Free Recipe Sheets ~ 3 Different Designs ~ A Patty-Pan Printable

"You never tasted anything so good!"

~ Beatrix Potter, The Tale of the Pie and the Patty Pan

There is nothing like a good recipe to make meal time merry! Lately, I have been spending time weeding through my old clippings, family recipes, doing some "strictly from the pantry" recipe experiments and converting many to gluten-free for my daughter.  I have enjoyed organizing them all, updating them with healthier ingredients when possible and developing new favorites. While I love recipe cards for their old fashioned feel, I do appreciate the convenience of a nice, large piece of paper to write down all the instructions without the space restrictions. I also like that they can be slipped conveniently into my recipe book. The good news is that Mrs. Ribby (my most recent and charming acquaintance) has been gracious! She is sharing her little recipe sheets with us!

"Come in good time, my dear Duchess," said Ribby's letter,

"and we will have something so very nice.

~ Beatrix Potter, The Tale of the Pie and the Patty Pan

She has provided her guests (and this includes you!) with three different designs of her recipe sheets!  The first one is her trademark page which features her own little cozy cottage kitchen interior. You will find The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan Recipe Sheet HERE.

The second recipe sheet is a basic black and white version with an inspirational verse for she was also a pious little Pussy-cat! You will find this printable recipe sheet HERE.

And lastly, she had designed a page with her friend Thomasina Tittlemouse in mind (for it matches her gentle cottage rose collection). You will find The Cottage Rose Inspirational Recipe Sheet HERE. 

The "heading" on each printable is meant to include the title of the recipe. The "from" section is meant for your name if you are the giver of the recipe or it is intended to document the original recipe source (such as wonderful grandmother!). The rest is self-explanatory...

 

Thank you for taking the time to call! This post is a part of our 2017 edition of Fun Friday with Beatrix Potter featuring The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan! Other posts shared thus far in the series include a printable coloring book, printable gift tags and quaint cottage homemaking musings and music. Have a lovely weekend!

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them). 

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Egg Substitutions ~ Free Printable List ~ Proverbs 31 Preparedness Series

"Be sure to gather the eggs every night..."

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farmer Boy

Do you know that with over 40 hens, we sometimes find ourselves without eggs! Most of the time it is in the autumn during molting season but it is still upsetting. We actually take a stand and refuse to buy eggs when this occurs for if we were to do so, they would be doubly expensive because we are still paying for chicken feed at the same time (I just can't make myself do it). So, when we don't have eggs, we use egg substitutions. I only knew a few of them until Vicky (a sweet reader and dare I say "friend") emailed me her excellent list! This is also handy information to include in your Proverbs 31 Preparedness Binder as emergencies come in many forms! Sometimes you are simply in the middle of baking a cake when you realize you have no eggs! Yes, preparedness comes in many forms too... 

Keep in mind that some of these may not result in the same "light and fluffy" result as when using real eggs but they should work in a pinch! 

• 2 TB. cornstarch = 1 egg

• 2 TB. arrowroot flour = 1 egg

• 2 TB. potato starch = 1 egg

• 1 heaping TB. soy powder + 2 TB. water = 1 egg 

• 1 banana = 1 egg in cakes

• 1 TB. milled flax seed + 3TB. water = 1 egg (makes light and fluffy cakes according to Vicky)

• 1 TB. ground chia seed + 3 TB. water = 1 egg (let mixture sit 5 minutes or so to gel)

• Be sure to read the comment section below for more ideas! I ended up jotting down quite a bit more substitutions on my printable page!

Do you have any more egg substitutions to add to this list?

You will find our printable "Proverbs 31 Preparedness" sheet for egg substitutions HERE!

Your homework for the week:

• Print out the "Egg Substitution" printable (or simply jot it down) and add it to your Proverbs 31 Preparedness Binder.

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).

Carrot Crazy Cake (No Butter, Eggs, Milk or Mess) ~ Inspired by the Depression Era Recipe (aka Wacky Cake) w/ GF Option

"Vegetables are a must on a diet.

I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie."

~ Jim Davis

I hope you enjoy this first recipe I developed for a spring carrot cake for my pantry cookbook. It is inspired by the famous Great Depression "wacky" cake recipe and my desire to be able to cook strictly from basic food storage as a part of our preparedness series (remember I had challenged myself here)! This particular creation belongs to the "spring garden" pantry chapter as it includes ingredients exclusively from the pantry and garden. No refrigerated items required. It is so moist-- you will be amazed at how delicious an inexpensive recipe like this can be! Plus, there is less mess as this cake is made straight in the pan!

When would you make this recipe?

When you run out of eggs...
When you run out of butter...
When you run out of milk...
When you are serving a vegan, when you are serving someone with dairy allergies, when you need a no-fail and frugal dessert recipe, when all you have is what is in the pantry and garden, when you crave carrot cake...

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 c. + 2 tbsp. flour  (all purpose or gluten-free flour blend)
• 3/4 c. white sugar
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 3/4 tsp. cinnamon *
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg *
• 1 pinch of cloves *
• 1 tsp. baking soda (use 1 1/2 tsp. is using gluten-free flour blend)
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 5 tbsp. vegetable oil (we use sunflower)
• 1 tsp. white vinegar (use apple cider vinegar for gluten-free version)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 c. water
• 1 1/2 c. shredded carrots

***Note: If you don't have the individual spices, try replacing the cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves with 1 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8 by 8 inch square baking pan.

Measure out and stir all the dry ingredients together in your prepared baking pan.



Make three wells in the baking pan (making sure one is large enough to contain the oil).



Pour the oil into the largest well and the vinegar and vanilla separately into the other impressions. 

Pour water over all the contents, add the shredded carrots and carefully mix your ingredients until combined and smooth. Good thing we don't judge the taste of cakes by the looks of the batter for this will surely frighten you off! 

Bake for 35 - 40 minutes (it is finished when a toothpick inserted inside the center comes out clean).

Cool on wire rack. Once it is completely cooled, you may frost it. 

Cream cheese frosting is the classic choice for carrot cake. If we don't have cream cheese, we will use a plain vanilla buttercream frosting (but omit 1 cup of powdered sugar) for a nice and buttery topping that compliments the cake well. If you are trying to use what is in the pantry, prepare a plain icing* with powdered sugar, vanilla and water (or canned coconut milk, etc). This will seem more luxurious if you cut each piece of cake and drizzle the icing on separately, allowing it to overflow onto the sides.

* Mix 1 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. vanilla and 1 - 2 tbsp. milk (or water), 1 tablespoon at a time, until drizzle-able (mixture will thicken slightly as it sets).

Future note: If you were to have me over for carrot cake, I prefer mine chilled and with a cup of coffee :)

Recipe can be doubled -- simply use a 9 by 13 inch pan.

You will find our printable recipe HERE.

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them). Vegan, Dairy-Free Carrot Cake Recipe.

The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan ~ Free Printable Gift Tags

'"Come in! and how do you do, my dear Duchess?" cried Ribby. "I hope I see you well?"

"Quite well, I thank you, and how do you do, my dear Ribby?" said Duchess. "I've brought you some flowers..."

~ Beatrix Potter, The Tale of the Pie and the Patty Pan

It is fun to bring goodies to others! It needn't be anything excessive to show a bit of love! A few ribbons, a nice supply of cellphone bags, some sweet tags and you have yourself the makings of some adorable gift options! Duchess enjoyed giving bouquets of wildflowers. With a recycled jar and a touch of twine to fasten on one of these little cards, you have instant spring cheer!

Our free printable includes "Fresh from the Farm", "Sending Some Love", "Special Delivery" and simply "A Gift for You". 

The illustration came from The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan by Beatrix Potter and is one of my favorites! The pastoral background reminds me of scenes in the Victorian Era novel (and movie), Cranford. Well, moving along from my weird musings... 

Some fun but inexpensive gift ideas for adults include a few bags of your favorite tea, a small jar of honey, a little book and/or a pretty tea-cup or mug (these can be found at thrift stores and stored away for these special purposes). If you raise your own chickens, the "Fresh from the Farm" tag pairs nicely with a gifted dozen of homegrown eggs. "Special Delivery" can include a pot of your homemade jam, muffins and/or scones and would be a nice treat for someone who is under the weather.

Children can be given a little bag with the matching coloring book (free printable here), a few colored pencils and some stickers.

No matter what you decide, these little spring packages are fun to make and give! You will find our free printable gift tags HERE!

This post was a part of our 2017 edition of Fun Friday with Beatrix Potter featuring The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan! Other posts shared thus far in this series include a printable coloring book and quaint cottage homemaking musings and music. Have a lovely weekend!

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them). 

Sugar ~ Foods with No Expiration Date ~ Pantry Builder #1

"I knew there was sugar in the tin, but had no idea of there being enough to last..."

~ Jane Austen, In a Letter

Ample food storage was the normal way of life of our pioneering ancestors and is a large portion of preparedness (and prudence, in general!). The problem is that a surplus of many foods is not wise if the shelf life is short. We will be sharing a list of useful foods that you have "permission" to purchase in bulk due to the fact that they have no expiration date! For many of us housewives that lack the latest gear to store long-term foods, this is great news! These provisions also have many uses (remember our concept of versatility?) and will benefit the household during the good and not-so-good times!



Today we will focus on the merits of storing sugar. I thought it would make a nice and "sweet" start to our "Pantry Builder #1" post. Though we try and use more natural sweeteners in our daily life, I can not say that our household is completely sugar-free (nor am I being an advocate for sugar, however, I am an advocate for common sense!). For one, sugar is very inexpensive (aka cheap) and therefore quite convenient to buy in bulk. Secondly, it is very versatile and even necessary for a healthy lifestyle as you soon shall see. Third, it is quite essential for food preservation which is the sister to self-sufficiency which is a sister to preparedness. And finally and most obvious, you can economically make basic muffins and other from-scratch foods with just "a spoonful of sugar..."

"And let them gather all the food of those good years that come..."

~ Genesis 41:35

Before we begin, I wanted to mention that there are many reasons that people prepare and not all of them are doomsday scenarios. Our main reason is for "lean times". We are full-time farmers which means our income is very sporadic. In the winter, it is almost stagnant. Having a supply of food which has been gathered in the good times creates a sense of proverbial peace. Like the biblical ants who collect in the summer, so must we! Because of this, I am also going to include projects we can make and do with our pantry building supplies that can be used for everyday household use and gift giving -- it may help us to be creative in the lean times when we are working with limited resources. Plus, by seeing how versatile these pantry items are, perhaps it will encourage you to store more abundantly when you have the opportunity. This information will also be shared in a printable for each item to include in your Proverbs 31 Preparedness binders.

SUGAR

Brown, Powdered and White

When properly stored, the shelf life of sugar is indefinite. For best results, store sugar in a cool, dry area and make sure it is tightly sealed after opening (we keep ours in a large canister in the kitchen and the remaining in a large pantry container). If storing your sugar in the original bag, place an additional thick plastic bag over the bag and seal (with a twist or tie). White sugar loves a dry environment while brown sugar thrives in humid climates.

How to soften white sugar:

"White sugar will become hard if it absorbs moisture, so to soften it again you can place it in a 150°F oven for 15 minutes then break it up with a spoon. Turn the oven off and leave it in the oven for another hour or two." ~ Eatbydate.com

How to soften brown sugar:

"Brown sugar will become hard when it dries out and looses its moisture, so to soften it you can add a slice of fresh bread to the bag for a day or two or a damp paper towel separated from the sugar by plastic wrap. You can also use an organic (or washed well & dried) orange peel to place in the container, the natural oils from the orange will soften the sugar. The paper towel or orange peel method will soften brown sugar within several hours while the bread will soften brown sugar in a few days (1-2), but is the preferred method. If you are in a big hurry, you can cover a bowl of brown sugar with a damp paper towel and microwave for about 20 seconds - but be careful as a few too many seconds can produce a bowl of goo!" ~ Eatbydate.com

Though sugar is something many of us try to avoid, let's face it, a chocolate cake is a necessity once in a while! But with all joking aside, a stock pile of sugar will allow you to:

• bake simple cakes and muffins (with just a few frugal ingredients to keep hungry bellies full)

• preserve foods (by canning jams, jellies, etc.)

• make your own vinegar from fruit scraps  (lacto-fermented foods are very healthy)

• to maintain kombucha (this is my other attempt at sharing its purpose for the healthy lifestyle)

• sprinkle powdered sugar on desserts as a quick, frugal, no-fuss "frosting"

• make simple syrups, fruit syrups, herbal syrups and medicinal syrups

• to prepare simple fruit shrubs and so forth... 

• sweeten homemade drinks. Also, if your stored emergency water that has been pre-treated with bleach, sugar will make it more palatable during a state of emergency. Many "preppers" keep kool-aid on hand for this very purpose. You can make your own by mixing up a box of jello powder and (you guessed it) white sugar (3 parts jello powder to 1 part white sugar). To make the 'kool-aid", mix 2 cups of water with 2 1/2 tbsp. of your homemade mixture (recipe found here). 

• make your own hair spray

• make up some simple body scrubs 

• heal wounds (According to sugar.org and many other web sources, "when sugar is applied to an open wound, it absorbs the wound’s moisture which prevents the growth of infectious bacteria. Physicians also believe sugar supplies the very nourishment damaged tissues require to heal." You will find a printable PDF here with this information.)

Do you have any more useful ideas for sugar to add to this list?

You will find our printable "Proverbs 31 Preparedness" sheet for ways to use sugar HERE!

Your homework for the week:

• Assess the amount of sugar you store in your pantry. Could you add more to your food storage knowing it has no expiration date and is so versatile? 

Extra Credit:

• Print out the "Ways to Use Sugar" printable and add it to your Proverbs 31 Preparedness Binder.

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).

Quaint Cottage Homemaking Music and Musings with Video Clip ~ Beatrix Potter Series

"There's nothing like open air for soothing present anxiety

and memories of past sadness."

~ Beatrix Potter in Letter to Mrs. Wight (her friend & neighbor) June 1942

As the modern world has its set of challenges (though we can't forget the blessings too!), often we crave a bit of nostalgia and quaint charm. The following video will take you away to the old world of Beatrix Potter for just a few minutes...

Perhaps it will inspire you to take a moment outside and breathe in the "open air" where spring is a promise of renewal... The dreamy (and yet somewhat haunting) theme song is called "Perfect Day" and is sung by the talented Miriam Stockley.

The video "clip" is an excerpt from the closing credits of BBC's The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. It was so charming that I felt the need to include it in our Beatrix Potter Spring Series. I thought it would be a whimsical way to start your morning! There was a sweet soundtrack that used to be sold from the DVD set but it is no longer being produced and unfortunately seems quite rare.

Included today are also some lovely photographs of the Lake District cottages and land which were owned (over 4,00 acres!) by Beatrix Potter and later donated to the National Trust.

Imagine walking through this countryside in a long Edwardian gown. Breathe in the fresh air and listen to the melody of the birds... Perhaps you will find some of the same creatures that enchanted Ms. Potter.

One way to transport you back to this world is by planting lavender bushes, roses and an abundance of cottage flowers. Imagine an assortment of delphiniums, hollyhocks and foxgloves. Include some beautiful cottage style stones in your landscaping. I am dreaming of the possibilities as I type this.

For those without garden space, you can still display a few potted herbs in your kitchen which gives your home that same old fashioned feel. The bonus is the fresh garnishes you will have for foods and teas!

For me, the playing of quaint cottage music can always transport you to the "Old World" while performing your daily duties. 

I have included some ideas (per the request of a kind reader). These would be fine choices for some peaceful homemaking moments or to enjoy with our free Beatrix Potter printable coloring book. Do you have any suggestions to add?

Note: All Photos are of Beatrix Potter's Lake District where she herself stands in the above photograph. 

Well, it is time to go... I hope this little post has refreshed you like a cheery pot of tea! 

 Happy Fun Friday to you and have a wonderful weekend!

All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).