Homestead Tidbits

The two older girls saddled Blondie for some exercise.  Here is my 16 year-old, giving Blondie a head rub.  You can tell she is loving every minute of it.

Since Blondie is still not up to weight, my 16 year-old daughter rode her (lightest one in the house).  Blondie seemed to love her walk around the property, and Misty (left) seems to be intrigued about the new arrival on the farm.

I had to laugh at a comment my oldest daughter made.  She said that Blondie was staring at the towels on the line, and was probably trying to figure out what it was.  She said it was almost as if Blondie was warning the towels they better not try and steal her food. Ha ha ha ha!  Blondie has never see clothing drying on a clothesline before.

Peanut, one of the pregnant lamancha goats has a cold.  Thankfully, we have organic peppermint oil on hand, and it made a world of different for her.  She wouldn't come out of the barn until my daughter went out with the oil.  About a half hour after that, she was out sitting in the sun and breathing better.

I'm up to see the kids off to school, and then it's back to bed.  I got about 30 minutes of sleep.  I could not breath through my nose, and breathing through my mouth was no fun.  I drank about 1/2 gallon of water, and could not get rest at all.  No matter what I tried, I could not clear my nasal airways.  So frustrating.  My eyes are so swollen they hurt.  It's raining here this morning and warmer.

Buttermilk Cornmeal Pancakes

I know folks have different views on buying any food that has been marked down, but I wanted to share another delicious recipe.  Again, it is from a book from the library.

I bought a 1/2 gallon of antibiotic free buttermilk for $1.25.  I used to be able to find it for $.75.  In the winter, organic milk is very expensive (to make buttermilk homemade).

This recipe would need to be doubled for a large family.  Unless of course you add some eggs and a type of meat for a side.  Yum!  They are tasty and light.
  

Buttermilk Cornmeal Pancakes
(adapted with organic/local ingredients, from Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook, by Cheryl Day and Griffith Day)

1 1/2 cups unbleached, organic all-purpose flour
1 cup organic cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 Tbsp. organic sugar
2 large farm fresh eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
8 Tbsp. unsalted organic butter, melted (1 stick) *6 Tbsp for the recipe and 2 for cooking them.

Butter for Serving


In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, salt, and sugar.

In a large measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and 6 Tbsp. of the melted butter. Whisk the wet mixture into the dry mixture until just combined.

Heat a griddle or heavy skillet over medium-high heat (electric griddle should reach 350-375°F).  Grease the hot griddle with the remaining 2 Tbsp. melted butter.

Pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto the hot griddle for each pancake, making 3-4 pancakes at a time.  Bubbles will start to form on top and around edges.  After 2-3 minutes, lift each pancake up halfway with a spatula to see if it is golden brown and the edges are crispy; if so, the pancake is ready to turn.  Flip the pancake over and cook until the underside is golden brown, 2-3 minutes more.  Serve with butter and syrup.      


What I like about this recipe:

~uses very little sugar
~I can use my farm fresh eggs
~I can use local cornmeal we buy from a Mill
~uses butter vs. oil - I may get my cow yet
~and of course I can make these "on a dime" when I find buttermilk on sale/clearance.

    

Resting ~ A Rug from Rags

One braided rag rug finished.

Rest is a difficult thing for me to do.  I am always doing something - laundry, baking, dishes, paperwork, animals, kids,etc.  So, I rested, and rested.  And finished my very first braided rag rug.

The rug contains 60 feet of 1/2 inch braid.  It consists of old sheets, pillow cases, and even an old fabric shower curtain.    I wanted to make it traditionally as possible.  It measures approximately 26 inches by 19 inches.  This is underneath hubby's bathroom sink, and I absolutely love the look of it.  So much better than store bought rugs that appear to be braided.  It really makes the house feel like a home.  So it only took 50 hours or so, but it was worth it.

I will be posting this on my S.C.R.A.P. blog later, along with how I made it.  I do not know anyone that has made one of these, so I relied on books and research.  I'll be sharing tips of what I would do next time also.  I will also share what didn't work for me.

Since I rested all day, and did a lot of much needed sleeping (sleeping off a low-grade fever), the laundry piled up into the size of a small mountain.  I really need to wash my bedding, and get the "crud" out of my bedroom. The sun is shining today, so I will shovel out my clothesline and get some fresh air.  

Just don't tell Nurse Hilda.  She's already taken my temperature in both ears (ha ha!) and has it recorded on her "chart."

One last note.  The kids have stepped up and over the past weekend, the older girls cleaned my kitchen.  I mean, really cleaned it.  My son re-stocked the firewood, refilled the chicken's, horse, and goat's water, and did three errands for me.  I didn't think the ladies at the library would want my cooties coughed all over them.  Hubby turned down over time last night so he could bring me hot soup and crackers.  

Secretly, I think they are all anticipating my complete recovery.  When I don't feel good, I am a grouch.  A fire breathing, eyeball dart shooting, dragon grouch.  

I better get started on my bedding.  I need to be back in my bed before Nurse Hilda gets home. 

 

 

Nurse Hilda

Over the weekend, I learned to love drinking water, hot ginger tea, the smell of vapo-rub, and put up with Nurse Hilda.

Nurse Hilda (aka my 11 year-old daughter) spent the weekend checking my temperature, bringing me hot tea, soup, and toast. 


She did a really good job, other than her persistent temperature checking.  She was insistent on taking my temperature in both ears.  Not just one.  And of course her motor mouth jabbering that kept me up to date on what was going on in the house.

School started back on Monday, so Nurse Hilda is back in school.  

I honestly don't know what I have, but will continue to use my immunity oil a wonderful farmgirl shared with me, my hot teas and such.  I see a huge difference with the homemade ginger drinks.

The two girls that were feeling under the weather, continue to fight it off as well.

Oh...and Nurse Hilda hijacked my blog (see post below) while I stepped away from the computer this morning.  Made me laugh anyway.

I am sure they will be sanitizing the keyboard too. 
  

MOMMY

Hi mommy, I love you

From the Homesteading Journal . . .

 . . . made my first homemade ginger ale and loved it!  I plan to make more of this (more so for health reasons) for a refreshing summer treat.  There are many recipes on the Internet.  I also made a hot ginger tea.  The recipe is from my sister's Indian cookbook.  I am enjoying this, in hopes to speed up my recovery from this cold/sinus/cough/chest pain illness.

Healthier Hash

 (before adding turkey and cream)

I made another new recipe - Tasty Turkey Hash.  However, the "tasty" part wasn't what I was thinking when I ate my first bite.

This recipe lacks flavor.  In a last minute effort to make this dish "pop" I mixed in 1/2 tsp. of my ground jalapeno/cayenne pepper mix.  

If you do try this recipe, I'd like to know what you added to it, to add flavor. 

I know ginger and garlic are good with sweet potatoes, but I'm not sure about the turkey.  What would you add?

Some of the kids topped it with shredded cheddar cheese and ate in it in a soft tortilla.   

Leftover Tip:  Add scrambled eggs for a breakfast burrito (any a hot sauce if you like it).

Tempting Turkey Hash
(adapted from Tired and Wired, by Marcelle Pick)

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 red or green bell pepper, chopped, organic
1/2 small onion, chopped, homegrown
1 medium sweet potato, diced, organic or homegrown
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, again home grown (no chemicals)
1 1/2 cups cooked turkey, cubed (home raised or organic)
Salt and pepper to taste
3 Tablespoons cream (we used organic milk)
*1/2 tsp. ground hot pepper (our addition, used a combo of cayenne and jalapeno, also organically grown)

In medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat and saute pepper and onion approximately 2 minutes, or until softened.  Add sweet potato and thyme, stirring occasionally, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until potatoes are fork-tender.  Add turkey, and season with salt and pepper.  Slowly stir in cream and simmer for 2-4 minutes, or until mixture thickens.  Serve.

Servings:  2