Winter Garden

Sprouts are easy to grow and this is a method my parents figured out.

My dad cut a screen of some sort the size of a wide mouth mason jar.

It is an easy, inexpensive way to grow sprouts without buying a kit. Because it is so tall you will need to rinse it frequently.

First, put a TBL of seeds in the jar, fill it with water and wrap a towel around the jar. This is to prevent the seeds from turning green in case you want to do it for a homeschool lesson)

Fill the jar with tepid water and soak overnight.

Rinse with tepid water each day. You will notice growth in a day or two.

Not every seed will sprout but when the majority are a good size, remove the towel and let them grow for another day unwrapped.

You will need to eat them or refrigerate them at this point.

Goulash, Broiled Potatoes

This morning we indulged in one of the benefits of homeschool, we slept an extra hour. I decided to make goulash (skillet hash) and wake the kids with the surprise of a hearty breakfast. The house was clean, quiet and all felt right in my world. I watched other kids running down the street to meet the bus before their 10 hour day and thanked God my husband supports, encourages homeschool.

I broil several cubed potatoes drizzled in olive oil and seasoning. They get a perfect crisp texture this way. Then I push the potatoes to the side of the pan and brown sausage and onion. I push that to the side and add eggs, careful not to stir them into the potatoes and meat until they have cooked so they are fluffy and light.

We were creative with goulash this past summer and added hominy and black beans to the dutch oven with the cooked sausage, salsa and onions, then covered it with whisked eggs, a lid and hot coals.

Maybe one of the reasons I like cast iron is it makes me feel like a pioneer. You have to be strong to lift the pan and everything is laced with a hint of the rugged outdoors.

All of my cast iron pans have been camping with us but I hate cleaning the black ash off of every thing so I think next year I might buy a new one for camping only.