Bread Day

It rained too hard last night to work in the garden. As a result, I am baking in the kitchen. First out of the oven are seven loaves of  whole wheat bread.  The kitchen smells wonderful and Bob is happy.

August 5, 2013 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Kitchen

The Sauerkraut Lessons

My kitchen was the location for ” Sauerkraut lessons” last week. It resembled  a riot zone, with cabbage flying everywhere. Even the poodle got in on the act. He loves raw cabbage. He would collect a piece of the flying cabbage and race into to living room. He would then proceed to chew it up into tiny little bits.

The cabbage was chopped and placed into the huge old crock with salt. It will bubble and ferment for several weeks. The next step will be to can it.  I think we look like a kitchen commercial for sauerkraut.  Many thanks to Carol and Dawn for all the help. Smiling now!!!

August 5, 2013 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Kitchen

Ginger July 2001 – August 3 2013

Ginger passed this morning. She was laying in the sunshine beside the old red barn when Bob found her. She will be buried out behind the garage with all her old Pyrenees friends who went before her.

It is always a sad day when one of our old dogs die. We will remember her as the mother of many beautiful puppies, a faithful guardian, and a frisky puppy who liked to walk with us at the park. She always had a great “smile” and a grand “wag” to greet us.

Bob is burying her now. She was his favorite female Pyr.  I will talk Jesse and Josie for a long walk in memory of their friend, Ginger.  We will  miss her.  Crying now.

August 3, 2013 · Sarah · 4 Comments
Posted in: Great Pyrs

Fresh Basil

Handfuls of fresh basil are floating on top of  my spaghetti sauce. Hooray for the herb garden!!!

August 2, 2013 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Kitchen

The Mama White Rabbit

The Mama New Zealand white rabbit got out of her hutch last night. She is still out there, eating grass and clover.  She can run faster than I can!

August 1, 2013 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Herds and Flocks

Harvesting

We will be harvesting garlic, broccoli, and cabbage this week. The garlic will be hung up to dry. The broccoli will become broccoli/cheese soup and frozen, and the cabbage will become Sauerkraut! Bob will be running the tiller to clean up the garden area where the garlic, broccoli, and cabbage grew.

The Herb harvest has gotten serious. Herbs are dried in bunches hanging from the kitchen ceiling and also dried in one of the dehydrators.( Dehydrating basil, oregano, and sage this morning.  )  The next picking of basil will be turned into Pesto! Pesto on homemade spaghetti sauce is just plain wonderful!!

Hooray for the garden and my kitchen. I am having FUN !

 

July 29, 2013 · Sarah · One Comment
Posted in: Garden, Kitchen

Saturday Breakfast

Our Farm traditions run deep! For example, every Saturday morning we have pancakes. Today’s pancakes consisted of whole wheat flour, Flax seed and Cinnamon.  They were mixed up with a little milk and farm fresh eggs. The tops of the pancakes were draped with  a mound of Bing cherries and Blueberries. On top of that was a river of Maple syrup, running down all over the  pancakes.  It was a beautiful thing.

I always make an extra pancake for the Poodle. He loves them as much as Bob! If you are ever in the neighborhood, stop by.  It doesn’t take very long to make more pancakes.

July 27, 2013 · Sarah · One Comment
Posted in: Kitchen

Purple, Red, and Green

The serious processing of harvest has begun. Today, I worked at three “stations’ in my kitchen. The Red area had  crates of  Bing Cherry’s. They were pitted and placed into quart bags for freezing. The Purple area had crates of Blueberries.  They were put into quart bags for freezing. The Green station consisted  of a bushel of Broccoli. The Broccoli was chopped and arranged on two dehydrators for drying. My nails are a weird combination of red, purple and green stain.  The only thing that will take it out is Clorox. My hands tell the story of harvest.

I am not sure what will return Bob’s hands to normal. He has been harvesting Garlic !!

July 26, 2013 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Garden, Kitchen

Huge Privilage

Last night, it was a HUGE PRIVILEGE is to be asked and  trusted to pray with a friend who is very sick.  Today, I will wait and see what the Lord will do. He is the healer. His name is Jesus.

July 24, 2013 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Contemplations

Broccoli Cheese Soup

The question of what to do with a bumper crop of broccoli has been answered.  We have had broccoli, raw, steamed, in stir fry, and baked. I have decided to  turn the majority of the rest of it into a wonderful broccoli and cheese soup and freeze it.  This will be so warm and comforting in the Minnesota winter when the temps dip below zero. Homemade soup is my  basic survival food. I never understood this when I lived in Texas. It takes a North wind, freezing weather, and blowing snow to truly appreciate a steaming bowl of  soup. Yum!

July 23, 2013 · Sarah · No Comments
Posted in: Kitchen