• About

Along the Dirt Road

Along the Dirt Road

Category Archives: Culinary Style

Thrift Store Score, Canning and Shameless Addiction

09 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, everyday stuff, sCoRiN' some JuNkItY JuNk

≈ 4 Comments

Hey guys!  How are you?  We are doing good.  I feel like we had some productive time off…in lots of ways and now I am glad to be back into the swing of things.  It has been very rainy (and a tad dreary) here…but I don’t want to complain.  As much as I love summer sun…I know that our garden and the pond can use the rain. I’m choosing to be mature.  😉

SONY DSC

Speaking of rain, my lands.  The girls and I went, Saturday, to help clean our area youth camp.  It was raining so hard that I thought that I was going to have to pull over.  We got our work done and then on the way back, we hit the thrift.  It was so fun.  I happened upon some things to go with our “grandma’s house in the summer” theme.  This afghan was just sitting there waiting for me in it’s sea foam and mustard loveliness. I have been totally floored by some of the beauties that I have seen on Instagram.  We can never have enough blankets and throws around here.  We love them.  Besides this…I found another goodie that I CANNOT wait to share with you later in the week.  Eeeeep!

SONY DSC

In other news, the first canning of the season has started.  My Pa Pa gave us some cherries from his tree.  They were so good and sour.  I know that may sound crazy to some…but when you mix sour cherries with sugar and make jelly…YUM!  It was so fun to make something to add to the jelly cabinet.  Canning is one of my favorite things to do.  It’s so amazing to me to be able to eat from your own “cans” throughout the year.  It makes me feel very “Proverbs 31ish.”  I was very thankful for the cherries.  Our baby trees aren’t putting off much fruit yet.  Someday!

SONY DSC

 

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

Last…but certainly not least, my shameless addiction.  Every morning now, I have iced coffee.  I used to not like it but then I found a recipe online and I look forward to it every morning.  I have tweaked it a little, so that it is more calorie friendly.  I can’t remember where the recipe came from or I would give credit for it.  It may be in my Pins…I’m just not sure.  Anyway…here is the recipe.  You are welcome.  😉

SONY DSC


 

Kelli’s Ice Coffee


 

Fill a mason jar to the top with ice.

Add three packets of Stevia to a small measuring cup and set it under the Keurig.

Brew Kcup of your choice on smallest setting. (This makes it concentrated.)

Stir Stevia and concentrated coffee.

Pour over the top of ice.

Add 1/2 c. to a c. of almond milk.

Stir and enjoy.

(The next day, get up and make again.)


 

Have a wonderful Monday, Dirt Roaders.  God loves you!

Sigturquoise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aunt Threasa’s Strawberry Pie (The Best in the World!)

02 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style

≈ 4 Comments

Okay.  I could be biased.  She is my mom’s sister…after all.  She is also a saint.  I mean, fairly close to Mother Threasa.  lol!  She is also our son’s Sunday School teacher and she just helped him grow a sunflower to plant in our garden.  (He is so proud.  He took me out to that little corner of our garden and showed me how much it had grown already.)  All of that, and the woman can make a mean strawberry pie.  Wow.  Just wow.

SONY DSC

You know…I didn’t know that she even made strawberry pie.  Have I been living under a rock?  She has been my aunt for almost 37 years.  Was she hiding this from me?  I seriously doubt it.  I must not have been paying attention.  Shame, shame.  This pie is so good and so easy…I plan on making it a lot.  Well…not like…all the time…a lot…because I can’t stay out of it.  I will put it in my stack of “keepers.”  It will be a “go to” recipe for sure.  Thank you Aunt Threasa.  You are a genius!

SONY DSC


 

Aunt Threasa’s Strawberry Pie


 

Ingredients:

1 baked pie shell

whipped cream

1/2 c. sugar

2 rounded tbsp. cornstarch

2 tbsp. strawberry jello

pinch of salt

1 c. hot water

1 c. sliced strawberries

Directions:

Mix 1/2 c. sugar, 2 rounded tbsp. cornstarch, 2 tbsp. of strawberry jello and a pinch of salt.  Add 1 cup of hot water and cook on med. heat until thickened.  Cool slightly and then add strawberries.  Pour into baked pie shell.  Chill and top with whipped cream.

(If using a deep dish pie shell…double the recipe.  That is what I did.)

I’m telling you, it will change your life.  By the way, I tend to get a little excited about food.  Oh, you picked up on that?  My Dirt Roaders are so smart.

SONY DSC

I hope that you have a piece of pie today.  Pie is good.  The end. 😉

Sigturquoise

Jelly Cupboard in the Farmhouse

29 Thursday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style

≈ 4 Comments

Yesterday…a bit of “grandma’s house” came to live at the Farmhouse.

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

Isn’t a jelly cupboard fun?

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

 

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

I agree.

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

Have a wonderful day, Dirt Roaders.

Love from grandma’s house….I mean the Farmhouse kitchen,

Sigturquoise

Sorry Grandma, There is a New Fried Okra in Town

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style

≈ 8 Comments

Really Grandma.  I am sorry.  I am sorry because your okra is my favorite.  I love it breaded and deep fried the best.  I love a big ol’ pile of it on my plate.  At home, I love it straight from our garden and dipped in egg/milk and then deep fried in my cast iron chicken fryer.  The thing is…when I need to be good, your fried okra is so bad.  No wonder you have that cute little belly roll going on.  Under that floral dress…is a testament to fried okra.  (By the way…I’m not talking about a real grandma.) No wonder you feel so good to squeeze.  Okay…maybe I should just give up…put on a floral dress and grab a bowl of fried okra!  No…that is not the answer.  For now…while I am still a little on the “youngish” side…I will eat your fried okra once in a while and then eat my version the rest of the time.  Deal?  Grandma…you are so understanding.

SONY DSC

Ha!  How are we doing so far with adding a little “grandma’s house”  to our summer journey?  We are off to a good start if you ask me.  Have you heard of Granny Chic?  It’s adorable.  People are  thrifting and incorporating things into their homes that make them think of days past.  It’s adorable. Oh wait, I already said that.  It’s so sweet. I tend to lean toward the simple side of farmhouse decor, but I have started to pick up a few little things.  One of my favorites is the little mustard colored doily from my sweet IG friend.  It just makes me feel happy.  Another thing that I have seen, are garlands made with colored doilies. All of the little house plants here and there have a very “grannychic” feel too.  Love!

SONY DSC

Okay…so enough of that.  You are dying to have my recipe, I just know it! This is actually a variation of an okra and tomatoes recipe that I have.  I will also tell you how to make that.  It’s just the addition of tomatoes at the end.  In this recipe I used okra that I had frozen from our garden.  Did you know that you can just wash it and chop it and freeze it?  It’s amazing.  I was just trying to finish some up yesterday, so that is why I had okra for lunch.  That, and the fact that I am trying to be a good girl and eat my veggies!

SONY DSC

2 tbsp. olive oil

minced garlic

onion

fresh okra, not breaded

sea salt and freshly cracked pepper

seasoning

SONY DSC

Heat olive oil in pan, add minced garlic and onion.  Stir and let garlic turn golden.  (Don’t let it burn…bitter, bitter!)  Add okra and then season with s & P and whatever seasoning that you desire.  (It’s great with nothing…but you could use a lemon pepper or whateves. 😉 ) Keep stirring and “frying.”  When it gets done…to your liking…enjoy!  This is a wonderful summer side…or it can be a meal in itself.  If you love okra and tomatoes…towards the last few minutes throw in some halved grape or cherry tomatoes.  Cook until they are heated through.  DELISH!  (Oh yeah…and I don’t really do measurements.  Just because I figure you can decide how much okra, minced garlic and onion that you like.  My Dirt Roaders are smart that way. If you used a ton of okra…add a bit more oil.)

SONY DSC

I hope that you enjoy the new “fried okra” in town.  It’s waist friendly and heart healthy.  I plan to enjoy it a lot this summer with my family…when the Lord blesses our little okra plants.  (Gotta have a little faith in this farming business.)  I also plan to eat Grandma’s version once in a while too.  It’s fun to have a treat now and then.

Love from the Farmhouse kitchen,

Sigturquoise

 

 

Cruddy Blog Posts and Fried Pies

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style

≈ 2 Comments

Okay…so with a title like that…let’s cut to the chase.  I’m not sure why my pictures are having trouble uploading when I blog from my phone.  I didn’t even realize that it had happened until I looked at the blog today.   Rats!  Well…I’m gonna try…one more time.  Plus…I am gonna give you an amazing FRIED PIE recipe!  I know.  I love you too!
image

This crust is amazing.  It doesn’t soak up the grease!  My MIL is a genius.  She not only grew the most amazing man on the planet in her womb…she found this recipe.  Okay…okay…she can’t take ALL the credit for my husband, God did that part…but she DID find this amazing recipe.  Good job…Moany!  (Her first name is Ramona and I like to call her Moany. Um…actually I like to give everyone nicknames.)

image

(Isn’t the Rhonna Designs app fun?  Moving right along…)

Back to the fried pies.  I hope that you make them and love them.  I also hope that my pictures upload.  That would be a huge plus.  If not…it’s back to hackin’ it out on the old Dell.  😉

image

Cray cray in the country,

Kelli

Cafe Curtains For Me and You

25 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, everyday stuff, Farmhouse Style

≈ Leave a comment

I am so sorry for the poor quality of the pictures yesterday.  I am making it up to you today.  I pulled out Bertha (my big camera) and shot some genuine photos for ya.  Ain’t I sweet.  Why…thank you.  😉

So…last night after I had gazed at my “cafe curtain” all day…I went to Wally World (Wal-Mart) and picked up some tiers.  I love them.  They give the effect that I wanted.  So dreamy.  I love dreamy, do you?

SONY DSC

I also wanted to share with you our rug.  I moved it from the laundry room to the front door for spring and summer.  It grows on me a tad every day.  I’m really loving it there.  Sometimes I wish that it was gray…but I love the teal too.  Who knows?  It may go back in the laundry someday…if I find another bargain rug in blue and white.  😉

SONY DSC

Don’t look too close at the cafe curtains.  They need to be ironed.  It won’t take long…but I just popped them up there last night so I could see what they looked like.  They are so pretty from the outside of the house too.  Yes…I went outside in the dark and looked at them.  I also had a couple of children popping up in the window…looking at me.  It probably seemed weird that Mom was outside in the dark looking through the window.  lol! I learned long ago that the creative mind…is not normal.

SONY DSC

I just wanted to share some shots with you.  I think that cafe curtains for me and you…is a very good idea.  One of my Instagram followers shared with me, that cafe curtains are all the rage in Germany right now.  How fitting…since I am totally in love with the European farmhouse style.

SONY DSC

Have a wonderful weekend, sweet Dirt Roaders!

Sigturquoise

 

Happy Kitchen

15 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style

≈ 3 Comments

Is your kitchen a fun place to be?  I sure hope so.  Most of us spend lots of time there.  When people come to the Farmhouse…they generally go straight to the kitchen.  I am good with that.  I try to make our kitchen a happy place to be. Most of you probably remember, a couple of months back, when we painted our kitchen.  I love it…so much.  The white just makes everything stand out.  Do me a favor. If your paint color doesn’t make you happy…change it.  Paint is really an inexpensive face lift.  Save back a few bucks a week and you will have enough, before you know it, to buy paint.  I promise, you will love it!

SONY DSC

Sometimes, when I go junking, I have a hard time saying no to kitchen junk.  It’s my absolute fave.  I love vintage kitchen things to decorate with.  The thing about that it, I love a simple look, so I have to make sure that I am choosey.

SONY DSC

I have probably already told you this, sometimes I forget…after all of these posts, but a while back I weeded out my kitchen.  I took the things off the tops of the cabinets that I didn’t really love and kept only the things that I really needed on the counters.  Do you ever watch Sarah Carey cooking videos?  I get those sent to my email.  I know that it’s a test kitchen of sorts, but I love the simplicity.  I love the little pots of herbs and the utensils.

SONY DSC

I have a challenge for you.  Walk into your kitchen and clear out anything that doesn’t make you happy.  I promise…you will love it.  It will make you feel like you just took a deep breath.

SONY DSC

When we painted our kitchen I decided to take the plates out of the plate rack that had been there for years.  I got a wild hair and replaced them with some of my favorite cookbooks.  I love the difference.  Looking at all of the bright colors against the white, makes me feel happy.

SONY DSC

As you can tell, this is not so much a DIY blog.  It’s really just more about inspiration.  If photos of our home and the way that things can be arranged put a little idea in your head…then my job is done.  Those are the blogs I love.  The ones with good photography and inspiration.   BTW:  I have been trying to figure out the color that I want to keep for my badge.  I’m kind of digging the gray.  We shall see. 🙂

I hope that your kitchen makes you feel happy,

Sigturquoise

 

 

Are You a Planner?

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style

≈ 4 Comments

Hey Guys!  It’s Friday!  Woo Hoo!  Aren’t we glad?  Today I have a question for you and I would love a bazillion replies!  Are you a planner?  As in…meal planner.  Do you plan out what you are going to have a week ahead, and then cook accordingly?

SONY DSC

I follow people on IG that do this.  It looks truly amazing.  I think that I have shared with you  before about the fact that when I grocery shop…I buy plenty of meats and veggies to have several meals to cook.  I sort of plan it in my head…but it’s more like I give us options instead of exactly planning it out.

SONY DSC

Sometimes I wonder how I would do with a more strategic plan instead of cooking on the fly. I do usually think about it the evening before.  You see…the thing is…these people that have these beautiful little meal planner thingys, well…it looks so fun.  I have always been crazy about pens, pencils and fun stationery.  So I have an ulterior motive for this meal planning.  🙂

SONY DSC

I would love to hear your plan.  Are you a planner?  Are you a last minute whipper-upper?  Please…I gotta know!

Dreaming of pretty paper,

Sigturquoise

Pyrex Adventure

24 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style

≈ 6 Comments

Mom and I had an adventure last Friday.  Instead of our usual junk stops…we headed south and went to some little “honey holes” that she knew of. We weren’t looking for a Pyrex adventure, the Pyrex adventure just kind of found us.

SONY DSC

We both have a crazy love for bowls.  We also love Pyrex.  The great thing is…it’s not something that we just collect.  We use them.  I have actually trimmed my collection down, in recent years.  I only keep what we actually use. I just breathe better when I can reach in the cabinet and have a little space.  Plus…they are fun to give as prizeys.

SONY DSC

So here we are in a little town, way off down the road and we happen upon to this little flea market of sorts.  We piddle around and find all sorts of goodies. (I will share more of them with you later.)  I spotted, what I thought was a stack of three Cinderella bowls, (The kind that the handles double as pour spouts.) and I loved the pattern.  I found out later that it’s called Town and Country.  Well…to make a long story short, we left and then I decided that the girls and I could really benefit from that big mixing bowl, so we went back.  The sad part was…the bowl that was stacked in the middle didn’t match.  So…after a little wheeling and dealing…we walked away with two.  Bowls 1 and 3.  Now I need 2 and 4.  😉  How fun…to have something to scout for!

SONY DSC

A few years back…Mom started collecting “The Stack” for my brother and I.  I love them.  They are so bright and cheery.  Mine actually needs a different turquoise bowl because that one goes with a different set.  I will have to keep my eyes peeled.

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

Do you ever see the Pyrex refrigerator dishes when you are out and about?  I love those for our little coffee drawer.  They are perfect for holding packets of Stevia and Splenda.  They also work good for pickles and olives.

SONY DSC

I have been craving simplicity lately.  I have been longing to have my things done in the house so that when warmer days are here to stay, I can focus on things outside.  When I am out junking with mom or my MIL or a friend…I usually try to be pretty choosey.  We go often enough that I don’t want to have a junk overload. Plus…we try to live on a budget.  Most of the time…I try to make sure that it’s something that we will actually use.  It’s also fun to have a few little things on hand in case you need a gift.  How fun to give a vintage bowl…tied with a piece of twine, sporting a pretty tag!

SONY DSC

I hope that you enjoyed our little Pyrex adventure, Dirt Roaders.  Isn’t it fun to share things with someone that you love?  It’s like they are speaking your language.

SONY DSC

 

Smiles from the Farmhouse,

Sigturquoise

 

 

What’s Cookin’ Dirt Roaders?

27 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by Kelli in Culinary Style, Farmhouse Style

≈ 4 Comments

Sometimes…I have a plan.  Sometimes I do not. Tonight I have a plan.  We are having turkey breast, I do know that much.  It is patiently waiting to be thrown into the Crock Pot.  I hope that my aim is steady today.  What’s cookin’ around your neck of the woods today?

SONY DSC

To my utter shame…I am not one that plans out meals in advance.  Well, in a way I’m not.  I actually grocery shop with specific meals in mind but I don’t plan them out the week before.  That has stemmed from years of trying to grocery shop on a budget.  It works for me, but I do always admire those that have a pretty list of their meals for the week.  It looks so organized.  I do make sure that I have staples and meat.  You can make a meal in a pinch if you have that.  I try to promote thankfulness around here when it comes to food.  Yes…I am “that mom.”  “There are people that don’t have anything to eat…we should be thankful.”  Actually…I’m not too ashamed of that.  😉

SONY DSC

Whatever is cooking at your home, I hope that when you get there tonight…that you get to sit down and enjoy it.  Life is meant to be enjoyed one moment at a time.  Father…please let us remember that.

SONY DSC

Fixing to chuck a turkey…

Sigturquoise

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Whatcha lookin’ for?

Recent Posts

  • So This is Christmas
  • As the World Turns
  • How Are You?
  • The Life of a Maker
  • Trial Run

Archives

  • December 2020
  • September 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012

Categories

  • Country Life
  • crochet
  • Culinary Style
  • everyday stuff
  • Farmhouse Photography
  • Farmhouse Style
  • fluffin' the nest
  • Gettin' all Crafty
  • grove collaborative
  • heart and soul
  • holidays
  • livin' a little healthy
  • RaMbLiNgs
  • sCoRiN' some JuNkItY JuNk
  • Simply…living
  • Uncategorized
  • Yum for the Tum

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

alongthedirtroad

Kelli

Kelli

Welcome to our stretch of the dirt road! It is filled with junkin' trips, culinary experiments and anything to "fluff the nest" which is our farmhouse. I love home decor that fits my family. I love a simplicity that we can live in. Maybe that is why the country life is so appealing to us. It's a place to breathe deep...and enjoy the journey. Join us! We would love to have you. (You might even see a chicken or two.)

View Full Profile →

alongthedirtroad

alongthedirtroad

Blogs I Follow

  • Waterthought

Blog at WordPress.com.

Waterthought

By Rana Renee Dimmick

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy