Haluski-With Firm Cabbage

How many festivals or fish fries have you gone to and the haluski is nothing but, scorched butter with soggy noodles and cabbage? Usually there is way too much butter and it's just a spoonful of garbage. Brown in haluski means the butter has been scorched. I think there is a misconception about noodle entrees for some people who take on big events and have never really cooked. They think this can't be screwed up!

Ingredients

Regular size head of cabbage. Savoy is best. **A regular size cabbage not the ones the size of your head! 

Bag of Egg noodles

1/2 pound of salted butter or more to liking.

Yellow onions. Amount to liking.

SaltnPepper

Here we go..

The cabbage- Many of us were taught to cook it down in the butter. You can but, it's not going to be firm and basicly the dish tastes like noodle and butter. 

What you can do...Core the cabbage. Savoy cabbage is sweeter and is a first choice if available. Set the core side down in boiling salted water with lid and steam cabbage. This is only going to take like 5 minutes depending on size. It will green up. You don't want to cook it. Just steam so it should still have firmness. You may also add chopped onion into the pot to bring out more flavor. When done fish out of the water. Let cool. Don't throw the water out!

The Noodles- I use No Yolk egg noodles. I like the broad too. Use whatever you like. Add noodles to cabbage water. You may need to add more water. Cook but, leave some firmness. Al dente. If you cook too much then it will get soggy when adding butter or plan to put on a warmer or leave in a pot for awhile. 

**If you plan a big batch for a warmer then really think about a little harder than al dente because the steam from the warmer will keep cooking it and better watch temp or you will have scorched butter.

While the noodles are cooking, chop your cabbage. Think bite size. People don't want to cut up haluski. Don't go smaller because it will just get lost in the noodles and end up at the bottom. You want to see and taste the cabbage.

Final Step

Strain noodles. Add butter to your pot. Make sure stove is set to low. I use about a half  pound butter for a pound of noodles and honestly that is probably not enough butter for some so you judge it. Add your onions and cabbage to the melted butter. Flip around and then fold in noodles. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Add more butter if you feel it's not coated enough. Butter should'nt be dripping down people's faces. Leave on stove with lid on to let it all soak in. I would turn stove off and reheat when ready. This dish always tastes better later or the next day. Everything needs to marinate. Enjoy!

Stocking up for winter!

 They really make us laugh around our house!

Please do not copy my images to sell or make make money.

Cruella Crow!

I saw this beautiful crow land and it looked like it had paint spattered all over it. The opened wings were a sight! Think of the craft wheel at fairs that turned and spattered paint all over a canvas for you! This crow walked around my neighbor's yard with authority. Maybe she or he has a little Cruella de Vil inside!

Am I a Cardinal?

These two were chatting, drinking and bathing together. However the male kept a very watchful eye on the grey bird. I am assuming a female cardinal? I am lucky to get so many cool birds around my house. In fact a farm down the road is being made into a conservatory.

Watt Pottery

 Watt Pottery was made in Ohio. The plant closed due to a fire in 1965. According to Kovel's website the apple pattern can be dated by the leaves. Pre 1958 were three leaves. This is a rare cannister. In all my years I have not seen this for sale in person and it looks like it was never used. My guess is a grease jar or a cannister. I saw a different pattern with similar shape marked "tea" on it. The cookie jars were stout and it is definately not a bean pot either.   $125.00 Local Pick-Up Greensburg, PA

DIY Halloween You Got This!

I just need a hay bale to pull it all together!

I have been gathering tossed aside trick or treat pumpkins from garage sales the past couple years. They look awesome hanging from my maple tree. This year I decided to make a scarecrow for the front of the tree. This is so easy to pull off.

Materials

An old XL or bigger flannel shirt

A plastic pumpkin pail

Dirt, flowers or something to weigh down the pumpkin pail.

A wood stake 4-5 ft tall

A piece of wood to nail on top of stake. Two inches thick like a cut 2X4 will need a long screw. Less thick would be a better choice. Eye up the length so you get the look of broad shoulders. 26-30 inches. Test plank with shirt. Too long and you won't be able to button.

Screws and hand tools. A mallet is best when pounding a stake into the ground.

Plastic bags, plastic packing to puff out arms. Tie off with twine and raffia.

Lay stuff out and think out your project. Decide if you want to pound the stake in and add your plank or add the plank and pound all together into the ground. I weighed my pumpkin with dirt and threaded wire thru the pumpkin and wrapped around wood to keep attached.

This project is so simple and creates a great display. As always I find these projects most satisfying by using scraps from around the house and keeping costs down. Sometimes just going to the shed or garage and looking at all your junk will get your creativity pumping. Also a great way to get your kids imagination going!

Adding props into your landscaping makes it look less generic

Skull head from JoAnn's. Wire down to plank of wood. I added a black light on it for night time.

How to make a "Make Do," Scarecrow

You hear "Make Do," thrown around a lot in the Prim Decor world. What does it mean? Many people who make prim dolls will say it is scraps around the house people used to construct a doll and basically make do with little they owned.

Not so fast...I guess it sounds romantic thinking about a little wood house deep in the woods of the Appalachian mountains, curling smoke from its chimney. Thinking a petite, poor Granny is rocking in her creaky, wood chair sewing bits of scraps from worn out work clothes next to a warm pot belly stove.

Believe it or not our Grandparents and beyond recycled in general because they did not believe in just throwing useful things away. They also repaired things and these things many times end up in antique shops. They are sometimes beautifully gnarly and the prices outrageous. 

So here is my, "Make Do" scarecrow. Just think you can teach your kids to use their imagination, recycle and give a history lesson.

Supplies

1. Overalls and a shirt.

2.Plastic grocery bags, anything that does not soak up water.

3.Rafia or straw. Just 4 hand fulls.

4.Orange mesh or light weight cloth for the head.

5. Left over craft supplies for eyes, nose and mouth. Or use stuff from nature.

6. Twine, scissors and a hot glue gun.

Start stuffing! Lay out the shirt and stuff to desired puffiness with grocery bags etc. Next you are going to trick everyone with the rafia. Stuff long uneven ends of rafia into ends of sleeves and tie off with twine. Tie off bottom of shirt with twine. Now put shirt into overalls. Fill legs and tie off with rafia.

Construct the head. I did this very simple as I tore my scarecrow down at the end because it was in the weather. I simply made a light weight ball of plastic and draped mesh over it and tied the bottom off like a balloon. I also added a few hot glue spots around the ball before draping. I had a nice bit of material at the end of my head so it looked like a scarf and made it look good setting on the body.

Next hot glue the facial features. Hot glue a doll hat if you want too! Now you are ready to prop your scarecrow and add the head. Once in place set the head on the body and cover attachment with extra material tied at end of head. I added hot glue to my shirt opening and then placed head.

Add anything else you want. Have fun!

Turkey Vultures are Gnarly

 

Yes, these birds are creepy! They scavenge and are the grim reaper of nature! They are large and in charge. Just their look makes you shutter. I came across vultures eating on a country road a couple years ago and they were massive and did not budge. I had to wait for them. These particular ones I came across in of course a ghostly tree. Ready for their take in some Alfred Hitchcock movie. I was on a backroad in Indiana County, PA.

While they may give some of us spine tingling chills, they are necessary.  Vultures are the maid service. Their sense of smell picks up fresh kill. They prefer a new kill verses very rotted. I have read their scavanging actually helps prevent the spread of disease to other animals.

For more reading: https://www.dept.psu.edu/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/turkey_vulture.html

McCoy Pottery, oldie but, goodie

McCoy Pottery started out in 1910 and like many large scale pottery and glass factories they changed hands multiple times. The McCoy stamp on pottery did not start until around 1929. https://mccoypotterycollectorssociety.org/mccoy-pottery/nelson-mccoy-pottery-history/

A rare find! Mint condition McCoy soup and sandwich set. Also referred to as a luncheon set. Heavy, practical and a simple design. A cherished set in any cupboard! Four plates and mugs. $200.00 plus shipping, USA only.

My Grandfather's Garden

On this dreary winter day I had to close my eyes and think of something special.

My Grandfather's Garden

Just a sun tanned kid hanging out with her Pap clad in denim overalls,

Two smiles walking from the garage to the green patch sewn next to the huge pine trees,

Grandma is not going to turn the oven on in this heat so we are going picking,

Green then brown go the neatly hoed rows,

The tomatoes stalks are tall and staked with twine off a ball,

Red, heavy tomatoes hang off the vine and leathery, yellow green veins crack the tops of their skin,

Giant, lazy zucchini hide under large stems and leaves, 

Bushy delicate leaves clustered together have long beans dangling,

The corn is young yet still the stiff, sturdy vegetable standing erect,

I walk behind Pap as he inspects and I jump in delight as I see a flash of slithering green!

He quickly plants a foot forward in the dirt and grabs it. A garden snake wiggles at the end of his hand as if on a fishing hook, neat!

The lettuce determines dinner,

Pap says it's time to pick or they will get larger and acidic,

I have a wooden basket cuffed under my arm and I am ready,

So it's leafy lettuce and luscious tomatoes Pap drops in the basket,

BLT sandwiches and he picks more tomatoes for Grandma to marinate for tomorrow,

He picks a couple zucchini to take to his Mom and the basket starts to get heavy,

We keep going to the end and he points up at the pine trees and laughs,

Look we have gourd stalks climbing the trees! 

I give him my big grin, I just love being with him,

We walk back to the house and I ask him if I can water the garden tonight and of course he says, yes.

Snow Days are for the Birds!

 Taken through my bay window. Many birds come to our big maple tree.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker and a Finch

Remember males are the flashy ones!

                                                                                                

I think this rotund, cute bird is a Warbler.

Diffusing Quality Essential Oils, a Safer Alternative

 I love the essence of candles. Pillar candles are my choice but, I use jars for more scent. However, I must say diffusing oils are way more effective for the whole house and fast. Recently, I purchased a Honeywell humidifier with oil cup. It is simply awesome.  I once worked for a large candle company. At least every month a fireman would come in and have to tell us candles are the number one cause of house fires. Believe me I can understand because I heard some crazy stories from customers and 99% were likely nothing to do with the candle but, the operator. You can't leave candles unattended and they are not meant to be liquified more than an inch. A half or fully liquified jar is a torch in your home! The company I worked for had scientists doing all kinds of experiments on how jars burn, burns with certain oils and wick length for types of oils and wax and so much more. I watched some of these experiments. You will never see me buy a homemade jar candle for this reason. 

I have some elderly relatives who need to switch to oil diffusing. Just like a tea kettle without a whistle, they nod off and a candle is burning. 

Read the ingredients and uses for the oils you choose. Some oils for instance are made to mix in wax or will say just for an oil burner which is different than a diffuser. I prefer oils that are safe enough for me to rub on my skin when diluted. I prefer natural and not synthetic because I am breathing this in.

 If you have pets watch some of this Vet's videos. I once watched a DIY video where an untrained person put 10 drops of oil in a spray for her dog. This is so dangerous! 

Dr. Becker-candles and plug ins: Dr. Becker Discusses the Dangers of Scented Candles and Plug-ins - YouTube