Summer's craziness is winding down.
And now the garden is nearly all brown.
But why oh why do I still feel so drowned...
I've had a busy couple of weeks pulling the last of the harvest from the garden and preserving what I could. The frost took my green tomatoes before I could get to them. Maybe next year I'll can some green tomato mincemeat and relish.
I did put up some tomato sauce. I ran all of my tomatoes through a champion juicer. Then put the juice and remaining ingredients in a roaster at 200 - 250 degrees for 8 hrs or overnight (both temps seemed to work fine).
Over the weekend I cleaned out my freezer and removed last years raspberries and cherries. Then made a raspberry cherry syrup to put on pancakes an waffles. (Yes, I promise to post recipes, just not tonight :)
We raised watermelons in the greenhouse this year and I finally had a crop of watermelons. 10!!! A first for me, usually my watermelons almost get ripe then it turns cold :( So with all those melons I decided to make watermelon syrup (which the kids love) and watermelon pickles (which the kids don't love).
On the list for this weekend are pickled beets, canned carrots and apple something...
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Where Did April Go???
Wow, I can't believe how fast spring time is flying by!
We have been busy with lambing, kid's activities and finally preparing the yard and garden. So far all but one of our sheep has lambed and I'm expecting the last one any day now :) The kid's have been busy with homeschool work and outside classes. Now the yard and garden as another story. We finally have some nice sunny weather and I'm hoping my garden will dry out enough to till this coming weekend. (Please, Please, Please :) I have most of my seedlings started and I will be transplanting many of them into larger pots this week. I also need to build a straw/hay bale cold frame to get them out of the house. I feel so behind! Though honestly every spring leaves me feeling that way.
We have been busy with lambing, kid's activities and finally preparing the yard and garden. So far all but one of our sheep has lambed and I'm expecting the last one any day now :) The kid's have been busy with homeschool work and outside classes. Now the yard and garden as another story. We finally have some nice sunny weather and I'm hoping my garden will dry out enough to till this coming weekend. (Please, Please, Please :) I have most of my seedlings started and I will be transplanting many of them into larger pots this week. I also need to build a straw/hay bale cold frame to get them out of the house. I feel so behind! Though honestly every spring leaves me feeling that way.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Wood Cook Stove!!!
We installed our wood cook stove two months ago.
After the initial nervousness of starting it the first time everything went very smoothly. I have frequently made breakfasts (mostly eggs and oatmeal), soup and cookies. I've even made bread, though I haven't perfected it yet :)
The cookstove is not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. It was a bit intimidating at first, but I find that I like it so much more than my electric stove.
My favorite part is the stove top. Six burners is awesome! Plus it is easy to adjust temperatures by just moving the pan.
Of course, the rest of the family likes the stove too. Especially the cat and dog. They both fell in love with the cozy rug in front of the stove, but in the end the cat won.
"Cats rule, dogs drool" says our cat in her best Sassy voice. :)
After the initial nervousness of starting it the first time everything went very smoothly. I have frequently made breakfasts (mostly eggs and oatmeal), soup and cookies. I've even made bread, though I haven't perfected it yet :)
The cookstove is not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. It was a bit intimidating at first, but I find that I like it so much more than my electric stove.
My favorite part is the stove top. Six burners is awesome! Plus it is easy to adjust temperatures by just moving the pan.
Of course, the rest of the family likes the stove too. Especially the cat and dog. They both fell in love with the cozy rug in front of the stove, but in the end the cat won.
"Cats rule, dogs drool" says our cat in her best Sassy voice. :)
Grilled cheese, the not so fast food
It's been a busy day here. We sheared sheep and I spent way too much time on the phone trying to settle an auto insurance issue. So after bringing the kids home from 4H I thought I'd make a quick meal of grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Well ... it would have been fast. However, since I love wood stove cooking and the fire was going anyway I started dinner on the cook stove. Unfortunately, I had loaded it with larger size wood so that it would burn till we arrived home from 4H. When I got home it was still going fine, but not strong. Not the best kind of stove top cooking fire. So, I have all the vents open, and we're hoping to eat before bedtime :)
Small sized chopped wood is the best wood for most wood stove cooking. It is easier to get the stove warmed up and to regulate both the stove top and the oven temperature. Just remember not to start a hot (paper) fire when starting your stove. A quick hot fire can break your firebox liner.
Well ... it would have been fast. However, since I love wood stove cooking and the fire was going anyway I started dinner on the cook stove. Unfortunately, I had loaded it with larger size wood so that it would burn till we arrived home from 4H. When I got home it was still going fine, but not strong. Not the best kind of stove top cooking fire. So, I have all the vents open, and we're hoping to eat before bedtime :)
Small sized chopped wood is the best wood for most wood stove cooking. It is easier to get the stove warmed up and to regulate both the stove top and the oven temperature. Just remember not to start a hot (paper) fire when starting your stove. A quick hot fire can break your firebox liner.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Quick and Easy Tilapia Dinner
Tonight's Dinner :) And it only took 20 minutes! I did change the recipe a bit, I switched out the butter for olive oil (probably could have just used 2 Tbsp) and eliminated the capers. It was yummy!
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Baked-Tilapia
I served it with steamed broccoli, which I steamed in this microwave steamer. It came out GREAT! Love this product!
http://www.amazon.com/Orka-Gourmet-27-Ounce-Silicone-Steamer/dp/B001RCTMG8/ref=pd_luc_bxgy_01_01_t_lh
Looking at those two dishes placed on plates, I realized I should probably add another dish to fill up my boys. So, I cooked some macaroni and cheese. I wished I had something healthier for them. During my next trip to the grocery store, I need to remember to buy some boxes of rice or pasta for a quick side dish.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Baked-Tilapia
I served it with steamed broccoli, which I steamed in this microwave steamer. It came out GREAT! Love this product!
http://www.amazon.com/Orka-Gourmet-27-Ounce-Silicone-Steamer/dp/B001RCTMG8/ref=pd_luc_bxgy_01_01_t_lh
Looking at those two dishes placed on plates, I realized I should probably add another dish to fill up my boys. So, I cooked some macaroni and cheese. I wished I had something healthier for them. During my next trip to the grocery store, I need to remember to buy some boxes of rice or pasta for a quick side dish.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Amish
I'm a sucker for "how to save money" books and articles. Recently, I finished reading Money Secrets of the Amish by Lorilee Cracker and it really made me think. Not just about money, but about how I live my life. These are my Amish traits to emulate: Thriftiness, Forgiveness and Simplicity.
Those three words are the main ideas I strive for in my life. Thrifty... I do my best to be thrifty with my money and material goods. Forgiveness... Sometimes forgiveness can be so hard. It can become something I have to remind myself to do. I think one of the main words I think of alongside forgiveness is grace. I don't know why but thinking of grace makes forgiveness seem easier. Simplicity... Ha, ha, ha... I live a simple life, full of complications. I'm still working on that one :)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Chicken & Rice Crockpot Casserole
Chicken & Rice Crockpot Casserole
2 - 26 oz cans of cream of mushroom soup
2 - 8 oz cans of mushrooms
2 1/2 cups rice
4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 package of dry onion soup mix.
Combine soup, mushrooms and rice in greased crockpot. Mix well. Layer chicken breasts on top. Sprinkle dry soup mix over the top. Cover. Cook on low 4-6 hrs.
2 - 26 oz cans of cream of mushroom soup
2 - 8 oz cans of mushrooms
2 1/2 cups rice
4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 package of dry onion soup mix.
Combine soup, mushrooms and rice in greased crockpot. Mix well. Layer chicken breasts on top. Sprinkle dry soup mix over the top. Cover. Cook on low 4-6 hrs.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Absent Cook Stew
"Absent Cook" Stew
This is a recipe based on "Absent Cook" Stew submitted by Kathy Hertzler in the Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook by Dawn Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good.
serves 5-6
2 lbs beef stew meat, cubed
2-3 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
5 medium potatoes, cubed
10 3/4 oz tomato soup
1 can of water
1 tsp salt
dash of pepper
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Combine everything in your slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 10-12 hrs.
This is a recipe based on "Absent Cook" Stew submitted by Kathy Hertzler in the Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook by Dawn Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good.
serves 5-6
2 lbs beef stew meat, cubed
2-3 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
5 medium potatoes, cubed
10 3/4 oz tomato soup
1 can of water
1 tsp salt
dash of pepper
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Combine everything in your slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 10-12 hrs.
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