It's the Little Things

 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Dicky Bird's Bananna Rhubarb Muffins

 I have been baking and saving rhubarb for decades...ahahha...but, I was today years old when I discovered this on pinterest:  

I added a (4 serving) box of sugar free jello (you could use regular) to my diced rhubarb.  Now, I normally don't add this type of thing to my food - I don't like artificial sweeteners - but, to cut back on sugar - well like all the sugar, I gave it a try.  You could use any flavor - I picked black cherry.  

I let my rhubarb and jello sit in a container over night to bake with it the next day.  Here is one of the recipes I made up.  I started with a simple banana muffin type batter.  

1/2 stick soft butter

3/4 C brown sugar; cream together

add 2 eggs

2-3 cut up bananans; blend well

add 2 1/2 C flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder, blend well

stir in your jello rhubarb (mine was 1 huge stalk - if you like it more rhubarbish add more).  

If your batter is too thin - add a bit more flour; if too thick - add a splash or 2 of milk.  Spoon into muffin cups/tin.  I added a crumb mixture on top:  melted butter, brown sugar, oatmeal and a bit of cinnamon.  Bake 375 till done.  

Super moist and tasty.  

I like to experiment and make up my own recipes.  I guess you all know that after all these years.  Don't be afraid of not having a recipe, the more you experiment with cooking/baking, the more you'll like coming up with your own creations.  Sometimes Al will say, "that's a good one, make sure to write it down" as sometimes I can't remember how I made it.  That's why I blog these things...ahahah.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Waste Not Wednesday - Bone Broth and Croutons

 Any stale or old bread usually will get fed to the chickens, however sometimes I make croutons.  Easiest, thing to do, with something you would just toss.  Just cube up your bread, this could be any type, drizzle with an oil and season with your favorite herbs and spices.  Put in a 350 oven until you can smell them and they are toasted.  So easy, so good!

Another thing I do is save bones and carcasses.  I know that sounds funny, but instead of tossing out the chicken carcass, the beef roast or ham bone, I bag them and freeze them.  When I have enough to fill my pressure cooker, I'll make some bone broth.  I also am happy that last year I did this:  Harvesting Herbs I plan to do this again this year.  I also add anything in my refrigerator that is less than fresh...this time it was mushrooms.  Fill with water.  

Liquid gold .... so easy to do!  I thought everyone did this, because growing up, my mom did this.  I just thought it was what you were supposed to do.  Little did I know....now it's a "thing."  My parents were little during the depression, they had so many things they did out of necessity that have now become trendy.  I use my T-Fal Calipso, Infusion Pressure Cooker - it was the "intapot" of the 1990's.  It is a valuable part of my cookware, that I wouldn't want to be without.

Next time you have some "less than" fresh food item or something you may toss, I hope you think of this post and try to use it.  Do you do something like this?  If so, what is it?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Hard Working Husband

 We had some big pines too close to the driveway.  Al cut them down a month or so ago and now he removed the stumps.  It wasn't easy...

I can't believe how much more light we have coming into our yard now.  Don't worry, we will use the wood - so not all is lost.  Our apple trees across the driveway already are loving more sun.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Creamy Asparagus Soup

 I didn't call it - cream of asparagus, rather creamy asparagus - no heavy cream needed.  I was hungry for some creamy soup.  I started with the asparagus as we have had plenty to eat.  I added some purple potatoes that were given me in a tribal elderly food box, some fresh herbs, a bag of my frozen bone broth, and to make it creamy I blended a can of cannellini beans with the broth and cooked asparagus.  That little tip, added protein, fiber and not the fat.  I did add a splash of cream only to make it "pretty" for the picture.  This soup was so good!  

(chives, oregeno, sage)

(I "fished" out the potatoes before using the immmersion blender - then added them back)

I felt a bit "better" about having seconds because the soup didn't have the added fat - wink, wink.  I am going to keep this adding a can of beans tip in mind when I make my next "cream of" soup to cut the fat and add the fiber.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Some Good News - Gramma Bird

 I'm happy to announce that we have a new family member!  Our daughter and son-in-law were matched with a birth mother last fall.  It was the hardest secret I have ever had to keep.  I didn't tell anyone really other than my sister Bonnie because I wanted her to knit him a sweater set.  She would need time to knit it.  And it is adorable!  

I will honor my children's wishes and NOT be the Gramma Bird who posts pictures of their children, they do NOT want that.   As much as I like to share....I won't.  

I have been asked many questions about both of my grands and "their" adoption stories.  People ask the most intrusive questions I swear!  Anyway, I just say, "it's not my story to tell."  It isn't!  Those stories belong to Lauren and Ezra, should they want to share information about it later in life, well, that will be up to them.  

For now, just now I am thankful for "their" adoption story and every step that it took till I could walk with them too.  Each has so many people that love them - biological family too.  I hope one day to meet some of them.  Until then, I will continue to lift them up in prayer as I have for the past several years - long before there was a Lauren or Ezra.   

Ezra is an adorable, happy baby.  He is just the cutest!  He has a full head of hair, big brown eyes, and when he smiles, he lights up the room.  I can't wait until we can get into some trouble....ahaha!

I never said I wouldn't share pictures of hands and feet. 

Thank you all who have supported Anna and Jon when you purchased dish towels, lunch, baked goods, items for sale for the past 2-3 years at the events we set up.  Oh, and all the prayers!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.