briellethefirst

[briellethefirst]

Berry Pie

My roommate made fruit salad for the potluck at his weekly gaming thing. It was well received but he brought home enough for 2 pies, so I stopped at the store for pie crusts on the way home from my dentist appointment and got to work on the 1st one. There isn’t really a recipe, but I used: 2 deep dish frozen pie crusts, a bunch of fruit salad (apple, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries).…

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[briellethefirst]

I Did It! Finally!

A couple years ago my bathroom had a back up that lead to it being totally gutted and redone along with half the adjacent bathroom. It was an interesting year. I’d had this clothes hook on the front of the shower stall but now the tiles prevented that. The only place I could manage was between the door and the towel bar. I started but got called away mid job and then life happened and a new…

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#bathroom upgrade #Do It Yourself #Robe Hook

[briellethefirst]

Chicken Pot Pie

So the chicken soup leftovers won’t stretch another meal and are getting a bit thick and mushy, or you have some leftover chicken but not enough for a family meal…what to do, what to do…? Make pot pies! They’re great for lunch or if everyone’s out for dinner and you’re on your own it’s a nice, comforting dinner, especially if it’s cold or rainy out. Mmm, a nice evening by the fire with a book,…

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#chicken leftovers #leftover cooking #pot pie

[briellethefirst]

Mulled Cider Syrup

So it’s Thanksgiving. I have 2 roommates and we all stayed home for a very needed rest. I figured an hours cutting and chopping and mixing in the morning and I’d be free most of the rest of the day. I was mostly right, I spent 2 hours cutting and chopping and mixing, but it was still worth it. I mixed up some scones, then put on a pot of mulled cider, then made a pot of chicken soup and a bunch…

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#accidental cooking #accidental cooking success #condiments #Dessert #mulled cider syrup #syrup

[briellethefirst]

Chicken Soup

This year for Thanksgiving we’re sleeping in, not feasting and just snacking though the day. The menue plan so far is to start with scones for breakfast. As soon as that’s done I’ll throw together a big pot of chicken soup on one burner, a pot of mulled cider on another burner and put a pan of stuffing in the oven because it’s Thanksgiving and you just have to have stuffing. After that I’ll lay…

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#basic cooking techniques #brunch #chicken soup #Dinner #leftovers #lunch #side dish #soup #vegetable soup

[briellethefirst]

Want A Garden?

Every once in a while I get asked about gardening or someone makes a comment about how they wish they had a garden or could garden. Sometimes I take the bait. Find a nice, sunny spot, about 2 or 3′ x whatever, convenient to your kitchen door, dig out the grass, rocks and weeds, dig in some composted cow manure, maybe put in a low edging and plant a few vegies you know you like and/or herbs…

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#Gardening #try something new

[briellethefirst]

Parkin

Yesterday was Guy Fawkes Day. I looked up stuff to eat for that day and this was one of the things suggested. You can eat it anytime, but it’s special to the 5th of November. I’ve seen it mentioned on British programs but I’ve never tried it so I figured I’d make some. It looks a lot like gingerbread made with oatmeal. I looked at a few recipes before I found one in cups and spoons instead of…

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#5th of November #Guy Fawkes Day #Holiday cooking #Parkin #Tea Time

[briellethefirst]

Facebook Jack-O-Lantern Advice

I saw on Facebook that if you have chickens you can peel a design into a pumpkin and let your chickens do the carving for you. What fun! I tried it. I bought the pumpkins. I peeled faces on the pumpkins. I put the prepared pumpkins in the chicken coop. I waited. The chickens waited. And waited. And waited. And still ignoring the pumpkins. Silly chickens! So finally I took decisive action. I…

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#chicken crafts #chicken jack o lanterns #Halloween crafts #Keeping Chickens #pumpking non-carving

[briellethefirst]

Grilling A Brisket

Brisket was on sale. I got a smallish one I could afford. I’ll have beef for meals for a couple months, now! I forgot to prep it this morning for grilling this afternoon, but other things took precedence and got done anyway so I’ll prep the brisket tonight and start the fire tomorrow after I get home from running errands. I only do this about once a year, it’s such a production. Tonight. though,…

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#basic cooking techniques #Brisket #cooking for leftovers #Grilling #Main dishes #the simple life

[briellethefirst]

A Top For My Torii Gate

I can do basic cut-it, nail-it, screw-it carpentry but I’m not so comfortable with my skills to make a nice wooden top for a Torii Gate. An old form has rope across the top, and tassel-things, hence the swag in the middle and details. Rope. I can do that. And tassels. Yup, I��ll have a front for my Zen-ish garden soon! A while back (when I can a bit of extra cash) I bought some rope for this…

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#tassels #Torii Gate #Unused waste space becomes garden #Zen garden

[briellethefirst]

Home-made Porch Cooler

I saw something on the internet and realized I had the stuff to make one. I also realized that it could double as a porch table so I had a reason to clean my porch today. The supplies are easy to find and relatively cheap if you don’t already have them. I did have the good sense to put it together where I wanted it to be as moving it, once finished, would be problematic. So here goes. Find 2…

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#cooler #Do It Yourself #evaporative porch drink cooler #Self Sufficiancy #the simple life

[briellethefirst]

Milk Candy

Somehow I have a carton of milk in the fridge that expires tomorrow. I haven’t opened it yet, but it REALLY needs to get used. If there were a couple cups I’d make pudding. If it were just a smidge left I’d give it to the neighbourhood strays or pour it around the tomatoes to give them a calcium boost, but this is a whole, unopened 2 quart carton of milk, so, since I haven’t made milk candy in…

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#dessert sauce #frugal cooking #milk #milk candy #the simple life

[briellethefirst]

Bellarmine Face Mold

I’ve been meaning to make a face mold for Bellarmine Jugs for a very long time. I just haven’t had the confidence. I finally decided it doesn’t matter, I’ll just do it. The clay I bought a while back is too hard for throwing but still workable enough to make molds from. I’ve made sprig molds before, so this is just another, maybe a bit more fussy in the carving. I’m a bit nervous about the nose…

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#Bartmann Jug #Bellarmine jug #Molds #reproduction pottery #sprig mold

[briellethefirst]

My accomplishment for this afternoon

#garden ornament

[briellethefirst]

Making An Arbour

I had arbours over 2 windows for over 20 years. 2 years ago they died. The one on the west side window had to go in first so the queens bower could grow over it and shade the window. The one on the north side is mostly just to frame the window and maybe grow gourds or maybe hops. We’ll see. I got the first one made last week, now to get this one done and I’m hoping they’ll both last another 20…

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#Arbour #Do It Yourself #garden structures #trellis

[briellethefirst]

I made this and put it up today. All by myself.

[briellethefirst]

Hi!

Apparently I’ve been on Tumblr for some time but haven’t written or posted anything. I’ve been distracted by other things. I’m thinking of changing that. We’ll see.