3 Day Refrigerator Dill Pickles

We got quite a bunch of cucumbers from our garden this year, so after a while of having cucumber and tomato salad...we were looking for other uses for our cucumbers.

Pickles! We love pickles, and when they are made from the cucumbers and dill we grew in our garden...that's even better!

We were really excited when we found out that we could make pickles WITHOUT a pressure canner,  considering we don't have one at the moment. This recipe is super easy too, you only need a few ingredients.

Here is how we made them. (you can always adjust this recipe to fit your situation.)

You will need:

3 1/2 cups water

1 1/4 cups white vinegar

1 tbl sugar

1 tbl sea salt

4 cups cucumber spears (or you can do slices like we did)

2 garlic cloves

2 heads of dill

2 leaves off of a wild berry bush (optional) 

Slice your cucumbers and place them in a large mason jar.

Cover your cucumber slices with cold tap water and place them in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them. This helps the cucumbers stay crisp.

Now that your cucumbers are all sliced up and ready to go, you can start on the pickle brine.

Stir the water, vinegar, salt. and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once it is boiled, remove from the heat and allow it to cool.

Once the brine is cooled take the cucumbers out of the refrigerator and drain them. Place the cucumbers back in the jar once you have drained them. To the cucumbers add the garlic, fresh dill, and the berry leaves. The berry leaves are a natural way of encouraging crispness in your cucumbers as they are turning into pickles.

Once everything is in the jar, cover with the cooled water and vinegar mixture. Place a lid on your jar and place it in your refrigerator for 3 days.

It is such an easy recipe and they turn out so yummy! I hope this inspires you to try your own refrigerator pickles. :)


 "And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer." - Paul Harvey

Soft Ginger Cookies

It has been kind of dreary the past couple of days. The snow has been melting and we have been getting a little bit of rain/sleet. We needed a little pick me up, so I decided to make soft Ginger Cookies.  

( Click Here to watch me make the Ginger Cookies)

Soft Ginger Cookies

2 1/4 cup flour

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp clove

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup soft butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tbl water

1/4 cup molasses

and an extra 2 tbl sugar

Preheat your oven to 350.

In a large bowl sift together all your dry ingredients.

Cream 1 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of  butter together until light and fluffy.

Then beat in 1 egg and stir in the 1/4 cup of molasses and 1 tbl of water.

 Gradually add your dry mixture to your wet mixture until it's all combined.

Place your 2 tbl of sugar in a bowl and set aside.

Take 1 tsp of cookie dough and roll it in the sugar, then place on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake your cookies for 8-10 minutes.
 

Enjoy your soft yummy ginger cookies!! :)

"And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer." - Paul Harvey

Our Menagerie of Animals

We are getting quite a few new followers on our facebook page every day, which is really exciting! So, I decided, after I realized that we never really wrote about how many animals we have, to write about them. So here it goes....

(We live on a little over 4 acres of land...so there is plenty of room for everybody)


                                      We have 4 dogs...

Dandilion.

We adopted her from a humane society in KY about 9 years ago. She is our good ol' farm dog. She's a  protector and and big ol' goofball.

 

 

Buford.

We adopted him 3 years ago from a local humane society. We think he is between the ages of 5-7. He was rescued from a very horrible situation. He is a challenge because of his previous life, but we love him anyways.

 

 

Rebel (left) Riggy (right)

We adopted them about 5 months ago. They are 7 months old and are a BIG, lovable handful!

 

 

Next are the cats...we have 6 of them...

 

Scooter.

We brought him home about 15 years ago, he is known as our farm cat. He enjoys spending long hours outside "hunting" and then loves coming inside for his snuggles at night. He is our sweet boy!

 

 

Cedar.

She was brought home from a mission's trip to Cedar Rapids Iowa 6 years ago. She is our indoor mouser...she sometimes falls asleep while doing it too. ;)

 

 

 

 

The next four cats were born of our two outdoor cats 5 years ago. (Moses and Pumpkin who have since passed away)

 

Berlioz.

Chubby and loveable! He is just like his Daddy...purring all the time!

 

Toulouse.

Mr. long and lanky. A few times Toulouse actually caught snakes that were IN the house...and ate them. :P

 

 

Marie.

Our other purr box and our other mouse catcher. She also loves to climb on your lap to get some scratches.

Callie.

The smallest of them all. She was born with only 3 legs, but she gets around as well as the others. She LOVES people, always looking for attention. 

 

 

 

 

Now onto the farm animals....starting with the chickens and ducks...

 

We have 29 chickens (27 hens & 2 roosters) and 3 ducks.

We have about 10 different breeds of chickens, but only 1 breed of duck . Khaki Campbell ducks are known to be the best laying ducks.

 

 

Buttons, Abigail, & Amelia

 

 

 

 

 

Then finally there are the goats...

Sassy (front) & Clover (back)

We bought them from a local farm back in March. We weren't ready for them at all but we just couldn't resist! :) They are a cross breed of Lamancha and Saanen and they are 9 months old. We will be breeding Sassy in December and Clover in January. CAN'T WAIT for fresh goat's milk!!!

 

 

Well, that is our menagerie of animals...for now. ;) ;)

 

Every day is a new adventure...sometimes fun and sometimes not. But we are enjoying every day of  being closer and closer to being a working homestead!

 

 

 

 

"And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer." - Paul Harvey

 

 

 

 

Summer Squash Johnny Biscuits

Y'all ever have an abundance of summer squash from your garden and are running out of ways to use it?

 Well here is a simple yummy way to use them, AND to sneak in some veggies for your kids. 

I call them Summer Squash Johnny Biscuits.

 You will need...

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar 

 5 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 sticks of butter

 1 egg, beaten (duck eggs are best)

1 cup milk

 

2 cups shredded summer squash 

(MAKE SURE YOU SQUEEZE ALL THE LIQUID OUT OF THE SQUASH)

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees & grease the baking sheet you will be using

 2.) In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients together

 3.) Cut your butter into the dry mix.

4.) Beat the egg and milk together in a small bowl, and mix into flour mixture until moistened. Then mix in your summer squash.

 

5.) It will be a sticky mess (have your kids help for some extra fun) but grab a portion of the batter with your hands and place it on the baking sheet.

6.) Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown....Enjoy!! 

 

Medicine Cabinet Makeover

Have you ever thought about trading in what's in your medicine cabinet, for some healthy all natural alternatives? Well, I know I have. Here is a list of some essential oils that I found and there uses. I can't wait to give them a try!


Purification essential oil-Bloating
-Insect Bites
-Cuts
-Infections
-Scrapes
-Acne
-Smelly laundry
-Dirty air
-Household odors



Lavender essential oil 

-Stress
-Pains
-Sleep issues
-Burns
-Headaches
-Dry skin
-Bacteria
-Fever



Thieves essential oil

-Viruses
-Colds
-Cold sores
-Sore throats
-Flu
-Tooth aches
-Household dirt


Frankincense essential oil


-Anxiety
-Breathing issues
-Swelling
-Warts
-Scars
-Stretch marks
-Wrinkles
-Sun spots


Peppermint essential oil

-Lethargy
-Sunburn
-Constipation
-Congestion
-Indigestion
-Soreness
-Gas


Peace & Calming essential oil

-Hyperactivity
-Tension
-Sleeplessness
-Moodiness
-Stress


Valor essential oil-Snoring
-Bruising
-Attention
- Back problems
-Sadness
-Sciatic pain
-Bad dreams


Joy essential oil-Emotional pain
-Sadness
-Grief


Panaway essential oil-Sore muscles
-Swelling
-Stiffness
-Damaged tissue
-Joint pain


Lemon essential oil

-Low energy
-Infections
-Mouth sores
-Coughs
-Insect bites
-Household dirt and grime

Home Remedies

Lately I've been reading a book by Stephanie L. Tourles called 'Hands on healing remedies' (link below).  Awesome book, I highly recommend it for any aspiring herbalist like me!  In the beginning of her book, Stephanie gives a list of ingredients (listed below) for your "home remedy starter kit".  From just these 13 items you can whip up tons of home remedies!


-Almond Oil
-Aloe Vera Juice
-Beeswax
-Castor Oil
-Cocoa Butter
-German Chamomile essential oil
-Lavender Buds
-Lavender essential oil
-Rosemary essential oil
-Tea Tree essential oil
-Thyme essential oil
-Vitamin E oil
-Shea Butter


-Quick and "Neat" Insect Bite and Sting relief
-Quench-the-heat Aloe liniment
-Rain's Rosemary Remembrance Balm


These are just a few recipes you can make using the ingredients above.

http://www.amazon.com/Hands--Healing-Remedies-Liniments-Therapies/dp/1612120067/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393032619&sr=1-1&keywords=hands+on+healing+remedies

Eucalyptus Oil

    Have a bad cough or sinus issues?  Before reaching for over the counter solutions, try putting a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil on the floor of your bath or shower.  When you take a hot shower or bath, the steam will release the eucalyptus oils.  Eucalyptus is a natural decongestant. I tried it the other day and it helped loosen my congestion.  Try it and see if it works for you!

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog!
    I started this blog to share with you hints, tips, recipes of all kinds, home remedies, essential oil information, step by step candle making and soap making etc...including my all around experiences here on the "homestead". =)