I'm so excited, y'all!! I hope you will visit my shop and maybe you'll find something that interests you.
Oh, I almost forgot...Use the coupon code NEWYEAR10 for 10% off your purchase! Discounts are super awesome, right? :o)
Kitschy Naturals on Etsy
Friday, January 11
Wednesday, August 15
Whew! I needed the break.
Sorry I haven't been around lately. It has been like 3 weeks since my last post but I have just been busy getting stuff ready for the coming school year (for my children and myself), as well as making lotions for my SHOP. I am so excited to sell my goodies and have more products to add - just not enough time at the moment. More posts to come soon! I've got tons of pics and things to post that I've been stock-piling over the last few weeks....just need the time to jot them down :o)
Tuesday, July 24
Carne Desmenuzada Recipe
Being married to a Nica (Nicaraguan), I have learned my share of Hispanic recipes and none have been a disappointment. All delicious! Here is a recipe for a traditional Nica meal: carne desmenuzada con arroz y maduros frito. Carne desmeuzada is a specific cut of meat that is cooked with garlic, onion, peppers and tomato sauce. The cut of meat goes by a few different names, depending on where you live. It may be called churrasco, skirt steak or even fajita; it looks like this. I will put the recipe below, but first would like to get to the sides.
To make traditional Nica rice, you first want to fry it in some oil (just a tbsp. or so for 2 cups of rice) with a couple slices of bell pepper and onion. Once the rice begins to brown a bit, add it to 3 cups of boiling water; stir for 1 minute while boiling, cover, reduce heat to lowest setting and set a timer for 20 minutes. No stirring!
Then for the maduros, buy some plantains and let them ripen. You want them to be dark yellow with brown or black spots, and soft to the touch. They should look like this. The darker they are, the sweeter they will be. Cut them diagonally about a half-inch thick and fry in olive or canola oil. You want them to just begin to brown before removing from the heat. If they get black, the taste will be quite bitter (as with anything charred).
You'll need:
2lbs. churrasco
Enough water to submerge churrasco in a crock pot (this will vary depending on crock pot size and shape)
4 garlic cloves
1 green bell pepper (sliced)
1 red bell pepper (sliced)
1 medium onion (sliced)
1 cup marinara sauce (my mother-in-law uses ketchup but we prefer to use a more "real" tomato sauce, if that makes sense)
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. paprika
salt to taste
To Make:
1. Place churrasco in crock pot and fully submerge in water. Add garlic, 1/4 of each pepper, 1/4 of onion, paprika and salt. Cook on high for 6 hours.
2. Once the meat is soft and falling apart, remove from crock pot and shred with 2 forks, return to same water. Add the rest of the bell peppers and onion, as well as the marinara sauce and sugar. Add salt if needed. Cook until peppers are soft.
And there you have it! An authentic Nicaraguan meal :o)
To make traditional Nica rice, you first want to fry it in some oil (just a tbsp. or so for 2 cups of rice) with a couple slices of bell pepper and onion. Once the rice begins to brown a bit, add it to 3 cups of boiling water; stir for 1 minute while boiling, cover, reduce heat to lowest setting and set a timer for 20 minutes. No stirring!
Then for the maduros, buy some plantains and let them ripen. You want them to be dark yellow with brown or black spots, and soft to the touch. They should look like this. The darker they are, the sweeter they will be. Cut them diagonally about a half-inch thick and fry in olive or canola oil. You want them to just begin to brown before removing from the heat. If they get black, the taste will be quite bitter (as with anything charred).
You'll need:
2lbs. churrasco
Enough water to submerge churrasco in a crock pot (this will vary depending on crock pot size and shape)
4 garlic cloves
1 green bell pepper (sliced)
1 red bell pepper (sliced)
1 medium onion (sliced)
1 cup marinara sauce (my mother-in-law uses ketchup but we prefer to use a more "real" tomato sauce, if that makes sense)
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. paprika
salt to taste
To Make:
1. Place churrasco in crock pot and fully submerge in water. Add garlic, 1/4 of each pepper, 1/4 of onion, paprika and salt. Cook on high for 6 hours.
2. Once the meat is soft and falling apart, remove from crock pot and shred with 2 forks, return to same water. Add the rest of the bell peppers and onion, as well as the marinara sauce and sugar. Add salt if needed. Cook until peppers are soft.
And there you have it! An authentic Nicaraguan meal :o)
Thursday, July 19
Organic Chicken Feed
I buy my ingredients from the bulk section of HEB (a Texas-only store; sorry non-Texans!) but I am sure you can find a local health food store that carries the majority of these items. This recipe makes roughly 30lbs. of food - this lasts my 6 chickens about a month. (They also get fresh food supplements, mostly produce scraps, cabbage, lettuce, etc.)
Ingredients:
2 lbs. shelled, dry roasted unsalted peanuts
3 lbs. brown flax
2 lbs. quinoa
2 lbs. wheat bran
4 lbs. steel cut oats
2 lbs. lentils
3 lbs. red winter wheat
2 lbs. oat bran
3 lbs. red lentils
2 lbs. corn
2 lbs. shelled, unsalted sunflower seeds
12 oz. (2 bags) puffed red wheat (in the cereal aisle as well, if you cannot find it in the bulk section)
If your chickens are not free-range, add in 2 lbs. of grit
I also add in about 2 cups of food grade DE (diatomaceous earth) - you don't have to but it does help keep the bugs at bay.
*Note: I always end up getting a tad more than required because I simply cannot weigh with my hands or by eye, haha. Approximations are a-okay.*
Ingredients:
2 lbs. shelled, dry roasted unsalted peanuts
3 lbs. brown flax
2 lbs. quinoa
2 lbs. wheat bran
4 lbs. steel cut oats
2 lbs. lentils
3 lbs. red winter wheat
2 lbs. oat bran
3 lbs. red lentils
2 lbs. corn
2 lbs. shelled, unsalted sunflower seeds
12 oz. (2 bags) puffed red wheat (in the cereal aisle as well, if you cannot find it in the bulk section)
If your chickens are not free-range, add in 2 lbs. of grit
I also add in about 2 cups of food grade DE (diatomaceous earth) - you don't have to but it does help keep the bugs at bay.
*Note: I always end up getting a tad more than required because I simply cannot weigh with my hands or by eye, haha. Approximations are a-okay.*
See how much it makes?
I am editing this post to give a breakdown of the ingredients I used, including the cost. All of the prices are for *organic* items - if you go the conventional route, you would end up paying less. Also, I need to note that I had to deviate a bit from my traditional recipe because the store was nearly out of red winter wheat.
Pounds Food Price
2 . 90 Corn $4 . 90
2 . 03 Wheat Bran $3 . 03
. 70 Red Winter Wheat $1 . 04
3 . 18 Brown Flax $6 . 33
4 . 21 Steel Cut Oats $6 . 69
3 . 09 Red Lentils $6 . 15
2 . 43 Quinoa $9 . 70
2 . 01 Oat Bran $4 . 00
2 . 00 Green Lentils $2 . 00
2 . 54 Sunflower Seeds $6 . 32
2 . 14 Bulghur Wheat $6 . 40
2 . 27 Peanuts $6 . 79
. 75 Puffed Red Wheat $2 . 00
+
Total: 30 . 25 lbs. $65 . 35
Remember - this is for SIX chickens. Most people who keep backyard chickens keep less. Lower the amounts to your liking, or just make it all at once to keep stored.
Wednesday, July 18
Homemade Chunky Applesauce - Yum!
(This recipe is loosely based off of my apple butter recipe.)
You'll Need:
6 lbs. of apples
2 cups of water (3 if you'd like it not-so-chunky)
1 cup of sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
To Make:
1.) In an 8- to 10-qt. heavy kettle, combine cleaned and sliced apples and water. Heat to a boiling and reduce heat to a simmer, cover and let cook for about 20 minutes.
2.) Once soft, coarsely mash with potato masher and remove from heat. Use a blender, grinder attachment for a stand mixer or a food mill to process the apples. Note, a blender will make for a very smooth applesauce - a food mill or a grinder attachment will make it nice and chunky; however, I realize not everyone has or wants a food mill or grinder attachment....just keep that in mind.
3.) Once apples have been processed, add spices and sugar, stir well. Now your applesauce is ready for canning :o)
And of course, some pictures....
You'll Need:
6 lbs. of apples
2 cups of water (3 if you'd like it not-so-chunky)
1 cup of sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
To Make:
1.) In an 8- to 10-qt. heavy kettle, combine cleaned and sliced apples and water. Heat to a boiling and reduce heat to a simmer, cover and let cook for about 20 minutes.
2.) Once soft, coarsely mash with potato masher and remove from heat. Use a blender, grinder attachment for a stand mixer or a food mill to process the apples. Note, a blender will make for a very smooth applesauce - a food mill or a grinder attachment will make it nice and chunky; however, I realize not everyone has or wants a food mill or grinder attachment....just keep that in mind.
3.) Once apples have been processed, add spices and sugar, stir well. Now your applesauce is ready for canning :o)
And of course, some pictures....
Ready to mash!
My KitchenAid grinder came with two blades for whichever desired thickness. I chose the smaller blade but the larger one would work just as well - only it would make chunkier applesauce.
Going through the grinder....
Spices are mixed in
Into the waterbath they go....
And ta-da! Homemade organic chunky applesauce!! I got 7 pints worth :o)
Monday, July 16
Banana is SIX!
I have a six year old. I have a six year old? I have a SIX year old!!!! Wow-wee, where has the time gone? Here are some pictures from Banana's birthday. (I know the cake is not the best, but I was caught off guard and thought I actually had 3 more days to think of, and get started on, something. All that matters is that she loved it!)
Being silly
Her birthday wish: "I wish that I was on a train and everyone else fell out of it"
Note to self: This wrapping paper is extremely difficult to tear....
She had fun and enjoyed her presents. Favorites? Mini-Maglite, hula hoop and a Rio game for the XBOX.
Happy birthday to my baby who is too grown already!!
Wednesday, July 11
Wednesday, July 4
I'm the Fourth of July Scrooge
That's right, I hate this holiday. Not because I don't appreciate the freedom I was so lucky to be born into. But because I hate people. Stupid people and their stupid behavior on this day. Here are 10 reasons why I hate July 4th....
1. Fireworks are RIDICULOUSLY expensive. I mean, people can spend their money on whatever they want, but why not just light your money on fire?
2. People set off fireworks at least a week in advance to the fourth...and also a week afterwards. Dude, if you MUST set off fireworks, please contain it to one excessively annoying day; I don't need to hear 2 weeks of this shit. Also, nobody can see the fireworks you are shooting off at 3pm.
3. The majority of the country is going through droughts. I don't know what it's like where you live, but it is always dry here and the lawns are fried. And for those who do not know this, a tiny spark from a stray firework can cause a FIRE. Naw, really?
4. People do NOT clean up their firework debris. Seriously, I do not want to waste any of my time picking up crap off my lawn that you were too damn lazy to do yourself. Your mess - you clean it up.
5. I live like two effing feet from my neighbors. (ok that's an exaggeration, but there's honestly no more than 10 feet of distance between the houses in my neighborhood) I'm terrified that my house is going to catch fire! I wish they were banned in neighborhoods. It's so scary for homeowners who actually care about their homes.
6. It keeps my youngest daughter up all night, crying from the fear of unknown noises. My daughter and I thank you for the sleepless nights, assholes.
7. People drink. And drink, and drink and drink. Then they drive. Awesome.
8. People let kids play with fireworks; subsequent result? Kids get burned and maimed. Score one for the smart parents! *eye roll*
9. People party too much and their loud ass music is aggravating. Having inconsiderate neighbors is enough to make you want to sell your house and move.
10. Everything we do to "celebrate" the 4th of July has NOTHING to do with our independence. Let's be real though....all of our holidays are like that now. Consumerism FTW!
1. Fireworks are RIDICULOUSLY expensive. I mean, people can spend their money on whatever they want, but why not just light your money on fire?
2. People set off fireworks at least a week in advance to the fourth...and also a week afterwards. Dude, if you MUST set off fireworks, please contain it to one excessively annoying day; I don't need to hear 2 weeks of this shit. Also, nobody can see the fireworks you are shooting off at 3pm.
3. The majority of the country is going through droughts. I don't know what it's like where you live, but it is always dry here and the lawns are fried. And for those who do not know this, a tiny spark from a stray firework can cause a FIRE. Naw, really?
4. People do NOT clean up their firework debris. Seriously, I do not want to waste any of my time picking up crap off my lawn that you were too damn lazy to do yourself. Your mess - you clean it up.
5. I live like two effing feet from my neighbors. (ok that's an exaggeration, but there's honestly no more than 10 feet of distance between the houses in my neighborhood) I'm terrified that my house is going to catch fire! I wish they were banned in neighborhoods. It's so scary for homeowners who actually care about their homes.
6. It keeps my youngest daughter up all night, crying from the fear of unknown noises. My daughter and I thank you for the sleepless nights, assholes.
7. People drink. And drink, and drink and drink. Then they drive. Awesome.
8. People let kids play with fireworks; subsequent result? Kids get burned and maimed. Score one for the smart parents! *eye roll*
9. People party too much and their loud ass music is aggravating. Having inconsiderate neighbors is enough to make you want to sell your house and move.
10. Everything we do to "celebrate" the 4th of July has NOTHING to do with our independence. Let's be real though....all of our holidays are like that now. Consumerism FTW!
With all that being said, God Bless America and Happy Fourth of July!
Monday, July 2
Reporting Vs. Tattling - Pinterest Winner!
So I got this idea from Pinterest and naturally I just had to make my own version. My girls think I am their personal referee and well folks, I'm just not paid enough AT ALL to stress myself over their little qualms. "She said I'm a boy" "She won't give me the pink fork" "She won't stop looking at my book" "She keeps running away and I can't hit her" - you catch my drift....
Props to All Things Katie Marie for the original pin :o)
REPORTING
|
VS
|
TATTLING
|
Trying to keep people safe
|
Vs
|
Trying to get people in trouble
|
Need help from an adult to solve
|
Vs
|
Can handle it by yourself
|
Important
|
Vs
|
Unimportant
|
Harmful, dangerous or threatening
|
Vs
|
Harmless situations
|
Behavior is purposeful
|
Vs
|
Behavior is accidental
|
Props to All Things Katie Marie for the original pin :o)
Sunday, July 1
Turning Memories Into Magnets
Thanks to Shutterfly, you can take any picture you have and make a magnet out of it - I have 4 already :o) Much cooler than Luigi's Pizzeria magnets, amiright?
Original picture of Sugar Bear:
Magnet:
Original picture of Sugar Bear:
Magnet:
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