Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Showing posts with label Goat's Milk Ricotta Cheese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goat's Milk Ricotta Cheese. Show all posts

Saturday, March 19, 2016

From Pile to File ~ Random Tidbits

I really liked this new recipe we tried recently - Pasta with Spinach and Ricotta.


You boil 8 oz. of rotini pasta and drain.  They suggested the tri-color veggie noodles, but I can only find organic regular noodles.

While the noodles are boiling, drain and squeeze a frozen and thawed box of  chopped spinach (or use equivalent of homegrown).  Place in a 12 inch skillet, add 1 minced clove and heat 5 minutes.  Add 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup water and 1 1/2 Tbsp (I didn't measure) of Parmesan cheese.  Add salt and pepper.  When heated, add drained rotini and serve.  

I doubled it for our family, and had to buy the spinach, but I can typically find organic ricotta at our one grocer.  It was very good.  I had practically no leftovers.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Chickpea Stuffed Shells ~ On the Road



Last night's dinner - chickpea stuffed shells, corn off the cob mixed with sauteed onion, butter and zucchini, and a pot of baked beans with sliced cooked brats in it. The beans/brat pot was Son's only request at dinner.  

We had a fun dinner too, as Oldest Daughter called and said she had "three hungry teenagers" and stopped in with them.  Of course they are her age, but it was fun to have them here for dinner.  Then just as they arrived, Hubby pulled in with Youngest Daughter's friend.  It was a full house, but lots of laughs, and plenty to go around.

I don't see that I have ever shared this recipe...

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Random Gardening Tidbits, and Rain Barrels


The weather went from a chilly morning to 60°F by dinner time yesterday.  The days are slowly starting to heat up nicely.  

Monday, June 23, 2014

Tidbits and Homemade Ricotta


We had a nice visit from my older brother yesterday.  I gifted him 1 dozen fresh eggs to take home and fed him some lunch.  

He brought us boxes from my sister-in-law (his wife).  One full of cloth napkins and placemats, one of ceramic cats and one of ceramic dogs.  Oh, and some bottles of nail polish.


I absolutely loved these antique rose napkins.  Snag!  Those were mine.  The kids and I went through them, saving some for their hope chests too.  Anything left will be used in the camper.  The kids went nuts with the dogs and cats, running upstairs and chattering on, and setting them in place in their room.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Me, Turtleman and a Treadmill



Thursday was a normal inside chore day.  I am having a bit of difficulty coming up with an interesting post that doesn't have to do with sweating through 3 pairs of underwear, or chasing chickens. Or scrubbing a toilet or two.


I did make a batch of homemade ricotta that will be used for a few dinners this coming weekend, but the highlight to share is our trip to the gym.

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Banging on Pots and Pans ~ Bringing in the New Year

My 17 year-old helped a lot with this year's cookie tradition.  She also wanted to add a "lemon" cookie to our baking this year.  We searched the internet and found Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze (Giada, Food Network).

These were delicious.  We will keep this recipe for future holiday baking (and more).  We will however, make them half the size next time.  And of course we used organic lemon juice too.

During summer, I plan to bake these using our homemade ricotta cheese (made from our goat's milk), and organic (or homemade butter).

Tidbits . . . 

It's a whopping 2°F wind chill today.  We got a bit of snow last night too.  Thank goodness my son re-stocked the wood pile.

I went and got myself a head cold, and am sorry I didn't get my elderberry elixir made yet.  I best get on that.  Nobody likes it when Mom is sick around here.  I tend to get grouchy.

I was actually up early this morning, searching pattern sites for a baby blanket for my brother and his wife.  Unfortunately, the best patterns (in my opinion) are in pattern books at the library. They however, are closed.  They actually closed from Dec.23rd, and will not reopen until Jan. 6th.  I guess it was to help with cut backs that they are still dealing with.  Unfortunately for them, my kids (and myself) would have visited often this Christmas school break, and gave them business.

It's hard to believe it's the last day of 2013.  I picked up my new 2014 planner and hope to chill-out later and work on it. More on that later.

Tonight I plan to stay safe, and hang out at home with the kids.  I wonder if they will grab my pots and pans (like I did at their age), and run around the house (outside) and bang on them with wooden spoons, screaming "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"  Of course back then, I lived in the city and it was much more fun to make noise at that time of night, ha ha!  Who knows, if I feel better, I may just join them for ol' time's sake.





Friday, May 3, 2013

Playing Around With More Ricotta (again)



I tried another recipe from Allrecipes:   Grandma Johnson's Scones.  I used my homemade ricotta in place of sour cream and used frozen blueberries.  They were soft and moist, and the family loved them.  I think they did need something like nutmeg or cinnamon, but they were still delicious.



I ventured around the Internet the other day, in search of a dinner that would utilize our homemade goat's milk ricotta (once again).  This crock pot macaroni and cheese dinner was delicious.  Just to warn you, it's not your creamy mac n' cheese, but still good.  I did spice this recipe up, by adding some grated gruyere cheese in place of about 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese.  The kids loved it!  Oh, and I doubled it, all except the butter.  Yum!

3 Cheese Mac Crock Pot Recipe 

I am selfishly taking the day off for myself today.  Although I have laundry to do, I am going to refresh with a good book, good tea, and God's beautiful sunshine. Just don't tell Hubby I am not planting in the garden or weeding the flower beds today.  

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Stress Baking

I bake when I am stressed.  However, there is a level of stress, that I should remember to never attempt bakingI baked a batch of Walnut Coconut Cookies, but accidently doubled the butter.
After I realized that, I realized I only had 3 eggs in the house.  I sent my 16 year-old out for one from the coop, and luckily she brought one it.

While she was out there, her youngest female goat (Prim) came up behind her.  Somehow she got out of the fence again.  Lucky for her she discovered it.

...back to the cookies.  I had preheated the oven at 400°F, but read over the recipe for the ump-teenth time, and realized that I needed the oven on 350°F.  

With my mistake of doubling, and by the way was only baking to use up some homemade goat's milk ricotta (in place of sour cream in this recipe), I was able to double the amount of ricotta too.

By the way, the last time I baked these cookies, I used sugar in place of honey.  The cookies were a delicate shortbread cookie flavor.  With this batch, I used honey, and they are a soft cookie texture.  We also used pecans again.  I do favor the texture and flavor of baking them with sugar.

Now, I have 10?  11?  Maybe 12 dozen of these cookies. 

But, I have one less cup of ricotta to worry about getting wasted.  Next time, any small amounts of ricotta are going in the freezer.

    

Friday, December 28, 2012

Reflections of 2012



I made homemade deodorant for the first time.

I learned to be more resourceful.

 Finished a crocheted blanket to take camping.

 Had "wig" night with the kids (and pets too). 

I baked more foods from scratch.

(photo taken by my daughter)
Buried a very much loved barn cat named Joey.

 Did many farm/barn repairs.

 Tried new foods and recipes.

 (photo taken by my daughter)
Experienced the birth of two different baby goats.

Took an "accidental" road trip with hubby.

I added a few more useable antiques to our home.

Invested in Araucanas.

 (our daughter who tends the goats and makes the soap)
Had successful soap making. 

Participated in the Farmer's Market for the first time ever.

  Got through many trials and tribulations.

 Took more time out for myself.

 Made homemade ricotta cheese with our goat's milk for the first time.

 Canned more.

 Planted more.

 Dehydrated more.  

 Received "Farm Girl of the Month" in July. 

Went camping.

  Spent more time focusing on my marriage with weekend trips to rejuvenate, relax, and enjoy.

 Had a "salsa" party to celebrate and try new canned salsa recipes. 


Inherited many family heirlooms (Grandmother's doll my Aunt made, my mother's rings and hankies, and more).


 
Buried our good friend Gus.

Happy New Year's and may 2013 be full of blessings, love, and peace. 

  


 

 

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Homemade Ricotta ~ We're Loving It!

Making cheese this year was one of my goals.  I am so thrilled I did.  We have been using our goat's milk ricotta cheese for many dishes lately - Lasagna, Chickpea Stuffed Shells.


Yesterday I baked us a Ricotta Frittata with spinach, onion, garlic, oregano, kohlrabi, farm fresh eggs and ricotta cheese.  Yum! Oh, and I threw in some organic Swiss chard (red stems removed).

Here is how I made this Frittata:
 
Saute one small onion with 2 cloves of garlic and one (trimmed, peeled and chopped) kohlrabi in olive oil.  Cook until the kohlrabi is softened. 


Next, scramble about 8-9 farm fresh eggs and set aside.


When the kohlrabi mix is ready, toss in any amount of spinach you prefer in your frittata.  Cook until it wilts.  You can also used frozen spinach - thaw, squeeze dry and use the amount you prefer.  


Place your kohlrabi mix into an oiled quiche pan.  Pour eggs over it.  With a teaspoon, drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese into it.  I used about 2/3 cup.


Bake at 375°F until eggs are firm.  


You can use any herbs to spice this up too.  I used some dried oregano from my garden and salt and pepper. 


And of course, we couldn't resist baking up some Ricotta Italian cookies.  These were chowed down before frosting could ever be made.  There are very similar to a sour cream cookie we make at Christmas time. Yum!


So what's next on my list, besides trying new cheese recipe?  Getting a cow of course. Or two.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Yarn Needles, Chickens and Health

Use an over-sized safety pin to hold yarn needles.  I can pin this to just about anything when I am working on a project.

We lost one of our Araucana pullets yesterday.  Such a sad loss.  My 15 year-old daughter has been working with them and they are very friendly with us.   She started to feed another hen with a dropper, in hopes to solve the issues.  We believe they have worms and we are treating them with apple cider vinegar.  They enjoyed being outside yesterday.


After 6 hours of weeding and tilling  and harvesting the garden, I spent the night in bed with my foot up.  Yep, I did it again.  It hurts so bad I can't walk on it.  Between that muscle (I can't remember what the doctor called it) and my sciatic nerves, I won't be able to do much this week.  This is not a good thing.


I did start another batch of goat's milk ricotta cheese. It will need to be rinsed today and put in the refrigerator.  I hope to make (or have a daughter make) lasagna with it.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012