Total Pageviews

Search This Blog

Translate

Saturday, 21 February 2026

Poor Man’s Husband Casserole


Poor Man’s Husband Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups cooked egg noodles
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Salt & black pepper to taste

6x Cabbage Roll Soups


1️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Garlic Parmesan

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 head green cabbage, chopped
28 oz crushed tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
1 cup cooked white rice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat until cooked through, then drain the excess fat.

Add the onion and garlic to the pot and sautΓ© for 3 minutes until softened.

Stir in the cabbage, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, salt, and pepper.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes until the cabbage is tender.

Stir in the cooked rice and Parmesan cheese just before serving.

───── ✦ ─────

2️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Lemon Herb

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 head green cabbage, chopped
28 oz diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup cooked white rice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp salt

Instructions:

Brown the ground turkey in a large pot over medium heat until no longer pink.

Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent.

Add the cabbage, tomatoes, chicken broth, oregano, thyme, and salt to the pot.

Simmer the mixture for 25 minutes until the cabbage is soft.

Stir in the cooked rice and lemon juice, then serve warm.

───── ✦ ─────

3️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Sesame Ginger

Ingredients:

1 lb ground chicken
1 medium onion, diced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
1/2 head green cabbage, chopped
32 oz chicken broth
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 cup cooked white rice
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

Cook the ground chicken in a large pot over medium heat until browned.

Add the onion and ginger, sautΓ©ing for 2 minutes.

Pour in the chicken broth and soy sauce, then add the chopped cabbage and salt.

Simmer for 20 minutes until the cabbage is completely tender.

Stir in the cooked rice and sesame oil before removing from heat.

───── ✦ ─────

4️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Taco-Style

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 head green cabbage, chopped
15 oz tomato sauce
1 packet taco seasoning
4 cups beef broth
1 cup cooked white rice
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 tsp salt

Instructions:

Brown the ground beef and onion in a large pot over medium heat and drain the fat.

Add the taco seasoning, cabbage, tomato sauce, beef broth, and corn.

Bring the soup to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Stir in the cooked rice and salt.

Cook for 2 more minutes until heated through.

───── ✦ ─────

5️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Curry

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 head green cabbage, chopped
14.5 oz diced tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
2 tbsp curry powder
1 cup cooked white rice
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 tsp salt

Instructions:

In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat and drain the fat.

Stir in the onion and cook for 3 minutes.

Add the cabbage, diced tomatoes, beef broth, curry powder, and salt.

Simmer for 25 minutes until the cabbage is tender.

Add the cooked rice and peas, stirring until warmed through.

───── ✦ ─────

6️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Spicy Chili-Lime

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 head green cabbage, chopped
28 oz crushed tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp lime juice
1 cup cooked white rice
1 tsp salt

Instructions:

Brown the ground beef and onion in a large pot over medium heat and drain the fat.

Stir in the cabbage, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and salt.

Simmer for 20 minutes until the cabbage is soft.

Stir in the cooked rice and lime juice.

Serve once the soup is hot and the flavors are combined.

Friday, 20 February 2026

6 x Cottage Cheese Chips


1️⃣ Cottage Cheese Chips — Everything Bagel

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese
1 tbsp everything bagel seasoning

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place small spoonfuls of cottage cheese onto the parchment, spacing them 2 inches apart.

Flatten each mound slightly with the back of a spoon and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the centers are crisp.

───── ✦ ─────

2️⃣ Cottage Cheese Chips — Garlic Herb

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried oregano

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix the cottage cheese, garlic powder, parsley, and oregano in a small bowl.

Drop small dollops of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.

Flatten the dollops into thin circles.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until crispy and firm.

───── ✦ ─────

3️⃣ Cottage Cheese Chips — Salsa & Lime

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese
1 tbsp chunky salsa (well-drained)
1/2 tsp lime zest
1 pinch salt

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Pulse the cottage cheese and drained salsa in a blender until mostly smooth.

Stir in the lime zest and salt.

Spread thin rounds of the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 35 minutes or until the chips are browned and crunchy.

───── ✦ ─────

4️⃣ Cottage Cheese Chips — Pizza Seasoning

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp onion powder

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine the cottage cheese, Italian seasoning, Parmesan, and onion powder in a bowl.

Place spoonfuls of the mixture onto the baking sheet and press down to flatten.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the cheese is toasted and the chips are rigid.

Cool completely on the pan to allow them to fully crisp up.

───── ✦ ─────

5️⃣ Cottage Cheese Chips — Ranch-Style

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese
1 tsp dry ranch seasoning mix

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Stir the dry ranch seasoning into the cottage cheese until well combined.

Drop small, thin mounds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the edges are dark golden.

Remove from the oven and let cool before serving.

───── ✦ ─────

6️⃣ Cottage Cheese Chips — Chipotle

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 tsp chipotle powder
1/4 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Mix the cottage cheese with the chipotle powder and smoked paprika.

Spread the mixture into small, flat circles on the parchment paper.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the chips are golden and crispy.

Let the chips sit for 5 minutes after baking to firm up.

Thursday, 19 February 2026

Homemade Bird Seed Bell



Bird seed bells are basically edible ornaments you can hang outside for backyard birds. πŸ¦πŸ””

Here are two great methods: one with gelatin (long-lasting) and one no-cook peanut butter version.

🐦 Classic Gelatin Bird Seed Bells (Most Durable)

Ingredients:
2 packets unflavored gelatin (about 2 tbsp total)
½ cup boiling water
¾ cup flour
3 cups bird seed mix
Twine or string

Optional add-ins:
Dried cranberries
Black oil sunflower seeds
Cracked corn
Chopped unsalted peanuts

Directions:

Dissolve gelatin
In a bowl, stir gelatin into ½ cup boiling water until fully dissolved.

Add flour
Stir in flour until smooth (this helps strengthen the bell).

Mix in bird seed
Add bird seed and stir until everything is well coated and sticky.

Shape the bell
Lightly grease a small bundt pan, silicone mold, or bell-shaped mold.

Press mixture firmly into the mold. REALLY pack it in tight.

Add hanger
Insert a loop of twine into the top (leave a loop sticking out).

Dry
Let sit 12–24 hours to fully harden.

Then gently remove from mold and let air dry another day if needed.

Hang outside
Hang from a tree branch or hook.

πŸ’‘ Best in cool weather — gelatin softens in hot summer heat.

πŸ₯œ No-Cook Peanut Butter Bird Seed Bells

Great for quick projects and winter feeding.

Ingredients:

1 cup natural peanut butter (no sugar added)
3 cups bird seed
Twine

Directions:

Mix peanut butter and bird seed until thick.

Press into a mold lined with plastic wrap.
Insert twine loop.

Chill in refrigerator 2–3 hours until firm.
Remove and hang.

⚠️ Best for cold weather — peanut butter softens in warm temps.

🧊 Extra Durable Option (No Gelatin)

If you want something that holds up better in heat:

Use:
1 cup lard or suet (melted)
3 cups bird seed

Mix, mold, cool until solid.

This version is excellent for winter birds and high-energy feeding.🐦

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

For hot summer weather, you want something that won’t melt like gelatin, peanut butter, or suet.

The best warm-weather binder is a flour + corn syrup dough mixture that dries rock-hard instead of melting.

☀️ No-Melt Summer Bird Seed Bells

Ingredients:
3 cups bird seed mix
½ cup flour
¼ cup light corn syrup
¼ cup water
Twine or jute string
(Optional: black oil sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, dried fruit bits)

Directions:

1️⃣ Make the binder
In a bowl, mix:
Flour
Corn syrup
Water
Stir until it forms a thick glue-like paste.

2️⃣ Add bird seed
Stir in bird seed until everything is fully coated and sticky.
It should feel thick and moldable — not runny.

3️⃣ Shape
Lightly oil a small bundt pan, bell mold, or silicone mold.
Pack mixture in VERY firmly (this is important).
Insert a loop of twine in the top.

4️⃣ Dry thoroughly
Let dry at room temperature 24–48 hours.

For extra durability:
After removing from mold, let it air dry another day.
Or place in a 170°F (75°C) oven for 1 hour, then cool completely.

Why This Works in Heat
Unlike gelatin or fat-based binders, this dries into a hard, bread-like structure.

It won’t melt — it just slowly gets eaten.

Pro Tips for Summer Success ☀️

Hang in partial shade to extend life.

Keep away from high-moisture areas (rain shortens lifespan).

Use within 1–2 weeks in humid climates.

Stained Porcelain Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Me: Is there an easy way to take the stains out of my porcelain covered cast iron Dutch oven?

ChatGPT: Oh yes… and since you cook a lot of hearty dishes (hello blackened chicken and smoker recipes πŸ˜„), I’m guessing this Dutch oven has seen some action.
Good news: porcelain-coated cast iron is tough — and most stains are cosmetic, not damage.

Here are the easy, safe methods, starting with the gentlest:

πŸ₯‡ Method 1: Baking Soda Paste (Best Everyday Fix)

Great for: Brown stains, light scorch marks
Sprinkle baking soda over the stained area.
Add just enough water to make a thick paste.
Let sit 30–60 minutes (or overnight for heavy stains).

Scrub gently with a non-scratch sponge.
Rinse and dry.

πŸ‘‰ For tougher stains, fill the pot with water + 2 tbsp baking soda and simmer 10–15 minutes, then cool and scrub.

πŸ₯ˆ Method 2: Hydrogen Peroxide + Baking Soda (Deep Whitening)

Great for: Yellowing, dark interior staining
Sprinkle baking soda inside the pot.

Pour in enough 3% hydrogen peroxide to cover the stained area.

Let sit several hours or overnight.

Rinse and wash normally.

This method works surprisingly well for restoring that light interior color.

πŸ₯‰ Method 3: Bar Keepers Friend (Very Effective)

Great for: Stubborn brown/black marks
Make a paste with BKF and a little water.

Rub gently with a soft sponge.

Rinse thoroughly.

⚠️ Don’t scrub aggressively — porcelain can dull if you go too hard.

🚫 What NOT to Use

Steel wool
Metal scrubbers
Bleach (can dull enamel over time)
Oven cleaner

πŸ”₯ If It’s Really Burned On

Fill with water, add:
2 tbsp baking soda
1 tbsp dish soap

Bring to a gentle boil for 10–15 minutes.

Let cool slightly, then scrape with a wooden spoon.

You’d be amazed what lifts off.

Important Note

If the stain:
Is smooth to the touch
Doesn’t affect cooking
Doesn’t feel rough or chipped
…it’s just cosmetic and completely safe.