Saturday, March 16, 2024

Garden Tour On YouTube

 I decided to start a YouTube channel to enable me to post content that is difficult to represent with photos.  

This video is a tour of my Spring garden here on the west coast of Florida.  Please excuse my nasal voice and throat clearing.  It’s caused by allergies and rheumatoid arthritis has affected my vocal cords.



I hope you enjoy and God bless,

Pam

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Frugal Kitchen: Step By Step Granola Recipe

 My favorite breakfast consists of a bowl of yogurt, either honey or jam, and finished with a topping of homemade granola.  I make granola once a month.  Here is my process:

Use a half sheet pan.  It allows the granola to toast evenly and quickens the browning.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pour a quarter cup of oil into the pan, trying to distribute it evenly.  Use the oil of your choice.



Add around 32 ounces of rolled oats to the pan and mix thoroughly with the oil.




Add a half cup of honey to the oats and stir thoroughly.  You could also use maple syrup, but I would increase the amount to 3/4 cups.



Here is where you can get creative by adding any combination of nuts and seeds to the mixture.  This is a good way to use any small amount of nuts that you have leftover.




Mix thoroughly and spread evenly in your sheet pan.  Bake at 5 minute intervals, stirring between each 5 minutes until the granola has toasted thoroughly.  It should be a golden brown color.



Now add the dried fruit, cut into bite sized pieces, that you prefer.  I don’t toast the granola any further after adding the fruit, because the fruit can get hard.



Mix thoroughly and allow to cool completely before storing in a container or ziplock bag.  


I hope you enjoy this granola recipe.  My family loves it and I like being able to control the amount of sweetness and oil.  Commercially made granola is high in fat and sugar.

God bless,
Pam


Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Goodreads: Radical Mycology

 If you read this blog regularly you will know that I am something of a fungi geek.  I read about fungi, watch documentaries and YouTube videos about fungi,  and experiment with growing fungi in various and sundry ways.

I recently purchased one of the best books about fungi, Radical Mycology, by Peter McCoy.  It's a great source of information on all things fungi, but its greatest attraction to me is the descriptions and instructions on creative ways to grow fungi/mushrooms.



 

Fair warning, this is an expensive book.  I will include a link below for Amazon, but I found it for thirty dollars less at Powells Bookstore.  

This is a great book for my library of creative interests.  I hope you enjoy it.


God bless,

Pam



Amazon link to Radical Mycology

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Frugal Christmas Gifts 2023 #3

 Due to a stomach bug I have fallen behind on the Christmas posts.  Since there are only four days left until Christmas it’s time to talk about gift cards.


True Leaf Market 

One of my favorite gardening supply stores True Leaf Market carries a variety of seeds, including seeds from Kitazawa seed company.  If you like Asian vegetables and herbs they have the best.  Use coupon code TLMGIFTS15 to receive 15% off.


Cato Corner Farm

I love cheese and come from a family obsessed with great cheese.  Cato Corner Farm is owned by relatives of my sister in law and I have been fortunate to have been gifted their cheese regularly.  They have the best blue cheese I have ever had.  Blue cheese on crackers, drizzled with a sweet tamarind sauce is amazing.


Burlap and Barrel 

Burlap and Barrel carries ethically sourced, small batch and very fresh spices.  I’ve been using their products for a long time and they truly uplift recipes to a new level.  I asked for their monthly spice club as my gift this year.


Northspore Mushrooms 

Northspore carries everything needed for home mushroom growing.  I have been fortunate to have a partnership with the company and I think any gardener who wants to take their food production to the next level will enjoy receiving a gift certificate from them.   Use the coupon code FRUGALMENNONITE for 10% off your purchase.


God bless and Happy Holidays,

Pam

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Frugal Christmas Gifts 2023 #2

 If you have someone in your life that loves salad greens, misses their garden in the winter, or a child that wants to try gardening, the True Leaf Market mini micro green growing kits will make a thoughtful gift.  Plus they are so reasonably priced that you can gift several varieties at a time.


In fact, this is my go to gift this Holiday season.  

One of my favorite meals is a seafood salad sprinkled with spicy radish sprouts.  Just the right amount of spice and crunch.

Use the coupon code TLMGIFTS15 for 15% off your purchase.


God bless,

Pam

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Frugal Christmas Gifts 2023 #1

 If you have a forager on your list or someone that wants to know more about wild plants, I highly recommend Eat The Weeds by  Deane Jordan.  


One of the things that I really love is that nutritional information is included, plus excellent photos and descriptions.

God bless,
Pam




Thursday, November 23, 2023