Becky's Guide to Cutting Food

Ever wonder what they mean by cubing, slicing, or dicing?  Never knew there was a difference?  Well, this blog post will show you what each of the cooking cutting terms mean.

Easy! How to Make Homemade Yogurt

Do you want to make good yogurt that is as cheap as milk?  Want more control over the ingredients going into it?  Want to know the secret of Greek yogurt? In this post, I will show you how easy it is to make your own affordable great tasting yogurt using ingredients you can find at the grocery store...

RIP Fuji

It's been a while since my last blog post.  A couple months ago, we found out that Fuji had a mass that was blocking his bile duct.  Two weeks later, on the one year anniversary of my blog, he was gone.  He was so good.  He only wanted to please.  He loved food, that was his weakness.  But he still was a good boy, he'd try and try to contain himself around food.  Sometimes resulting in drool, sometimes he'd lick the air around the food, and sometimes we'd just let him have some.  Peanut butter was his favorite.  When, in the end, he no longer wanted peanut butter or any other food, we knew it was time.  He was so happy, always a light you could look forward to.  We miss him so much.  RIP my Fuji.

Adoption Quilts for San Antonio Child Protective Services

This post is a little different.  I am involved with a group of people who make quilts for National Adoption Month (November), to give to kids being adopted in San Antonio, TX.  We are making over 100 quilts.  Each child will choose which one they want to bring to their new home.  The ages range from infant to 17 years old.  So we're making lots and lots of them.

If you're interested in joining us, we need all the help we can get at any skill level! Please contact me for more information.

Here's some of the ones I've made...

How to Make Easy Old-Fashioned Refrigerator Pickles

If you're old enough to remember drug store barrel pickles, or like me and have never eaten them, you will absolutely fall in LOVE with these easy to make, long lasting, homemade, refrigerator pickles...

How to Make Squash Puppies

With my garden exploding with squash on a daily basis, I have had to find inventive ways to cook them.

I had found a hush puppy recipe a while back, but it was a bit dry.  Knowing that squash is full of liquid and it makes quick bread (like zucchini bread) very moist, I decided to try it out in the hush puppies.  The result: moist, yet crispy, squash puppies!

How to Make Mouthwatering Tequila Lime Ribs

Ever wondered what the secret to good ribs is? Just in time for Memorial Day, I'll share with you how to get tender, juicy ribs that will make you unable to order them at a restaurant because you'll just be disappointed.

Hubby's Favorite Meatloaf Recipe

As part of Becky's Cooking Lessons series, here's my husband's favorite meatloaf recipe.  It also uses ingredients from my garden...

Pallet Garden Growth

I thought it would be more effective to see my pallet garden grow before your eyes.  Here's some pics from beginning to present.  I'll update this post with new pictures as the garden matures...

Review of the Yellow Rose Fiber Producers Fiesta

I went to the 2013 Yellow Rose Fiber Producers Fiesta in Seguin, TX recently...

Pick'em and Preserve'm Strawberries

I finally made it to the U-Pick strawberry place in New Braunfels, TX, just outside San Antonio, with my elder companion...

Holy Pallet Garden, Batman!

Now that we had a good soaking rain last week, the pallet garden is getting into the swing of things...

Online Tour of Bob Ross Senior Services Center - San Antonio

I checked out the Bob Ross Senior Services Center and decided it was so nice that it needs its own blog post...

Activities and Resources for Senior Citizens in San Antonio

I've got a new job!  I am going to be an elder companion for a lady here in San Antonio.  Since I already do a lot of fun schtuff that seniors do, this will be perfect for me.

My first task is to find some interesting and fun schtuff for us to do together.  I thought I'd share what I found.  Most of this is in North San Antonio, but I've got links if you want to delve into other parts of town...

Scooby Doo Dog Themed Quilt

Dog Themed Quilt

I've been working on some quilts for National Adoption month.  In November, a quilt will be given to each child adopted through Child Protective Services in San Antonio, TX.  This design of mine is a Scooby Doo dog quilt...

San Antonio Edible Weeds - What's in My Backyard

Salad from all wild plants in my yard

It's weed season in San Antonio, aka wildflower season.  So which ones in my backyard are edible?...

How to Dye Eggs on the Cheap with Koolaid

Dying eggs with Koolaid is super cheap and easy...

Pallet Garden Update Mar 29

potatoes and carrots - 3 pallets deep

Here's how my pallet garden grows...

How to Knit a Super Dog Sweater

It's a bird, it's a dog, it's...Super Spec!
Find out how to make your own Super Dog Sweater in this blog post...

Panang Tofu Curry Recipe (Don't Fear the Tofu!)

Don't be afraid of the tofu!  For another of Becky's Cooking Lessons, this recipe is creamy, spicy, and delicious...

Pallet Garden Update Mar 13, 2013

Here's another pallet garden update.  Things are going well...

How to Make a Cheap, and Easy Bird House in 15 minutes

Last year a wren built a nest on a shelf on our back porch.  In the past couple of days, with the weather warming up, we have seen a couple of wrens.  We have since moved that shelf and taken down the nest.

So, I made a simple, easy, cheap bird house...

Advanced - How to Knit a Hairnet / Snood

So, it turns out my How to Knit a Hairnet / Snood post is one of my most popular.  I know I reposted the actual pattern from another blog, so I figured I'd enhance my own post by offering different knitting stitches to make fancier hairnets / snoods...

Pallet Garden Update

Just a quick update on my pallet garden so far.  I love it!  Here's 7 reasons why...

Pick Your Own Farms near San Antonio, TX

For all the fruits and vegetables I can't grow on my own, I'd like to be able to pick them fresh from the plant.  They taste sooooo much better that way!  So, I'm compiling a list of places within a day trip time frame from San Antonio, TX.

How to make Pupcakes for your Dog

It seems like only yesterday that Fuji wandered into our yard.  It's already his 11th birthday!

In celebration of his big day, I made pupcakes, or more aptly, pupcrack.

I've brought these pupcakes dog treats to dog events with the Nature Hounds, and they disappear.  Dogs go crazy for them!

Fresh Eggs and Mushrooms Are Sooooo Good!

There is no comparison when using fresh ingredients to store bought.  What's even better than fresh ingredients?  Two different fresh ingredients.  Mushrooms and Eggs

Seedlings Update

You saw in my earlier post how to make a seedling incubator using milk jugs and toilet paper rolls.  Here are my beautiful little seedlings yearning to grow!

Planted Jan 10, 2013

Jan 14, 2013

Little cabbage sprouts!

Becky's Cooking Lessons: Priceless Tips and Tricks

People will think you are a seasoned pro when you use these tips and tricks while cooking.

As I think of them, I will add more tips and tricks, so check back often.

Want to make your ground beef go farther.  Add shredded zucchini or other squash to it.  Then cook your favorite dishes as usual, like tacos, spaghetti, and even hamburgers.  You'll get lots of fiber and vitamins, and stretch your ground beef budget farther.  It tastes the same, so no one will ever know!

How to Plants Seeds Cheaply Using Milk Jugs and Toilet Paper Rolls

An easy way to plant your seeds indoors to have seedlings to put out in your garden, is to use milk jugs and TP or paper towel rolls.

Save your TP rolls and milk jugs.

You can also use your milk jug caps as poker chips!

Becky's Pallet Garden

I've been planning and working on my garden for over a month now getting it all ready to go for when it's a little warmer.  I decided to go with pallet gardening.  It was much easier than the rock wall I was thinking of making.  And, you can get pallets for free!  You know me, all about the cheap stuff.