Pantry Challenge Spring 2011

Spring is "Springing Out" on the Prairie Farm

Everyday more perennials are poking their first sprouts out of the ground.  We have a few more calves on the ground.  And the Farmer hooked up to the disk last evening and prepped some oats ground up behind the hill.

Today is a breezy, chilly, humid/damp, unsettled kind of day.  Storms and a change back to winter is in the forecast but I remain hopeful.  I'm getting very spoiled
by these 50-70° highs.

(Update:  It turned out to be a wild day.  Chilly and breezy in the morning.  Humid and warm in the afternoon with a hail storm and a little rain.  Warm and breezy in the evening until the cold front came through.   Farmer-dear was able to finish working up that oats field and then sowed it in the evening.  God willing, the cattle with have oats bales next winter.)

One nice thing about the return of Spring, more daylight and warmer temps, is I have much more interest in cooking again.  I had a few growly days lately (ok... alot of growly days) ... sort of like a bear coming out of hibernation, but adjusting my supplements and adding a few more veggies, fruits and glasses of water to my diet has helped pull me out of that slump.  

We've also been adjusting our budget with the anticipation of the Farming Year beginning and the expenses associated with that.

One item to be cut was our subscription to the local "big city" paper.  I didn't read it on a daily basis but I do miss the ad flyers on Wednesday and Sunday.  I have subscribed online to the weekly grocery ads and I need to get into a habit of looking for the few other stores I find bargains (Menards, Wal-greens, Shopko, etc)

And while I'm sure I've missed a few good sales, I also know I have saved by staying out of the stores.   Except when I don't plan and impulse buy.

We did just that this weekend when a Salad Supper sounded good one day.  Not remembering how much or the condition of the salad greens in the fridge had us buying a large bag of romaine.  I found the bag of romaine hearts I had were perfectly "fine" and what I should have purchased was another jar of Miracle Whip (for Famer).  There was one on the pantry shelf, thank goodness.

Adding to the frustration is that both this new bag of chopped romaine and the bag of romaine hearts are bitter tasting.  Anyone have a good solution to this?   Farmer-dear is a 1000 Island dressing or French (in a pinch) dressing fan and will not eat ranch or vinaigrette and this is just too much lettuce for one woman to eat. 

We have a bread glut also at this time.  We had some wholegrain bread, then I bought milder bread when I thought Farmer was getting the stomach flu and then there were those ciabata rolls & Tuscan Boule on the sale rack.  The rolls are almost gone and the boule I'll stash in the freezer for the next spaghetti night.  I'm planning on a French Toast (or in Farmer's case "German Bread") for a meal this week.  I'd like to make a strata but He's not the biggest fan.

As I posted before we have been stocking up the old Farmhouse pantry while we've had some extra funds.  One thing I purchased, was a large bag of Basmati Rice.  I don't have room for it in my freezer so I'm cooking it, vacuum-sealing it and freezing it.  Then I have it ready to eat more easily during the week for lunches and quick suppers.  

Another plus to a well-supplied pantry & freezer is you can entertain on a whim.  Saturday evening we invited some friends over for a "Breakfast for Supper" meal, spur of the moment.  Except for the eggs, which they provided, (we were not near the natural foods store this week), it was a pantry/freezer pulled meal.  Waffles with butter, jelly & maple syrup, sausage, grapes and juice.  Easy-peasy.  The hardest thing was keeping up with the hot waffles for all the diners.

Speaking of my freezers... I haven't shown you my organized upright freezer.  (I'm so proud of myself!)

The top shelf has all my extra, small baking supplies.  Sugars, coconut, different-flavored chips, decorations, dried fruit and the like.

The second shelf has 2 bins of cheeses.  

The third shelf has other proteins foods -- cooked pork roast, chicken stock, "fake" meat products, and some regular rice (I forgot I had this when I bought the Basmati.  oy~)

The bottom basket has the frozen fruit I put up last year.

The door is a wild and varied place.  Let's see.... I spy more frozen fruit, some purchased frozen veggies, some home-frozen tomato juice, some power bars, bananas, hash browns and apple sauce.

No photos of the chest freezer.  After all, how boring is a big dark hole full of white paper lumps?  lol  Not that I'm complaining!!

So you see, we are not in any danger of starvation.  I'm back to only shopping for produce,  dairy, loss-leaders and only produce until the garden starts growing again.  I whispered a "HURRY UP!" to my asparagus this morning on my way to the mailbox.  

Stay tuned dear Friends.  I hope to start posting my menus again.


Happy Early Spring!
K~


** "Where man sees but withered leaves,
God sees sweet flowers growing."
~Albert Laighton

Homemade is still the best

Good Morning Puffins.  It's a cloudy, snowy, cold Saturday morning here on the Farm.  My Farmer and I have been taking turns being "awake" all night long.  Congestion, back aches, sinuses, etc...  Thankfully it's the weekend and we'll be able to catch up on our rest.

I'm mentally planning my day while I'm sitting here drinking my coffee and have been reading through a few of my favorite blogs.  I'm not feeling up to doing much cleaning or decorating, beyond the must-be-dones.  But I enjoy imagining how I will "fluff" my front porch and kitchen this spring.  Our living room and office may be in disarray as we are planning to gut & renovate the living room, paint both it & the office and put new flooring down in both rooms.  My brain seizes up when I try to plan much for these rooms.  It balks at even considering paint color.  I'll be asking for advice on that as I get closer to actually buying it.

So since it is not a day to do alot of physical activities, my plan is to bake some cookies for my Farmer and mix together some sandwich buns and possibly a loaf of bread.  While the bread dough is rising I can be resting or sewing.

And on the off-chance we feel well enough to go to church tomorrow, we should dig into our Sunday School lesson.

The day will not be a loss as long as I keep myself on track.  I've found if I give into the feeling of "poor me" when I'm not well, then I truly am a pitiful soul.  But if I keep on going, I may still feel just as unwell, but I have accomplished something and that helps me to feel productive and brightens my day.

Such was the case last evening.  After both my Farmer and I were home from our busy day at work, as usual we discussed our ideas for the evening meal.  In the past, I've done meal planning, but many times he is not that hungry or would prefer something lighter.  It works best for me to have a well-stocked pantry and freezer and fridge, with the ingredients ready for different meal suggestions.

We both agreed we felt pretty worn out from the week and that a lighter meal sounded best.  I had 2 different packaged soup starter mixes on the shelf.  I don't normally buy mixes like these, but they were a Christmas gift and I've been eager to try them.  Farmer-dear chose the Beef Noodle and I chose Chicken and Dumpling.  Happily, his left-over ribeye steak from last weekend was in the freezer and it took no time for me to defrost and poach a chicken breast and thigh from my stash in the big freezer.

While Farmer was out choring and then was busy with his own affairs inside; I thinnly sliced and then sauted his beef.  I poached my chicken in water, fresh thyme, s/p and onion/garlic.  

While that was going on I started to break up the 2 pork roasts I had cooked earlier in the week.  I used Pioneer Woman's recipe from her cookbook.  I had planned to serve some of this all week long but Farmer-dear was never in the mood for it.  I decided to shred it all, reheat it with the juices and rechill it.  (I love my "walk-in cooler"  a.k.a. front porch in winter when the temps are 12°.)  Today I will portion it out and vacuum-seal it for meals this spring and summer when we are busy.  And quite possibly I'll save out enough for us for this evening, just in case a bbq pork sandwich sounds good to him.  Or it will go into his lunch this week.

While the pork was reheating in the oven, I finished up our dinner.  This consisted of shredding up my chicken, dumping the contents of the boxes into the broths and topping mine with the dumplings.  I'm sorry to say that was it for our dinners.  Not the most nutritiously planned meal.  No veggies beyond what was in the soups.  And I noticed Farmer-dear hunting around for more after his initial bowl.  That is very telling for me.  He only does that when his meal was not satisfying.

We both found our individual soups very lacking.  I definitely did not care for the smell of his.  Too much of a  "processed beef" smell, that was sickening to me.  My chicken soup was too salty (I guess that's why they said to start with water, not my good stock, which was salted to flavor the chicken when it cooked.)  The dumplings were fairly good.  We both agreed that the soups were "edible at best" and tasted much too "processed and full of preservatives."   I guess we've gotten spoiled from eating mostly home-made foods.   And then later I noticed I had a reaction from the MSG and the extra sodium that were in the soup.  

I know these kinds of foods are marketed to busy women, but I can't say I saved all that much time.  It takes only a few more minutes to slice or chop up a carrot and potato, add in some dry noodles, stir in a handful of frozen peas.  If one does not make their own stock, there are several decent brands available in the store, some sodium free and some organic.  With just a very few more minutes I could replicate these soups with ones that would have a cleaner flavor and very few additives.  

I do, however, appreciate the wonderful thought behind this gift. 

Well, my dears, my coffee is long gone and the laundry is not getting washed by me sitting here.  It's time for a Vit C dose and a big glass of water to wash out my system.

Have a wonderful, relaxing, joy-filled weekend.  Please leave a comment on your thoughts of time-saving vs home-made meals.  Are you interested in cooking more "wholesomely" or are you willing to sacrifice taste for convenience.  Oh dear.... I must get off that soapbox!  *grin*

I'll be back soon....

Hugs!

K~

** "Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork."  ~English Proverb

It’s in the Small Things... Spring’s Coming

 Today I witnessed one of my favorite indictors of Spring.  

No, not the robins, although I do enjoy them.  
Not early budding flowers; it’s several weeks [months] too early for those. 
The peeper frogs are still hibernating on the pond bank.

No, this afternoon, I stood at my laundry room window and soaked in the sight of the small usually-dry creek/gully behind our house, sparkling and dancing with melting snow run-off.  **Very Big Grin**

The temps have been in the 60s this week.  The roads and driveways are all snuddy from the melting and thawing; sullen and messy.

Our little creek can be a roaring torrent later in the spring when the thunderstorms dump on us.
But in early spring, it eases my mid-winter depression with it’s joyful exuberance and reminds me once again, that my Heavenly Father’s mercies (and love) are new every morning. And winter will soon be over for another year.

(I have been praying lately for some relief from the “blahs.”  Thank you Father!) 

Sometimes you have to find the joy in the small things....

Hugs
K~

** "For every day that there is sunshine, there will be days of rain,
it's how we dance within them both that shows our love and pain."
~Joey Tolbert

Thus starts the dark months

Did you wonder what happened?  I was so wordy and then "NOTHING!"   My Farmer and my Bffs all decided to share their versions of the flu.  Bffs dear-grandson had it, my Farmer had it and Bff's dh got it Sunday night (after spending all day with us.... oh the germs!)  It was only a matter of time until we ladies got it.  I spent Wednesday home curled on the couch.  But now I'm well and feeling fine again.

Have you noticed the darkness!  Yes,  I know.  Daylight Savings Time has ended.  I'm liking the sunrise right after Farmer-dear leaves for the plant, but not liking at all, the darkness at 5-5:30 p.m.  Yesterday afternoon, after work, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things and with the clouds, it was gloomy.  It seemed like all the folks in the store were hurrying to get their lists completed and head for home.  I felt that same urgency as I walked quickly to my car.  It felt like early evening.  I was almost surprised to see that it was not even 5 p.m.   Today was even gloomier and blustery with wind and rain all day.  And with the bad weather, came frayed tempers and impatience along the roadways.  So many people in town, all trying to get somewhere and all in each other's way.  I was glad I had gotten my groceries yesterday and only had to do a quick errand at the bank and post office drop box before I headed for my cozy farmhouse.  

The Prairie Kitchen has been smelling wonderfully the past few days.  

Despite having a rumbly tummy on Wednesday, I still made some psuedo-homemade chicken noodle soup.  I like the noodles in Ramen Noodle Soup packages but I dislike the seasoning packet.  It's all salt and MSG.  So I always throw that way and make my own broth using either a good packaged chicken stock or my own homemade stock.  I added some of my dried "green powder" (dried celery, zucchini, aspagragus, chard... the green veggie part you might not want to eat normally, but are not bad/spoiled.  Just not pretty.  But they are fine dried and powered and added to soups and sauces for extra nutrition.) I also added some of my "mixed veggie powder" (tomatoes, carrots, etc.) and a little extra pazzaz from Adobo seasoning (garlic and onion are the dominate flavors there.)  I added some of my home dried thyme and some sage and a big handful of frozen mixed veggies.  I brought all this to a boil and added the noodles that I had crushed slightly to break up the lengths.  It was warming and calming and full of all the good things that veggies and chicken broth have in them.

On Thursday, I told you I stopped at the grocery store and one of items on my list was a variety of apples to make my boss-Richard, an apple pie for his birthday celebration today.  I bought Golden Delicious and Pink Lady apples to combine with the Gala and Granny Smith I had here at home.  Normally I just use whatever is on hand, but since it was a special pie, I wanted to make the filling extra special.  I also added a rounded teaspoon of cinnamon and a small amount (1/4-1/2 tsp?  just dumped) of Cardamom to the scant cup of sugar.  That was the finishing touch.  Not really a distinct flavor, but that extra "hmmm...what is that?" that lightened the flavor of the filling.  Sometimes cinnamon can make an apple pie seem "heavy."  The Cardamom brightened it all nicely. 

And tonight, after a long week, and with it cold and rainy, well it just called for Comfort Food.  Farmer-dear chose Spaghetti with my Homemade Meat Sauce.  I never say "No" to Pasta!  A couple of tablespoons of EVOO, a couple of smaller garden onions, 2 cloves of garlic, all chopped and softened in the oil.  Our good ground beef, browned with the veggies.   I deglazed the pan with a small amount of red wine, not much as Farmer-dear does not like the taste of wine, but just enough to deepen the taste of the sauce.  (By the way, those 4-packs of single glass bottles are perfect for this kind of use.  Screw tops so you aren't uncorking a bottle for just deglazing, especially if you are the only wine drinker and already have a bottle started (Pacific Rim Riesling) & need to finish it before you open another.)  (by the way, again.... I highly recommend the Pacific Rim Riesling, not too sweet, but not dry either.  Not that I'm a wine connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination!  I drink Arbor Mist too as well as some better local wines.  I drink what I like and like to try new varieties.)

I just keep getting side-tracked, don't I?  Blame it on the wine....  

Ok, getting back to the sauce, I deglazed the pan and added 2 16 oz cans of a good tomato sauce (I use Hunts), a generous teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, home grown & dried basil (last year's, I didn't get any to dry this year-- **sob**) and some mediocre store oregano.  I let it all simmer and reduce slightly for 30 mins., while the spaghetti cooked and the garlic toasts browned.  It was a soul-satisfying meal.

(All recipes will be on my recipe site soon.)

I've been taking advantage of some good deals online and some store return policies.  It really does pay to read those.  I had a pair of shoes that I wore for outside work and chores the past 2 years.  They used to be my "better" winter shoes for snow and cold.  Nice heavy, warm shoes.  (Not especially "sexy" shoes, but warmth is more important in the dead of winter than sex appeal.) 

Anyway, the warm shoes developed a rip just under the opening.  I'm not sure how or why, but it wasn't from wearing out... it was like a material flaw.  The store I originally ordered them from (and have another pair I'm wearing now), offers a "no questions asked" return policy.  I have returned another pair of these shoes a few years ago.  And they sent me a new pair... matter of fact, the ones I just returned, may have been that pair!  I do not abuse this policy, but figure if they offer it, I will take advantage of it.  

Another beauty products store has a similar return policy.  I ordered a new perfume, after just loving the sample I tried.  There is a definite difference between the sample and the large bottle.  The full-sized product was just too strong and heavy for me.  I thought I was "stuck" with it, until I read their return policy.  They had no restrictions and I had really only used it twice.  Thankfully I had kept both the product box and the shipping box.  And I had the postage free shipping label.  It was mailed off today.  

In addition to returning things, I've been buying a little too.  I found a good sale at Sears on coats for the grandgirlies for their birthday gifts.  There was a great deal on Groupon   (Groupon dot com) under the city of Phoenix for a $50 gift certificate for $25!  You can bet I jumped on that one!  I can't wait for the after holiday sales.  

I haven't had a chance to really watch the pre-Black Friday sales on BFAds dot com, but hope to do that this weekend.  It's time to get my Christmas shopping Done!

And that's the latest from the Prairie Farmhouse.  I'm off to make some thing warm to drink, look out and see if the rain has turned to snow yet and find my cozy quilt and my book.  I love cocooning during the Dark Months.

Happy Weekend, Puffins!

Hugs,
K~

** "November days and a bright wood fire;
    A hearth and a home and the Heart's Desire."  ~~Esther M. (Clark) Hill

I should turn in my apron

I've been busy... so busy in fact, I only cooked 2 meals this past week.  One of them was pancakes and the other was mini pigs in the blankets.  The rest of the week we were on the road doing farm errands and we ate "out." 

I hope the AFWA (American Farmer's Wife Association)  (not a real entity)  does not make me turn in my vintage feed-sack apron because of this.   

I like going out as much as the next Farmer's Wife, but after about a week of it, I'm ready for some good home-cooked Nutritious meals.  No more processed "stuff."  I'll don my apron and post my menu for next week, next week.  lol

And speaking of vintage aprons!....  stay turned for upcoming photos of my fun with my Bff at the Antique/Flea Market today.  Aprons and Cottages and Chenille.... OH MY!

Hugs!

Kay

** "Happiness is a matter of one's most ordinary and everyday mode of consciousness being busy and lively and unconcerned with self."  ~Iris Murdoch

Harvest of Friends

The Real American Occupation.... Farming

Sorry about that little hiatus.... all of a sudden life got B.u.s.y for me. 

Blue-eyed Farmer finished harvest last Friday, cutting those last 10 acres of beans off the 80.  On Thursday, we enjoyed several hours with our Pastor Aaron and the children.  Miss Melanie had to work at her big-girl job. :(

 Here are a few photos of our fun together:

The Two Blue-eyed Farmers, Big and Little, talking about corn.

Pastor Aaron getting last minute instructions before driving the 75.

Little Blue-eyes, resting, after all the hard work of riding in the combine.

Blue-eyed Farmer, Pastor Aaron and Princess ME, waving for the camera.

We are very blessed with the harvest God has given us.  The prices are up (unusual for harvest time) and the yields were more than "enough."  We had few breakdowns and even now have the combine monitor fixed for next year.  The combine has had a "bath" and is ready for it's long nap.  The trucks are stored away in the shed we rent at the neighbors and all the other implements are situated "just right" for the winter months.  

We are ready to finish up some Autumn projects and get snuggled in for the winter.

More soon.... until then... CALGONE... take me away~~~

Hugs
K~

** "If you want work well done, select a busy (wo)man - the other kind has no time."  ~Elbert Hubbard

Reaping the Harvest

You know we are havesting corn now... and are close to be done!  God willing...

Other ways I "harvest" is to watch for and take advantage of good deals I find listed in various blogs.  Today I "harvested" a coupon for a Free bottle of Advil and a Christmas gift for Ds2 that I got on a great sale. 

Yes, I've started my Christmas shopping already.  With our far-away kids coming home for a family wedding in mid-December, I need to be ready by the end of November.  That is not that far off!

I also "harvested" in my pantry this morning.  It's been a mess since summer and I keep stocking up on good sales and dumping the bags "anywhere."  (Bad Kay!)  Today I took 30 mins. and organized my canned goods shelves.  I found I'm set with canned veggies and beans and soups and tomato juice, but I need some tomato sauce and sugar.  I found a good sale at my local grocery on my brand of unbleached flour last week, so I should be set there.  Holiday baking is just around the corner too.

How are you harvesting today?

Hugs
Kay

He is in the little things...

God is in the little things of life as well as the big things...

The Blue-eyed Farmer's cousin asked if I would drive to Omaha and pick up his daughter from the airport on Friday.  Drive THROUGH Omaha!   My heart stopped, because I do not drive in Omaha... I just do not... all those other cars and trucks on the road and all those lanes of traffic merging in and off...  I Am a Prairie Chick after all.  Where my biggest traffic concern is the lineup at the elevator.

But Cousin K is harvesting also and to take 3-4 hours out of the middle of his day is foolish when I am physically able to do this.  I have been driving for alot of years and I have driven to the airport on a Sunday and across Omaha on the interstate before.  I just do not feel comfortable doing it.

So on Friday, as I started out, driving along my quiet gravel roads, I prayed hard.  "Please Father God, go before me on this trip.  Open the lanes I need to travel, guard me, protect me and lead me safely to the airport and home again."  

And then I placed all my concerns in His hands and turned on KLove radio station and sang aloud with the praise music on my drive.

Off I traveled.... through road construction on the interstate, into Omaha.  Where there was at least a car length between me and all the cars around me through the heavy traffic in town.  No one cut me off.  No one "pushed" me to drive too fast.  I was in the correct lane for every merge.  I didn't get lost.  

The one little bobble in the trip was when I had to quickly slow down to merge over onto the expressway & the person behind me was not "amused." 

But through the entire trip I was calm, even with the bobble and not (too) tense or panicked.  Found a parking place in the parking garage (that confusing maze!) and as I parked I thanked God for His mercies that again are New Every Morning.

I was at the Colorado cousin's gate with 20 mins to spare.  And praise God, she was used to driving from the airport, having done it with her dad every time he picks her up, so I let her drive home. 

It was a little thing, this driving through the Big City, and yet my fear/worry was important enough to my Father God that He answered my prayer and guided me safely through.

What good gift has God given you lately?  How has He answered your prayers?  I'd love to hear (read) all about it.

Hugs-

Kay

** "I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. 
With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. 
So what is there to worry about?" ~Henry Ford~

And the Corn Rolls In....

Just a quick stop to tell you all we're still combining corn and Thank You Father God, it's going well!  We moved to the last field on Jim's farm and Monday will go to Our other Farm (The 80) for the week.  Then we'll be down to a small field by our Vegetarian/Disney-loving Neighbors and the field east of our place.  The end is getting closer!

And we're glad, since Doug at the elevator said they will be dumping corn on the ground starting mid-week.  That takes so much longer, especially since most farmers will be done cutting beans after the weekend.  

The weather has been perfect, so everyone is getting alot done.  And you know once it turns bad, it'll probably stay that way.

I've been helping Farmer-dear move to this field and rode along in the grain truck a few times this morning.  Made a quick lunch of grilled meatloaf and cheese sandwiches (they were just 'ok'), chips, carrots or cole slaw and a pop for him.

Ds2 came out and fixed the electric fence around the corn stalks that the deer went through.  Stupid deer.  And my wonderful son push mowed the ditches for me.  

While I have been in the fields this week, I took some short videos of the Blue-eyed Farmer combining and unloading.   I hope to get inside the combine with him next week and take some from that angle.   I'll get them looped together and fixed and post it ASAP.  (Right now my ISP is having major issues, so I'll have to work some later at night to get it uploaded when the traffic is not so heavy.)

Now I'm off to hang out another load of work clothes, start the dishwasher, and paint that wicker chair (FINALLY!) or pot up some herbs.

Have a great weekend!!
Hugs,

K~

Harvesting: Soybeans, Corn and Potatoes (Oh My!)

 Blue-eyed Farmer unloading corn into the '63.  

He is so glad we bought the grain cart last year.

We are harvesting as you know.... and Praise God!  The soybeans are off (except for 10 acres that have to finish drying down and can't be cut until the corn is down alongside them.)

The Blue-eyed Farmer is cutting corn now.  It's a much less stressful job.  The corn head does not need to be as close to the ground as the bean head and there is little worry of a rock going through the combine.  That is NOT a good thing to have happen.  Rocks and fast-moving parts just don't mix.

Unfortunately with harvest comes a few repairs.  Over 2 days earlier this week, Farmer-dear welded on 3 different combines.  No, we are not BIG farmers like that.  Our neighbors/relatives had some break-downs and called for help.  Which was a good thing, as our combine had a few "issues" also, that they helped diagnose and repair.

For 2 days he ran without a monitor inside the cab, to keep track of overloading and such.  It was combining "old school," listening for odd noises and watching for the outflow and the grain inflow.  He was blessed to find a local circuit board manufacturer who was willing to work on it.  We picked it up this morning, so I'm hoping it is all working as it should.

Then yesterday it was the feeder chain working itself looser than it should be.

As he said, "If it's not one thing, it's another..." 

While the last of the beans were being combined, Ds2 helped me start digging our potatoes.  We finished yesterday.  From 3 long rows and 2 short rows, we got these:

Photo dedicated to Kristen of Going Country and her love of potatoes.

I'll be boxing them up and storing them in the storm shelter where it's cool and dark.

Ds2 also pulled the onion crop.  A lot of them started to re-sprout, so I'll be chopping and freezing them in the next few days.  My farmer's wife-mentor told me that you should dig them in late July.  Now I know.

I also harvested The sweet potato.  As in ONE, small sweet potato.  They obviously did NOT like where I planted them this year, as opposed to last year.  Last year Farmer-dear brought me up a dump of pond soil, all gooey with manure.  "yum-yum"... for sweet potatoes anyway.

Next comes harvesting the last of the basil, potting up the thyme and rooting some rosemary and drying some Swiss Chard.

But first, I'm off to ride in the the combine and grain truck.  I hope to get some photos from the combine cab and maybe a video.  And then I'll get to those veggies.

Stay well and enjoy the Harvest, Puffins.  Just remember to give the right-of-way to the combines and grain trucks/trailers you meet. 

 The '75 Orange (left) and the '63 Red International Grain Trucks.  I ride along in the '63.

Hugs,

K~

** "It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn."  ~ B.C. Forbes

Green, Lavander, Yellow and Wheat, with a Dash of Red-head

My "projects" are done.  :oD   I'll take photos and share them soon.  

And speaking of color... I went a little more Red this time around when updating the ole "Do."  A certain Farmer says he can't see much difference.  Maybe he's color-blind?  I guess he was expecting a Red-headed Stranger in the kitchen last night?   Next time, Baby. 

Be watching the Recipe Blog for "Braised Short Ribs."  If they taste anything like they smell right now, I'll have the recipe up very soon!  

The combine rolls on and on through the beans.  God is blessing us greatly with low moisture on the beans and no break-downs, so far.  The Blue-eyed Farmer took the week off from the factory and it's been so nice to have him here in the morning to do devotions with and eat breakfast and lunch together.  I'll be at our church's Women's Retreat this weekend, so I hope the radiator for the '75 grain truck is ready Soon!  It'll make his life easier.  (He's running with just the '63 and the grain cart now.)

That's the news from the Prairie Farm today.  What's life like in your neck of the woods this week?  Drop me a comment.  

Hugs,
Kay~

** "Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." ~~George Eliot

Lavender, Green and Harvest

I can't say anything more, but working on something Lavender and Green and Chocolate.  It's a surprise and I'll post photos next week.

And I worked on something Wheat and Brown today.  Fun!!

I love surprises!  

In the mean time, enjoy a photo or two from past years showing what the Blue-eyed Farmer is doing this week.  I love having him home in the morning to do our morning devotions together.  It doesn't happen often enough.

 (Note how dingy and ugly this truck cab is and stay tuned for a photo of the improved cab soon.)

Hugs!

Kay~

** "For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.  For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."  ~Edwin Way Teale

Menu Monday and Harvest is beginning

Happy Monday Puffins!

It's a Menu Monday here at the Prairie Farmhouse and with Harvest breathing down my neck (HEY!  that tickles!),  I need to plan and be ready for whatever!  That means suppers that can wait (and wait and wait and WAIT!) or be rewarmed and food for lunches, hot and field and cold; as the Blue-eyed Farmer is planning to take time off from his "other" job and just get the grain out of the fields.  I think all the trouble some areas had getting crops harvested and then trouble finding elevators that would take their grain, has him a little anxious.

So lets start with breakfasts as he might want some.... or actually I think he needs to eat it, when he's working so hard and such long hours.

And he's a toast or cereal kind of guy.  Cold cereal even.  blech~  He also likes oats.  I can't call it oatmeal as it's barely cooked.  He boils water, dumps in the oats, stirs it for about a minute and it's "done" and this is NOT instant oatmeal!  Maybe he's part horse??

So as long as I have milk and bread and some fresh cereal on hand, we're good to go in the mornings. (Oatmeal is a staple in my pantry.)

Lunches:  Leftovers if I heat them up for him and if he's going to be around the place.  If it's a hot field meal, it has to be "quick eating" because he doesn't like to stop too long.  Nothing that requires a knife to cut up and preferable nothing "sloppy."  So we'll go with pizza, hot sandwiches (burgers, brats, hot ham & cheese, chicken bacon toasted subs) and the occasional meat loaf cups and mashed potatoes (small glass baking dish holds them nicely for traveling).  I'll make up some cookies, bars and puddings for desserts, get more fruit and that should get us through.  If he's taking a cooler, he'll be fine with either our dried beef or some summer sausage sandwiches (buns work best), some chips (get the more whole grain kind) carrot & celery sticks and those desserts and fruit mentioned above.  I like to make lunches a bit more substantial than when's non-harvest as he doesn't like to stop for "break" in the afternoon when everything is working.  Occasionally he'll get a soda from the coop and I do have candy bars here I could surprise him with for a treat.

Suppers:  Now it gets tricky.  I never quite know when he'll be coming in.  I have to plan a main dish that can be done around 7:30 ("Dark" these days) and yet still hold until upwards of 10 p.m.  If it's going well and he's on level ground, or if we need to bring everything home and shed it, it gets later.

We don't like to eat too heavy and yet it's been a long time since he ate lunch or a snack.  So I plan smaller pre-portioned meals.  Those mini-meat loaves for example.  It tricks your mind into thinking you are eating a big portion and even if you take a second one, it's still not alot.  Just use your muffin tins to bake a recipe of meat loaf.

Other ideas are Sloppy Joes, Single portions of Cheesey Pasta Bake, Soup and grilled cheese, leftover homemade pizza (don't try to time the dough getting done and then baking it on harvest evenings... it only creates anxiety for the cook!), frozen processed foods.  I know.. I know...  But when Popcorn Chicken or Pizza Rolls will cook in 15-20 mins, that is long enough for him to shower and read the mail and it doesn't get too late.  Other ideas are our usual Breakfast for Supper -- pancakes or eggs/bacon/toast or Frittata or Hashbrown Casserole; Tator Tot Casserole if it's going to be an earlier night (it's kinda rich for late night suppers); baked ham or sausage rings and scalloped potatoes (this can be a hot lunch if the ham is cubed up, but  NOT mixed in with the potatoes.... we don't like that at all!)

All of the supper meals will get some kind of veggie or salad addition.  Again, depends on how late it is and how heavy we want to eat.  Probably no desserts and little breads at that time of night.

I realize this is not my typical Menu listing, but I have to be flexible this time of year.  I can tell you that tonight will be some kind of pasta dish as I have ground beef, romaine lettuce for salads and garlic bread that all need to be used up, now!  Tomorrow's forecast is for rain, so I hope to get some baking done and cooking up some ground beef and chicken and it all frozen & ready. 

Speaking of chicken... just one more little tip I discovered this past week.  I picked up  my annual organic chicken order of 6 birds.  I know... that's not many but the Farmer still is not a fowl-eating fan.  And I still have 2 birds in the freezer from last year.  (Eek!  Gotta get those cooked up, pronto!) As I was saying, I had 6 fresh chickens to deal with.  One was left whole for roasting for maybe Christmas Day (with a ham).  The other 5 I cut up.  The drumsticks and wings all went together into a couple of bags for cooked chicken.  I'll do that sometime when I have a day to mess with it.  The "odds and ends" like backs, necks, etc. went into the "Stock" bag and again, I'll make stock on a cold raining day when I have time to monitor it.  The thighs and breasts are what we like best for eating as "fried chicken."  But I hate thawing out even one-chicken's worth of those pieces all stuck together.  Sometimes I want chicken and Mr. Farmer does not.  So this  year I decided after I de-boned the breasts and halved each one and removed the tenders; I would flash-freeze the pieces and then bag them up.  It worked GREAT!  I maybe, should have put parchment paper down on the baking sheets, but it didn't take too long to warm up the bottoms enough to unstick the pieces.  All the tenders went into one bag for possible Chicken Strips.  I bagged up the thighes and breast pieces seperately for if I just want dark meat or want to use the white.  I think this will be a better way for me to actually make chicken for us, no waiting for a chuck to thaw.  (Why does waiting for a "chunk" of beef or pork not bother me??)

So Puffins, do you cut up your own whole chickens?  Do you buy organic ones?  What are your go-to meals when life is C~r~a~z~y?  Comment below, cuz I can always use new ideas.  And stay tuned.  Plum Kuchen recipes soon.

Hugs!
Kay~

** "Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

It was Amazingly Good! Pan-sauted Chicken Breasts with Pan Sauce

Sorry... no photos.  It smelled too good, I was too hungry (little to no lunch) and it was 8:30 p.m.  No natural lighting.

But let me tell you what I did and you can recreate it yourself.   This is a dish you want to start in the morning for the evening, but no worries... the morning prep is super easy.

That is... if you remembered to take the boneless chicken breasts out of the freezer the night before.  If not,  take them out now, put them on a metal baking sheet or cake pan.  The metal surface will dispel the coldness and the chicken will defrost faster.  (I do this all the time with frozen food.)

When the chicken breasts (2) are thawed, rinse or don't, it's up to you.  Mine were very fresh... had just picked them up from the organic producers that day and I had just cut up the chickens, so they were already rinsed.

Take a gallon ziplock bag and dump in a tablespoon or so of Canadian Steak Seasoning (black pepper, onion and garlic minced and dried), then a couple of tablespoons of kosher salt.  Add 2-3 cups of water and seal the bag.  Double check the seal.  You'll see why..... now shake or squish the bag so the salt dissolves.  (see why you want that seal, Sealed!)  Add the chicken breasts.  Place the brining chicken bag in a bowl and place in the fridge.  See!  That part was easy-peasy.

Later on or the next day (I left mine brining for 18 hours because I was too lazy tired to cook these.  Then I dumped out the brine and left the bag open just an inch and left it in the fridge for another 24 hours.  Again... I was not in the mood for cooking chicken on the chair painting evening.  Too hot and humid.)

Ok.... so you can do like I did OR you can dump off the brine and proceed as follows:

Pat the chicken dry.  Dedge in flour seasoned however you like.  I added a couple of good shakes of Goya brand Adobo seasoning(found in the Mexican/Latin foods part of your grocery) to mine.  Heat a medium frying pan.  Do not use a non-stick pan.  We want fond to form, Puffins.  When the pan is heated, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil.  Let the oil get good and hot, but not smoking.   Add the coated chicken breast, skin-side down.  Let brown until nice and golden.  Turn over and let the second side brown. 

After both sides are browned, turn the burner down a bit and let the chicken cook.  If you see things are getting too hot and too cooked and the fond (the dark brown stuck-on bits of goodness in the bottom of the pan) is in danger of burning, add some water to the pan, clap on the lid and let it simmer.  You may have to add more water if your lid is not a tight seal for the pan.

When the chicken is cooked through, remove from the pan and set aside to rest.  Add 2 cups of liquid to the frying pan.  You can add just water or like me, add some chicken stock.  Stir the bottom of the pan with a flat edged spatula or wooden spoon to get all those yummy fond bits dissolved and incorporated.  Turn the heat to simmer and let the liquid reduce to a cup.  While it's doing this, add whatever other seasonings you want.  I added some dried thyme and a teaspoon of white wine vinegar for some brightening.  When the liquid is reduced and somewhat syrupy, add a Tablespoon of butter in 3 pieces.  Stirring to incorporate as it melts and thickens the sauce.  Turn off the heat, stir in any juices from the chicken plate.

and there you go!  Chicken with Pan Sauce.  I also made some rice in my automatic rice cooker (LOVE this appliance!)  1 cup regular white rice (NOT Minute Rice), 2 cups chicken stock, some dried mushroom slices and some dried leeks and a splash of EVOO.  Pushed the button and let it cook while I did the chicken and sauce.  It all got done together.  Add in a green salad and a glass of wine and you have an easy-peasy Delicious dinner in under an hour.

(Now, I know you really good cooks are rolling your eyes are me now.  This is beyond easy for you.  But I am a Farmer's Wife.  My normal type meals are basic beef and potatoes.  Sauces are not there unless you count the occasional gravy or spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce.   I was proud of myself for recreating this meal from a vague memory having made similar dishes out of my Cook's Illustrated books.  Somewhere along the way, the basic "formula" stuck in my head.  And boy is my tummy ever glad!)

Another nice thing about this meal is that it was all from my pantry.  As in no special buys this week.  Rice and chicken stock are always staples.  I just picked up my annual organic chicken order on Thursday.  I made the dried mushrooms and leeks from some that were destined for the garbage at my grocers.  I got them at a very reduced price, trimmed and sliced and dried in my dehydrator.  They add wonderful flavor to rice, soups, eggs (reconstituted first before adding to eggs).  

So Puffins... are you a cook by the book person or do you have all the formulas memorized so you can be creative or is every meal an adventure at your house as you just dump and stir and see what you get?  I'd like to know.   :oD

Hugs!
K~

**  "One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."  ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

Another Blue Chair

 We'll just keep that spot of paint on the picnic table our little secret, ok?  Blue-eyed Farmer was not keen on my using the table as a painting station as it was.  Opps....  sorry Honey!

I started painting the final wicker chair yesterday.  I've given up on the loveseat.  It is in really, really bad shape and I would hate to have some unsuspecting guest fall through when sitting on it.  So it'll be hotdog roasting fodder sometime soon.  Ya'll Come!

And yes all of my wicker is frayed and shabby looking.  Hey!  I have yard/barn cats who do not understand that there is a whole farm of wood/trees/posts/etc... to sharpen their claws on...... just like they can't figure out that my lawn is NOT a litter box and they could use our entire 80 acres for a bathroom... just leave my lawn alone!!   

Oh sorry... what were we talking about??  Oh yes, my chairs... they are a bit frayed and tattered, but then 2 of them live outside for 3 seasons and this one did until we enclosed the porch.  They've had a hard life, but like all of us, a little "paint" and "color" hides a multitude of imperfections (I know... it's "sins." but I would rather confess my sins than hide them.)

 

As I was saying... I started painting the last chair.  This is the nicest of the three and obviously not a sibling to the other 2.  I got this at a yard sale long time ago.  It was painted tan once before when I was in denial about my love of color.  (Sorry Neutral Lovers, whose homes are mono-chromatic... it's soooo not me!  Makes me depressed, not calm and mellow.)

Anyway.... It was painted tan and since the other 2 are blue, this one had to be blue too.  It told me so.  What?!   Your furniture, quilts, walls, don't tell you what color they want to be?  That's a shame.  Life is much more fun that way.  And I can't be blamed if something clashes.  It wasn't MY idea...  

So.... even though these three "cousins' don't share the same space, they are now more closely related by color.  I think they harmonize very well, don't you?

I'm looking forward to next spring when I open the shed doors and reveal this surprise of BLUE!  For I know I'll forget I painted them and it'll be "WOW!  Lookie at these!"  My life is made up of these kinds of brain lapses turned into happy blessings!

So... what you are you painting today, Puffins?  Or are you one of those Mono-chromatic lovers... share your reasons/love.  Or maybe you listen to your possessions talk to you too... quilts and fabric seem to be the most talkative... share with us.  :o)

Happy Weekend!!

Hugs,

K~

** "I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors.  I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns."  ~Winston Churchill

Comfort is where it's at....

Some days just call for comfort food.  This was one of them.  A long day, filled to the brim from dawn to dusk.  Not to mention, rather warm and humid.

So to placate my grumbly self and feed my Farmer, I got out my wonderful cast iron skillets and made hash browns, sausage patties, scrambled eggs (in the non-stick skillet) and whole-grain toast (we're all about healthy here.  lol)

Tomorrow we'll eat healthy again.  I picked a soup bowl's worth of cherry tomatoes this evening, so I'm envisioning some kind of pasta with fresh tomatoes.  For me of course... Farmer would never eat that.  He'll get something meaty.

What do you do when you've had a day that never seems to end?  What kind of comfort food, calls your name?

Hugs
K~

** "Certain thoughts are prayers.  There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees."  ~Victor Hugo

And just when it was looking so good....

BAM!! Spring-time planting moods, tiredness, aching backs all take over and it's blue, black, grey, nasty, horrible, painful, and just down-right unpleasant here at the Prairie Farm.

Of course I know nothing like that happens in your happy domicile, right? (just let me keep believing that little dream.)

So.... what's a poor Farmer's Wife to do?

Throw in the towel and sell the Farmer along with his stupid cattle?
Head for the hills and not leave a forwarding address?
Turn into a combination of Roseanne Barr and Jezebel?

Or.... How about....

SING at the top of her lungs in the pickup (after one too many "words")

"I have PEACE like a river; I have PEACE like a river; I have PEACE like a river; in my soul.... I have JOY like a fountain, I have JOY like a fountain, I have JOY like a fountain in my soul....."


And.... Pray.

"Please God.... increase my patience. Increase my strength.
And PLEASE hold your hand over my mouth, again!"

Sometimes He does and sometimes I pry His fingers away, spout off and have to pray all over again.

It's a good thing He loves me.

And it's a good thing, this one does, too.


Thank you Father God, for your patience, your peace, and his forgiveness.



Hugs,
K~ (the mouthy, but trying to be humble, Farmer's Wife)

** A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. ~Ruth Bell Graham

The corn is planted and Amos checks in

Yes, the corn is planted for 2010 and Amos' "little swimmers" are alive and active for the 2011 crop of new calves.

The potatoes (all but 4) are up and growing, as are the onions, sugar snap peas (time for a fence!), and both colors of chard. The spinach and lettuce were slow, but with the last rains and warmth the lettuce looks like lettuce now.

I dug, divided and replanted an old rhubarb plant in hopes I can make lots of desserts and some Strawberry-Rhubarb jam in the future.

The berm is mulched and the new purple coneflowers seem to have settled in, as has the Easter Lily.

This week I hope to dig up and return the 2 hydrangeas I bought last year from the local nursery. They winter-killed and I'm going to get either a butterfly bush or some other smallish hardy bush for those 2 areas.
Also on the list is to clean off the patio. How embarrassing, we had a party for the Blue-eyed Farmer's 50th birthday 2 Saturdays ago and they all gathered on my messy, leaf-molded, muddy patio. **blushing** At least the guests were all farm folk who understand dust, leaf mold, mud, cat tracks, etc....
While I'm working on the east side of the house, I'll straw the potatoes, put up the pea fence, and hopefully plant the first of the cilantro and basil. I need to take cuttings from the rosemary and repot or fertilize the sage. Oh and the volunteer dill is up!! (lots of it!!) So is the volunteer lettuce and I'm assuming the spaghetti squash (right smack-dap in the middle of the onions. sigh~~). But hey! Free plants are free plants.
And my final goal for this week, is to weed the day lily bed east of the porch. It will need mulch too but there is too large an area to haul it there myself. I figure if I can get the flower beds weeded, then when I get my ONE day (annually) of Farmer help, the mulching will go quickly and I might get all the beds done this year!

That is life on the Prairie Farm for now.

In consideration of your sensibilities, I left out some cattle angst & rebellion; the round-the-world cruise we are financing for someone at the local John Deere shop after 3 pieces have/are being worked on and my on-going and now increased displeasure of push mowing that Danged Ditch!

You're welcome.

Hugs!
K~

** "The mere brute pleasure of reading - the sort of pleasure a cow must have in grazing." ~Lord Chesterfield

Saturday in the .....

Park?? how about Saturday, on the Farm... ;o)

And it is, Saturday.... on the Farm.... in April.... That means, field work, mowing, baking, cleaning, etc...etc...etc... No rest for the weary. Especially with stupid cows who think 6:30 is breakfast time. (ok, it is, for them on weekdays. What do cows know of Saturday?)

So I'm up, functioning, caffeinated, fed & dressed. I've been to the field once to pick up a Farmer so he could get extra herbicide.

Now I'm off to make some chocolate chip cookies since that Farmer thinks there is nothing around here for dessert.

Then I'll switch out the laundry and start on painting the last of the trim boards and touch up the paint on the trim in the bathroom.

After that I'll either be mowing or working in the flower beds.

And hopefully I'll get that date tonight. It got too late last night for one. Reheated homemade pizza does not constitute an "At Home Date Night" to me, so he still owes me one.


Do you find your weekends getting busier the nicer the weather gets?

Photos soon...

Hugs!
K~

** "The naked earth is warm with Spring,
"And with green grass and bursting trees
"Leans to the sun's kiss glorying,
"And quivers in the sunny breeze."
~Julian Grenfell

Why I shop at Thrift Stores and other frugal ways

If you've read PQ&K for a while, you know I LOVE the hunt of thrift stores, flea markets and antique malls. You just never know what you might find.

I recently took a gander around our local "antique shop" to see what they had. I found a large square-round jar that almost matches my coffee pod jar (also a thrift store find). With the recent mouse-in-the-pantry drama, I'm watching for large jars to house my dry goods.

I also found a 8" square glass cake pan. I first looked at the 9x13", thinking I needed a second one for when my blue glass pan is in use.
But then I remembered, I'm trying to cut down my cooking & baking to our 2-person household. The 8" size will make more than enough for us for a meal and some leftovers.

Neither of these items are antiques. But they were inexpensive and that's why I shop these kinds of places.

I plan to go back to that store on Monday. I looked at a 12-14" cast iron skillet but didn't get it that day. The clerk assured me that she would make me a good deal if I came back for it soon. I know it'll be too big for just us most of the time, but sometimes my 10" cast iron is too small.

Also, I had looked at a vintage citrus juicer. Very 1950s. Today as I hand-squeezed orange juice for the muffins I made, I wished I had gotten that juicer.

And then in the back was a Senseo coffee maker similar to mine. It has been used and not cleaned very well, but looks to be complete. I think I'll pick it up for a friend and if she doesn't want it, I'll keep it for a spare or give it to ddil.

I keep hoping I'll find a Zo bread maker there or at least the pan, like mine.

At my favorite thrift store I got in on the end of their "All Clothing 1/2 off Sale". I got a pair of shorts and a top for me and 2 pairs of shorts for the girlies.
I also found a newer book I've read before and enjoyed.
And 2 sets of hangers for 50¢ each. One set is the plastic tubular ones that I'll donate to our church's costume closet and the other were nice plastic pants hangers for F-d's dress slacks.
I also found a few more vintage refrigerator dishes that I've been using in F-d's lunch and for storing food in the fridge. I'm becoming less comfortable with using plastic for reheating.


My favorite online nursery has day lilies on sale every July. I purchased their pink/red collection plus another large rooting of another pink variety. With the new borders put in this spring, I have some empty areas that need some color. These, along with the unhappy lilies from the back of the house, should fill it all in nicely.


Grocery / household savings:
49¢ Powerade for F-d;
25¢ tomato sauce;
50¢ packages of Ziplock bags;
$3 12-packs of soda;
99¢ per lb nectarines.

Discount store:
$1 Crayola markers;
$1 Bic pens;
79¢ wooden pencils
and $1-off coupon on Advil which was on sale as well.

At the second store I should have picked up the Coffee grinder/maker for a wedding gift and I'm struggling with not getting the AeroGarden for $80. I know they will be more come Cmas time! Not that anyone I know wants an AeroGarden, besides me of course. And do I really have the room for it? No. This is a case of "It is not a bargain just because it's clearance priced, if you don't need it." I will check out the gift lists for the weddings we have coming up and see if anyone wanted one or the coffee maker.

It's Saturday and we may have company this evening, so I'm off to do some cleaning and laundry and be available if Farmer-dear needs my input on the new feed bunk construction.

Hugs!
Kay~

** "Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end.
It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing;
it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."
~ Margaret Thatcher