Family Farm

Family Farm

Monday, January 30, 2012

Bent spoons to hold tea lights/candle holder...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756

Using Old Vintage Windows and Doors

See sooo much more at: http://www.robomargo.com/windows.html

Pallet Tree Coat Rack ~ Cute!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756

Sewing Kit in a Jar

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756

Jar Lids Decoupaged with Japanese Paper

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fthecleverwhatever.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Frepurposed-jars.html&h=gAQG4hoGr

Alphabet Rocks

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F64654867%2Falphabet-from-sea-stones&h=wAQFtudrK

Top 10 Products for the Beginning Prepper

http://thesurvivalmom.com/2011/07/24/top-10-products-for-the-beginning-prepper/

tent Top 10 Products for the Beginning Prepper

Recycled Towel Bath Mat

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756


Before you begin, make sure your towel or towels are all well washed. You can use old t-shirts as well...
A. Decide how big you want your bath rug to be and then cut your gridded matting to those dimensions.

B. Next, turn your scissors on ...your towels and begin cutting them into 5 or 6 inch
long pieces about ¾ of an inch thick.

C. Now it’s just a matter of knotting each strip along the grid, making sure they all face the same way. For the best results, we recommend knotting along every box of the grid, but if you don’t mind a thinner mat – or just don’t have the patience - then every other box is fine, too. You can work on this project while you’re watching TV or sitting around with your family after dinner – whenever your hands are free. It may take you a while, but it will be more than worth it once you’re finished. Stepping out onto your fun new eco bath rug first thing in the morning after a nice hot shower will put you in a bright mood for the whole of the day!

Vintage Window Bed Canopy

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpatinagreen.typepad.com%2Fpatinagreen%2F2009%2F12%2Fjudy-hill-holiday-show.html&h=hAQGlRiNl

Wine Cork Bathmat

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756


How to make a wine cork bath mat
Supplies

175 wine corks (plus a few extra to allow for mistakes)
hot glue sticks
non-adhesive shelf liner (I used Duck brand Smooth Top Easy Liner in taupe, found at Walmart. Or try [ribbed side down] Plast...-O-Mat ribbed shelf liner, available at Ace Hardware, Bed Bath & Beyond or The Container Store)
Tools

pocket knife (sharpened)
cutting board (one that you won’t mind if it gets slightly damaged)
rotary cutter and mat (or scissors)
long ruler or yardstick
hot glue gun
coarse sand paper

1. Cut each cork in half lengthwise with a sharp pocket knife. Be patient and careful so you don’t cut a finger off. It’s best if you use natural cork wine corks that are similar length and width. Sand the bottoms flat if any of your cuts are jagged.

2. Arrange the corks into a rectangle, flat sides down. Use a ruler or the lines on a cutting mat to make sure your configuration of corks is as close to a straight rectangle as possible. My mat is 18.5 x 30 inches (10 x 35 cork halves)—a little smaller than a standard size bath mat, but then my bathroom is smaller than a standard size bathroom.

3. Measure and cut the shelf liner to size with a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat.

4. Transfer the outer rows/columns of corks to the shelf liner and glue them to the top side of the liner. Apply a rectangle-shaped line of glue to the flat side of each cork, about 1/8 inch from the edge, line up the cork with the edge of the mat, and press hard. Wipe away any glue dribbles before it hardens fully, but after it cools (so you don’t burn yourself).

5. Once your frame is in place, transfer the rest of the corks to their corresponding position on the mat. You’ll probably have to do some arranging and trading places to make all the corks fit. Then remove one cork at a time and glue it down. You’re done!

Large Spool Into a Stool!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756

Just Sayin'...

Pallet Display/Garden

http://www.facebook.com/pages/MrBrownThumb/133265595815

Suitcase Medicine Cabinet

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756

Easy Artisanal Yeast Bread

http://www.facebook.com/PamperedChefConsultantCarolsCorner






The quickest yeast bread you'll ever make. Warm, fresh, crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, delicious home made bread in just over an hour and for about $1.

Ingredients:
5-6 cups all-purpose flour (you can substitute whole wheat flour for 1 or 2 cups)
2 tablespoons dry yeast (regular, NOT rapid rise, yeast)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups hot water (120° to 130°) Note: water temperature is critcial to proper yeast activation

Directions:
1. Grease the Deep Covered Baker and the bowl that you'll let the bread rise in. Set aside.
2. Combine  4 cups of the flour, the yeast, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the hot water and three minutes with a mixer (or 100 stokes by hand).  Add the remaining flour (I've never needed to add more than 1 cup) until the dough is no longer sticky.  Knead* the dough for 8 minutes on a floured surface, adding flour as needed to prevent sticking.
3. Place the dough in the greased bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let rise 15 minutes.  Remove dough to floured surface, punch or fold down** (3 minutes should do it) and shape into a large loaf. Place the dough in deep covered  baker.

Cut a slit about 1/2 inch deep along the top of the loaf and several small slits on either side of the first slit. It will look a little like a branch with leaves when you are done.

4. Put the lid on the baker and place in a COLD oven. Turn oven to 400° and bake for 50 minutes. Remove from overn, uncover, gasp in amazement, remove loaf from baker to cool on a rack.

Cook's Tip: to slice bread set it on it's side and cut wth a serrated bread knife.  By cutting from the side you avoid crushing the flaky top crust.

Note: this recipe makes a VERY LARGE loaf (over 5 inches tall x 7 inches wide x 10 inches long). The Deep Covered Baker has a 3.1 QT capacity. If you use an alternate to the Deep Covered Baker please makes sure it's large enough for the recipe!

Need a little help? These videos help illustrate kneading and punching down the bread. Note that videos are referenced to illustrate techniques only, they are NOT part of the recipe.

* Kneading bread: http://youtu.be/dWj8oHMPFm0

** Punching down bread: punching or folding down bread is an important technique for I prefer the gentler folding and rolling down process, but either will do.  http://youtu.be/tsCqZMCLqnU

15 Recipes that will make your house smell delicious!!!

http://www.thekitchn.com/15-recipes-that-will-make-your-house-smell-amazing-recipe-roundup-165151
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Cooking isn't only about the food, or the eating, or the pleasure of the table. It's also about the smells! Certain foods offer up delicious aromas that can make your whole house smell amazing. Last weekend we asked our Twitter friends to tell us which recipes they love to smell cooking. There were some nearly universal favorites — fresh bread, beef stew, cinnamon rolls, anything with onions. Here's a look at 15 of these favorites from our own archives — these are comfort foods for winter that will make your house feel and smell homey and cozy.

GOOD THINGS FROM THE OVEN

• 1 Apple Yogurt Cake with a Cinnamon-Sugar Streak
The cinnamon in this ultra-easy and quick cake puts it in another zone — it smells intoxicating.
• 2 IKEA-Inspired Cinnamon Rolls
If anyone has the art of enticing aroma nailed, it's IKEA, drawing us through their stores with the promise of cinnamon buns. Recreate that irresistible scent yourself!
• 3 How To Make No-Knead Bread
Is there anything more delicious than the smell of hot, fresh, homemade bread? Make it the easy way with this no-knead recipe.
• 4 How To Make Basic Banana Bread
Banana bread has it's own special sweetness in its fragrance as it bakes — so good.
• 5 How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies (Without a Mixer)
But we think that chocolate chip cookies may still win out over the rest of these baked goods for sheer irrestible aroma. Resistance is futile!
• 6 Baked Pumpkin Steel Cut Oatmeal
This morning dish bakes in the oven and fills your house with the smell of pumpkin and spices.
• 7 Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie: A Corn Syrup-Free Recipe
Nutty, sweet, and browned — this pie smells like you just walked into an awesome bakery.

 
GOOD THINGS FROM THE STOVETOP

• 8 How To Make French Onion Soup at Home
Onions caramelizing in butter may be the most powerfully delicious scent you can introduce to your kitchen. This soup uses a huge mess of caramelized onions, steeped in rich broth.
• 9 Sausage and Fennel Ragu
Building up a good ragu from scratch, cooking onions and garlic and sausage all together, will make your house smell amazing for days.
• 10 Beef and Barley Stew with Mushrooms
The quintessential smell of winter comfort food.
• 11 Friday Night Slow-Cooked Brisket and Onions
Your slow cooker can make your house smell awesome too — all night long! This slow-cooked brisket is a good make-ahead meal that you can freeze for later.
• 12 How to Make (and Freeze!) Individual Chicken Pot Pies
Chicken pot pie was mentioned by some Twitter friends; how can you resist that aroma of buttery crust and creamy chicken filling?
• 13 Potato and Cauliflower Curry
Any curry will smell amazing as you build flavor with ginger, garlic, and onion — and this vegetarian curry is a great weeknight meal.
• 14 Coconut Milk Chicken
This coconut milk braised chicken has a lot of good flavors to make your kitchen smell delicious: Lemongrass, cilantro, garlic, and ginger.
• 15 Easy Sausage and Peppers
Sausage and peppers, a homey, delicious classic!
What are your favorite dishes to make your house smell delicious?
Related: 10 Things that Will Make Your House Smell Amazing

Top 10 Casserole Recipes

Try one of these top-rated casserole recipes, including chicken casserole recipes, beef casserole recipes, tuna casserole recipes, potato casserole recipes, lasagna recipes and more great casseroles!

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Top-10-Recipes/Top-10-Casserole-Recipes

Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole

Keep out the cold with a draft dodger

http://www.thecrunchychicken.com/2007/12/keep-out-cold-with-draft-dodger.html

Ball Canning Jar Chart - How Old Are They?

Very cool chart to tell you how old those Ball canning jars are.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Two-Squared-Acres-micro-farm/147076935340533

1001 Uses for White Distilled Vinegar

http://www.vinegartips.com/scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=7

Top 5 Food Storage Conditions That Cannot Be Ignored

http://www.countryconsultant.com/blogspot/?p=2606

75 Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda

http://lifehackery.com/2008/07/22/home-4/

Straw Bale Gardening

http://strawbalegardens.com/Home_Page.html

Sunday, January 29, 2012

~*HOMEMADE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS & HOUSEHOLD TIP IDEAS *.

Check out some fun ideas at:
Gypsys Melting Pot
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gypsys-Melting-Pot/238568062871826

Very Simple Homemade Cheese

http://www.grit.com/news-from-the-nest-in-rural-pennsylvania/very-simple-homemade-cheese.aspx

Cheese

How to Make Rice Vinegar

http://www.ehow.com/how_2110567_make-rice-vinegar.html

How to Make Rice Vinegarthumbnail

Garden Gift...

http://www.facebook.com/TWOwomenANDaHOE

Well Dressed Forms...

See more at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Bees-Haven/121133541278872

Perfect Place...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shabby-Charme/127833850615375

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Chickens for Eggs, Self Sufficiency, and Homesteading

Check out this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Pi7Fi5VGs

21st Century Homesteading: Making Butter

http://culture.wnyc.org/articles/features/2012/jan/23/21st-century-homesteading-making-butter/


Homemade Drawing Salve

http://herbs.lovetoknow.com/Homemade_Drawing_Salve


Olive oil is part of a homemade salve recipe

Egg Shells for Seed Starting

Old Milk Bottles



http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756

Bathtub on the porch...



http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756

Tent/Tipi



http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzi-Homefaker/157277567665756

Ornament Storage

Pretty nifty. ornament storage - glue cups to the cardboard cut to fit the box. http://www.apartystyle.com/

The difference between cake flour, all purpose flour and bread flour. Which do you need, and why?




http://johndlee.hubpages.com/hub/The_difference_between_cake_flour__all_purpose_flour_and_bread_flour_Which_do_you_need__and_why

Canning Overload: What to Do With Your Canning Surplus

2012_01_26-Jams.jpg















Canning Overload: What to Do With Your Canning Surplus
http://www.thekitchn.com/canning-overload-what-to-do-when-your-canning-enthusiasm-has-gone-too-far-164863

35 Pest and Disease Remedies

35 Pest and Disease Remedies

Turn to your pantry and medicine cabinet for simple solutions to common garden problems





http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/thirty-five-pest-disease-remedies.aspx?utm_source=email&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=20110704-remedies&utm_campaign=fine-gardening

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