Squash Pickles

Homemade Squash Pickles

 

*This has became one of my favorite summer time snacks!

 

Ingredients:

 

 

3 small yellow summer squash, thinly sliced

 

1 medium union (chopped) I used a red onion because that's my favorite but you can use any kind of onion you prefer.

 

1 large sweet red or orange bell pepper (not green!)

 

1 TBS salt

 

1 cup sugar

 

3/4 cup white vinegar

 

3/4 teaspoon mustard seed

 

3/4 teaspoon celery seed

 

1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

 

Directions:

 

In a large bowl, combine squash, onion, bell pepper, and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. (I usually let them chill in the fridge over night)

 

Drain the veggie mixture after getting it out of the fridge.

 

In a large pot, combine remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil.

 

Once your sugar and spice mixture is boiling, add in the squash and return to a boil. Then remove from heat.

 

Store in an airtight container refrigerator. (I can mine in pint sized mason jars.)

 

Let them sit a few days before eating them, as they sit, the squash will become more flavorful after sitting in the juice.

 

Then you're all done!! 

Homemade Butter

Homemade Butter

 

You Will Need:

1 carton (any size) of heavy whipping cream

(photo shown below)

 

Pour carton of heavy cream into large mixing bowl

 

With a hand mixer (or stand mixer if you have one) begin to beat the cream on medium speed. After beating for approximately 6 or 8 minutes the cream will start to "separate". This is normal. (photo shown below, about halfway through the process)

 

Continue to beat until mixture has separated and the solid portion becomes thick. (This can get a little messy. It splatters once the liquid starts to accumulate.)

 

Once you finish beating, scoop out the solid portion and strain through a mesh strainer to insure you remove as much liquid as possible. The solid part is your pure, fresh homemade butter! You can season it any way you like such as salt. This is what your butter will look like.

 

Store your fresh butter in a container in the refrigerator.

The liquid portion that is leftover is fresh buttermilk! You can freeze the fresh buttermilk and use in numerous recipes such as biscuits or pancakes!

This is what your buttermilk will look like. If you are not planning to use it right away you can freeze it for later use.

 

And there you have it! Homemade fresh butter and buttermilk!

 

Enjoy!





Made From Scratch Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread

 

 

Ingredients:

 

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 teaspoons baking soda

3 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs, beaten

1/3 cup water

2 cups grated zucchini

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans OR raisins (optional)

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, cinnamon, and sugar.

 

In a separate bowl, combine oil, eggs, water, zucchini, and lemon juice.

 

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients, add nuts or raisins and fold in. (If you chose to add nuts or raisins)

 

Divide batter into two standard size loaf pans, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

 

ENJOY!

 

 



Homemade Playdough

Homemade Playdough

 

What You Will Need:

1-2 Packets of Kool-Aid (I used 2)

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

2 tablespoons Cream of Tartar

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup boiling water

 

Here's What To Do:

 

In a large bowl add all dry ingredients (salt, flour, cream of tartar, and Kool-Aid).

 

Add oil and boiling water to the mixture and mix with a large spoon until it becomes very firm.

 

After a few minute of stirring it should then be cool enough to handle.

 

Lay dough out of wax paper and "knead" it a little. If it feels too sticky just add a little more flour.

 

This is super easy AND kid-friendly and it isn't messy! My children love it and I hope yours will too!!!

 

Homemade Flubber

Homemade Flubber

 

What you will need:

1/2 cup white Elmer's Glue

2/3 cup water

food coloring (any color)

1 teaspoon Borax

2 glass bowls

 

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix together glue, 1/3 cup of water, and food coloring

 

In another bowl, mix Borax with 1/3 cup warm water

 

Pour glue mixture into the bowl with the Borax mixture and stir gently.

It will be wet at first but will set within just a few minutes.

HAVE FUN!! 



Daily Devotional

Daily Devotional

Thursday, May 16, 2013

 

 

This is sort of a devotional and a testimony all in one. I hope someone will be inspired today!

 

"Keeping The Faith"

 

** So I was awake for quite a bit of the night. I played games on my phone, watched television, you know the usual things for an insomniac. Then while I was sitting there in the silence the thought came to my mind that in the stillness of the night, it would be a good time to pray. As I prayed these two verses came to my mind:

 

Hebrews 11:1-- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
and

Hebrews 11:6-- But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. **

 

 So, what I have gathered of this must be God testing my faith. He's giving me bits and pieces of the vision of my life but He also wants me have faith and trust Him that He will bring everything together in my favor. This is about control. I need to get in GOD'S WILL and out of His way and let HIM work. Also, I MUST seek Him and seek His face and let the ministry fall into place at the right time.

*Daily Devotional*

*Daily Devotional*

"Waiting On The Lord"

 

 

† I was practicing some songs earlier and as I was singing I began to pray and ask the Lord for a certain thing, something I've been wanting and praying about for a long time. The Lord answered me immediately and this was His response to me:

*Matthew 6:33- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.*

I thank Him for His infinite wisdom. I thank Him for His still small voice. I'm thankful for His promises. He is teaching me today to seek Him FIRST, to get into His word, to embrace His will for my life, and to be patient and don't force things to happen. Let them happen in God's perfect timing. †