Ohio at Dusk

Happy Easter!

Wassup?

-- Post From My iPhone

New Project!!

I'm doing a cook book cook-a-long. Check it out! http://fromamonasterykitchencookalong.blogspot.com/

Tasty Tuesday

That's banana bread with chocolate chips and topped with toasted coconut.



-- Post From My iPhone

Progress

Barn painted and fence raised!



-- Post From My iPhone

The Pinewood Derby

We started with a plain block of pine, which after much frustration, sanding, painting, weighing, and gluing, became:


Then, the weigh in. Exactly 5 ounces!! Phew! A few cars had to be sanded down or have items removed to participate.


The 40ft track.


Each scout brings up his own car, ready to race.


Ready...


Aim... Fire! He won two out of four heats he participated in. This brought him to the last round before competing for third place. Not bad for his first car!


Little man says, "mama my teeth hurt. Is it lunch time yet? Molars suck."

Or really: "waaaaaa no! No no no ehh no wahhhhhhhh!"


While we ate awards were selected and laid out with the winning car. Notice a familiar one with that huge trophy up front? (I have no idea who that little boy is. He wouldn't get out of the shot.)


Presenation time! Best of Show!!! (Or- our car didn't have any pieces fall off of it due to quality construction. Yeah!)


Proud day for my big boy.


The troop and flag:


This was the first annual pinewood derby for our den. Good job boys!!
-- Post From My iPhone

Menu

Trying something new this week. I'm planning my menu really specifically, for one week only, and largely around the crockpot to fit our insane schedule.

Tonight:

Meatball sliders and tossed salad.

Friday:

Four Grain Hot cereal

Lunch out

Sweet potato chili

Saturday

Four Grain Hot Cereal

Lunch- provided at pinewood derby

Loaded Bratwurst Stew

Sunday

Cereal

Leftovers

Indian Spiced Chicken Thighs

Monday

Cereal

Coconut chicken and couscous

Buffalo chicken drumsticks

Tuesday

Cereal

Artichoke Strata with Chevre and sundried tomatos (potluck)

Buffalo Chicken Pizza and salad

Wednesday

Cereal

Meatball Sliders

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Thursday

Cereal

All the good leftovers

Snacks include chips, salsa, apples, raisins, carrot sticks

Wordless Wednesday: it's spring!

-- Post From My iPhone

New ewe has arrived!!

And boy is she ever gorgeous! Much smoother delivery than the last time we had sheep here. While it was cold, there was no precipitation, and they got up the drive way no problems. Her belly is HUGE so I'm hoping there's at least a couple lambies in there!! The other sheep introduced themselves with a light headbutt, and Nibbler even tried to mount her! (Which was greeted with a swift kick...) She is a little skittish of me today, but I got her to come close to me as long as I was on the other side of the fence today. I think she was more interested in the hay than she was nervous of me tho. I hope she warms up since we'd like to milk her.

Enjoy a view of winter on our farm, with my little herd of icelandic sheep!

PS- what should we name her?

The chickens enjoy a chilly roost in the garden.

Dudley says, "Hi!" And meet our new girl...

This is how I make venison sausage

My husband finally bagged us a deer so I thought I would share a method for making country sausage patties.
First- sanitize your grinder. Even if you did it last time- do it again. Really.
Next take around 2lb of venison chunks (about 1-2" pieces) and run through your grinder. I like to crank slow to allow gravity to drop the meat into the screw threads.



When finished pick out any sinew and hair you may see and you should be left with this:



Add:
1 lb ground pork
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp sage
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1 tbs parsley






Blend by hand until pork fat and seasonings can be seen evenly throughout. I suggest wearing gloves as the salt can be drying.



Use a patty press (I like this one from Tupperware) to press the meat in 1/4 cup increments.



Yield: about 15 patties perfect for sandwiches or breakfast.



-- Post From My iPhone

Winter on the farm

The sheep are taking it easy, the chickens stand on on foot and the kids go sledding! Babyman is 2 and thus this is the first winter he has really gotten to enjoy. The older boys had winter in NH last year but we didn't get an opportunity to sled so this is a true novelty for them!











-- Post From My iPhone