Chicken Ahead

This morning I was reading this post about making chicken for a week of meals and decided to try it.  I have done this with Chicken Tetrazzini.  The Chicken Tetrazzini recipe makes enough for five meals.  I substituted chicken for the turkey.  I labelled each container and then froze them.  It was great to come home after work and be able to have a good meal without all the prep.  It was such a great experience that I decided to try Dicky's Chicken for a week.  Once the chicken has defrosted some, I will take out the giblet bag and the tray packing.  You can see it on the chicken in the front.

The chicken is in the roaster and it's Saturday, so I have time to do this.  I was glad that I had whole chicken in the freezer.  I bought these for $.79 a pound.  I buy the limit everytime they come on sale and of course, space availability in the freezer.

Now, I have all day to finish my quilt.  I've been saying this for two weeks.  It's a quilt I'm donating to the St. Paul Parochial School Auction.  It'll be held February 4. So you won't be hearing about it after that.  Then I'll be on another UFO (unfinished project).

I should be able to take if off the longarm today and make the binding and attach it.  I can make it.

How is everyone's Saturday?

Taco Soup

Today was a blustery day and we just needed some good old hearty soup.  I made Taco Soup with homemade garlic bread and avocado slices.

This soup changes as ingredients are available.  Doug tells me to "make that taco soup" and I have to think what did I put in it.  So this "taco soup" I wrote down.  The vegetable vary.  I use whatever leftover vegies I have in the fridge.  Tonight was potatoes.   Try this soup, it's great and hearty.

This post is linked to Real Food Wednesday

Boy Scout Vests

I finished my number 11 UFO project today.  I had two Boy Scout vests to finish and send to my son-in-law in Montana.  He's the pack leader and a couple of his Scouts wanted these for applying their badges to.
My grandson has his and I guess the parents liked it well enough that I made a couple more.  I'm not sure but heard there may be may to request them.

Number 11 UFO finished.

This post is being shared on Homestead Revival Barn Hop.  This Hop has so many wonderful articles.  Take some time and read a couple.

Chickens and Coop

We finally were able to find some recycled windows at the auction Tuesday and put them in the chicken coop.  We were leaving the big doors open for light, but the grackles, starlings and sparrows were wreaking  havoc on our feed and the chickens weren't getting enough natural light.

Doug spent a couple of hours yesterday installing the windows.

Today he will trim them out and revamp the nest box arrangement,  We have 15 hens and one rooster.  It's a small space so we are continually trying to perfect it.

I was trying to get some pictures of hen butts yesterday, since it was so nice out and they were enjoying their freedom.  Problem was they are continually moving about.

We can't seem to build up our burn pile.  The chickens find it so interesting they end up spreading it all over.

W

Oops, a rooster butt

I just think they are so nice, interesting and entertaining.

Homemade Laundry Soap

I just made some laundry soap.  I've had all the indgredients to make this for a long time. I just needed to exhaust my supply of store bought soap.  Today was the day. 

I grated a bar of Fels-Naptha and set aside 1 1/3 cup for another batch. I used my food processor for this. I add this to a kettle on the stove to 4 cups water.  Heat to dissolve the soap.  Meanwhile, measure out 1/2 cup each of soda and borax.  

Add 4 cups hot water to a storage container.  Add melted mixture to the storage container plus 1 gallon and 6 cups water.  Mix.  

This container is huge.  I will more than likely put it in a smaller container plus I have a milk jug I will put some into for daily use.

The information below I got from another blog.  She also had a video tutorial, if anyone is interested.  I didn't keep tract of my prices.  Next time I will and give you an update.

Price comparisons
All calculations are based on the national avg. of 400 loads of laundry per family per year, or 7.69 loads per week

Tide $12.99/64 loads .20/load=$80/yr   
Gain $5.99/32 loads .19/load=$76/yr
All $4.29/32 loads .13/load=$52/yr
Trend $2.49/38 loads .7/load=$28/yr
(generic brand)

Fels Naptha soap $1.19/bar
Arm&Hammer Super Washing Soda $2.99/55oz box
20 Mule Team Borax $4.49/76 oz box
One box of the washing soda will make just under 7 batches of soap, and the borax will make exactly 19 batches. 

One batch of soap calculates out to:
$1.19/Fels Naptha 
.49/Washing soda
.24/Borax
$1.92 per 10 gallons

10 gal (64oz) divided by 2 oz./load=320 loads/batch=.006/load

Final cost per year=$2.40!!!!!!!!!!

Now that's a great bottom line!  Please post a comment and let me know if you try this and what you think.  

Do You Want to Make Mozzarella?

The Woodwife's Journal has posted a tutorial to learn how to make mozzarella. She also is having a giveaway for the supplies needed to make mozzarella.  I hope I win.  I've been wanting to make simple, no press cheeses.  She's drawing a winner on Christmas Eve.

More Christmas Baking

I started fruitcake right after Thanksgiving and brushed it weekly with brandy.  We just had a taste this week and it's delicious. I had always relied on my mom for fruitcake, but this year she wasn't baking so I decided if I wanted any, I'd better make them myself.  I'll make them again next year.

Fruity Fruitcake

 I've made a couple batches of cookies already.  I had planned on making up plates for the next door neighbor, mail lady, and a couple people from Doug's work, plus my son.   But...... I only have a very small cache of cookies left.  Doug has been eating them like they are going out of style.  So I have cinnamon roll batter in the fridge and those will go as gifts instead of cookies.  I did get these made but they are gone now.
Cowboy Cookies and Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

All that's left of my cookie baking are Peanut Blossom Cookies.  They are disappearing fast though.  Oh well, I'm glad he likes them and it gives me a reason to bake.  I love to bake.

This post has been linked to Made from Scratch Tuesdays.  You can find her button on the right side bar if you want to see more recipes.