Author Archives: countrygirlbling

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About countrygirlbling

Hi, I'm hoping that my blog and my experiences will help to encourage you. Our journey through life can be unpredictable at times but KNOW that if you are a believer in Christ, HE will always have your best interest at heart! (Even when things don't make sense!) Toodles

Sweet, Spicy and Smokey Dry Rub

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I try to give a little “thank you” whenever I’m hosting a gathering.  Since I’d decided on a “pulled meat” competition I thought I’d make some dry rub meat seasoning for a little gift.

I found these cute little kraft boxes at Hobby Lobby and I made the tags on my computer using a “business card” template.  I forgot to take a picture of all the spices but I just put everything together and used a mini food processor to combine.  Then I scooped them into tiny baggie type bags and then put the bags of seasoning into these boxes.  Here’s the original link ( http://kneadtocook.com/sweet-spicy-and-smoky-dry-rub)  & recipe:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of light brown sugar
2 tablespoons of salt (I used Lo Salt reduced sodium alternative)
1 tablespoon of chipotle chili powder
1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
2 teaspoons of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Directions:  Place everything into a mini food processor, Vitamix or you can mix by hand or by adding everything to a tupperware container with a lid.  Process until well-combined.  Store in a container with a lid for up to 6-9 months.

This can be used on chicken, pork or beef.  Rub a generous amount on the meat and refrigerate for best results up to 24 hours or a minimum of 1 hour.  Place the meat on a hot grill and cook until desired temperature is achieved.  Enjoy!

Harvest Party 2017 – WINNER

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Yahoo!  The cook-off this year was “Pulled Meat”.   Chicken, beef or pork and we had a great variety.  The judges picked Laura Ruch’s Pulled Pork!  Laura is a good friend and was actually my realtor when I bought my little farmhouse.  If you need a realtor she’s the best!!!!  Way to go Laura!

Harvest Party 2017 – Downpour!

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So this happened right after I announced the cook-off winner (more tomorrow)!  It started pouring and never let up!

I didn’t have a “Plan B”.  Thank you to the Bayless boys and everyone else who pitched in and moved the food into the barn! It was nuts – I remember Brian saying to me “Hey Ronda, move your car out of the barn and we can move the food in there – I just stood there like a deer in headlights!  My first thought was – oh noooo, there are spider webs in there!  My second thought was – there are NO other options! LOL

Everyone stayed and just put up with it, lol!!!  Thanks for that great fire Tim!

Thanks to Shelley, one of my neighbor’s (not in this pic).  She brought over 2 of her pop up tents!

These were the table runners that were totally soaking wet!  Drying out in the guest bathroom . . . wet burlap really doesn’t smell that great, lol.

And all of the pennants laid out to dry!  Everyone just made the best of it and still had a great time!  Thank you all!!! xoxo

Harvest Party 2017 – People Pics – Before Downpour

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I had 33 adults and 10 kids!!  These are the only pics we got before everyone had to run for cover!

My little Belley Boo coloring.

My daughter, Amie & My Mom

Diane Bayless and her 2 granddaughters

Johnathon & Kayla Bayless and their daughters

Amie & her bestie, Sarah

Sarah’s daughter, little Reecey

Tractor full of pumpkins!

Brian and his granddaughters.  That’s Pete in the background with my neighbor Barb.

Matthew & Amie

 

Harvest Party 2017 – Before the Downpour!

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Harvest Party Decor – Back porch

 

 

This was my “thank you” gift.  Spice Rub packets – I’ll post about these later.

I had the drink station under the new kitchen/bar area.

This is in my garden and was the kids’ area & suppose to be the “soda bar” butttttt that ended up happening inside the house, lol.

Here’s my cute little kids’ picnic table.

View from the garden – can you see how “dark” it’s getting?!

 

Yard Yahtzee ready to go!

More pics tomorrow!

 

5 Little Pumpkins Sittin’ by the Fence

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How cute are these little guys!

I have about 10 harvested and another 5 still on the vines.  My crop wasn’t as big this year but still have few to give out at my Harvest Party this weekend.

Pumpkin Spice Almonds

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I made these last night, just in time for my Harvest Party.  This is 3 lbs of almonds so I tripled the recipe.  Crazy super simple and very yummy!

The recipe calls for 1 cup of almonds but I used 1lb almonds per batch.  Here you go:   1 pound whole raw almonds, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1 TBL of pumpkin pie spice (if you can’t find it at the grocery store – the recipe is on the link).  Add the water, sugar and pumpkin spice to a large sauce pan and bring to boil.  Add the almonds and remove from heat.  Stir almonds until well coated and then scoop out onto a parchment paper lined cooked sheet.  Use fork to spread apart and let them dry.  I leave them out uncovered until they dry, it takes awhile.  Then store in airtight container.  Perfect treat to welcome in Fall.  Great little gift idea too.  Here is the original link:  http://www.anightowlblog.com/2015/11/pumpkin-spice-almonds.html/

Tin Foil – Wood Boxes

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I have a few projects in my mind to use up a bunch of fence picket scraps I’ve been storing, here’s one of them.  The fence picket scraps are 3 1/2″ wide and various lengths.  My Harvest Party is this weekend and I wanted something cuter to put some tin foil trays in.  I’d seen something similar on Pinterest a long time ago.  These are the large bread tins you use at Christmas time for your give-away banana bread.

The long sides and bottoms are 8″ long and the ends are 5″ long.  The fence picket scraps were not wide enough for the bottom piece so I had some scrap siding laying around that  happened to be the perfect width.  I just cut it to 8″.  Then I used some wood glue and my finish nailer (well my 10 year borrowed finish nailer, lol – thanks Wayne!).

Not sure if I’ll stain them or just clear coat them but they will be the perfect size for pickles and hot peppers.

Kids’ Picnic Table – Painted

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I had several ideas on how I wanted to paint the kids’ picnic table but decided to go with a bright, happy color.  This is Behr’s Aqua Fresco.   I had Home Depot match it in their Behr Solid Color – Waterproofing Stain & Sealer.  Just need to flip it over and finish the underside.  I put 2 coats on the table top & benches.  Love – such a happy color!