Once again, I failed to participate, but I promise to get back on it soon! I’d love to try to make some Apple Cider Vinigar! I use it to clean all of the time and could save quite a bit by making it myself!

There are so many entries… again… so buckle down and prepare to be flabbergasted at the mad skills exhibited!

Summer is winding down, so let’s start with a look at what to do with the bounty of the garden (or produce aisle!).

First of all, what would summer be without some tasty salads? Your Mileage May Vary has a great looking watermelon salad AND (double bonus!) Smoked Fish with Cucumber Noodles. My mouth is watering already!

Are you wondering what to do with all of those cucumbers that are taking over your garden? Or those you just couldn’t leave homeless at the farmer’s market on Saturday? What about a Cucumber Soup? Funny About Money tells us how to make an easy Cold Cucumber Soup! Give it a whirl!

Much like the cucumber, zucchini can take over ones garden. Bargain Briana has a great pancake recipe to help us use the zucchini, and it is a double bonus for those of you trying to trick your kids in to eating more vegetables!

And then there are the tomatoes. This Wasn’t The Plan didn’t have things work out like planned with her peppers, so instead of salsa, we have a great Tomato Sauce recipe! My favorite part? One could freeze it, and use it to make Spagetti sauce during the cold winter months!

If it is raining (like it has been off and on in Tulsa), you can roast your veggies! Sunflowers in my Kitchen has a great sounding recipe!

Blueberries anyone? I did not pick my own this year, but I know a lot of people do. I had never heard of Swashbuckling, but thanks to Mother By Nature, I have a great new dessert to try– Blueberry Buckle! Blueberry season has passed here, but I’ll be taking a bag out of the freezer to try this recipe!

Speaking of fruit–what about some Peach Salsa? Seabird Chronicles has me wanting to use this recipe over some grilled chicken. Now!

Before we get cooking, let’s check that our eggs are fresh! Fowl Visions gives us directions on how to do just that! Personally, our eggs never last long enough to go bad. My son eats them like they are going out of style– all day long!

As summer winds down, football season winds up! Why not show up at your tailgate or game party with some Homemade Tortilla Chips? Green Style Mom shows us how it is done! And what would a gathering be without some cookies? At our tailgate, it would be up there with treason. We do have a lot of kids though! Back to the cookies! Lightening shares her M&M cookie recipe!

Who doesn’t need a quick and easy fish and chips (fries) recipe? Well, I suppose you can skip this one if you don’t need it, but I wouldn’t encourage that. I am going to try I’ve Got a Little Space To Fill’s recipe myself! As an added bonus, she has a tartar sauce recipe in her post too!

A Simple Walk combines two of my favorite things– crepes and chicken curry– to make chicken curry crepes.

If we don’t get to the end of these recipes soon, I am going to have a pond under my desk from all of the drool!!!

Happy To Be @ Home shares a great base to make Gravy, Sauces, and Cream Soups. I can’t wait to make the tomato soup!

I don’t know about you all, but I am always running out of syrup and butter. Extraordinary Ordinary Life shaves us all with her recipes!

What would fall be without something pumpkin? Stop the Ride! shares her Pumpkin Cranberry Amish Friendship Bread! She also shares how to manage the bread so you don’t get overwhelmed. Normally that is what stops me from making Friendship Bread, but I might have to reconsider!

After all of this, I need the Low Fat Spice Cake from Occassional Rants, Raves and Praise!

Let’s not forget the crafty members of the group! The Spotted Sparrow shares how to make Wedding Programs! If you want to make your own paper for the project, you should check out Little House in the Suburbs skills! She uses her DayLily clippings to make paper!

Gogo Glue Gun Fun makes puppets with her tweens!

Tired of sticking your hand in to your washing machine to encourage your linens or cloth diapers to sink on down? How To Me solves the dilemma with instructions on how to make a washing stick!

Money Blue Book tells us about cockroach infestations and how to get rid of the little/big buggers!

Do you need a little more compost to get through the summer? If so, Condo Blues shares how to make a quickie compost!

Do you know how to crochet? Do you have excess plastic bags? My Recycled Bags gives directions on making a water bottle holder by crocheting those bags! I’m impressed!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition. Also, swing by next week’s host– Learning The Ropes!

If you like to make things from scratch, please consider joining the carnival!

Guess who hosts next week? Yes! ME!!! Submit your recipe, craft or creative make it from scratch idea!

• 3 big cucumbers
• salt
• 1 medium to large onion (add as may or few as you like really)
• sugar
• water
• vinegar
• pepper

First– peel the cukes. See. I did a crappy job, but it doesn’t matter.

2. Slice them very thinly. Well, that’s my preference anyway. Thin.

3. Toss the cukes with a teaspoon or so of salt and allow them to stand (or sit… ha ha) for 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Grandma isn’t much for measuring. I know where I get it from.

4. Drain and rinse the cukes.

5. Slice the onion and mix that in with the cukes.

6. In a separate bowl (yes, I realize I am using a liquid measuring cup to measure a solid…), mix 1/4 cup sugar…

7. …with 1/4 cup vinegar…

8. …with 1/4 cup water…

9. …and pour that all over the cucumbers and mix well. Pepper to taste, and start gorging immediately!

EDIT: My grandma reads this blog and sent me a few suggestions/corrections– Grandma now uses white balsamic vinegar and says that to make them a bit more sour, pour the sugar in to the cup, then the vinegar, and then water.  That is what I did, but I didn’t make that clear. Enjoy!