Deer Repellent

Deer are overcoming our yard!  Usually once a day we can look out and see anywhere from 1 to 9 deer in the yard.  And they are multiplying quickly!!  We have several neighbors that feed them and along the way, they stop to eat up our backyard.  They especially love my knockout roses, which I don't especially love.  They sell deer repellent at home supply stores, but why buy it when you can make your own.  I thought I would share if any of you have the same problem, because this really works well.  It isn't harmful to them or to us!

Deer Repellent

1 raw egg
garlic powder
water

In a large spray bottle, put egg and a generous sprinkle of garlic powder.  Fill with water and shake to combine.  Spray directly on plants you wish to keep deer out of.  Sometimes, I even pour on the ground as a perimeter.  Spray every 1-2 weeks depending on the weather.   

**Also, good news this week.  I've been cooking a lot of new recipes.  Be on the lookout this week.

Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Cupcake

Today was The Bun's 1st Birthday party and I made these cupcakes to celebrate the day.  They are a recipe used by Magnolia Bakery in NYC.  I thought they turned out pretty tasty.  I also used the same recipe to make his smash cake.

Magnolia Bakery's Vanilla Cupcake

Apple Spice Muffins

Today, in honor of The Bun's upcoming 1st birthday, we decided to take these tasty Apple Spice Muffins to his Sunday school teachers to say thank you for loving on him so much this past year.  Check them out...

Chicken and Brown Rice Soup

Freezes well!!

Today, The Bun and I took dinner to a lady from church who recently had some surgery.  I had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to make some new recipes that Tossie had emailed me a while back she had at BUNKO and today was the day.  We made this soup, Sour Cream Muffins, and Peanut Butter Bars.  Tos also sent me a recipe for Blueberry Banana Cobbler, but since I was only needing single serving items, I decided against it.  This soup is some good stuff!  I had to use 2 cans of cream of chicken since mushrooms were one thing mentioned as a dislike and it was good, but next time I will make it with the mushroom soup just to see the difference.  I made it yesterday and when I went after it today, the rice must have soaked up a lot of the moisture overnight.  To fix that, today I added almost 4 more cups of chicken broth to return it to it's "soupy" state.  Just a heads up that you may have to do that. 

Chicken and Brown Rice Soup

5-6 chicken breasts, diced and cooked
2 cans cream of mushroom
4 c. water
1 pint half and half
30 oz. chicken broth
4 Tbsp. butter
2 c. brown rice
salt and pepper, to taste

Simmer 45 min-1 hour or until rice is done

Sour Cream Muffins

This was such a quick and easy bread to whip up.

Sour Cream Muffins

1 c. self-rising flour
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 c. (4 oz) sour cream

Stir flour and sour cream into melted butter. Drop into greased muffin tins and bake approximately 20 minutes at 400. Makes 6 regular sized muffins or 12 minis. Easily doubles.

Blueberry Banana Cobbler

This was her BUNKO dessert that I didn't have the opportunity to make, but thought I would go ahead and share it.

Blueberry Banana Cobbler

2 c. blueberries
2 bananas
cinnamon & brown sugar
1 c. milk
1 c. sugar
1 c. flour
1 stick butter

Slice bananas and mix with blueberries in dish. Sprinkle (generously) with brown sugar and cinnamon.
In a separate bowl, cut in sugar, butter, flour, then mix milk in. Pour this mixture over fruit.  Bake 35-40 minutes at 375.

Peanut Butter Bars

I may have mentioned before, but when Sister got married she had a shower that people brought their favorite recipes to.  I was looking for a sweet dish to make with the limited ingredients that I had at home and this fit the bill.  They are very chewy and delicious.

Peanut Butter Bars

1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. butter (1 stick)
1-1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. self rising flour

Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.  Melt peanut butter and butter in the microwave.  Add remaining ingredients.  Stir until thickened.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  Cool and cut into bars.

BBQ Meatloaf

This was our latest meatloaf recipe to try.  The sauce is incredibly good!!

BBQ Meatloaf

1-1/2 lb. ground beef
1 c. bread crumbs
1 onion, finely chopped
1 egg
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 (16 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1/2 c. water
3 Tbsp. vinegar
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. mustard
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Mix beef, onion, beaten egg, salt and pepper with half can of tomato sauce.  Form into loaf and put in shallow pan.  Combine rest of sauce and all other ingredients.  Pour over loaf.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Baste occasionally.