snowmen and sunsets

from the weekend...this delightful snowman graced our front yard.

and a beautiful winter sunset graced the sky.

today

not much crafting going on these days. there is a first birthday coming up (next month) and a baby book to finish before then. it's almost done.

today was...

50 degrees

birds chirping (for the first time in months)

sunshine

a long walk

dried figs

baby giggles

butternut harvest stew

snow melting

happy valentine's day

yummy crockpot meatballs (without sugar!)

i am married to a football fan. not a crazy, can't-do-anything-but-watch-football on sundays kind of fan, but a fan nonetheless. we had plans to watch the superbowl "together" (together meant that i was present in the room but was working on the baby book the whole time), and i wanted to make some special superbowl party type foods to make the evening extra special for my love.

one of the things i wanted to make was some kind of meatballs. i have never made meatballs before, so it was fun to try something new. these were a great contribution to our little superbowl party, and my husband especially loved them. one of the other things on our menu was baked chicken wings and we dipped the chicken wings in the meatball sauce -  yum!

i kind of used this recipe, but modified it as we don't eat sugar in our house and i didn't want to use bread crumbs. i also used all pork. here's the way i made them...

first i made the sauce.

ingredients for the sauce:
1 small can tomato sauce
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon molasses
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dijon mustard (i use a kind that is just straight up mustard without any additives)

mix all ingredients in crock pot. stir well. 
then make the meatballs...

meatball ingredients:
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 small yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 pound free range ground pork (without hormones/antibiotics)
1/2 cup almond meal (i use bob's red mill or get it at the local health food store)
1 tablespoon paprika
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste

heat the coconut oil in a frying pan, add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. in a medium-sized bowl, mix the pork, almond meal, paprika, eggs, onions and garlic, and salt and pepper. form into small meatballs. using same saucepan as earlier, brown the meatballs on all sides. put in crock pot with barbeque sauce. cook on high for about 2 hours or until meat thermometer indicates meat is cooked.

this recipe made about 24 meatballs. enjoy!

thrifted gems

we hit up a couple of thrift stores last weekend, and i've been meaning to share my finds. my days of thrifting started when i was just a little girl. actually, they probably started from birth, but i don't remember that. anyway, when i was growing up, my grandparents lived very far away. they came to visit us a couple of times a year, and every time they visited we hit up all the local thrift stores. it was just one of the things we did together. their rule was that they would always buy us the things we wanted at the thrift store.  we would all spend hours scouring the thrift stores for just the right treasures. i loved those times with my grandparents and i'm so thankful that they inspired my love for thrifting. 

anyway, here's what we found the other day....

this enchanting prism "chandelier" for the little one's room. at $2, it was our most expensive purchase. she loves it.

 it is hanging above her changing table. the perfect thing to look at during a diaper change. and just in case you're wondering...the fabric chandelier finally made it into her room this past weekend. it looks great. stay tuned for a post on her room sometime in the near future.

 i thought this little tin was too cute to pass up. it was 25 cents! it will eventually be used in place of gift wrap when i have the perfect gift to fit inside.

this little wooden box with faded mushrooms painted on the top. for 50 cents, this is a perfect project for me. it probably has a future that's covered in modpodge or fabric.

this delightful and quirky little frame. $1.

and this was my favorite find of the day! a vintage apron with toadstools on the pockets! it was $1.

i couldn't resist wearing it the next morning while i made breakfast. i felt happier the instant i put this apron on.

how to make yogurt

last summer i purchased a yogurt maker and was very excited to begin the process of making our yogurt. we drink raw milk, and i wanted to take further advantage of all the benefits of our raw milk by making yogurt with it as well. after two unsuccessful attempts last summer, i was discouraged and gave up on the idea for a while. as we've recently made significant, healthier steps in the way that we eat, store-bought yogurt with additives (and often with sugar!) is no longer an option for us. 

so...out came the yogurt maker and a renewed desire to learn how to make yogurt. i scoured the internet for tutorials and combined all the information i found into what turned out to be successful yogurt making! 

i made some this morning and thought i would share how i do it...

i have a yogurt maker that has seven little jars, so i just fill one jar up and dump it in this pot seven times to get the right amount. i heat the milk to 110 degrees F to preserve the good things in the raw milk, and i stir it a lot so it doesn't scorch. i use a candy thermometer to keep an eye on the temp.

 while the milk is heating, i take the lids off all the little jars and line them up on the counter next to the stove.

when the milk reaches 110 degrees F, i pour it into this pyrex pitcher (not a necessary step, but it's easier to pour it into the jars that way). 

i add two tablespoons of my yogurt starter. i either use yogurt from a previous batch i've made (it can be used to make another batch, but after a few uses, it gets weak), or i use plain yogurt from the store (i just buy a little container of it). i have used normal yogurt and greek yogurt, and have found that greek yogurt gives the homemade yogurt a thicker texture, so we prefer that kind. 

i use a whisk to mix the yogurt starter with the warm milk.

pour into clean jars.

put in yogurt maker and turn on to culture and make yogurt! i usually let mine culture in the yogurt maker for about 10 hours, then i put it in the fridge and it firms up a bit. i've heard of letting the yogurt culture for 24 hours, and i think i will leave one of these jars to culture for 24 hours and see what happens. i think it might end up too tangy for our taste, but it's worth a try!

and that is how i make yogurt. quick, easy, healthy, and cheap.

we eat it drizzled with raw honey, with frozen berries, oatmeal, or whatever else we can find to throw in. i also throw some in when i soak grains. sometimes hubby puts elderberry syrup in his. baby likes hers with mashed pumpkin and a sprinkle of nutmeg. yum.

snowed in

our dreams for a snow day began on tuesday afternoon. (jeremy works at an afterschool program, so whenever the school has a snow day, he does too!). they canceled the afterschool programs because of an impending blizzard, so we hunkered down at home. and then the blizzard came. and it snowed and snowed and snowed. and the wind blew. and we were warm and cozy in our little house. 

we woke to a world covered in white. and it was still snowing. and even my husband's seminary was closed, which was good because there was no way we could have gotten down our street or even out of our driveway. and so we settled in for a snow day. and what makes a good snow day at our house? 

 the back door that would barely open. we were literally...snowed in.

a porch covered with snow.

extra time for studies for him.

and coffee to go with them.

a bit of reading for me.

and lots of reading for her. this is one of her current favorites. she giggles every time we get to "c is for curtsy".

some baking. i have to be honest - i thought these cookies looked a lot better than they tasted. they were made with almond flour, honey, and a few other ingredients. the taste was a disappointment, but...they look good anyway.

some coconut flour bread. it was very yummy. especially drizzled with raw honey.

and some crafting. i finished this little bend friend, and i have a couple of other projects in the works. i need a name for her. any suggestions?

some flowers from my love. given to me pre-snow day, but they are still bright and blooming. the perfect little companions for a dreary day of snow.

jeremy has school today, but he has another snow day from work, so we will have some more extra time as a family. we are soaking it up. and the sun is shining today, so everything looks brighter.

welcome february!

another week is in full swing. i keep thinking today is monday. it's not. it is time to congratulate myself - and anyone else who lives in a gray, wintry climate - for making it through the month of january! i always find january to be the longest and hardest month of the year, and i am always ready for february to arrive. how do you get through the month of january?

last night was delicious beans and rice for dinner. and braised turnips. and a salad. it was all a success. i used to work the night shift, and between my work, my husband's work and school, and adjusting to parenting, meals were mostly healthy, but definitely one of the lowest things on the priority list. i am so thankful to have the energy and time now to be able to cook healthy, nutritious, and yummy meals for our family.

we're just up to the usual over here today. you know...crawling around while wearing dish gloves.

i guess i should post what we are having for dinner tonight since this post is partly mostly about food. i have wild rice soaking for chicken and wild rice soup. and i think there will be some coconut flour bread to go with it. we're supposed to get a huge snowstorm tonight, so i think that is the perfect meal. oh - and i made baked oatmeal for breakfast today. so yummy! (i love the recipes on nourishedkitchen.com and have found every one i've tried to be a success so far! i highly recommend.)

 

i am not-so-secretly hoping my love will have a snow day tomorrow. probably not...but it never hurts to hope!