Homemade Carrot Baby Food

I got a free bag of Earthbound Farms carrots a week or two ago and today's "experiment" was making homemade baby food for Clint.

I peeled, washed, and chopped them first and then boiled them on the stove-top until tender. Next, I drained the water and dumped them into the blender where I pureed them. I chose the cubed freezing method and plan on storing the cubes in freezer bags once frozen. Hopefully, it will turn out OK. If not, at least I tried something new. :)

Look Who We Saw! :)

We took a little day trip to Greenville, SC this past Friday and our son Clint got to meet Patch the Pirate ( aka: Ron Hamilton ) for the first time. I'm so glad I had the camera with me! :)

Persimmon Bread

We have a persimmon tree in our back yard and this was the first year I actually harvested some. It was actually more of an experiment, but I enjoyed picking, hulling, pureeing, and baking with them. Below is the recipe I tried.

*Persimmon Bread*

1 cup persimmon pulp

2 tsp baking soda

3 cups white sugar

1 cup oil

4 eggs

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup water

3 cups white whole wheat flour

1 cup chopped walnuts ( optional )

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C ). Grease three 6x3 inch loaf pans. In small bowl, stir together the persimmon pulp and baking soda. Let stand 5 minutes to thicken the pulp. In a medium bowl, combine sugar, oil, eggs, spices, and salt. Blend until smooth. Mix in persimmon pulp and water alternately with flour. Fold in nuts. Divide batter into the prepared pans, filling each pan 2/3 full. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

(recipe adapted from allrecipes.com )

Over 78% Grocery Savings

( NOTE: Once again, the pasta is to be shared with others....I only bought it to get overage for other needed items )

BEFORE Sales and Coupons: $146.89

AFTER Sales and Coupons: $31.37

Potato Pancakes with Avocado Mash & Eggs

Tried this recipe earlier today and it was a winner with the Hubby! :)

1 1/4 pounds shredded baking potatoes

1 grated onion

4 eggs

2 avocados

salt

pepper

olive oil

hot sauce (optional)

Place the shredded potatoes in a kitchen towel and squeeze to remove any moisture. Transfer to a bowl and stir in grated onion, 1 TB olive oil, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 TB olive oil over medium heat. Divide the potato mixture into 4 mounds in the skillet and pat into 4-inch pancakes. Cover with a sheet of foil and cook, turning once and adding 1 more TB olive oil, until browned, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a platter. In the same skillet, cook 4 eggs sunny-side up with 1 TB olive oil for about 1 minute. Mash the flesh from the avocados and season with salt. Top each pancake with some avocado, an egg and hot sauce ( if desired ).

YIELD: 4 servings

(recipe taken from Oct. 2010 issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray )

Over 97% Savings at Kroger

BEFORE Sales and Coupons: $66.48

AFTER Sales and Coupons: $1.72

Momma's Little Pumpkin

Since Hubby will be working late today, the Pumpkin and I plan on leaving here in a bit to do some deal hunting/window shopping. He's 6 1/2 months old now and can roll over and sit by himself. No teeth yet, but I don't mind putting that off a little longer. :)

Last night was the last night of our church's revival meeting. The guest preacher preached on the home......fathers being godly fathers, mothers being godly mothers and the children's job to obey their parents. A great message indeed!

All for now! I think I smell a dirty diaper. :)