Blessed Autumn Equinox

 Hello everyone! I survived Round Up and am so excited that it's now Fall! It's the end of one thing and the start of another which is always very exciting for me. It's all I can do not to put all my Halloween decorations today. I did get some candy corn lights hung up and rest is calling my name. I take a lot of grief for my holiday enthusiasm but I won't apologize. I read something the other day along the lines of where the world is today and wherever you are able to find happiness is where you should grab it. So if Jack O Lanterns in September do it for you, grab it! I recently landed on this thing called a Fall Tree! It's a must have in my home this fall. In fact, its on my to do list today! How great is this! So what are your Fall traditions and what are you really excited to do this Fall? I love hearing and sharing ideas. With Fall comes my big cooking season so stay tuned for great and easy Fall cooking recipes!

Let'er Buck!!

Ahhhh.....it's finally here! Mardi Gras done western. The rodeo of the summer. The party of the year. That's right, it's Pendleton Round Up time, again! I look forward to this every year. I get to see people that I only get to see at this event and am sure to make a few more friends. Everyone is a cow folk even if you just have a big hat but no cows. I have my favorite things about this event that I hope never change. The Grand Entry is second to none and this girl will for sure be in her seat to not miss that every day. There is the legendary Chinook and rider Bryson Bronson that give me goose pimples every time.

There is the shopping in the Indian Village where Native Americans bring there wares to sell. Most popular being that huckleberry jam. The Indian Relay races that I kind of watch through my fingers are electrifying. When all goes well (and it usually does) it is a spectacle for sure. And of course...what would Round Up be without some fun in the Let'er Buck Room with good friends! And let's not forget the four day rodeo where the best of the best converge on little Pendleton, Oregon! I'll keep you updated as tonight kicks off with the PBR in Happy Canyon Arena. I will report back. Tired but with a smile on my face! See you in the Let'er Buck Room! I'll have a Pendleton's and Diet, please! What is your favorite thing about Round Up?

Lend a Helping Hand

When I started this blog, part of my motivation was to be an upbeat, happy site where we could share and appreciate and maybe even help one another. I want to stay away from anything hard or heavy. But then on the other hand, it didn't feel right to write something light hearted tonight when so many in our nation right are suffering nature's wrath in one form or another. I followed fellow blogger, Cindy in Texas as she brought her chickens inside to avoid flood waters. And where I am now is so heavily blanketed in smoke that I am worried for so many here in the Pacific Northwest and Montana. I guess what I'm asking now is that if you can, even in some small way, help. Can you donate to your local red cross? Are you good at giving blood? That could save a life. The west side of my state (Oregon) has asked for help in evacuating horses and several areas in the Northwest have asked for safe places to keep horses and other stock until it's safe for their return. I have seen a fellow horsewoman locally offer her home as a safe haven for horses while she is away. Shelter's need foster care providers for pets to house pets that are lost and frightened. Miranda Lambert's Mutt Nation has been a huge part in helping shelters in Texas and some of my money has gone there. Maybe you could just check on a neighbor. Make sure they have water and are safe. Or maybe just ask the Universe to provide sunshine to the south and rain to the Northwest. Whatever you can do. Whatever you can provide is so baldly needed now. I promise my blog will return to lighter hearted faire once this passes. In trying to find the good, maybe Mother Nature is trying to tell us, yes, we can love one another just a little bit better. Stay safe out there. Let me know if you have a specific need where you are and I promise I will spread the word. ~Blessed Be.

Not Always Perfect Peach Pie

Happy Thursday! So last weekend I bought some beautiful peaches from a local stand. Looking at them I thought, wouldn't peach pie be wonderful in the Fall or for a dreary Winter day? I found this great recipe for peach pie filling and started peeling and peeling and peeling 15 lbs of peaches. Since recipes are merely a suggestion to me, I also added cinnamon, the almond extract and some nutmeg. And then it called for something called Clearjel. After stopping at two stores, I found no such thing. Well apparently, it is important. Beings I couldn't find anything that sounded comparable, I decided to use cornstarch and water to substitute this item. It did not work.  I had the right idea. Just the wrong product. In cooking it, I could see it getting  thicker but not enough to hold form in a pie or cobbler. So I either need to use more corn starch to water ratio or add this Clearjel item. But in reading all about it, it appears this product is like a mega corn starch or something like cornstarch on steroids. Don't get me wrong, its still delicious because I had to cook one up to see, of course. It just didn't get very thick. So I am using a lifeline and asking the audience. Do you use Clearjel, other than for acne (which was my original thought)? Or do you have a great substitute that you would like to share.  I'm all ears! Especially since apple fie filling sounds pretty tempting, too!

We Are Facebook Official!

Many of you have asked me how to know when I've posted a blog entry. I thought there would be a subscribe button but I have been unable to locate it. So in thinking about it and wanting a better page for myself and others when what's happening in the world brings us down, I came up with a Facebook page! Shocking, right? So if you are a Facebooker, please like my new Facebook page. You will get notices as to when the blog is updated and fun antidotes to share. I also plan on passing on pages for you of local (and not so local) homesteading events for you to check out. 

I also found a great site called Baking and Eggs.  Cindy is down in flood ravaged Texas and I'm following her story and I love the way she cares for her ladies. Her recipes also look divine. So if you get a chance, send her some love. Tell her I sent you! 

Thank you all for your warm responses. I'm having fun! 

So Cindy....today this is for you. Stay strong down there and thank you for being an inspiration.

Perks of Being Single

Good Sunday Morning to you all...

Every time I make something cool or do something really great for myself, I think of you all. Especially my sisters out there who are enjoying (and some of you are not enjoying) the single life. There are definite perks to being single. Some of them I practice on the daily. For example, I can buy a watermelon, eat the heart out of it with a spoon. No one complains! The chickens get the rest! And cooking for one? It can be heaven! I like to be really good to myself and I try to eat fairly clean and healthy. One of my favorite dishes to make for myself is PASTA! I have switched to whole grain organic pasta and I love it. It's easy to make for just one. I purchase seafood, like shrimp or scallops and freeze them or buy them already frozen. That way it's easy to just grab 3 or 4 scallops, defrost them in the microwave and go right to you pan of olive oil, butter, white wine, garlic, fresh veggies, etc.. Tacos are another thing that can be hard to make for one person and not eat it all or to keep fresh. Here's a tip. When you make your meat (chicken, burger) and you take the amount you need for your meal, freeze the rest! That makes is easy to grab a shell out of the fridge, grab your meat out of the freezer, microwave for a minute or two then add your toppings and you have a taco anytime!

Want to know what I did last night with my hot and steamy Saturday night? I know you do! I watched Pre Season football with a glass of Pinot Gris! And I got hungry. What you need to know about me is that I love potatoes! Chips, fries, tots, baked, mashed....YUM! I can pass up the sweets but give me the potatoes! And last night I wanted fries. So I found baby potatoes in my fridge, heated up olive oil in a pan and sliced them up. I had some unused Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix left over so I sprinkled some of that on. When they were finished I sprinkled freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top. It was delicious! And it hit the spot for my snack. What are some of your favorite meals-for-one hacks? I'd love to know! Pass the Parmesan cheese, please!

Peach BBQ Sauce

Peaches are coming on! And who doesn't love a juicy ripe peach? I found this great recipe for Zesty Peach BBQ Sauce and I just couldn't resist giving it a whirl! Of course, as you know, to me, recipes are merely suggestions. So here is the spin I put on it.

Someone gave me a sample to try and though their's was perfectly tasty, my vision was to have it a little chunkier. So I mixed up my ingredients on a pulse setting on my processor. I also used a red onion instead of a white or yellow onion for color purposes only. And as every chef knows, all onions matter. I left it as full bodied as possible knowing it would cook down. I added my fresh peaches very last and left them in half slices or smaller depending on the density and firmness of the peach. If they were a little too chunky once the sauce had cooked down, I cut them a little smaller before putting them in jars. It's up to you! I also omitted the dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce. The idea of those did not set my palette right and I was so pleased with the outcome.

What I ended up with was a sort of sweet and sour onset with a peachy middle ground and nice big kick of heat at the end. I am in love! I can't wait to try this on pork, fish and I really want to slow cook chicken breasts, pull them apart, add the sauce and use as sliders! That will be another blog! If you try this, let me know! I'd love to hear your spins and your results.