Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Ant's in the Garden

I went outside Monday morning to prep my vegetable bed for the plantings of lettuce, carrots and radishes (maybe collards too) to find that more than half of it is covered in ants. I came back inside and found this great website http://www.simplepestcontrol.com/index.html , I hope you will find it useful. It has many bug, critter, bird and weed control tips and methods.

I used this recipe:

"Mix three cups of water with one cup sugar and four teaspoons of boric acid (Borax). Pour around a cup of solution into separate jars. Pack the jars with cotton balls to about the halfway point. Seal the lid and poke a few holes at the center." 

It said that Boric Acid AKA Borax:

"is a perfect ant poison. It’s cheap, natural, and much less dangerous (though not harmless) than commercial poisons. Best of all, when mixed correctly, boric acid is a slow ant killer – it allows ants time to bring it back to the nest in sufficient quantities for an ant apocalypse."


I mixed it up and dug through the recycling bin.  I could only find two containers so two is what I did.


My ant killing buddy Curtis laying on an old ant bed.




I dug out two holes and buried the containers.  I wanted it easy for the ants to get to the bait so I tried to make it so they didn't have to climb up the side of the jar.


Look at them exploring this thing that came crashing down on their house.


Circling the lid and going in.


I hope this works, I want to get this bed planted soon as lettuce takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R.  So hopefully by the end of the week I can add some compost and plant everything.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Making Pearsauce

Last Wednesday I got busy.  I cored and sliced this whole basket of pears.


I got the canner ready so when I was ready it would be ready.


Saved the cores for the chickens.


 Added a little cinnamon and water.


Set the crock pot on high and went to bible study.  When I came home they were nice and soft.  I cut the propane tank on got the water boiling and used a hand held immersion blender to mush them up.  Keith said that the pear sauce was a little runny compared to apple sauce so this week (Yes I am making more) I will omit the water and just add cinnamon.

I filled seven pint sized jars and left 1/2" head space and canned them in a water bath for 15 minutes.  I always add 2 extra minutes for the water to come back to a boil.  So they spent a total of 17 minutes in the water.

Directions and guidence taken from http://pickyourown.org/pearsauce.htm

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Eat's of the Week ~ September 25th

Picture is of Butter Fried Carrots, Crust less Squash, Onion and Garlic Quiche and a Yummy Salad

Sunday
Friend's Giving (Thanksgiving meal with friends) at The Allmond's
We are taking Broccoli Casserole and Rolls

Monday
Clean out the Fridge

Tuesday
Keith's Mom's 60th Birthday Party

Wednesday
Coffee Mug Making Class and Dinner afterwards with friends

Thursday
Craft Night at Friend's
(Keith will be at work)

Friday
Picnic at Callaway Gardens with Friends

Saturday
Our 6th Anniversary, so who knows what we will eat or do

My menu plan was linked to Keeper of the Home's Plan It - Don't Panic series.

Egg Cresent Muffins

Last Fall I hosted a Coffee Brunch.  Not many people came as the weather was wet and I live outside of town where everyone lives, oh it was during the week also.  But those that did come ate up these yummy breakfast/brunch treats that are easy to make and customize.


You will need a roll of crescent rolls.  Each crescent roll makes one Egg Crescent Muffin and I would account for each person eating two or three.  If you don't want to buy crescent rolls and would prefer a homemade dough you can use this crust recipe and cut the dough into triangles.

Yes, I seem to have my priority's mixed up when it comes to muffin pans.  I have TWO heart pans that hold six each and ONE round pan that holds six.  So if I am baking anything it is in batches of six.  I really really need to get a muffin pan that holds 12.


So you will take each crescent roll and put them into a buttered muffin hole.  Wrap that baby around and connect the ends.  It does not have to be perfect and it does not have to cover the whole hole.


 Then take one egg per crescent roll and add them to a bowl.  Add about 1/2 cup water, salt and pepper and beat them.  Then you can add whatever else is on hand.  Things like cheese, bacon bits, chives, onions, chopped mushrooms, whatever strikes your fancy.


 Then evenly fill each muffin hole with the goodness you just mixed up.

Stick it in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until cooked all the way through.


Eat up and enjoy!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Cute Fruit Ideas


I have gotta do the pear ones for my hubbies lunch next week.

I am sorry that I can't give great it came from pinterest or whatever that site is called.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Eat's of the Week ~ September 18th


This is pears that I picked today to make this yummy Carmeal Pear Jam.  I already had 10 pears in the house and I doubled the recipe to make 12 half pint jars and I still have the whole basket above.  I guess this week will consist of some pearsauce making to make this good Applesauce Breakfast Bread.  That way I will have a Carmeal Pear Jam and a Pearsauce Breakfast Bread loaf to give as a thank you gift, hostess gift or a Christmas gift.

Here is the dinners I have planned for this week.  Yikes I just realized we have no sandwich meat or peanut butter for lunch sandwiches.  Ooops :(

Sunday
Crust less Squash, Onion, Garlic Quiche
Hot Fried Potato Salad

Monday
Chili
Crackers

Tuesday
Probably Leftover's from Sunday

Wednesday
Cube Steak
Mac n Cheese
Steamed Veggie

Thursday
Taco's
Black Beans

Friday
Leftover's

Saturday
Salad
Garlic Bread

Some Favorites

 Keith and I have been eating this salad about every other week and sometimes two nights in a row.  It is a bed of spring mix salad blend, chopped tomato, bacon bits, cheese, chopped onion and topped a grilled portabella mushroom.  This mushroom is so good that I almost eat it all while I am chopping it up to go on the salad.  For the dressing we toss everything but the mushroom in this Italian dressing and chow down.  We are eating it tonight minus the mushroom.
 This is my new herb garden at it's finest.  The wheel borrow will be filled always with seasonal flower. and from left to right the herbs are peppermint sage, lemon balm, chocolate mint and spearmint.
 In Chattanooga (where my sister lives) they have this airstream that is a cute little eatery.  It is called Petunia's Silver Jalapeno and the food is GREAT.  I got fish tacos and my sister got a layered BBQ bowl that was topped with a fried cornbread pattie. 
 Us Feaster's (my maiden name) like to travel and when you travel to South Florida a lot you find great restaurants that you scout out and stop at even if it takes an extra 20 minutes.  One of those place for my dad, sister and I is Pollo Tropical.  It has great Caribbean food and the best black beans and rice cooked the way it should.  My dad found out via FB that they were opening one up in North Georgia.  We planned it all out and one Sunday my dad and I meet my sister and ate their.  No trip to Atlanta is complete without a trip to Ikea and Trader Joe's.
Here is us with out great food.  We all had leftovers and I thoroughly enjoyed them the next day.