Frugal wall art! For the instructions you can go here
8/19/11
Frugal Photo Display-Repurposing Plastic CD Cases
Do you have a stash of cd cases laying around? Check this out.I love this idea! I've seen a couple other ideas to repurpose cd cases. What's your favorite?
Frugal wall art! For the instructions you can go here
Frugal wall art! For the instructions you can go here
8/15/11
Art of the Chicken Coop Review
Art of the Chicken Coop by Chris Gleason
Keeping a small flock of backyard chickens is becoming more and more popular.
In Art of the Chicken Coop there are easy to follow construction plans for seven different coops, four of them for flocks of six chickens or less. The perfect size for a backyard flock. One coop is a space saver, only using 2 ½ x 3 feet of space! Each coop includes a complete supply list and lots of pictures!
If you will be keeping over six, up to fifteen, three of the coop designs will accommodate such a flock. The author also includes instructions on how to increase the size of any of the coops in the book.
What I really liked was the use of salvaged materials. Both my coops used salvaged materials. I’m sure my new coop will be no different.
There are also 3 profiles of chicken keepers who offer some great advice and tips, a whole chapter on building coop runs, advice on everything you’ll need in your coop, a characteristic chart of popular backyard breeds (with each breed pictured), and egg recipes.
From beginner to veteran this book has great information for anyone!
8/8/11
Zucchini Candy-In honor of National Sneak Zucchini On Your Neighbor's Porch
National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day is today! Have any of you dropped any off on your neighbors?
It always happens. The zucchini that hides until it is soooo huge! I've had a couple of them so far this year. How about you? What do you do with your bat size zucchinis?
This year I've been making candy. That's right, zucchini candy! I have a batch in the dehydrator right now. They taste a lot like gummi worms.
I have two recipes. The one I am trying right now is one my mother gave me. I think she found it on the internet but not sure where:
Ingredients:
A large zucchini
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 pack Kool-aid
8 cups water
Peel the zucchini.
Cut it into 1 inch chunks, be sure to cut off the center part with seeds (as uniform as you can so they dry evenly).
Add Kool-aid, water, and sugar (recipe can be doubled) in a large pot and bring to a boil.
Add zucchini chunks and turn down to a simmer, stir occasionally. Cook until zucchini turns translucent, about 20-25 minutes. Drain using a colander.
Place them on the food dehydrator racks making sure no pieces are touching each other. Use a fruit leather mat if you have one. This makes clean up easier. I only use mine for about the first hour then remove.
Let it dehydrate until it feels squishy but firm, about 18 hours.
When they are done, put 3 Tbs of powdered sugar, and 1 Tbs corn starch in a bag and toss candy pieces in with it. This keeps them from sticking together in the bag or jar.
I'll let you know how we liked this recipe once it is done.
Another great recipe is:
10 cups peeled diced zucchini 1/2 inch cubes or "worms" about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch thick and wide.
3 cups water
2 pkgs. unsweetened Koolaid (Everyone says black cherry or cherry is best, all I had was strawberry)
2 1/2 cups sugar
Peel zucchini, dice/slice, removing seeds. Mix the liquid syrup together. Add zucchini. Bring to a boil and them simmer for 25 min. Drain. Put on dehydrator trays. Dry 14
hours at 125 degrees. Turn pieces over and dry another 4 hours. They will
feel dry and not sticky when done. Store in jars or other tightly sealed
containers. If you dip in sugar when you turn them, they will be more like
"gum drops" on the outside.
Next I will be trying these two recipes to use up large zucchini:
Zuke Chips
Take the large size zukes and slice them 1/8 inch thick, blanch them for 30 seconds, pat dry, and sprinkle salt (use Kosher or french fry seasoning) and onion powder on them. Dry them in the dehydrator until crispy like potato chips.
Zuke Burger
Take a large zuke, slice 1/2" thick, brush with olive oil, season with salt & pepper, (or any hamburger seasoning you use) and grill. Serve on potato roll buns.
So you still have too much zucchini and are going to sneak some on your neighbors porch, be sure to include a few of these recipes for them! lol
It always happens. The zucchini that hides until it is soooo huge! I've had a couple of them so far this year. How about you? What do you do with your bat size zucchinis?
This year I've been making candy. That's right, zucchini candy! I have a batch in the dehydrator right now. They taste a lot like gummi worms.
I have two recipes. The one I am trying right now is one my mother gave me. I think she found it on the internet but not sure where:
Ingredients:
A large zucchini
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 pack Kool-aid
8 cups water
Peel the zucchini.
Cut it into 1 inch chunks, be sure to cut off the center part with seeds (as uniform as you can so they dry evenly).
Add Kool-aid, water, and sugar (recipe can be doubled) in a large pot and bring to a boil.
Add zucchini chunks and turn down to a simmer, stir occasionally. Cook until zucchini turns translucent, about 20-25 minutes. Drain using a colander.
Place them on the food dehydrator racks making sure no pieces are touching each other. Use a fruit leather mat if you have one. This makes clean up easier. I only use mine for about the first hour then remove.
Let it dehydrate until it feels squishy but firm, about 18 hours.
When they are done, put 3 Tbs of powdered sugar, and 1 Tbs corn starch in a bag and toss candy pieces in with it. This keeps them from sticking together in the bag or jar.
I'll let you know how we liked this recipe once it is done.
Another great recipe is:
10 cups peeled diced zucchini 1/2 inch cubes or "worms" about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch thick and wide.
3 cups water
2 pkgs. unsweetened Koolaid (Everyone says black cherry or cherry is best, all I had was strawberry)
2 1/2 cups sugar
Peel zucchini, dice/slice, removing seeds. Mix the liquid syrup together. Add zucchini. Bring to a boil and them simmer for 25 min. Drain. Put on dehydrator trays. Dry 14
hours at 125 degrees. Turn pieces over and dry another 4 hours. They will
feel dry and not sticky when done. Store in jars or other tightly sealed
containers. If you dip in sugar when you turn them, they will be more like
"gum drops" on the outside.
Next I will be trying these two recipes to use up large zucchini:
Zuke Chips
Take the large size zukes and slice them 1/8 inch thick, blanch them for 30 seconds, pat dry, and sprinkle salt (use Kosher or french fry seasoning) and onion powder on them. Dry them in the dehydrator until crispy like potato chips.
Zuke Burger
Take a large zuke, slice 1/2" thick, brush with olive oil, season with salt & pepper, (or any hamburger seasoning you use) and grill. Serve on potato roll buns.
So you still have too much zucchini and are going to sneak some on your neighbors porch, be sure to include a few of these recipes for them! lol