Tis the Season ............ to be Growing.....

 My SIL moved to a place that had a nice strawberry patch waiting for her....

she was so kind to share!!!!  So far I have made some jelly, dehydrated some for snacks, and made some fruit leather.  I found some wonderful pins on pinterest. You can find some of the yummies

here where I stashed them.

Now is planting and tending time!  With patience and hopes that you have done something right!!!  This year Steve spread straw around the plants in hopes that it would cut down on the weeds taking over.....here hoping it works!!! Anything to keep those little boogers out of the garden.  However, we have deer coming in pretty close so I'm worried they will decide that we put a feast out for them!!! The fence (below) is for the peas!!!  We have:  tomatoes, peppers (sweet & hot, different varieties), radishes, carrots, corn, peas, sweet potatoes, zucchini, spaghetti squash, yellow squash, lettuce, spinach, cucumbers and more.  I plan to dehydrate more this year than what I have done in the past.  Anyone want to share ideas I'd appreciate it!

 Raspberries and blueberries -- finally getting some on our

bushes!!!  YUMMMMMMMMM

May/June 2013 - Daily Life

One of our favorite fruits around here.....cherries.....I really NEED to get a cherry

tree planted....maybe a couple trees......

 Love getting fresh eggs from our neighbors.....well....they moved, but

still share with us.  Think that is on our to do list: 

Get a chicken coop set up.

 Tried my hand at making Kale Chips....you can find the recipe here --

turned out pretty good...though they are not Trader Joes....the nutritional yeast, doesn't

smell the best when dehydrating so be sure to have your vent going....but other than that it

wasn't too difficult. 

 So I have been watching my carbs -- and in the process trying to make meals for the entire

family that are low carb and something that they will all eat....

parmesan chicken....grilled Brussels sprouts (I wanted to give you the link to these but can't

find the correct recipe...I think I kindda mixed em in my notes. Parmesan and bacon!! !YUM)

 Polenta with melted cheese....The family enjoyed the meal.

One of Claytons favorite things to do in the summer evenings is have

a bonfire.....gotta get him some roasting food!!!

 Time for the garden.......

 Broke down and made a couple rhubarb crumb pies.....however, a couple of em hit

the freezer.

 Shalene did a fundraiser for her missions trip....krispy kreme donuts....

So wonderful....a van full of em and the smell was just dreamy.

Well, I couldn't just drive past the store when I went to pick up the donuts.

Since we do not have a Hobby Lobby in our area, I gotta stop when I can.

I found this most wonderful recipe on pintrest....at Kayotic Kitchen --

it was just wonderful.  I purchased a "wonder" chicken at Weis (kindda like the rotisserie but with

more seasonings) and used that.....used no sugar mayo with it also....added a bit more shredded cheese than it called for (as we LOVE cheese) and you want to talk about a marvelous chicken salad!!!



Foodie PenPal for May

Had a wonderful foodie package sent to me by Kelly S from DC......I mentioned that I didn't have a Trader Joes close by so she shopped for me there. (I did find one a little over an hour away....but not near close enough to go every week like I want to, I simply love there stuff)  Kelly sent

me some items that were new to me....the Kale Chips are something that I have

never tried, and to be honest, I was a bit hesitant....but those things

are WONDERFUL!!!  Something that I shall purchase in the future.

(If you notice in below post....I purchased some more when I FINALLY was able to

get to a Trader Joes-after I had sampled them from my foodie box)

As for the mango.....well, I shared, but I had to hide it.....

I have Never have used chia seeds but am excited to give it a try...have put on salads...

and plan to try chia pudding.  (So any other suggestions would be great.....want to learn all that

I can)  Then a luna bar and fruit strip to stash in my desk for ......well, you know. 

 I gotta say that this Foodie PenPal deal is pretty fun...my mother has

done several months as well, but she had ended up with a dud and is

giving it a rest....you do take a chance with the person you are paired with, but I have ended up with some MARVELOUS foodpals!!!  (just making that little note, so those of you who are considering to participate have the full "view" of the foodie thing)

 I find myself waiting anxiously for my goodies to arrive, and wondering

what wonderful new items I will get a chance to try.

In the same turn, I really enjoy sending out goodies to others around the country, sending them a taste of my Penn. Dutch area!!

 

 

Thanks so much Kelly!!!! I LOVED my box!!!! It was wonderfully to get to "Virtually" meet you and learn about your interesting job, best of luck.

I sent my package to Johanne....., sent her a box

of German/Amish/Mennonite goodies.....she was another one that I really enjoyed getting to

know virtually....hope all goes well with your schooling and you accomplish much.

 If you wanna see the package I sent Johanne posted here

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in being part of the monthly foodie swap you can visit here for more information....I also have a bit more information mentioned previously in my posts.

 

 



Life at the Stahls - May 2013

 Well.....it appears that hunting has become a VERY important part of life around

here........Clayton has turkey calls, bird calls, trail camera and on and on.....

He was out hunting turkey the other day, right behind the house, and a bear came within feet from where he was!!!!  Whew....too close to home

 Bella visiting with her momma, Bree

 Rhubarb!!! Nothing like beautiful weather and rhubarb!!!  I love the smell of cooking rhubarb!!

Here I made strawberry rhubarb jelly.....I also looooooooooove rhubarb crumb pies but

I have been watching what I eat so didn't make them this time.....maybe later this summer.

 Sue and I spent a day in State College......hit an International store (which I loved)....and some of the itemswere a bit "different" and some were wonderful.  Got some coconut soda, sweet plantain chips and some grains I wanna try (coarse bulger--suggestions?)  We hit a thrift shop and Michaels along with several other stops.....seems like we couldn't come up with other thrift stores, every where we tried they were gone....anyone know of some good places?

 Trader Joes, is a store that I LOVE!!!  Especially being on the HCG diet, I have

been trying to watch the stuff I eat.  Well, I finally found a Trader Joes....only I have to go over an hour to get there.....but I do at least have hope of being able to shop occasionally at Trader Joes, just will have to stock up when I go....needless to say, I did stock up on several things....though it would be so wonderful if it were closer so I could go EVERY week!!!!  I didn't get a chance to look much at the frozen and cold items....next time I will take a cooler.....and maybe more money!!  Anywhooooo.....I was one happy person to FINALLY be able to find a Trader Joe's in Pa....

Heres a few of the goodies I got: Almond flour/meal, kale chips, cookie butter, polenta, dried mango.......any suggestions on using/serving these items would be welcome.....I have my ways but am open to other ideas....Oh and I got several of the spices:  21 blend and Dukkah .  Also some Harvest grains blend (Couscous, orzo, baby garbanza beans and red quinoa) as well as whole green lentils.....(ok foodie bloggers -- give me suggestions and recipe's, please!?)

 

Shalene and her Science Project.....simply soaked this egg in Vinegar for several days.

It totally dissolved the shell and came out almost like a rubber....however, when cut it is liquid inside just like normal.  Pretty neat deal!

 We have been thrilled with the weather.....allowing us to eat on the deck and grill.....

Found that a mamma bird built a next in my hanging globes on the front porch....

cute but grrrrrr

Surprise Clayton

 Clayton was determined to not celebrate his 13th Birthday........so we

had to pull off a surprise.   

He voted for swiss chocolate cake.....seems to be a favorite of

the family.

The girls had a bit of fun with the balloons

 Alyssa made it home for the party.......was nice to have her home for

a couple of hours. 

 

 This crew spent the night.....They were determined that if someone fell asleep

they would be sorry.....so needless to say there was very little sleeping.  Lots of man hunt, video games.....

 Friends & Family-Can't get any better.

So this morning, after a breakfast of cinnamon waffles and scrambled

eggs.....some of em gave it up....but only for a bit....the markers n shaving cream

came out.....So everyone was back at it.

February Foodie PenPal

I received such a yummy package this month.....Caitlin from By The Inch sent me this wonderful

box of goodies.   I love items from Trader Joe's but boohoo for me we do not have one in the area...

so Caitlin sent me some of her favs from Trader Joe's. 

Check out my awesome note she sent....she printed off this stunning list with

different ways I could use each item, and then wrote a little about herself on the back.

I have to say, this was a great box of goodies,  The chocolate covered chips did not last long....but oh they were dreamy.  She mentioned the Chile spiced mangos were good with chicken.  We ate some of these, but I am saving the rest to try with chicken. The Mexican chocolate was very different, salt and pepper organic  chocolate...this wheel of chocolate is in my desk drawer and I am slowly nibbling on it.  As for the pasta....hope to try that out this week....and I think the salsa verde will be tried on my eggs as she mentioned. 

Thanks so much Caitlin for such a wonderful box of goodies.

To participate in this you can visit here. 

And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 
-Foodie Penplas is open to US, Canadian & European residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. Same with Europeans. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. 

If you’re from the US or Canada and are in participating for November, please CLICK HERE (www.theleangreenbean.com/foodie-penpals/) to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

You must submit your information by March 4th as pairings will be emailed on March 5th!

*If you're from Europe, please CLICK HERE (www.thisisrocksalt.com/foodie-penpals/) to signup

Blessings

Wishing all of you who visit this blog, take time out to listen to this song....

pay close attention to the words.....this song has been special to me for the past

several months.  There are so many things/situations that have really been painful for me,
but I keep going back to the fact that God knows!!!!  Some days it just hurts to breath....but GOD knows.....Amy

February with the Stahls

I really love Valentines Day.....maybe its the pink and all the hearts.
Heart maple pancakes and heart ice cubes for breakfast.........

Yummy brownie pushups and other goodies later

 Lyssa had a birthday this month. can't believe she

is 20!  She had a list of funny animated movies she wanted, as
well as candles.  Had a nice breakfast out with her, shopped, dirt dessert was her "cake" request.  Her daddy then sent flowers to her work on her actual birthday.
 -- she also purchased a new / used car, we went shopping with her to pick something. She went with a Volkswagon.  I know its the coarse of life but I sure do miss havin her at home.

 Hit the sales and got all this for less than $13 after Valentines Day...Target 90% off!!!
Love stocking up like that for the next year.

 Game night

 Our hams, ham loaf and bacon arrived we had ours and my mom n dads...so lots to wrap.   needless to say with my bum arm. I didn't do a whole
lot....we even had Reuben, Claytons buddy help out!!

 Evening entertainment -- wrestle -- seems this has become
an evening ritual.  Clayton can only torment our dog for so long....he needs
a wrestling buddy by the end of the day.

 Had surgery...metal plate and screws.  I have graduated to a pale blue hard cast now!
I would have showed the pics of my arm when they took the staples out (which I was thrilled they did
as the things were very bothersome)  however, Shalene said I looked like Frankenstein
so I didn't want to gross anyone out.

 Been organizing my craft room.

 Baking cookies.

My felt owl family.....just love em.