Food Storage Recipe - Homemade "Ice Cream"

I am always trying to find things for my kids to eat for snacks that are so "junky", like chips etc. I was given this recipe a while ago. I cannot remember where I got it from , but my Little Man loves it!

Homemade "Ice Cream"

A few bananas that are a bit overripe - not too overripe

2 tablespoon creamy peanut butter


2 teaspoon of cocoa powder

Peel your bananas and slice them up. Put them in the freezer until they are frozen. Put them into a food processor and pulse them until they turn into mush. You will need to push the sides down to get the bananas down and keep them pulsing. After a few minutes of scraping the sides down and pulsing the bananas should have a creamy texture. When they look like whipped ice cream you can add the peanut butter and cocoa. You could also add anything else that your family likes ~ berries, chocolate chips, etc. This is like soft serve ice cream. You can freeze it for a few minutes to get a firmer texture. But we find that the soft serve is great.

Food Storage Recipe ~Basic Smoothies

Easy, quick,and made from what should be in your food storage.

A Basic Smoothie

1/4 cup of tang

1/4 cup non~instant dry milk

2 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 cups water

2 cups ice

fresh or frozen fruit ~ use bananas, strawberries, pineapple, mango, or peaches

Put the water in the blender and start blending. 

While it is blending add everything else.

 Blend it together until it is smooth.

 Kids love this. Great for breakfast.

Rain Barrel Systems How To - Every Homeowner Should Be Using a Rain Barrel!

Rain barrel systems are a great way to save money on your water bill, and help save our Earth's natural resources.

Rain barrels catch rain water from your roof. These barrels can be used to water your gardens, shrubs, trees, and even your lawn.

The systems are a very cheap DIY project to build on your own. You can also purchase pre-made systems. Some of the pre-made systems are very decorative as well. If you live in an area where you have a home owners association, you may have to clear a rain barrel system first.

A simple 50 gallon food grade barrel with a spout on the bottom is all you need for a rain barrel collection system.

Place the rain barrel under a corner of your roof to catch the most rain water. You can hook a gutter system to your rain barrel to catch even more water.

A screen over the top of the barrel will keep out leaves and other debris. Homes with small children should have some kind of sturdy screen to keep small children from falling in. A screen can also keep out small animals.

The rain barrels work on a gravity system to water an area. A soaker hose can be attached near the bottom, and gravity will do the rest of the work. You can purchase pumps that will pump the water out of the barrel with enough pressure to run a sprinkler.

Rainwater irrigation is an excellent choice for watering vegetables. Rainwater is clean and fresh, and does not contain chemicals that may be found in city water.

You can store rainwater for long periods of time if it is stored in a dark colored barrel. The dark barrels do not allow in sunlight, which produces algae.

By utilizing rain barrels you will be doing your part for the environment by reducing the use of our natural resources. In some areas of drought, the perfect option for homeowners is to use rain barrel systems.

To get started we need to know how to get a rain barrel collection system set up quickly and inexpensively!
Setting up a Garden Rain Barrel is so easy anyone can do it with a little guidance.

Click here to discover tips, how to information and sources where you can get your own rain barrel or plastic drum to start saving water and money! RainWaterBarrel.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Garden Tips!

Getting your garden planned is work and fun. The number one tip that I can give is to not plant too early. Make sure the risk of frost is gone. Select easy veggies to grow that are your families favorites.

Some easy veggies to grow:
              Tomatoes
              Bush Beans
              Cucumbers
              Peppers
              Zucchini
              Squash
              Onions
              Lettuce
              Eggplant
              Peas
              Radishes
              Carrots

Check around online or ask a local nursery when the best time to plant for your area is. Plan out your garden with stakes that are labeled with each veggies name so that you know where you are going to plant them. Put in poles for the climbing plants. Keep the smaller plants grouped together and make sure you give the tomatoes plenty of room to sprawl. They will quickly take over a space, so let them have their room!

Water your garden in the early morning or evening. Let the water have time to soak in to get to the roots. Surface watering is not good. Your garden should get about 2 inches of water a week.

Thin out the seedlings as they start growing. Get rid of the weaker ones. This will allow the others to really grow and be healthier. Removing weeds often will also assure healthy veggies.You will have to be out in your garden often to weed it.

Invest in some rain barrels to catch rain water for watering your garden. This will save you money. Just a half inch of rain can fill a rain barrel. 

Get the whole family involved with the garden. Kids have a lot of fun in one. Let them have their own seeds and section to grow what they like. I let my Little Man have one every year and we found out that he has quite a green thumb. Pretty awesome and he really loves growing veggies.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray Combo Pack Giveaway!

We’re proud to announce The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey coming to Blu-ray &DVD March 19th 2013!

 
Take the quiz below , post your results in the comments, and one lucky winner will win a copy of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray Combo Pack!

                Contest ends on April 1st 2013 - I have to have the winner's name and address sent in by April 9th 2013. 
 

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an amazing quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.




Take the Are You 100% Hobbit Quiz! What has a tendency to be very brave, is around 4 ft. tall with sharp eyesight, little to no facial hair, and loves cake? If you thought we were talking about you, then you might be a Hobbit Indeed! Take the quiz to find out just how much of a Hobbit you are!
 Creatures of Middle-earth! Hobbits, Elves and Dwarves are just a few of the magical creatures that call Middle-earth home. Check out vital stats and unique features about each one!

•           The Hobbit Handbook! Our Hobbit Handbook includes everything you need to throw the best viewing party in Middle-earth right at home!

•           Get Social! Tweet with the #TheHobbit hashtag to get your audience excited about the premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey coming to Blu-ray & DVD March 19th 2013!

  

After you take the quiz above go to the comments and post your results from the Are You 100% Hobbit Quiz! You will win a copy of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray Combo Pack!
The prize will be sent via FedEx or UPS. No P.O. Boxes please.