed fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup olive oil (I use extra virgin olive oil)
1/2 cup walnuts
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. salt

Blend well in food processor. Use 2 T. to 1/2 cup on pasta.

Well, actually, I use lots more. Like that's the amount I use on just my plate. I even eat a couple of spoonfuls of it straight.

This is the deal. My husband, who has the taste buds of a child (I understand that is a problem with lots of men) doesn't like different new flavors he doesn't know and understand. He eats this pesto and loves it. Ah, miracles.

Rug Looms

A apologize to all of you who have asked about my rugs. If you don't have a chip on your shoulder about my ignoring everyone (not my intention) here is a link to my etsy store.

prairiedogmom.etsy.com I hope it works.

Hello, from the truant writer of this blog. If there is anyone out there who even still checks on me, let me just say, that life has a way of taking over sometimes. I have been recovering from a car accident for four months, (and still recovering) and a case of what I think was pneumonia. It hasn't been fun.
My daughter Michelle, bought a smoothie book that had some novel ideas in it. And I couldn't get it from her, so I used it as inspiration.
A breakfast smoothie that actually has substance. It will stick with you pretty darn well. Here is my basic recipe. It is something my 12 year of will drink when nothing else sounds good, and my husband will drink it, and he doesn't eat much breakfast either.

My Breakfast Smoothie

This is for my super duper blender. It holds way over 5 cups of liquid.
2 1/2 cups milk
2 T. golden flax seed
1/2 cup of oats (quick or regular)
1 large banana
small handful of almonds
2 heaping cups of frozen fruit (blueberries are my favorite)

Blend for a good minute.
I try to not add sugar just for health reasons, but if you must, a couple of teaspoons will help. The blueberries are the most flavorful. I also do this with frozen strawberries, but their flavor isn't as strong so it takes a bit extra. I also make it with a base of orange juice instead of milk when I use strawberries. I haven't tried it with any other frozen fruit (which I get at Sam's for a very economical price) but this is an area where a person can experiment and get just the thing that works for their family.

The almonds and oatmeal and flax give it great health benefits and make it filling. It gives the drink a hearty feel, but it isn't enough to overpower the flavor.

Blueberries are supposed to be a superfood, so I feel that this is an extraordinary way to get all the good stuff down my family. I hope any of you out there will experiment and find what works for you.

By the way, this recipe makes 5-6 cups of smoothie. We split it between the four of us.

Playtime

Well, I'm back for a brief note. Gone physically, mentally and every way there is. I turned 51 this year and only have two kids at home, 17 and 11. I thought that my life would be a breeze at this point. But I physically can't do what I used to do and my ADD has kicked in big time.

Anyway, here is my picture for the theme of this writing. These darling little girls are my granddaughters. They got into my closet and found old dresses that were all made by their great grandmother and put them on and started dancing around and playing princesses. I didn't know that three and four year olds knew how to primp and fuss and walk "that" way. They were soooo funny. I have to jump on my soapbox here and say that I hate the glitter and cheap sequins and polyester that comes with those nasty pink costumes at the store. They are cheap, artificial and look bad (in my opinion). Sorry for those of you that like them, but something in me just shudders when I see them. My little granddaughters loved these old cotton dresses, and I bet they were a whole lot more comfortable, and FREE. The three girls names are Brynn, Maggie and Ivy.

Time Away...........

I'm not ever sure where this pic came from , but it is my daughter Michelle's line of garb. Michelle is in the middle and Jill (daughter in law) on the left, and Emma on the right. I don't think these are the most flattering pictures of their actual beauty, but you can kind of get the idea of how we all look when we are working the Ren Fests. (And don't listen to that TV commercial makes fun of working at one)
I'm not really taking time off, although, it is slow posting here. I have been buried in my daughter's business, Damsel in this Dress, and unable to do the things I'm used to doing or wanted to do. A week and a half ago, I was gone for 4 days helping as a saleperson in the Norman OK Ren Fest. Yesterday, I spent a very long day helping her and hubby in Muscogee OK fixing up the permanent building that is their shop for the big fest all during May. Brent and Tyler, (mine and Michelle's spouses) are still there today. It feels like we've been captured in a whirlwind.

Anyway, I'm thinking about my next post and trying to come up with a goody. Be back soon!

Homemade Bisquick

This is one of my favorite recipes to use. I never buy Bisquick because it is just white flour, which isn't good for anyone. It tastes weird to me, and pretty much is going to have some preservatives in it.
I like the natural flavor of my homemade version, which doesn't leave a strange aftertaste in my mouth. Economical? I haven't exactly priced it. The amount in a store bought box isn't as much as this recipe makes. But about anything I make at home is tons cheaper. I should probably get a breakdown on the pricing done. I guess I'm just lazy and don't know how to figure out how much 1/3 cup of baking powder costs. Anyway, here it is.

Basic Biscuit Master Mix

4 cups wheat flour
4 cups unbleached white flour
4 teas. salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup baking powder
1 1/4 cup powdered milk
2 cups shortening

Mix all dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender, fork, knives or rub between fingers till shortening is blended well and mixture is crumbly like graham cracker crumbs. It's ok if some lumps are slightly larger. It doesn't have to be perfect.
Place mixture in a gallon size ziplock freezer bag. Date it and label what it is. It should keep for months in the freezer or fridge. Use with any Bisquick recipe.

Now for one of my favorite and easy to make main dishes. I got it out of a magazine probably from a bisquick ad.

Easy Cheeseburger Pie
1 lb. ground beef (I use ground turkey)
1 c. chopped onion
1/2 teas. salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
2/3 cup biscuit mix
1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a large pie plate. Cook beef and onion till beef is brown. Drain fats. Spread in pie plate. Sprinkle with salt and cheese. Stir remaining ingredients till blended. Pour over the stuff in pie plate. Bake for 25 minutes.

My whole family will eat this. Even the ones that complain about onions.

Make a Rug

Well, folks, I've been gone for a few days and busy as heck. I just spent four days in Norman, Oklahoma helping my daughter Michelle at a renaissance festival. She is the owner of Damsel in this Dress and has stores on etsy, artfire and her own online store. She travels around the country at festivals also and this time of year, she is in the midwest.

Anyway, I was talking to my friend Lucy, and she has been in a "remodel her house" mode for many months. Somehow, though, the money is gone. (Isn't it always the case?) The girls bedroom isn't finished and her dreams of a hardwood floor or carpet must be set aside. Now, it is paint the plywood floor time. Now, I realize that this idea may not appeal to many. At this particular time in our country's history, our lifestyles border on luxurious. Third world countries could not even imagine having the nice things that the poor among US have.

We think that we cannot live without fancy clothes, carpeting, big screen TV's and convenience foods (or eating out). When I was going to nursing school, I drove an old car that was paid for. I went to school while in my early 40's and all of those young kids I went to school with drove nicer and newer cars than I did. There is nothing wrong with that, or shameful. I didn't go to school to be cool. I went so I could help my family out. I ramble on......

So back to my original topic!!! Lucy's floor. I have seen cute cabins with painted plywood floors and thought, why not? They are perfectly functional, sweep up, and mop up. What are they better than? I'll tell you. They're better than an unpainted floor, a dirt floor, an old ugly shag carpet floor, old dirty linoleum with holes and worn out spots, a smelly floor (from pets), a floor that has no roof over it, or walls or heat or cooling. Do you get the picture?

So, you paint your floor, and then what? Aha! My husband has built me some wood rug looms (that I actually have in my etsy store) and you go to the thrift store and buy old sheets or curtains that aren't too thick, or you raid your grandma's old boxes of fabric that no one will ever use. You cut them into strips and weave them into old fashioned cushiony rugs. Maybe the latest Home magazine will never want to come and take pictures of your house, (well, maybe Country Living might), but your kids will remember how you loved them and spent time with them. They might remember the rug you made just for them. That is what we're here for, is memories and family ties. We are tied together more with the things that money can't buy than the things it can buy.

I fixed my blog so the comments show, and I can comment back if I want. Hope that is helpful. Is this just too humble for anyone out there?

If anyone would like to see my looms, they are at etsy.com and you can type in a search for rug looms.