2009 October « All My Eggs

Pumpkin Smoothie

I love pumpkin, and it’s great to get new ideas for ways to use them! I thought that I would do a small series of my favorite pumpkin recipes. It’s a great way to use those pumpkins you used for fall decorating.

I found this recipe in my local paper, and I tried it out yesterday. It was just yummy! And good for you. So I thought that I would share it with you.

Pumpkin Smoothie

You will need the following ingredients:

1/4 c. low-fat vanilla soymilk

1/4 c. canned pumpkin, chilled (I used some pumpkin puree that I had in the freezer, or you can use fresh)

6 – 8 oz low-fat plain yogurt (I used non-fat, and it worked great)

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tbsp. honey

Ingredients

Gather together all of your ingredients. Starting with the liquids, add all ingredients to the blender and then blend for 1 minute.

That’s it! Enjoy!

October 30, 2009 Posted by inonebasket | Food, Seasons | healthy, pumpkin, smoothie | 2 Comments

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Did you know that you can make your own pumpkin pie spice? It’s less expensive that buying it in the store, and you can adjust your spices to suit your own taste. I am using spices that I have purchased in bulk, and used to refill my jars. This saves me a lot of money, keeps my spices fresher and they will have more nutritional value.

So here is a recipe that I found that I really like. I got it from one of my favorite books, that I’ve owned for years, “Carla Emery’s Old Fashioned Recipe Book.” One day soon, I’ll tell you about this book. Anyhow, here is my recipe:

First I like to gather up all of my ingredients:

Gather the ingredients

You will need:

Ground Cinnamon

Ground Cloves

Ground Allspice

Ground Ginger

Ground Nutmeg

A small bowl, measuring spoons, an airtight container to store the mixture in, and a spoon or spatula for stirring the mixture. *I used a spatula because I can use it to level off the spices as I measure and I also use it to press out any lumps the spices may have in them.

Measure each of the spices into the bowl, scraping across the top of the spoon to make sure the measurement is level:

1 tablespoon each of the ground cinnamon and ground ginger, 1.5 teaspoons each of the allspice and the nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon of the ground cloves. Mix until they are well blended and there are no lumps.

Mix together the spices, pressing out any lumps that may be there.

Pour into a jar or other airtight container.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

You can use the pumpkin pie spice to flavor gingerbread, pies, pumpkin bread and other desserts.

I hope that you enjoy!

Take Care,

Cheryl

October 29, 2009 Posted by inonebasket | Food, Seasons | baking, cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin, spices | 2 Comments

My Journey….

I have been away for so long now. I have been spending all of my time over at my sewing blog, The Stitchin’ Chicken. And even now, I am having to spend less time there. We are in the process of looking at properties in another state, a return back to the northwest. At the same time, we are working on some repairs and updating/upgrading some things around our house, getting it ready to put on the market.

There are mixed feelings about all of this right now. Such a large part of me is anxious, almost delirious with delight at the prospect of going back to the northwest. I have family there, and I am anxious to be able to spend more time with them. Also, we are looking for a home with some acreage. That means I can return to vegetable gardening, and a chicken house full of chicks and eggs, and fruit trees…….

The other side is that I have some family here too. A son and a daughter, both old enough to live wherever they decide. Both may end up following, but right now that isn’t something that they have decided to do, at least right away. And I have a wonderful job here, with people that I enjoy working with. But I still keep getting that tug to move back to the land.

Part of the tug to get back to the land, besides the fact that it is my nature to live in the country, is the economy the last couple of years. It’s been so hard for so many. My survival instincts tell me to get back to what I know the best, and that is survival in the country, where I have options that I don’t have in the city, or the desert for that matter.

Anyhow, what all of this means is that I will be returning back to this blog. I will be sharing my journey to get back to the lifestyle that suits me the best, back to nature. My frugal nature will help us to return back to the northwest. I still live frugally, and save where I can. But right now I have an important goal. So I hope that you will come back and visit, and share my journey with me. Please let me know what you have done to reach your goals and if you are working toward a dream.

Thanks for stopping by and reading!

PS: I will be posting some recipes and simple handmade gift ideas throughout the coming weeks for a simple and frugal holiday season. Please stop by and say hi!

October 25, 2009 Posted by inonebasket | Country Living, Family, Frugality, Holidays, Homemade | frugal living, Holidays, saving | 2 Comments