a number of things

baked beans revisited

Some of you may remember my plea for baked bean recipes using dry beans made back in May.  Well, after trying some of the great suggestions sent in via email and the comments, I think I have finally settled on a recipe that works well for us.  We always double this recipe and sometimes add a ham bone or cooked smoked sausage, depending on what is in the freezer.  Without the addition of meat, these beans make a great Lenten meals when served over yummy warm cornbread.

Simple Baked Beans

1lb (2.5 cups) Great Northern dried beans

4 cups water

1.5 cups tomato sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tsp salt

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 tsp chili powder (I sometimes omit this.)

Pick over and wash beans and leave to soak overnight.  The next morning, simmer the beans for an hour or so until soft.  Combine all ingredients except the beans in crockpot / slow cooker.  Add the pre-cooked beans and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 6-7 hours.

I substitute the water and tomato sauce for home canned tomato puree and sometimes add a tablespoon or two of BBQ sauce. Yum!

 

tree mulch protection

We have added a few new trees to our little orchard this fall and winter (the times to plant down here in South Louisiana), and we surrounded each with a nice thick layer of mulch for retaining moisture.  The only problem with the mulch is that the cats and the occasional escaped chicken love to scratch it all away from the little trees.

Our solution to this is a simple square of poultry netting (chicken wire) with a slit cut halfway up one side and a hole cut out of the center. We lay it over the tree's mulch mound and shape it to fit nicely so that it hardly shows at all.  You can also use tent stakes (the kind used for your camping tent) to anchor the corners for a super secure fit.  Works for us!

 

kid's ATC swap

Have you heard about the kid's Artist Trading Card swap being hosted by Wise Craft?  Artist Trading Cards are so cool!  I mean, diminutive bits of original art... what's not to love? And for kids!

This is actually doable for me right now. I cut some heavy weight paper down the the ATC size (3.5" x 2.5") this afternoon and I noticed that there are already several "masterpieces" completed on the dining room table.  Yeah!

The deadline to sign up is this Friday, February 6th. See the full post at Wise Craft for all the details.

  

crafting fix

 

I have to admit, being forced to stay indoors, snuggled up with a sweet little babe is not all that much of a sacrifice on these cold and sometimes dreary days.  Lilly is doing wonderful on my dairy free diet, but she still loves to be held... a lot, as all little ones do. Thankfully, she is just as content (and sometimes more so) when being held by her older siblings as me, but I find myself running around the house playing catch-up with things like laundry, meals and cat-sized dust bunnies when I am not holding her. (Yes, we have tried 4 different slings and she is really not a fan... yet.)

 

I know all too well that this time is fleeting and will be over before I know it, so I don't stress too much, but I'll readily admit that I was missing the luxury of a crafty outlet. It is not really possible to do much beading these days and drawing and painting are out of the question, but crochet. Good old familiar crochet. Now that is working!

Easy to do while sitting and holding or just cuddled next to my little bundle of joy. I started on hats for the kids and they have been so nice to humor their poor mama. Now six hats later, I think I might venture into dishcloths... Simple, quick and nice to have on hand for gifts. Ah, it feels so good to create some little somethings again.