Recipe: Garlic Cheddar Cat Head Biscuits

Recipe: Garlic Cheddar Cat Head Biscuits
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This recipe is a great clone of the famous garlic biscuits served at a chain seafood restaurant.

I use this a a biscuit, but I also use this as a crust on casseroles.

These cat head garlic cheddar biscuits are tasty and easy to prepare.*

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups self rising flour
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
  • 2 tsp. dried oregano 1/4 tsp. garlic salt

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Prepare a baking sheet with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, mix together biscuit mix, cheese and garlic powder.
  • Add in cream, and stir until well mixed.
  • With a spoon or with your fingers, shape the dough into biscuit-sized clumps, and drop onto the baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until biscuits begin to brown slightly around the edges.
  • While the biscuits bake, prepare the warm butter mixture by mixing together the melted butter, oregano and garlic salt in a small bowl. As soon as the biscuits are removed from the oven, brush the biscuits (while they are still on the baking sheet) with the mixture until they are well-coated.
  • Serve warm.

*Note:  After reediting this video and uploading it, I had a craving for these biscuits and decided to experiment with using the dough as a topping for a chicken casserole.  It was awesome….

How to Setup a Camping Tarp in the Woods

 

Easy Tarp Setup for Camping
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I needed a semi-permanent shelter out on the land as James and I went about clearing the trash from the land.  I did not want to spend any money.  Additionally, I did not want to take a lot of time messing around as time on the property is limited.  Since Tarps are cheap and plentiful we decided on a tarp setup.

All we did was string a taut center-line between two trees,.  Next, we spread the tarp over the line.  Then we created cord tie-outs from the corners out to other trees to finish the tarp setup.

I set up the tarp so that the 4 corners are pretty high when it is in use.  However, when I leave to go back to work, I can take two corners and drop them much lower so that rain does not collect.

This setup works pretty well, and we have had a couple of good thunderstorms over the past month and I am very pleased.

In conclusion, I would say a  trap and a length of rope are bush craft essentials and you can build a shelter anywhere.  A tarp setup is extremely adjustable you can adjust to almost any situation.  One tree, two trees, no trees, it can all work with a little thought and some rope.

How to Build with Tires

Homesteading - Building with Tires Part
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I have been interested in sustainable building for decades.  I remember sitting in the birthing area of the USS Saipan in the mid 1990’s reading about Earthships and missile silo homes.

For some reason I am very taken by the concept of rammed earth tires as a building material.  However, the idea of pounding 3 or 4 four wheelbarrows of dirt into a tire over the course of 45 minutes multiplied by the 1000-15000 tires per house keeps the idea in the back of mind instead in front of me under a swinging sledgehammer.

Tire Building Does Not Have to Be Earthships

However, the technology has evolved and I recently found two sites that gave me some ideas that bring the concept back into focus.  The first is a place called Blue Rock Station.  They sell a self-published little booklet about how to use tires as a foundation for other building designs.  This allows you to build with tires without solely building with tires.  Their concept allows the use of less cement, and is perfect for incorporating into cob, cordwood, or straw bale construction.

The second is a place called Touch The Earth Ranch who have found and published a college paper on the use of tire construction where one sidewall was removed.  This allows a tire to be filled in 10 minutes instead of 40-45.  While the tests show it is less strong, it is still plenty strong enough for most purposes.

My plan at the land is to incorporate both ideas to all building with tires that is faster and more flexible than typical earthships.  Basically I want to build several small sheds with waist high tire walls.  With framing made of earthbag, cordwood, strawbale, and any other methods I want to try.

I figure there public place someone can go to experience the multiple types of alternative construction.  So I should be the first.

The plan is to turn each building into a specific workshop; electrical, metalworking, woodworking, storage, and firearms related.  Then connect them all with one roof so we have several dog-trots to allow for open air classrooms and working space.

I have no experience building with tires, but that’s not going to stop me as I experiment and learn.

 

Shooting: The M6 Scout is One of the Best Homestead Rifles

Why The M6 Scout is One of the Best Homestead Rifles

 

Shooting: The M6 Scout is One of the Best Homestead Rifles
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The M6 scout was one of the first rifles I bought when I got out of the Marines.  I kept it in a case in he back of my car for decades.  The gun was originally designed as a survival tool attached to the ejection seat of American fighter planes.

Originally this was designed to be .22 Hornet and .410 but the commercial models are typically .22 LR and .410.  The civilian guns are also a shade longer as the Air Force models are considered Short Barrel Rifles per the National Firearms Act.

Why The M6 Scout is One of the Best Homestead Rifles

I think the M6 Scout is one of the best homestead rifles you can have because it is light, short, and handy.  It is large enough to take care of most varmints and powerful enough to hunt small game.  It is of a simple design and is both safe and rugged.

You do not have to use a scope on the rifle.  It has a rear sight that flips to either calibrate to the .22 or the .410.  However, it is tapped for a scope mount.  If you get a M6 I would suggest a scope, and know where to find the best rimfire scope.

If you are going to have a beat around truck or tractor gun then this is a model to consider.  I keep the .410 side loaded because it is perfect for killing poisonous snakes I find in the brush as I clear off the homestead.

Since it is a break open with a hammer and a selector switch, I can keep the ,410 loaded and the selector on the unloaded top .22 barrel and feel very confident in the safety of the gun.  I have to both select the .410 barrel and cock the hammer to fire.

Survival Punk Paleo Food Bar

 

Kitchen DIY: Survival Punk Paleo Food Bar
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One of the friends I have made while creating this site is James Burnette of Survival Punk.

While we share a strong DIY ethic, we do have a lot of differences.

Most notably in the areas of fitness and nutrition…  However, while out working on the land James offered me some of a Paleo Food Bar he developed.

Jame’s Paleo food bar is a mixture of 4 ingredients – Lemon, dates, coconut oil, and shredded coconut.

While I much would have preferred a burger, I can see where a paleo ration bar has a use in preparedness or survival.  While, I don’t like coconut, it tasted pretty good.

Watch the embedded video to hear James talk about his bar and why he created it the way he did.

My wife has experimented a little with paleo diets as she has worked to get healthy. I still am not convinced any diet is better than just eating a balanced diet and working hard physically.

However, since I still eat mayo, cheese, sweet tea and beef as my four food groups you should not consider me an expert.

*Update:

I dropped sweet tea as a food group.  I now drink water.  That helped my diabetes.  I am also working on my cholesterol so mostly I eat Cheerios and grumble.