DIY Christmas Gifts

My friends and family may "hate" me after this year! I am making Christmas gifts...

These are super-simple gifts to make. Trust me, I cannot handle anything too complicated when it comes to being "crafty" (and the Beastie Boys song just went sailing through my head).

Here are three things I have made.

1. Lemon Extract
2. Vanilla Extract
3. Brown Sugar Body Scrub

Lemon Extract

First decide what size bottle(s) you want to use. You might need to search the web for sites that sell bottles for a price you like. Some have really great prices and outrageous shipping or vice versa. So, figure out what's the best deal for you.  Then depending on how many bottles you are making and the size of the bottle (2oz, 4oz, 8oz--you get the picture), you can determine how much Vodka you need to purchase. (Hint, it's an Algebra problem...Remember when you said you would never use it after high school?) I just went ahead and bought the biggest bottle I could because I plan on having a few cocktails while I am mixing this stuff up! Just Joking! Kind of...Probably not...

Okay, back on track! You will need a lemon for each bottle. Zest a lemon and put it in the bottle and fill the bottle with what is left of the vodka and Ta-Da! It is done!

Geez, even I can handle that!

Just add a label and some raffia and your gift is ready!

Vanilla Extract

The vanilla extract is almost as easy as the lemon extract. I suggest you make this in one big batch.

Take a large bottle of Vodka. Remove the little plastic thingy in the lid with a table or butter knife. Mine always flies away, but they are easy to pop off. Then take some vanilla beans. (You can order these online via ebay, beanilla, etc.) and cut a slit down the vanilla bean and gently scrape the seeds inside the bean. you will need to dispose of a little of the vodka in order for the beans to fit in the bottle. Place the bean seeds in the bottle. Many people put the whole bean pod in the bottle. Your choice. Others also add a shot of dark bourbon to the vodka bottle to give the extract a brown color. Again, your choice.

Put the lid on the bottle and let it sit and steep for 2-4 months. I have seen a couple different schools of thought on the aging process. Whatever works best for you. Once a week, shake the bottle to mix it all up. That is it.  Then use in the place of store bought vanilla or bottle it and give as gifts.

Brown Sugar Body Scrub - 

What you will need is--

2 - half pint mason jars with lids
1 c. of brown sugar, packed
2 Tbsp of Honey
1 - lemon
2 Tbsp of Olive oil

In a bowl, mix the brown sugar, oil and honey. Cut and squeeze the lemon (pick the seeds out). Mix together well. and pour evenly between the 2 jars and that is all! Add a label, fabric square or raffia and call it done!

(Note: This will need to be stirred before use. Mine has separated in the jar.)

Absolutely Fabulous Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chili Sauce

Oh! My! Goodness! These are Fabulous!

I swear, I have got to have a little Hispanic blood running through me! I absolutely love Mexican food, whether it is Mexican, TexMex, or anything pseudo-Mexican. When we make it to a "big" town, the handsome Cowboy asks me what I want to eat...the response is generally "Mexican"!

One other thing about me, is that I do not like to crack open a can and pour. If I can make it from scratch, I tend to do that. I just like knowing what I'm eating and feeding to my family. Now, I'm not fanatical about it, but it's just how I lean in my cooking.

So, I was cruising Pinterest (Okay, so when am I not cruising Pinterest) and I came across this recipe for Homemade Enchiladas. Oh Dear Lord! So I clicked on the pin and it took me to this recipe . I had to try it! Like the next day! So, I did.

This is NOT my picture! It's from the blog "Pink Parsley" where I got the recipe from. My enchiladas did not look nearly as pretty, but tasted absolutely amazing! The sauce is to die for and so much richer and thicker than the canned version.

At supper, my youngest literally was gulping the tasty morsels down. No chewing, no taking breaths, just gulping. Guess the little stinker liked it! the handsome Cowboy had a huge pile on his plate and decided since there were only two left that he needed to finish them...So, no leftovers for me! RATS!

This recipe is a "Keeper".

I hope you try it and love it as much as we did!

A Little Christmas Decorating

We have never been big on Christmas decorating. My parents never went all out and so I have kept Christmas decorating pretty low key. As the kiddos get a little older, their excitement is contagious and I have been trying do to a little more.

Last year, on Pinterest (The place where missing time ends up), I saw this adorable outdoor Christmas tree decoration using Tomato Cages! I have those! And I have some extra lights! WOOHOO! This is a link to a page that shows how to make the tree. I cannot find my pin, which is typical these days...Maybe one day Pinterest will let us search our own boards!

This year, I have decided to do the same thing again. It adds a little "class" to the LED Snowman we usually have out. I just have to remember to stake these little guys down, or else they will end up several states away when the first big wind blows.

First, I dug out 3 tomato cages from the back of the shed. (I did not put them there...Rather "someone" was "cleaning up" and put them in an awkward place.)

Then I take a string of lights and wrap them around the cage. There is no "right" way or "wrong" way to do this. Put as many as you like or as little as you like to get the look you prefer. I used 1 strand for these "trees".

See, super simple.

Merry Christmas!

Fall and Changes

We have been enjoying a beautiful fall this year! Well, if you do not count the wind storm, lack of regular moisture and the first snow...Okay, okay, I loved the first snow! This time of the year has also brought a change in the kitchen. I feel like I have been baking up a storm, trying new recipes and baking some old favorites.

This weekend, I decided to make one of my favorite apple dishes. I made Ozark Apple Pudding. I found this recipe a while back on the Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen site. It's delicious all on its own and even better warm with a scoop of ice cream on the side!

Just so you know, I cheated a little. When I whipped this together, I was not feeling all the perky and did not feel like pulling the ingredients out, setting them up for a shot and then taking "in progress" pictures. I was in a funk and thought this would brighten my day a little. 

So, back to the recipe. It calls for pretty basic stuff like flour, sugar, oil, baking soda, salt, eggs, apples, cinnamon and nuts. (and, yes, those eggs are from my gorgeous feathered friends!)

Following the directions, it is pretty straightforward and a "quick" dish to make.  After baking, you get this yummy dessert!

Dish it up with ice cream, whipped cream or just eat it by itself!

Enjoy!

The First Snow!

It is an event that I look forward to every year! I feel almost like a child when I know it is coming and so completely in awe when it happens! It is the "First Snow" of the season! WOOHOO! YIPPEE!

This year, it is such a huge blessing! This snow is a big, wet snow! And after the year we have experienced with lack of moisture, it is such a good thing.

The kids had school, but they were dressed super fast and outside playing for a while until I felt it was "ok" for me to try driving them to town for school. 

We were 'teased' with a chance of snow a couple of weeks ago. I felt like my kids, all disappointed because we did not get anything. And I know by April, when spring should be well on its way and we get that (hopefully) last snow, I will complain about the snow and cold.

Until then, enjoy your fall!

Yep, It Looks Like an Outhouse!

The one thing I really wanted when I moved from the city and suburbs was chickens. I love those little, noisy birds and the beautiful eggs they produce. I was so super excited when I was able to have them running freely through my yard.

This past winter, I admit, I got a little lazy and did not button the coop up quite as tightly as I should have. I was lulled into that false sense of "security" and ignoring the fact that one by one, the free-ranging hens were being picked off every other day by some raptor. Some times ignorance is bliss...Until the morning you go out and find that the chicken-loving predator has taken liberty in your chicken coop and destroyed the entire flock.

So, I took a break from the feather friends for a while. I did pick up several guinea hens this spring to help with insect control. I will write more on those "I'm-So-Ugly-I'm-Cute" little boogers another time. However, I refrained from getting chickens.


Now, "settled" into our new home, I immediately started bugging the old cowboy to help me get a place for chickens set up. We went back and forth. Do we build a coop like we had?

 (ok, we did finish it! This was during construction)

Use the ever popular trampoline coop? This one made the Fed-Ex guy pull out his phone and snap a picture to send to his friend "Back East" for a laugh. So, yes, I'm probably in some "You might be a redneck if..." email.

Or do something different?  We opted for "different". This place had an old outhouse which had not been used in quite some time. So, we picked out a spot, moved the heavy beast of a bathroom and added a small pen area and buried the chicken wire about a foot in the ground.

So, yes, that is an outhouse turned chicken coop! And I'm loving my chickens!

A Long, Dry Summer

This summer has been hard for most folks. Even those not directly affected by the hot, dry, windy summer.

Everyone where we live seems to be on pins and needles, terrified of wild fires. I can certainly understand why. There's a feeling of complete hopelessness when you get a call or look out the window and see flames racing your way.

This is smoke from a fire that greeted us the weekend that we moved. Too close for comfort, but beautiful.

Luckily for us, we have not been in the direct line of one of these monsters. The guys have had to rush out and help neighbors as dry storms go through and light up the landscape with fires, but we have been able to stay put and pray for those in the path of this destructing force.

If there is an "upside" to this horrible time, it could be the beautiful sunrises that greet us each morning and sunsets that bid us goodnight.  Some of the most beautiful colors have blanketed the skies.