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- Breakfast Egg Rolls
Crispy on the outside and packed full of fluffy eggs, savory sausage, and sharp cheddar cheese, these Breakfast Egg Rolls are the perfect addition to your brunch menu or as a hearty meal on the go! Jump to Recipe I love it when my girls help me out in the kitchen. It’s a great time for us to chat about whatever they want to chat about while doing something fun. I find that they open up more and talk about things they maybe wouldn’t have thought to talk about before. The business of the task at hand helps us both to feel comfortable and at ease in our discussions making for a meaningful bonding experience. This is a great opportunity to not only build our relationship but they’re learning life skills in the process. I encourage you to bring your kids (big or small) into the kitchen with you! In our kitchen, we enjoy taking a classic pairing like sausage and eggs and turning it into something fun and different rather than how we typically enjoy them. I’ve shared fun ways to change the presentation of our family favorites before in my Loaded Breakfast Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels recipes. Sometimes, we just need to look at things a little differently to appreciate them again. These Breakfast Egg Rolls are a fantastic way to shake things up a bit, while still having those classic flavor combinations we know and love! And, because this recipe is so versatile, it’s super easy to tailor it to your preferences. Simple ingredient changes are easy and budget-friendly ways to keep a favorite recipe from becoming ho-hum. So don’t be afraid to mix things up! Yield: 20 Breakfast Egg Rolls Ingredients 20 egg roll wrappers 1 pound breakfast sausage 6 large eggs 2 Tablespoons of milk 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 3 scallions or green onions, thinly sliced ½ large red bell pepper, finely diced 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon chili powder 1/3 cup water ½ teaspoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder Directions In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, and spices. Lightly whisk eggs until thoroughly beaten. Set bowl aside. Brown sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through. Remove cooked sausage to a paper towel-lined plate to allow excess oil to drain off. Pour egg mixture into skillet with residual grease from the cooked sausage. Cook eggs over medium heat while constantly breaking up the eggs. Scrape the eggs from the sides of the pan to the middle. Fold and lightly break apart the large clumps of egg for approximately 1-2 minutes. Once the eggs are slightly firm, return the cooked sausage to the skillet. Gently mix the sausage in with the eggs for about 1 minute. Add the sliced green onions and red pepper and mix gently to combine with the eggs and sausage. Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature where it can be safely handled with bare hands. In a small bowl, mix together water and cornstarch. This will be our “glue” to help keep the egg rolls sealed. Place egg roll wrapper in a diamond shape on a sheet of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Add about 3 tablespoons of the egg and sausage mixture with a pinch of the shredded cheese toward the bottom of the egg roll wrapper. Begin rolling the egg roll wrapper by bringing the bottom up to the middle. Then bring the left side of the egg roll wrapper to the middle of the bottom. Repeat the process with the right side of the egg roll wrapper. Starting from the bottom, begin tightly rolling forward until you reach the tip of the egg roll wrapper. Dab your index finger into the water and cornstarch mixture then lightly trace along the edges of the top of the egg roll wrapper. Finish rolling and gently press the tip into the rolled wrapper. Continue this process for the remaining egg rolls. Once all of the egg rolls are tightly rolled and sealed, place them seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly spray each egg roll with a neutral cooking spray such as olive oil or avocado oil. Bake the egg rolls at 400 degrees for approximately 7 minutes. Turn the egg rolls and continue baking for another 5-7 minutes or until the egg rolls are lightly golden and appear crispy. Serve warm. How to Fry Breakfast Egg Rolls: If frying these egg rolls on the stovetop, I recommend using a large Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot. Add oil to the pot and bring it to a temperature of 365 degrees. Working in small batches, carefully place egg rolls into hot oil and fry for approximately 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove eggrolls from the oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate. How to Air Fry Breakfast Egg Rolls: If using an air fryer to bake these egg rolls, place the egg rolls seam-side down in a single layer on the air fryer tray. Light spray each eggroll with a non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 390 degrees for approximately 7-9 minutes, flipping the eggrolls about halfway through. How to Freeze and Reheat Breakfast Egg Rolls: These Breakfast Egg Rolls can be frozen pre-cooked or after they're baked and cooled completely. Place the egg rolls seam-side down on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and freeze for about 1 hour. Remove the frozen egg rolls and place them in a freezer-safe storage bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat uncooked egg rolls, allow egg rolls to rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Lightly spray the egg rolls with a non-stick cooking spray and place seam-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 7-9 minutes then turn the egg rolls and bake for an additional 7 minutes. To reheat cooked egg rolls, heat in the microwave for approximately 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Please note that the egg rolls may lose some of their delicious crispiness. For the best results, reheat in a toaster oven or traditional oven for 7-9 minutes, then flip the egg rolls and bake for an additional 7 minutes. We love hearing from you! Let us know if you enjoyed these Breakfast Egg Rolls in the comments below or share on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- Homemade Fruit Gummies
Soft, chewy, and full of natural fruit juice these homemade fruit gummies are absolutely delicious and are ready to eat in about 30 minutes! Jump to recipe My kids and husband love fruit gummies. The sugar-coated sour ones are probably their absolute favorite candy. However, I don’t love the ingredients found in them. Have you looked at the ingredients list on store-bought fruit gummies lately? If you look up a popular non-organic brand of gummy bears, you’ll find there are at least thirteen ingredients listed. Wowzers! Sure, there are some organic options available but even those have over ten ingredients. Homemade gummies are super easy to make, and you only need 3 simple, natural ingredients. I recently discovered that I could make our own fruit gummies and we won’t be going back to the store bought version! As an avid home canner, we have a strong supply of home canned fruits and vegetables pretty much year-round. When I’m making a batch of Buttermilk Mixed Berry Waffles, I like to save the juice leftover in the jar. This is the perfect amount for making a small batch of homemade gummies for the kids. Sometimes I find a juice flavor that I don’t have or a new flavor combination that sounds good and will pick up a bottle of 100% juice at the grocery store. So, if you’re not a home canner, no worries, you can still make some delicious homemade gummies! Even if you use a storebought juice you will still be eliminating those unnecessary ingredients found in prepackage gummies. Ready to get started? Here’s what you’ll need to make homemade gummies: 1 Cup pure fruit or vegetable juice 4 Tablespoons unflavored gelatin ½ cup cold water That’s it! Who knew making delicious, nutritious gummies at home could be so easy? Making these homemade gummies is super easy! First, in a medium bowl, combine ½ cup cold water and 4 Tablespoons of unflavored gelatin. Gently stir to combine then set aside for about 3-5 minutes. Next, heat one cup of fruit juice in a medium saucepan over low-medium heat for approximately 2-3 minutes. The juice should be warm but not boiling. Slowly add the water and gelatin mixture to the warm juice in the saucepan. Stir gently to combine and continue to simmer on low heat for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool for just a minute. Prepare silicone candy molds by placing them on a flat baking sheet. Using a food-safe dropper, carefully fill the cavities of a silicone candy mold. If you don’t have a silicone mold, you can simply just pour the mixture into an 8x8 baking dish and cut into bite-sized pieces once it has completely set. Once all of the cavities are filled in your molds, place them in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes. The baking sheet will help to catch any spills. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Helpful tips: You’ll want to avoid highly acidic juices like orange, grapefruit, lemons, limes, peaches, and pineapple. Fruits like this will break down the gelatin because they have a high concentration of the enzyme bromelain. Our favorite flavors are cherry, strawberry mango, blueberry, and raspberry. My kids and husband really love the tart/sourness of unsweetened gummies. However, if you want sweeter gummies, you can add 1 or 2 Tablespoons of honey, pure maple syrup, or other organic natural sweetener. If you enjoyed this Homemade Fruit Gummies recipe, let us know in the comments! Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- Italian Meatball Sub
This delicious submarine-style sandwich is made with savory Italian meatballs and a homemade marinara sauce served on a perfectly toasted Italian roll! Serves 6 Jump to recipe Whether you're preparing for a simple and delicious game day feast or just want an affordable, easy-to-pull-together dinner, these Italian Meatball Sub Sandwiches will definitely be a crowd favorite! There are several variations of this classic sandwich available all over the internet so we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here. My family and I have tried a few different versions, but we just couldn’t find one that we all loved - until now. Just a few simple tweaks and a homemade marinara sauce were all it needed to become one of our family favorites! One of the things we love about this recipe is that the meatballs are baked. Pan-frying can take a while and it makes a mess. Meatballs cooked in a slow cooker tend to fall apart more easily. These meatballs are so tender and juicy but still hold their shape perfectly! As a busy, homeschooling mom who works outside of the home, one of my favorite things when it comes to cooking, are items that can be prepared ahead of time. I need meals to come together quickly before the family threatens a hostile takeover with fast food! The meatball mixture for this recipe comes together in under 10 minutes thanks to simple, budget-friendly pantry staples like dried herbs. I like to prepare them the night before so that they're ready for the oven at a moment’s notice. Prepared meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen in their raw or cooked form for up to 2 months. Allow frozen meatballs to thaw prior to baking and be sure to use an internal thermometer to check for doneness. It's recommended beef be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees. So, let’s get started! For this Italian Meatball Sub Sandwich recipe, you will need: Ground Beef If you're using only ground beef, you’ll want to use at least an 80/20 blend to ensure the meat does not dry out. For this recipe, I use a lean 90/10 because the Italian Sausage will add additional fat. Ground Italian Sausage With a fat content of at least 20 percent, ground Italian sausage will increase the fat and moisture in the meatballs, not to mention the flavor. I use a mild blend since I’m serving kiddos but if you enjoy spicy, feel free to use a hot Italian sausage. Herbs and Spices When it comes to adding flavor, the right herbs and spices are key. Garlic and onion both offer delicious umami flavor and aromatic powerhouses like oregano and basil are sure to add a mouthwatering goodness to every bite! Parmesan Cheese We prefer freshly shredded parmesan cheese for this recipe, but you could absolutely use store-bought grated. I like that the shredded cheese melts easier and enhances the overall flavor. Grated cheese does help to ensure it is more evenly distributed in the meat mixture. Both work great, so don’t fret too much over it. Homemade Marinara Sauce We've tried and even liked some store-bought sauces, but we just love homemade marinara sauce. Store-bought sauces tend to be on the sweeter side which can be hard to overcome on the flavor palate. You just can’t beat the freshness of a homemade sauce. Italian Breadcrumbs Those random ends of bread that my kids don’t care for aren’t tossed in the trash! I keep them in a quart-sized, freezer-safe bag until I need to make breadcrumbs. For this recipe I like to add about a teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano then I use my food processor to grind them up finely. Mozzarella Cheese Can it be an Italian Meatball Sub Sandwich without Mozzarella cheese? No way! Well, I suppose Provolone could be a fantastic substitute. You just want a delicious cheese that melts easily. Italian Loaf Rolls A crusty Italian loaf is able to withstand all of the deliciousness we’re packing into it. I like to tear out some of the extra dough in the middle to make more room for the meatballs. I find it helps the meatballs stay in place and makes eating the sandwich easier (and usually, less messy). Toss those bread pieces into your freezer bag for the next time you need homemade breadcrumbs! Making these Italian Meatball Sub Sandwiches is incredibly easy! Here’s how: First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Set aside a 9x13 baking dish. Mix together meat, herbs, spices, Parmesan, 1 large egg, ¼ cup marinara sauce, and about ½ cup of breadcrumbs in a large bowl. You want to use either a wooden spoon or just your fingertips to combine the ingredients gently. Don’t overwork the mixture or it won’t hold together when you form the meatballs. Next, using a one-inch cookie scoop, begin forming meatballs. Place into baking dish. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Then add the remaining marinara sauce to cover the meatballs and continue baking for about 15-20 more minutes. It's recommended beef be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees. Remove meatballs from oven. Add 4-5 meatballs to each 6-inch Italian sub roll. Top with mozzarella cheese. These Italian Meatball Sub Sandwiches come together so quickly and with minimal effort. If you have a kiddo that enjoys helping in the kitchen, this is a fun one! Ingredients 1-pound lean ground beef 1/2-pound ground Italian sausage 1 Teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 ½ teaspoons basil 1 ½ teaspoons oregano 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese ¼ cup + 1 1/2 cups homemade marinara sauce 1 large egg ½ - 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs 12 Slices mozzarella cheese 6 Italian loaf rolls, approximately 6 inches long Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients with only ¼ cup homemade marinara sauce. Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, roll into one-inch balls, and place into a 9x13 baking dish. If you don’t have a cookie scoop you can simply “eyeball it” or use a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon and use two Tablespoons per meatball. The equal measurement helps to ensure an even cooking time. I typically get about 24-30 meatballs from this recipe. Place formed meatballs into baking dish and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until meat is cooked through and evenly browned. Internal temperature should be at least 160 degrees. Pour the remaining homemade marinara sauce over the top of meatballs and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Place approximately 4-5 meatballs per Italian roll. Add additional sauce based on preference. Top with mozzarella cheese. The residual heat from the meatballs and sauce should melt the cheese pretty quickly. However, feel free to place the prepared sandwiches on a sheet pan and bake for an additional 5 minutes. If you enjoyed this Italian Meatball Sub Sandwich recipe, we'd love to hear from you in the comments below! Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- Chocolatey Fruit and Nut Granola
Homemade granola is such an easy staple to have on hand all of the time. It is perfect for snacking or as a quick and healthy breakfast on the go! Jump to recipe It can be really tempting to stop by a drive-through for a biscuit and coffee on a busy morning. Or, to even skip breakfast all together. But neither of those are very healthy nor budget friendly. A quick and affordable option I love is homemade granola. It's absolutely delicious on its own. I mix just a handful of this chocolatey, fruity, goodness with yogurt. Trust me, it will keep you full until lunchtime without feeling weighed down. Make a big batch of it to start your week off right! Store bought granola can be filled with extra sugar and unnecessary artificial ingredients. This homemade version keeps it nice and simple and completely customizable. This Chocolatey Fruit & Nut Granola has healthy ingredients you can pronounce and likely have on hand already! For this recipe you will need: Old Fashioned Rolled Oats You want the real stuff here, nothing that is instant or “quick cooking”. Just good, whole rolled oats that are full of protein and soluble fiber. The fiber in oats, known as beta glucan, has been found to lower blood glucose and cholesterol, which can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Soluble fiber can also promote healthy gut bacteria. (1) If you're allergic or have a sensitivity to gluten, be sure to check the packaging for the “Certified Gluten-Free” label since some brands may have a risk of cross-contamination. The CGF label should ensure that the oats were packaged in a gluten free environment. Walnuts Walnuts are considered by scientists to be a superfood because they offer a high amount of unsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids. Plant-sterols and vitamins found in walnuts have been found to help suppress hunger which could aid in weight loss.(2) The high levels of the amino acid, arginine, has been found to assist the liver in detoxifying ammonia.(3) Raisins Raisins contain magnesium and potassium, which can be good for nerve and muscle functions, as well as heart health. (4) Dried Cranberries Fresh cranberries have been long known as a superfood, but dried cranberries offer healthy benefits as well. Full of antioxidants, Vitamin C, and potassium, dried cranberries have been found to aid in heart health. The dietary fibers found in dried cranberries can aid in intestinal conditions, such as constipation and indigestion. (5) Dried Cherries Scientific research has found that dried cherries can aid in inflammation due to arthritis and gout. Dried cherries are also high in fiber and can aid in intestinal conditions.(6) Honey When it comes to sweeteners, raw honey tops the list with the most nutrients and vitamins. Unlike refined sugar, honey’s proportion of fructose to glucose has a lower glycemic index, meaning that it can help avoid the spike and subsequent crash in blood sugar. (7) Coconut Oil Coconut oil is high in antioxidants and can help to lower blood pressure. Virgin coconut oil is rich in phenolic compounds which can aid in inflammation. (8) Dark Chocolate Packed full of iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and phosphorus, dark chocolate has been found to support immunity. Dark chocolate can even help to improve blood flow to your skin and help protect from sun damage, thanks to its antioxidants! (9) Ready to make this delicious Chocolatey Fruit and Nut Granola? Let’s get started! First, preheat your oven to 300 degrees F and prepare a 9x13 sheet pan with parchment paper. Next, heat coconut oil until melted. Combine all ingredients, except the dark chocolate, in a large bowl. Evenly distribute mixture onto prepared sheet pan. Bake for about 20 minutes or until oats are slightly crisp. Remove sheet pan from oven and place on a wire cooling rack for about 5-10 minutes. Add dark chocolate chips and allow mixture to cool completely before breaking into clusters. Yield: Approximately 8 cups Ingredients 4 ½ cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats 1 cup Walnut halves or pieces 1/2 cup raisins 2/3 cup dried cranberries 2/3 cup dried cherries 3/4 cup raw honey 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil, melted 1/2 cup dark chocolate mini chips Directions Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a 9x13 sheet pan with parchment paper. In a small microwave safe bowl, add coconut oil and heat for approximately 20 seconds or until melted. In a large bowl, combine melted coconut oil and ingredients, except the dark chocolate. Spread mixture into an even layer on prepared parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until oats are golden and slightly crisp. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Cool mixture for approximately 5-10 minutes. Then add dark chocolate chips. Allow mixture to cool completely. Break apart the mixture into clusters and place into sealable container. Did you enjoy this Chocolatey Fruit and Nut Granola recipe? Let us know in the comments below! Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today! Sources: 1) https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/start-your- day-with-healthy-oatmeal#:~:text=Oats%20contain%20a%20type%20of,gut%20bacteria%20and%20intestinal %20health 2) https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/health-benefits-of-walnuts-2018081314526 3) https://www.fishertitus.org/healthy-living/healthy-living-blog/2018/what-foods-cleanse- your-liver/#:~:text=It%20also%20assists%20the%20liver,the%20liver%20in%20detoxifying%20ammonia 4) https://time.com/5525636/are-raisins-healthy/ 5) https://www.netmeds.com/health-library/post/dried-cranberries-health-benefits-nutrition-uses-for-skin-and-hair-recipes-side-effects 6) https://sunrisefresh.com/blogs/blog/are-dried-cherries-good-for-you#:~:text=Dried%20cherries%20could%20possibly%20be,for%20an%20efficient%20food%20source 7) https://bestbees.com/2023/01/16/benefits-of-honey/ 8) https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/popular-ingredients/coconut-health-benefits 9) https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dark-chocolate-health-benefits
- Buttermilk Mixed Berry Waffles
Light, fluffy, and easy to prepare, these Buttermilk Mixed Berry Waffles are one of my absolute favorite breakfast recipes. Though, we have been known to have them for dinner on occasion! Yield: Varies - I have this waffle maker and get about 28 individual square servings. Jump to recipe We enjoy picking fresh berries every year from a local grower and we look forward to making these delicious waffles. I like to prepare a huge batch at once and then freeze the rest for later. They can easily be warmed up quickly in a microwave or toaster oven. Try them with a little Homemade Peach Butter on top for a taste of sunshine! To make these Buttermilk Mixed Berry Waffles, you will need: Flour I used organic, unbleached all-purpose flour for this recipe, but you could certainly use a gluten-free option. To ensure accurate flour measurements, use a spoon to add the flour to your measuring cup and level if off with a flat edge, like the back of a butterknife. Baking Powder and Baking Soda Yep, I use both baking powder and baking soda for our waffles. We’re going for extra fluffy waffles here. Buttermilk Do not skimp out on this ingredient! Buttermilk has been found to activate baking soda which produces the gas to make dough or batter rise. If you use regular milk or even the DIY trick of adding vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk, be aware that the batter may not be as thick as if you used actual buttermilk. The tangy flavor of buttermilk pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the berries. Eggs, Salt, & Sugar I use my Homemade Mixed Berry Extract in this waffle recipe because I think it really adds that umph of berry flavor. A good vanilla extract will work just fine too! Butter We love the richness real butter adds to baked goods, but you can certainly replace the butter with a neutral oil like olive oil or avocado oil. For this recipe, you’ll need about ¾ cup of oil. Lemon Zest The lemon zest in this recipe will pair perfectly with the sweet berries and add a little more complexity to each bite. Blueberries & Raspberries I have used both fresh and frozen berries in this recipe and both do well. You will just want to drain your thawed frozen berries to avoid adding any additional liquid to the batter. You could also use freeze-dried berries, which I do pretty often. If you are interested in learning more about freeze drying you can read our review here. Let's Get Started! These Buttermilk Mixed Berry Waffles come together in 7 easy steps: First, preheat waffle iron and spray lightly with non-stick spray. Next, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Next, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, butter, sugar, and lemon zest in separate, large bowl. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients one ½ cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. Gently fold in the mixed berries. Pour batter onto preheated waffle iron. The amount of batter will vary based on the size of your waffle maker. Cook waffles according to your waffle maker’s manufacturer recommendations. Ingredients 4 cups all-purpose flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 4 large eggs 4 cups buttermilk 3 Tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons Homemade Mixed Berry Extract 2 sticks butter, melted Zest from one lemon Mixed berries Directions In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, butter, sugar, and lemon zest. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients one ½ cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. Gently fold in the berries. Preheat waffle iron and spray lightly with non-stick spray. Pour approximately ¼ cup of batter onto waffle iron. Cook waffles as per manufacturer’s instructions or until waffles are golden brown and slightly crispy. Did you enjoy these Buttermilk Mixed Berry Waffles? Let us know in the comments below! Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts
These cake-like doughnuts are full of fall flavors! Covered in delicious cinnamon sugar and packed with apple flavor, they're the perfect way to start your fall morning. These baked doughnuts are moist, sweet, and easy to make. They also freeze beautifully, making them perfect for meal prep. With just a few staple ingredients, you can have a plate full of these mouthwatering doughnuts in no time! Jump to Recipe For this recipe you'll need: All-purpose flour You can absolutely use gluten-free flour for this recipe; however, I used standard, all-purpose. To ensure accurate flour measurements, use a spoon to add the flour to your measuring cup and level it off with a flat edge, like the back of a butterknife. Apple Cider For this recipe, you want concentrated apple cider, which is just making an apple cider reduction. It’s quick and easy to do! Simply simmer two cups of apple cider in a small saucepan over low-medium heat for approximately 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes. Your cider should be reduced by half leaving you will approximately 1 cup. Baking Powder, Baking Soda, & Fine Sea Salt Apple Pie Spice You can use a store-bought version or make your own by mixing together in a small jar or bowl: 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoon ground cloves Butter We love the richness real butter adds to baked goods, but you can certainly replace the butter with a neutral oil like olive oil or avocado oil. You’ll want to use 1 ½ Tablespoons of oil for the batter and drizzle a little oil over each baked doughnut prior to adding the topping. Sugar and Molasses Why not just use brown sugar? You definitely can! It just isn’t something I buy anymore. If using brown sugar, you will just use the one-cup measurement that is listed for sugar—no need to add more or less. Eggs & Milk I used 2% milk for this recipe because that’s what we typically have on hand on a regular basis. Apple Cinnamon Extract I have a super easy homemade recipe for this. However, you can find a store-bought version online or just simply use vanilla extract. Making The Apple Cider Doughnuts Baked doughnuts are probably one of my absolute favorite breakfasts to make because they come together so quickly and with minimal effort. While the apple cider is doing its magic of reduction, go ahead and start getting your dry ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients, including cooled cider reduction. Add dry ingredients a little at a time to wet ingredients, and mix well after each addition. Lightly grease your doughnut pan and carefully fill each cavity approximately ¾ full. Bake for 17-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow doughnuts to cool in pan for about 3 minutes then transfer to a wire cooling rack. Carefully dip each doughnut into melted butter, or drizzle with oil, then coat the doughnut in the prepared topping mixture. Ingredients 2 cups apple cider, concentrated 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 ½ teaspoon apple pie spice ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses 1 large egg ½ cup milk 1 ½ teaspoons apple cinnamon extract Topping ½ cup butter, melted 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon apple pie spice 1 teaspoon apple cinnamon extract Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan over low heat, simmer apple cider until reduced to approximately 1 cup, approximately 20-25 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, apple pie spice, and salt. In a large bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, molasses, egg, milk, and apple cinnamon extract. Using mixer on low-medium speed, carefully add dry ingredients. Mix until well combined. Lightly grease doughnut pan with nonstick spray, then carefully spoon batter into each cavity, approximately 3⁄4 of the way full. Bake for approximately 17-20 minutes or until golden brown and inserted toothpick is clean. Allow doughnuts to cool in pan for 3 minutes before transferring to wire cooling racks. In a small shallow bowl, combine sugar, apple pie spice, and apple cinnamon extract. While doughnuts are warm, but cool enough to handle, begin lightly dipping each in the melted butter. Then carefully coat all sides of each doughnut in the sugar mixture. Freezing Instructions: Use parchment or wax paper in between each completely cooled doughnut and store in a gallon-sized freezer bag for up to 3 months. Did you make these Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts? Let us know in the comments below how they turned out! Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- The Reemergence of Victory Gardens: Three Reasons Why You Need One
During a time when people were struggling with finances, concerned about food supply chains, and the devastation of watching loved ones go off to war, there were glimmers of optimism, patriotism, and mindfulness. How could any sort of positivity be found with so much uncertainty happening in the world, both at home and abroad? It came in the form of a small garden, known as the Victory Garden. The Victory Garden program was heavily promoted by the United States government first during World War I and later during World War II, as an effort to conserve commercially produced, non-perishable food being exported to the troops in war zones and to alleviate the risk of food shortages here at home. Charles Lathrop Pack organized the National War Garden Commission, which urged Americans to “do their part” by growing as much produce at home as possible. (1) While men were sent off to war, 3 million farming jobs were left vacant. Members of the Women’s Land Army of America (WLAA) filled those jobs by working in both urban and rural farms and gardens. Women’s universities such as Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Vassar, and Barnard College began offering students training in how to work in agriculture settings. These trainings offered lectures, workshops, and hands-on training at local farms. It's estimated that 20,000 women took part in the WLAA in the 40 states that offered programming. (2) Victory Gardens were more than just a perceived patriotic duty though. They encouraged sustainability, promoted self-sufficiency, and helped boost morale. By the end of World War II in 1944, Victory Gardens had produced approximately 8 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables and provided America with 40% of the nation’s produce. (3) Three reasons to start your own Victory Garden Food Security If we take a look around us, it isn’t hard to see that the world we live in has its problems. Just a couple of years ago, we saw firsthand just how much we rely on stable food supply chains. For many, it was eye-opening and served as a call to action. Victory Gardens are once again in bloom, though some of us just call it “backyard gardening”. There's a peace of mind that comes along with growing your own produce. Quality & Control There's been an uptick of those not only concerned with the ingredients and production practices of commercially produced food but also those who wish to get back to the simplicity of what food is; Back to a time when meat was meat and fruit was fruit. As a working mom, I completely understand the want for convenience items. Quick snacks that can be taken along to an extracurricular activity, or dinner that can be ready in 10 minutes are definitely easier and less stressful, but at what cost to our health? Mental Health Life is stressful. We juggle jobs, kids, relationships, and other obligations around the clock, and it can begin to take its toll. Gardening has become known to have powerful effects on the body and mind. Gardening is empowering; it helps to build physical strength, can improve motor functioning, helps ease stress, and can help encourage positive mental well-being. There's actually scientific evidence that the bacterium found in soil can help to stimulate serotonin production in our brains. The short version, playing in the dirt, can make us happier and feel more relaxed. (4) Planting your own Victory Garden doesn’t have to take up a lot of space, time, or money. You can plant in flowerpots, food-safe 5-gallon buckets like I started with in 2021 here, in raised beds like I have now, or in small, elevated beds. To completely control, and not only know what you’re eating, but to know exactly where it came from and the conditions in how it was grown is worth its weight in gold in peace of mind. Growing your own food can also help alleviate stress when there’s a kink in the food supply chain. Some of our favorite things to grow are potatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce, kale, tomatoes, squash, carrots, and broccoli. I've purchased seeds from my local dollar stores, big box stores, local nurseries, and online. I've had success and lessons with all of them. You can read more about our gardening experiences here. We also like to preserve our harvests, which you can read more about here. If you are interested in starting your own Victory Garden at home, I recommend you plan out your ideas on a planning sheet like this one. Sources (1) https://library.si.edu/exhibition/cultivating-americas-gardens/gardening-for-the-common-good (2) https://www.womenshistory.org/resources/general/womens-land-army-world-war-i (3) https://gardens.si.edu/gardens/victory-garden/ (4) https://endeavors.org/uncategorized/the-benefits-of-gardening-for-mental-and-physical-health/ Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- 5 Ways to Homeschool: Finding What Works
There are many reasons why parents choose to homeschool their children. According to the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, the number one reason 80% of parents choose to homeschool is due to a concern about the environment of other schools. However, other reasonings are due to dissatisfaction with academic instruction, the desire to include religious beliefs, and a desire to provide a nontraditional approach to learning. (1) There are different ways to homeschool and what is “best” for one family may not be ideal for another. So how do you know which method to go with? Begin listing the key goals you hope to accomplish by homeschooling. Are you looking for more flexibility and a less stressful learning environment? Do you want to instill a value system in your child’s education? Many questions like these can be answered simply by figuring out what is most important to you as a parent and educator and what will best help your child learn and grow. So, what methods of homeschooling are available and what are the pros and cons to each? Let’s take a look at the 5 most common. Traditional Homeschooling Traditional Homeschooling is a method many parents use when they are withdrawing their child from a traditional school setting. This method attempts to keep things moving in a structured and orderly timeframe similar to that of public and private school environments. Some of the pros with traditional homeschooling are there are several curriculum sets that are set up to help get you started right away and have teacher’s manuals available to assist parents with teaching the curriculum. Traditional homeschooling offers a predictability that may help students and parents stay on track because the parent can easily assess their child’s progress. One of the possible cons of traditional homeschooling is that it can take the fun out of learning because it is so structured. It can also be difficult to find the right fit for both student and parent. Another con with traditional schooling is that all-in-one curriculums can be expensive if purchasing brand new. If you’re looking to save some money, (and who isn’t?) try looking for used curriculums in your local homeschool community or online used bookstores. (2) Montessori Method Named after the late 19 th century Italian educator, Dr. Maria Montessori, this approach places an emphasis unique individuality of each child who’s creativity and curiosity is encouraged. Students are invited to learn through play by having activities and learning tools readily and easily accessible to them. Many families with young children opt for this learning style as it lends itself to learning early on positive social and learning behaviors, hands-on learning, and self-regulation. One of the possible cons is that this method is specifically designed for younger children and likely wouldn't hold the attention of an older child. The Montessori method is also a loosely structured program, and it can be difficult to find a good rhythm for repetition. (3) Charlotte Mason Method This method was created by British educator, Charlotte Mason at the turn of the 20th century. During a time when quality education was offered to only those in upper classes, Mason believed that all children, regardless of social class deserved equal education. Built on a Christian worldview, knowledge of scripture is at the forefront followed by classic literature and nature studies. One of the possible pros for this method is it places a heavy emphasis on the Christian religion. Of course, if your family follows a different religion or would rather a secular curriculum, this likely would not be a good fit. This method relies on a vast reading library which can become expensive and may become boring to a child who wishes to have more hands-on learning. (4) Unschooling While several of the homeschool learning methods are structured and have set curricula, unschooling is the polar opposite. Its name may suggest that there is no learning happening at all but that isn’t the case. Unschooling places a huge emphasis on “natural learning” or child-led learning, meaning the studies follow whatever the child’s interests are. Learning takes place by way of experiences such as field trips, activities that are hands-on, and allow the child to explore their curiosities. While unschooling is flexible and customizable to each child, it lacks structure and accountability which can lead to stagnation. (5) Unit Studies This method is based on single theme learning and studies are built around that theme to create a unit. All subjects are intertwined into the central theme to create a holistic approach by learning each theme in depth which can help with retention. Unit Studies are customizable and can be taught to children of various ages and grade levels at the same time, which is a plus if you have a large family. This can help to alleviate a lot of stress because the parent’s prep time is drastically reduced. There's no set curriculum to follow, so lesson plans and materials will need to be planned ahead of time for each concept. Depending on your theme, it can be difficult to find just the right resources to meet your child’s educational needs. However, the lack of set curricula allows you to spend as much or as little time on a subject as you desire. (6) In our home, we combine different methods. For our 9th grader who prefers online learning, we add in art classes like graphic design, hands-on science experiments, and additional reading from the Charlotte Mason library. For our 5th grader who prefers workbooks for the core subjects, we add in unit studies, additional reading, and unschooling methods by way of crochet and piano classes. You can read more about our homeschooling experiences here: Homeschooling: Finding the Answer to Your "Why?" Homeschooling with Unit Studies If you have been thinking about homeschooling and the doubts have held you back, please know that YOU CAN DO THIS! No one knows your child, loves your child, and understands your child better than you. If you start a curriculum and you both hate it, change it. Even if you have only completed a few pages of the book - switch things up! The beauty of homeschooling is the flexibility of what, when, where, and how you teach. Sources 1) https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/research/summaries/reasons-parents-homeschool/ 2) https://classicalconversations.com/blog/homeschool-methods-explained/#:~:text=Traditional%20homeschooling%20typically%20involves%20the,to%20employ%20a%20premade%20program. 3) https://amshq.org/About-Montessori/What-Is-Montessori 4) https://simplycharlottemason.com/what-is-the-charlotte-mason-method/ 5) https://www.naturalchild.org/articles/guest/earl_stevens.html 6) https://homeschool-curriculum.org/homeschool-unit-studies/ Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- How to Include Your Toddler in Your Homeschool Day
Just when I was starting to get the hang of homeschooling our oldest daughter, I became pregnant with our second daughter. Homeschooling through pregnancy was rough. I was exhausted all the time and I was diagnosed (again) with hyperemesis gravidarum. We had to readjust our homeschool routine a bit, and it basically revolved around naps and sickness. But we managed to get it done and still enjoy the creativity and flexibility that homeschooling offers. I quickly learned the hard part was not being pregnant, or even trying to homeschool with a newborn in tow. No, friends, the hard part was when that baby was walking, grabbing things, and needed all of my attention, all of the time. Once again, we needed to readjust our homeschool routine. First, I enlisted the help of our oldest daughter, who was 4 at the time. I would ask her to pick out two or three board books that we could all read together. She really enjoyed doing this and took finding the right books very seriously. Next, I would have both girls snuggle up close to me and we would read the books together. During our reading, I would ask them both questions about the pictures and the story. Afterward, I would look up 3 or 4 fun songs on Youtube to help us get moving. Roku and Amazon Fire Stick are perfect additions for homeschooling, but you could even just turn on the radio or make up your own fun songs. Here is a list of our favorite YouTube channels: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=super+simple+songs https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=baby+genius https://www.youtube.com/c/KIBOOMU Once we were wide awake and got the wiggles out of the way, we would move on to schoolwork. Even my one-year-old had her own work to do. I would help my oldest understand directions or answer any questions she had, then give a simple activity to my youngest to do. Activities ranged from picking up plastic Easter eggs and putting them in a basket, finding things in the I-Spy bag I made, or using plastic tongs to pick up pompoms. Whatever the activity, I made sure to let her know “This is schoolwork” and to make it fun. My goal was for her to associate the two (schoolwork = fun). I know what you're thinking, or at least what I would be thinking, “Giving a one-year-old schoolwork?!?” The work itself wasn't my concern. My expectation was that she would feel included in our day. My expectation was that I would help her love learning. My expectation was that she would feel proud of herself. And let me tell you friends, my expectations were most definitely met. That one-year-old learned so many things by doing those simple activities. She learned hand-eye coordination, independent playing skills, sensory development, and gross motor skills. Each day we continued to build upon those skills. That one-year-old baby is now 9. She has grown up with a love of learning and with empathy and kindness for others. She is beyond all my expectations, and I could not be more proud of her. It's important to include your younger children in the homeschool day. Not only is it beneficial for them, but for the older children as well. My oldest daughter learned patience, critical thinking skills, and emotion regulation while I helped my youngest daughter with whatever she needed. It's okay if you or your children need to take multiple breaks. It's okay if all the work you had planned for the day didn’t get done. Remember, homeschooling allows creativity and flexibility. Know your reasons for homeschooling and understand your “why” and give yourself some grace. Here are some of my daughter’s favorite toddler activities: I purchased an insect kit and pompoms from the dollar store. I made an I-spy kit using items I found around the house, and stored them in a Ziploc bag with duct tape. Using a pipe cleaner and a few Cheerios, she made a bird feeder. I made sure she was included in any science experiments. And there was lots of painting. We used everything from forks and cotton swabs to marbles and aluminum foil. There are millions of ideas available on Pinterest and other corners of the internet. Just pick a couple to start with, and then mix it up every week or so. What works one week may not be your child’s favorite the next. And that's okay! Pick something new and move forward! Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- Homeschooling: Finding the Answer to Your "Why?"
Whether you are new to homeschooling or have been in the game for a while, there is one question that you will be asked repeatedly. “Why do you homeschool?” This is usually followed by rapid-fire follow-up questions like, “Are you going to send them to public school when they reach high school?” and the ever-popular, “What about socialization?” In the beginning, when I was really new to homeschooling, I would become flustered with these types of questions, and my words would seem to get lost. Around year three, I would become annoyed and answer with a simple “Because it’s great.” Now that we’re almost ten years in, I am typically more even-tempered and prepared in my responses. Sometimes it’s tough to answer these personal questions patiently and thoughtfully. After all, this is your family’s decision - what does it matter to anyone else? The truth is, it actually matters a lot. Whether you like it or not, you and your child(ren) are now the face of homeschooling for those that know your family. Friends, family, neighbors, and the like are now watching to see what this homeschooling business is all about. You can bet there will be judgments, impromptu quizzes, and questions being asked that you don’t know the answers to yet. But, if you know your “why”, the questions no longer matter. Your purpose and your reasons are enough. Our oldest daughter was just a couple days shy of meeting the mandatory birthday cutoff to start kindergarten in 2014. Out of frustration, I said to my husband “I’ll just homeschool her.” I had no clue how to homeschool, or what the laws for my state were. I didn't even know anyone who homeschooled. Thank goodness for the internet! I researched everything! I looked up the laws for my state, which are actually pretty conducive to homeschooling. I searched for local homeschool groups on Facebook and asked a ton of questions. I looked at different curriculums and scoured Pinterest for hours. There was just so much to know! And then, I became overwhelmed. The negative thoughts started running through my head. “Can I really do this?” “What if my child doesn’t learn anything or gets behind?” So I put the whole thing on the back burner. A couple of days later I was playing outside with my daughter. She was helping me pull weeds from the garden bed and enjoyed showing me all of the rocks she found. As I worked, we talked about the rocks' shapes and colors, how the word rock starts with the letter R, and the sound the letter R makes. She then said, “What else starts with R, Momma?” I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at her little face. I’d been teaching her the whole time I was pulling weeds from the dirt. She was learning and wanted to know more. Of course, I could do this! It was what we had already been doing since she was born, teaching. That evening I looked around our house for things that began with the letter R. I found a roll of red ribbon that we could use for measuring. I found a page in a coloring book of a little girl reading that my daughter had yet to color. And of course, the rocks she found outside. We were getting somewhere! The next day we visited our local dollar store and picked up a writing tablet. On one page I wrote the letters of the alphabet and on another, I wrote numbers. I then had my daughter trace over them. That’s it. That is how our homeschool journey began. No fancy curriculums. No stress for either of us. Just fun playing and learning, together. I am proud to say that she is now in the eighth grade and we still homeschool. She is currently working on her Silver Award in Girl Scouts, she’s in a competitive homeschool robotics group and has several close friends. When people say, “You’re homeschooled?” She very proudly says “Yep, and it’s awesome!” Our list of reasons why we homeschool is probably a mile long by now. But, at the top of the list, always, is “To do what is best for our child, as a student and as an individual.” There may come a time when homeschooling is not what our children need. Or maybe one child will later thrive in a school environment, while the other continues to thrive at home. We'll see what happens. So, what is your “why”? What is it that you and your family hope to gain from homeschooling? What tangible goals can you set for your child’s homeschool year? Maybe your child needs more than a couple of weeks to thoroughly understand a topic of study. Maybe you have a desire to incorporate your religion into your school day. Maybe the violence in schools keeps you up at night and you just want to keep your baby safe. Whatever your reasons, you decide what is best for your child and your family. When we know in our heart our “why” the answer comes quickly. If you have been thinking about homeschooling and the doubts have held you back, please know that YOU CAN DO THIS. No one knows your child, loves your child and understands your child better than you. If you start a curriculum and you both hate it, change it. Even if you have only worked a few pages of the book - switch things up. The beauty of homeschooling is the flexibility of what, when, where, and how you teach. There are so many resources available to help you not only get started but to help you along your journey. It’s very common to feel overwhelmed, but the majority of homeschool communities are willing to answer any questions and help lead you in the right direction. You can also reach out to me here and I will do my best to help. Just know your “why” and the rest will fall into place. Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- Welcome to The Azalea Homestead!
Hey there! We are so happy you found your way here. My name is Brianne. I am a wife, mother, social worker, and now… blogger and content creator. Where We Came From For 13 years, my husband and I made our little 1200-square-foot starter house a home. During our time there, we welcomed our daughters, I went to college, and we lived on one very modest income. Through a lot of trial and error, I was able to find ways to save money, create homemade recipes we enjoyed, and make our house into a home. Where We Have Been In 2019, we both worked full-time, we homeschooled, and our girls were in many extracurricular activities. Like many of us, when Covid-19 hit, almost everything stopped. Because of my field, I still needed to be in-person and my husband began working from home. During this time we were able to evaluate and rediscover what it was we truly wanted for our family. Being busy, stressed, and overworked were not the things we were striving for, yet there we were - completely burned out. By the end of 2020, we were both able to find new jobs that offered a better work/life balance. We were able to breathe. We were able to spend more quality time with our girls and each other. It was a new start. Where We Are Now In 2021 we were blown away by the housing market and finally had an opportunity to buy a house with a 4th bedroom. Did anyone else suddenly need a home office in 2020? As first-time home buyers all those years ago, we didn’t know what we didn’t know. After spending so many years in our first home, the list of what we wanted and needed in our next one became very clear. Not just in terms of space, but what we’d hoped to use the space for. My husband needed a separate room for a home office and hoped for a garage he could tinker around in. Our previous backyard had a large slope, so I wanted a yard the girls (and dogs) could actually play in. I hoped for a kitchen that offered enough space for both me and the girls to be able to work together in. Thankfully, it all worked out. Now that we had the space we needed and we could relax a bit, I knew it was time to get back to the simpler things. To me, that meant cooking at home more, learning new life skills, and focusing on our time being well spent. We have had to learn to say “No” to taking on things that aren’t a necessity or don’t add substantial value to ourselves and our family. Where We Are Going This past year, I finally got up the courage to do two things that I have always wanted to try: Canning and Gardening. I always found them both to be so intimidating and they required so much research to do properly. I am a “jump in with both feet” kind of person, so reading how-to books for hours on end did not seem appealing to me. So I knew I had to start small. I read a few books, I watched A LOT of YouTube and leaned on those who knew those worlds. The learning process and the trial and error were indeed tedious, but so worth it. The simple act of planting a few seeds just to see what happens and watching that turn into food for my family had me hooked. As this was my first year I had a lot of failures. All of my tomato plants died. All seven of them. But I was able to get quite a few zucchini and peppers. So, not bad for someone who knew very little about it all. My lessons in canning were more successful. I started with something pretty easy, beans. Worked out great. Next up, a mixed berry jam. Delicious! I was feeling great, so I made a pizza sauce that turned out fantastic. My confidence grew and I was ready to can all of the things! I went back to one of my local farmers’ markets and purchased a 30-pound box of big slicer tomatoes. I was going to make so much spaghetti sauce - I was pumped and ready to go! I followed the recipe in my Ball cookbook and everything was going as planned. But then I noticed my sauce was not as pretty as it was when I made the pizza sauce. What had I done wrong?! Those of you who are not beginners already know. The tomatoes. I used different tomatoes. The pizza sauce had beautiful Roma tomatoes. My spaghetti sauce, on the other hand, had a much more watery variety. Fortunately, I learned a couple of tricks to help it get to the consistency I wanted. So here we are, still learning. Where I Hope To Be I get a lot of inspiration from some of my favorite YouTubers. One day I thought, “What a blessing it is for those ‘YouTube Moms’ to have documentation of their recipes and gardening experience for their children”. It really made me think about the recent passing of my own mom. I hope for this blog to serve as a tangible collection of my favorite recipes and gardening ramblings for my girls. Thanks for coming over! Did you know that we have a newsletter? It features some of our favorite recipes and free printables that are only available to our subscribers! And don’t worry, we hate spam mail and value your time. You’ll receive an initial thank you email, and our newsletter is delivered monthly. You can help our small family business by sharing us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Click here to sign up for our newsletter today!
- Homemade Peach Extract
Homemade extracts are easy to make yourself and are a simple way to add a layer of flavoring that can't be found in store-bought products. Try using this homemade peach extract in my Peach Butter Waffles recipe! Be sure to pin this post to refer back to it later! Ingredients 4 peaches, chopped 16 ounces Vodka (80 proof) Pint jar with secure lid Directions Combine peaches with vodka in jar. Secure lid and shake vigorously for approximately 1-2 minutes. Place jar in a cool, dark cabinet. Shake jar vigorously at least 3-4 times per week for 6 weeks. At 6 weeks, pour mixture through a wire mesh strainer and discard peach bits. Add a new batch of fresh peaches to vodka. Secure lid and shake vigorouusly for approximately 1-2 minutes. Place jar back into cool, dark cabinet. Shake jar at least 3-4 times per week for an additional 6 weeks. At the end of the 12 week period, pour mixture through a wire mesh strainer and discard peach pits. Return liquid to jar and securely seal. Use in baking requiring flavored extract.