Drying Basil

Our garden hasn't been producing like I hoped it would. However, our basil has taken off like crazy!! This is our first year growing basil and I'm so excited to be cooking with it!

I have made a couple of batches of pesto (and I will be making more)! I've also used some fresh basil in some pasta dishes and on this vegetable tart. My entire family loved this recipe and I will be making it again in the near future!

One thing I wanted to do, was preserve some basil for future use. So I "googled" and found some advice on how to dry basil. Apparently basil has a very high moisture content, so it takes a long time to dry.

First, I rinsed off my basil and tried to dry it with paper towels. Then, I layered it on paper towels. The recipe that I followed, said you could stack the basil five layers deep. Here is what mine looked like.




Then, I placed it in an oven that had been preheated to 200 degrees. Next, turn the oven off. I repeated this process, of turning the oven on and off, for over 24 hour. This is what it looked like after it was all dried out.




I placed my basil in a zip lock bag, trying to keep it as whole as possible. It is to keep its flavor at a higher concentration when it remains in leaf form.

How have you used basil? What would you do with a bumper crop?

Guest Room Updates

Earlier this Spring, I had shared how I was working on our guest room. The key part of the working is that it had to be inexpensive! So, I found my Pottery Barn quilt and shams at a garage sale.

Since then, I found this adorable night stand for $5 at another garage sale.



After some cleaning, sanding and painting it now looks like this!



I also purchased a new headboard at my favorite decorating store, the Cottage Corner. Unfortunately they don't have a website, so here is a picture from the last time I was in the store!



I'm still looking for some decorations for on the wall, but it has already welcomed a few different guests this summer!

Today I'm linking up with Layla over at the Lettered Cottage!

Girls in the Kitchen

It is one of those rainy and humid days. My girls wanted "something" to do! I was feeling a little guilty that I haven't been in the kitchen with them, as much as I wanted to be this summer, so I asked them if they wanted to make some cookies!

I game them the recipe for my first no bake cookie that I learned in 4-H! I still have the recipe memorized and I thought this would be a great recipe, for them to make on their own! They did a great job with just a little supervision from Mom!



Here is the simple recipe:

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup oats
1 cup dry milk

Mix all ingredients together, shape into 1" size balls and place on a cookie sheet! Enjoy!!

Good Enough Schedule

Our summer is drawing closer to the end, and I feel like I never got into a summer time routine or schedule. Can anyone else relate? During the school year, I had a daily schedule that got everyone ready for school, out the door, and some house cleaning done. Summer has had a schedule all its own, with vacation, VBS, sports camps and visitors! I think that is what summer is all about!

I did want to share with you my "weekly household schedule". It works for me and I must say it falls into the Good Enough category!! I don't follow this exactly, but it is a good guideline that I try to follow:

Sunday: Meal plan and create grocery list. Based on sales flyer, coupons and food in the house.

Monday: Laundry (darks & lights). Grocery shop.

Tuesday: Clean bathrooms & Dust. Wash towels.

Wednesday: Clean floors.

Thursday: Laundry and any "special" cleaning / organizing jobs!

Friday: Update finances & pay bills.

Saturday: Give the dog a bath.

*** Everyday - work on clutter control, especially in the main living areas!

I hope this helps as you try and come up with a plan to "maintain" your home! It works for us, and I need to let you know that our home is NOT spotless! What schedule or plan has worked for you?