Living at My Farmhouse
Stop by my farmhouse and see what is happening today. Visit my vegetable garden to see what is growing or come into my kitchen and see what I am canning, freezing, or cooking.
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Shrimp and Grits- Delicious - Quick- and Cheaper than Eating Out
Shrimp and Grits for Two
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of grits ( I use quick cooking grits)
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddat
24 Jumbo peeled and deveined shrimp (about one pound)
paprika
garlic powder
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons butter
1/4 chicken stock
Instructions:
add grits to pot with water
salt to taste
cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally
while grits are cooking add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a frying pan and put over medium high heat
sprinkle cleaned shrimp with paprika and garlic powder
add to frying pan and cook about 5 minutes
remove shrimp and add butter and chicken stock to frying pan and simmer until butter is melted and sauce is slightly thicker then add shrimp back in to the pan
add cheese to grits and stir until grits appear smooth and not gritty
Place equal amounts of grits to each plate
Top grits with cooked shrimp
Spoon the sauce over the shrimp and grits and enjoy
For less than a take out meal you have a resturant style meal for two people that takes less than 30 minutes to make
Notes:
there are many ways to cook grits but this is the way I always cook mine. Please feel free to cook the grits with any liquid and anyway you prefer.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce
Creating Your own HotSauce is simple and so delicious
if you have a garden full of peppers this recipe can be used for any type of peppers. No garden no problem just buy a few pounds of peppers from your favorite food market.
Ingredients:
One pound of peppers more or lessenough white vinegar to cover the peppers2 Tablespoons fresh ginger root5 small garlic cloves
I place the peppers, ginger, and garlic in the crockpot and set to high cooking for around 3 hours then I turn off the crockpot and remove lid and let peppers cool.After the peppers are cool put the entire mixture of peppers, vinegar, ginger, and garlic in a food processor and blend until smooth
Put mixture in either a food mill or a strainer to strain out seeds and possible stems.if the sauce is too thick add additional white vinegar until the perfect consistency is reached
the hot sauce is ready and can be kept if fridge for up to 6 monthsI like to add a little sweetness to my hotsauce which helps to mellow out the heat.
after the hot sauce is blended and strained I add 1/4 cup of honeyand 1/4 cup of dark rum or bourbon(of course this is optional and no alcohol is necessary) this just gives a little something special and provides an additional depth of flavor.Please note that hot sauce may separate as it sits in the bottle but a little shake will solve that.
Please let me know if you try my recipe and leave a comment
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Jalapeno Popper Eggrolls
Cheesy Jalapeño Popper Egg Rolls (CRISPY & Addictive)
Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 fresh jalapeños, finely diced (seeds removed for milder heat)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Salt and black pepper to taste
24 small egg roll or wonton wrappers
Vegetable oil or cooking spray
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey Jack, jalapeños, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
Fold in the crumbled bacon until evenly combined.
Place one wrapper in a diamond shape. Add about 1½ tablespoons of filling to the center.
Fold the bottom corner over the filling, then fold in the sides and roll up tightly. Seal the edge with a little water.
Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
For frying: Heat 1 inch of oil to 350°F. Fry 3–4 egg rolls at a time for 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on a rack.
For air frying: Lightly spray egg rolls with oil. Air fry at 375°F for 8–9 minutes, flipping halfway, until crisp and golden.
For baking: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place egg rolls on a lined baking sheet, spray with oil, and bake 15–20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden.
Serve hot with ranch, blue cheese, or sweet chili sauce.
Prep Time: 25 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 45 minutes
Kcal: 122 kcal per serving | Servings: 24
Friday, August 14, 2026
The Perfect Bloody Mary
Most Bloody Marys are just tomato juice with worcestestershire sauce added to it and sometimes a little horesradish but i wanted something with more flavor. Here is what I like to call the Perfect Bloody Mary
The base for a good Bloody Mary is the tomato juice. During tomato growing season I can dozens of jars of juice for my Bloody Marys. Store bought juice will do but it is a little thicker than the juice I make myself.
Worcestestershire sauce and horeseradish are important ingredients but the addition of herbs and spices bring the drink to the next level.
Here is how I make it
The Perfect BloodyMary recipe
1 pint tomato juice
2 Tbsp prepared horseradish
2 Tbsp worceteshershire sauce
1 tsp cayene hot sauce
sprinkle of salt
sprinkle of black pepper
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp sugar (i use allulose sugar subtitute)
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp garlic
Shake well in a large mason jar or container with a lid filled with cup of ice.
Add a good guality vodka or tequila or make it a virgin
Rim glass with your choice of celery salt, Tajin, smoked sea salt blends, black pepper blends , or bacon salt.
Garnish as you like
Some garnish suggestions are
celery stalk
cheddar cheese cubes on a spear
olives
pepperoni slices
In Alaska I enjoyed a Bloody Mary garnished with a large crabmeat claw.
Chicken Fajita Bowl
🚨👉 CHICKEN FAJITA BOWL 👈🚨
Seared chicken strips with peppers and onions over a cottage cheese base seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and lime — topped with fresh pico and a sprinkle of shredded cheese. 42g protein. 15 minutes. The fajita bowl that brings the heat. 👇
⏱️ Time:
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 15 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 1
🛒 Ingredients:
For the Fajita Base:
• 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or 2%)
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• Pinch of salt
For the Bowl:
• 5 oz chicken breast, sliced into strips
• ½ bell pepper, sliced
• ¼ onion, sliced
• 1 teaspoon fajita seasoning
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup pico de gallo (or diced tomatoes + onion + cilantro)
• 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
• Fresh cilantro and lime wedge, for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. In a small bowl, combine the cottage cheese with cumin, chili powder, lime juice, and salt. Stir well and set aside.
2. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the chicken strips, bell pepper, and onion. Season with fajita seasoning. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are slightly charred.
3. Spoon the seasoned cottage cheese into a serving bowl as the creamy base.
4. Top with the chicken, peppers, and onions.
5. Add the pico de gallo and shredded cheese.
6. Garnish with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime. Serve immediately.
Notes:
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut — just warm it with the peppers and onions.
- Add sliced avocado or jalapeños for extra flavor.
- Swap cheddar for pepper jack for more heat.
- Store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
🥗 Nutrition (Per Serving – Estimated):
Calories: 460 | Protein: 42g | Carbohydrates: 16g | Fat: 24g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Sodium: 580mg
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Mushroom Swiss Burger Bowl
Keto Mushroom Swiss Burger Bowl
🛒 Ingredients:
• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (80/20 recommended) for juicy flavor
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced for earthy richness
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, thinly sliced for sweetness
• 4 slices Swiss cheese for creamy, melty topping
• 2 tablespoons butter for sautéing mushrooms and onions
• 1 tablespoon olive oil for cooking beef
• 2 cloves garlic, minced for added aroma
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce for umami depth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt for seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper for mild spice
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for extra flavor
• 2 cups lettuce or mixed greens for the base
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise or keto-friendly sauce for creaminess
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley for garnish
👩🍳 Directions:
1️⃣ Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the 1 tablespoon olive oil.
2️⃣ Add the 1 lb (450 g) ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spatula until browned and cooked through (no pink remains).
3️⃣ Season the beef with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; stir to combine and taste, adjusting seasoning if needed.
4️⃣ Carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet and transfer the cooked beef to a bowl or plate; set aside.
5️⃣ In a separate medium skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
6️⃣ Add the 1/2 cup thinly sliced yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly caramelized (about 5–7 minutes).
7️⃣ Stir in the 1 cup sliced mushrooms and continue cooking until the mushrooms are tender and golden, about 4–6 minutes.
8️⃣ Add the 2 cloves minced garlic and sauté briefly (30–60 seconds) until fragrant—do not burn.
9️⃣ Return the cooked beef to the skillet with the mushrooms and onions, stirring to combine and warm through.
1️⃣0️⃣ Lay the 4 slices Swiss cheese over the beef mixture and cover the skillet briefly, or reduce the heat to low, allowing the cheese to melt into the mixture.
1️⃣1️⃣ Prepare 4 serving bowls with a base of the 2 cups lettuce or mixed greens divided between bowls.
1️⃣2️⃣ Spoon the hot beef, mushroom, and onion mixture over the greens in each bowl.
1️⃣3️⃣ Drizzle each bowl with about 1 tablespoon (¼ cup divided) mayonnaise or your preferred keto-friendly sauce, and finish with 1 tablespoon chopped parsley sprinkled over the top.
1️⃣4️⃣ Serve immediately while the cheese is warm and melted.
⏰ Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes
🥗 Nutrition (Per Serving – Estimated):
Calories: 595 kcal
Protein: 28 g
Carbohydrates: 4 g
Fat: 51 g
Servings: 4
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