The Bubble Maker

You might have noticed the SHE team button in my sidebar. SHE stands for Schooling at Home Etsians and is one of the many Esty "street teams." A street team is formed to network, share skills, and promote their shops.

Not only are they a lot of fun, but all the SHE's are so helpful and encouraging. Case in point: When I was pondering which heirloom tomato to try, Teresa from Smokey Mountain Scents was quick to recommend her favorite heirloom, Cherokee Purple tomatoes.

Not only that, but she offered to send me some of her seeds. From her very own tomatoes. For free.

Just like that, peoples!

And so the little seeds from Tennesse made their way to a garden in Wyoming. Where they proved themselves worthy in a climate very unfriendly to tomatoes.

And here they are, in all their beautiful tomato glory:

Oh, mercy. They taste so good. I think I have a new favorite. And seed swapping has found a new fan.

But I just can't let you go without showing you a few yummies from Smokey Mountain Scents. Her shop is filled with all manner of handmade soaps, lotions, candles, and fizzies. Most of which look good enough to eat for breakfast!!

Like this Candy Corn soap

And Iced Pumpkin Spice.... SOAP. Doesn't it look yummy?

Pumpkin Spice Candles to match your soap.

So pop over and visit the bubble maker herself :)

Please visit Works For Me Wednesday for more great tips and ideas.

Easy Peasy Harvest Mix

I'm not generally a fan of candy corn, but I heard about this mix tasting like a PayDay candy bar and had to try it. Guess what! It really does! Just make sure each bite contains both peanuts and candy corn.

Now I buy a bag of candy corn every fall, just to make this mix. 2 ingredients. Effortless to make. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Harvest Mix

2 cups salted or dry roasted peanuts
2 cups candy corn

Mix together. Serve.

That is all.

Please visit Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday for more great recipes!

Sticky Chicken and Why It's Not Sticky

If you dream of putting Kenny Roger's Roasters, Boston Market, and other rotisserie style chickens to shame, here is your recipe. It is ridiculously easy!! With a capital "R". And delicious.

When whole chickens go on sale for .69 a pound, I round up as many as I can afford. When I get home I multiply the dry rub recipe, line them up and rub 'em down. Then they each go in a zipper bag and into the freezer.

Now just thaw overnight and bake as per the recipe. Then wait for the undying devotion that will soon be pledged to you.

Oh, and the chicken? It is not sticky. It's called sticky chicken because when you get done smacking around that dry rub you're going to look a little bit like this:

So that's really the only drawback.

But doesn't it look pretty?

ROAST STICKY CHICKEN
Spice rub:
4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
cayenne pepper to taste

1 whole chicken

Combine spices. Clean and dry chicken. Rub with spices, inside and out. Now you have three choices: 1) Place in zipper bag and freeze. 2) Place in roasting pan, cover and refrigerate overnight. 3) Slap that puppy in the pan and get on with the roasting already. The outcome will not be affected by the method you start with.

To roast: Thaw, if frozen. Put about 1/4 cup water in bottom of pan around chicken. Roast in 250 degree oven for 5 hours. Yes, 5 hours. Baste a few times. For safety, the chicken should reach an internal temperature of 180 F. Let rest 10 minutes, carve and serve.

It can also be done in the crock pot, but I haven't tried that yet. If you make yours in the crock pot, please let me know how it works!

Happily posted to Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Crock Pot Wednesday.

Crafter's Stimulus Plan

I'm participating in The Weekend Boutique at Pretty Organized Palace again this week. Pretty Organized Palace encourages us to "Come see... come shop... come buy from women and moms who could use the extra cash for their families." So click on over to the Weekend Boutique and get a jump on your Christmas shopping!

I'm highlighting a few items from PrairieCottageRose for you today.

Not so scary scarecrow table runner... Easy care runner for Halloween through Thanksgiving.

Hand crocheted luxury spring violet washcloth trio. Add a few other goodies and you’ll have the perfect gift for any occasion....or just a special treat for yourself.

Soft and gentle crocheted shower puff in sunny yellow will cheerfully help you stuff those stockings:)

Punkin patch table runner. Another one that could carry you from early fall through Thanksgiving.

Candy Corn Crow... has a seriously big sweet tooth. A new OOAK design for fall 2009.

Happy shopping everyone!! And remember, it's only 96 Days, 7 Hours, 3 minutes until Christmas!

...But who's counting?

Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate

What??

Oh, you didn't think I meant... Um, you know. Really kiss me over the garden gate.

Did you?

Oh, my. It's just the name of a flower.

You may breathe a sigh of relief now.

With such an weird name, I had to try growing one. Turns out. They're pretty stinkin' awesome. For a flower.

Just look at this willowy beauty:

Drippy, droopy rosy blooms.

Heart shaped lime green leaves and interesting markings on the stems.

Bonus: They reseed themselves. Every year. And they are pretty tolerant of a wide range of conditions.


Here is another strange flower:

Love Lies Bleeding
Is that hilarious or what? A plant with dreadlocks.

If you like unique flowers too, the original seeds came from here and here.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

Visit Works-For-Me-Wednesday for lots of great tips!

The Great Pumpkin

Thank you SaraBeeDesigns for including my pumpkin runner in your Treasury West! You really brightened my day!

I would be ever so grateful if you all would kindly head over to The Great Pumpkin treasury to click and comment:)

'Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.' Jeremiah 5:24

Say yes to the dogs

Bandito dogs are a favorite originally from Recipezaar. We have made a few changes to the recipe and consider them practically perfect now. They are so quick, so easy it's almost like eating out!

BANDITO DOGS1 (1 lb) package hot dog
2 (15 ounce) cans chili- use your favorite or even homemade
8 ounces cubed Velveeta cheese
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained & optional

TO SERVE:
Hot dog buns
Chopped onion or green onion
Mustard
Ketchup
Crumbled Fritos
Shredded cheddar cheese

Combine the chili, Velveeta, and green chilies in a slow cooker. Gently mix in hot dogs. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours.

When you can't stand it one. more. minute, it's time to dig in. Serve hot dogs in buns. Pile on some chili sauce and your toppings of choice.

Trust me. You'll be glad you said yes.

Posted to Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Crockpot Wednesday.

What I've been making... Part 2

I am delighted to participate in Pretty Organized Palace's Weekend Boutique! What fun to peek in and see what all you crafty people have been hand making with love. And I'm hoping for a little PR for my PrairieCottageRose & Puddintoes Etsy shops, too:)

Today I'm highlighting the newest autumn handiwork from PrairieCottageRose:

Harvest moonlight hand painted plate. This is a pattern from Terrye French and one of my favorites to paint. Love the prim moon watching over a little saltbox farmhouse and the scarecrow guarding the pumpkin patch.

Prim ruffled turkey and pumpkin table runner. (Mr. Turkey is trying to hide out in the punkin patch. Thanksgiving is coming, you know:)

A prim scarecrow table runner. He has forsaken the corn patch in favor of his beloved pumpkins. He may, in fact, be the very same scarecrow in the above painted plate. There is an uncanny resemblance.....

See more of my Scarecrow and Turkey pumpkin runners and harvest moonlight hand painted wood plate here.

The Smartest Dog in the Whole Wide World

We have a dog named Opie Pye. Clearly, the younguns were at the height of their Andy Griffith phase when the name picking took place. And we had just read Ginger Pye. Which explains his "middle" name.

Opie prefers to be called "your highness" and the poor wee thing spends his afternoons like this:

We always imagined Opie Pye to be quite intelligent, in addition to the massive cuteness. Then we came across this video of what is decidedly and without doubt the smartest dog in the whole. wide. world.

Ever.

And apparently, his name is Opie too.

Maybe we should only let dogs vote.

Fabulous Fajitas

Mercy. Fabulous does not begin to cover it:) These are an absolute favorite and there is never a bite left when we make them. They turn out tender and juicy every single time. While it is made in the crock pot, it is not an all day type recipe. I like to throw them in before leaving for one of daughter's softball or son's baseball games. I add the veggies when we get back and dinner is ready in about 10-15 minutes.

Always a bonus.

FABULOUS FAJITAS

1 and 1/2 pounds boneless sirloin

2 tablespoons cooking oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 and 1/2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 large pepper, cut in strips

1 large onion, cut in strips

tortillas

First the steak needs to be cut into strips. I find this is easier if it has been partially frozen. The knife slices the strips easily, without the meat squirming away. Brown the steak strips in oil. Place the steak and drippings in the crock pot. Add lime juice, garlic and dry seasonings. Stir. Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours, or until meat is tender. Add peppers and onion and let steam just until crisp/tender, about 10-15 minutes.

Serve with tortillas and toppings of choice, which may or may not include salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes, lettuce, olives, etc.

Can you hear that? They're calling your name.

Posted to Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Crock Pot Fest and Crock Pot Wednesday.