So, last night we went to a long time friend's 50th birthday party. A few days earlier, my husband said we needed to come up with a gift for him. Of course we meant me...So off to Pinterest I went. I found several get ideas: Coasters with beer caps (unfortunately all of the beer caps from Superbowl got thrown out), wine in a bag made from a dress shirt shelve, soap in a Jack Daniels' Bottle...and finally I spotted Homemade Gin. It said it only takes 1 day to make it, and that was just what I had! So off to the store I went.
I bought a cheap bottle of vodka,
2 tablespoons juniper berries
1/4 teaspoon fennel
3/4 teaspoon corriander seed
3 cardamon pods
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 bay leaf
2 black peppercorns
a few pinches of lavender
a pinch of annis
a sprig of rosemary
2 lime peels
You can substitute any ingredients other then vodka and juniper berries
for the gin and two small glasses, a bottle of tonic from Cost Plus, and a basket to put everything.
When I returned home I put the juniper berries in the bottle of vodka and shook the bottle occasionally over the next 12 hours. When I woke up the next day I strained the vodka though a coffee filter and then added all of the other ingredients. I shook the bottle occasionally over the next 10 hours and strained enough to put in the gift basket and off we went.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Probably the easiest thing I have ever made! The hard part is waiting 6 months for it to be ready!
Last summer a friend of mine asked several of us on Facebook if we would like to go in on vanilla bean with her. She ordered a half a pound of vanilla bean for about $26 from Amazon and we split it 5 ways. I sliced my portion of beans length wise and added it t a gallon sized pickle jar. Next time I think I will try1 bean in it's own bottle and make them individually. I bought 2 large bottles of vodka and poured them into the pickle jar and closed the lid. Store it in a dark place for six months and shake the jar weekly.
During the six months I would occasionally taste the concoction. The first few months it tasted like Vanilla Flavored Vodka, so you can stop there an make cocktails with it, if you want. Five months later it was finally taking on the smell and flavor of Vanilla Extract, Around that time I ran out of my Vanilla Extract, so I fixed my self a bottle and I have been using it for two months now. I left the rest in the pickle jar, until Christmas time. It was finally ready to go, when I poured the content into small Perrier bottles I have been saving. I added a bean to each bottle and gave a bottle along with a bag of pancake mix and a half a dozen of my chickens eggs out as Christmas gifts.
Last summer a friend of mine asked several of us on Facebook if we would like to go in on vanilla bean with her. She ordered a half a pound of vanilla bean for about $26 from Amazon and we split it 5 ways. I sliced my portion of beans length wise and added it t a gallon sized pickle jar. Next time I think I will try1 bean in it's own bottle and make them individually. I bought 2 large bottles of vodka and poured them into the pickle jar and closed the lid. Store it in a dark place for six months and shake the jar weekly.
During the six months I would occasionally taste the concoction. The first few months it tasted like Vanilla Flavored Vodka, so you can stop there an make cocktails with it, if you want. Five months later it was finally taking on the smell and flavor of Vanilla Extract, Around that time I ran out of my Vanilla Extract, so I fixed my self a bottle and I have been using it for two months now. I left the rest in the pickle jar, until Christmas time. It was finally ready to go, when I poured the content into small Perrier bottles I have been saving. I added a bean to each bottle and gave a bottle along with a bag of pancake mix and a half a dozen of my chickens eggs out as Christmas gifts.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
My Trip to the LDS Cannery
After finding lots of bulk items I want to make on Pinterest I decided to go the LDS Cannery to pick up bulk items I was looking for. Before I go into the details I would like to say, since my purpose for going was to buy in bulk , the Cannery was NOT the best place for that. When I got done at the cannery I still was in need of several items.
I went to Cosco, and didn't find what I was looking for (whole wheat flour and such), so then I headed over to Winco. Let me tell you, that place is a GEM for bulk items!!! I got everything I needed and more there and their prices are awesome!! They have a WIDE variety of EVERYTHING including organic items, probably 15 different flour choices in all,and best of all, you can buy how ever much or little as you want.
OK, so while at the Cannery, I got caught up which the excitement of all the shinny silver cans and in retrospect shouldn't have bought all I did, because it didn't fulfill my immediate need. On the positive side, now I have kick started my food storage.
If you are looking for food storage, the LDS Cannery is the place to go! Way cheaper than any food storage you can buy online or at Cosco. The missionary 'sister' was very kind and helpful. You do NOT have to be Mormon to buy or can goods.
First, I picked out what I wanted that was all ready to go from the shelves in the foyer (you can head in there anytime and grab items off the shelf and purchase them). When someone cans items, they must can ALL of the 30-60lb bag and whatever they don't need goes on the shelf for others to purchase. After I got what I wanted off the shelves, I still had a list of items that wasn't pre-canned (and since it is slow during Christmas and summer vacation, I was able to go to the back and can what I needed). The sister helped me and in 1 1/2 hours, we had canned 5 different things (about 50 - #10 cans). I took what I wanted and paid $117 for 24 - #10 cans of 11-12 different food items. I think I paid more at the Cannery then Winco for a few items, but their powdered milk was definitely cheaper then anyplace else. Now I have food storage!!! Any questions?
I went to Cosco, and didn't find what I was looking for (whole wheat flour and such), so then I headed over to Winco. Let me tell you, that place is a GEM for bulk items!!! I got everything I needed and more there and their prices are awesome!! They have a WIDE variety of EVERYTHING including organic items, probably 15 different flour choices in all,and best of all, you can buy how ever much or little as you want.
OK, so while at the Cannery, I got caught up which the excitement of all the shinny silver cans and in retrospect shouldn't have bought all I did, because it didn't fulfill my immediate need. On the positive side, now I have kick started my food storage.
If you are looking for food storage, the LDS Cannery is the place to go! Way cheaper than any food storage you can buy online or at Cosco. The missionary 'sister' was very kind and helpful. You do NOT have to be Mormon to buy or can goods.
First, I picked out what I wanted that was all ready to go from the shelves in the foyer (you can head in there anytime and grab items off the shelf and purchase them). When someone cans items, they must can ALL of the 30-60lb bag and whatever they don't need goes on the shelf for others to purchase. After I got what I wanted off the shelves, I still had a list of items that wasn't pre-canned (and since it is slow during Christmas and summer vacation, I was able to go to the back and can what I needed). The sister helped me and in 1 1/2 hours, we had canned 5 different things (about 50 - #10 cans). I took what I wanted and paid $117 for 24 - #10 cans of 11-12 different food items. I think I paid more at the Cannery then Winco for a few items, but their powdered milk was definitely cheaper then anyplace else. Now I have food storage!!! Any questions?
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Intro to the Gang in the Maple Tree House
I choose to name my blog Maple Tree because my married name is ARCE, which is Spanish for MAPLE. Interestingly, the genus for trees and shrubs commonly known as Maple is ACER. Our family is made up of:
Mr and Mrs Maple who married 20 years ago and one year later gave birth to Maple Syrup. I have nick named my eldest son this because he isn't ever in a hurry and moves very slowly. A few years later Maple Tree was born, complete opposite of his older brother, he is ever moving. He has been given the tree name because he is the tallest child in the family, thus far and passed his older brother up a few years back. Four years past before Maple Sugar joined our family. His is our sweet, gentle, sensitive son. And a quick 16 months later Maple Sapling was born. He is definitely the baby of the family.
...and that is our family Tree
Mr and Mrs Maple who married 20 years ago and one year later gave birth to Maple Syrup. I have nick named my eldest son this because he isn't ever in a hurry and moves very slowly. A few years later Maple Tree was born, complete opposite of his older brother, he is ever moving. He has been given the tree name because he is the tallest child in the family, thus far and passed his older brother up a few years back. Four years past before Maple Sugar joined our family. His is our sweet, gentle, sensitive son. And a quick 16 months later Maple Sapling was born. He is definitely the baby of the family.
...and that is our family Tree
Things I'll Be Blogging About
I will blog about things that interest me, and I hope interest you.
Nutritious Food
Time Savers
Canning
My Chickens
Pinterest Pins, I have tried and LOVE
Natural Cleaning Products
Homeschooling
Dyslexia
Boys and Their Animals
Parenting Lessons Learned
College Prep
Parenting a 19 Year Old is Harder Then a Toddler
Decorating
Crafting
Real Estate
Living in Sin City (not a personal interest, but it is where God will have me)
That is all I can think of now...
If you can think of something you want me to write about, I want to know.
Hope you will come back soon, to see the new things I post.
Mama Maple
Nutritious Food
Time Savers
Canning
My Chickens
Pinterest Pins, I have tried and LOVE
Natural Cleaning Products
Homeschooling
Dyslexia
Boys and Their Animals
Parenting Lessons Learned
College Prep
Parenting a 19 Year Old is Harder Then a Toddler
Decorating
Crafting
Real Estate
Living in Sin City (not a personal interest, but it is where God will have me)
That is all I can think of now...
If you can think of something you want me to write about, I want to know.
Hope you will come back soon, to see the new things I post.
Mama Maple
My First Blog
Thanks for stopping by!
I had intended to start blogging when we still lived in Texas, two years ago, but never got to the point of publishing any of the posts I created....and now all of those posts are lost in a computer I can't start. Computers are worse then men. You can't live with them and you can't live without them!
During Christmas Vacation I became obsessed with Pinterest and that interest has spurred up a desire in me to blog. I have been trying many of the ideas that I have pinned on Pinterest and I am loving all of the results.
Thus far, I have made several Hamburger Helper meals, pounds and pounds of Quick Mixes, Artisan Bread, Taco Seasoning, Amish Friendship Bread, Dishwasher Soap, Lemon and Orange disinfectants. Eating right and avoiding unhealthy cleaning products and food in my home are of utmost importance to me.
I have also tried a few natural hair and skin care remedies. My two teen age sons, both have what I would call bad acne. My son, who will be referred to as Maple Tree, allowed me to try a pin I found on him for the last three nights and his acne is clearing up!! All I did was:
I hopw you have enjoyed my first ever blog :-)
Mama Maple
I had intended to start blogging when we still lived in Texas, two years ago, but never got to the point of publishing any of the posts I created....and now all of those posts are lost in a computer I can't start. Computers are worse then men. You can't live with them and you can't live without them!
During Christmas Vacation I became obsessed with Pinterest and that interest has spurred up a desire in me to blog. I have been trying many of the ideas that I have pinned on Pinterest and I am loving all of the results.
Thus far, I have made several Hamburger Helper meals, pounds and pounds of Quick Mixes, Artisan Bread, Taco Seasoning, Amish Friendship Bread, Dishwasher Soap, Lemon and Orange disinfectants. Eating right and avoiding unhealthy cleaning products and food in my home are of utmost importance to me.
I have also tried a few natural hair and skin care remedies. My two teen age sons, both have what I would call bad acne. My son, who will be referred to as Maple Tree, allowed me to try a pin I found on him for the last three nights and his acne is clearing up!! All I did was:
Clean his face with Apple Cider Vinegar using
a cotton pad (it stung a little).
With a cotton swab, I applied egg whites.
The egg tightened on his face and pull everything to the surface!
He left the egg white on while he slept
and the next morning washed it off.
Each day, we have seen an improvement. It is SO exciting! Hopefully my oldest son, we will call him Maple Syrup, will let me have at his face soon.I hopw you have enjoyed my first ever blog :-)
Mama Maple
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