Yuck!

That is how I feel! I have spent the night and morning with my head in the toilet (sorry for the description). Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better...

Vodka Please!

Kimball: I am at the liquor store. What kind of Vodka do you want?
Shay: Uh, regular!
Kimball: There is no "regular". The wall is full of Vodka. Potato, wheat, all kinds of grains.
Shay: Uh, potato? I don't know!

That was mine and Kimball's conversation Saturday when I sent him to the state liquor store (Don't worry family. We have not started drinking). You see, I found a recipe to make my own vanilla extract. I had know idea real extract had alcohol in it (not your imitation stuff. Check your labels). Anyway, Kimball bought me wheat and potato vodka and I am using the wheat vodka now (I liked the bottle better). Three months from now it will be ready...

Vanilla Extract

6 Vanilla Beans (They smell soooo good!)
750 mL Vodka

-Split vanilla beans in half lengthwise.
-Pour out few ounces of vodka from the bottle to make room for the vanilla beans.
-Place split vanilla beans in the bottle with vodka and secure lid.
-Store in cool, dark place, shake occasionally, for two or more months.
-When vanilla extract is ready, it will have a deep caramel color and smell delicious.

Recipe found here:



Vodka picture is some random picture from the internet

Link up here:
Moms crazy cooking
Today's creative blog
The Thrifty Home

"You look like a nap"

That is what Kimball said to me when he came home yesterday. I just laughed because I had just woke up from a nap. If I can get my kids to nap at the same time I usually nap with them. His comment made me think of when your sleeping and the phone rings, and you try to sound like you haven't been sleeping. We've all done it...

This is a really cute video about love

Bottling Peaches with Honey

Ok, so I don't have a recipe. I pealed and sliced about 8 quarts of peaches and put them in a big bowl. Then I added around 3 cups of honey (taste your mixture and add more if needed) and I stirred everything together and let sit. Then I filled up my quart jars and made sure that the peach juice filled up the jars as well. The last jars I had a hard time getting enough juice. It think if I had added a little more honey I would have had more juice. I processed them for 25 minutes. I am trying more today and hopefully they turn out as well...

Delicious Pancakes

I grew up eating Bisquick. I still love it, but I don't use it very often (except when I'm pregnant, I crave "yellow" waffles). This is a really delicious pancake recipe. It is a Fanny Farmer recipe (She published a cookbook in 1896 and introduced the concept of using standardized measuring spoons and cups.) Anyway, when I make it I use honey and whole wheat flour. When I make it for Dieter I have to replace ingredients with almond milk, rice flour, coconut oil, and baking soda...


1 cup milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp melted butter
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder

Homemade Ketchup

Dieter can't have store bought ketchup because of the corn syrup, so I made my own. I was surprised how good it was! After having it, I will have a hard time using "regular" ketchup. I multiplied my recipe by 24 because I wanted to bottle it.

Ketchup

2 lbs Tomatoes, roughly chopped
1/2 cup White Vinegar
1 Onion, chopped
1 Clove of Garlic, crushed
1/4 cup Honey
4 whole Cloves
1 Bay Leaf
1 Cinnamon Stick
1/4 tsp Celery Seeds
1/4 Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 tsp whole Allspice
1 Anaheim Chile, chopped (optional)
1 1/2 tsp Salt

- In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, cloves, bay leaf, cinnamon, celery seeds, red pepper, and allspice. Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.
- In a large skillet or wok, combine all remaining ingredients except honey. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until onions and chilies are very soft, about 40 minutes.
- Strain the vinegar mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and add the infused vinegar to the tomatoes and stir.
- Puree the tomato sauce in a blender until smooth. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer and return sauce to the skillet.
- Continue heating until the sauce is at a desired thickness, about 2 hours.
- When near completion, add the honey and stir until fully incorporated.
- Taste and adjust salt, honey, and vinegar as desired.


I need a new camera to take better pictures :)



Recipe found in the Internal Bliss cookbook



Linking up here:
Just a girl
Chef in training
Hope Studios
Todays Creative Blog
Sugar Bee Crafts
A Bowl Full of Lemons
The Thrifty Home
We are that family
The Diaper Diaries
Lovely Crafty Home
Fun to Craft

Dehydrated Almonds

Almonds are one of Dieter's favorite snacks (They're the only nut he can have). They are easier to digest if you have soaked them 12-24 hours before. I found a recipe in my Excalibur book for Honeyed Nuts. Dieter loves them! He has about eaten them all!

1 cup Almonds (You could do any nut. Soak them 12 -24 hours before.)
1/2 tsp Coconut oil
1 tsp Honey
Dash Sea Salt
Pinch of Cinnamon

Mix honey, coconut, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
Mix in nuts (Taste mixture. Add more honey/cinnamon if needed)
Dehydrate at 145 until crisp



And I found this picture on my mom's computer over the weekend. It made me smile! It was taken before we were married, so about 6 years ago. Kimball looks so young!



Linking up here:
Ask Anna
Keeping it Simple