Month: June 2022

Making your own homemade mayo is easier than you think!

Having to deal with digestive issues most of my life, I learned the hard way that not all things we call food are actually good for us!

Take mayo for example...

Have you ever gone to the grocery store and really checked the labels to see what goes into some of those cans or jars we call food?

Look at the ingredients on this jar… while there are items that are actually food, additives and preservatives have been added… some which are man-made and our bodies were never meant to digest!

In truth, real mayo only needs 3 ingredients! And if made with the right oils, it is an excellent way to add more healthy fats to your diet!

While this recipe is very easy to make, it does require patience. You want to pour the oil into the blender, very slowly...

I have used a standard mixer, but it does not seem to get up to the speed you need to create the fluffy, creamy goodness that you are used to seeing in the jarred versions at the store.

Using a blender (here’s my personal favorite) helps make lite work of this recipe, but since mine is currently out of commission, I use my ‘stick mixer.’ The recipe turns out just as great, but I do find that a third hand is helpful to hold the mason jar still while I hold the mixer and pour the oil into the jar!

Homemade Mayonnaise

What you will need:

• 1  whole egg
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Here’s the low down on how to make mayonnaise:

• Put the egg and apple cider vinegar in a blender. Keep the blender on and pour the oil into the blender very slowly. The oil should thicken with the egg as you pour the oil.

Cooks Tips

• Some find that using extra virgin olive oil is a bit too strong in its taste. However, I personally like it, plus, I find that most light tasting oils are over processed.
• To kick things up a notch, try using avocado or macadamia oil.
• A third hand is always necessary when using a hand or ‘stick’ blender.
• You can store your mayo in the fridge about a week.
• Use lemon juice instead of the apple cider vinegar to make a delicious lemon mayonnaise.
• Change up the flavor of your mayo by adding in your favorite seasonings.
• Use your healthy mayo to dip your veggies, make a delicious salad dressing or make deviled eggs.
• If it didn’t thicken as you would have hoped, all is not lost! Use it as a sauce over your grilled chicken, burgers or fish!

See how easy it is to make your own mayo! You can have so much fun with this recipe AND it’s healthy!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~Sheri

Let’s face it! We love making sandwiches, but even more so, we enjoy eating them!

It’s nice when a recipe is tasty, and even better when it’s easy!

Once again, I am using some of my freeze dried canned goods to make this delicious and oh so easy recipe! Using our shredded beef and veggies, I can make this recipe in only 15 minutes!

Simply toss the shredded beef in a pan and get it going with the onions, red bell peppers and the ‘to die for’ sauce!

Simply stir up the soy sauce, tomato paste, garlic and beef broth.

Soak the meat and veggies in the savory sauce, toss it in a bun, and get your grub on!

It’s an excellent recipe for lunch and dinner, or even a quick throw-together meal as you’re heading out the door to work or soccer practice!

What you need:

• 2 cups Shredded Beef
• 1 cup Onion Slices
• 1 cup Red Bell Peppers
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1/8 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 2 Tbsp. minced garlic
• Steak or Hoagie rolls, split and warmed
• Slices of provolone cheese (or which ever cheese your prefer)

Here’s the low-down on how to make it:

• In a medium sauce pan, combine the shredded beef, onions, red bell peppers, beef broth, tomato paste, soy sauce, and garlic. Simmer for 10 minutes or until liquid is reduced. Spoon on rolls and top with cheese.

Tips from the kitchen:

• You can use your fresh produce in this recipe, just adapt the amount of broth – you won’t need as much! And to save time in the kitchen use pre-cooked beef!
• If there are any leftovers, the shredded beef mixture makes a great topper for a baked potato!
• This recipe also works well with shredded pork, chicken or turkey too!

See, quick and oh so easy-peasy!

Enjoy!

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

Unlike traditional camping – staying in a tent – traveling in an RV allows you to take most, if not all, the comforts of home with you!

However, it’s not quite the same as living in a ‘sticks and bricks’ homestead…

Here’s the top 10 things I’ve learned on this journey of ours…

1. Travel lite – most RVs have weight restrictions, so taking everything you own is not an option! Travel lite by only taking those things you actually need! For example, instead of taking every pot and pan you own, only take the top 2-3 pieces you use on a daily basis! And clothes… clothes should be limited to the sevens rule… 7 shirts, 7 pants… you get the idea!
2. Never rely solely on your GPS – Make sure you take an up-to-date map book with you. One of my favorites is the Rand McNally 2023 Road Atlas & National Park Guide. GPS is notorious for steering you down those ‘iffy’ roads that are not RV friendly! Using your map book will help keep you out of difficult places, and help you plan your route! Furthermore, while you formulate your plans, you may even find one or two places you didn’t think about exploring! However, if you don’t mind those major highways, I would still take along that up-to-date map book! I would suggest the Rand McNally 2022 Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas. If the big rigs can get through, so can your RV!
3. Always expect the unexpected – It never fails! Sometimes things can and will go wrong! You might take a wrong turn and wind up in downtown traffic, wondering just how you’re going to get your RV through tight turns! Or, perhaps the campground where you had a reservation was suddenly flooded and they are having to turn you away! Always plan for the unexpected, but don’t let those unforeseen mishaps discourage you from your travels!
4. Learn how to fix things yourself – Let’s face it, things break, and the more you learn how to fix it yourself, the more money you’ll save in the bank!
5. Travel no more than 5 hours a day – if you’re driving more than 5 hours in a day, not only do you miss those interesting places you might otherwise enjoy, you’re also too tired after setting up camp to enjoy the evening once you’ve stopped for the night. I’ve even adopted the habit of driving no more than 2-3 hours a day. This gives me the chance to check out the campground, create a healthy meal, relax and enjoy a nice campfire before bed.
6. Don’t let your fuel tank go under half full! So, you’ve got a day of driving ahead! Make sure you stop to fill up your fuel tank when it hits the half empty mark. You never know how far it well be till the next gas station!
7. Whenever possible, stop at a Loves, Pilots or other truck stops for fuel. You’ll find these places are easier to get in and out of, especially if you have a bigger RV. And, if you’re too tired to get to your next destination, it’s a great place to stop for some rest! Just please be courteous! Although we may have all day to get somewhere, truckers are working and do have a schedule they need to keep!
8. Try and stay at one place at least 3-6 months. You save yourself from the wear and tear of having to pack up, drive, and set up camp every few days. Plus, staying longer at a campground allows you to get a better price for your site! You’ll have more time to do some serious site-seeing and you won’t miss out on those great photo opportunities and breathtaking views!
9. Camping does not mean you have to live on hamburgers and hot dogs! Although there is nothing better than a hot dog or burger over the open flame, you are not relegated to live solely on these foods! A campfire is a great way to grill up some chicken and roast some tasty veggies! Have you tried grilled fruit?!? Yum!
10. Waste not, want not! – We have learned that life on the road isn’t always a bed or roses! Daily, we make the trek to the dumpster, taking out the trash we create! It’s even worse when we boondock, because we use paper and plastic due to water being a precious commodity! Mom and I are learning to maximize our efforts to minimize our waste! Whenever possible – recycle, recycle, recycle!

Hope the lessons we’ve learned help you enjoy the open road!

As always,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

Life in an RV has been very different from my life on the farm!

No more getting up at the crack of dawn to go out and feed the chickens… and no more collecting their delicious eggs with the dark yellow, almost orange yolks!

Even after 3 years, it’s still hard adjusting to RV life…

It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed the adventure thus far… I have learned many new skills… and I have met many wonderful people who I now call family!

No, the hardest thing to adjust to is the amount of waste we create!

Daily, I make the trek to the dumpster, carrying one or two bags of trash! And that’s when we’re in a campground.

There seems to be even more when we boondock – utilizing paper plates and plasticware, since water is a precious commodity while dry docking!

Back on the homestead, we had very little trash to put out…

Most of our food was preserved in one form or another, so there was little to no trash and hardly any recyclables!

If foods were past being edible for human consumption, we would put it out for our chickens to enjoy!

They looked forward to seeing me carry out the big white ‘muck’ bucket – knowing I was bringing ‘treats’ for them to enjoy!

Some would race me to the composting area, expectantly waiting for me to pour out the treasures that awaited them!

And there were those who would try to stop me in my tracks and try to climb into the bucket as I walked!

So, it is with a renewed vigor, that we are honing our skills of preserving foods.

We hope that by canning, dehydrating and/or purchasing freeze-dried foods (here’s where we get ours) we will lessen the amount of waste we create.

We may not be able to produce as little trash as we did on the homestead, but we certainly plan to maximize our efforts to minimize our waste!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri