This Home On The Prairie Needs HELP!

It's been a long time since I've visited the blog world but my family and I are in need of some help!

Last August we had one whale of a hail storm. It had it's way with our little farm and left us with a mess to clean up.

Our trampoline was like a Frisbee flying through the county! lol  This is a photo of my Momma, Hubby and Step-Dad picking up the remaining pieces. 

  

Our sunflowers were no match for those big ole balls of ice falling from the heavens. 

We had no problem cleaning up the damage and have moved on from that powerful storm but there is one thing that hasn't been fixed... Our siding!

Our contractor has had a difficult time trying to match the siding and it has taken about a year. We have talked about just redoing the whole house with something new but WOW! That's a little too expensive!

While searching the internet for other sidings I came across CertainTeed and checked out their facebook page. They are having an awesome giveaway! I just had to enter. My family put together a video to try and win a $75,000 exterior home makeover. How awesome for them to giveaway such a prize!

My family and I would love for you to check out our video called the Peterson Homestead. We worked hard on this and a got soaked for a laugh!

Peterson Homestead Video 

If you could take a moment to watch our video, vote and even share we would be so grateful! You can even vote everyday up til June 15th!

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Who doesn't love Cobblers, Crisps and Crumbles?!

Cake is fine and pies are good too but, I just LOVE crisps. Always wonderful with a big ole scoop of ice cream on top!

There are so many great recipes here this week on Gooseberry Patch's Recipe Round Up that I had to share.  

Feel free to add your favorite recipe to the list below or just look around and find a good one to make for dessert tonight!

Apple Butter Cake and a Giveaway!

My grandma used to make the best apple butter and ever since I was a child I have been a big fan of this stuff. I have tried a few recipes over the years that call for apple butter as an ingredient but this one sounds the BEST!

I found this great cake recipe called "Grandma Mae's Apple Butter Cake", that is made with this yummy concoction over at Faithfulness Farm. You just have to go over and check it out!

Not only is Gail giving us this great recipe, she is also having a great giveaway that includes 2 packages of WELCOME HOME BRANDS products, a Faithfulness Farm Vintage-Inspired Apron and Set of Embellished Dish Towels, a little mason jar of  Apple Pie & Pumpkin Pie spice mixes and The Bake Sale Cookbook. Talk about generous!

So head on over to Faithfulness Farm's Giveaway 

You'll be glad you did!
Winner will be announced September 5th. 

Our Favorite Cucumber Salad

Every other morning or so I have been checking my garden to see if God has blessed us with any goodies. This morning I found 8 cucumbers! Our first cucumbers of the season. 

My family and I have been waiting for these just so I could make my cucumber salad, our favorite!

Here are the ingredients for the dressing along with my adorable, handy, little egg whisk. I just love this little guy!

Add to your bowl;

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. mayo or miracle whip

 

1/6 c. vinegar

I see now that I added 1/3 c. of vinegar. Oops! No wonder why it tasted a little different. Oh well, we still ate it. Just make sure you only fill your 1/3 c. HALF full! 

 

Next add salt and pepper to taste.

 

Go ahead and give it a good whisk.

 You did good, little guy!

Slice up an onion and toss that in.

Peel your cucumbers

Slice them and toss them in.

Give it a good stir and place it in the fridge for 20 minutes to let the flavors set in.

And that's it, folks!

Focaccia Sandwich

Well folks, I believe summer is here in Kansas. We have been here and there with swimming lessons, softball games, pulling weeds in the garden and just good ole' summer entertainment so I haven't spent to much time in the kitchen (or cleaning my house. Yuck!)

This time of year I definitely like quick & easy so I'm going to share with you one of my family's favorite sandwich.

The Focaccia Sandwich

 For starters I got me two loaves of Focaccia bread from our local deli. I usually make my own with the assistance of my bread machine but I really didn't want to take the time with everything else going on so I cheated. ;)

It comes in a round 10 inch loaf so I cut it into 4ths like in the above photo. 

 Then I cut my piece in half so it looks like this. (I realize you probably don't need an explanation on how to do this but with some people ya never know. hehe)

Now for the tasty inards of the samich.

I got some Hard Salami, pepperoni and provolone cheese. Oh and I even like some sliced black olives on there too.

The first layer is a slice of the cheese.

Then a layer (or two) of pepperoni.

  

Next is a layer of Hard Salami. You can even use Genoa Salami. They're about the same.

After that comes another slice of cheese.

Then top it off with the olives and the top of the bread.

I then zap it in the microwave for about 20 seconds or so just to slightly melt the cheese and get the greases from the meat flowin'.

This thing has got to be FULL of calories and fat, but ya know, I just don't care. It's that good! We only have this sandwich maybe three times a year so its worth it.  

I really went overboard when I followed up with this dessert from  grammasinthekitchen.blogspot.com

My babies loved it!

So did me and the hubby! (but I won't show you pics of us eating, that would just ruin the whole thing. haha)

We Have A Winner!!!

I didn't realize how hard this was going to be. I feel so bad that I couldn't give everyone a prize, so, I came to the conclusion that I am going to have to do more giveaways in the future. I already have a new Christmas cookbook ordered and on it's way!

The kids got excited about getting to "pull a name out of the hat" so we printed all the entries out and cut them all apart this morning. I didn't realize how much fun reaching in and picking a name was for kids. lol 

Well, on to the good news! 

 

The winner is.... prototype752-AMY!

I was pretty excited to see my daughter, Ally, pull that name out of the bowl. Amy and I met through Gooseberry Patch's facebook page. We have never met in person but it seems like we have so much in common. I'm glad to call her my "Gooseberry Patch Friend." lol

Congratulations, Amy!

Cowboy Cookie Jar Mix

Back when I was in high school I came across my first jar mix recipe. It was for a delicious brownie mix. I have enjoyed making all kinds ever since. They make great gifts and sometimes I even keep a few on hand for myself. They look so pretty on the shelf!

The recipe I am sharing with you today is "Cowboy Cookie Mix"

For starters you are going to need a 1 quart canning jar with a lid, a funnel (if your messy like me) and a tamper. ( I think that's what that wooden thing is called in the left corner of the picture.)

List of Ingredients;

1 c. flour

1 c. oats

3/4 c. M&M's

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

2 T. cocoa 

1/2 c. raisins

1/2 c. chopped nuts

If you're not a nut lover then you could substitute with chocolate chips or more M&M's.

Layer ingredients in order given packing after each addition. If you don't pack then your ingredients will not all make it in. 

Screw the lid on and there you have it! 

Now you are going to need a card with the instructions on it so the recipient will know what the heck to do with this thing.

I  printed this design from one of my Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. I can't remember which one. So many of these books have such cute tags to copy and use that I loose track!

Now you can use what ever you have to decorate the card. I used my Gooseberry Patch acrylic stamps. You can find these and other cute stuff at cookbookin.com.

Write the following inside your card.

          Cowboy Cookies           

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

1 jar cookie mix

 1. Preheat oven to 350*.

 2. Beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla until blended. Add cookie     mix to butter mixture; stir until well blended.

 3. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes. Remove and let cool. 

Makes 2 1/2 dozen

Next you can cut a 7 inch circle out of a scrap piece of fabric to place on the top of your jar. (this isn't necessary but it sure makes it purdy!)

Then tie it into place with a piece of raffia or a ribbon. Make sure you punch and hole in your card and string your raffia through it before you make your bow.

 To be honest the first time I ever tried these I didn't think that raisins, nuts and chocolates all together would taste very good but WOW! They were great! My kids couldn't even get enough of them.