New Year = Trying New Things

 and continuing some tried and true things...

This year, I decided to participate in the Three Rivers' Homestead Pantry Challenge. This means I will only purchase milk and eggs during January and February while using what I have in storage (freezers, pantry, food storage, dehydrated foods...). This is a great way for me to take advantage of all of my hard work throughout the garden season and to rotate some of my longer term storage items.

Besides saving money and not wasting food, this has been a great way for me to really look at what Luke and I eat, and to continue to be creative. For example, I had SO MANY left over carrots from Christmas! Now I have a new favorite muffin recipe! So yummy! (I did not have the yogurt - so I used some powdered buttermilk, a little powdered butter + applesauce instead of oil)

I have also continued to make Luke's favorite wheat bread, been enjoying our pasta sauces, and making ricotta cheese - I actually may continue to use from the freezers/pantry all year while limiting my grocery shopping - only purchasing things to replenish our storage. This would be a big change from the occasional dinner out and non-scratch made items... we'll see. With grocery prices going up so much, I foresee a lot more fruit/veg, beans, rice and breads for us this year! Hopefully it will improve our health as well as our budget.

Luke was kind enough to take me to one of my favorite places - Glover Nursery - for more compost! I plan to continue to turn our yard into a lovely and food-producing place!

Also started this year's winter sowing - echinacea. I have so many seeds to plant and hope to have learned some things from last year. So stay tuned on that!

I plan to do the work to receive the blessings again this year!