One Hundred Dollars a Month - Page 1679 of 2143 - I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

Peach Cobbler with Canned Peaches Recipe

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By Mavis Butterfield on February 26, 2013 · 7 Comments

Tonight I’m serving my family peach cobbler for dinner.

What? Yes, you can serve peach cobbler for dinner, it’s totally allowed, I checked the rule book. But the real question is, will I be serving it will a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, or in a bowl with a wee bit of warm milk?

Decisions, decisions.

If you have a bunch of peaches you canned this summer, this simple peach cobbler recipe is a great way to use up a few jars.

Peach Cobbler with Canned Peaches Recipe

Author Mavis Butterfield

Ingredients

2 cans or 4 cups canned peaches {drained}
1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 Tbs . granulated sugar
2 1 ⁄2 tsp. baking powder
1 ⁄4 tsp. salt
4 Tbs . cold unsalted butter , cut into pieces
2 eggs
2 ⁄3 cup heavy cream {I used 2% milk}
1 Tbs sugar

Instructions

reheat oven to 350 degrees
Butter a 9×9 casserole dish and set aside.
Use a colander to drain the peaches, reserving the juice for smoothies later on. In a large bowl gently toss the peaches, flour and cinnamon together until the peaches are coated. Pour peach filling into buttered casserole dish.
In a bowl {I used the same one} stir together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and cream. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir until a sticky dough forms.
Scoop heaping spoonfuls of scone dough on top of the cobbler and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until the topping in lightly browned.

Recipe Notes

Serve cobbler alongside vanilla ice cream for dessert or in a bowl with a wee bit of milk for dinner.

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The Problem with Leaving Your Husband Home Alone

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By Mavis Butterfield on February 26, 2013 · 60 Comments

The Handsome Husband: You know that little brown chicken?

Mavis: {Blank stare}

The Handsome Husband: There was a hawk flying overhead, and, well, I went outside to scare it away, but after that I didn’t see the brown chicken again.

Mavis: You’ve got to be freakin kidding me.

The Girl and I have a long history of going on mini vacations. Typically we leave the boys at home {their choice} to play video games in their underooos. We prepare a few meals ahead of time and leave some “vacation money” on the counter for them so they can go to Costco and eat smelly weenies with sauerkraut and drink Coke for $1.50 while we are away.

The only problem is, we have pets and plants we have to leave behind.

We knew Lucy the puddle dog would be fine because she lives indoors and she’s the coolest thing since sliced bread.

But last summer, we were gone for a week and the great chicken massacre of 2012 happened. All of which they did not tell us about until we arrived home.

Also last spring the Handsome Husband managed to kill all of the heirloom tomato plants by watering them with an eye dropper {I think} while I was gone.

So, as you can see, leaving the boys home alone and in charge is kind of iffy for us.

Mavis: Don’t forget to collect the eggs everyday. The chickens are laying about 8 a day now.

Handsome Husband: I’m not touching no freakin’ eggs. Why don’t we buy our eggs at the grocery store like everybody else anyway, it’s easier?

Mavis: Have Monkey Boy do it then.

Handsome Husband: Fine.

See those eggs above? Ya, I found all those in the coop on Monday afternoon. Nice job boys, nice job.

Mavis: Do not touch my plants while we are away. I watered them really good so you WON’T HAVE TO TOUCH THEM.

Handsome Husband: Work’s for me.

Mavis upon returning home: It’s a freakin’ miracle. My plants are alive.

Mavis: What is that?

Handsome Husband: It’s my new coffee maker. The other one died.

Mavis: Well, at least it was the coffee maker and not the plants or animals* this time. Do you know how much those little coffee cups cost?

The Handsome Husband: It came with a bunch of coffee and a reusable cup so I don’t have to buy any extra little cups.

Mavis: Uh – Huh. We’ll see about that.

~Mavis

Does it make you nervous to leave your husband home alone, or am I just weird?

* Squirrely was found safe and sound on Monday morning. We made it back with all our pets and plants alive. Oh. Happy.Day. Miracles do happen.

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How to Grow Thyme {Start to Finish}

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By Mavis Butterfield on February 26, 2013 · 8 Comments

This morning I started some English Thyme seeds under grow lights and I couldn’t be more excited. Thyme ranks in the top 5 of spices I use all frequently in my recipes, especially when I am cooking chicken, beef or crock pots full of soup. This is my first time starting it from seed and I’m hoping for a bumper crop.

Brief description: Thyme is a perennial herb. It smells amazing, and adds to any garden.

Where to Plant Thyme: Thyme can be planted in raised beds, garden beds, as an ornamental edible, or in containers in full sun.

Planting Seeds: Start indoors about 6-8 weeks before average last frost. Plant at an 1/8″ depth. Thin to 1 every grow pot when about 1″ tall. When transplanting, space at least 10″ apart.

{photo credit}

Growing Tips: Avoid pruning woody part of the stalk–it will effect how well Thyme over-winters. Thyme has average watering requirements, but is drought hardy and can withstand a little abuse. If plant starts to get a little spindly, cut it down about 4″ all around to encourage thicker growth.

How to Harvest: Harvest as needed, cutting sprigs from the top 4″ of the plant.

Are you ready to start your garden but you’re not sure when you should plant your seeds or set out your transplants? Head on over HERE and you’ll be taken to a handy dandy chart that is broken down into what vegetables should be planted {or transplanted} each month in your area.

Anyone can do this. Dirt + Seeds+ Water = Food!

My Favorite recipe to use Thyme:

HomeStyle Scalloped Potatoes

Roasted Purple Sweet Potatoes with Rosemary and Thyme

Fun Fact: Thyme attracts hummingbirds, bees, birds and butterflies with it’s deep woodsy smell, so it makes a great addition to your garden, even if you don’t plan on eating it!

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Mavis Butterfield | Backyard Garden Plot Pictures – Week 9 of 52

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By Mavis Butterfield on February 26, 2013 · 25 Comments

Week 9 of 52 – Mavis’ Backyard Garden Plot

Do you see the watering cans lining the fence? I will stop at every single garage sale this summer until I have collected enough watering cans to line the top of the fence with. Call me crazy, but I am determined.

Notice anything different? Last week the plan was to put together my pallet garden area, and this is as far as I got. Fingers crossed I can get my ~~sheets~~ stuff together and complete it by this weekend. Hold me to it people!

I am seriously thinking I should plant some sugar snap peas at the base of the teepees instead of waiting until June to plant green beans. Typically I am done harvesting peas by the end of June. So really, what’s a few more weeks anyway? I’m sure the beans won’t mind, plus the peas will add extra nitrogen to the soil in the meantime.

This area is a diamond in the rough I tell you. Just wait until I get it all put together.

The beginning of an awesome flower garden.

The poppies are starting to peek though the soil.

I don’t think I’m going to need a heater after all. Not at least this Spring anyway.

Take a look at the artichoke plants I started from seed. Yee-Haw, they are doing awesome!

Nothing going on here.

So. I called the bark guy to get an estimate on bark. It seems all the neighbors use a local bark blowing service. The guy came out, measured the property, and determined I needed 75 yards of bark.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Long story short, NO, I do not think I need 75 yards of bark nor do I need to cough up a lung to pay for it either. Not only do I think I can achieve the look I want in 30 yards or less, but I have a wheelbarrow, a teenage son and a love of fresh air. I’ll do it myself thank you very much.

The chickens kale and Swiss chard area is coming along nicely. I need to straighten the soil line, add some rocks for a border, and then I’ll be ready to plant here in a few weeks.

What do you think I should plant to the left alongside that log? I can’t decide.

I keep going back and forth on whether or not I should plant potatoes in this area or pumpkins. This week I’m leaning towards pumpkins. I think they’d look cooler from the balcony.

Raspberry patch still needs attending.

If I don’t come up with a plan quick, I’m going to have the ugliest herb garden on the planet. Any ideas on how I can make this area more attractive?

For the most part, things in the backyard garden are moving along smoothly. What I need now is about 5 days of straight sunshine and a whole lot of free time to get everything done. Here’s to wishful thinking.

~Mavis

{Oh Ryan, you are so sweet!}

This years garden is being sponsored by the awesome folks at Botanical Interests Seed Company. You can check out their website HERE, order their new 2013 Garden Seed Catalog HERE, or visit my {online} boyfriend Ryan’s blog HERE.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.