Holiday

Can't Sleep

At 11:40 PM last night I had nothing to do and figured since I can’t sleep, why not make some bread pudding with the loaf of Italian bread I had sitting on the counter, while everyone else in the house is sound asleep, including the four legged critters.

I grabbed a few items from the refrigerator and pantry, and threw it all together in a bowl, and made the following recipe:

 

 

My Bread Pudding

1 loaf of bread (Italian or French)

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

3 cups regular milk

2 tablespoons of melted butter

1/2 cup Craisins

3 beaten eggs

½ cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Rip (tear) your entire loaf of bread into good bite-size pieces and place them in a 9x13 size pan. In a separate bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk, regular milk, melted butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. In another bowl beat three eggs, then pour the beaten eggs into the bowl with all the other ingredients, add the Craisins and mix well.  Slowly pour the entire mixture over the bread pieces in the 9x13 pan.  With your hands, mix the bread and liquid together.  Make sure every piece of this bread is coated and wet.  Cover the pan with tin foil and bake for 25 minutes.  Remove tin foil and return to oven to bake another 20 – 25 minutes.  The pudding is done when you touch the center with a finger or spatula bounces back.

Bulldog Man rates this recipe with 4 paws.  Bulldog Man even enjoys this in his bowl first thing in the morning.

Best Cookies Ever - Updates

Before leaving to Texas to help with my Dad this past visit, I made one of his favorite cookies.  A cookie his father used to make him as a kid.   If you like butter cookies, this recipe is to out of this world.

Butter Cookies

¾ cup sugar

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

¼ teaspoon salt

1 large egg yolk
2 cups all purpose flour

 Directions

Beat butter, sugar, salt and vanilla together until creamy.  Mix in egg yolk.  Add flour and mix until incorporated, scrape down the sides of bowl.  Place entire cookie mix onto wax paper and roll cookie mix into a log.  Wrap into wax paper, then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or so.  Remove from refrigerator and cut into same size pieces, place each cut cookie onto a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees.  Bake until edges turn golden and remove from pan to cool on cookie racks. 

 

**Bulldog Man rates these cookies with 4 paws.

 

Source: Food.com

 

*****

Updates to the celery and parsnip ends placed in water.

 

Celery bottoms in water (beginning)

 

 

Celery after a couple of weeks in water

 

 

Parsnip tops placed in water (beginning)

 

Parsnip tops later placed in cans with potting soil, doing well

 

Gardening for all of us is just around the corner, that is, once the weather decides to cooperate.  Every one of us is biting at the bit to get outside and start planting.  Are you ready?

****Liebster Award*****

I've had the high honor of being nominated for the Liebster Award from Mamma Bear at Challenged Survival.

The Basic Guidelines:
Nominate 5 blogs with less than 300 followers
Share 5 random facts
Answer 5 questions
Think of 5 new questions for those you nominate.

My Nominations in no particular order:

 Kymber at *Framboise Manor*

Mike at --- Living Prepared ---

Kimberly at camp and cottage living

Kelly at Happy Hollow Homestead

Carolyn at Krazo Acres

5 Random Facts:
1   God and Family are my priorities in life.
2.  I live my life to its fullest every day.

3.  Proud American and Patriot.

4.  I take pride in homesteading and learning to be more self-reliant.

5.  I love cooking and trying new recipes.

5 Questions Answered:
1. If you could invent a vaccine for any one disease that would not harm           anyone, what would it be? (A vaccine to cure all cancers)
2. What is the most favorite object inside your home? (Seeds)
3. What is your favorite food? (Baked Root Vegetables)
4. Will you be able to grow most of your food if you could not go shopping? (Almost)
5. What is your best talent? (I listen to people)

5 New Questions:

1.    If you could change one thing in your life what would that be?

2.    If you were stranded on an island what would be the one thing you would want to have with you?

3.    Have you ever just done something without really putting any thought into it?

4.    Have you started planting your garden yet?

5.    Is there one book that you’ve read that you would recommend to other to read?  If so, what is it?

Surprise Me

Last week was extremely busy and stressful.  Today, I’m going to have a little fun.  I’ve placed a picture below. Can you identify the object in this picture?  If you think you have the correct answer, identify the item in the comment field below and use your answer in a sentence. 

Be the first to identify the item correctly and create a sentence that will make me laugh, and you will win a Husky 2 piece Titanium Scissors Set. These scissors have an ergonomic soft-grip handle for comfort and durability.  These scissors cut paper, wire, rope, plants, and other heavy-duty materials.  Stainless steel blades with titanium coating and cutting edge which stays sharper longer.  These scissors are durable and corrosion resistant.

I'm Back - Thank You- Give-Away, I Won

Instead of responding to individual posts, I decided to post an overall thank you to all of my Blogger friends. Thank you from the bottom of my heart; for being supportive and praying for my Dad and family while he fights metastatic carcinoma.  Dad has finished all radiation treatments on his brain and back; now he will be going through chemotherapy for his esophagus.  The oncologist is extremely pleased with Dad’s progress, and he informed Dad of a new cancer study starting tomorrow he may qualify to take part in.    Being a part of a new cancer study has perked my Dad up because not only is he helping himself, using Dad as a test subject it also helps others with the opportunity of a new drug toward curing cancer.

*****

Nice Heavy Duty Metal Case

 

Inside First Aid Kit

 

Additional First Aid Supplies

I’m very excited and happy to say, “Thank You” to Michele at Mystic Mud for the large first aid kit I recently won from her give-away.  When I returned home from Texas, there was a package waiting for me.  I opened this package to find this big beautiful first aid kit.  I have the perfect place in my kitchen to hang it on the wall.  If you haven’t checked out the blog Mystic Mud, you should drop on by and read about their homestead on the top of a mountain, and the lessons they’ve learned on their way to being self reliant.

*****

New members will be formally welcomed on my next post.  Thank you for being patient.

 

 

Apologies - Update

The week has been busy and it's not over yet.  I apologize for not having time to respond to everyone's posts and e-mails.  After I return home, I will thank everyone for their prayers and kinds words.  I will also welcome new Blogger friends to my blog. 

On a positive note, Dad finished radiation, and now we're scheduling chemotherapy.  Tomorrow we meet with the lead onocologist to find out the next steps needed to work towards a recovery.



Pic: Flicker.com

Prayer Request

This week, I will be heading to Texas to help take care of my Dad, and get him to and from his radiation and chemo treatments. A while back, I typed a post about Dad having surgery on some of the vertebrae on his back.  After the surgery, he started radiation. When initially diagnosed with Metastatic Cancer in his lower vertebrae, doctors were not able to pinpoint the origin of his cancer.    Even through CAT scans and MRI’s, there was no origin identified.  Finally, doctors requested an upper GI series, at which point the origin was identified.  The origin turned out to be a tumor in the lower-third of his esophagus.   Doctors stretched my Dad’s esophagus, to make it easier for him to get food and liquids in his stomach.  On Tuesday, he will finish his radiation, then start going for chemo.  The chemo treatments will be in-depth to reduce the size of the tumor and kill it off. 

If and when I have down time this week, I will try to read and comment on all of your posts and try to answer your comments. 

I have just one request from my friends; please keep my Dad in your prayers.  He is strong, wants to fight this cancer, kick its butt, and live life to its fullest.

 

Lip Balm

It doesn’t matter whether it’s winter or not, I still get dried, chapped lips.  Instead of buying Chapstick at CVS or the grocery store, I decided; why not give it a shot and try to make some myself.  I have all the natural ingredients on hand in my kitchen pantry.  The one and only thing I didn’t have were some plastic lip balm tubes.  No problem, the last time I went into town, I stopped at the Natural Grocery and picked a few up.  Now you can get these tubes over the internet for approximately 20 cents each, and save on the price but in the end, you still have to pay for shipping.  Picking up the tubes at Natural Grocery cost me 75 cents each, and I bought 6.  A little pricey, but I figured my lips were worth the cost, lol….

Before starting, make sure to wash out the plastic tubes and set them off the side to dry.

Ingredients needed to make this Orange Lip Balm are:

Tubes for Lip Balm

1 Tablespoon Cocoa Butter

2 Tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of Beeswax (shredded)

12 drops of Orange essential oil

Ingredients placed in glass measuring cup
ready to place in microwave

 

Ingredients melted and mixed together,
then poured into tubes 

Place all ingredients except the essential oil in a pot or microwave bowl, heat and melt at the same time stirring constantly. If cooking on the stove, turn your burner on medium and stir constantly.  If using the microwave, start at 60 seconds check to see if melted, if not add 60 more seconds.  Continue this process until all the butters/oils are melted.  Make sure to stir every 60 seconds. 

When butter/oils are completely melted, add the essential oil and pour into your containers.  Leave containers open over night to cool and solidify.  The next day you’ll have yourself homemade lip balm.

Final product :-)

 

 

** Recipe is from Mountain Rose Herbs

 

 

******Winner Announced******

 
A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Mamma Bear!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mamma Bear was selected the winner of the Real Tree AP, Men’s Vest.

 

 The winner has been notified and has until Thursday,

March14^th, to  respond to me with a mailing address.

If the winner does not respond by

 March 14th; I will have no choice

but to select another winner.

 

Mamma Bear please e-mail me with your mailing address.

 

My E-mail is: SandyLivesay@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clip Art Source:forums.ildivo.com

Update on seeds - Last Day To Register For Give-Away

Update pictures on seeds growing in the greenhouse.

All kinds of heirloom tomatoes

Luffa

Broccoli, beets, parsnips, and herbs

 

One of several strawberry plants, along with jalapeno's

*****

Today is the last day to register for the Real Tree Vest give-away.  Go here to register.

Join-Welcome-Thank You-My Give - Away- The Give-Away I Won-Salad

 

I would like to start my post today by welcoming a new blogger to my blog. Welcome texlahoma at Bluebeerriver blog. Thank you for joining my blog, please sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

*****
Just a reminder:        REALTREE AP, MEN’S VEST

Give – Away

 

Reversible Camo Vest

One side for wind

One side for rain

Men, Size XL

Go here and leave a comment to register for this give-away.  Friday, March 8th is the last day to register, don’t miss out!!!!

 

*****

Mystic Mud sponsored a give-away for a First Aid kit.  I learned this morning my name was drawn as the winner in her give-away.  I’m so happy I won this First Aid kit; I needed one for my kitchen.     

*****
Tonight, I prepared an easy meal, salad!  I couldn’t help myself, I added goat cheese, cranberries, orange pieces, raspberries, pancetta, carrots, lettuce, and topped the salad off with balsamic vinaigrette. 

 

What’s cooking or not cooking at your place?

 

 

 

 

 

World Pic Source: AllFreeDownLoad.com

Blanching Broccoli

I found a great deal on a 3 pound bag of broccoli florets and didn’t want it to go to waste.  I decided to blanch the florets for future meals.

3 pounds of Broccoli Florets remove from bag and wash

 

Throw florets into boiling water for 3 minutes only

Remove florets and immediately throw them in a bowl
of ice water to stop the florets from cooking

Remove from ice water and dry excess water off of florets

Lettuce spinner helps to remove water off of florets

Excess water removed

Place florets on towel to help get rid of remaining water

Seal florets in Food Saver bags, then place in freezer
**note if Food Saving broccoli, you may have to dry out seal tray
several times.  The machine sucks out any extra water from bag
before sealing.

I know you would do the same if you came across a deal………….right?