Hot Stuff

We have a lot of tomatoes this year and fortunately, I have found great uses for them, even though I am perfecting the recipes a bit. First, I made spaghetti sauce and it tasted very fresh and delicious. Next, I made salsa. I found a random recipe online that sounded pretty good and used a lot of peppers (which we also have in abundance). From the taste test jar a day after it was made, it really wasn't that good. It didn't help that I had a cold the day I made it and couldn't taste it because my nostrils were 100% plugged with snot and when I asked Tyler what it needed he said, "no, I wouldn't mess with it". I think he didn't want me messing with the recipe which turned out to be a bad idea, in my opinion, because I don't think I like it...at all. I won't even put the recipe here because it isn't very good but I will soon find a good one and post that. The pictures make it look good though.




On a different note, here is my fiance, Harry Poppins. I won't even go into the story about letting the birds out for the first time. Let's just say my roof has 3 days (and counting) worth of pigeon poop on it. dumb, DUMB, DUMB!

Okay, That's It

For the last 4 summers, I have been training for some race be it triathlon, duatholon, or half marathon. This year with buying a house and just being tired of running on my vacations, I decided to "take this year off". It turned out to be a good idea since I injured my shoulder, got mouth surgery, have tons of chores, and needed time to just be a first year home owner. However, now, I am starting to feel the affects of not running or working out regularly. With that said (for Tyler - he'll know what that means), I know I am a small person but I also do feel out of shape. Or in other words, I definitely have my winter fat on and will make it through the winter, no worries. Not cool though.
So....it is time to start working out. I went for a 3 mile run this morning that felt like the last 3 miles of my half marathon. Not good! Another problem is that out here in the country, there are dogs that are allowed to run free and bark at people running by (especially people running with dogs). So on our runs, Buk and I usually get approached by at least 3 barking dogs. Again, not cool.
And to complain one more time, running on these roads is not the best. They are long straight roads with numerous hills. I guess that will just get me in shape faster. Something to look forward to, I guess.

So here's to running and working out again in the county even though it may prevent me from "making it through the winter".

Catractor

Stanley likes being a farmer too. (Sometimes you just have to give in to how cute he is, hah)

Mom, please, I am trying to get some work done.




p.s. please notice the Doors poster in the back ground. The garage has turned into Tyler's Freshman dorm room.

I Heart Fries

First, let me start by saying, I know some of my food pictures aren't the greatest. I need to work on my presentation. But as those close to me would know, I am not much of a thoughtful presenter...my presents get wrapped in newspaper, my interior decorating skills are poor, I rarely use an iron...you get the point.

ANYWAY, this is a recipe I created yesterday with some potatoes we had. I love LOVE fries so I decided to take a shot at them. Turns out they are DELICIOUS homemade too!!

Fries From Marrs (I know I am not a Marrs...yet...but I like the title. I am experimenting what I can do with the name since Hark the Herold Angels sing will be out)

Ingredients
How ever many potatoes you want to eat (they do shrink while baked)
oil
1 clove garlic - minced
1 sprinkle dill
salt and pepper to taste

Method
1) Preheat oven to 400.
2) Cut the potatoes into uniform fry size. Place in a mixing bowl.
3) Add the rest of the ingredients to the mixing bowl(with enough oil to cover well) and mix with hands.
4) Place on a baking sheet (I used a ceramic baking sheet and it worked great).
5) After 10 min, stir fries.
6) My fries took about 30 min. It takes a long time when they are fresh.

p.s. these ARE purple potatoes, hence the color

I'm Sorry...

Sometimes you just have to post pictures to show what you did this week. This is one of those posts. "Pondering Life" posts coming soon (when I actually think about it). This was just one of those week where you don't buy groceries and just play it by ear. (Gimme a break, I plan out everything)

My favorite colored Dehlia so far.



Tyler has taught the birds how to eat out of his hands. He is a regular Mary Poppins.


I canned more hot peppers. I plan on trying ketchup. We did go to the fair this week and I made a list of everything I want to enter next year. Not even joking!


Yes, on Monday, I tried on dresses. I hate trying things on so wedding dress shopping isn't my favorite thing to do (although the first time wasn't so bad). I did it again though and I think the wedding ladies are rude. This is my magazine pose where all the models bend forward. Why do they do that?! (Maybe that is why the wedding ladies hate me) :)

Good day Sunshine

This is Tyler, in gnome form, waking up to a beautiful September morn.

Worthless Veggies #2

I almost forgot to add a little recycling/delicious tip to this here blog. Last year I got the idea to save my veggie scraps and then after some time when I have a bag full, I just boil them all together with some herbs and what not and SHABAM (!), I have veggie broth for rice, soups, beans, etc. It is so easy to do and a great use for things that otherwise see a garbage can or compost (if they are lucky). So, next time you are peeling onions, cutting the butt off garlic, discarding your cabbage leaves, etc...put those in a bag, slap that bag in the freezer and in no time flat you will have the fixings for a veggie broth. Let it all boil for a couple hours, drain into a large bowl and THEN compost the no-longer-flavorful remains, ladle into jars and put in the fridge or freezer. YAY for recycling!

Pick a Pack of Pickled....Kohlrabi?

Kohlrabi, eggplant, 1467 english cucumbers, plums. These are all things we have (a lot of) and I wonder, what the hell do you do with these things?! Especially when you have so many. I think I am doing a pretty good job with it though.

I have been canning the cucumbers making my bread and butter pickles and I found a great recipe that Tyler likes.

We just made an eggplant,garlic,green olive pizza that was delicious. Thanks to Smitten Kitchen.

I made plum sauce AND plum coffee cake that both could use some work but were pretty good.

What I am most proud of though are my pickled kohlrabi (I assume that is plural?). I will give Tyler credit for finding this invention though. I made these 4 nights ago and tonight I opened a jar (they are fridge pickles) and they could have more flavor but that is easy to mess with. I will post the recipe I used and what I am going to try doing next time in case anyone has a crap ton of kohlrabi that is the conversation starter in the house, as in, "uh....what is that green thingie on the kitchen counter?" Although you may want that conversation to avoid awkward silence (what are you doing hanging out in the kitchen with your guests), this may make you feel more fulfilled since you now have a reason to use that worthless veggie.
Do beware, I did get a blister on my finger from cutting the kohlrabi. That shit is dense!



Makes:
2 quart jars

Ingredients:
- 1 large Kohlrabi (or enough to fill 2 qt jars) cut into edible pieces
- 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 sprigs of dill
* pickling mix*
- 1 1/2 cups vinegar
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 6T sugar
- 1t mustard seed
- 1T dill seed (or 1 1/2T dried dill)
- red pepper flakes
- salt
- pickling spices

Method:
1) Parboil carrots 3 min
2) Mix kohlrabi and carrots
3) Pack garlic, bay leaves, dill, carrots, and kohlrabi equally in hot washed jars.
4) In saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar, and seeds. Bring to a boil and dissolve sugar.
5) Sprinkle red pepper flakes, salt, and pickling spices in each jar and ladle hot pickling mix into jars until veggies are covered.
6) After cool, put in fridge and wait 3 - 4 days before opening.

My Improvements:
I would add less water and more vinegar (2 1/4 cups water to 2 cups vinegar)
I would add more sugar. Probably about 1/4 cup.

Farmer's Fiance Recipes

I like working in the kitchen. Cooking makes me happy. I am a healthy/veggie/no eggs cook though and sometimes this is more difficult because you have to know more things because EVERYBODY knows a stick of butter (although my friend Leslie thinks it is kraft singles) makes everything, even poo, taste better. I don't want to clog my arteries though so I do wish I was a better cook and had more knowledge of things, such as: knowing what seasonings taste great together, the best ratio of flavorings in dishes, how do I make it taste good without fish sauce, etc. I mean, you can follow a recipe and get all this (most of the time), which what I do, but sometimes I wish I could actually CREATE my own recipe. I try. Usually it turns out flavorless though. I am working on it.

Because I think most people follow recipes, I am posting some of the ones I have used in the last couple of weeks with our harvest. I think I shall post two. 1) Blackberry Cobbler 2) Zucchini Spaghetti

Blackberry Cobbler
Recipe given by MIL
This is Tyler's favorite blackberry dessert. I like it but I am partial to Blackberry Pie. Claire likes blackberry pie better too but this recipe is a good one.


Ingredients:
4 - 5 cups berries
1/2 cup sugar
2T butter
1 cup + 2T flour
2/3 cup sugar
1+1/2t baking powder
1/4t salt
2/3 cup milk
3T oil
1 cup boiling water

Method:
Preheat Oven to 400 degrees
1) Place berries in 2qt casserole dish.
2) Sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar. Dot with butter.
3) Mix flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, and salt in mixing bowl.
4) Add the milk and oil, blending together until smooth.
5) Spoon mixture over berries evenly.
6) Pour the boiling water over berries/mixture.
7) Bake at 400 for 50 - 60 min until golden brown.

* Hint - place a foil lined cookie sheet under casserole dish because dessert has tendency to boil over in oven.

Zucchini Spaghetti
adapted from SmittenKitchen.com


Serves 3 - 4
Ingredients:
3/4lb spaghetti
3/4lb zucchini shredded
1/4 cup olive oil
2T minced garlic
1/2t red pepper flakes
3T chopped basil
grated Parmesan cheese

Method:
1) Bring large pot of water with salt and some oil to boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente.
2) While spaghetti cooks, shred zucchini and set aside.
3) Heat 1/4 cup oil and add garlic until lightly browned.
4) Add red peppers flakes and stir fry for 30 seconds.
5) Remove from heat and add basil to skillet.
6) When pasta is done, drain but keep 1/2 cup pasta water for final dish.
7) Put pasta and water in large mixing bowl and add zucchini, garlic mixture, 1/2 cup cheese and basil oil (put together 1/4 cup oil, 1T basil, and pinch of salt; shake together).
8) Mix together and add salt, pepper, and parmi to taste.

Vegetarian + Farmer = depression

*Be warned, this talks about killing animals and eggs being sweet fluffy baby chickens*

Maybe I am an animal loving vegetarian although I never thought of myself as one.

The reason I became a veggie lover was because meat just started smelling bad (no I wasn’t and am not preggo) and the idea of eating meat grossed me out. It all started when I was younger, around 10, and I refused to eat duck eggs because they were our ducks and potentially babies (yes, I am still pro-choice). The thought of that yellow yoke developing into a baby chicken grosses me out. This then transformed into only eating organic things because eating a cow’s butt hole in a hot dog or in a hamburger wasn’t too appetizing. (Yes, I know a butt hole can be organic but I KNOW they don't put those in Naturewell beef). Eventually, all that turned into just not eating meat. I LOVE veggies and I am very happy I am not eating meat because it introduced me to so many other means of protein that are much healthier for you.

Anyway, with that, I never stopped eating meat with the mind set of “oh, those poor cows”. Although it is ridiculous what they do to cows and chickens and pigs etc, I wasn’t about to go hug one or anything. However, yesterday I realized I do love animals, or at least things with hearts. Tyler mentioned that one pigeon, the one Tyler’s dad gave us, is scrawny and we “need to get rid of it”. I knew he didn’t mean send it on its way or list it on craigslist for some old guy to take away. So, I said, “no, come on, I like that one.” Now, why the hell did I say that? I have been bashing that thing forever. Fact is, I do kinda like it cause we are its home and I cannot imagine killing it! I pleaded with Tyler explaining that it won’t breed its bad traits (and I certainly don’t expect my kid to get a pointy nose or the need to laugh at anyone who just fell down stairs or walked into a glass door). Despite all that, Tyler didn’t seem to agree. He is sure that pigeon is no good and will pass on its lameness to its off spring. Personally, I don’t even think the pretty girl birds would mate with that thing.

All in all, I think Tyler will end up “getting rid of it”. Who knows, maybe he already did and didn’t tell me…lord knows I don’t go down and chat with the birds everyday. But somewhere inside me, it kills me to think about killing that bird because it loves me. Well, maybe not but it was growing on me.