What do you have in your garden?

Did I say that gardening was a hobby of ours? What I really mean is, it is our job. It is truly insane at the amount of work it takes to grow a garden. Especially one that will give you produce throughout the winter. At the beginning of the summer, Will didn't allow me to do much in the garden yet, even during nap times I had other things to do. Maybe that's just an excuse? Now that it is harvest time in our garden, I have been trying to make more of an effort of going outside during Wills nap time. The inside of our house is taking notice of this but oh well, soon it will be winter and I will be cooped up for months.

We like to chop up the onions and freeze them, they are then ready to go when cooking. Just put the amount you want in the pan or in ground hamburger for meat loaf.

Green beans are the same way as onions, if you freeze them you just have to drop them in water to boil before they thaw out and you are good to go!


Corn. What a pain in my butt. It is so worth it though. I have had corn that you freeze on the cob but for some reason, it has a rubbery texture until it is cut off the cob. The 'recipe' I use is as follows:

4 quarts corn
1 quart water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt

Mix it all up and then put the amount you want in freezer bags and enjoy all winter long. The last several years, we have gotten 45-50 bags. So far this year, we only have 12. This makes me sad. The corn is not done yet though, I have about that many more and then Dennis planted some a lot later in the season so they will not be ready for another couple of weeks. That is if the heat didn't kill the crop!




Tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes are not even close to being done. Well, the potatoes are done, I just couldn't dig anymore in the scorching heat (at 9:00 PM, see the clock!) Peppers are the same as onions. If you have them cut up and ready to be put in whatever you are cooking or baking then they are okay to freeze. If they thaw out they get very slimy and gross! YUCK!!!

Since the tomatoes are not done all at once, I will have several days of skinning them and freezing them so that when we have enough, we can start making spaghetti sauce!!!! YEAH!!!

Chopping season starts again!

I just realized how bad I have been at blogging the last month or two. I think it is due to the blogger not allowing me to upload photos all the time. It just decides when it wants to and when it doesn't want to. So, I will have a quick family update on all of us!

Dennis has started chopping again. Yesterday was the first day. I'm not sure how it went because I had to leave for work tonight at 10:40 and he didn't get into the house until 10:45. Because of this, I was running late and bairley had time for a good-night kiss. Dennis has been keeping these hours for the last couple of weeks just trying to get the chopper ready. That thing takes more care, love, and money than a new born baby! Kidding really, but its crazy at how much time that thing takes. It's okay though, it is our money maker and Dennis loves it.

Will is finally getting those molars. They are known as the one year molars but I'm not sure why because it took him quite a few more months than 12 to get those treacherous things. So far, he is just not sleeping as well. He doesn't want to nap much and getting to sleep for bed is a chore. Tonight, I had to let him cry himself to sleep. Nothing made that boy happy. Luckily it was only for a few minutes and by the time I was out of the shower he had fallen asleep. He is getting to be such a big boy!! If it didn't take a day and a half to upload a video on here I would show you how he helps me vacuum! It was too cute, I had to post it on facebook.

As for me, working like crazy. Well, when Dennis is home to take over Will watch that is. This week I am supposed to work from 9P.M. to 7 A.M. but since chopping takes precedence, I go in at 11. Hopefully I can do this without taking any vacation hours.

There is still quite a bit of corn out in our garden but I got 12 quart size bags in the freezer today. I should have about that much more in the garden yet. We have quite a few peppers in the refrigerator that needs to be cut and froze but I have been lacking energy to do so. I think our tomatoes are in the same boat as everyone else. Too hot to turn colors or put fruit on! With yesterdays temperature of 110*, nothing will grow in that kind of heat!! I know I need to dig some potatoes, especially since I have been craving some and they are easy to fix. Dennis planted some more green beans a lot later so we are actually getting some of those yet too. I think the heat has taken any vines we had. Our pumpkins look like crap or I should say the vines. There isn't any fruit on any of the pumpkins. We may have one or two watermelon but they are very small and I am sure not so well since we haven't had much water. It is just a hard summer for any produce. Whether it is for the livestock or for us in our small household, it has just been a hard, hot summer for all.

Harry Potter Cupcakes.

Beerbutter.

It sounds rich and oh so bad for you. If you like butterscotch, this is a drink for you! Well, I made the drink into a cupcake (the recipe is from Amy Bites blog I posted a while back). If you care to make the drink, it is as simple as adding 1 cup butterscotch schnapps into one 2 litter bottle of cream soda. Not enough alcohol that you should worry about your kids drinking one small glass of it. It is so buttery with just a hint of the butterscotch.

(I had to try just a bit of it :))

Mixing the butterscotch chips and heavy cream in a double broiler will make a ganache that is inserted into the cupcake and later drizzled over the top of the cupcake.

The decorations on it is a little tacky given the fact that I didn't have long to decorate them but I tried my best at making them Harry Potter themed cakes. The Ganache is also in the buttercream. Butterscotch delish-ness all around!

Will's 1st hair cut!

At 16 months old, Will got his first hair cut. It maybe sooner than either his father and mother had their first hair cut. He was playing around with the hair clippers while I grabbed my camera. NO IT WAS NOT ON! He was such a big boy and did so well. Once I showed him what was making the noise, he was okay with it and unrolled the toilet paper very well while I did the cutting. Bye, bye mullet!

Ta-da! The great hair cut! I did have to do a little trim up after this picture was taken and I did not do any trimming on top. He is officially a big boy now!!!

Cake Central Favorite!

I have been wanting to update my blog for a while now but for some reason, blogger will not allow me to upload my pictures. No pictures but some great news!!!

Last night I uploaded some cake pictures I have done and put them on Cake Central. It's a website that I'm truly addicted to. (Hi, my name is Natalie...) LOVE that site! It has galleries of cakes, cupcakes, sugar art, cookies, anything to do with cake. It's also a forum, a place to ask questions, share stories and just get to know other bakers, hobbyist and professionals alike. Anyway, once I uploaded my pictures it is free game for other members of this site to add them to their favorite cakes, and/or make comments. My cake pops of the lady bugs from Jaelynn's birthday is in the top most saved pictures for the day!!!! This totally makes me happy! I just want to go out and decorate something, with frosting of course!

So, hopefully blogger will allow me to start uploading pictures again so I can tell you about a few new things I have done! In the mean time, have a wonderful week and eat something sweet!!