solid hand lotion

Vintage Cottage Beauty will be making our first official public appearance at the Vendor Blender at Arthur, Il  Saturday, November 19 from 10-3.  If you're in the area stop by and say Hi and check out all the wonderful home based businesses in the area.
One of the products that is unique for us is solid lotion.  It's 100% natural and makes your hands and feet feel fabulous.  I'd love for you to buy it from us but if your into making your own things this is the recipe.

Melt equal parts of cocoa butter, bees wax and olive oil over hot water until liquid.  Add what ever healing or beneficial oils and essential oils you want, pour into molds and let harden.  Remove from mold and let sit on the counter for 24 hours.  If you're like me and have feet that get really dry  and cracked, especially in the winter this is the stuff for you.  I rub this all over my feet after I shower and put on socks.  No more cracks all last winter.  Mom puts it on her feet when she gets into bed and says it doesn't stain her sheets even without socks.

end of the season

Fall is my favorite season.  The colors are wonderful, the weather perfect.  But winter is just around the corner and we've already had a couple of hard frosts.  There are always a few things that hang on until the very end.  I took a walk around the garden just to see what was still out.  I think I'll make a small bouquet.  Even in the heart of winter you can find things to cut and bring inside.  Boxwood, evergreens, seed heads, pine cones can all be added to a grocery store bunch of flowers to lift your spirits and add a bright spot of color.

free family fun

We kept 3 of our grandkids this weekend while theri parents went to an Illini game.  Sons weren't happy they lost but the kids had a great time.

We decided to take a walk down to visit AH's Mom Sara.  it's only a few blocks away but we had to walk by the tractor suppy place to get there.  It was hard to get the kids off the tractors and of course we had to get a few pics.  You don't have to spend big bucks or even leave your town to entertain kids.  They are happy with the simplest things.  These kids live in the big, big city so basic farm things are a real thrill for them.  We also took them to Almish land a few miles away so they could see the farms, horses and buggys.  They couldn't get enough and of course wanted to climb right on the horses(not allowed).

Corn Chowder

There is nothing like hot soup on a cold evening.  This one can go vegetarian or is great with chicken added.  Here's what you need:

2 cans of corn 15oz.  1 regular one creamed.

1 onion chopped fine

4-5 potatoes peeled and cut into chunks

2T butter

3C chicken broth

2C milk  use low fat if it makes you feel better

Cooked crumbled bacon

Shredded cheddar cheese

Chopped fresh parsley

Saute the onion in the butter until it starts to become translucent.  Add the corn, potato chunks and chicken broth.  Simmer until the potatoes are soft.  Add the milk and heat through.  Put into bowls and add cheese, bacon and parsley.  You don't have to add these but they do make it even tastier.

baked meatballs

 I like to keep meatballs in the freezer for quick pasta or subs dinner.  They are easy, lots less messy than frying and heat up in sauce in a flash even when frozen.  Here's what you need:
2# ground beef

1-11/2C bread crumbs

1tsp garlic and onion powder

3T chopped parsley

salt and pepper to taste

2 eggs

mix everything together in a bowl, use your hands it's just easier.

roll into about 11/2" balls

place on a sprayed broiler pan

bake 350 about 20 minutes they should feel firm but not hard, if you can't tell break one open.  Let cool and place in a freezer bag, or just throw them in some waiting sauce and gobble them up.

Red sauce

1onion, 1 green pepper and 3 cloves of garlic chopped you can also do a box of mushrooms sliced

olive oil for browning

2cans each diced tomatoes and tomato sauce

2tsp basil and oregano 1tsp fennel

2 beef bouillon cubes

Saute the peppers, onions, garlic and mushrooms.  Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer about 30 minutes.  If it gets a little thick thin with a little water.  Add your meatballs and heat through.

Serve over whole grain spaghetti or on a split sub bun with lots of Parmesan.  If your doing the sub add shredded cheddar or mozzarella along with lettuce and tomatoes.

winner, winner, roast beef dinner

This is another of my crock pot favorites.  Here's what you need:
Beef roast about 2-3#
1# carrots
2 onions
5-6 potatoes
3 beef bouillon cubes
garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Peel and cut the vegies into pieces about the size of a golf ball.

Put roast and vegetables into the pot it doesn't matter what order just dump them in.  Add the seasoning, cover and cook on low 6-8 hours.  I don't mess with it but if you want the juices in the pot to be more like gravy turn on high about 1 hour before eating and add 2T of cornstarch mixed with water to make a slurry and put that in the pot, bring to a boil and simmer with the lid off until thickened.  I just dump the juice on everything and serve in a bowl.  This makes enough that I usually have hot roast beef sandwiches a few nights later, that when I thicken the juices into gravy.

rumaging find

I found these cups at the Salvation Army the last time I was visiting my parents.  They are about 6" high with crackle glass and heavy iron bases.  Mom knew they were going to have a 1/2 off sale soon so cheap skate that I am I decided to wait if Mom would go get them.  She waded through the crowds, stood for ages at the register and finally took them home. What a Mom!!   What a score for $6.00 for all 7.  I see candles, flowers, bowls of treats or storage for small items.  What would you do with  great little bowls?