Hello peeps! Well, I made the jump over to wordpress and have a new blog called......Love My Country Home. Original name, huh? I'm hoping that this will give me a little more freedom in designing my blog, etc. I'm working on the finishing touches and hope that you will join me at my new blog www.lovemycountryhome.com.
See ya there!
Pam
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Edamame Dip and Homemade Laundry Soap
The last few nights have been busy at our house - homework, getting rooms ready for new carpet, and then just the normal every day life stuff. I have been on a cooking roll lately (get it??? roll...sorry, bad joke). I made stromboli 2 nights ago, and last night I made edamame dip and also a roast w/ veggies in the crock pot and used one of those crock pot liners. Have you tried a crock pot liner yet? If you haven't tried one yet, you should - they make clean up a breeze and who doesn't like an easy clean up? And, have you tried edamame? It's really soy beans with a fancy name :) This recipe is another one shared by the girls from work and I'm not sure where they found this version, but it's so so so so so so so good! Rochella had it with veggies and Carl and I had it with crackers. Either way it was delicious, not to mention healthy.
Edamame Dip
1 14 ounce bag frozen shelled edamame, unthawed
1/2 ripe avocado (I used the entire thing since I really like avocados)
1 shallot, peeled and sliced into quarters
1 clove of garlic, peeled
2 tsps olive oil or more if needed to create a smoother dip
2 tsps fresh lemon juice or more to taste
1 large handful of basil or more to taste (I used a little bit of dried basil)
sea salt to taste
*I also put cilantro in my dip*
Instructions:
1. Cook edamame in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, 3-4 minutes. Drain reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
2. Place all other ingredients and 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid in food processor. Season with sea salt. Blend in more cooking liquid or a little more olive oil if too chunky or thick.
3. Transfer to a bowl and serve with anything from raw veggies to rice crackers to pita chips.
Now for the homemade laundry soap.....We have a HE washer and if you have one, and even if you don't, I'm sure you've noticed how expensive the laundry soap is. Well, in one of our recipe sharing conversations, Janna shared how she was going to make laundry soap and she also has an HE washer. She uses the Duggar family recipe and loves it. I think Janna made it in January or February and told us yesterday that she finally needs to make more! So I bought everything needed to make the soap and followed the recipe, plus I added approximately 1 cup of all color bleach to the mix.
It was super simple to make and my house smelled so good and clean. Here is the finished product.
I'm using up the last of my store bought detergent and then I'll start using the homemade stuff. All of the reviews have been good and nobody has reported any problems using this soap in their HE washers. Total cost for this is around $10 - and I still have stuff left to make more.
Well peeps, I'm off to tackle another project. Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with more groovy cool stuff to share.
Pam
Edamame Dip
1 14 ounce bag frozen shelled edamame, unthawed
1/2 ripe avocado (I used the entire thing since I really like avocados)
1 shallot, peeled and sliced into quarters
1 clove of garlic, peeled
2 tsps olive oil or more if needed to create a smoother dip
2 tsps fresh lemon juice or more to taste
1 large handful of basil or more to taste (I used a little bit of dried basil)
sea salt to taste
*I also put cilantro in my dip*
Instructions:
1. Cook edamame in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, 3-4 minutes. Drain reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
2. Place all other ingredients and 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid in food processor. Season with sea salt. Blend in more cooking liquid or a little more olive oil if too chunky or thick.
3. Transfer to a bowl and serve with anything from raw veggies to rice crackers to pita chips.
Now for the homemade laundry soap.....We have a HE washer and if you have one, and even if you don't, I'm sure you've noticed how expensive the laundry soap is. Well, in one of our recipe sharing conversations, Janna shared how she was going to make laundry soap and she also has an HE washer. She uses the Duggar family recipe and loves it. I think Janna made it in January or February and told us yesterday that she finally needs to make more! So I bought everything needed to make the soap and followed the recipe, plus I added approximately 1 cup of all color bleach to the mix.
It was super simple to make and my house smelled so good and clean. Here is the finished product.
I'm using up the last of my store bought detergent and then I'll start using the homemade stuff. All of the reviews have been good and nobody has reported any problems using this soap in their HE washers. Total cost for this is around $10 - and I still have stuff left to make more.
Well peeps, I'm off to tackle another project. Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with more groovy cool stuff to share.
Pam
Monday, September 27, 2010
Things are changing around here
Just a few changes happening around here.....new look to the blog and a new name. The look is not that unusual. I change for seasons and holidays...or when I get bored. Now the name...that's another story. Lets just say that I wish I had put more thought into the name of my blog when I started this. Sometimes I give thought to decisions and sometimes I just plow ahead with no thought to the outcome. The start of this blog happened to be one of those times. I tried out different names, asked my family and some friends for suggestions and then came up with Love My Country Home because I love my country home! I'm thinking about making a few more changes, but these will be investigated, thought about, discussed, etc. so I don't have to go back later and try to change things up again. I hope you like the new look and the new name. :)
My newest project
For a while now I've been wanting a new purse and just cant find what I want. Don't want to pay the price for a Vera or a Donna Sharp and I can't find anything in the stores or at resale shops that I like. I've been thinking about sewing again and have been inspired by all the projects Leslie has done, so I think that I'm going to have to make my own new purse. Time to dust off the sewing machine! Here is the pattern. I keeping with my new (hopefully long-lasting) thriftiness, I chose a free pattern from Jo-Anns.
And this is the fabric that I chose. It's kind of wild, fall-ish, something different. And I like it!
That is my project for the week. Plus we are have carpet installed in two rooms so that means the bedroom redo is almost finished. Stay tuned for another post! What projects are you working on. If you're like me you have tons of them started and not many finished. Don't worry about sharing....it's our little secret. :)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
25 Things
Since I'm at a loss for what to post, here are 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about me to help you know me better.
1. My favorite snack is anything chocolate - cookies, chips, ice cream, candy, etc...
2. I absolutely love being married!
3. I wish my family didn't live so far away. My mother and sister live in Florida, my brother lives NE of Indy, one sister lives in Chicago, my other sister and inlaws live about 2 hours away, and my SIL and her husband live in NC. Don't get me started on cousins, aunts, and uncles.
4. I love to bake and cook and have way to many cookbooks and printed recipes! The many recipe conversations with the girls I work with also with contribute to this growing collection. :)
5. I collect (old) recipe books...this goes with number 4. I'm not saying that I use all of them, but I love to look at all the different recipes and see how cooking and baking has changed over the years.
6. I love to go garage sale/estate sale/auction hunting!! And the best part about it is that Carl goes with me. My MIL says that she learned this from me, but I really learned it from her....it's all in the thrill of the hunt.
7. I used to be a nail technician. Loved doing that until it became a job :(
8. I would like to start playing the piano again. I took lessons in junior high and I only remember part of 1 song. A few years ago Carl and I bought an old upright for $10 at the Covered Bridge Festival and now I need to do more than just look at it.
9. I cry easily. Like when people win on The Price is Right.
10. I want to learn how to quilt (that's the reason for all the quilt blogs that I have listed) :)
11. I really want to be healthy and in better shape. The last two years have made me feel old! Maybe 2011 will be the year of "buff 'n tuff".
12. I love, love, love to ride my bike, and in 2011, I want to ride in the Hilly 100 in Bloomington.
13. My absolute favorite color is PINK.
14. I wish I was as creative and crafty as Martha Stewart.
15. If I'm going to have a drink, I like a gin and tonic with extra lime, a margarita, or a good glass of wine.
16. I'm the oldest child in my family (4 girls, 1 boy).
17. I love hostas and almost any other shade plant, and I used to sell them...for a short time.
18. Carl and I have named almost every vehicle we've owned. There's been the Green Hornet, Red Ruby, the Gray Ghost, Zippy, the Tahoe Express, Betsy, and Big Mo.
19. I have eaten brussel sprouts for breakfast. Craved them...and no, I wasn't pregnant.
20. I would like to start sewing again. I guess this goes along with #10.
21. I collect salt glazed pottery, brown and white crocks, and amber tiara sandwich glass.
22. I really like to use coupons when I shop. My goal is to consistently have them cut out and filed each week. Everyone should have a dream, right?
23. I have a soft spot for mistreated animals and the elderly. Would you rather have read "old people"?
24. My three favorite movies are Father of the Bride, You've Got Mail, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
25. I want to take baton twirling lessons. I know it's crazy.
Wow, this was much harder than I thought. What about you. What are some things that people don't know about you? Do you dare reveal them.....
1. My favorite snack is anything chocolate - cookies, chips, ice cream, candy, etc...
2. I absolutely love being married!
3. I wish my family didn't live so far away. My mother and sister live in Florida, my brother lives NE of Indy, one sister lives in Chicago, my other sister and inlaws live about 2 hours away, and my SIL and her husband live in NC. Don't get me started on cousins, aunts, and uncles.
4. I love to bake and cook and have way to many cookbooks and printed recipes! The many recipe conversations with the girls I work with also with contribute to this growing collection. :)
5. I collect (old) recipe books...this goes with number 4. I'm not saying that I use all of them, but I love to look at all the different recipes and see how cooking and baking has changed over the years.
6. I love to go garage sale/estate sale/auction hunting!! And the best part about it is that Carl goes with me. My MIL says that she learned this from me, but I really learned it from her....it's all in the thrill of the hunt.
7. I used to be a nail technician. Loved doing that until it became a job :(
8. I would like to start playing the piano again. I took lessons in junior high and I only remember part of 1 song. A few years ago Carl and I bought an old upright for $10 at the Covered Bridge Festival and now I need to do more than just look at it.
9. I cry easily. Like when people win on The Price is Right.
10. I want to learn how to quilt (that's the reason for all the quilt blogs that I have listed) :)
11. I really want to be healthy and in better shape. The last two years have made me feel old! Maybe 2011 will be the year of "buff 'n tuff".
12. I love, love, love to ride my bike, and in 2011, I want to ride in the Hilly 100 in Bloomington.
13. My absolute favorite color is PINK.
14. I wish I was as creative and crafty as Martha Stewart.
15. If I'm going to have a drink, I like a gin and tonic with extra lime, a margarita, or a good glass of wine.
16. I'm the oldest child in my family (4 girls, 1 boy).
17. I love hostas and almost any other shade plant, and I used to sell them...for a short time.
18. Carl and I have named almost every vehicle we've owned. There's been the Green Hornet, Red Ruby, the Gray Ghost, Zippy, the Tahoe Express, Betsy, and Big Mo.
19. I have eaten brussel sprouts for breakfast. Craved them...and no, I wasn't pregnant.
20. I would like to start sewing again. I guess this goes along with #10.
21. I collect salt glazed pottery, brown and white crocks, and amber tiara sandwich glass.
22. I really like to use coupons when I shop. My goal is to consistently have them cut out and filed each week. Everyone should have a dream, right?
23. I have a soft spot for mistreated animals and the elderly. Would you rather have read "old people"?
24. My three favorite movies are Father of the Bride, You've Got Mail, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
25. I want to take baton twirling lessons. I know it's crazy.
Wow, this was much harder than I thought. What about you. What are some things that people don't know about you? Do you dare reveal them.....
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