Lavender Lemon Cookies

2 cups flour

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest

1 or 2 tablespoon dried lavender flowers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Whisk or beat in the egg, lemon juice until well blended.In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, lemon zest, and lavender. Add the dry mixture to the creamed mixture and blend together to form a soft ball. Drop by teaspoon onto a nonstick lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. I was able to get about 24 cookies out of this batch.

Winter Itch Salve

When the temperatures drop and the snow starts falling Mr Chainsaw aka the hubby gets the winter itch. We have tried all sorts of lotions and salves but nothing worked til I started making my own. Now he asks for it every winter and it really helps keep the itch away.

4 Tablespoons grated beeswax

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1/2 cup olive oil or sweet almond oil (can be infused with lavendar)

4 capsules Vitamin E oil

20 drops lavender essential oil

10 drops tea tree oil

Fill the bottom of a double boiler with water and bring to the boil. In the top, combine to beeswax, coconut oil and olive or almond oil and vitamin E oil. Allow to melt and stir to combine. Add the essential oils and stir again.

Pour into container and allow to cool completely before closing.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I don't remember where I found this recipe as I have had it for several years but I thought that I would share it with you.
You will need:

1T. chili powder or 2t if you prefer it a little less spicy
2t. onion powder
1t. each of ground cumin, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, cornstarch and sugar
1/2 t. salt

Mix all ingredients together in a small container. Makes 3T of seasoning mix.
To cook: Add to 1lb of browned ground beef and 3/4 cup of water. Simmer 5 -10 minutes until desired thickness.
Note: Depending on how spicy you and your family like your dishes, use as little or as much seasoning as you want.


At my house we usually just use 2T of the seasoning and it is plenty spicy. But you don't have to just use it for tacos.  You can use the seasoning to spice up meatloaf, burgers, tomato sauce, casseroles, and dips and whatever else you can think of.


Hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know how you like it if you do try it.

Complete and Utter Failure

It seems I am a failure at blogging. I just don't seem to be able to find much to write about that has any interest to anyone but myself and frankly I haven't really had the time for much blogging either. I hate to leave everyone hanging not that there is really anyone reading my posts anyway. Nothing much has happened in the rustic household except working and not much house cleaning for that matter since all our time seems to be spent at work instead of home.Oh such is the boring life I lead.

Valentine Breakfast

I made these bacon &cheddar potato muffins for my Redneck Rustic man for breakfast this morning before he headed off to work. He was pretty pleased with them because it's not everyday I'm out of bed before he leaves but I figured I'd show him a little love this morning, after all  it is Valentine's Day.
And here's my Valentine's gift to you- the recipe so you can make some for your sweet heart.

Bacon & Cheddar Potato Muffins
1 1/2 c  flour
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
3/4 c potato flakes
1 egg
1 1/2 c milk
2T ranch dressing
1/4 c bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 to1/2 cup melted butter
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin pan with cooking spray. Mix all dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl until well blended. Add egg and  milk and stir well. Let set for a few minutes so the milk absorbs the potato flakes then add bacon and cheddar and stir so all ingredients are well blended. Pour into muffin tin, filling about 2/3of the way. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and brush tops with melted butter. Serve warm. Makes 10 muffins.

Rustic Woman BBQ Sauce

I've had a few friends ask me for my BBQ sauce recipe and I've finally got around to posting it for them. It's taken me over a year to get this sauce tweaked to just the way the Rustic men in my household like it. Rustic Boy #1 said this one tasted  just like the store bought sauce he likes. So I guess that means it's a keeper.

Rustic Woman BBQ Sauce

 You will need one 29oz can of tomato puree, 11/2cups of dark brown sugar and 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

 1/2cup water, 2 tablespoons liquid smoke, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce,1 teaspoon of each garlic powder and onion powder

2 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard,1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons minced onion and 1 tablespoon of celery seed.

Aww look Rustic kitty  wants to help.

  But he knows he's not supposed to be on the rustic woman's table. So down ya go.

Mix all you ingredients in your pan 

 turn on your burn to medium high

bring almost to a boil but be sure to use a splatter guard or you'll have a messy stove like I did.

OK now that we've solved that little problem and cleaned up my little mess,

reduce the heat and simmer until thick and dark, stirring often. about 20 to 40 minutes.

Pour in a jar be sure to let it cool before you add a lid. Store in fridge or freeze. Makes about 4 cups.
If you try this recipe please let me know I'd love to hear how your family liked it.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my new blog.I have been blogging since 2006 so blogging for me is not new but I always seem to move from one blog to the next as my interests change. Hopefully this blog with be a lasting one.
The Rustic Woman blog will be about my daily life and trying to create a simpler life for my family. I have learned that I don't need more to be happy and I have started to look for ways to create healthier meals without all the processed and artificial ingredients. I also make my own soap and hope to soon start selling it under the name Rustic Woman Soap Company (rusticwomansoapco) which I just happen to have a Facebook page for. Yea I know a shamless plug. Along with the soap I have started making my own body care products some of which I will share here on this blog.
I have also learned that homemade food is better and much tastier. I have many recipes that my family and friends have been asking me to share so this blog is where I hope to do so.I almost find it a challenge to find new ways to create home made goodness for my family while saving money at the same time. I do hope you will join me on my journey into a new chapter of my life as I fumble my way through it.