Saucing it up

I just realized its been nearly a month since my last post. Time really does go by fast.  The past two days the sky has looked like November, with the kind of dark clouds that threaten snow is on the way.

Its been a  "Ping-Pong" like guessing game for next winter's weather predictions. The weather channels are predicting a strong El Nino, bringing in a warmer winter. On the other side of the table, the Farmer's Almanac is predicting another cold and snowy winter. I'll come up with my own forecast by what the animals are telling me at the end of October.  Lot's of hair growth on the horses and goat is usually a pretty good indication I better have my firewood stacked.

The garden was not at all what I'd hoped for this season, but I did manage to get some tomatoes, popcorn, yellow squash, green beans, lettuces, a great crop of garlic, and some miscellaneous herbs.  The rest of it went to hell.  I've resigned myself to putting in the past and moving on to other things.

So be it. ~A

Little Time, Shorter Days

It has been an entire month since I've last posted. I'm still in the process of canning tomatoes.  I've been strapped with a nasty cold for the past week, and my car was stolen last Friday from the parking lot at my workplace.  But that's not a story for today...

I have not really had time to post because the days go something like this...

Get up (6:00 am), feed animals and myself, commute to work (1 hour drive)
Work 9am-5:30 pm
Commute back home (1 hour drive)
At home, spend time training the horses (1 hour)
Collect eggs, feed animals
Can and/or prepare tomatoes for canning
Eat (if there is any time left)
In bed around 9:30-10:00 pm. 

And the weekends are for running errands, buying feed at the mill, doing laundry, fixing or doing things around the farm, and maybe finding a little time for some relaxation and wine.

But I'm not complaining. Yes I am. I am going to complain a little about it getting darker earlier...but who doesn't?

Anyway, the turkeys are looking rather fine these days aren't they?...

"Stalker"inspects the young soldiers...

 

I hope you have a peaceful Friday evening.  ~A

 

And the color of the week is Red

I find it hard to believe there is only a month of summer left.  Maybe I'm in denial.  Or its just that I keep recalling the memory of this past winter's "polar vortex/frozen hell," of which I am dead certain I can not withstand a repeat.

But I'll behave myself for now and look on the positive side.  It's mid-August and the tomatoes are in full production!  A lot of canning to be done this week...   ~A

 

 

No Name Chili

My company held their annual "chili cook-off" this past Monday.  I didn't win.  But this chili recipe that I entered with, under the classification if "most unusual," was a very good recipe any hoo.  Expensive because of the amount of meat involved, but very good and filling.  The "heat" was just right.  I don't appreciate fire-house type chili that is so hot you can't taste any of the flavors anyway.

And, I got to try out my new meat grinder attachment for my mixer.  Fun! I ground my own pork for this recipe, which you can find at Food 52.  Anyone have a great chili recipe they'd like to share?  I could use one.



Beer makes it better!

(the wine was not part of the recipe - it was for the cook!)

 

 

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!



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!