How to Make Homemade Self Rising Biscuits

 I posted how to make biscuits here, but honestly, I wasn't using self-rising flour. I was using all-purpose flour, and they turned out flat and heavy- even with the baking powder! I live on an island that is about 1/4 miles wide by 1 1/2 miles long, and, believe it or not, self-rising flour is like gold here. I didn't have any self-rising flour at the time I made the other batch of biscuits, but got a bag when I went to the mainland on Thursday. Also in the other recipe I used a food processor to make the dough, but I did it the old fashioned way here.

Measure out 2 cups of self rising flour, and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil or some type of shortening.



Take a pastry cutter and cut the shortening into the flour until it resembles course crumbs.



There is no way for me to measure the milk (or buttermilk - I only had milk on this occasion) here because i just add it little by little until the flour is all wet and away from the sides of the bowl.



Sprinkle a little flour out on the counter top. I use to have a sifter to sift all my flour, but don't anymore.  Pour out your dough on the flour.



Knead it to 1.) Get the ingredients further mixed up and 2.) to get the dough covered good with flour so it won't be sticky. Don't overknead it, however, as the dough will come out tough. It should look like this.



Roll the dough out to about 1/2 inches and cut the biscuits out.



Take the biscuits and lay them on your baking sheet. You will have lots of dough left. Form another lump.



Roll it out and cut more biscuits out.



After I did this, I had a small lump left - too small to roll out and cut, so I just tried to form it into a little biscuit, and then laid it on the baking sheet.



Here is my baking sheet full of biscuits.



Place them in a 450 degree preheated oven and bake about 8 minutes or so, depending on your oven, or until they start to turn golden brown.

They should turn out looking like this.



Enjoy!

Love,
Kimberly ♥

The Neatest Little Secret Compartment Discovered Under My Sink

As some of you know, my husband and I have been dealing with leaks lately - three since mid-December, in fact. The last two were under my kitchen cabinet. In the process, my husband discovered that the facing of the cabinet opened and that there was a neat little gadget in there. Now, I put all my sponges, scourers and the drain plug thingy there instead on the back of the sink. I love it!!



Maybe you have one too!

Love,
Kimberly ♥

How to Make HEALTHY "Fudgesicles"

Being that summer is coming up soon, I wanted to find some nice healthy recipes to cool off. Hope you can use this one. (If you are making if for kids, don't let them know that there is spinach in it - unless they like spinach. It disguises pretty nicely.)

Ingredients:
2 bananas
2 dates (I have fresh, but you can use dried.)
A handful of spinach



If you happen to find fresh dates, you must open them and remove the pits.



Put everything in the blender with about a cup of filtered water.



Blend it up and then add about 1/8 cup of raw carob powder or cacao powder. I have carob powder.



Blend it up and it should look like this.



I have some popsicle molds that I bought at Kmart last year for $3 or $4. If you have some pour the mixture into the molds. If not, use a disposable Dixie cup. (That's the guinea pigs' pulp in the back. Don't mind it.)



Add the "sticks".



Freeze, and you will have you a nice nutritious "fudgesicle."

Inspiration for Healthy Eating

Well, today was my shopping day. We did not go to the usual produce market, as I wanted a durian, and aside from going all the way to China Town in Manhattan, this is the only place I know of to get one.

Here is what I bought today.

My husband wanted a steamer.



I got some Chinese herbal teas, and some paprika and some turmeric spices.



We got lots of noodles, because we like lots of Chinese food!



I got carrots, green onions, cilantro and snow peas.



And this was the purpose of my whoe trip - a durian! Mmmmmm!!



Pictured here is mustard greens, collard greens, bok choy and green beans.



This is how I store my greens. I take the leaves off the stalks and store them flat, and I bag up the stalks to juice.



In this photo, there are two young coconuts, 2 sugar cane stalks, and a sprig of flowered chives.



Gala apples, Granny Smith apples, mangoes, dates, peppers and bananas...



Spinach, avocados, eggplants, peppers, and mushrooms (portabella and shitake).



Tangerines and plantains...



And I got two new tea cups... I love these cups!!





And here are all three of my cups together.





I hope this has been a little bit of inspiration for eating healthy.

Love,
Kimberly ♥

Another Short Tour of the Bronx, NY

I like to look at pictures - especially of places, which I will never have the opportunity to see for myself, so I try to remember to take my camera every time I go out. I don't usually go to many different places, but I take it because you never know what you will see - and I just like to memorialize my trips too. One day I might get to move back to the South, and I want lots of memories of New York if I do. I hope in the meantime you  enjoy them. :)

This is outside the Pelham Bay train station.



This is the cabs waiting for customers to come off of the train.



This is inside the station, looking out a door that goes to an overpass, which goes to Pelham Bay Park across the interstate.



Looking toward the ticket clerk and the entrance to the subway.



This door goes upstairs to the employees' area.



This is a kiosk you can buy your card from, if you don't want to go to the ticket clerk.



The turnstiles to enter the stairwell to go to the subway.



These are the steps to go to the tracks. These are some of the steepest steps I have ever seen!



This is the train platform.



Another shot of the platform.



And another one of a train coming.



The train is closer.



I am now inside the train, looking out across the platform to the train, which just arrived.



This is the inside of the train.



I will be quiet and just let you enjoy the next few pictures looking from the train down to the neighborhoods.

































Well, now I am off the subway, and am about to cross this street. I believe this is called Castle Hill Road.



Looking up Castle Hill Road.



This is looking down Westchester Avenue under the train.



I found a little starling eating a snack in the road.





Just showing you some of the famous New York graffiti.



A funeral home here.



More graffiti here.



Looking toward Parkchester.



This is a Catholic school.





This is our destination... It's called Chang Li Supermarket.



Another shot looking toward Parkchester.



A cute little landscape in the road...





Getting closer to the destination...



Looking across the street...



And we are to the door. I don't think the young man guarding the door liked me taking a picture. Oops!



And I managed to take a few shots in the store. I didn't take many, because I was scared. This store has the WEIRDEST lighting I have ever seen, but they do it on purpose, as it makes the fruits and vegetables look amazing! So bright and richly colored. (Of course, I remember that when I am buying.)



It's a Chinese store, so notice the lanterns and wall hanging.



And here are a few photos i snapped while waiting on a cab.







I hope you enjoyed your short tour.

Blessings,
Kimberly ♥