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| Homemade honeycomb. |
It's been quite cold here, now we are right in the middle of winter. I'm grateful we still have cold but sunny days, to be able to dry the washing on the line and get a bit of vitamin D! Here's what I've been up to over the last week:
-Made a fresh batch of kombucha and bottled some of the vinegar to use in cooking and cleaning.
-Went for a drive and picked a heap of dandelion flowers which are now infusing in olive oil ready for another batch of healing balm. Mr 10 had a play at a nearby park which was on the way.
-Made 2 jars of dandelion balm and some dandelion massage oil from an older batch of the dandelion oil.
-Used up some lemon juice and made 3 bottles of ginger beer. This is a recipe from an old cook book that doesn't require a ginger beer plant. If it works out well, I'll share it here.
-Did some cleaning work for a friend. She also gifted me with some empty passata bottles and lovely little fancy bottles, also a big slab of beeswax and some cider from their recent holiday.
-Baked a vanilla and apricot cake and Mr 10 baked a chocolate pudding for dessert.
-Hung the washing outside to dry.
-Started making some little felt finger puppets for a gift.
-Got some free pizza bases and rolls from the op shop. We made pizza for dinner on one night which only cost a few cents.
-Also got a large bag of lemons and oranges from the op shop. I juiced the oranges for drinking.
-Picked more silverbeet and rocket from the garden to use in cooking and salads.
-Saved rainwater for our vegie garden.
-Made some honeycomb for a Saturday night treat.
-Spent only $70 on groceries for the fortnight and as usual cooked all meals from scratch.
-Have managed another week without using the heated blanket instead of the heater to keep warm.
-Bought a cotton baby wrap from the op shop for $1.50, I will sew some felt embellishments on it and it will be a gift for a friend who is expecting.
-Mr 10 and I volunteered at our local animal shelter, then hubby packed us lunch and afternoon tea and we had a bushwalk/picnic.
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| Kale and cauliflower lasagne for dinner. |
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| Dandelion massage oil and balm. |
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| Homemade ginger beer. |
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| Playing at the park. |
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| Homemade pizza with caramelized onion. |
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| Dandelion flowers. |
Dear Mel, you are doing brilliantly and you should be really proud. Providing for your family can seem like drudgery sometimes but I can promise you it's worthwhile in the end. I admire that you're using every opportunity to make something out of nothing. It can be a lot of fun to challenge yourself like that! Thanks for your lovely comments on my Insourcing posts...I hadn't done one in a while but I'll get back to it just because I enjoyed reading your response. Keep up the good work. Love, Mimi xxx
ReplyDeleteDear Mimi,
DeleteThanks so much for your lovely comment! I do enjoy making something out of nothing, it's a bit of fun for me. I'm finding your posts delightful, just like a comforting chat when I need it. xx
Dear Mel, I've featured your comment on my Insourcing post, and used it to revive that series on my blog today. Thankyou for the inspiration...xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Mimi,
DeleteOh thank you! *blushes* that is so kind of you. I love those posts and am glad you will be writing more. xx
Dear Mel,
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of vanilla and apricot cake! My husband is mad on apricot and I am mad on vanilla... could be a good cake for us!
The dandelion flowers looks gorgeous like little rays of sunshine!
Your grocery spend for the fortnight was wonderful. Well done.
I feel the same as you, if the sun is out I am out there getting some vitaminD, I seem to start to crave sun. The last fortnight it has been pretty rare!
With love, Annabel.xxx
Dear Annabel,
DeleteGive it a try, it is really yummy. I often make up a vanilla cake batter and then just dollop some jam or lemon butter over the top before baking. This is especially yummy with custard for dessert! Hubby bought home another pocket of sunshine for me today :D xx
Mel, you really are so creative and resourceful! I may have missed it, but how do you make the dandelion balm? If you have done a post on it before could you leave a link to it for me here in the comments? If you have not, could you please? ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie,
DeleteThank you so much! I thought I put a link up, but can't remember..the recipe is from the Nerdy Farmwife blog but I'll share the recipe here too:
Pick some dandelion petals and spread them out on some paper towels to dry a little for a few days. then add them to a jar and cover with olive oil. I put the lid on and leave out in the sun for a week or 2. Then strain the petals and add 100ml of the infused oil to a double boiler, along with 15grams of grated beeswax. Stir until melted then add 5-10 drops of lavender oil and pour into jars or containers. Use for cuts, sores, sprains and aches. Also did you find my reply about the golden paste? It seems to be working here, hubby *touch wood* has had less days in bed which is an improvement! xx
Thank you!
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