Where The Heck Has The Time Gone?

Hi friends! It has been a few months since I have posted on my main blog. I have been mainly sticking with the Facebook page. I am going to go back to posting more frequently on this one as well. So thanks for sticking with me! Hope you come back and check in often.

Green Tea Sugar Scrub DIY

I love taking hot soothing baths. Making these wonderful body scrubs? Help with rough skin and dry patches on the skin and smell great as well. They are incredibly easy to make and take little to no time to put together, Try it! I think you will like it.




Green Tea Cucumber Sugar Body Scrub

Prepping Your Garden For Winter

I know it's always a sad day for me when I have to put my gardening stuff away and prepare for Winter. But? Getting the garden ready for next years crop is just as important as planting in Spring.



Preparing Your Garden For Winter

Harvesting Your Garden-DIY

I didn't have much luck with some of my garden veggies this year. We didn't have the usual rain fall here in Ohio and it stunted the growth. Anyway....Fall is around the corner so get your garden gloves on and get ready! :)

Harvesting Your Garden- How and When

Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) Recipe

My incredibly gifted daughter made some awesome Onigiri for us today. They are a traditional Japanese Rice Ball that usually has something wonderful inside of it. She put some  crab in ours this afternoon. She loves all things Japanese and is also a huge Anime fan. Add some Soy Sauce and some chopsticks? And you have a great feast! It makes me happy to see my daughter follow in my culinary footsteps. She loves to cook as much as I do.


Onigiri Recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting Recipe

I will admit it. I am one of those people that lick the spoon! I love cookie dough (yes to all of the haters I know there are eggs in it. Geesh). So when I saw this recipe I was beyond happy about it. How great would this be on some dark chocolate Brownies or a scrumptious cake?


Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting Recipe

Well I am back. Sorry I have been gone so long! :)

Sorry for the delay friends. I had some family issues that I was taking care of. But I am home now and all is well. So lets get started with some more Canning awesomeness!

Here is a list of some wonderful recipes for Jam and Jelly. I have always loved to make these. For those who may be a little intimidated with canning or cooking in general? Start with these. You will be pleasantly surprised how easy and flavorful these are! If you would like to cut back on the sugar or make them sugar free? That is fine as well. I tend to use Splenda frequently in my recipes and I have never had any issues with it.

Jam and Jelly Recipes

DIY ~Easy Patriotic Luminaries

These are incredibly easy to make and awesome when they are done. Cute ideas for a 4th of July BBQ outside. :)

Patriotic Luminaries

DIY Reclaimed Wood American Flag

I use pallet wood for many things I make. If you are lucky enough to find some pallets? Throw them in the back of the truck or trunk and use them. They are awesome!

Reclaimed Wood American Flag

Happy Fourth of July! Let's Do Some Crafts Shall We?

I hope all of you have a very safe and happy celebration this weekend. I love decorating my home with things I have created myself. So with that thought in mind I thought I would post some ideas for some DIY 4th of July decorations.

Red White & Blue Mason Jars

DIY Canning Pie Filling- How Easy Is It?

I can pie filling all the time. It's a wonderful way to use up a bumper crop of fruit for warm Winter pies. So give it a try! :)

Canning Pie Filling- DIY

Blackened Seasoning Dry Mix w/Dried Herbs Recipe

This is a very simple and basic recipe. You can add some extra spices or herbs to it if you so wish? Or make it spicier with the addition of some dried chiles. Experiment! This is wonderful for grilling fish and chicken. I use it for Mahi Mahi Tacos and its awesome!


Blackened Spice Seasoning Recipe

Mahi Mahi Tacos w/Ginger Lime Dressing Recipe

Italian Dressing Dry Mix w/Dried Herbs Recipe

Italian dressing is great on a fresh Romaine Salad with Feta and tons of veggies from your garden. Why not make your very own Italian Dressing Mix using your dried herbs from the garden! I like to add freshly grated Parmesan to my dressing. This is a great dressing to use on sandwiches. The dried herbs can be used sprinkled on a pizza too! Just add oil and vinegar and you have a fantastic dressing that tastes out of this world.


Italian Dressing Dry Mix w/Dried Herbs Recipe

Poultry Seasoning Using Dried Herbs Recipe

This is a nice light and fresh seasoning to use with fish or chicken. You can use the dried herbs from your garden and make a wonderful meal full of flavor in no time!



Poultry Seasoning Using Dried Herbs Recipe

Building A Mason Jar Herb Wall- Video

I love Jars. I use them for so much. They are all over my house and I have collected vintage Mason Jars for years. This is a very rustic and wonderful idea!



DIY Mason Jar Herb Wall

Get Inspired! I Love These Simple Ideas!

Here are a few pics from around the web that I found this morning.

15 Ideas For Vertical Garden DIY-

Here are a few ideas to give you some inspiration for your vertical garden. They range in skill levels. Some look incredibly easy? Others may require a lot more know how. But? That's ok!


15 Ideas For Vertical Gardening- Video

DIY- Building A Vertical Pallet Planter

This is a really fantastic idea for those that do not have a lot of space in their backyards. Even a small apartment patio would be wonderful for these vertical pallet planters. Herbs? Do wonderful in these pallet boxes! You could use your imagination with paint or stains? Leave it rustic. You would have endless options. :)


Building A Vertical Pallet Planter- Video

DIY- Drying Herbs & Spices

Drying Herbs is a very simple and easy way to add fresh flavor to foods. Growing them yourself is also very easy. Great for beginning Gardeners and kids! Get some small pots to plant them in and set your Herbs on a sunny shelf in your kitchen. Planting them outdoors is a cinch as well.


Drying Herbs & Spices At Home

Stone Fruit Jam (Peaches, Nectarines, and Plum) Jam

Lovely fruits to use in a Jam. Wonderful on Bagels and toast. Even great when used as a base for BBQ sauce (I have done it before. Its awesome!). BBQ Sauce can be used on chicken, hamburgers, or grilled ham steaks! Yummy!

Stone Fruit Jam Recipe

Pickled Beets & Onion Recipe

I know. I know. You saw the word Beets and went 'Blech!". But trust me on this one. Homemade pickled Beets made with garden fresh Beets? Is wonderful. It has a light sweet taste to it and the natural earthy sweetness of Beets themselves. So give it a try. Really. You are going to be surprised how much you like these.


Pickled Beets & Onion Recipe

Achar-Pickled Asian Relish Recipe

This would be wonderful to have on a relish plate with a cool salad on a warm day.


Achar-Pickled Asian Relish Recipe

Sweet Refrigerator Pickles Recipe-

This basic sweet recipe can be used for many other vegetables as well. Beets...assorted veggies.....even green beans! I myself am not a fan of sweet pickles so I add red chile flakes to mine and fresh chopped Dill. Extra Garlic thrown in is awesome as well. I omit the sugar and increase the salt by another TBSP.  But this a great basic recipe and its easy. No canning needed. Just find a jar that will seal tightly? And throw in your fridge for a crispy cool treat from the garden. These are best after waiting for four or five days in my opinion. I usually make two jars worth so one is the one that eat gets eaten now? And the second is the one for later and tends to have a much deeper flavor because it has sat longer. These will last in your fridge for 2-3 months. Enjoy!

Sweet Refrigerator Pickles Recipe 

Strawberry Jam Iced Tea Recipe

I have used my preserves and canned items for many things...but this was a first for me. It sounds divine! The taste of sweet Strawberries with the refreshing properties of Iced Tea. This would be wonderful using Green Tea bags as well. Enjoy it! If you do make it? Come back and tell me how it was. I would love to hear about it!

Strawberry Jam Iced Tea Recipe

Dehydrating Fruits-DIY

I think dehydrating is another wonderful way to preserve! Plus its great for a snack when you don't want to have to pack ice or a cooler. Mix together with some homemade Granola? Divine!


Dehydrating Fruits-

Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam Recipe

This is going to be my next canning project! Made with real Vanilla bean and sweet strawberries? How could you go wrong? You can use Splenda as well if you do not want to use cane sugar. Or if your berries are sweet enough? Just get rid of sweeteners all together. You decided. Yummy stuff!

Strawberry Vanilla Bean Jam

Canning: Apple Pie Filling Recipe-

This is something that I do pretty much every year. When the apples are plentiful and Fall has finally made an appearance? There is nothing more relaxing than to peruse through a Farm Market or even pick your own Apples someplace. Those lovely Apples make wonderful filling and its so easy to open up a jar and pour it into a pie shell for dessert on a cold winter day. The smell of Apples and cinnamon is the best!


Canning Apple Pie Filling

Gingered Rosemary Pear Jam Recipe

This sounds divine!!! What a delicious way to use those sweet Summer Pears. This particular recipe calls for using the Ball Freezer Jars. Easy prep and easy preservation...you cant beat that! 

Rosemary Pear Jam Recipe

Beer Can Roast Beef Stuffed Burgers with Bacon Recipe

Yes...you read that right. Amazing right? No it isn't low calorie, heart friendly, vegan, or for the faint of heart. But damn.....it looks good. :)


Sliced Roast Beef Stuffed Burgers with Bacon- Video

Growing Chile's Tips and Tricks-

This is a very straight forward video on how to grow Chile's from seed. I don't normally do this. I buy the started plants. But? I have grown them from seed and it is very easy. A tip to growing Chile's in a pot once the plant has been established or you have purchased one? A darker color pot (black or dark colored) will keep the soil warmer. Chile's like that. Remember if you are growing anything in containers you will need to water them frequently or make sure the soil stays moist in a spot that can get the rain. I have even grown Chile's indoors by a sunny window to always have fresh peppers. Don't forget to stop by the Chileman's website (link below). Everything you have ever wanted to know about Chile's, growing Chile's, and using Chile's is on his site. Easy stuff. Good luck! 

Growing Chile's From Seed- Video

Growing Chile's Guide- Fantastic Website on Chile Peppers!

Sweet & Spicy Thai Chile Sauce Recipe- Video

This recipe is a very similar recipe to the Garlic Chile Sauce recipe but it has vinegar in it and will be water bath processed. You will be able to watch as she goes through the steps to process the jars and how you can do it. Sometimes it's much easier to get started when you can watch someone else first. So I hope this helps! Plus the recipe is yummy!


Sweet & Spicy Thai Chile Sauce

Garlic Chile Asian Hot Sauce Recipe

This is a recipe that would be closer to Sriracha than Tabasco. This recipe will have to be processed in a pressure cooker however due to the low acid classification. IF you don't want to can/preserve this? You could make a fresh batch and then stick it in your fridge. The shelf life would be much shorter. It wouldn't be sealed? But I am sure it would be just as awesome!

Spicy Garlic Chile Hot Sauce Recipe-Video

Canning Hot Sauce-Video

This is a simple and short video so you can see how easy it is to make and process your own Hot Sauce. Because this is considered a high acid food you will be using your water bath canning method. If you are making a hot sauce that is NOT vinegar based or is a lower acid sauce you will want to use your Pressure Cooker for the canning method. Please get familiar with the different types of high/low acid foods and preserving methods. If you would like you can go through previous posts by clicking on the Canning label at the bottom of this post. All canning posts that have been made on this blog will be shown.


Salsa Roja Canning Video

Simple Hot Sauce Recipe- Canning & Preserving

Chile's are incredibly robust growers and very easy to harvest as well. Once these plants take off you will have more than enough Chile Peppers to last you all Summer long and into Fall. I have even had Chile Peppers still putting out with a light snow on them! So what to do with all of those Chile Peppers? Here is a great way to preserve them. You can also dehydrate them...but we will get into that later on. For right now? Lets focus on making a simple but flavorful Hot Sauce. This recipe is similar to most vinegar based hot sauces like Tabasco.

Basic Hot Sauce Recipe

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts Recipe

I think these may have to be made before the weekend is over. Seriously. The flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter is one of my absolute favorites!

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts Recipe

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Covered Marshmallows-

As you can tell I am a big fan of caramel and chocolate together. Its lovely.....

Salted Caramel & Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

Salted Caramel Fudge Cake Recipe

SO. MUCH. YES!!!!

Salted Caramel Fudge Cake Recipe

Heirloom Tomato Recipes-Pinterest

Some Varied Recipes With Heirloom Tomato-

Types of Heirloom Tomatoes

There are many types of Heirloom's. They are strong strains of Tomato and wonderful to grow.


Types of Heirloom Tomatoes

Growing Heirloom Tomatoes-

I love Heirloom Tomatoes. I grow them every Summer and the Purple Cherokees are one of my go to plants. They are gorgeous and the flavor is divine. Wonderful in marinated Tomato salad or just thick slices with salt and pepper. Nothing can beat home grown garden Tomatoes! I am going to focus on Heirloom Tomatoes today. :)


Heirloom Tomatoes- A Brief Article

Churro Doughnut Recipe- Need I Say More?

This is something that I would like to make very soon! Man these look great.


Churro Doughnut Recipe

Blues Music Makes The Soul Happy!

My latest Podcast for Fallmoon Radio. It focuses on the music of Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. Blues music is one of those things that can truly connect to the soul. Hope you like it! One of my favorite things to do is turn on some music and cook in my kitchen. It truly is better than therapy for me.

Tain't Nobody's Bizness But My Own-The Ladies Of Blues

Make a Green Bean Tee Pee-

This is a really good idea for those with kids who have space restrictions. The kids will love watching as the tender vines start to cover your Tee Pee and they will love spending time inside their little shaded hiding spot on a hot day. Give it a try. It is a lot of FUN!

*They use Bamboo for the poles. You can use anything that is sturdy and tall for the vines.


Assembling A Green Bean Tee Pee-Video

Growing Green Beans Tips & Tricks- Video

Here is a short but sweet video for growing pole beans. If you have any questions about Pole Beans & Bush Beans? The name is pretty self explanatory. Pole Beans require something to grow on and will climb. Bush Beans normally do not.


Growing Green Beans Tips & Tricks- Video

How and When To Harvest Green Beans From Your Garden-Video

How and When To Harvest Green Beans From Your Garden

Pickled 3 Bean Salad Recipe

I know many people LOVE 3 Bean Salad. My Mom is one of those people. This is another simple canning recipe and would be great for bumper crops of Green Beans. This is also a water bath canning method recipe which makes it easy to prepare. The jars looks beautiful when you are done and make wonderful gifts for those that you love.

Pickled 3 Bean Salad Recipe

Dilled Green Beans Recipe

This is a great old school recipe for Dilly Green Beans. These have tons of flavor and they are just as easy to make as pickles. This particular recipe is going to be a water bath canning method because it is a high acid food. So the skill level is easy and this is great for beginners. Dilled Green Beans can be eaten just like Pickles and they are great on a relish plate or as a snack.


Dilly Green Beans Recipe- Step By Step

Canning Green Beans

One of the first things I learned to can was fresh Green Beans. I grow them pretty much every year in the garden and they are a very easy to grow if they have the room to climb and spread out. The first year I grew them the ground hogs discovered they loved Green Beans and wiped them out in two days. SO if you do have critters around you may want to keep an eye on your garden. I love to add these wonderful green beans with Ham Hock and let them simmer with Onion & Garlic. It's wonderful on a cold Winter Day! But they are great on their own as well. I do not cook or blanch my green beans before putting them into the jars. The pressure cooker process will cook them and I like them to retain some of their texture. If you are using these green beans to something that will be cooked for long periods of time I would suggest adding them later on in the process and just warming them through. Growing Italian Green Beans is also wonderful. They are my favorite Green Bean to eat and cook with! Some other great Green Beans to grow for canning are Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans and Burpees Stringless Green Beans. These are both considered Heirloom Green Beans.

Some Information on Green Beans

Canning Green Beans Video (Ball Canning )

Ball Canning Step By Step Guide

Marigold and Honey Soap Recipe

Yes, it says soap. :) I love creating things for my family. From food to soap it always makes me feel more in touch with who I am and those I love when I can create something from nothing. There are many different molds and easy melt and pour soaps out there to experiment with. You can order essential/fragrance oils online or find them in most health food/apothecary stores. Remember that a little fragrance can go a long way. Make sure before you use anything in terms of the oil that it is safe to use for skin contact.  Use a vintage muffin tin for a rustic mold. I have even used small vintage butter molds for soap making. It always turns out charming.


Marigold and Honey Soap w/Oatmeal Recipe