Freeze cookie dough for later

Today the kids were begging for cookies.  I really did not feel like having 5 dozen baked cookies around the house.  We prepared the recipe for Oatmeal Raisin chocolate chip cookies from my grandmother.  We used an  ice cream scoop- to get same sized cookies.  I used the smaller kind for this recipe but if you want bigger cookies they have bigger scoops.

I baked a  dozen to enjoy today and scooped the remainder on another cookie sheet.  You can then place the cookie sheet directly into your freezer.

 Once they are frozen solid, I happen to forget about them until the next morning, and then place them into a ziploc bag. 

 Make sure to label the bag with type of cookie, oven temp. and recommended bake time.  The cookies can last about 3 months in the freezer.

When you are ready to bake a few more cookies you can just place the cookies onto the cookie sheet frozen.  Check them at the recommended time, but they make take an additional minute.

For bake and slice cookies, you can either freeze the whole log, wrap in saran wrap or parchment and then place into the ziploc bag. For individual servings, precut the cookies before freezing.  Before baking the log method you may want the roll to sit out a few minutes b/f slicing.

Once again, a great gift to have on hand.  What new mommy or busy family would not like pre-made cookie dough they can pop into the oven? Just wrap ribbon around the roll and add a recipe card or just cookie directions.

For the drop cookies, place ziploc bag into a cello bag and tie off with directions.

Happy baking and freezing.

Grandma’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup soft butter or margarine

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar2 eggs at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour-sifted

1 tsp baking soda

¾ tsp salt

3 cups rolled oats (quick or old fashioned)

1 12oz pkg semi sweet chocolate

½ cup chopped walnuts

½ cup raisins (optional)

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until creamy. and then add sugars. until light and fluffy

Blend in eggs and vanilla

Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt

Add to creamed mixture, beating well.

Stir in oats, chocolate chips, walnuts and raisins

Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 375’ oven for 10-12  minutes.  Do not overbake.

Reuse Pots/Cell Packs from Purchased Annuals/vegetables

You may think this is a gardening blog but nice spring weather keeps me busy outside.

Make sure you keep the pots and cell packs from the plants you are buying or ask friends and neighbors to save them for you.  Not only can you use them to start new seeds, as discussed in the previous post but they are useful for gift giving as well.

Many of us have at least one established perennial  in their garden that can be split or simply removed because it is becoming intrusive. (black eyed susans, begonias,shasta daisys, bee balm,mint, and lily of the valley to name a few work well.) Instead of just throwing them away, Spring is a good time to take some of the small plants emerging and repot them.  Make sure you put the plants in a pot that is at least the size of the root but preferably bigger.

Make sure and water daily as they will dry out quicker in a pot than in your garden.  A little miracle grow wont hurt either.  

Transplanted Black Eyed Susans

Also, if you have started seeds in a pot or in the garden and you need to remove some for appropriate spacing per the seed packet.  Carefully pull out the unwanted plant, trying not to harm the roots, and put into a cell pack/or pot filled with potting soil.  You now can share with friends.  Who would not be excited about a unwanted basil plant!!!

Going to a friends house for dinner or need a little extra addition to a group teacher gift?  With just a little planning, you can have a little stockpile of instant and relatively free gifts.

 I thought of this too late last year and did not allow the plants to establish as babies so it was a little more challenging and I lost a few!   You want to make sure you are giving a plant that will live!!  Just wrap the pot up in a little tissue paper or cellophane,(not right after you water it!) and a little ribbon and you have an instant gift.  To make it a little fancier, just repot into an inexpensive decorative pot.

Basil in a decorative pot.

recycle while gardening

Jug used in container gardening too.

 Ever get excited on a warm spring day and put out a plant in your garden and the next week they are calling for low temps.  Do you have an animal like a bunny or deer that might like the taste of a new seedling.  Or are you just anxious to start seeds.  This year I discovered a few ways to use common household things to jump start and protect my garden at the same time.

• Plastic milk jugs
• Clear Plastic juice bottles--Quart size
• Liter soda bottles
• Clear plastic Strawberry  or salad containers--must have holes

If you cut the bottom off and place over your seedlings or plants you have an instant "hot house". While not the most beautiful in your landscape, they do the trick without paying a thing.  Make sure to they are secure in the dirt surrounding the seeds, or plant.

 On  really warm days you just keep the cap off the container and during cold nights put the cap back on.  If you are starting seeds you can keep the container closed and the humidity in the jug will act like a green house.  Just be sure to water the seeds lightly to keep the contents moist but should do the trick if they were wet when you began.

When the season warms you can just put them in your recycling bin or use as a watering can!  Just remember late next winter to start putting them to the side.

Seedling inside milk jug

Juice container protecting young vine being eaten by animal

Strawberry Containers can also serve as Mini Greenhouses.  Plant some seeds either directly into seedstarter mix you placed into container or use filled peat pots or previously used plant containers you got at the nursery; and place those into your container.  (if using seedstarter mix make sure it is damp b/f adding seeds) Water well and place near a sunny window.  You just need to check the dampness every few days but the seeds will emerge more quickly.  Make sure you have something to catch any water underneath.

Our Vegetable Garden-1 month

It is not too late for anyone to start a vegetable garden this spring.

After some careful persuasion I convinced my husband to make us a 4 x8 raised vegetable garden bed-the persuasion came as it is infront of the house. Only place with 6 plus hours of full sun each day.

I have a lot of flowers at our home but I wanted the kids to be able to experience and taste the rewards.

We used a plan found in the April issue of Better Homes and Garden of how to make a 4x8 raised garden bed.

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/build-a-vegetable-bed/

It took him only a few hrs to put this together and dig out the area. Follow the directions in this link to determine amount of soil and and organic amendments. Make sure to plant insect friendly flowers as well into your garden. Marigolds are known to deter the Bad bugs and welcome the good pollinators.

After only a few weeks and we have a salad bowl full of mixed greens. The kids are actually eating salad. I started seeds in my greenhouse but you can direct sow into the bed as I will in a few weeks to keep a constant crop through early summer hopefully.

Back to my roots

When I started thinking about starting a blog and composing some notes . I began to look more closely at where I may have gotten the knack for entertaining and "homemaking" if you may.  Please, I am no Martha Stewart, as I do not iron and am not a perfectionist.  

I think of my grandmother who was always entertaining at home, simply but inviting whoever she knew was alone for a holiday or meal.  She was the sister of 6 and caretaker of her father, husband and two daughters as well. Although she lived in a 6 flat in Chicago you could always expect several tomato plants and basil growing on her back porch. One year I think I remember her growing celery.  Not to mention a concrete back yard that had a canopy of grapes.  She was the first person to show me how to sew when I was in middle school-a pair of floral shorts with pockets!

You can tell I miss her but I want everyone to be able to find some comfort close to their home and hearts and carry on traditions both old and new.

I am often on the phone with a friend or family member discussing a dinner party menu or birthday party ideas, I am hoping to make a forum to express some of these things and share with others.