Amish Cheese House

Last month, Holly, my oldest daughter was going to Choteau to run some errands, so I offered to go along to drive and wrangle Ruby and Alex. Any excuse to spend time with my babies (no matter how old they are). One of the stops was The Amish Cheese House, a fantastic sandwich shop and cheese shop. Actually much more than cheese is sold there, things such as, meats, cheeses, candy, spices, cheese balls, jams, jellies and so on. 

I bought a few items:

• Taco Seasoning (takes two tsp. per 1 # ground beef or turkey)
• Ground Cumin
• Curry Powder
• Whole Black Peppercorns
• Ground Thyme
• Chicken Base for soups, chicken noodles, etc.
• Creamy Coleslaw Dressing Mix
• Southwest Dip Mix
• Black Raspberry Dip Mix

My Amish Spices

I suggest the cheese balls for entertaining. I bought a delicious dessert cheese ball covered in pecans and had tiny chocolate chips inside, YUM! Great served with a plain cookie and apples.

There is a Amish bakery right next door that has the best baked goods you have ever tasted! I bought caramel breakfast rolls and banana nut bread to take to a family gathering. The two-crust fruit pies looked like they should be sitting on Aunt Bea’s window ledge and there are two sizes, small (2 person) and regular.

AND everything was VERY reasonally priced. If you have a chance to go through Choteau, plan to stop for a sandwich and other goodies. The Amish Cheese House, 101 S Chouteau Avenue, Chouteau, Oklahoma. I highly recommend it because of the natural ingredients, cleanliness, variety and value.

I also bought a small jar of Unker’s Deep Penetrating Pain Relief to rub my sore muscles/joints and the usual chigger bites summer brings. It works! It has natural ingredients and is recommended for arthrtis, colds, coughs, sore throats, burns, bruises, sinus troubles, insect bites and chapped hands and feet.

Unkers Pain Relief

While in Chouteau, we visited a flea market, lunched at a Amish Restuarant and purchased fabric at an outlet shop. A great day with some of my favorite ladies.

County Fairs and Prairie Wildflowers

County Fairs are so much fun! Delicious food, fantastic exhibits, fun animals and a comforting ambiance. I am going to enter some items into the Nowata County Fair this year. I want to encourage everyone to enter some items in their county fair. The more exhibits in the Fair, the better the Fair. I will be sharing a series of my 2009 county fair exhibits.

My exhibit into Open Class Photography/Adult Division

Plant Life

Oklahoma Prairie Wildflowers

Showy Evening Primrose

Common Spiderwort

Prairie Field of Golden Coreopsis

Golden Coreopsis

Wavy-leaved Thistle

 The Nowata County Free Fair has a Stick Horse Rodeo and a Pedal Tractor Pull, doesn’t that sound like alot of fun for young and old alike! County Fairs are an integral part of our American heritage. Most county fairs are held at the local fairgrounds and the office may have the fair books or will know where to obtain the books. The booklets provide all the information about the sections, divisions and classes for exhibits. Share some news about your county fair!

Oklahoma Summer Livin’

Swimming

Alex & Ruby cooling off on the 108 degree heat index day this summer. This activity can last for hours and then they invade the kitchen for jell-o, popsicles, mandarin oranges, cheese sticks, etc.  This weekend Ruby had already ate two popsicles and wanted a third, to which I replied “No, we need to eat something different.” I watched her little face and could tell the wheels were turning, she said “Can I have a different popsicle?”  My reply was “Good try, Rub!”

We had a Hawaiian Culture Day with grass skirts, leis, hula, pineapple tidbits! I bought the outfits at the dollar store. We read about Hawaiian culture, ate pineapple and looked at Pineapple Plants. We watch Lilo & Stitch (a good movie for their age). 

Hawaiian Culture Day

We have had to replace the pool because Alex decided that she needed to drive her bicycle into the pool; poked a few holes. She learned a lesson. After a talk about inflatable pools and sharp objects, a new pool was purchased on sale and will be inflated today. I developed a method of keeping the pool relatively clean this summer, which I will share with you.

Pool Cleaning Process:

1. they step in and out of the pool in a plastic wash pan to lessen grass, etc.
2. once a week I pour about 5 cups of bleach into the water (a day when the pool will not be used)
3. the next day I top off the pool with fresh water
4. about every 3 weeks I empty water out and clean and fill with completely new water 
5. I use the old water for my flowers and garden ( be careful about the bleach amount)

We have lots of cool fun filled hours with a $10 pool! They have a canvas folding chair to lay their towels on for drying off and lots of pool toys.

This weekend I covered one set of my iron patio chairs while I watched the girls swimming, so I was able to multi-task. I will share the process and finished product this week. I hope you and yours have had some fun enjoying the great outdoors this summer.

Vintage Tupperware & Harvesting

Harvesting Green Bell Peppers

 My set of three “harvesting” items, a vintage Tupperware Cutting Board, a handled red garbage bowl and a washing bowl.  My garden is small so I developed a method for processing small amounts of produce. I first put a small amount of produce in the green bowl and fill it with water to wash the dirt off of the produce. The vintage tupperware piece is fantastic for chopping produce and pouring into small plastic freezer bags. The red garbage bowl is for the bits and pieces from chopping the produce and the contents go in the compost heap.

Diced Green Bell Pepper

My sweetie doesn’t really like green peppers, therefore, I only use about 1/4 cup in various dishes like chili, spaghetti, taco filling, etc.  I pour about a 1/4 cup into a small freezer bag and seal it then put the freezer. When the batch is frozen I put the bags of green pepper into a larger plastic freezer bag. When I need some diced green pepper for a recipe, I just grab a small bag from the freezer. Easy!

A Finished Batch Ready for the Freezer

I process several veggies this way, onions, other peppers and various squash (zucchini for bread, yellow for casseroles). Just adjust this process to fit your garden and family size and likes. A combo of green peppers, red peppers and onions could be processed into one Southwest Seasoning combo for stews, soups, etc. I will share my recipes for Zucchini Bread and Squash Casserole later this month.

Old Junque Art Gardening

Hen & Chicks in Old Enamel Pot

I love using old pieces of the past in my gardening. I often plant perennial succulents or annuals in old chipped enameled pieces. Be sure and punch a few holes in the bottom before planting or the rain can stand in the pots and cause rotting to occur. Sometimes you can use a big nail and hammer or use a drill with a sharp drill bit to punch holes, this depends upon the condition of the enameled pot.  These old enamel pots and pans can be found in flea markets, antique stores or yard sales. The price can range from WOW to very cheap (a $1 per pot), just shop for those bargains. Gardening Notes: 1. Keep moist in winter. 2. If the temperature drops 20 degrees or below put the pots in a protected place, like a garage or shed.

Perennial Succulent in Green/Beige Enamel Pot

I look for unusual items to place in my landscape to add interest and detail. In my new butterfly garden  I put a vintage hand driven cultivator and a red and white enamel dish pan. The cultivator adds some ambiance from the past and provides for a trellis for the recent planted Passion Vine. The dish pan provides water for the birds and butterflies, it needs a unique rock or something for the butterflies to land on to drink.

Butterfly Garden with Cultivator and Dish Pan

Old rusty iron pieces have a special appeal to me, the bits and pieces remind me of days gone by when they were used by the farmer out in the field or by the farmers wife in the milk house. I have combined a rusty piece (milk separator??) with a vintage tin watering can; both pieces have drought resistant annuals planted in them because of the intense heat of Oklahoma Summers. The rusty planter displays bright pink rose moss and the tin watering can displays multi-colored periwinkles (vinca minor); both are heat and drought tolerant.

My Junque Art

Old junque art pieces not only add interest to a garden but it also recycles odd bits and pieces that would otherwise end in the trash pile. Our small towns have an abundance of junque art in the yards and gardens. I love to drive around and look at all the ingenuity of fellow gardeners. What a great one day trip! Just go to small towns and look for junque art, take pictures and enjoy lunch at a restaurant with local cuisine. I might just have to take a day trip soon! I know that there are many of you out there that also have found unique pieces of junque art and have used the great finds in creative ways. Please comment and leave a link so we can all share in this joy of junking.

Rose Moss

Multi-Color Periwinkle

(Jiffy Mix) Corn Casserole

Beat Eggs First

Jiffy Mix Corn Casserole

1. 1 Can whole kernal corn, drained
2. 1 can creaned corn2 eggs, beaten
3. 1 box of jiffy corn muffin mix (I use Aldi’s corn muffin mix)
4. 1 stick butter, melted
5. 1 cup sour cream
6. 1 small can of green chilies
7. Salt & Pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use one bowl to mix ingredients. Put eggs into a medium bowl and beat, then add the rest of the ingredients. Bake in a greased casserole dish or a 9×13 inch baking dish for 30 to 40 minutes or until fully cooked in center and well browned.

A Cast of Characters

This easy but delicious side casserole goes great with Grilled Steak or Pork Chops or Chicken. I usually add a green salad with all the extras, like croutons, bacon bits and shredded cheese. In the summer, I add sliced homegrown tomatos to round out the meal.

Ready to Go Into The Oven

A nice ending to the meal, fix a easy jell-o dessert (we often use sugar-free) and pour it into pretty glasses and top off with whipped cream or make a yummy Strawberry Cake.

Easy Jell-o Ideas

1. Cherry Jello with Mini-Marshmallows On Top
2. Orange Jello with Mandarin Oranges 
3. Strawberry Jello/whipping cream whipped in a mixer; pour into the glass and layers will form

Strawberry Cake

• 1 Box White Cake Mix
• 3 T Flour
• 1 Box Strawberry Jello
• 1 Cup Oil
• 1/2 Cup Water
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 Box (10 oz) Frozen Strawberries

Icing:

• 1 Box of Powdered Sugar
• 1/4 Remaining Box of Strawberries
• Dash of Salt
• 1 T Butter

Grease and flour 13 x 9 pan. Combine cake ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Ice the cake when cooled.

 

Jiffy Corn Casserole

I hope you enjoy this recipe and menu ideas!

 

 

Keepin’ It Real!!

Urban Dictionary: Keeping It Real     Staying true to yourself, your faith, your life and constantly seeking the truth. You are keeping it real as long as you do not harm yourself or anyone around you physically mentally or spiritually. You try to benefit the environment and society that surrounds you and eventually serving humanity for the greater good. By keeping it real you are authentic and do not follow the geopolitical or corporate economic norm, but you strive to develop a norm that is centered on peace, truth, and unity.

Love Life, Live Life, After Life

My Garage

I am keepin’ it real here on my little acre! It’s Spring! Right? Time for Spring cleaning! Right? Two years ago I set this garage up for my flea market business (12 years) and have not really touch it since that time. My time was spent on other activites and thus, this is what you see.  Are you ready?? Sure?? OK, brace yourself!

OMG!!!!! Where Do I Begin?!

However, I am no longer in the flea market business but have decided to open up an eBay Store, so I need to sort and clean and make hard decisions about what to keep, etc. A garage sale is in the very near future, like in about two to three weeks. I helped open and operate an eBay Store a few years ago and in the process became a Ebay Education Specialist. My fibromyalgia and chronic arthritis make for good days and bad days, thus it is hard to work any full or even part time job for anyone, where someone depends on you being there to help them. Imagine that!! I can eBay in my pajamas and fit it in between taking care of Alex and all the other little things I do.

An Acre of Oklahoma Ebay Store is an extension of my philosophy on living the good life. I sell books, vintage household items, craft patterns, crochet/kniting patterns, children’s clothes, and much more.

I have alot of plans for the store, such as:

1. Small Craft Kits
2. A Series of Children’s Books
3. How-To Pamplets
4. Cookbooklets (is that a word?)

Paul Marshall Vintage Paper Mache'

http://www.stores.ebay.com/An-Acre-of-Oklahoma

A Paul Marshall Proper Lady Pincushion and the Peasant Lady Lipstick Holder will be listed on eBay soon. The early 1960’s the Japanese introduced paper mache’ products into our culture, like piggy banks in shapes of animals, clowns, etc. They took “flower power” to a whole different level. I have a whole paper mache’ zoo in a box, just waiting for me to find and list.

Wish me luck with this terrible, awful mess! Who put all this junk in my garage?? I am going to put out a bounty out on their head! The Dog will be hunting and putting a smack down on them! If you have a garage or room or basement that looks like mine, you are not alone in your junk disfunction.

Easter Fun & Homegrown Mother’s Day Out

Blue Bird Eggs

Both of my granddaughters go to a church sponsored Mother’s Day Out Program to give their mamas and nanny a break to do errands, work, clean, etc. However, both programs are in a town 20 miles away, which can be a problem, depending on who is doing what, going where and can be a day spent in town trying to find something to do until 3:00 o’clock. We have decided not to enroll the girls in the Summer Program but still give everyone a break. One girl will go to her aunt’s house to spend the day with her cousin and one day both will come to nanny’s house.

So I have made some plans for both girls on the days they are at my house and I thought I would share the plans with my friends.

Fun Things

Homemade Playdough

• 1 cup flour
• 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup salt
• few drops of food coloring

1. Mix all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
2. Cook over medium heat until a dough forms a ball. Stirring constantly.
3. Remove from heat and put on wax paper and knead until smooth.
4. Will keep for a long time in a plastic container.
5. Make several different colors.

Find cookie cutters, small wooden rolling pin and other items to have fun with the playdough. I have bought both girls a themed (I let them choose the theme; their choice; no fussing, etc.) plastic placemat for rolling out the playdough. Here is another recipe for playdough which would be fun to eat (only when fresh!)

Peanut Butter Playdough

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2/3 to 1 cup non-fat dry milk
• 2 tbsp. honey

1. Mix all ingredients.
2. Add enough powdered milk to make playdough dry enough to handle.
3. Shape into balls.
4. Use chocolate chips, raisins, dry cranberries, seasonal sprinkles for decorating.
5. Easter: Stir in chow main noodles for bird’s nest and use small jelly beans for the eggs.

Floppy

 

Fun Food

Using the small refrigerated biscuits.

Mini-Pizzas

• 1 can Refrigerated Biscuits
• 1 jar Pizza Sauce
• Pepperoni Slices
• Mozzarella Cheese

1. Flatten biscuits, either by hand or a small rolling pin.
2. Spread sauce on top.
3. Put a layer of pepperoni.
4. Cover with the cheese.
5. Bake at 425 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Pigs in a Blanket

• 1 10-count refrigerated biscuits
• 5 hot dogs
• 5 slices of cheese

1. Flatten out biscuits.
2. Cut hot dogs and cheese in half.
3. Cut a slit in the hod dog and insert a piece of cheese.
4. Place the hot dog in the middle of the biscuit and then wrap the biscuit around it.
5. Bake at 350 degrees until biscuits are browned.
6. Must haves: ketchup and honey mustard for dipping.

 Peanut Butter n’ Jelly Hot Pockets

• 1 can of large biscuits
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 8 tsp of jelly (your choice)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Flatten biscuits into a round circle.
3. On the center place 1 tbsp of peanut butter and 1 tsp jelly.
4. Fold the biscuit over and use a fork to crimp the edges.
5. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes or until browned.
6. Let biscuits cool slightly (8to 10 minutes) before eating, we do not want any burned tongues!

Fruit Juice Popsicles

1. Buy a set of  freezer popsicles forms; these can usually be found in the “summer” section of the discount stores or $1 shops.
2. Pour fruit juice into the forms and put in freezer until frozen. Great for a hot afternoon outside, less mess.

Bunny Salad

• 1 can of halved pears
• red hot candies
• raisins
• slivered almonds
• cottage cheese

1. On a small plate put one of the pear halves upside down.
2. Make very small slits for a red hot candy for a nose, raisins for eyes and almonds for ears.
3. Put a small dip of cottage cheese at the large end of the pear for the bunny’s tail.

Just a few of the plans for a fun and active summer for two little girls. I will keep you updated on the exciting home-grown Mother’s Day Out that will be starting in late May! I hope the weather is warmer! It is a cold and sunny April day!

Sweet Baby Bird

Plastic Bottles……hmmm!

Call it a little nutty, call it alot of crazy but every time I throw a plastic bottle in the trash, I think I need to recycle that bottle! EVERY single dang  time! So I have decided that I will either recycle every plastic bottle I can or make something useful from it. I flashback to  the Indian on the horse by the littered highway with a single tear in his eye! I can’t take it any more! Therefore,

I have researched the topic and have come up with some great ideas for 1 and 2 Liter Pop Bottles:

1. Make bird feeders next winter from 2 liter pop bottles. There is actually a metal or plastic adapter that will make this extremely easy.
2. A foot warmer: fill bottle with warm water and roll it back and forth with your feet; that would help my foot cramps also. When the water cools down water your plants.
3. Make a plastic bag holder or string dispenser from a 2-liter bottle. Cut off the bottom and the top of the bottle and then mount the bottle upside-down with screws (use a washer under the plastic so the screws will not pull through the plastic) inside your cabinet or closet door. Put the plastic bags in the top and pull out the bottom. For a string holder-do not cut off the top and save the lid. Drill a hole in the lid to pull string through the bottle.
4. Boot & Shoe Dryers: Fill an even number of 2-liter bottles half full of sand (I am a half-full kinda of gal) then put them on either a layer of newspapers or a plastic boot tray by your back door for those muddy, wet boots to dry. And no mess on the rest of your floors.
5. Shop funnels: A really easy and economic funnel for a variety of uses, such as, filling a car’s radiator or gas tanks on lawn mowers or leftover paint into a smaller glass jar.
6. Summer fun for the kids: make 3 small (1 1/2 inch) slits in one side of the bottle and attach to the hose for a cool activity on those hot summer days. Attach the bottle to the hose with duct tape or an adapter for hoses.
7. Save the tops to make a really neat finger pin cushion. The pin cushions make a little extra something for gift giving to those that sew. I will put up the tutorial up in the next several weeks. Very easy!
8. There is a vintage crochet pattern for making small purses from butter tubs. The same pattern might work for the bottoms of some types of pop bottles, which have smooth tops. I will look for the pattern and share it with those who crochet. Not me!

And please BE CAREFUL when cutting the pop bottles! A rotary cutter is the safest but still very sharp. These suggestions are not for children but adults and only those adults who do not have to have other adult supervision for such crafty work. Leaves me out.

Now how about some more suggestions from those creative and green thinking individuals out there?

I can now sleep at night and my soul can find rest, not having to suffer from guilt for adding to the plastic pop bottle stack that will not decompose in a million, trillion years.

An Acre of Oklahoma Spring Weather and Cookin’ Fest

When you live in Oklahoma, March can bring severe thunderstorm warnings  and winter weather warnings all within 24 hours! The forecast for tomorrow is anywhere from 4 to 8 inches of snow. SNOW!

Cold & Wet march Day

Well, that means a stew and chili cookin’ fest for this acre!

Chili & Stew Cookin' Fest

In each pot I put approximately 1 tablespoon of EVOO (Thanks, Rach!) and then chopped 1 large onion and divided it between the pots. I then chopped several big stalks of celery for the stew pot.  Cooked each pot about 5-6 minutes to brown the veggies. Next, I divided 1# of ground turkey and 1# of ground beef (95/05) in the pots and browned. I use a potatoe masher to “mash up” the meat.

Browned Meat & Potatoe Masher

I peeled the potatoes and carrots for the hamburger stew. I cut both veggies into big chunks and put the carrots in to cook first for about 30 minutes; then the potatoes. I also add 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can crushed tomatoes, bouillon and a variety of spices (I just look in the spice cabinet and make a few choices, like basil).

Chunky Carrots

 The veggie peelings go into the compost heap.

Compost Heap

In the Chili Pot goes 2 cans of mexican beans, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can of chili ready tomatoes, 1 cube beef bouillon and chili seasonings. I try to have corn chips, crackers and grated sharp cheddar cheese on hand for either Corn Chip Chili Pie or good old Chili with crackers. We like the golden round crackers at our house.

Chili

This is the vintage coffee can that I keep all my bouillon cubes stored in and I buy most of my bouillon from the “Hispanic” section of the grocery store. I like the large soft cubes and the large variety in the section. 

Vintage Coffee Can

Now my family will be well fed for the snowy weekend when we snuggle down in the house until the storm blows over, which will be Sunday. Sunday forecasts 55 for the high, bye, bye snow! Thank goodness!

Saturday SNOW Piling UP!

Well, I hope the weather is warmer where you are but if not, stay warm and safe. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Fargo, ND for they have far worse weather conditions than here in Oklahoma.