It has been a while since I posted. SO much has been going on in my life....
First, last Thursday the neighbor fell and broke her leg, and three toes. I have been trying to do all I can for them from sitting with the lady, to helping run errands, and watching 4 year old twins. Then I got a neverending volunteering gig this week to which I have to report to again sometime in the morning. Chores around here have been demanding as well. Husband started a new job Tuesday so all chores then fell to me alone, with our daughter in school too, no one else is here to help out. I have been running like MAD trying to get everything set up, trying to get everyone took care of, trying to make sure everyone has their needs met, and schedules are doable, animals are fed etc. etc.....and I'm tired LOL!!
So, needless to say this will be a short post. I apologize. I just have so much in my head right now with dates, to do lists, schedule clashes that need sorted, and a new member of the household...I just can't form a coherent thought and hold onto it for long at this point.
Today was hectic with the early call to drive 45 minutes to pick up our friend, then the neighbor needed a break so I had the twins here for several hours. I did manage to get a lot of housework done, and a lot of cooking. I made bread and pizzas for us and the neighbors. I got laundry completed, and floors completed. Just so much more to do....
I AM NOT COMPLAINING! I love the people in my life, and love the busy crazy way sometimes I just get so caught up in everything and everybody to the point of exhaustion. I have terrific friends, neighbors, and family, and thank God every day for each one of them and their impact on my life. My people make me a better person, and make me want to strive to be nothing less than the best. Be the change you want to see, and love like your life depends on it!! And this, my friends, a blessed life does make : )
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Homemade Mayonnaise tutorial as promised....
I thought I'd shrivel up and die when I figured out I was allergic to soy, and EVERY mayonnaise under the sun has soybean or vegetable oil in them, even the olive oil kind has soybean oil as well!!! A lot of people who have soy allergy can tolerate the soybean oils. I'm one of the lucky ones, who can't tolerate even the oil, or the lecithin. I have been a lifelong purchaser of Kraft Mayo, up until about 2 years ago. I had previously attempted homemade mayo with a hand mixer....to no avail. BUT...I got me a little gem of an immersion blender to make the job easy, and I am a complete convert now. It is a base for SO MANY things! I absolutely love making my own now!! The cost of homemade versus store bought...Kraft you can sometimes get for $2 a jar IF you find it on sale. Homemade, 33 cents worth of eggs, a penny's worth of salt, 2 cents worth of vinegar, and about 75 cents worth of oil(or less, I use canola) and you have the makings for a pint of mayo! So total for homemade...approximately $1.11 per pint, which is $2.22 per quart, but the knowing EXACTLY what you're eating is PRICELESS!!
I'll start by giving you the ingredient list:
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2-2 cups oil of your choice.
You start by breaking the eggs into a bowl that will hold approximately a quart so you don't have a lot of splattering going on later.
Then you want to add your salt.
The next step is to add in your vinegar. After adding the vinegar I give it a good thorough mixing, though you don't have to at this point. I just like to have the egg, vinegar, and salt blended pretty well before the next step, which is THE MOST important step! When you get to this step, you want to JUST ADD A DROP OR TWO of oil, mix, add another drop or two, mix, and then sloooooooooooooowly pour the oil into while the immersion blender works it's magic.
It will look like that above until you get about 1 cup of the oil added, then it will begin to thicken like this...
The real secret to getting it creamy and thick is keep adding oil until you are happy with the consistency of the mayonnaise. The oil is the secret to the whole process, less oil, makes a thin mayo, more makes it thicker and creamier. I add oil until the mayonnaise can stand on it's own a bit in the bowl like this
When I get to the point where the mayonnaise is thick enough to make little peaks on the surface, then that is the consistency I am looking for. This is why the recipe calls for a wide measurement range of oil. You can taylor it to your own likes. You can add any additional ingredients once the mayonnaise is the right consistency. I add a little sugar for my neighbor, who is partial to Miracle Whip type salad dressing rather than my beloved Kraft knock off. This will keep in the refrigerator for about 3 weeks, at which time, it may begin to seperate and look oily on the surface. It can still be used, but usually by that time, we are ready to make more anyway.
Enjoy the condiments!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
I'll start by giving you the ingredient list:
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2-2 cups oil of your choice.
You start by breaking the eggs into a bowl that will hold approximately a quart so you don't have a lot of splattering going on later.
Then you want to add your salt.
The next step is to add in your vinegar. After adding the vinegar I give it a good thorough mixing, though you don't have to at this point. I just like to have the egg, vinegar, and salt blended pretty well before the next step, which is THE MOST important step! When you get to this step, you want to JUST ADD A DROP OR TWO of oil, mix, add another drop or two, mix, and then sloooooooooooooowly pour the oil into while the immersion blender works it's magic.
It will look like that above until you get about 1 cup of the oil added, then it will begin to thicken like this...
The real secret to getting it creamy and thick is keep adding oil until you are happy with the consistency of the mayonnaise. The oil is the secret to the whole process, less oil, makes a thin mayo, more makes it thicker and creamier. I add oil until the mayonnaise can stand on it's own a bit in the bowl like this
When I get to the point where the mayonnaise is thick enough to make little peaks on the surface, then that is the consistency I am looking for. This is why the recipe calls for a wide measurement range of oil. You can taylor it to your own likes. You can add any additional ingredients once the mayonnaise is the right consistency. I add a little sugar for my neighbor, who is partial to Miracle Whip type salad dressing rather than my beloved Kraft knock off. This will keep in the refrigerator for about 3 weeks, at which time, it may begin to seperate and look oily on the surface. It can still be used, but usually by that time, we are ready to make more anyway.
Enjoy the condiments!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Friday, August 10, 2012
What do you eat?
Today was grocery shopping day for me. I began filling my cart with the usual things, potatoes, flour, milk, a few fruits and several veggies, and beef. I did get a few canned items and odds and ends, but not many. Most things I buy have to be cooked, or are an ingredient in cooking, and if not, they come in natural packaging....also known as PEELINGS! I couldn't help myself, as friends had brought up packaged products they see everyone else buying. When someone tells you not to look, THAT is always when you look. So, I looked. Sue me. LOL!
Which brings me to my question. Why? I know my life is simpler, by choice in a lot of ways, by force in some others with our crazy food allergies here. It just makes me wonder though do people not have time to cook anymore? I couldn't get my cart down the isles of prepackaged junk foods, the chip isle was heavily trafficked, as was the soda isle, the candy isle, and the frozen junk isle. I had no problem navigating the fresh foods isle, or the dairy isle, as there was hardly anyone there. So, why? Why have folks began to buy all of the quick easy meals, and not the good stuff? I don't get it at all!
I did glance in a few carts of passers by, one with "the screaming begging child" you know the one, you see that kid every time you go to the store too. She/he is surrounded by sugar rush in a box, and screaming for more. Then there are the carts with TV dinners strewn about the bottom, and maybe a jar of peanut butter. I believe the peanut butter is to ensure proper ammounts of protein are consumed considering all the mystery meat in those plastic covered microwaveable trays they are passing off as food these days. I just don't get it.
Tomatoes from my little slice of earth are magical little red balls of FLAVOR, and not cardboard or water flavor either. Mouthwatering, sweet, juicy, hearty flavor, in my favorite natural packaging called peelings! YUM! If I can't grow my own, I buy and trade for them with neighbors, and with my Amish friends.
My point is simple. Like many things that go out of fashion, quilting, REAL quality carpentry, and a home not just being defined as a dwelling place of people with similar genetic make up, is real food going out of style as well? Not here, for sure. But as a general thing, are we done with picking dinner out of the back yard? Our society has lost so much, it saddens me to see yet another loss, to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We work to live and live to work these days.
My thoughts on others shopping and eating habits today made me more appreciative of the hard work we do here to raise a portion of our own foods, meat included. I was glad to slop the pig, feed the chickens, gather eggs, and feed our rabbits. I was glad to pull stubborn weeds from the veggie garden. I guess sometimes all you need is a renewed perspective. I hope more folks begin to feel the way I do, and at a minimum shop local farmers markets, and butcher shops, rather than buying trucked in plastic flavored meals. It's a good thing! Good food feeds the body and soul!
Just my opinion.
Which brings me to my question. Why? I know my life is simpler, by choice in a lot of ways, by force in some others with our crazy food allergies here. It just makes me wonder though do people not have time to cook anymore? I couldn't get my cart down the isles of prepackaged junk foods, the chip isle was heavily trafficked, as was the soda isle, the candy isle, and the frozen junk isle. I had no problem navigating the fresh foods isle, or the dairy isle, as there was hardly anyone there. So, why? Why have folks began to buy all of the quick easy meals, and not the good stuff? I don't get it at all!
I did glance in a few carts of passers by, one with "the screaming begging child" you know the one, you see that kid every time you go to the store too. She/he is surrounded by sugar rush in a box, and screaming for more. Then there are the carts with TV dinners strewn about the bottom, and maybe a jar of peanut butter. I believe the peanut butter is to ensure proper ammounts of protein are consumed considering all the mystery meat in those plastic covered microwaveable trays they are passing off as food these days. I just don't get it.
Tomatoes from my little slice of earth are magical little red balls of FLAVOR, and not cardboard or water flavor either. Mouthwatering, sweet, juicy, hearty flavor, in my favorite natural packaging called peelings! YUM! If I can't grow my own, I buy and trade for them with neighbors, and with my Amish friends.
My point is simple. Like many things that go out of fashion, quilting, REAL quality carpentry, and a home not just being defined as a dwelling place of people with similar genetic make up, is real food going out of style as well? Not here, for sure. But as a general thing, are we done with picking dinner out of the back yard? Our society has lost so much, it saddens me to see yet another loss, to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We work to live and live to work these days.
My thoughts on others shopping and eating habits today made me more appreciative of the hard work we do here to raise a portion of our own foods, meat included. I was glad to slop the pig, feed the chickens, gather eggs, and feed our rabbits. I was glad to pull stubborn weeds from the veggie garden. I guess sometimes all you need is a renewed perspective. I hope more folks begin to feel the way I do, and at a minimum shop local farmers markets, and butcher shops, rather than buying trucked in plastic flavored meals. It's a good thing! Good food feeds the body and soul!
Just my opinion.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Homemade Honey Barbecue Sauce
I made barbecue chicken for dinner last night, and had no sauce, so we tossed together a few things we had on hand for this great sauce recipe! I love love love this recipe, and I don't even like it as much as my hubby does! This is so easy to make at home, and you can tweak it to suit your taste. We enjoy a sweet, yet tangy sauce, with a little spice, which is optional. The local honeys health benfits are just the beginning of the many reasons to make your own! Here is the basic ingredients:
Honey Barbecue Sauce
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup local honey(you can sub. cane syrup, or maple as well)
1 medium chopped yellow onion or 4 tablespoons minced
2 tablespoons chilli powder
2 tablespoons paprika
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic or 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 teaspoon tomato paste or ketchup
1 tablespoon hot sauce optional
Just add all the ingredients in a saucepot on medium heat, and let cook, stirring occassionally until it is the thickness you want. Don't be afraid to tweak the ingredients to your personal liking, this is a difficult recipe to mess up! I have added everything from lemon juice for a bit more tang, to extra honey, and it always turns out great! It is soooo very delicious to make baked beans using this sauce. I like to make it thin for meats on the grill. With the honey, it sticks really well instead of all just sliding off the meat into the coals, so a little goes a long way! I hope those of you who try this enjoy it as much as we do. My family won't let me buy sauce anymore, they want the homemade "good stuff." That's the best compliment a cook can get : )
Honey Barbecue Sauce
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup local honey(you can sub. cane syrup, or maple as well)
1 medium chopped yellow onion or 4 tablespoons minced
2 tablespoons chilli powder
2 tablespoons paprika
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic or 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 teaspoon tomato paste or ketchup
1 tablespoon hot sauce optional
Just add all the ingredients in a saucepot on medium heat, and let cook, stirring occassionally until it is the thickness you want. Don't be afraid to tweak the ingredients to your personal liking, this is a difficult recipe to mess up! I have added everything from lemon juice for a bit more tang, to extra honey, and it always turns out great! It is soooo very delicious to make baked beans using this sauce. I like to make it thin for meats on the grill. With the honey, it sticks really well instead of all just sliding off the meat into the coals, so a little goes a long way! I hope those of you who try this enjoy it as much as we do. My family won't let me buy sauce anymore, they want the homemade "good stuff." That's the best compliment a cook can get : )
Monday, August 6, 2012
Farm Tour 2012
The farm was eerily quiet today, aside from the hog getting out this morning, we didn't really hear a peep from anyone. With my daughter back in school, everything was rather laid back today, and I think the animals were all just enjoying the peacefulness, so did I! I figured while everyone was calm, we'd do a photo shoot for future referrence, and just because all our animals are just cute LOL!
I hope you all enjoy the pictures!
These are the newest additions to the farm. My guinea trio. They keep beating up my chickens and stealing the young ducks food, so they're incarcerated until I can build them a large pen to stay in. It's a shame though, they are voracious tick eaters! I was hoping they would range nicely with the other flocks.
I hope you all enjoy the pictures!
These are the newest additions to the farm. My guinea trio. They keep beating up my chickens and stealing the young ducks food, so they're incarcerated until I can build them a large pen to stay in. It's a shame though, they are voracious tick eaters! I was hoping they would range nicely with the other flocks.
These are the victims of our most recent domestic violence from the new kids. These are fawn and white runner duck juvenilles.
This is my Delaware rooster, looking a little rough in this picture, but he's the bird boss around here alongside the turkey tom.
This is most of the Heritage Bronze turkey family here on the farm. Some of the boys are out playing in the woods still. We have a total of 9, and only one female hatched this year. It's gonna be a mighty nice Thanksgiving this year though!
This is one of our meat breed doe rabbits. She has a beautiful litter of kits when we breed her. We are holding off for some cooler weather right now though, for the health of the females. They don't do as well in the heat of the Summer, so it's best to let them rest a few months.
This little gorgeous lady is my Standard Rex doe I got from a friend. We have a nice buck to pair her up with when the weather breaks. These rabbits have the velvet fur, and they are so soft and sweet natured. They make great pets for kids.
This is my fawn and white Runner duck female. Her mate is apparently camera shy. We got these ducks for their laying ability. Duck eggs are the BEST for baked goods, and I bake a LOT! Their eggs make great mayonnaise as well.
This is future bacon and the self appointed hog dog. She thinks she's protecting me, it's rather sweet. She's a good dog!
Happy dog saved Momma from a big beastie LOL! Just look at that smile!
And of course, she has to lay down and roll after a hard days work!
We do have many more animals than are pictured here. We allow most of them to free range, so long as they behave themselves. The dog keeps out any unwanted guests. She is a great farm dog, and we have introduced a prodigy into the mix since she will soon be 9 years old. She was born here, before this was a farm, and she has been a great girl with all the animals, she's such a blessing to us! She is training a Coon Hound/Pyrenes mix to take her position as stock protector. I don't think she'll think "foot warmer" is a demotion when the time comes for her official retirement. She stays at my feet constantly now. Where I go, she goes, and in my opinion, there is no greater dog on the planet!
I hope everyone enjoys the photos!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Homemade Ranch Dressing
What a week we had here on the farm! I was SO very glad for today, for the rest, and for the release of stress that has plagued me all week. When you have a mischeivous teenager, a new pup, bills piling up, and run a farm, Sunday is the best day of the week!!
Today I did manage to make some homemade ranch dressing, and made enough to split with the neighbors in the process. I didn't take pictures this time, but will do a tutorial soon. I make a base of homemade mayonnaise, then add the right spices and seasoning to make it ranch dressing, and wow is it good! Without the homemade mayonnaise base it is really a very simple recipe. It is better and cost less than what you get in the store. So, here it is if you'd like to give it a try....
Homemade Ranch Dressing
2 cups mayonnaise
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced onion or 1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
You simply incorporate all ingredients well and let chill for a bit before using. This allows all the flavors to blend and the final product is wonderful! If you start making this, you'll never want to buy storebought again! I began making this several years ago, when we found out my youngest daughter has an MSG intolerance and we couldn't find a brand she could safely consume. We have never even looked back! I hope your family enjoys it as much as we do!
Today I did manage to make some homemade ranch dressing, and made enough to split with the neighbors in the process. I didn't take pictures this time, but will do a tutorial soon. I make a base of homemade mayonnaise, then add the right spices and seasoning to make it ranch dressing, and wow is it good! Without the homemade mayonnaise base it is really a very simple recipe. It is better and cost less than what you get in the store. So, here it is if you'd like to give it a try....
Homemade Ranch Dressing
2 cups mayonnaise
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons chopped chives
1 tablespoon minced onion or 1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
You simply incorporate all ingredients well and let chill for a bit before using. This allows all the flavors to blend and the final product is wonderful! If you start making this, you'll never want to buy storebought again! I began making this several years ago, when we found out my youngest daughter has an MSG intolerance and we couldn't find a brand she could safely consume. We have never even looked back! I hope your family enjoys it as much as we do!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Online perks!
In this economy, lots of folks are hurting, my family included. So I figured I would share a few ways I get perks online to ease the lack of cash flow that many of us are experienceing these days.
For instance, Swagbucks. Swagbucks is basically a search engine like Google or any other, with the exception that you actually get "paid" to use Swagbucks to perform your searches. I have been using it for a couple years now, and have gotten many Amazon gift card codes to use online. I bought a lot of my garden seed from Amazon with Swagbucks this year. It is free to sign up and use, and it does take time to get enough bucks for a "prize" but I do enough internet searches, it just makes sense to get something out of it! Today is Mega Swagbucks day, where you can get larger ammounts of points for searches, so give it a try! I've gotten 27 Swagbucks today! There is a sign up link on the right, as I have their widget here on the blog for convenience.
Another thing I like to do is collect and enter the My Coke Rewards points. Again, it is free, and easy to sign up, collect points, and redeem them for some nice prizes. I have gotten lots of free sodas, a lunch bag for my daughter for school, t-shirts, hats, Blockbuster movie nights, and many other things from MCR. You don't even have to purchase to play. If you know someone who drinks Coca Cola products and doesn't use their points, collect them and use them yourself! My neighbor saves the caps for me. The codes are printed on the inside of bottle caps, and the cardboard you pull off the fridge packs. All you have to do is sign up, enter the codes every week, and cash them in for prizes. Shipping is even free! I got my Sprite cap, and a t-shirt in the mail today from MCR! Last week I got free coupons for McDonald's new Hot N' Spicy chicken McNuggets for the kiddos...my young ones like spicy, and it's a nice treat for them.
It's not much, but every little bit counts. That is just a few of the things I do online to close the gap we have in income. Neither of those take much time per day, and the rewards are enough to make it worth the few minutes a day spent. Besides, everybody can use a free t-shirt once in a while : )
For instance, Swagbucks. Swagbucks is basically a search engine like Google or any other, with the exception that you actually get "paid" to use Swagbucks to perform your searches. I have been using it for a couple years now, and have gotten many Amazon gift card codes to use online. I bought a lot of my garden seed from Amazon with Swagbucks this year. It is free to sign up and use, and it does take time to get enough bucks for a "prize" but I do enough internet searches, it just makes sense to get something out of it! Today is Mega Swagbucks day, where you can get larger ammounts of points for searches, so give it a try! I've gotten 27 Swagbucks today! There is a sign up link on the right, as I have their widget here on the blog for convenience.
Another thing I like to do is collect and enter the My Coke Rewards points. Again, it is free, and easy to sign up, collect points, and redeem them for some nice prizes. I have gotten lots of free sodas, a lunch bag for my daughter for school, t-shirts, hats, Blockbuster movie nights, and many other things from MCR. You don't even have to purchase to play. If you know someone who drinks Coca Cola products and doesn't use their points, collect them and use them yourself! My neighbor saves the caps for me. The codes are printed on the inside of bottle caps, and the cardboard you pull off the fridge packs. All you have to do is sign up, enter the codes every week, and cash them in for prizes. Shipping is even free! I got my Sprite cap, and a t-shirt in the mail today from MCR! Last week I got free coupons for McDonald's new Hot N' Spicy chicken McNuggets for the kiddos...my young ones like spicy, and it's a nice treat for them.
It's not much, but every little bit counts. That is just a few of the things I do online to close the gap we have in income. Neither of those take much time per day, and the rewards are enough to make it worth the few minutes a day spent. Besides, everybody can use a free t-shirt once in a while : )
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