Tag: Prepper

Eating Mushrooms for Gut Health

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

Pexels - mushrooms-brown-mushrooms-cook-eat

A recent stay in the local hospital has me rethinking my eating habits!

True, I have been eating healthier lately, however, I’ve come to realize I need to reconsider some of my food choices when it comes to my gut health!

I’ve learned that eating mushrooms helps to reduce systemic inflammation.

See, our gut biomes – all the trillions of live bacteria in our gut – assimilate nutrients, and such, including the vitamins from our food. However, those biomes lose their ability to operate properly when our gastrointestinal tract is inflamed!

This inflammation affects our bodies in a number of different ways.

For example, our muscles become inflamed when we exercise… our joints and soft cartilage experience inflammation from degenerative bone diseases…

Likewise – as I’ve recently found out the hard way – my gastrointestinal system becomes inflamed when I eat refined, processed sugars and starches… especially from high fatty fried foods!

This inflammation is the primary cause of illness and health disorders in our bodies!

However, making wise choices can change my health for the better!

Simply adding mushrooms not only gives my recipes a distinct and flavorful experience, they also support my immune system, allowing me to feel fit and strong!

So, reconsidering some of my food choices has become a must for me!

I can add mushrooms to my pasta, giving it a rich and bold taste that is amazing!

What is more, I can add mushrooms to my spaghetti sauce… my stir-fry… and my soups…

I can also pair them with onions and sauté to top a steak or potato… I can add even them to scrambled eggs…

However, the best way to preserve their nutritional value is to grill them!

I’ve also found it an added bonus to keep a can of freeze-dried mushrooms in my pantry. This way I can reduce the waste of throwing out mushrooms that have become slimy! How cool is that!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

(P.S. Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤)

No More Crying Over Chopped Onions

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

Pexels - Chopped Onions

In a perfect world, chopping onions would never be necessary! They’d simply be available in our pantry any time, day or night, ready to be scattered into any of our favorite recipes!

But then again, we don’t live in a perfect world!

So, when I need to add onions into my recipe, I deal with the chopping of the onions, and the tears that come with it!

Or do I ?!?

I have discovered a well kept secret that allows me to add onions to my recipes, and yet allows me to avoid the crying!

By choice, I have learned to keep a can of freeze-dried onions in my pantry at the ready! I simply order them here, and they arrive wherever my little homestead on wheels is currently parked – and they come already diced or in slices, whichever I prefer!

Although between you and me, I order the sliced onions rather than chopped. This way they are ready to be sautéed in butter for when I am hungry for a cheesesteak sandwich. And I can simply chop the slices up when a recipe calls for chopped onions and still avoid the tears!

Adding onions is a great way to boost any homecooked meal with flavor, and I get the added benefits of vitamin C and dietary fiber!

I simply toss them into my favorite soups… or scatter them into my omelets… mix them into a casserole… create a spicy salsa… or sauté them to top a burger…

I for one enjoy being able to incorporate them into whatever recipe calls for onions! No longer am I chained to the cutting board, and the tears that come with chopping onions!

Oh, and if you have a finicky eater in your home, simply powder them in a blender and even your most discriminating palates will never be the wiser!

So, here’s to adding onions to many of your favorite dishes without all the waterworks!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

(P.S. Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤)

Can I Be Content?

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

Canva - Contentment - Water

Contentment is not a God-given gift. It needs to be learned… but oh, how I struggle with this lesson!

I’ve shared before, that we are looking for a more traditional homestead… however, finding said homestead has been challenging!

What’s my biggest challenge? Being content where I am!

But how do I remain content when I long for a traditional homestead? How do I remain content when I long to get my hands in the soil and grow my own food? And how do I remain content when I see others raising chickens, but feel stuck living in a 22-foot RV on someone elses land?

Learning to be content with my surroundings has its challenges too! We are currently in the middle of nowhere! The closest real town is a half hours drive! The small hamlet that’s a smidge closer, boasts two burger joints and two small grocery stores that if they merged, might create one good store… but I digress!

Add to that the challenges of taking care of an aging mother…

Although I am happy to be here for her, I find myself struggling to apply myself to my business! The flexibility I have is great, but I don’t want to be so flexible, I flex myself right out of business!

Yet this morning, during my quiet time, I was reminded that God promises to supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus… and, that I can also do all things through Him who strengthens me!

Yes, I struggle… but deep down I know that He has given me everything I need for this moment in time.

So naturally, once I forgive myself for not putting forth as much effort as I know I should, and learn to discover what is good about the area I find myself living, I can learn to be content no matter what state I am in!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

(P.S. Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤)

Creativity – Expressing Yourself

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

Canva - Creativity is Within

Each of us has the potential for creativity!

How we express ourselves can surface in a number of ways.

Perhaps you have the ability to solve tricky situations…. or maybe you have the uncanny ability to come up with brilliant ideas… or quite possibly you have the ability to stretch a budget when things are tight financially.

On the other hand, perhaps you lean more towards the artistic side of creativity. You might design beautiful pieces of jewelry… or perhaps you enjoy painting and hope to be the next Picasso or Van Gogh…

Or maybe your creativity is focused in the kitchen…You might enjoy cooking and can adapt recipes, giving them your own unique flair and flavor!

No matter how we express ourselves, our creativity enhances our lives by giving us pleasure and delight!

Nevertheless, creativity is not necessarily about being original. Instead, it’s a determination to bring about change!

If we desire to be creative, we must look within ourselves for God-given gifts and abilities… and draw inspiration from our circumstances…

Being creative demands our focus… our commitment… and our discipline!

Even failure can be a useful tool because it can be a stepping stone to something better! We may even make new discoveries about ourselves and what we are able to do and create – which can be a bridge to a multitude of new possibilities!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

(P.S. Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤)

My Table Top Garden

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

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As spring approaches, I find myself longing for a garden, which brings memories of our first year on the farm! It was anything but easy!

Even back then, I looked forward to having a garden, but our land just wouldn’t cooperate! We tried in not one, but two different areas in our fields, but still nothing would produce!

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During our second year on the far, we tried yet a third area for a garden, and still we couldn’t get anything to grow!

It was very frustrating! Was it the soil? Was it me?

To this day, I still honestly don’t know why our land wouldn’t produce!! It wasn’t until our third year that we finally saw the fruits of our labor!

However, in the middle of that second year, I was so desperate that I decided I would try starting a garden in my kitchen!

We had a spare table that I moved to a window that got plenty of sunshine!

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I purchased the best soil I could afford for my little tabletop garden and lovingly made sure each day that my seeds had plenty of water and sun!

The day finally arrived when I started to see seedlings sprout up from the soil! I was in seventh heaven! At long last I had a garden!

It was a small garden; therefore, it didn’t produce much – just some peppers and cherry tomatoes and my favorite ‘go-to’ herbs for cooking – but it was a garden, nonetheless!

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I don’t know if we will be back on a traditional homestead this season, however, I am looking forward to growing at least some of my favorites for the kitchen!

However, instead of using our bulky flower pots, this year, I believe I will try for another tabletop garden! My thinking is this: should we find a more traditional homestead before the growing season is over, I won’t have such heavy pots to lift and move!

I do have a table outside my RV that gets plenty of sun! So yes, I do think I will try for another tabletop garden this year!

Until next time,

Peace, love, and safe travels… and happy homesteading!

~ Sheri

A Look at Growing Older

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

Canva - Hello Gorgeous

As I looked into the mirror this morning, I realized that there were a few more grey hairs…

I don’t like getting older! So like many others, I have succumbed to try holding onto my youth by coloring my hair, exercising to keep up my strength and using the latest skin care treatments… but even Solomon in all his wisdom said that this too is meaningless.

Let’s be honest… our looks… our health… and our circumstances change with time. All too often in ways we do not want!

However, with the passage of time, I am coming to terms with my getting older…

I find it helps to remind myself that God made me in His image… He knows me by name… and He even knows the number of hairs on my head, grey or otherwise!

Just as each season of nature has its own beauty and purpose, I too have my own beauty and purpose.

I may no longer have the hair color of my youth – ahem, unless I find it in a bottle of hair color – however, I find that by remembering that God has a purpose for me… it gives me a reason to get up each morning!

I no longer have to feel depressed or miserable about my aging which helps me get through the changing seasons of my life!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

TPC - Chicken Noodle Soup (2)

It’s a chilly day here on the homestead, and it’s raining!

Feeling a little under the weather, I thought it was the perfect time to make my favorite comfort food – homemade Chicken Noodle Soup! It’s so hearty and comforting – just like mom used to make!

Chicken Noodle Soup is a meal in and of itself, so you don’t really need to pair it with anything – unless you like to add some saltine crackers in your soup!

However, if you feel the need to add a little something extra, try pairing it with a crusty French baguette for dipping. Or, you could pair it with some toasted garlic bread.

But if you really feel like going the extra mile, you can combine it with a grilled cheese sandwich!

So, let’s get started!

Chicken Noodle Soup

Here’s what you need:

Let’s put it all together:

  1. Melt butter with oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, garlic and carrots and cook until veggies are fork tender.
  2. Next, add the chicken broth, cooked chicken, egg noodles, salt and thyme. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
  3. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until pasta is cooked to your liking.
  4. Add parsley to garnish. Serve and enjoy!

Cooks Tips:

  • Try using basil and oregano for a mildly different flavor.
  • Instead of cooking the chicken beforehand, you can cook the chicken in the broth and build the soup from there. This makes the broth a bit richer and the chicken more tender.
  • You can also try using turmeric to season your soup, which is great for digestion.
  • This recipe can be made in the slow-cooker as well, simply wait to add the noodles until the last 20 minutes before serving.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

(P.S. Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤)

Sausage and Spinach Pasta

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

Thrive Life - Sausage and Spinach Pasta Image

This tasty Sausage & Spinach Pasta recipe can be made in a 12 inch skillet on the stovetop or in a Dutch oven over the campfire! If you are going to cook over the firepit, just be sure your cookware is made to be used over the fire!

Sausage & Spinach Pasta

What you need:

Let’s put it all together:

  1. Cook pasta al dente.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, lightly toast onions, garlic and sausage.
  3. Add tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  4. Add pasta, spinach and water. Simmer until water is absorbed.
  5. Salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

(P.S. Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤)

How to Make a Basic Omelet

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

PC - Basic Omelet

There’s nothing better than farm fresh eggs, straight from the hen, for breakfast!

So, what better way to eat those eggs, than by enjoying your basic omelet?!?

And, if you want, you can change it up by adding a few of your favorite meats and veggies! I like to add some spinach, feta cheese and tomatoes!

For the perfect, basic omelet, all you need are butter, eggs, salt and pepper, and a pan! That’s it! So let’s get started!

Basic Omelet

Here’s what you need:

  •  2 eggs
  • 1/2 Tbsp. butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Add these ingredients to make the Spinach and Feta Omelet

  • 1/2 cup chopped spinach leaves
  • 2 Tbsp. chopped plum tomatoes
  • 2 Tbsp. crumbled Feta cheese

Now, let’s put it all together:

  • Whisk together, the eggs, salt and pepper.
  • Melt the butter in the pan. Swirl the butter around in the pan to coat the bottom and sides.
  • Pour the egg mixture into the pan. Let it sit for a minute undisturbed, allowing it to begin to set.
  • With a rubber scraper, gently push one edge of the egg into the center of the pan, tilting slightly, allowing the still liquid egg to flow underneath. Repeat with the other edges until there is no liquid left. It it begins to stick, simply loosen the bottom with a spatula.
  • If you’re making the Spinach and Feta Omelet, here’s where you’ll want to add the spinach, tomato and cheese to one half of the egg.
  • Using a spatula or rubber scraper, fold the egg onto itself and cook for 1 minute longer.
  • Finish, by sliding the omelet onto a plate and enjoy!

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

(P.S. Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤)

Preparing for Travel

Posted on by Great Adventure Homestead

Canva - Travel - Blank

Although it’s true we’ve decided it’s time to get off the road, we do have plans to travel at least one more time before settling down for good! And since we plan to travel, we need to prepare!

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will take the truck in to be serviced and check to see that everything on the RV is in working order as well!

First, we’ll pack up those things we don’t use every day, donating that which we no longer need or use anymore!

The packing part is my biggest challenge! Figuring out what to keep, and what goes is difficult – especially since I have a minimalists point of few, and I live with a mother who is a bit of a pack rat!

Todays challenge: clear out the cupboard above our sink!

I recently found a set of 4 plastic wine goblets we have yet to use in our 3 plus years on the road! Seriously?!? Out they go!

So, with that said, I’m off to clear out a cupboard!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri