Something's got to give...

The weather is getting to me.  All I want to do is eat. Worse, all I want to eat is "comfort" food.  Carbs, Carbs, Carbs... 

Yesterday I canned some mushroom barley soup to put away for my work lunches, and for those evenings when I just don't have it in me to cook anything. Which happens to be often, lately. Really,  I have absolutely no interest in doing much of anything in this cold weather, other than eating and taking care of the animals.  I think part of my nasty outlook has been due to this respiratory, cough thing I've been battling for three weeks now.  Between the cough and the weather I am sure I can't take much more!



Barley Soup "to go"

In an sad effort to pretend I can even remember what summer feels and tastes like, I sliced up a baguette, toasted it, rubbed the pieces with garlic, put a frozen basil leaf on top, followed by a slice of tasteless, (but roasted) winter tomato, and topped it off with shaved parmesan and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.  I tried.  I really, really tried. But it just couldn't compare to using the same ingredients in, say, August.  It was really a sad moment.

Then I tried pasta.  I was a little more cheery after that...


Pasta = Happiness ?

Then there are some who the snow has no effect on what-so-ever....No horse-flies! Let's play!



Limbo

Life on the farm feels madly stuck in a sort of "limbo" stage at the moment.  Everything is frozen. And still. And nearly lifeless.  I rode one of the horses all over the property last weekend to inspect everything and see what was new.  Not much.

In the garden, the garlic had poked their little heads through the soil at some point during this winter and the little green tips were frozen solid.  But I'm not concerned, the same thing happened last year and everything was fine come July. The only thing that appeared to show tiny signs of life were the blackberry bushes. They seem to be growing a little, like the buds on the trees.  But it could be my imagination.  Or just my lust to see something green and growing!

The goat is still waddling around looking like a small pregnant cow. The woodpile continues to shrink.  I'm worried about the goat because if she is actually pregnant and does go into labor please, please, please, don't let it be in the next ten days when the temperatures are in the low "teens" and dipping below zero during the nights.  Otherwise, I will have to bring her and any babies into the house.  No question there!



January 13, 2014

The sun sets today at 5:29 p.m. here in Northeast Ohio.  How I long for the month of May when things really start to green up and the sun sets at a more respectable time!

On another dismal note, I've discovered lately that one of my racehorses has come to despise chickens. He's bashed a few around now, but this latest outburst was downright savage! Not only did he crush this hen, but then proceeded to tear into her, toss her around a bit, and then finish her off by stomping her to death. Maybe the horse is suffering from cabin fever as well...

Planting Garlic

This past weekend was nice, but wet.  I couldn't let the weather get in my way of planting garlic.  I planted it the first week of November last year, and decided to give it shot again this year.  Only this year I planted a lot more. Ninety cloves to be exact.  I’m even contemplating planting two more rows this coming weekend.  Why not?  Garlic rocks!

Aside from only one head of elephant garlic (experimenting here!), don’t ask me what the other variety was.  I bought it from a local farmer’s market and decided it tasted fabulous, so that's what I planted!  I don’t know if it is hard neck or soft neck variety, but I’ll know come spring!  Aside from the garlic, the garden has officially been "put to bed" for the winter.

Forgive the horrid photography.  The time change threw me off and I didn’t get to planting until the sun was setting. 

 

 

Legend of the Four Thieves

I adore herbs, vinegar, natural remedies AND a good tale.  I came across this folklore tonic recipe and decided I must absolutely make up a batch and give it a try!  Although I doubt I will be testing its effectiveness against the plague, one should never make such assumptions...

According to legend, four thieves, one of whom was an herbalist, robbed the homes of many who had died of the plague. They were eventually caught and brought to trial. A version of the story recounts the thieves were sentenced to bury the dead, but would be set free if they survived infection. Another version tells that they were released in return for the recipe of the tonic they credited with protecting them from the plague.

Either way, the thieves did survive, as did the legend and the recipe for their herbal vinegar. This recipe still serves as a valuable remedy against many maladies, and is a powerful disinfectant and bug spray.

Vinegar of the Four Thieves

Ingredients:

2 TBSP Thyme (dried)

2 TBSP Rosemary (dried)

2 TBSP Sage (dried)

2 TBSP Lavender (dried)

2 TBSP Mint (dried)

4-8 cloves of minced garlic (optional)

One 32-ounce bottle of organic Apple Cider Vinegar with “the Mother” (Bragg’s Vinegar is lovely)

How To Prepare the Vinegar:

1. Put all the dried herbs and garlic (if using) into a large glass jar (a half gallon works well)

2. Pour the Vinegar over the herbs and garlic and seal tightly. The vinegar is strong enough to corrode some metal lids, so in this case, consider putting plastic wrap or a plastic bag on top and then putting the lid on.

3. Leave in a cool, dark, place for 6-8 weeks (for health tonic recipe) shaking daily if possible.

4. After 6-8 weeks, strain the herbs out using a small strainer and store tonic in smaller jars for easy use.

Other Uses for Four Thieves Herbal Vinegar:

As mentioned, this vinegar makes a very effective (though strong smelling) insect repellent. If you make it to this strength, just put 1/4 cup of the vinegar in an 8-ounce spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Spray on skin, clothes, etc. when in heavily insect infested areas.  

In cases of illness, the Vinegar of the Four Thieves is very helpful in quick recovery. Adults can take 1 TBSP several times a day (dilute in water!!) and kids can take 1 Tsp several times a day (well diluted in water/herbal tea).

When a family member is sick, diluting this with 1 part water and putting in a spray bottle will make a potent disinfectant that can be used on surfaces or sprayed in the air.

Some people report really good success using this vinegar as a soak or topical spray for foot or nail fungus.

This vinegar makes an effective natural disinfectant spray for use in house cleaning as well (without the garlic!).

Pasta Sauce, Simple and Quick

I was in the mood for some fresh pasta sauce this weekend.  Although tomatoes are not garden-fresh this time of year, with a little garlic and onion you can pretty much make anything taste "good enough."


 

I like to boil my tomatoes for a few seconds so that I can easily peel off the skins before I seed and chop them. It makes it a lot easier to chop them up too!

Chop everything up to your liking and then its all ready to simmer with some italian spices. Oh, and a little salt and pepper too!

Toss it all into a pan with some good olive oil...

Cook your sauce down for a bit.  Ready your pasta of choice, and then join the two in blissfull harmony with a sprinkle of fresh parmesan for the grand finale. Delicious!