Cheap

I run a small CSA.  (community supported agriculture)

I often get questions from people who are interested in participating.  I find it interesting that most of the people wanting to join, want food raised in a humane way, without all of the hormones and also want it to be CHEAP.  This is quite impossible.  It reminds me of the sign you see in lots of small businesses.  You can have cheap but not good, good but not fast, and never cheap and fast and good.

The food industry in the last 30 years has really warped our notion of how food is raised, eaten, and most certainly purchased.  I would love to provide for my family and raise animals for people cheaply.  It is just not possible.

It is heartening to see that there is a movement on the horizon that is getting bigger and louder, that wants better food.  It seems that people are even becoming willing to pay for this type of food.  This brings me to the conclusion that most people need to stop and really analyze what they eat and what the dollars they spend are paying for in their food budget.

If you have never eaten a chicken raised in the sun on a local farm, please don't compare us to the bland, tasteless stuff on your local grocery store shelf.  It doesn't even begin to compare.  Most people do not know what pork, beef, chicken, turkey, etc REALLY tastes like.

Unfortunately eating well is going to take spending your food dollars in a very different way.  You will have to make choices.

When considering how to spend your food dollars with local farmers, compare local farmers to each other, not to grocery stores and big bulk stores.  We cannot compete and most of us do not want to even try to compete.

Besides, what is more important in this world than what you put in your mouth and eat?  Really.   What?????

A new normal??

I stayed awake most of last night listening to the wind howl against the house.  The house swayed and shuddered.  This is an old house, so she has been through many storms.  "A tough old bird" as my husband said this morning.  Still, you can't help but worry when the wind is roaring through the valley.  The high tunnel held as well.  Since we are new to the high tunnel, I was a little worried.

October 2011

I found a picture of last October when we had a snow storm as well.  Not much accumulation, but still snow in October.  Maybe this is going to be normal.  I can remember my Grandmother and Grandfather telling me stories of large snows the likes of which I had never seen. 

October 2012

Well, we are warm and dry and the animals all have warm shelter and plenty of food and water.  I have fed and milked and I am ready for a day of warming up the house with the oven cooking!!  I hope to also get some time watching the fire burn in the stove with my feet up!!


What are you up to in the storm?  I hope warm and dry!!

Getting away from the grocery store

 Today we are waiting for the perfect storm to come.  Yesterday we went to town to buy the remaining items we would need just in case we really got the big storm and the power went out or whatever.  We had to laugh at what landed in the truck.  Goat food, chicken and turkey food and dog food.  No human food at all.  I am finally at a place where I buy in bulk those items that I do not produce here.  I must admit that it is more work to make all of your meals and "convenience" items yourself.  That being said, I really enjoy the results of making things myself.

This evening I made a homemade chicken noodle soup with chicken I canned and stock.  I decided to make the noodles.  While making the noodles, I decided to make fettuccine for later.  It was certainly easy enough to make a larger batch of pasta dough!

I also decided that we needed a breakfast item.  I had leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge and since I was in a pasta mood, why not make a potato dough for sausage and cheddar hand pies.

The storm may or may not come, but we are certainly prepared for warmth and eating!!  I hope that everyone get through whatever weather is thrown your way without much damage!!  

Lemon/lime Soda

As I write this, I am sipping on a cup of lemon/lime soda that I made.  Yes, I made it.  I enjoy the taste of a soda now and then.  I used to drink a Dr. Pepper at lunch every day.  After Christmas, I came down with the bug that Gwen came home with from Afghanistan.  Nasty foreign bug!  The end result was that I no longer wanted my Dr. Pepper at lunch.  Probably not a bad thing, but strange.

Recently I purchased the 75th edition of the Joy of Cooking.  As I skimmed, I noticed a recipe for simple syrups and a blurb about soda not being very good for us.  I decided to try to make my own to see how it would compare.  

As usual, we have been sold a bill of goods by the food industry.  On my, is the soda good!!!  I spent about ten minutes making the syrup and purchased a 99 cent bottle of seltzer water.  

My first attempt is lemon/lime.  I still have a bunch of oranges and that is going to be my next try.  

The following recipe is adapted from the 75th edition of the Joy of Cooking:

Simply syrup for lemon/lime soda

2 cups of sugar

1 cup of water

2 lemons

1 lime

Place the sugar and water in a sauce pan.  Squeeze the lemons and the lime into a small bowl, set aside.  (I do wash the lemons and limes with a little soap to make sure all residues are off)  Cut the rind of one of the lemons into strips and place in the sauce pan with your sugar and water.  Slowly bring to a simmer.  Stir occasionally.  Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.  Allow the syrup to cool and then pour in the lemon/lime juice.

To make the soda, place desired amount of seltzer water into a glass and add syrup to taste.  Enjoy!

How easy is that??  If you decide to try I would love to know what you think!

Chicken Pumpkin Carving

I love having chickens.  They provide eggs and amusement.  The all have personalities and are great to have around.  That being said, chickens are also a pest.  They love your flowers to death, they eat anything left out and will even contemplate jumping on the grill when you are cooking.




I went apple picking today.  The wind was starting to blow when I left.  When I returned my white pumpkin was on the ground and the chickens were happily "carving".







                                                                        

Sigh......

Beginning of Fall

I am so glad that the weather is cooling down.   I am so not a fan of heat and humidity.  When the weather cools down, my thoughts go to the kitchen.  I love to cook and bake.  None of which do I love in the heat.  Of course, the last few months have been time to "put up the harvest".  I have finally gotten to canning my garlic.  I finally found a way to preserve the garlic that didn't involve drying or roasting.  I have pickled garlic!  I hope it is as good as advertised in the Ball Book of Canning!

I have also become a fan of the doughnut pan.  I have made both chocolate and apple cider doughnuts.  Wonderful!  These are not as heavy as a dunkin' doughnuts and not at all like a fried doughnut.  They have a light airy texture.  The batter is almost like a pudding.  I have all sorts of ideas for this doughnut pan.  Plus, most recipes are for 6-12 doughnuts.  Perfect for experimenting and they never last long enough to become stale.
I am looking forward to the cooler evenings and warming up the house with lots of meals!  Happy Fall!!

Refrigerator Pickles

Jeff always wants a crisp pickle.  He is not fond of the pickles I can.  We both really like a pickle that is dill, but has a garlic flavor.  Recently I found a recipe for Refrigerator Dill Pickles that had both a lot of garlic and dill in it.  Perfect combination!!!

I tried the recipe a few weeks ago and we began eating them this week.  YUMMM!  Nice and crisp with a garlicky dill flavor.  If you like pickles and have extra cucumbers, you should try some!

Refrigerator Dill Pickles 


Adapted from Whole Eats & Whole Treats

1/2 gallon small cucumbers, halved or quartered lengthwise
1 small onion, sliced
3 cloves of garlic, lightly smashed and peeled
1 handful of dill fronds or dried dill
1/4 cup coarse Kosher salt
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

Stuff the cucumbers, garlic, and dill in a 1/2 gallon jar or a crock with a lid.  Boil the salt, water, and vinegar.  Pour over the cucumbers.  Let cool to room temperature and then refrigerate.  Eat after a week or two in the fridge.  They should keep for several months!

Enjoy!

Quilt for Gwen

I wanted to make something special for Gwen on her 19th birthday.  This is the first birthday she has spent away from home and to top it off, she is in far away Afghanistan. I wanted to give her a quilt that I had made.  I wanted to fill each stitch with love.  I have a crazy notion that it will help protect her and cover her with love while she is far away.

I found the perfect pattern in a magazine and set out with the help of a friend (who knows a lot more about quilts...thanks Kim Roberts!!) to buy fabric.  It was quite and adventure.  Several hours of driving and two fabric shops later I had my fabric!  Unfortunately, the are not any good quilt shops closer than 45 minutes to me!

It took a little longer to put together than I anticipated and I decided to alter the pattern.  Once I had it together, I passed it to Kim to quilt.  Kim is a fabulous long arm quilter.  Then I had to put the binding on the quilt to finish it up.  So, needless to say, Gwen got the quilt TODAY.  Her birthday was June 9th!  It is the thought that counts, right???? 

I am thrilled that she likes the quilt.  She sent me a text to let me know she had received it and love it.  I didn't know they could send texts.  Of course, she also had to add that they had been mortared at their base.  Info that I am not real sure I wanted to know.  I am glad to know that she is ok!!

Hopefully she feels loved every time she looks at the quilt.  I am quite sure it is WAY too hot to sleep under it at the moment.

Breakfast of Champions

Now that it is hot in the mornings, I get up at 5:30 or so and go milk. I can milk without pesky flies and gnats. It takes about two hours depending on the number of helpers and when I am finished I am STARVING!!!! I want something quick, which doesn't always equate to good for me. My solution has been to search for a breakfast "cookie". I have finally found one that I like. A little sweet, filled with nuts and dried fruit. Yummm!

I adapted the recipe from my.hearthealthyonline.

Breakfast Cookie

1 large banana, mashed
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (I used creamy and add a generous handful of peanuts or whatever nut I have on hand)
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup of whole wheat flour (really whatever you have on hand works, except self-rising)
1/4 cup dry milk powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dried fruit of your choosing
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat two cookie sheets with non-stick spray. Stir together all ingredients starting with the banana and working down the list. For the dried fruit I have used: raisins and craisans, dried blueberries and raisins, use what you like.

I use a stand mixer, if doing by hand, mix the oats, flour, milk powder, and baking soda in a separate bowl and then add to the wet.

Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup and drop mounds of dough onto your baking sheet. Then gently mash them down to about 2-3 inches round and 1/2 inch thick.

Bake, one sheet at a time for 14-16 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Transfer to a rack to cool. Store in the fridge or an airtight container for a few days. These freeze well.

I think these are a great quick breakfast! Enjoy!

Tourteau de Chevre

I recently ordered Dorie Greenspan's cookbook Around My French Table. I want to improve my skills. I have seen several food blogs about this cookbook and several good reviews. What hooked me was the review that expressed the opinion that Dorie Greenspan is very much like a modern Julia Child. Well, I grew up around Julia Child. My Dad used her cookbooks and I remember seeing her cooking shows. My Dad taught me the love of good food. Cook from scratch and don't be afraid to try something.

I finally received my cookbook and I began to peruse. I happened upon a recipe for Tourteau de Chevre. I had some Chevre (goat cheese) in the fridge that I had made the week before that needed to be eaten. So I jumped right in a started the recipe. The directions are easy to follow and well thought out.

Oh my!!!! What a wonderful pie like creation!!!! I have always liked cheesecake, but find it almost too sweet. This tourteau is not too sweet and very light. Heavenly. It is great warm and cold. It really doesn't need anything else to accompany.

I think I am really going to enjoy this cookbook!!!

Goats for Sale

I have successfully gotten through kidding. Now I have lots of goat milk and kid goats. We have three boys. Two are pure Alpine and one is a recorded grade Alpine/Nubian. They were born the first week of March. If you know anyone who is interested in them, please let me know.

I am also ready to make soap. Well, ready is a relative term. I am getting the supplies together to make soap. We shall see how it goes. I can't wait to start!!!

In the barn

We went to the barn to feed this afternoon and what a surprise was waiting for us! A hawk had flown into the barn. Looking for mice or Ms. Quail? (We have one female quail who has taken up residence in our barn) Quite a shock for Jeff and I! A beautiful bird to behold!
It has begun to snow again. I love a white Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

Cheese

Today I started my first farmhouse cheddar. It will test my patience. I have to age the cheese at least 2 months before I can try it. Since Clementine gave us a baby heifer early, I am back in milk!! I love having fresh milk every day. Such possibilities. We do tend to drink most of it. I also made butter today. Lovely fresh butter!!!

Long Delay

Well, I have not covered myself in glory by posting often. It has been a crazy summer. I did get a cow and boy has she made a different morning routine. Jeff and I milk her faithfully every morning. Now that we have a routine down, we will have to "dry her off" before her calf comes at the end of November. We will not longer get milk in a few weeks.

We are also building a new chicken coop and shelter for the cow. The building also includes a room for feed and to set up the milker. Then I will be able to milk by myself and Jeff can get to work on time. (maybe).

The cow I have decided is part cat. She is so curious and usually gets herself in trouble. The picture shows her climbing up bales to get to the alfalfa hay she loves. I will be so glad to get her out of the barn. Shoveling poop several times a day is tiresome and the barn is not user friendly anymore.

Summer Weather Break

Today is beautiful. I declared it canning weather...the kids think I am nuts. I am canning zucchini pickles and garlic jelly. Neither one caught much interest. I was redeemed with grilled cheese and chips.

The zuchinni and squash are growing well. (Don't leave an unlocked car in my drive) I will be taking some to my sister's house and canning it in many ways. My freezer is already full of zucchini!

I also harvested a lot of garlic. I like to dry it and use a spice grinder to make my own garlic powder. Much better flavor. I also have roasted in the freezer. Hopefully garlic jelly will be good.

Ms. Brown

I have been milking Ms. Brown for about a week now. I am getting over a quart in the morning and letting her kid have her the rest of the day. I like milking and the sense of self-sufficiency that comes from it.

It is satisfying to make something from the milk or to just serve it with dinner for the family.

I will be going to get a milk cow in early August. I cannot wait. Hopefully all of the practice with Ms. Brown will help me be ready for the quantity of milk I will receive from the cow. I am very excited!!!