Thursday, July 25, 2013

Rhubarb Vinegar



Since it's rhubarb season we have been trying to come up with new recipes and uses for rhubarb. A few weeks ago we thought of rhubarb vinegar.


  cut rhubarb into approximately 1/2" pieces and filled a pint jar. We decided to do only one pint in case we didn't care for the taste.











  covere the rhubarb with white wine vinegar and put a dish towel over the jar. The book says to keep the vinegar in a cool, dark place and a towel was convenient..

 After about a week taste the vinegar and thought it was delicious. The rhubarb flavor was strong enough for our taste. We could have let it sit longer but we liked this.

The flavor is a nice rhubarb taste. So far we have only used the vinegar on a green salad, but I also think it would be good with fruit or chicken.
http://homesteadinginmaine.blogspot.com/2013/06/making-rhubarb-vinegar.html#.UfF4OG04HP8

Monday, July 22, 2013

T-Shirt Rag Rug

First, lay your t-shirt flat. Cut off the hemmed end and discard.
Just a warning...this does make a bit of a mess on your cutting mat.
Working from the bottom of the shirt, cut in 1/2" strips, leaving the side seams in tact. This will form loops.

You can cut a few loops from each sleeve, too. Again, discard the finished ends.

Once you have loops cut, use a slip knot to join them.

Pull until the knot is snug.

Make a string long enough to start crocheting.

Using a P hook, chain stitch to desired width. I started with 50 stitches and my rug is approximately 30" wide. Chain one more. (to use for turning)

(Ok, I am going to change colors here, because this rug is already in progress.)

Single crochet in each space.

Join a loop when your "string" runs out.

At the end of the row, chain one...

Flip over the rug and begin working in the first space with a single crochet.
Continue single crocheting in each space.
Keep working back and forth until the rug reaches the desired length.

Knot and weave in the end.
This is the rug that I crocheted last summer. I have run it through the regular washing machine a few times and it has held up very well. I used about 20 knit shirts used to make it.
If you make a rug using this tutorial, I'd love to see it.

Homemade Natural Wrinkle Removers















:

Even though they say wrinkles make you wiser, there are many ways to look wiser without the wrinkles that are natural, there is no need to buy expensive anti-aging cream or treatments. You won’t need to expend more than a couple of bucks… here is where the real wisdom is. Bananas and their peel have been used for centuries to help with many skin conditions, including acne, wrinkles, warts, psoriasis and poison ivy.

1. Mash a banana until it has a creamy texture and apply it to your entire face for 30 minutes, bananas have so much more going for them than just a delicious and nutritious treat.

2. Coconut oil is the best option when it comes to natural wrinkle removal, since it rebuilds our skin tissue and will also leave your face skin moisturized and feeling smooth and beautiful.

3. Pineapple juice can easily rival any treatment, in fact it is much better, because they are packed with the enzyme bromelain which naturally eats away our top layer of skin when applied topically and leaves the new fresh skin underneath.

Pantry Makeover To LAZY SUSAN Corner

decorchick
http://decorchick.com/the-great-pantry-makeover/


Creamed Corn Recipe



Creamed Corn Recipe

4 lbs. frozen sweet corn
2 8 oz blocks cream cheese, diced into 1 inch squares
1 stick (4 oz) of salted butter
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Throw all the ingredients, without any sort of ceremony or circumstance, into a crockpot on medium or low for at least 4 hours. If you need it done faster, cook it on the stove or on high in the crockpot, but be prepared to sacrifice a little of the savory goodness that results when corn is allowed to soak in dairy for hours. All of the cream cheese pieces should be completely melted and will easily break down and combine with the cream and butter to make the ‘gravy’.

Do not over-salt. There is plenty of salt in the butter and cream cheese. Over-salting will ruin this dish.

Almond Joy Brownie Bites




Almond Joy Brownie Bites

Ingredients:
1 box of family size Chocolate Fudge brownie mix 
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 
1 (14 oz.) bag coconut
1/4 C milk
1 C chocolate chips, melted
1/4 C almonds (or nuts), crushed

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line (regular size, not mini) cupcake pan with paper liners. (Don't skip the paper liners as they make stick).

Make brownies according to package directions and pour batter only half way up the liners.

Bake in preheated oven for 12 minutes. While they are baking, mix the coconut, sweetened condensed milk and milk together.

Remove brownies from oven and spoon on some sweetened coconut.

Place bake in oven and continue to bake an additional 14-16 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before removing the paper liners. Drizzle on the chocolate then sprinkle on the almonds.

Cinnamon Bread





Amish Cinnamon Bread.

 No kneading, you just mix it up and bake it ♥

Batter:

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk or 2 cups milk plus 2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda

Cinnamon/sugar mixture:

2/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Cream together butter, 2 cups of sugar, and eggs. Add milk, flour, and baking soda. Put 1/2 of batter (or a little less) into greased loaf pans (1/4 in each pan). Mix in separate bowl the 2/3 c sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle 3/4 of cinnamon mixture on top of the 1/2 batter in each pan. Add remaining batter to pans; sprinkle with last of cinnamon topping. Swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 min. or until toothpick tester come clean.
Cool in pan for 20 minutes before removing from pan.