Cozy Days of Winter

Though most people I know are ready for spring, I happen to love this time of year. Snowy days mean slower days, fresh breads, puzzles being worked on the table, and broken pipes. Okay, I could do without the broken pipes. Yes, pipe(s). Two of them. Winter days also mean big pots of soup. A few we've had this month: Pasta Fagioli, Potato, Ham and Bean, and Italian Sausage Soup. I used dried beans vs. canned each time, saving money. Click on the names of the dishes to find the recipes.

Winter means higher heating costs, and trying to stay warm with hearty meals. For me, it also means getting creative and serving satisfying meals without breaking the bank. Planning ahead, and not reaching for convenience foods is one way to do that. Rich soups served alongside homemade breads are nourishing, satisfying, and pretty inexpensive.

Back at Thanksgiving, I cooked my organic turkey carcass for hours, and then canned the broth. I received 16 quarts of broth so rich it tastes like butter for my efforts. I paid $56 for my turkey, which seemed high at the time, but considering the amount of meat I got off of it, plus the broth, that turkey was cheap! It's easy to spend close to $3 a quart for watery broth at the grocery store. Even the non-organic brands aren't cheap. My broth is so rich, I can add water at a 1:1 ratio, and it still looks like I added food coloring(which I never would!) and tastes amazing. After seeing that good broth was being sold at a local grocery store for $7 a PINT, I was feeling extra good about my efforts.

I had a ham bone in the freezer that I used to make a huge pot of ham and bean soup. I boiled it alone for several hours, and then removed every bit of meat from the bone. I added about 6 cups of meat back to the soup pot, and froze 10 more cups. I seriously have no idea how I got that much meat off a leftover hambone. We hosted four post-college guys from our church for dinner, and I served that big pot of soup with homemade cornbread and homemade cookies. We had made several batches of cookies and set some aside for a gathering with friends the next afternoon. I allotted several dozen cookies for our gathering with the young men, and what they didn't finish here I sent home with them.

Three moms, and seven children gathered for lunch and games here the next afternoon. I cooked a big chicken ($12) the day before and took every piece of meat from the bones. I saved 6 cups out for lunch, and froze two more cups. I cooked the carcass all night, and got 5 quarts of rich broth. I froze the broth rather than canning it and unfortunately, two jars broke in the freezer. I nearly cried. I'm convinced canning is the way to go. It saves freezer space, and allows you to use the broth at a moment's notice rather than having to wait for it to thaw.

I made homemade tortillas, and lots of them. 32, to be exact. What would have cost me $10-12 dollars to buy was produced for about $2. The menu was build-your-own chicken quesadillas with cheese, sour cream, peppers, black olives, and homemade salsa, home-canned fruit cocktail, and cookies that had been made in advance. This wasn't the cheapest lunch to provide, mostly because of the toppings for the quesadillas, but it was a splurge since I'd spent next to nothing for our meals the rest of the week.

In the photo with the tortillas, you'll see my Farberware electric skillet. I love this skillet. Nearly 25 years ago, my brother Brian bought me a stainless steel electric skillet for a wedding gift. I used it nearly every day, sometime several times a day, and it eventually wore out. My mom was no longer using hers much, and gave it to me. Though it's the same age as my original skillet, and identical, it's still going strong. Except it wasn't heating quite like it should. Verne started looking to replace it for me as a Christmas gift, but stainless steel electric skillets are very hard to come by these days, as most are teflon coated now. No, thank you! If you can find one, they're upwards of $200. Knowing how much I use this skillet he was willing to buy one, but I was convinced to make the current one work. I scoured E-Bay and while I could find a replacement cord, the reviews said that they didn't fit quite right. I mentioned it to my friend Lynn, and she suggested checking an electrical store in town. I mentioned it to Verne, and he mentioned it to another friend who also suggested a different electrical store. Verne tried both places, and sure enough, Lynn was right. Verne bought me a new, off brand cord for $14! It fits and works perfectly. We live in a disposable society, where people think having the newest thing will bring them happiness. Sometimes, keeping what's near and dear to us makes us the happiest of all.

While organizing the sewing room I found this cat quilt that I started way back in 2005. I had it all pieced, and hand-quilted when I lost interest in it. All it lacked was the binding. I considered not finishing it, when I was reminded of another project I had thought the same of and decided to bring it to completion. I'm glad I did. I think it's charming once again. Each cat is quilted differently, and the alternating corners have balls of yarn and mice quilted into them. Abigail has claimed it, and uses it on her lap in the evenings while she sits and draws. Chester loves it, too. Lucy? She loves any quilt you lay on the floor.

Dog Days of Summer

We're keeping cool as best we can, Abigail and I enjoy our pool in afternoon, while Kanye digs himself holes in the backyard to nestle into. Silly dog. He loves the spot behind the rosebush underneath our bedroom window. He looks like a different dog than he did last fall when we took him in. He went from 40 pounds to 80, and his heart is just so loving. He loves to be brushed, and scratched, and kissed and hugged. It's as if he's always been here.

The garden is producing like nobody's business. We eat our fill of peppers and zucchini nearly everyday. Now to do something with the beets!

Verne and I are training for a fall marathon. We both got a kick out of the above cartoon a fellow running friend shared. These hot days have been difficult for long runs. I don't want to wish my days away, but I am looking forward to the cooler weather.

July has been productive out of the garden, too. This quilt sat for over a year, and only lacked the binding. After finishing Collin's quilt last Saturday, I decided it was high time to finish this one too. I finished the binding last Tuesday and placed it on the queen-sized air mattress in the spare room. It looks much nicer than having the room sit entirely empty.

Power Smoothies

We've been enjoying these smoothies just about every day, changing up the ingredients to use what we have on hand. There's always an apple, cored and seeded, skin left on, and most always a pear, prepared the same as the apple. Variations include pineapple, bananas, blueberries, and frozen strawberries. And greens. LOTS of greens. About 8 cups! You can use kale or spinach. Parsley is good thrown in there, too. We always add freshly ground flax seed, and some liquid. Some folks like to mix their fruit/greens with milk. You can use water and add a bit of honey or maple syrup to sweeten it, but we all love orange juice.

I puree everything in my Cuisinart blender, and serve. Four of us can have a pint from my one blender full.

Adding strawberries makes a more murky looking smoothie, but they taste great!


*reprinted from my old blog, but very pertinent for today. We enjoyed these for breakfast this morning, and had a full day's worth of vegetables and fruits in one single smoothie!

Sunday Dinner

*~ WARNING! ~*

This post contains photos that may upset the faint of heart. If you are easily upset by blood/death, you will want to skip this one.

This Sunday dinner was no usual Sunday dinner for our family, but OH! how I wish it were.

Way back in May, our family became the owners of 12 little chicks. They arrived at our home the day after they were hatched, and we have loved them and cared for them each day- teaching them first how to drink, and then eat, cuddling them close during those first few weeks before they could move to the coop. We check on them constantly throughout the day, providing fresh water, plenty of organically grown food from our garden, and lots of fresh grass. We made sure their pen was large enough to exercise. And then we discovered, as the chicks grew, that two of the twelve "hens" that we ordered were actually roosters.

I knew, in my heart of hearts, that one of these fellas was going to have to go eventually, but we played the "wait and see" game. If indeed they could peaceably get along, then we would keep them. If not, one would end up on the table.

Several months went by, and though I was feeling sorry for the hens, who were getting "serviced" every half-hour, or so it seemed, there didn't seem to be any problems between the two roosters. Until about two weeks ago, that is. I had the windows open, and heard a ruckus going on outside. As I went to investigate, I saw the roosters in the middle of a cock-fight. This wasn't good. The white rooster, an Easter Egger chicken affectionately known as Rosemary (remember, we thought he was a hen!), ended up with a swollen eye, and was walking very carefully after the fight. Penny (remember the hen thing?), had taken the worst of it. His comb and wattles were bleeding and he looked like he'd just lost a boxing match.

Penny has been, by far, the better rooster of the two, always looking out for the welfare of the hens before himself, and I didn't want to see him hurt. Rosemary had to go.

Never having butchered an animal before, I was thankful to know Pete and Julee from the farmer's market. They've been raising chickens for several years, and always process their own birds. They invited us to bring our rooster to their place, and they would talk us through it.

Yes, our children came along. I believe that God gave us animals for many reasons, and one of those reasons is to sustain us. I find it sad that many children, or even adults today, have no idea that a hamburger comes from a cow, or that sausage comes from a pig. Knowing where our food comes from, and what an animal goes through, helps us to be good stewards of what God gives us as well as enabling us to make educated decisions about what we eat.

Rosemary was a much loved chicken. He led a good life- right up to the end, and our entire family agreed that the butchering process was in no way traumatic. In fact, it was very peaceful.

Verne was instructed to hold the rooster by the legs, holding him upside down. This immediately calmed the rooster, and he didn't struggle at all as he was tied to the fence.

The feathers were pulled down to expose the skin underneath, and his throat was slit. Again, there was no struggle, and this happened very quickly. In killing an animal this way, the blood drains from the meat, and the meat is left very clean.

Julee scalded the chicken that they were processing alongside ours, and began plucking feathers while Verne scalded our rooster.

The feathers were plucked, the rooster was butchered, and immediately refrigerated.

We left Pete and Julee with a jar of Caramel Spice Pear Butter as a thank-you for having us.

We all anticipated Sunday's dinner when we'd be eating our own meat. Not only that, but we had potatoes from our garden, our own beets, and home-canned fruit for dessert.

I can't begin to describe how satisfying it is to partake of a meal that you have raised in entirety. We felt like it was Thanksgiving a few weeks early.

Keeping it real, folks! Don't you love the ironing board set up in the dining room while we ate? and the color splashes on the walls? I'm trying to decide a new color, and painted swatches to get a better feel for the colors. It's so much better than deciding off of a paint chip!

The End of October

October is nearly at the end, and the days show no sign of slowing down. I'm enjoying every last bloom from the cosmos, to the roses, to the hydrangeas and daylilies. Collin, Abigail, and I enjoyed the fall foliage as we drove over an hour to the big city today. During some stretches of the road it already looked like winter, with bare trees glistening in the cold misty morning.

We enjoyed a trip to Whole Foods for their One Day Apple sale. I debated on a few bags full before finally deciding on an entire bushel. I already have jar upon jar of applesauce put up, as well as gallon after gallon dried and waiting for winter's oatmeal, and snacking. These apples, crisp and delicious, will be eaten fresh, and placed in a pie or two. I've already eaten three today!

We also made a trip to Sam's Club where we purchased olive oil in bulk for soapmaking. Verne has reminded me that I need to get a few new batches made as we're down to less than 10 bars. The thought of having to use store-bought soap after several years of homemade is frightening.

Next stop, the camera store. Collin and I enjoyed playing and talking to the salesman while we dreamed. Collin added to his wish list, and has talked non-stop about his (potential) choices the entire day long.

A late lunch was enjoyed at Panera Bread. Mmm. Warm soup on a chilly day always hits the spot.

Last stop? The fabric store. I bought a pattern and some nice soft flannel to make my self a new pair of winter pajamas. I can't wait to get started on those!

Pumpkin Shortage? HA!

I had a very difficult time last year finding canned pumpkin for pies, scones, muffins, pumpkin rolls, and cheesecakes, and I missed it. Desperately. I enjoy pumpkin- not only in the fall, but year round.

Sometime last winter I picked up Barbara Kingsolver's book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and it completely changed my way of thinking. Why did I just buy pumpkin from cans when fresh was readily available? Expense? Ease? Perhaps because that's the way I was raised?

The better educated I become on nutrition, the way commercial food is grown, and what's really in it, the more convinced I am that we need to know exactly who is raising our food. It's why we started a small flock of chickens in the spring, why we grew a garden larger than we ever have before, and why I became involved at the farmer's market this year. I'm now grinding grain for flour, and have a grass-fed cow reserved for the spring, from a man that we trust.

I've recently read that butternut squash can be readily substituted for pumpkin in baking, and I'm here to tell you that it's absolutely true. No one would ever know the difference. Just last Saturday I baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins for the market, and made sure to tell everyone that I had substituted butternut squash in them. Not one person cared, and they didn't taste any different than they usually do.

If you look at my Preparing for Winter list on my sidebar you'll notice that I've got quite a bit of squash frozen. Plenty to last me throughout the winter, in fact. Total cost? $9. Yes- NINE dollars. In my town, I could have bought 3-4 large cans of Libby's Pumpkin for that. No way is buying canned pumpkin cheaper. Did I mention that I saved the seeds so that I can grow the squash myself next year, or that we fed the pulp to the chickens? The only thing that wasn't used was the skin- which went into the compost pile.

I also bought one large pie pumpkin, and was given two smaller pumpkins. Collin and I cut them up today, and roasted them this afternoon. I have a roaster full of cooked pumpkin that is now being cooked down for Pumpkin Butter. Cost of that roaster full? $3. We fed the stringy pulp to the chickens again, and roasted the seeds. Three cups worth.

There's no pumpkin shortage here!

Gourds and Squash

I can't believe this is the first year I've ever eaten a butternut squash. My, what I've been missing! The adorable little nest egg gourds look wonderful in a bowl on the dining room table, as well as in the laying boxes. They were a sweet little gift from Robert, aka "The Pumpkin Man", a few weeks back. He talked me into a cushaw squash, and I plan to cook it and freeze the flesh for "pumpkin pies" later in the season.

Are you trying anything new this year?

Chopping

Just because the pears are finished doesn't mean the rest of the canning is. Habanero jellies are in the works. One with dried apricots. One with Cherries. One with pineapple. I wish you could taste them!

Pears

When some friends invited us to share in the bounty of their organic pear tree, we had no idea what to expect. Upon pulling into the driveway and assessing the size of the tree I figured we'd get a bushel or so.

A bushel or so? HA!

See those baskets? They're half bushel baskets. See the buckets? They're half bushels, too. Then there are the tote bags- they're better than half bushels. The boxes are full bushels. And the Rubbermaid tote? I have no idea.

We brought 11 containers of pears home, and I started with the small containers. I've used three buckets, one basket, and one tote. So far we've gotten 41 quarts of pear halves (and those jars are FULL!), and a gallon of dried pears.

Guess what I'm doing today?

Swiss Chard

Leafy greens can be bursting with other vibrant colors, too!

Abigail and I planted several rows Swiss Chard in the early spring, but we got a heavy rain and the seeds washed back out again. I was blessed to find several plants at the farmers' market shortly after that. I took them home and planted them in newly constructed raised beds only to be disappointed that they stayed small all summer long. The plants looked healthy enough- they just wouldn't grow.

All of a sudden I have vibrant, large leaves of this wonderfully nutritious plant filling my garden. I simply cut it up- stems and all, and saute it in a little olive oil with garlic. Delicious! And gorgeous, too!

No Glamour Here

Yesterday's picture of the potato plants was taken on May 16. The above photo is ten short days later. Potatoes grow fast, and yes, we have covered them. They just keep growing! At first glance, everything looks great, but upon closer inspection there's a definite problem.

The Colorado Potato Beetle can devastate a potato crop in just a few short days. The insecticidal soap doesn't seem to have deterred them at all, and so my youngest two helpers and I hit the rows this morning. We carefully hand picked what appeared to be mostly larvae off of each plant. Gardening isn't glamorous, and it certainly isn't for the squeamish.

Thankfully, there were pretty little potato blossoms to cheer us while we worked in the hot sun.

Potato Bugs

Hubby went out to the garden tonight to find potato bugs chomping away at the foliage of our plants. Potato bugs are one of the challenges of organic gardening to be sure. He used an insecticidal soap, and I prayed that it works.