Homesteading In Maine

Making Whipped Cream

2011-11-02T13:30:00.002-04:00

Whipped Cream

2 cups heavy cream

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 tablespoon honey

Mix cream with a mixer, slowly adding vanilla and honey.

Whip until the right consistency for whipped cream (being careful not to over whip).

Variation: Add 1/8 teaspoon of almond extract.

Cooking in Sun Oven: Rhubarb Pie

2011-09-23T13:32:00.006-04:00

Using the Global Sun Oven - Solar Cookerhas been the highlight of the summer. We have baked everything from cookies, pies and breads to casseroles and roasts. Here is a pie we did earlier this summer.

Cheatin' Rhubarb Pie Recipe

The biggest thing we have learned about using the sun oven is patience, some things cook as fast as a recipe calls for, some faster, and some a lot slower. Remember, the sun is in control, not you!

Easy Baking Recipes, Breakfast: Basic Muffin

2011-09-02T16:33:00.003-04:00

We love this muffin as a simple, easy to make muffin. We sometimes dip them into a bowl of maple syrup, or serve them with home-made jam.

Basic Muffin

Ingredients:
½ cup milk
1 egg
1 ½ cup flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon honey

Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a muffin tin.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well moistened. Fill muffin cups almost full.

Bake about 15 to 18 minutes.

Remove from pan and cool on a cooling rack.

Yeild: 5 muffins
~~

Water Storage For Winter Warmth

2011-07-14T14:13:00.007-04:00

My new favorite book, Solviva: How to grow $500,000 on one acre, and Peace on Earth has kept me quite busy this Spring/early Summer. One experiment we want to do this winter is using large plastic barrel full of water to help heat our house over night.

We placed three 15 gallon barrels near south facing windows, behind our couch. We placed a board on top of the barrels to act as a table area to hold plants.

We filled the barrels with rain water (while we had plenty of rain) to get ready for winter.

The idea is that during the day the sun will heat up the barrels and at night the heat will be released into the room, thus making the living space warmer with only using the sun.

We are not sure how it will work, but if it means we have to chop a little less fire wood, then it will be well worth it to me!

I will keep you posted this winter on how it works out!

Baking Bread In A Solar Oven

2011-05-05T13:50:00.006-04:00

Baking Bread In A Solar Oven

I have had to "sneak" in using my solar oven, between the rain, clouds and my schedule. I did, however, make a wonderful loaf of bread last week.

I used the recipe for our "One Rise Bread"

There were some clouds that day, so the oven temp. wasn't as consistent as when I cooked the chicken. The temperature stayed around 325 degrees Fahrenheit, so I just let the bread cook about 15 minutes longer than usual.

I was very happy with the results!

Making Vanilla Ice Cream

2011-04-27T13:18:00.007-04:00

There are some technologies I love, and my ice cream freezer is one. It doesn't use much electricity or take very much time to make wonderful (organic), wholesome ice cream.

Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients:

3 cups cream
1/3 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:

Warm one cup of cream enough to dissolve honey. Allow to cool.

Combine honey/cream with the rest of the cream and vanilla, mix well.

Be sure the mixture is cold before adding to ice cream freezer.

Freeze according to manufactures instructions.

Cooking Chicken In A Solar Oven

2011-04-21T10:40:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago was the first chance I got to use our newGlobal Sun Oven® and I cooked a chicken. It came out great, only problem was that I forgot to take photos. So, last weekend I did another one.

Cooking a whole chicken in the Sun Oven was so easy....I put the chicken in a covered glass dish, put some seasoning (paprika and oregano and garlic) on top, put on the cover and set the dish in the oven.

I did preheat the oven up to 350 degrees, but not sure if this step was really necessary. Every 30 minutes or so I went out to be sure the oven was facing the sun all right and made adjustments when necessary.

The first chicken I let cook for about 4 hours. The baking dish was full of wonderful juices and the chicken was falling off the bone. The second time I let it cook about 3 hours. We had more clouds on the second try, but the meat was still falling off the bones and just as tender as you could want.

Today I have a leg of lamb in the Sun Oven. We have more clouds than sun, so I am not sure how long it will take to cook. I have a thermometer in the meat, so I will keep my eye on that.

Can't wait to try cookies and breads! I will keep you posted.

Easy Baking Recipes, Desserts: Carob Cookies

2011-03-30T10:51:00.004-04:00

A friend of mine tried these cookies....she told me,"They aren't very pretty, but they are the best carob cookies I have ever had." Quite a complement, and I was very pleased. I hope you will enjoy as much as she did.

Carob Cookies:

¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup honey
2 eggs
2/3 cup brown rice flour or www flour; see note
¼ cup carob powder
1 tablespoon instant coffee or coffee substitute
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake approximately. 8 minutes.

Yield: 16 cookies

NOTE: White whole wheat flour or all purpose flour can be used.

~~~~

Cooking With Carob

Easy Baking Recipes, Desserts: Brownies

2011-03-09T11:44:00.004-05:00

Brownies:

½ cup butter (1 stick); melted
½ cup honey
2 eggs
½ cup flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup walnuts; chopped, (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease an 8 x 8 pan.

Combine melted butter, honey and eggs in a bowl and mix well.

Combine the rest of the ingredients and stir until blended.

Pour batter into pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.

Killer Brownies

New Life For an Old Floor; A Chemical Free Way Using Olive Oil.

2011-03-03T12:40:00.003-05:00

When we built our house we used pine boards for the flooring, and they looked beautiful. But, over the years they have gotten worn, stained and scratched.

I have a strong sensitivity to chemicals, so I have been trying to figure out what to use on them. I looked into low/zero voc finishes and discovered that they were just too expensive for the amount of floor space I had to cover, so I decided to give olive oil a try.

I read quite a while ago about making a furniture polish from vegetable oil and lemon juice (the lemon juice smells good and is supposed to help keep the oil from going rancid). I didn't want to use vegetable oil because most (unless they are organic) are made from GMO corn or soy beans, and I don't want to support that industry. That is why I decided to try the olive oil (plus I had some here and didn't have to drive to the store).

I poured some oil into a used yogurt container and added a few drops of lemon essential oil (again, because I had some here) and got started. I used a rag and applied the oil on my hands and knees, but I think a sponge mop would work fine. The night before I had done a small spot to see how it would be after sitting over night. It looked great.

It took me about a week to do most of the house (I still have a little more to do) because I did just an area at a time. I didn't want to have to move large pieces of furniture (huge cupboard in the kitchen), so I just went around them. If I move them at a later date I can do the floor then. That's the beauty of using oil, you can patch places here and there and it will blend in.

I am not sure how long the finish will last, I may have to do it every 6 months or so, but it will be worth it. The floors look beautiful. They have the look of an old cutting board with wonderful patina.

Before and After:

American Chop Suey

2011-02-15T11:16:00.006-05:00

Such a simple dish, yet so delicious! We make it with our roasted tomato sauce, but any sauce will do.

American Chop Suey
1 pound ground beef
4 cups uncooked pasta, your choice
1 quart roasted tomato sauce

Cook ground beef.

Cook pasta according to the package instructions.

Combine cooked ground beef and cooked pasta, add the roasted tomato sauce.

Heat and serve

Yield: 4 servings
~~~

Tortilla Bread

2011-01-28T12:06:00.002-05:00

This is an almost exact recipe we use for making tortillas.....hence the name "Tortilla Bread"

Tortilla Bread
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 - 2.5 cups white bread flour
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water

Add yeast to the water and set aside.

Mix the flour and oil together with a pastry blender until the mixture is course.

Mix in the salt and yeast mixture until you can gather it into a ball.

Place on a floured board and kneed until smooth, about 10 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled.

Punch down place in loaf pan and let rise again.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Bake for 40 minutes or until done.

Maple Carrots

2011-01-22T14:33:00.003-05:00

Maple Carrots
1 cup carrots (about 4 medium); sliced thin
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon maple syrup
dash pepper

Melt butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat.

Add carrots and sauté for 1 minute.

Add milk, honey and pepper. Cover and lower heat to low.

Simmer for 3 minutes, uncover and simmer for 5 minutes longer, until carrots are tender.

2 Servings

Carrot

Our Version of Scalloped Potatoes

2011-01-18T10:28:00.000-05:00

3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion; sliced thin
pepper; freshly ground
1 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper; optional
pinch sea salt
4 medium potatoes; sliced in 1/4 inch slices
oil; for frying potatoes
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Place butter in pan and place in oven to melt.

Add onion, pepper, mustard seeds, red pepper (if using) and sea salt. Roast for about 10 minutes. Set aside

Sauté potato sliced in oil in a large frying pan until slightly golden, turning as necessary.

Combine milk and mustard powder in a bowl. whisk in cornmeal.

Put potato slices on top of onions.

Pour milk mixture over potatoes, stir while pouring to distribute the corn meal.

Top with cheese.

Bake 20 minutes.

Serves 4

The “Must Haves?”

2011-01-09T08:31:00.004-05:00

The other night we watched the movie No Impact Man,and what an impact it had on us. Even though we do so much towards self sufficiency, the movie made me realize we could still do more.

Sometimes I forget that it's not just about us as individuals, but people as a whole. Not only what we do effects us, but the world at large. We are just little guys, but together we can outsmart the big guys.

We are already aware of saving energy (our house is powered by the sun) etc, but after watching the movie I wondered what else we could change. When I think of ourselves as accomplishing milestones I realize they are only “footstones.” There is more to be done.

Today we went to the grocery store with plastic packaging in mind. The over use of plastic has been bothering us for many years – we don't use plastic containers, only glass (although they do have plastic covers) and we don't drink bottled water or sodas or use plastic wrap or baggies, however we still end up with a lot of plastic in our plastic trash bags.

Armed with good intentions, we hit the shelves. This was going to be a lot harder than we thought, now that we were paying more attention. A simple list- cheese, butter (we really do need to make our own), olive oil, pasta, walnuts, sweet potatoes, pretzels and dish soap. Out of that short list the only things not in plastic were the butter, olive oil and sweet potatoes. At least the dish soap bottle can be recycled, not that I think recycling is the answer. I think reducing is a better solution. But how to reduce, without becoming overly fanatical. Maybe that's the answer, to become overly fanatical. Sometimes that is the only way changes are made.

So now my family will have to put up with my constant “plastic complaining”.....the toothpaste comes in plastic (time to switch to baking soda enhanced with peppermint oil?), the toilet paper is wrapped in it, it's touching our food and heaven forbid I forget to take my reusable bag to the store.

We certainly don't have all the answers yet, but we are more aware of our usage and are trying to come up with alternatives one step at a time. The plastic may never be gone from this house, but it will be dramatically reduced.

Each of us can make changes that will impact the earth as a whole. I mentioned to someone a while back that we no longer buy paper towels, we use regular towels or rags. I said how it wasn't much, but made us feel better. He said to me, “But imagine if everyone did that.” Yeah, that would be huge. Sure, at first it was a bit inconvenient, but 3 years later I don't miss paper towels at all and even hate to use them at other peoples' houses; it feels so wasteful.

Since watching No Impact Man, I have been looking at a few things differently. Do I need to buy QTips? Will a towel dry my ears just as well? Cotton balls....don't need 'em. So many items have become a way of life that we don't even question them, just use them and throw them away, not even thinking about what happens when they leave the house. Out of site, out of mind, but not out of the earth.

With baby steps we can make some changes (and save some money) that will, as a whole, make a difference. We can turn the “footstones” to milestones with just a little creative thinking and rethinking. I now take the time to question our purchases and the impact they have, from the manufacturing to the the disposal and I am surprised at how many “necessities” really aren't that important any more.

For The Love Of........Beer?

2010-12-28T10:36:00.002-05:00

Yes, we do enjoy the occasional (occasional?) glass of home brew. And now that we have a truly wonderful home brew supply store not too far from home we really have been having fun.

Home brew has helped us in many ways; some of our more creative ideas have been hatched over a home brew (read here), and our choice for flavors is only limited by our imagination. We sit in our favorite chairs by the wood stove and toss out ideas to each other – how about honey and mint, or maybe some squash.....spelt? It's all fair game.

We won't go into detail on how to make home brew, there are many sites and books that cover that in great detail, but we will encourage anyone who has thought about brewing their own beer to go for it. Brewing can be very simple or complex, depending upon your time, space and desires. We often do simple, quick batches.

The most important thing is to just try - A local home brew club is a great way to learn. Once you get started, you'll be hooked. Just be careful about some of the ideas you come up with while sipping- you too may end up without a kitchen stove.

What, My Stove? Are You Nuts??

2010-12-16T10:56:00.003-05:00

Well, we did it. Just like that, our gas stove is no longer with us. Yup, gone. Cold turkey (literally).

What prompted this, you ask? I guess you could say “putting our money where our mouth is.” We have been slowly trying to eliminate propane use at our house, which started with the wood fired water heater.During the winter the gas stove is shut off, but still available, kind of like a crutch, a nice security blanket for "bad fire" days. But after some long talks (over a home brew or two) we decided to just take the stove out. There – now there is no excuse.

One thing that helped us arrive at that decision (besides the home brew) was the early Christmas gift of Global Sun Oven® - World's Best Solar OvenA friend has one and absolutely loves it. It's how she does all her summer baking and cooking, doing extra on sunny days to carry them over on cloudy days. She spoke so highly of it that it helped to make our decision easier.

I am a bit concerned about cooking in the summer, although last summer I did use the wood stoves most days (even in 80º F weather) to cook a quick meal (no stews or breads). We have a bread machine we use on sunny days (doesn't effect our solar that way). And, I think we will cheat a little and keep our gas grill......for now.

Wish us luck!

Making Fruit Vinegar

2010-10-29T12:25:00.005-04:00

Making Fruit Vinegar

Except for apple cider vinegar, we haven't had very good luck making vinegars from scratch (not to be confused with herbal vinegars, which come out great).

Thanks to the book Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods we have made a wonderful fruit vinegar, and it was so easy!

We took all the fruit pulp that we cooked down for wine. Basically raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, plums....any fruit. To make the wine we cook the fruit as you would to make juice and we saved all the fruit pulp. In the book it is called “Fruit Scrap Vinegar” and they say to use any fruit scraps.

Wash and sterilize a gallon glass jar. Put all your fruit in. Dissolve ¼ cup of sugar (we used honey) into 1 quart of water. Pour over the fruit.

Place cheese cloth on top of the jar and secure with a rubber band.

After about one week strain off the fruit and return liquid to the jar.

Let the jar sit two to three more weeks, (lightly shake occasionally) and test after two weeks. When the flavor is to your liking, the vinegar is ready. Transfer to a clean jar.

It really is that simple. We have done it twice and now have two unusual, tasty vinegars!

Grown-Up Mac and Cheese

2010-10-28T11:02:00.001-04:00

Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
4 cups pasta; uncooked
1 pound hamburg; cooked
1/3 -1/2 pound feta cheese; crumbled
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper; to taste

Cook pasta, drain and return to kettle.

Add cooked hamburg.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Heat to serve.

4 Servings
~~

Rice & Bean Salad

2010-09-27T11:42:00.001-04:00

This rice and bean salad makes a great side dish, or even lunch.

Rice & Bean Salad
2 cups rice; cooked
2 cups beans, lima/or choice (dried beans); cooked
1 tablespoon celery leaves; dried or 1/4 cup celery
1 small onion; chopped
2 tablespoons pickled garlic scapes; optional
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons herbal vinegar; or apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper; to taste

We used cooked dried lima beans in this recipe. I think another type of dried bean would work better, the lima beans got a bit mushy, but the taste was great. Measure the 2 cups of beans after they are cooked, not before.

Combine cooked rice and cooked beans in a large bowl.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. More oil or vinegar can be used as needed to taste.

Roasted Tomato Sauce

2010-09-14T10:12:00.006-04:00

Lots of tomatoes this year. We've been drying a lot of them and also making sauce, and more sauce. We roast it in the oven, which gives it a wonderful full flavor and is ready much faster than cooking it on top of the stove.

Pasta Sauce

We use a roasting pan (half...you want the top open).

Preheat oven to 450 F

Chop up the tomatoes along with onion, peppers, anything you want to add to your sauce. We use zucchini, eggplant, whatever we have on hand.

Add seasoning.

Fill the roasting pan and place in oven.

Stir well every 45 minutes or so.

The time of cooking depends upon how large your pan is and how thick you want your sauce. We do some very thick with just tomatoes for pizza sauce. We also make some not as thick...stewed tomatoes.

This method works out real well for us, and the kitchen smells so good!

Goals: Fact or Fiction

2010-09-09T11:49:00.002-04:00

The problem with goals is the awful feeling you get when you don't reach them. Don't get me wrong, we set a lot of goals that we reach, but sometimes I think we set goals too high, for too many things. It's so easy to sit with pen and paper and make a list of “Goals for the Summer” and then have the summer fly by, with barely a scratch to the paper.

We have many “To Do” lists, which are usually simple things; fix a broken window. Goals on the other hand, tend to be major; build deck. Oh boy....where has the summer gone! (I know, it's not over yet). We also have long term goals that may take 3 or more years. I like the extra time.

I guess the biggest thing I have learned from all my goal writing is to try not to make it too overwhelming. There is nothing wrong with only getting a few projects done in a year. The project police won't come and arrest us. The neighbours don't care what we get done...neither do all the animals (unless it has to do directly with them). We are trying so hard to make more time for ourselves. Time to be lazy.

Here is an update on how our goals for 2010 are coming along.

Make Pasta: Not yet

Build Workshop: Change of plans. Going to use another space and save ourselves from having to build an extra building. Here is a time when we used our heads to try and make work lighter for ourselves.

Set Up Blacksmith Shop: Still planning and looking for tools.

Forage More Food: This is something we have done a lot better on this year. We are finding plants on our property that are quite tasty. We are also working on a booklet on what we are finding.

Extend Our Loft: Still thinking

Redo Cab On Plow Truck: Sold plow truck instead. That was an hard project turned easy.

Redo Woodshed: Maybe next year

Learn To Make Head Yoke For Oxen: Our dear friend who was the head yoke expert passed away last month. This will be on hold for awhile.

Climb Borestone Mountain: Good fall trip

Plant One Or More Fruit Tree, Nut Tree and Berry Bush: Planted a pear and peach tree and more grapes.
Plan Outdoor Kitchen: We're planning

Propagate More Plants: Always working on this one.

Build Front Deck With Grape Railing: The grapes are wishing we would hurry up and do this.

Christmas Tree Patch: Taking what is already growing and doing some pruning . Making a nice patch

Ice House Experiment: Figured we need cold weather for this one (is that a good excuse?)

Worms: Can't decide on a good place to keep them

More Rain Water Collection: Done, but still could add more

Build Solar Oven, Kiln and Dehydrator: My dream......

Become More Organized.....WOW. Actually, this is the one we are doing the best on. It has been the summer of organization...I love it!

Reduce Trash: Yup!

Use Less Plastic: Yup!

Stay On Top Of GMO Issues: An on going thing....GMO issues have us very concerned. What's wrong with regular food? Why does it have to become a scientific experiment?

Eat Only Local Food: We get closer to this goal every day.

Avoid Buying Products From China: Very difficult when you pay attention, but we are on top of it.

Overall I think we have done very well, and we have done a lot of things that are not on our list....is it too late to add them on, just so we can cross them off????

Scrambled Eggs with Cheese

2010-08-30T12:27:00.002-04:00

Sunday mornings are usually when my husband makes breakfast. I really look forward to what he will do; sometimes it's simple and sometimes quite gourmet, but never a disappointment.

Here is what he made this week:

Scrambled Eggs with Cheese

Crack however many eggs you want into a bowl.

Scramble the eggs and add milk.

Put your frying pan on medium to low heat and melt some butter in the pan to prevent sticking.

Pour egg mixture into the pan (you may need to lower the heat a little, you do not want these eggs to cook fast). Put cheese pieces on top of egg mixture.

Cook slowly, stirring as needed. Be careful not to over cook.

We like to use a variety of cheeses, sometimes 2 or 3 different kinds at a time.

Sweet Potato Salad

2010-08-20T13:12:00.000-04:00

If you like sweet potatoes this salad won't disappoint!

Sweet Potato Salad
1 large sweet potato; chopped, cooked, cooled
1 small onion; chopped
2 large eggs; hard boiled, diced
1 tablespoon Italian herb blend
mayonnaise; to taste

Mix together potato, onion, eggs and herb blend.

Add mayonnaise to taste.

Tequila and Ginger Marinade

2010-08-04T10:54:00.000-04:00

Wanted something a little different last night. This is what we came up with.

Tequila and Ginger Marinade
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon tamari (soy sauce)
1 teaspoon tequila
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ginger; ground

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

This will marinate 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of beef.
~~

Building a Boules Court

2010-07-21T10:27:00.005-04:00

Building a Boules Court

Our favorite movie is Peter Mayle's “A Year in Provence”; I think we have seen it about 10 times (the only movie we have ever purchased to own). In the movie they play the game of boules, or petanque, as is is also called, and we just had to try it.

We found a great set of boules balls on ebay and decided we needed a court to play on. The big project of this year.

In our back yard, which is relatively flat, we had a flower garden that was being taken over by weeds. We figured this would be a good spot for the court. The first step was transplanting all the flowers, then cutting the weeds down with a mower. Lumber was cut with the saw mill, and a load of gravel was ordered. The court measures 13' by 38' and the bottom is covered with a weed blocking ground cloth.

We built the frame, got it level and started hauling in gravel (a skid steer worked real well for this part). Our court took about 12 yards of gravel. After the gravel was all in place we raked it as smooth as possible.
Already we have spend many hours playing boules, now we need to teach the game to a few friends!

A “What’s In the Frig?” Pasta Salad

2010-07-15T10:29:00.000-04:00

Earlier today I was in the mood for a pasta salad, but I knew I really didn’t have a lot of ingredients on hand. I decided to scour the refrigerator to see what I could come up with.

I cooked about 3 cups of pasta and set it aside. I found walnuts and shredded some asiago cheese. Last summer I made pickled nasturtium seeds (“capers”) and pickled garlic scapes, and I knew these would be good in a salad. We recently bought some organic freshly pressed sunflower oil from a local farm. That and some of the brine from the garlic scapes would make a great dressing. From the spice drawer I decided on Italian herb blend.

I didn’t measure a thing. Just “a little of this, a bit of that” and tasted as I went along. I added a little extra sunflower oil at the end and mixed in all the ingredients.

It tastes great!

Easy Baking Recipes: Pumpkin Pie

2010-07-08T09:45:00.000-04:00

Last week we cut up the last pumpkin from our garden. It was quite big, so we were able to make a lot of things with it.

Pumpkin Pie

1 pie shell, 8, unbaked
1 1/2 cups pumpkin; cooked and mashed
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon molasses
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 large egg
1/2 cup cream (heavy)

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Grease a pie plate and line with pie shell.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well with a fork.

Pour into prepared pie plate.

Bake 55 to 65 minutes, until filling is firm.

Baked Apples

2010-06-28T11:12:00.000-04:00

Baked Apples
6 large apples; peeled, cored and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 tablespoons butter; melted
1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9" x 7" baking dish.

Peel, core and slice apples into 8 pieces. Place in baking dish.

Combine sugar, flour and spices. Mix well and sprinkle over apple slices.

Pour melted butter over apples/flour mixture, then pour the water on top.

Bake 20 minutes uncovered, then 20 minutes covered. Serve warm. It is also good cold.

Carlo, Our Newest Member of the Family

2010-06-19T11:02:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, June 12th, 2010 Emma's calf, Carlo was born. Emma is our Dexter, Hereford cross and was bred with a Dexter bull, so Carlo is ¾ Dexter and ¼ Hereford. Carlo is Emma's first calf, so we were hoping to be around in case she had any problems.

We weren't with her when the actual birth happened, but heard her mooing shortly after. Carlo was still wet when we found him and Emma was cleaning him up.

We thought everything was going to be fine (it was about 10PM by then) so we went to bed. About 3AM I was awoken by mooing. Carlo was on the wrong side of the fence, and Emma was letting me know about it. I got up, got him back with mama and noticed she wouldn't let him nurse. Every time he would try, she would kick him away. I got her into the stall, hooked her up, but she still wouldn't let him nurse.

I woke my husband up about 4AM and he came out to help. One of us had to hold Emma so she couldn't move around and the other had to guide Carlo to her udder. It was quite a chore, but he finally did get a full belly.

We had to do that for three mornings and two nights. By the third night Emma let him nurse on her own and now she is the perfect mother. She is nursing as she should, he has learned to stay with her or come when she calls and we are able to pat him and play with him without her getting upset.

Molly, our Dexter cow is due in August. This will be her third, so I don't think there will be any problems there. And Carlo will have a playmate.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

2010-06-15T12:47:00.000-04:00

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
pinch salt
16 oz powdered sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter

Butter an 8" x 8" square pan.

Melt butter in a medium to large sauce pan.

Add milk and vanilla and remove from heat.

Mix together the powdered sugar salt and baking cocoa. Gradually add to the milk/butter mixture and stir until well blended.

Stir in peanut butter. Mix well.

Press into prepared pan. Cool in the refrigerator a few hours before cutting into squares.

Yield: 16 good size pieces

Baby Ducks

2010-06-04T11:00:00.007-04:00

This has been a tough year for our ducks. First, we lost Ivan, our Call duck to a mink and then Rebecca, a 9 year old Khaki Campbell to old age. That left Casandra, an Indian Runner, all by herself. Well, not completely by herself. She has 7 chickens to hang out with, but it hasn't been the same for her; the chickens don't really enjoy swimming in the pond.

Last week I called our local feed store and ordered 2 Pekin ducklings and got a phone call that they were in today. Since these are day old ducklings, they need to stay in our house for a while before they can go live in the chicken coop. We have raised many babies in our house, from chickens, ducks and turkeys to pheasants and guineas. I think we have it down to a science.

We have a few large plastic totes that we saved just for this purpose. At first we tried cardboard boxes, which worked out okay for all the animals except the ducks. Ducks are very messy drinkers and it didn't take long for the cardboard boxed to become a nuisance. The plastic totes work out very well.

We first put in a layer of shavings in the tote and then a bowl of food. The water container gets set on a brick to keep it off the bottom of the tote, and therefore stays a little cleaner. Shavings find their way into the waterer much too quickly.

Since our house is powered by solar, we don't use a heat lamp in the tote, but we do have a small red light that uses very little electricity. We heat up a brick in the oven (not too hot), wrap it in a towel and place this in the box. The red light does offer some heat, but it also seems to relax the birds for some reason; they seem to find the color soothing. We first noticed that with chicks.

The tote sits on top of our washer and dryer. We place some window screens on top (to keep young flyers in and cats out) and in the evening we place a towel over most of the top to be sure everyone is warm enough.

Easy Baking Recipes, Desserts: Sugar Cookies

2010-06-02T09:35:00.000-04:00

These will cure your sweet-tooth!

Sugar Cookies
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease cookie sheets.

Mix oil, eggs and vanilla with a fork.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Drop dough by tablespoonfuls about 2" apart on prepared pans. Flatten with fingers.

Bake for about 8 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheets and cool on a wire rack.

Makes about 28 good size cookies.

Pumpkin Bread

2010-05-25T12:26:00.000-04:00

Lots of baking today with our cooked pumpkin. The kitchen still smells good!

Pumpkin Bread
2 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1 cup pumpkin; cooked and mashed
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon orange peel; grated

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan.

Mix together eggs, vegetable oil, honey and pumpkin. Mix well.

Stir in the dry ingredients and combine.

Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 45 to 55 minutes until a knife inserted in to the center comes out clean.

Turn out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool.
~~

Herb Corn Bread

2010-05-20T16:19:00.001-04:00

Herb Corn Bread

1 1/2 cups corn meal
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon dill; dried
1 tablespoon oregano; dried
1 heaping tablespoon honey
2 large eggs
4 tablespoons butter; melted
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease an 8" x 8" pan.

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Spread into prepared pan.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes.

Yield: 16 Pieces

Apple Cider Mashed Sweet Potato

2010-05-18T12:18:00.003-04:00

So simple, yet so yummy!!

Apple Cider Mashed Sweet Potato
1 large sweet potato
2 large white potatoes
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup apple cider
1/3 cup milk

Peel, chop and cook potatoes.

Drain, add butter, cider and milk.

Mash well. More milk can be used as desired.
~~~

Sweet Potatoes

Peanut Butter Molasses Cookies

2010-05-15T09:59:00.000-04:00

Peanut Butter Molasses Cookies

1/2 cup butter; room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup molasses or birch syrup
1 large egg; room temperature
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.

Cream together butter and sugar.

Add peanut butter, molasses or birch syrup and egg. Mix well.

Combine dry ingredients and add to the peanut butter mixture. Stir well.

Drop by teaspoonfuls on to cookie sheet. Flatten with moist fingers.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Remove onto a wire rack to cool.

Yield about 40 cookies.

An Easy to Make Screen House for Hen and Babies

2010-05-12T12:04:00.003-04:00

An Easy to Make Screen House for Hen and Babies

We are always on the look out for items to be reused and saved from the landfill. When we saw wooden framed window screens at a yard sale one day we knew they were too good to pass up. At the time we didn't have a use for them, but since then they have been used over and over again as a chicken screen house.

The screens measure about 3' by 4 ½' and screw together easily. We have enough to cover the top (we don't screw the top down, but leave them easily removable so that we can climb in and out of the area to change food and water).

We build a small house for the chicken and chicks to sleep in at night, something we can lock up to keep predators away. This fits in the screen house easily and has ventilation at the top so that the chickens don't get too warm in the summer.

We have used these screens for hens with babies, but also for chicks and ducklings that we bought from the feed store. It keeps the babies safe, and yet lets them get fresh air and grass.

Pasta with Garlic and Vanilla Cream Sauce

2010-05-08T16:21:00.000-04:00

We love pasta, and my husband is a great sauce maker!

Pasta with Garlic and Vanilla Cream Sauce
4 cup uncooked pasta
3 tablespoons butter
5 medium garlic cloves; finely chopped
1 small onion; finely chopped
1 cup cream (heavy)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon pepper; freshly ground
1/2 teaspoon salt; to taste
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 cup water

Cook pasta according to package instructions.

Melt butter over medium/high heat.

Saute garlic and onion until tender.

Add cream, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add vanilla, pepper and salt.

Combine flour and mustard powder into cold water and thoroughly mix. Ad mixture to cream and increase heat to high. Stir constantly until sauce thickens to desires consistency.

Serve over pasta.

Serves 4
~~~~

A Calf is Born, Photos of Emma

2010-05-01T11:59:00.013-04:00

Emma was born on July 26, 2008. Molly is the first cow I have ever had and I was very excited about her giving birth. My biggest hope was to be at home and to be with her. As it worked out my husband, a friend and his 9 year old son and I were all here to witness the great event. Whenever I tell people I took photos they all have the same reaction: "Yuck!" It wasn't "yuck" at all, it was wonderful.

I am sure many people have never witnessed the birth of a calf, so I wanted to share these photos.

The entire process took about 20 minutes.

Emma Today

Easy Baking Recipes, Desserts: Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-04-29T12:33:00.000-04:00

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 cup butter; room temperature
1/4 cup honey
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 °F. Grease a cookie sheet.

Cream butter and honey. Add remaining ingredients, except for the chocolate ships and mix well.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet.

Bake 8 - 10 minutes, being careful not to over brown.

Remove from cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.

Yield 16 to 18 cookies.

Easy Baking Recipes, Deserts: Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Brownies

2010-04-29T12:30:00.000-04:00

The sour cream makes these brownies nice and moist; the chocolate chips make them sinfully good!

Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Brownies
1/2 cup butter; melted
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour an 8' x 8" pan.

Melt butter.

Beat the eggs and sugar together until well blended and creamy.

Add butter, mix well.

To the butter/egg sugar mixture add the cocoa, flour and sour cream. Combine well.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, being careful not to over bake.

Let cool on a wire rack 30 minutes before cutting.

Yield: 16 Brownies

Meatloaf

2010-04-28T11:18:00.000-04:00

Sometimes the craving for meatloaf gets too strong to ignore. Last night was one of those nights!

Meatloaf
butter; for greasing the pan
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 pounds hamburger
1 medium onion; diced
2 slices bread; toasted and diced
1 tablespoon oregano
1 teaspoon mustard powder
4 cloves garlic; minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
salt and pepper; to taste

Preheat oven to 350°F

Grease bottom and sides of a loaf pan with the butter.

In a large bowl beat the eggs and milk with a fork.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well, clean hands work the best for mixing.

Place mixture in the loaf pan and bake for about an hour.

Pasta and Egg Scramble

2010-04-28T11:12:00.000-04:00

We love pasta and cheese. This is an easy recipe that makes a great meal.

Pasta and Egg Scramble
1/4 pound spaghetti; uncooked
4 large eggs
3/4 cup cheddar cheese; shredded
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1 small onion; sliced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 pound sirloin steak; cut into bite size strips
2 handfuls baby spinach

Cook pasta according to package directions.

In a medium bowl beat eggs. Add cheese and salt. Mix well and set aside.

Heat butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add onions and crushed red pepper and saute until the onions start to become translucent.

Add meat. Stir often until meat is lightly browned.

Mix in cooked pasta. Put the spinach on top of the pasta/meat mixture, then pour egg and cheese over spinach. Mix well and cook until the egg sets.

Serves 2
~~~

Starting Seeds

2010-04-26T14:52:00.006-04:00

I think I am a bit behind schedule, but I finally got some seeds started today. I have a folding wire rack that came from an old convenience store that I pull out every spring and set up in front of our south facing windows. A friend saves me a few of the plastic containers that salad comes in (I should add that to Household Hints) and I use them as mini greenhouses for the seeds.
I also start some in regular small flower pots.

In the next few days we will do more in the greenhouse. I enjoy doing some in the house as well as the greenhouse (I think the ones in the house get more attention!)

Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

2010-04-26T14:39:00.001-04:00

Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

Grill both sides of 2 slices of buttered bread in a skillet. Fry an egg and put on one slice of bread. Add cheese on top, cover with the other slice of bread and grill for a bit longer to give the cheese a chance to melt a little. Serve hot.

Easy Meals; Pot Roast

2010-04-26T14:23:00.005-04:00

Pot Roast
We have no set recipe for making pot roast; every time is different and it always comes out great. The secret is long cooking so the meat is so tender will break away with a fork.

Any size roast will do; we add potatoes, carrots, sweet potato, onions, garlic, whatever we have on hand. We also like to add different seasonings, such as oregano, dried dandelion leaves, thyme, again whatever we have on hand and seems to blend with our other ingredients.

Place your meat in a covered pan; add all your vegetables and herbs/seasonings. Cover everything with water and put in a 350° F oven for about 5 or 6 hours, until the meat falls apart with a fork. Check the water every so often and add more if needed. It is hard to over cook a roast like this, as long as there is enough water in the pan.

The second day we break the meat up small (if there is any left!) and turn the whole thing into a soup. We may add a few more ingredients if needed. Sometimes we add barley or rice.

Household Hints

2010-04-20T14:55:00.002-04:00

We love kitchen and household hints. These are a few that we use often, but would love to hear from you if you have more. Please share your favorites!

Household Hints

Rub oil into your measuring cup before measuring honey, the honey will pour right out. This also works well for molasses.

To remove the smell of onions and garlic from your hands, make a paste of vinegar and salt and rub all over your hands. Rinse well with warm water.

Add some salt to boiling water before poaching eggs, it will help set the egg whites.

Chew on citrus peel after eating a garlic-y meal, it will freshen the breath. Cinnamon and whole cloves work as well.

Apple cider makes a nice change from water for steaming vegetables.

Add a pinch or two of salt to the water when boiling hard boiled eggs, they will peel better.

Club soda will remove chocolate stains from clothes, salt will remove wine.

Use beer instead of water or stock to make a great tasting beef stew.

A potato ricer works great for mashing an avocado.

When making a cheese sauce, don't cook at a high temperature, this will make the cheese tough and stringy.

Onions that are too strong to use raw in a salad can be soaked in cold water for an hour or so.

Once a week pour a gallon of boiling water down the kitchen drain to help break up grease and prevent clogs.

It is best to hand wash kitchen knives, even if they can stand the dishwasher, the detergents can pit the blades.

Wiping the shower down with a towel after each use will help keep soap scum from building up.

Add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to every 3 eggs to make a fluffy omelet.

Add a pinch of baking soda to milk when boiling to prevent curdling.

For garlic flavored potato chips, put a peeled clove of garlic in a bag of chips and let sit a few hours.

Add apple cider to a stew for great flavor.

When buying oranges for juice, look for the heaviest ones, normally they contain the most juice.

Orange juice can take the place of wine for cooking fish.

One pound of potatoes will make about 2 cups of mashed potatoes.

Empty wine bottles work well for drying plastic bags.

Use kitchen shears to cut canned tomatoes without removing them from the can; easy and no mess.

4 or 5 medium tomatoes equal one pound.

Remove yeast from the refrigerator about an hour before using, it is less active when cold.

If you let doughnuts stand for about 15 minutes before frying they will absorb less fat.

Shake raisins or other dried fruits in flour before adding them to dough, they won't sink to the bottom of the pan during baking.

You can keep the yokes from crumbing while slicing hard boiled eggs if you keep dipping your knife in clod water.

If possible, keep tomatoes at room temperature, the taste will be much better.

Boiled turnips are sweeter if you don't peel them before boiling.

Herbed Cheese Spread

2010-04-05T09:58:00.009-04:00

We are new to cheese making, so we thought we would start out with something easy.

Herbed Cheese Spread

2 quarts whole raw milk
1/3 cup herbal vinegar
salt and herbs; to taste

Heat the milk in a non-reactive sauce pan over medium heat until the temperature reaches 180°F.

Reduce heat as low as possible and heat for about 10 minutes longer, keeping the temperature as close to 180°F as possible.

Remove pan from the heat and add the herbal vinegar (we used raspberry)
Stir with a slotted stainless steel (or wooded) spoon to incorporate.

Set the pan aside for about 15 minutes to let the milk curdle.

Line a colander with a double thickness of cheesecloth. Place the colander over a larger kettle to catch the whey. (chickens and pigs love this)
Pour the curdled milk into the cheesecloth and let the excess liquid drain through.

Gather the corners of the cheesecloth together and tie into a knot. We hang the bundle from the faucet on the kitchen sink.

Allow to drip for a few hours.

Remove cheese from cheesecloth and place in a bowl. At this time salt and other herbs can be added to taste.

Chill for a few hours before serving.

Home Made Log Arch For ATV

2010-03-30T11:22:00.004-04:00

Home Made Log Arch For ATV

This log arch was made from all scrap/salvaged materials and has worked really well for us. Here is how it was made:

The log arch measures 14” wide at the front and 37” inside the arch on back.

Basic materials:
Two 1 1/2” pipe 6 ½' long
One 1 1/2” pipe 6' long
Three 2” pipe, 22” long
Four 2” pipe 14” long
Angle Iron
Square steel (2”)
Misc. iron/steel plates
Hubs
Tires from a Ford PU truck
Pulleys
Boat wench
Trailer hitch
Twelve feet of 3/8” cable
Slip hook

We started with two pieces of 22” long (2”) pipe and cut a 40° angle on one end of each pipe. Next, we took three of the 14” long (2”) pipe and cut 40° angles on both ends of the 3 pieces.
Those five pieces were welded together to form the arch.

Once those pieces were welded, we welded one end of each of the 6 ½' (1 1/2”) pipe 90° to the bottom sides of the arch with the other end welded to each end of a 14” (1 1/2” x 1 1/2”) angle iron.

Then we welded the 6' (1 1/2”) pipe to the center of the top of the arch.

The forth piece of 14” (2”) pipe was then welded to the center of the angel iron that holds the two 6 ½' pieces of pipe and the other end is at an angle and connected to the 6' (1 1/2”) pipe.

Hubs were then welded onto the outside of the arch where the 6 ½' piece was welded to the 2” piece.

Next, we welded a 14” piece of 2” square steel to the center of the angle iron on the front and welded flat steel on the bottom of that to reinforce it.

A piece of 2” square steel about 16” long was welded onto the end of the 4' piece straight up and down at 90° to the 4' piece for attaching pulleys. We then welded this to the top of the arch along the 6 ½ ' piece of pipe.

We notched each end and drilled a hole through to mount the steel pulleys on each end of the 16” piece.

A 1/4” triangle steel plate was welded to where the 4' and 16” piece meet for reinforcement. And 4 gusset plates were welded over each joint of the arch, also for reinforcement.

A short 1 1/2” angle iron piece was welded on the bottom of the 6 ½' (1 1/2”) pipe and the end notched, leaving a 2 1/2” tab that bent around the 2” pipe and everything was welded together to reinforce for pulling the log.

A boat wench was bolted to the front bottom side of the of the 6' (1 1'2”) pipe. We took about 12' of 3/8 cable and ran it through the pulley and clamped a slip hook on to it.

On the front we bolted a 1 1/2” trailer hitch.

We mounted the tires and the arch was ready to go.
So far, so good.

Easy Baking Recipes; Apple (or Rhubarb) Sauce Bread

2010-03-29T11:55:00.005-04:00

Rhubarb sauce is simple to make, just cook it as you would an apple sauce; rhubarb with some honey (or sugar) and whatever spices you like in a sauce. We have made it with and without cinnamon.

Apple (or Rhubarb) Sauce Bread
4 tablespoons butter; melted
1/4 cup honey
1 large egg
1 cup apple sauce or rhubarb sauce
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 cup walnuts; chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9" loaf pan.

Combine melted butter and honey. Add the egg and apple (or rhubarb) sauce and mix well.

Sift together the dry ingredients and stir into the butter and sauce mixture.

Fold in walnuts.

Spoon into prepared pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes.

Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

Microsoft Be Gone

2010-03-24T11:18:00.005-04:00

My husband finally made some major changes to our computers...and for the better. Here's his story:

The Operating System That Broke the Homesteaders Back

Well it finally happened, “I've had enough!” After working on computers for many years I have put up with their crap, but microsoft (small “m” they don't deserve a capital) has gone too far, and I've had enough with their ill fated attempts at trying to create an OS (operating system) that actually works, not software that does no more than raise your blood pressure and push your nerves to their ends. Oh sure, if you never put any other software on the computer except what comes with it you might have half a chance at the whole thing working somewhat right, but if you start loading on software that's actually useful …......well now you just entered the “microsoft, beat your head against the wall, pull your hair out, shoot yourself in the foot world,” the world of - it ain't gonna work no matter what you do. And the software that comes with the computer is either useless or trial software, so now if you find it to be useful you have to pay more money for it. OK, so you get the idea that I'm not a microsoft fan; that fact alone makes anyone ten times smarter than microsoft.

Vista. Ah yes, Vista- a she devil put into an operating system, it's only function in life is to crash, lock up, slow down or any other sort of malicious function it can perform just to--- ; you see were I'm going with this? It all began with the purchase of two Sony Vaio's laptops; two years of pure hell. But I said, “no I'll give it a chance and work out the bugs, I'll learn the operating system,” 730+ days I think is a fair chance. So my wife and I decided to upgrade to win 7. Back in November of 09 we saw a copy of win 7 three license family pack on sale for $149.00. In late February we decided that it might be the time to go back and buy it, one license for each laptop and the third one would go onto the file server I am building. After checking the original store and many others and not being able to find a copy we turned to the place were the lazy go, were the unadventurous go, were those who see the outside world as a demonic void of inhumane----- sorry, the Internet (I'm referring to myself ). It didn't take long to learn that not only did ms stop producing the family pack, but any on line store that had a copy was now charging in the area of $300.00 of more depending what site you went to. As you probably already figured, I went off the deep end. After boiling a few hours I finally had an epiphany and figured out a solution. Although some of you will laugh, some will be puzzled and a few of you will think to yourselves [it's about time, I could have told you that.] The solution? Screw microsoft, I'm switching to Linux, to be specific Ubuntu 9.10.

Here's how it's going to work. Once we get the disks, Vista on my laptop will be the first to receive the death sentence and undergo the transformation. I can't wait to kill Vista. The second will be the file server (we also ordered Ubuntu for servers). My wife's laptop with Vista and our Dell laptop with xp will stay as is for the time being, only because we need to find software for Linux to replace some of the win apps that we still use. Our network will then consist of file server wired to a Netgear wireless router that is plugged into a satellite modem (Wild Blue) our two Vaios will connect to the wireless and the Dell will be cabled.

March 3, 2010 at 9:06 eastern time the destruction of a demon began and at 9:26 Vista passed away on my computer, no longer to be heard from again, well not on my laptop anyway. As soon as the installation completed it had to reboot, this took about 50 seconds. No, that is no misprint: 50 seconds my computer was up. Not only was it ready to go, it had already found the net work and when the printer was turned on, it found that as well. Linux is so easy, it has not had any problems it doesn't freeze up; it's not slow. In fact when going on line, it is actually faster than windows; pages load a lot faster with out any problems. After playing for quite some time I had to call it quits so I decide to shut down and when I clicked the mouse to shut it down it took 8 seconds, yeah that's what I said. Why did I take so long to switch? The best part is Linux is free, always has been, always will be. It's open source. And while Linux users keep getting free upgrades, each time microsoft comes out with a new version of windows people dig deep into their pockets and pay all kinds of money for something they could get for nothing.

I have been waiting to try Linux for years, I just don't know what I've been waiting for. There is plenty of help out there, and if you think about it all kinds of people have been working on this software. They don't get paid, they do it because they want to, so it makes sense that this software would be better. There are also ways that anybody can get involved, by testing, programming and designing, just to name a few. Check out www.Ubuntu.com. I plan on becoming active with Linux and help get more people switched over to Linux.

They say that you can make change by voting with your dollars. Well here is a way to keep your dollars and vote at the same time. Although I should clarify the fact that even though you can get the software for free, it would be great to make a donation to the cause, whether it is by monetary or voluntary. After all, others are giving to produce it, so we should give back to support it. While I'm on the subject of free there are a lot of great programs under the open source category. Open source, if you are not familiar with the term, is free to use, free to copy and distribute; in fact you are encouraged to do so. I have always been a big proponent of open source, programs like Open Office are better than ms Word, and Gimp is comparable to Adobe Photo Shop, just to name a couple. It's pretty much certain that if you want a specific program, you can probably find an open source program that will do what you need.

So as I finish this rant, a final note; don't be brain washed into thinking that you're stuck with what you have, if you don't like what you've got change it, but before you do make a back up of your system just in case you don't like the new one (I can't imagine that), or there are two other options. First you can run most Linux disks as live CD's, or you can install it along side your version of windows (I just couldn't do that to Linux, I gave it a clean home.)

Update: Last Friday my wife wiped out her computer and put Linux on it. She's thrilled with it! (and I'm so proud...)

Birch Syrup

2010-03-23T17:21:00.002-04:00

Tapping Birch Trees

A few years ago we started doing something that caused quite a few “raised eye brows” around here- we tapped birch trees.

Birch sap starts to run about the time maple stops, and more sap is required to make syrup, about 60 gallons of sap to equal one gallon of syrup.

The trees are tapped the same way as maple, and the sap is cooked down in the same manner, simply boil until desired consistency is reached.

So far all we use the finished product for is making beer and, when cooked down a bit thicker, a replacement for molasses.

We have been successful in using the “birch molasses” in baked beans, breads and cookies; the taste is wonderful and it's one less thing on our grocery shopping list.

Future plans include birch soda and birch wine.

Maple Syrup Season

2010-03-09T13:31:00.009-05:00

By the end of February each winter we start to go a bit stir crazy. We are tired of the cold, the snow, carrying so much firewood and worrying about the animal's water freezing. However when the first of March rolls around it's usually on a happy note, because I know there is not much time left before we start tapping maple trees for sap.

This year we have been very fortunate, the winter temperatures never got really cold (I think -12° F was the coldest) and we got little snow. This past week has started to feel like spring, and the maple trees got tapped.

My husband loves gathering all the buckets, spiles, drill and bit to begin tapping. Last Saturday he tapped 60 trees and already we are cooking down a lot of sap.

Each night we dump the buckets in to a large barrel which goes back home with us and we dip from it to fill our pots in the house.

We cook all our syrup down in our house on the wood stove and sometimes on the gas stove to finish it off.

The syrup gets used year 'round for baking, cooking, flavoring, sweetening, brewing and snacking (we have been known to eat it with a spoon!)

So I know spring can't be far away...there's a smell of maple in the air!

This post was entered into the "Grow Your Own" roundup, created by Andrea's Recipes and hosted this month by House of Annie.

Deer Resistant Plants

2010-02-27T19:23:00.005-05:00

It is getting to the time of year when we are thinking of new plants for the garden. Deer can be a problem for us, so we've been researching plants that deer will usually avoid. Here is a list we have compiled. We are going to try some as border plants around the garden and some of the smaller ones around our small fruit trees. Hopefully they will help keep the little buggers out of the garden this year!

Acacia
Allium
Aster
Bamboo
Bay Tree
Bearberry
Begonia
Bleeding Heart
Bottle Brush
Boxwood
Butterfly Bush
Catmint
Chinese Flowering Dogwood
Cleome
Columbine
Coneflower
Creeping Phlox
Crocus
Currant
Daffodil
Dusty Miller
Eucalyptus
Fern
Fig
Freesia
Geranium
Gloriosa Daisy
Gooseberry
Heelbore
Highbush Cranberry
Hyacinth
Iris
Japanese Maple
Jasmine
Lamb's Ear
Lilac
Lily-Of-The-Valley
Lobelia
Magnolia
Marigold
Morning Glory
Nasturtium
Oleander
Olive
Pawpaw
Periwinkle
Pomegranate
Potato Vine
Rosemary
Rue
Sage
Scilla
Siberian Squill
Smoke Tree
Snapdragon
Snowdrop
Spirea
St. John's Wort
Sumac
Sweet Alyssum
Tea Tree
Thyme
Verbena
Viburnum
Wisteria
Yarrow
Yucca

Bandsaw Mill

2010-02-17T10:41:00.004-05:00

A saw mill can be a huge asset to a small farm; there’s lumber for building, edgings for firewood, saw dust for gardens and the ability to earn some extra money by sawing lumber for other people.

We’ve spent the past few years researching sawmills and even started to build our own. But with projects piling up and trees falling in the woods we decided now was the time to purchase one. We bought ours from Thomas Bandsaw Mills because we like how their mills are made, and it’s a local company, only about an hour from our home.

Already word has gotten out and we are making a little extra money sawing lumber for a local farm.

My list of projects keeps growing --- now to only find the time to get them done!

Making Powdered Sugar

2010-02-14T13:53:00.003-05:00

We do not use a lot of sugar here, it’s mostly honey or maple syrup, however we do keep some on hand for certain recipes. At Christmas time my husband wanted to make some fudge that called for powdered sugar (which we never buy) so we decided to make our own.

One pound of granulated sugar (about 2 ¼ cups) will yield about 3 cups of powdered sugar.

We found it best to process the sugar in about ½ cup batches in the blender. Start at slow speed for a few seconds, and then go to high speed for about 20 seconds. Stop the blender, scrape down the sides and blend on high for an additional 20 seconds.

This gave us a nice powdered sugar. We noticed that after a few batches the blender started to feel hot, so we let it rest for a bit to cool down.

Herbal Tea Blends

2010-02-05T13:49:00.001-05:00

Herbal teas have many health benefits and are very tasty. Here are a few of our favorites. I can not remember where I got the recipes from, they have been written on a piece of note paper for years. Roots are best steeped in boiling water for about 15 minutes, leaves and other parts are steeped for 3 to 5 minutes. Honey can be added for a bit of sweetness.

For Upset Stomach:

Equal parts:
Rose hips
Peppermint leaves
Lemon-balm leaves

Equal parts:
Dandelion root
Dandelion leaves/stems
Peppermint

Equal parts:
Fennel seeds
Peppermint
Lemon-balm

Equal parts:
Raspberry leaf
Peppermint

2 part catnip
1 part fennel
1 part lemon-balm

To Help With Arthritis:

2 parts nettle leaves
1 part each willow bark and peppermint

As a Gargle for Sore Throats:

Equal parts:
Sage
Fennel seeds

Sleep Aid:

Skullcap. Drink before going to bed.

Blood Cleanser:

Equal parts:
Red clover
Rose hips
Dandelion leaves

For Coughs:

2 parts marsh-mallow root
1 part lemon-balm
1 part plantain leaves
1 part thyme
1 part calendula flowers

To Calm Nerves:

2 parts hops
1 part hawthorn leaves
1 part lemon-balm
1 part valerian

Easy Baking Recipes: Peanut Butter Cake

2010-01-23T14:52:00.008-05:00

Peanut Butter Cake
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup honey
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350°F

Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan

Cream together the peanut butter, butter and honey.

Add the eggs and mix well.

Combine the flour and baking powder together and mix well. Add to the batter.

Stir the flour/powder mixture into the batter while slowly adding the milk. Combine well.

Put batter into pan and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, taking care not to over bake.

Cool on a wire rack.

Serve with whipped cream or the frosting of your choice.

Natural House Cleaning, Making Your Own Cleaning Supplies

2010-01-21T15:31:00.002-05:00

With so many chemical cleaners on the market these days, and the costs of natural ones going up, it’s nice to be able to make your own. Here are a few of our favorite ways to clean.

To deep clean wooden cutting boards spread baking soda over the surface, then pour vinegar over them. The bubbles will do the deep cleaning. Rinse with hot water and let air dry.

A baking soda and water paste will remove most stains from counter tops and will also remove odors (this also works for hands, for odors anyway).

Eucalyptus essential oil is a great bacteria fighter. Place a few drops on a damp dish cloth and use to wipe down counters. Pine, lavender, lemon and lime essential oils work well also.

To really clean dish towels soak in boiling water to which a few drops of tea tree, eucalyptus or thyme essential oil have been added, then wash as usual.

A mixture of water and vinegar will clean windows, glass surfaces, counters and fixtures. Use a borax and water to help fight mold.

Grease can easily be removed from cooking surfaces with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This also works for cookware, sprinkle baking soda in the pan and cover with vinegar. Let sit over night and clean in the morning.

We regularly pour baking soda and vinegar down our drains, then after a few minutes we flush the drain with boiling water. This helps keep them free of grease and soap scum.

Sprinkling baking soda in the trash container before putting in a bag will help eliminate odors.

A mixture of vegetable oil and lemon juice works well as a furniture polish.

Clean toilets with baking soda and vinegar. We also use biodegradable dish soap for cleaning the toilet. A few drops of essential oil can be added to the toilet tank.

Add vinegar to the final rinse of laundry instead of fabric softener.

We air out the house once a week, even in the middle of winter. My grandmother always said to, so I never questioned it.

For general cleaning we mix some dish soap with very hot water and add a few drops of lemon essential oil. The lemon help fights germs and smells so good that cleaning is almost enjoyable!

A good resource book is:Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun and Frugal Uses You'Ve Probably Never Thought of

Easy Recipes, Baked Beans

2010-01-19T11:06:00.006-05:00

This is a recipe from our Grant Farm Honey Recipes Cookbook. Perfect for a cold day!

Baked Beans
2 cups dried beans, your choice
1 large onion; chopped
1/4 pound salt pork, or 1 tablespoon of salt
3 tablespoons dry mustard
3 tablespoons molasses
1/4 cup honey

Soak the beans over night.

Preheat oven to 500°F.

Cut salt pork in half and put a piece in the bottom of a bean pot. Add the beans and soaking liquid. Add the rest of the ingredients, placing the other piece of salt pork on top of the beans. Be sure you have plenty of water to cover the beans well.

Bake at 500°F for one hour, then lower the temperature to 350°F and cook about 4 to 4 1/2 hours longer. Check the liquid every so often and add more as needed.

Oh My, This Should Get Us By

2010-01-10T08:03:00.002-05:00

When our generator stopped working last spring I had mixed feelings, grief and relief. You see, I really dislike using a generator and dream of being able to produce all of our own power without a back up generator; I long for the day we do not need one. It didn’t take long for me to realize that we still have a need for back up power until we are able to build up our system more.

Buying a new generator was not an option at the time, but with a very rainy spring/summer we did need a bit of extra help in the battery charging department. Our car came to the rescue.

We ran heavy gauge wires from the battery bank (positive and negative) to the outside wall of the house (driveway side) and drilled a hole through the wall for the wires to pass through. We mounted a fuse box outside and connected the positive wire into the top side of the fuse box. Then we got booster cables the same gauge wire, cut one end and tied the negative from the booster cables to the negative from the house. The positive wire from the booster cables connects to the bottom of the fuse terminal.

Inside the house the negative stays connected to the battery bank. After charging we disconnect the positive. We used booster cable clamps to connect to the battery bank.

The fuse box outside is protected by a sheet metal shield that is bent at an angle to serve as a roof.

When need be, we connect the car to the cables and begin charging our battery bank. This set up is still working fine for us.

Reflecting

2010-01-05T11:52:00.006-05:00

Winter in Maine is a time for reflection; to reflect on what we have, what we want, what we have accomplished and what still needs to be done.

We started a list about 6 years ago of short and long term goals, dreams and desires. Some of the things are simple, “fix truck,” while others are a bit more difficult, “eat only what we grow” and “learn French.” But each year more and more gets crossed off our list, and some new things get added on as we learn what we desire out of this life.

Looking back over the past year we are finally starting to feel as though things are coming together. Sure we have had our failures (many) - we tried raising pigs without an adequate yard for them and spent more time chasing pigs than feeding them, and that was in the winter. Not one of our smarter ideas. We also tried Guinea fowl; their constant squawking drove us crazy. Horses were another thing that didn’t work out for us, hundreds of dollars later.

But we don’t look at these things as failures; we look at them as lessons. How can we figure out what really works for us if we don’t know what doesn’t?

Each year we become a bit more independent. One of our goals is to eliminate the use of propane completely and this past year we have gotten a lot closer to that goal, in fact right now we are not using any propane at all and shouldn’t have to until summer when we turn on our refrigerator (read more at http://homesteadinginmaine.blogspot.com/2009/11/wood-fired-water-heater.html and http://homesteadinginmaine.blogspot.com/2009/10/free-cold-weather-refrigeration.html).

We are also learning about wild foods and began eating more of our lawn and mowing less of it. Luckily for us we have a lot of great edibles in our lawn and are finding more all the time. Foraging New England: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods and Medicinal Plants from Maine to Connecticut

But it goes beyond all that, the biggest challenge for me is learning to relax more and not get so worked up about things (actually my husband is improving on the “worked up” part as well). We are taking some time for us and I am not worrying about our List of Things to be Done; it’s pretty sad when you have to add “relax” to your “to do” list.

We will try raising pigs again, but not until we are better equipped for them. I would like to use them as little rototillers for the garden. One of my favorite phrases has become “let the animals do the work” and you know what, it works! Cows graze and clear land for us and the chickens keep the bug population down while scratching and fertilizing. I think pigs will be a great help to us as well.

Oh, there is so much more that has to be done, we need a barn, a work shop and larger gardens but for now I am only going to enjoy what has been done and be thankful for all we do have.

Now if only I could get the cats to feed the chickens in the mornings…..

Apple Glazed Walnut and Mushroom Saute

2010-01-04T10:16:00.000-05:00

2 tablespoon oil
8-10 cloves garlic; sliced
1 cup mushrooms; sliced
3 tablespoons walnuts; chopped
3/4 cup apple cider
pinch crushed red pepper; optional
salt and pepper; to taste

Heat oil in a medium skillet over high heat.
Add garlic and saute until tender.
Stir in mushrooms and add red pepper, if using.
Saute a minute or so, add walnuts and mix well.
Pour apple cider over the mixture and reduce liquid by half.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot.
2 Servings

Bovine Hydration System (BHS)

2009-12-30T12:06:00.003-05:00

Last winter we had to carry water out to our animals. This year we wanted an easier system. Our small barn area is attached to the wood shed, which is attached to our house at the mudroom. In our mudroom are the washer and dryer. We decided to plumb off the washing machine water to use for animal watering.

Here is how we did it:

We used 4” schedule 20 PVC pipe and put it overhead in the woodshed at a slight downwards pitch towards the bovine quarters.

Then we ran 1” black plastic water pipe inside the PVC pipe, the PVC pipe stays rigid and prevents the black plastic from sagging. The pipe on the barn side hangs over the water dish.

The black plastic pipe comes through the mudroom wall at the ceiling and is connected to a garden hose “y”; on one side we connected a hose that ties into our washing machine cold water faucet (we used another “y” on the cold water side of the washer. One end is connected to the washer hose and the other to the BHS). The other side of the “y” has a short hose connected to it that we use as a vent to help drain the water out of the black plastic pipe.

We discovered after our first real cold night that the pipe wasn’t draining completely and it froze. Luckily it warmed up during the day and we tried using air from the compressor to force out any water left in the pipe. This has worked very well, even with -8° F temps.

Happy cows, happy people.

This photo shows the connections by our washing machine. The garden hose connects to the BHS (Bovine Hydration System)

Update On Making Malt Vinegar

2009-12-23T11:49:00.003-05:00

On June 29, 2009 we wrote a post on an experiment we decided to try, making malt vinegar. Here is an update.

Between June and September we looked at and smelled the "vinegar" every few weeks, things were looking good.

On September 26th the one with the bread had some mold on it, so we removed it and put the liquid into a clean jar. The other looked fine.

On October 25th we took off more mold and decided to add some apple cider vinegar "mother" to it, hoping that the mother would get the vinegar going.

By November 29th the whole thing was moldy so we threw it away.

The jar that did not have the bread still smelled fine, but just like stale beer. We decided to add some mother to that as well in hopes that it would get the vinegar process started.

Rhubarb Saute

2009-12-16T11:12:00.001-05:00

2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup garlic scapes (or 2 cloves); sliced
1/2 cup rhubarb; sliced thin
1/2 cup mushrooms; sliced
1 cup pea pods
1/4 cup water
maple syrup; to drizzle
feta cheese; crumbled

Heat butter over medium heat. Add garlic, saute about 1 minute.

Add rhubarb, saute about 2 minutes.

Add mushrooms and cook until they give up their moisture.

Add pea pods, saute 1 - 2 minutes and add 1/4 cup water and saute until water is gone.

Move to serving bowls, drizzle maple syrup over and add crumbled feta cheese on top.

Serves 2

Hot Weather Solar Water Experiment

2009-12-10T12:42:00.003-05:00

Have you ever noticed how hot water can get in a garden hose that has been lying in the sun? There have been times when we have almost burned ourselves (or killed innocent plants) from just such a thing. This inspired us to do our hot weather solar water experiment.

Here is the list of our materials:

100’ of 1 ½” black plastic water pipe
4 12’ 2 x 8s painted black
8 90° elbows
2 garden hose adapters
16 pipe clamps
Plumbing strap to hold pipes to 2 x 8s
2 garden hoses
Miscellaneous screws

Our wood shed roof is about 30 feet long, so cutting the 100 feet of plastic into 4 pieces, each 25’ long, worked well for us.

We secured the 2 x 8s to the roof, two of them end to end to give us 24’. We made 2 rows, with about 6” in between the rows.

Next, we cut the pipe into 25’ sections, laid them flat and attached them to the lumber; each board has two rows of pipe. We then attached the elbows and pipe clamps.

The cold water goes into the bottom piece of pipe from a garden hose that is connected to our outside water faucet. The system fills from the bottom up to the top pipe. The other garden hose is connected to the top for the hot water to come out. This hose we have connected to a separate faucet at our kitchen sink.

It takes a little time for the hot water to get to the sink, but has worked out great for doing dishes and cleaning up.

Next summer we will try adding some wooden sides around the pipes to help hold in more heat. We can not enclose the pipes because the pipe will only withstand temperatures of about 160° to 180°

This photo shows where the two garden hoses will be connected.

Sunday Morning Doughnuts

2009-12-01T10:39:00.008-05:00

Sunday Morning Doughnuts

2 cups flour
2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 large egg
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup honey

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well (clean hands work great for the job).

Turn onto a floured board and knead for a few minutes. Let rest.

Roll out to about 1/2" thick and cut out with a doughnut cutter.

Heat about 4" oil (vegetable oil works fine, we use lard) to 360°F

Fry 3 or 4 doughnuts at a time, turning when one side is browned - fry until both sides are nicely browned.

Drain on paper towels or on a paper bag. Makes about one dozen doughnuts.

Holiday Decorating, Giving New Life

2009-11-23T12:27:00.005-05:00

As the holidays approach we look for creative ways to decorate that don’t cost a lot of money. What better way than to give something in your home new life.

Each year we search the cupboards for items that can serve dual purposes; this year we are using wine glasses as candle holders. Candles add a cozy and festive touch to any meal, and a tea light placed in the glass is all it takes.

The glasses can be plain or fancy, short or tall. Having different heights together can make a lovely arrangement. Place them on a tray; add some greens and you have an instant centerpiece.

Decorative bowls can also be used as candle holders. Add glass beads for a sophisticated look, or polished stones for more of a natural feel.

There are many options, just be creative and start experimenting!

Wood Fired Water Heater

2009-11-21T13:02:00.006-05:00

For about 5 years we have had a propane on-demand water heat for all our hot water needs. Last year we had the chance to get a second hand wood fired water heater. It ain’t pretty, but it sure does the job.

We tapped into the hot and cold lines of our on-demand water heater and plumbed in the wood fired one and connected valves so that we can isolate one or the other.

Since there is no way to regulate the temperature of the water, we piped the pressure relief valve into an old copper water heater (which had belonged to my great-grand parents) that we use as a holding tank. This way if the water gets too hot and blows off it goes into the extra tank (instead of all over the wall….this actually happened and was quite a wake up call). We then can drain the copper tank into a bucket, there is a valve at the bottom that we attached a short hose to, and once it has cooled it can be used to water animals or plants.

One thing that I really love about the wood fired water heater is that we can burn sticks and all sorts of small scrap pieces of wood. The tank holds about 5 to 6 gallons of water, plenty for a nice hot shower. In fact, it works so well that we shut off the propane water heater last winter and it hasn’t been on since!

The copper holding tank is situated behind the chimney so I can't show a picture of it. The plumbing goes in behind the chimney.

Picture of water heater with door removed to show the fire box. We have the heater up on a metal stand to make using it easier.

Prepared Horseradish

2009-11-18T11:09:00.006-05:00

Horseradish is an easy plant to grow and harvest, simply dig up some roots! We have tried many ways to preserve it, but this recipe has worked well; it is easy and tasty!

Prepared Horseradish

1 cup horseradish root
1/2 cup vinegar

Wash horseradish root and peel.
Chop the roots and put in a blender with the vinegar.
Blend until well chopped. Be careful removing the lid, the horseradish will be quite strong.
You can also grate the root by hand and then add the vinegar, mixing well.
Pack into clean jars and store in the refrigerator.
Prepared horseradish will start to loose its strength after about a month.

Homemade Horseradish

Easy Listening

2009-11-12T11:11:00.003-05:00

We are always looking for creative ways to save energy and power, and we also love to listen to music. For us the solution was a 12-volt car radio to run off of solar.

We picked up a used car stereo at a yard sale for $3.00. My husband built a cabinet for it to be mounted into, which is just big enough for a 12-volt battery to sit at the bottom. We went online to find the specks for our brand of radio; found out which pin was power and how to hook up the speakers properly.

We mounted the stereo in the cabinet and connected two 5 watt solar panels to the battery (probably one would be enough, but we had two so we used both).

There were two power connectors on the radio. We connected the one that holds memory to a fuse and to the positive side of the battery. The other power connector (which turns the radio on and off) we ran from the fuse to an external switch, which acts like the key in a car. That way when we turn off the radio (by the external switch) there is no power draining the battery.

We then connected the speakers, which are mounted on the walls and ceiling through out the house.

Autumn Soup

2009-11-10T11:45:00.004-05:00

Fall is my favorite time of year. The weather is nice and the garden is full of things to be harvested. Here is the perfect soup for a cool fall day.

Autumn Soup
2 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion; chopped
5 carrots; sliced
5 cloves garlic; sliced
1 1/2 cup beet greens or spinach; chopped
1/4 cups scallions; chopped
1/4 teaspoon rosemary; ground
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek; ground
1/4 teaspoon horseradish; chopped
1 tablespoon celery flakes
1/2 teaspoon dill
8 cups stock, vegetable or chicken
8 small potatoes; chopped
1 1/2 cup squash; chopped
dash hot sauce; optional
dash hot pepper flakes; optional

Melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat. Add onions, carrots and garlic and sauté until onions are translucent. Add beet greens or spinach, scallions, and seasoning. Sauté for about 5 minutes more on medium heat.

In a large stock pot combine stock, potatoes and squash. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are about half done. Add ingredients from skillet and simmer until the potatoes and squash are cooked. Add hot sauce and paper flakes, if desired. Simmer about 15 minutes more and serve.

How to Season Cast Iron Cookware

2009-11-02T10:08:00.006-05:00

We follow the directions in Old Fashioned Recipe Book: An Encyclopedia of Country Living
Be sure your cast iron is clean before seasoning; all rust removed and well washed and dried.

Preheat oven to 425° F. Rub pan all over with a generous amount of lard or shortening. Place in oven for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and apply a second coat to the inside only of the pan (be careful…the pan will be very hot!).

Return to the oven for another 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and apply a third coat. After applying the third coat leave the pan in the oven for two hours, then turn the oven off and let the pan stay in the oven until it has cooled.

Be sure not to leave the lid on a Dutch oven while doing this, the lid will stick on.

Re-season whenever necessary.

Lodge Logic Dutch Oven with Loop Handles

Cooking With Ground Beef: Meat Loaf Burgers

2009-11-02T09:48:00.002-05:00

Ground beef is so versatile. There are so many options besides the plain hamburger. Here is one way we "dress 'em up" a bit.

Meat Loaf Burgers
1 pound hamburger
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 small onion; diced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon parsley

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well (clean hands work well for this job). The mixture will be gooey.

Preheat a frying pan and cook the burgers as you normally would.

Making Lard

2009-10-23T11:31:00.009-04:00

Whenever we, or someone we know, have a pig slaughtered we always ask for the fat to make lard. Rendering lard is quite easy and nothing makes better doughnuts than homemade lard.

We follow the directions in Stocking Up: The Third Edition of America's Classic Preserving Guide
Start with your pieces of fat and cut into 1/2" cubes. Put about 1/4" inch of water in a large heavy bottom kettle and add your cut up fat to it, being careful not to fill the kettle too full; it is better to add to it as it cooks. Keep the burner on as low as it will go. A wood cook stove works well for this, as you can slide the kettle around to get the heat you want. You want it to melt, but not scorch.

It takes a very long time for the fat to melt; we have been as long as 4 days to get all our fat cooked. Be sure to stir frequently to mix in the new fat and to keep it from sticking. Patience is needed.

As the lard renders, the cracklings, which are the pieces of fat that do not cook down, (why, I do not know) will float to the top and eventually sink to the bottom. That is when it is time to jar your lard. (The temperature will be about 255o F)

Sterilize your jars, strain the cracklings, and pour the strained lard into your jars, filling to the top. Chill as quickly as possible to produce a finer grain shortening (we set our jars outside….for us, lard making is always done in the fall for a few reasons; it is usually the time people slaughter their pigs, the wood stove is going and it is cool outside)

Store the finished lard in a cool dark place.

Many people enjoy the cracklings (the part that didn’t cook down that was strained off before bottling) and eat them with some salt or as bacon bits. We haven’t really enjoyed them too much, but are still hoping to find a use so they do not go to waste.

Compost Tea

2009-10-22T14:48:00.003-04:00

Compost Tea Made Easy

For a few years my husband and I lived in a small apartment with no actual garden space; however we did have a deck. On that deck we grew tomatoes, all kinds of greens, herbs and flowers. A compost pile, however, was something I missed having.

We spotted theSpinning Composterfrom Real Goods and ordered it. It worked out great on our deck and we were able to make some nice dirt.

When we moved back to the country we were afraid our composter would go unused, but that was not the case.

We no longer use it to make as much compost, but we do use it for making compost tea. The base the composter sits on is hollow and fills with water when it rains; the rain goes through the compost and settles in the bottom, leaving us a liquid that the plants love.

We dilute the liquid with water and use it as a liquid fertilizer.

Each year when we drain the base we fill a gallon jar and use it all winter (diluted) to feed our house plants.

Easy Baking Recipes, Desserts: No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2009-10-15T18:19:00.004-04:00

No bake cookies are fun and easy to make, perfect for unexpected company.

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups quick oats

Bring the milk to a boil over medium high heat, being careful not to scorch.

Add the honey, cocoa powder and butter.

Turn the heat down to low and cook for one to two minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter and oats, mixing well.

Cover a large cookie sheet with parchment or waxed paper.

Drop teaspoonfuls of cookie onto the paper and refrigerate until firm. These will not firm up as much with honey as they do with sugar, but the taste is wonderful and the honey makes them a bit more health-ful. 1/2 cup of sugar can be used instead of the honey.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Easy Baking Recipes: Breads, One Rise Bread

2009-10-09T11:06:00.003-04:00

One Rise Bread
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 cup water; warm
2 tablespoon butter; melted
1 tablespoon honey
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt

Place all ingredients in bowl of an electric mixer. Using the dough hook mix well, about 8 to 10 minutes. Grease a bread pan. Place dough in pan and let rise until about 1" over the top of the pan. Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

We do this recipe as a one rise bread. The loaf comes out a little more dense than a 2 rise loaf, but the flavor is great and the time we save makes it well worth it.

Free Cold Weather Refrigeration

2009-10-08T13:46:00.006-04:00

My husband is always thinking of new ways to become more self-sufficient. When he said “free refrigeration“, I was all ears; and ready for another project. Here’s his story:

In this off the grid homesteading life we live, there are a few issues that require a bit more attention than most, such as water pumping and refrigeration. Of those two, refrigeration is probably the most difficult to address, at least it has been for us. We have been using a propane refrigerator for the past few years (a solar one is just too expensive for us, and we are not sure if our system is large enough to handle one), but with the cost of propane on the rise we are trying to find an alternative.

We have managed to come up with a partial solution, at least for the cold months of the year. We got a small electric refrigerator someone was going to throw away because it stopped working. I have a friend who does appliance repair remove the gas from the compressor. Then I removed the compressor and the coils off the back of the unit. I left the thermostat in the refrigerator and found the two wires that control it on the back. These I left in place. Our mud room is on the north side of the house and from there you walk out into the woodshed. We cut a hole in the mudroom wall just big enough to fit the refrigerator into; the only part in the mudroom is the door and about an inch of the refrigerator. The rest is actually in the woodshed.

I made a shelf for the refrigerator to sit on because the woodshed is lower than the mudroom floor. I drilled a 4” hole down through the top of the refrigerator and put in a 4” diameter dust gate. A dust gate is a 4” round device with a sliding door so you can open or close the hole. I use them in my woodworking shop for sawdust control. I took a 4” 90o PVC elbow and mounted a 3 ½” muffin fan (computers use these, so they are easy to find and not expensive, plus they run off 12 volts) inside the elbow. I drilled a small hole in the elbow to run the fan wires through. One wire connects to one of the wires in the thermostat inside the refrigerator; the other connects to the positive side of our battery bank (which happens to be in the same room). The second wire on the thermostat connects to the negative side of the battery bank. This enables the thermostat to control the fan. When the fan is on, it pulls cold air in from the outdoors. With the elbow in place, I then cut a hole through the outside wall of the woodshed and ran a section of 4” PVC pipe from the elbow to the outside. The pipe extends about 4” past the wall. I put a piece of aluminum window screen over the end of the pipe and then slid a 22o elbow over the end. This holds the screen in place and keeps bugs etc from entering the pipe (all pipe is schedule 20).

Once everything was put together and tested, I sealed around the refrigerator with insulation and added trim.

By the end of October or so we are able to move our food to this refrigerator and can turn off the gas one. Last year we had a cool spring and didn’t have to start using the propane refrigerator until mid April….almost 6 months of free refrigeration!

Winter refrigerator, inside house, before finish work.

Vent pipe (with fan inside) on top of the refrigerator(black flat part at the bottom is the dust gate).

Drying Fruits and Vegetables

2009-10-02T11:00:00.010-04:00

This year has not been a good one for our gardens, production is way down. Usually we can many, many jars of food; this year we are drying more.

Living off the grid, we do not have an electric dryer, so the drying has always been done in the gas oven. This year we did some in the oven, but really wanted to get away from that, so we have been experimenting with drying in the greenhouse (bringing things into the house at night to avoid excess dew) and air drying. So far things have been going well.

Cauliflower, berries, beets and fruit leather has been done in the gas oven. Greens and roots have been done in the greenhouse. Apples, grapes and green beans have been strung up and hung in the kitchen to dry, as have corn cobs. So far the apples and green beans have done very well, although they take a long time to dry.

The corn just got hung up two days ago, so we will see how that works out (I read that it takes a month for the corn to dry). After it is dry we will remove it from the husks and grind it into corn meal.

There are many books on the subject of drying and preserving, but one of our favorites is Stocking Up: The Third Edition of America's Classic Preserving Guide In this book we can usually find most of the information we need.

Making Raspberry Fruit Leather

Raspberry Fruit Leather

Drying Cauliflower

Corn, Ready To Dry

Air Drying Corn, Grapes and Apples

Drying Sunflower Seeds

Turning Grapes To Wine

2009-10-01T12:56:00.009-04:00

The grape harvest this year was not huge, but large enough to make some sauce and, more importantly, wine. Making a basic wine from grapes is quite easy, with very little equipment needed.

We usually make one gallon batches for a few reasons: you don't need as many grapes; if it doesn't come out quite right you haven't wasted a lot of ingredients and the equipment needed is minimal.

We de-stem the grapes and put in a kettle. Cook like you would if you were making grape juice; simply add a little water to the grapes and cook over low heat until the grapes burst. We use a potato masher to help things along.

Strain the grape mixture over another kettle to save the juice. Add the pulp to the compost pile.

Add honey to taste to the juice (over low heat) and get it to where it tastes good to you.

Sterilize a one gallon wine jug and fill 3/4 full of the grape juice, adding some water if necessary.

Let cool to 100oF and add about 2 grams of wine yeast. Cork, and add your air lock. (Corks and air locks are available at home brewing shops).

We let the jug sit in the kitchen sink over night since it is possible that it could bubble over (the honey really makes the yeast work)

Let sit until the wine (air lock) stops “chugging.” Watch for bubbles in the wine. When the fermentation process has finished, bottle the wine.

This is the way we make our raspberry and blueberry wine, as well.

Grape Wine, Fermenting

Apple Pie

2009-09-29T11:25:00.001-04:00

2 pie crust, 9, unbaked
8 apples; peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Grease pie plate and line with one pie crust. In a large bowl combine apples, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and flour. Mix well.

Place apple mixture in pie crust and dot with butter.

Cover with remaining pie crust, flute the edges and cut several vents into the top.

Bake at 425°F for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350°F and bake 30-40 minutes more, until the crust is slightly browned.

Serve warm or cold with ice cream, if desired.

Using Straw Instead of the Lawn Mower

2009-09-24T11:08:00.007-04:00

I really hate to mow. It seems like such a waste of time and gas to me; finish the job and it only has to be done over and over again.

We have pastured out a lot of our land, but anytime I can come up with ideas to cut back on mowing I am happy.

Our gardening is all done in raised beds but there is all the space between the raised beds that has to be mowed every 4 days or so all summer long (we have the most amazing grass that never stops growing.) I have been complaining about it for quite a few years and have even, in past years, stopped mowing all together. This only causes problems in as far as we can no longer see the raised beds and then have a big mess.

This year my husband is working for a local farm helping with the hay. They do a few fields of oats, and then straw. One day he brought me a bale of straw to use on the strawberries. It was a lot more straw than I needed for the strawberries, so I decided to start using it between the raised beds. I put it on very thick and have been quite happy with the results.

He has since brought home 2 more bales, so I should have plenty to finish and have some leftover to start the spring with. I am hoping this will be the solution we are looking for. It sure does look nice!

Raspberry Vinegar

2009-09-23T10:56:00.004-04:00

Making flavored vinegar is surprisingly easy. This raspberry vinegar has turned out to be one of our favorites.

Simply fill a jar about 3/4 with fresh raspberries (I have never tried it with frozen, so not sure how that would work). Then fill with a vinegar of your choice (we use homemade apple cider vinegar, but a white wine vinegar would be very good as well) leaving about an inch head space. Be sure that the raspberries are completely covered with vinegar.

Let sit in a cool, dark place about a month and taste. Ours has been sitting about 2 months and has gotten a wonderful raspberry flavor.

Use on chicken, pork, stir fries, fruit desserts and salads.

Firewood

2009-09-21T16:04:00.003-04:00

Fall is my favorite time of year; the air is crisp, sunny days are abundant with vivid blue skies and the smells of all things fall are unbeatable. This includes the smell of freshly cut firewood.

Each year we say we are going to start our firewood early, and we never do. “Next year will be different,” we always say. However there is something about cutting wood in the cool days of fall that can’t be beat.

And now here we are, almost at the end of September and we are just getting trees out of the woods. They were cut down over a year ago and have gotten a good start on drying. We haul them out of the woods tree length (well, some are cut in half of thirds, depending upon the size) and we will cut them up and split them here in the yard. Six cords used to get us through the winter, however now we use the wood cook stove much earlier and later in the season so now we need about eight.

While I don’t enjoy the entire firewood process, I do enjoy stacking it. I love to see the empty wood shed getting fuller and fuller, stick by stick knowing how snug and warm we will be all winter.

Easy Baking Recipes, Desserts: Apple Crisp

2009-09-17T14:57:00.005-04:00

It's apple season here in Maine and therefore time to bake, bake, bake! I love the smell of anything apple while it cooks; such a nice "fall" smell!

Apple Crisp

butter, for greasing
apples; cored and sliced
2 tablespoon maple syrup
3/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup butter; melted

Preheat oven to 375°F

Butter a pie plate.

Fill pie plate 3/4 full of cored, sliced apples (OK to leave the skins on if they are organic).

Drizzle the maple syrup over the apples.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, honey and melted butter. Mix well.

Dot flour mixture on to the apples, covering as much as you can. Don't worry if all of the apples are not covered.

Bake for about 40 minutes.

Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired

Easy Baking Recipes, Desserts: Flour-less Peanut Butter Cookies

2009-09-11T12:57:00.006-04:00

An easy to make cookie for the peanut butter lovers in your life.

Flour-less Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, stir well.

Using a tablespoon shape the dough into balls.

Place on a lightly greased baking pan about 2 inches apart.

Bake for about 12 minutes, the cookies will be soft to the touch.

Place on rack to cool.

Yield: 24 cookies

~~~~
Flour-Less Peanut Butter Cookies

New Use For Old Lace

2009-09-09T14:03:00.004-04:00

In the interest of "reusing and recycling" we are always trying to come up with clever ideas for unwanted items. Last night I was hemming some lace curtains and I had about an 8" piece that I cut off the bottom. Usually I save things like that for my crafty mother to use, but as I was folding it,I noticed the rough texture and wondered how a piece would work as a pot scrubber. So, I cut off a square of lace and scrubbed some dishes (actually I was cleaning my stove and used it on the burner covers). It worked really well, so I cut up the rest, folded them and put them in a stoneware bowl. Now I have some great pot scrubbers that look lovely until they are ready for use.

Cooking With Zucchini: Zucchini and Cream

2009-09-08T10:23:00.005-04:00

We are always trying to come up with recipes for using all our zucchini. This one was a big hit....something a little different.

Zucchini & Cream

3 tablespoons butter
1 pound baby zucchini; sliced
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dill weed
1/2 cup sour cream or creme fraiche
salt and pepper; to taste

Combine dill weed and sour cream or creme fraiche. Set aside.

In a large skillet melt butter over high heat.

Saute zucchini until tender and golden.

Remove zucchini from pan and lower heat to medium low.

Add vinegar to de glaze pan. Add the cream mixture and mix well.

Stir in zucchini to heat.

Serves 4.

Animals On The Farm: Photos

2009-09-04T11:24:00.006-04:00

Some days I could spend hours watching the animals do their thing, be it humorous, or just down-right cute.

Ivan. Ivan is a 4 year old Call duck. He is our only male duck.

Annabelle and Clifford. Annabelle is about 4 months old (the brown one, she is a Scottish Highland) and Clifford is 3 months old.

Casandra, an Indian Runner duck.

Killmouseski. Killmouseski was dropped off at our house a few weeks ago. She has made herself quite at home.

Jasper, The Ruler of the House

Rebecca. Rebecca is a 7 year old Khaki Campbell Duck

Recipe For Making Sauerkraut

2009-09-02T11:36:00.004-04:00

We use a gallon size glass jar for making our sauerkraut, and a potato masher for packing the cabbage.

Be sure the glass jar is throughly washed and rinsed.

It will take about 4 heads of cabbage to fill the jar, depending upon the size of your heads of cabbage.

Trim off the outer leaves of the cabbage, quarter and remove the core.
Slice the cabbage into thin slices.

Layer some canning salt in the glass jar, then some cabbage,(tamper with the masher between additions)a bit more salt, more cabbage, more salt etc. until the jar is full to about 4 inches from the top.

Using the potato masher, tamper down your cabbage after each addition. You will need to really pack the cabbage into the jar. You will be able to draw enough juice from the cabbage to cover it.

Wipe away any pieces of cabbage from the top of the jar. Place a food storage bag inside the top of the jar, fitting into the cabbage the best you can to keep air out of the jar. Put water in bag. This will keep air out of the sauerkraut.

Place the jar inside a pan (the juices will leak out) and keep an eye on the level of the juice in the jar. Add more water as needed.

Keep at room temperature and taste after 2 weeks. If the taste it to your liking, put on cover and refrigerate. If the taste is not sour enough, let sit longer, tasting every week.

Easy Baking Recipes; Breakfast: Whole Wheat Cinnamon Muffins

2009-09-01T15:12:00.006-04:00

Here is an delicious, easy baking muffin recipe using no sugar, only honey!

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Muffins
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg
4 tablespoons butter; melted
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a muffin tin.

In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix well.

Pour into muffin pan, filling each cup 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, immediately remove from pan.

Makes about 10 muffins

Zucchini Relish

2009-08-28T10:53:00.004-04:00

Zucchini Relish
8 cups (packed) zucchini; grated
1 tablespoon hot pepper flakes
2 cups onion; chopped
2 tablespoon salt
water
1 3/4 cups apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon mace

Combine zucchini, hot pepper flakes, onion and salt in a large bowl.
Mix well and cover with cold water. Cover bowl with a plate and let sit over night.

Pour mixture into a colander and rinse well. Weigh down the mixture with a plate (we set a clean brick on top of the plate) and let sit about 30 to 45 minutes.

Combine the vinegar, honey horseradish and spices in a large kettle and bring to a boil.
Add in the drained zucchini mixture and stir well.

Let cook about 5 minutes, stirring often.

Makes 2 quarts.

If you would like to can this relish process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes.

Zucchini with Green Tomato and Basil

2009-08-27T13:02:00.002-04:00

Since we still have a lot of good green tomatoes, we decided it was time to be creative. This came out delicious!

Zucchini with Green Tomato and Basil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 small green tomatoes; diced
1 small zucchini; sliced thin
3 tablespoon fresh basil; finely chopped

Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
Add green tomatoes, saute 1 to 2 minutes.
Add zucchini and basil.
Cook until the zucchini is tender, but not over cooked.

2 servings

It's A Rotten Business

2009-08-27T12:23:00.006-04:00

All summer I look forward to the taste of the first garden tomato, warmed by the sun and juicy. Each year we have so many tomatoes that we can eat them every day, dry gallons of them and can about 75 to 100 quarts of the best roasted tomato sauce you ever tasted. Not this year. Because of all the rain and cool weather this summer our tomatoes are rotting on the vine. Horrible brown spots are all over them, and eventually they just fall off the vine, rotten.

There are 4 plants that, so far (knock on wood) don't seem to be bothered. I am keeping a very close eye on them and hoping that some of them will make it into a canning jar.

Tomatoes are usually a main stay for us each winter, from everything to sauce, to chili to just a good stock. I hate to think of an entire winter without them.

This will not make a good spagetti sauce!

That's A Lot Of Bull

2009-08-25T10:39:00.003-04:00

Our neighbor brought over his Dexter bull ysterday to breed with our 2 cows. "Chubs" is his name, and the girls (and baby) are liking him quite a lot.

Chubs, Molly and Winston

Update on "Making Vinegar from Bad Wine"

2009-08-24T10:47:00.007-04:00

As we mentioned in a previous post, we did an experiment trying to make a vinegar from some bad potato wine.

We have had great luck with apple cider vinegar (been doing it 3 or 4 years now with great success), the rest is all new to us.

Yesterday we checked on the potato wine vinegar and the top was covered with mold. I am not really sure why, but I got thinking that "bad" wine is probably not a good thing to try to make vinegar with. "Good" wine would most likely work a lot better.

Maybe the potato wine didn't work out because the taste was never quite right for vinegar, so I just let it sit longer and longer (it has been almost a year, usually a vinegar will be ready in 6 months or so) and it finally just spoiled.

Free Bees

2009-08-20T11:17:00.009-04:00

We have had honey bees here for the past 4 years and have had them swarm once in a while. Last week we had something new happen. A swarm came to us (not from our bees) and landed in our grape arbor. We are not sure if someone near by has bees that swarmed (we don't know of anyone within a mile that has bees) or if we had some swarm last year that we missed and they found a honey tree in the woods and have come back this year. Either way, it's free bees and we're excited.

These two photos show getting the swarm into a new hive; as long as the queen goes in the rest will follow.