A New Year

2013. A new year. For some, a new start. For others, an opportunity to practice the fine art of correcting mistakes.

I don't know about you, but I fall into this category. Call it brain fog, old age, or denial that time's-a-flyin', but I'm not a lover of change. As with any new year, change does come. It must or we fail to grow.

Over the last few months, my blog is one thing that hasn't really grown. Not because there aren't people reading it, but because I haven't had the energy, time, or inspiration to put into it. I contemplated closing this blog and devoting my down time to napping and watching old Malcolm in the Middle reruns, but after a month of that, it got old. So, with this new year, I won't be focusing on resolutions that are made to be broken. I'll be focusing on goals. On growth.

And on getting myself off of the couch.

The pity party is over. No more woe is me attitude. Life is what it is. You learn to adjust and adapt. You grow and hopefully inspire others by just living life in all its glory...to the fullest.

Here are some 2012 2013 goals I have:

For the farm

1. Downsize our farm. *Gasp!* (Did I just say that out loud?) We have too many free-loaders that are costing us big bucks in the feed department. At least half of the chickens and all but 4 of the turkeys will be heading to freezer camp, as will our 14 year old arthritic cow, Bailey.

2. Butcher the hogs. Those once cute little piglets have turned into 170-266 lbs. of ravenous, dirt-plowin', eating machines. And quite honestly, they scare me. Especially Porky, who is our largest and most aggressive eater.

3. Repair/replace water lines at the barn. The pigs decided to turn their once dry pen into a spa-like environment by rooting up the water lines which caused their home to flood. Of course, they did this while the Mister was in the middle of his work week. For now, our water comes from a waterfall behind the barn and is hauled with buckets. Can't really get more homesteady than that.

4. Start our tomato seeds by the end of January. This is a goal I make every year, and every year I forget to order the seeds in time. Not this year. This will be the year of tomatoes. Which reminds me that I need to place my seed order in the mailbox...

5. Help the Mister build a hoop house. By help, I really mean nag-until-it-gets-done. Because really, I am not a very good hoop house builder.

My pathetic attempt is still sort of standing. In a leaning-to-the-East kind of way.

For the home/kitchen

1. Repurpose. This is a big one because I have a lot of ugly old junk. Dressers, tables, even old lamp bases are going to get an overhaul. I plan on getting to know the paint people at Lowe's very well.

2. Spend more time in the kitchen. Yes, I'm weird that way. Fact is, I love my kitchen. I love my pots & pans. And I especially love to get creative. Expect lots of new recipes this year. And thanks to my children, better pictures with the new camera they bought me for Christmas.

3. Organize. In the next month or so, the last of our adult married children will be moving into their new home. While it has been so fun having the rooms full again, I have realized just how unorganized I really am. The first project on the list: Get rid of all the homeschooling supplies I no longer need so I can repurpose some of those bookshelves into a functional pieces of furniture.

4. Learn to make hard cheeses. Is it just me, or do cheese presses look like something from Medieval times? And how come every single cheddar recipe out there is different than the one before? Is it because there's lots of room for error or because no one wants to admit that their cheese-making adventure was an epic fail? Oi.

For our homeschool

1. Update transcripts. I have an entire year of grades still on paper. Since we have a senior this year, I need to get on this pronto.

2. Plan ahead. I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-and-hope-you-land-on-something-soft kind of gal. Some would call it "unschooling," I just call it procrastination. We will still have a more laid back school year, but I need to be better prepared for all of the "what's next" questions.

3. Graduate Mandie. Even if I'm not emotionally ready to do so.

For me

1. Be quick to forgive. It's getting easier with age, since I don't really remember most of the day anyway, but I want to be a purposeful forgiver. Life's too short to waste being angry or hurt by words said in the moment. Let it go.

2. Continue to heal. Right now I am reading the book, "Autoimmune, The Cause and the Cure." (Review to come.) I'm lacto-fermenting veggies, drinking raw milk kefir, kombucha, and avoiding all foods that cause an inflammatory response. I'm walking more, listening when my body says to rest, and letting go of the things that I cannot change. Like my height. And how fast my leg hair grows.

3. Be patient. Because all good things come to those who wait. Just as I waited 44 years for a milk cow, I can wait for those moments when my patience is rewarded.

4. Listen more. Let my actions speak for themselves. And dear Lord, let my actions speak only good things. And my temper tantrums be behind my closed bathroom door.

5. Enjoy every single moment. Every breath. Every joy. Every tear. Even the tears that come from sorrow. Because in our sorrow, there is life. It means that we are feeling. That we are living. And that we are loving.

Happy New Year, from my home to yours!

2013~Bring it on!

Happy 4th of July!

Really, this should say it all. Unless you live in my neck of the woods.

And you like cardboard.

1st place~2 years in a row!

Especially floating cardboard with cute boys in it. (I may be biased, but the captain really rocks my world.☺)

My Mister is the one holding the 1st place statue~which incidentally, was made of cardboard.

Congratulations to the Peacehealth (hospital) crew for their exciting 1st place finish in the annual Cardboard Boat Regatta! 

 

My Less-Is-More Resolutions

Last year I made a few resolutions, which I am happy to share, I actually kept.

No really. I did.

Mostly.

I'll admit, the fanny pack thing didn't happen.

This year I've decided to see if I can make it 2-in-a-row by setting some more goals. Unlike last year's tongue-in-cheek resolutions, these will be a little more difficult to keep.

Because they're real.

And since they have absolutely nothing to do with weight loss, these should last a little longer than the first week of January.

So, here is my list, in no particular order.

1. Consume less.

Since we don't have a weekly garbage pick-up (at $60/month), we take our trash into the dump/recycling center ourselves. Our goal was to make this trip on a monthly basis, but so far, we haven't been able to get past the 2 week mark. With our recycling credit (newspapers, cans, glass) our total cost to dump is between $2 and $5.00/load.

The price is not the issue. It is the amount of garbage that we are taking in. Four of our five cans are usually filled with recylcables. In our area, there are only 2 kinds of plastic that can be recycled, all the others head to the landfill. Before you start thinking "Uh-oh, another nutty environmentalist..", let me assure you that I am not. Well, I am, but not one of those weird incense-burning, pot-smoking, free-love kind of environmentalists. I'm more like the milk and cookies with a hug at bedtime kind of nut.

My resolution isn't just to decrease my trips to the dump, but to decrease our family's dependency on all the items that we don't always need to purchase or that come with hard-to-dispose-of packaging.

Such as:

Packaged foods~We all know that most packaged foods are processed foods. And we know that those aren't good for us. But there are plenty of whole foods that come in cartons, bags, boxes, and plastic.

Solution? Buy in bulk. Whole Foods (and many others) have an awesome selection of healthy beans, pastas, nuts, dried fruits, and spices, not to mention honey, olive oil, and grind-yourself nut butters. Cut consumption by bringing your own bags and containers. Most places will weigh your empty containers and subtract that from the filled weight. Mesh produce bags are another way to cut wasteful packaging. (Store bulk items in glass canning jars that you probably already have!) Make your own mixes, seasoning "packets", breads, and yogurt. Not only are these a healthier alternative to store-bought, it is a good way to keep the grocery budget in check. (I'll share more tips later for saving at the grocery store!)

Reusable bread bags~My Mister "gets" me!

Cleaning products~Most of us have at least on cupboard filled with cleaning supplies. One for the toilet, one for the shower, one for the floor, etc...Not only are most of these products toxic, they take up space in the house and the garbage can.

 Solution? Make your own. It's surprising what a little white vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap can do. Just be careful reusing bottles that had toxic chemicals in them as they can become even more toxic and even deadly. (Bleach & ammonia for instance.) Also, forgo that expensive, toxic laundry soap and make your own for pennies. (White vinegar makes a great fabric softener and a gallon usually costs less than a dollar.)

Drying clothes~Most people don't think twice about running an electric dryer, until the power bill arrives. The energy wasted on a load of laundry is only second to the stove/oven. The power comes from somewhere, and someone is going to pay for that power. Probably you.

Solution? Install a clothesline for outside drying during the warmer months and use a drying rack for the winter. I have 2 hanging racks in front of my woodstove and am hoping to purchase a wooden rack from here. And check out the repurposed baby gate here. Save the dryer for the important stuff, like jeans. Nothing puts me in a bad mood faster than crunchy jeans...

 Speaking of clothes...

Clothing~Ever notice the poor workmanship of the clothing nowadays? Most are sewn in foreign countries, possibly by underage employees, who are probably not being paid enough of a wage to live on. Remember Levi jeans? Sorry to tell you, but these are not made in America anymore.

Solution? Buy from second-hand stores. These stores are not the disgusting places they once were. Second-hand shopping has become en vogue, and retailers are finally understanding that we don't want to purchase items that have last year's Christmas gravy stained to the front. In our area, we actually have some pretty classy thrift stores that we have scored numerous deals at. And some of these stores actually benefit other organizations such as, our local women/children's shelter, hospice, boys & girls clubs, etc...(Local people~check out The Red Hat Thrift Store, The Hospice Thrift Store, and in Vancouver, Plato's Closet.)

Sometimes you'll even find furniture worth saving!

Solid wood bed for $124...My grandmother has the same bed and paid $1200 new!

Toiletries~This is kind of a touchy subject for me.

Because I'm a girl.

I like my mousse, hair spray, makeup, razors, deodorant, lotions, and the like, but there is a lot of packaging involved with this stuff. Not to mention, most of it is overpriced, toxic, and marketed in a way that makes a woman think she is less of a woman to not have these things.

Solutions? Don't buy into the lie. Yes, I still use mousse, hairspray, makeup, and thankfully, deodorant (most of the time☺), but I'm more choosy and I don't use this stuff everyday. I take into account how long something will actually last. I make what I can at home, and make purchasing decisions based on whether the package can be reused or not. Crazy? Maybe, but I have raised 6 girls and that's a lot of "stuff". There are recipes on the web for making your own deodorant, soaps, shampoos, and lotions. If that's not your thing, try a mineral salt deodorant stick that can last for an entire year. Use coconut oil right out of the pantry (I store mine in a little cup on my bathroom counter.) instead of expensive moisturizers and lotions, and try making your own bar soap. (I'll be sharing a recipe for shampoo bars soon!) I use mineral powder makeup and reuse the little jars for important things like scrapbooking embellishments, buttons, and tacks. And disposable razors? No way. Use a razor with replaceable heads, or even better, an electric razor.

Finally, make things that you use a lot of. For us, it's candles. When the winds blow, we're the last to get our power back on. Instead of purchasing some made-in-China (or wherever) candles, we roll our own from beeswax sheets.

It's a fun way to spend an afternoon and there is NO GARBAGE to pack to the cans.

And that's it. My New Year's resolution for the year.

Just one.

I should be able to manage just one, dontchathink?☺

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN 2012!!!

This post is linked to the Living Well Blog Hop.

Happy Dancing and Pie

This is what's known as "The Happy Dance". Currently, I am doing this. While typing.

My talent knows no limits.

Unless I hit my knee on the coffee table again. Ouch.

After another round of needle poking in the neck, I have received the greatest gift for Christmas.

A clean bill of health.

Yes, I still have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but I do NOT have cancer. Yes, I have a goiter growing in my neck, but it is cancer-free. Yes, I need to follow-up with bloodtests every 2-3 months and an ultrasound in 6, but IT IS NOT CANCER!!! Did you hear me?

I DO NOT HAVE CANCER!!!

Now that this little bump is behind me, it's time to make some pie. Specifically, Hazelnut Mocha Cheesecake. And because I can, I plan on keeping a whole one to myself.

After all, it is gluten-free.☺

~Hazelnut Mocha Cheesecake~



~The Players~

*use organic ingredients, if possible

Crust: 3 cups finely ground hazelnuts

10 Tb. salted butter, melted

4 Tb. sucanat (or Rapadura)

Filling: 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 (8 oz.) cream cheese

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup baking cocoa

2 t. espresso powder

1 t. vanilla

Crust: Using a fork, mix hazelnuts, butter, and sucanat. Press into 2 pie dishes, making sure to press up the sides too. (It will look rugged, this is okay.) Bake in preheated 350F. oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool before filling.

Mix heavy cream and cream cheese together until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift powdered sugar and cocoa together. Stir in espresso powder. Slowly add sugar mixture into creamed mixture; mix until creamy. Add vanilla.

Spread into prepared crust. Chill at least 2 hours.

This makes 2 pies, but shhhh...don't tell the family.☺

Enjoy!



Spiced Candied Nuts

I realize that I'm a little late to the party, but this week I'll be sharing some of our favorite Christmas goodies. To earn the title of "Favorite", a recipe must be tried and true. It must be able to stand alone as a goodie, without the need for fance and frills. It must be able to hold it's own against the highly popular, yet superficial beauty of the frosted cut-out cookie. Especially if it is sporting a never-before-seen color.

That said, sometimes we make exceptions to the favorites list. Like, when Mom decides to try a gluten-free version of a snickerdoodle and it turns into an unrecognizable pile of goo that even the goats won't touch.

It could happen. I'm not sayin' it did, but it could.☺

I liken this turn of events to a beauty pageant. You know, where one of the top 5 girls are equally perfect, but then just before the final judging, there is a scandal that is revealed, leaving girl #6 the opportunity to shine.

Yep, just like that. It's time for goodie #6 to shine, because the infamous gluten-free snickerdoodle has been bumped.

And if the sticky fingers and trips to the candy dish are any indication, #6 just might be the real winner.

50 #'s of walnuts, just waiting to be shelled.

~Spiced Candied Walnuts~

~The Players~

3 cups shelled, walnut halves

1-1/2 cup organic sugar

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the sugar on medium heat until it starts to melt.

 When the sugar starts to melt, use a wooden spoon and continue to stir until sugar is a medium amber color. Add the spices and mix well. Turn heat down to simmer.

Pour the nuts into the saucepan, stirring to coat all of the nuts. Using 2 forks, quickly move nuts, a couple at a time, to the parchment-lined cookie sheets. Be careful, these are extremely hot!

This is kind of messy, but once the nuts have hardened (about 5 minutes), the sugar "hairs" can be picked off. I'm sure there's a technical term for the strands of candied sugar, but it looks like hair to me.

I'm a simple girl.☺

Enjoy!



"Practical" Gifts for the Homeschooling Mom

One of the questions that I start hearing this time of year is, "Mom, what do you want for Christmas?" Since it's apparent that my family does not pay me any attention when I'm oohing and aahing over every little piece of junk mail catalog eye candy, I thought I'd do a little tongue-in-cheek series on what Mom's really want.

Because apparently the highlighted, circled-in-red catalogs that I so meticulously placed in all of the high traffic areas of the house are not obvious enough.

Today, it's about The Homeschooling Mom.

~The 3-Ring Binder~

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a brand new, flaps intact binder, with the front still attached to the spine. Not only do I use these for school, they come in handy when I have to prop the edge of the table up to keep the dinner rolls from falling to the floor.

They also make me look smart.

Unless they're under the leg of the table. 

~A large box of red correcting pens~

When the kids start getting on my last nerve of the day, I pull out my trusty red pen (when I can find it!) and start correcting their math. Nothing strikes fear in the hearts of my children like the red correcting pen.

Especially when I ask them to please get me another one because I ran out of ink.☺

~A bullhorn~

"CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?" 

Because "selective hearing" is NOT a recognized impairment.

No matter how many "signed" doctor's notes the kids produce.

~How-To Books~

Because if they see Mom swinging a hammer, or knockin' down a wall, she must be able to build treehouses.

In a 50 foot fir tree.

~Clear acrylic boxes...with lids~

These are to hold all the creepy crawlies that little boys find under front porch lights and have picked off of pick-up truck grills.

That may only be stunned.

And that they want to keep FOREVER.

~A Get Out Of Jail Free card~

And finally, a freebie that allows a do-over for a less-than-perfect parenting day.

Which really translates to this...



From Me to You...

Wishing you a very happy, have-to-unsnap-the-jeans kind of Thanksgiving day!

And don't forget to give thanks...

...for the lack of sound on this blog...

...and that you're not at our house for hors douvres!

My "Realistic" Goals for 2011

With the passing of 2010, and the ushering in of 2011, it has come to my attention that I need to make my annual New Year's resolutions.

I'm going to do something a little different this year though. For me, making resolutions sets me up for failure. I'm doomed before the clock strikes midnight. The only thing I can be sure of is that my Mister will be there, holding me close and planting a big, juicy kiss on my lips, just as he has for the last 24 years.

One of my favorite poems is by an elderly lady named Nadine Stair. At 85 years young, she wrote a lovely poem about what she would do differently if she had her life to live over. I've decided to apply that to my life in 2011.

With some changes. The italicized words are mine.

If I Had My Life To Live Over

If I Have to Make Another Resolution

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I make plenty, but I dare them to try and stop me.

I'd relax. I'd limber up. I'll learn to fall more gracefully and without an audience.

I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I'll try to be more discreet with my giggles.

I would take fewer things seriously. I'll try not to laugh when my children ask for McDonald's or if they can "skip" school.

I would take more chances. I will step on the scale at the doctor's office without first requesting the heaviest nurse they have in the building.

I would take more trips. I'll make sure that my family is with me so it becomes more difficult for me to flee the country.

I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I'll talk about how much I like hiking while soaking in the hot tub and enjoying a nice glass of organic Riesling.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I promise to not invent Black Bean Ice Cream. Don't be sad. There is always 2012.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. I'll give myself a reality check at least once per day.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. 

I'll set the DVR and watch American Idol after the vote, just to keep people guessing.

Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd do more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments. Actually, I have moments everyday. Moments of insanity. I'll try to smile through more of them.

One after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I'll learn to go with the flow, even if the flow washes me out to sea.  

I've been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. I'll only carry my cell phone with Poison Control on speed dial, a camera just in case I need legal proof for anything, a baggy full of organic raisins and my rubber boots. C'mon, I do live in the Pacific Northwest!

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way until later in the fall. I will proudly wear the garden dirt under my toes in the spring, and will keep an extra pair of flip-flops in the car, just in case the employees at Fred Meyer aren't as amused with my bare, paint-less toes as I am.

If I had to do it again, I'd travel lighter next time. I'll invest in a fanny pack. They're still en vogue right?

I would go to more dances. I'll dance as if no one is watching. Even if I know they are. With their cameras.

I would ride more merry-go-rounds. Only if the carnival guy stops making me stand in front of the "How tall are you?" sign.

I would pick more daisies. Now, that's a resolution I can keep.

Happy New Year!

Lessons Learned in 2010

As we say good-bye to 2010, and usher in yet another year, I'd like to share with you some things that I've had the privilege to learn this year.

1. It does not matter how many times you press the "WALK" button at a crosswalk. It will say "WALK" when it is good and ready. Pounding on it just makes one look stupid. And somebody you know will always recognize you. Wisdom says to let someone else pound on the button.

2. It is never a good idea to test an electric fence with your fingers. Especially when working in the garden. It is also a bad idea to "double check" if you don't get shocked the first time. Electric fences have pulses of electricity that eventually come back around to the very place your finger is touching. Wisdom says to just believe your husband when he says that the fence is on. Or wear rubber boots.

3. Teenagers have not changed too much since I was one. They still step out in front of traffic, believing that cars will stop. Reminding them to look both ways before crossing the street is responded with, "I have the right-a-way." Maybe so, but wisdom says that the car always wins.

4. Simply removing the microwave from the kitchen is not enough to deter the family from using it. Even if it's in the basement. And since it's in the basement, sometimes people have lapses in memory...until a week later, when a putrid odor greets us at the top of the stairs. Wisdom says to just throw the microwave away.

5. Breeding turkeys is easier than one might think. Currently, we have 3 hens setting on one nest. As hatching time draws near, the normally docile hens have become aggressive. Wisdom says that we should eat turkey more often.

6. Never assume that the 10-cent discount at the gas pump will be there when you need to fill up the tank. Wisdom says that teen drivers are very resourceful when it comes to keeping a few extra bucks in their pockets.

7. Weathermen lie. Wisdom says to just look out the window upon waking, and dress accordingly. Usually this means, in layers.

8. Dangling a Snickers bar in front of the treadmill is not a good motivator to keep moving. It's way too easy to just step onto the sides and snatch that candy-bar for a quick snack. Wisdom says to dangle a rutabaga instead.

9. If the eye doctor prescribes glasses to see things more clearly, it's probably a good idea to wear them. There's a huge difference between cooking a pie at 350F. and burning a pie at 450F. Wisdom says to forget vanity and just wear the glasses.

10. Regardless of which cellular phone carrier you may have, the phone always wears out when the contract ends. Wisdom says to pay for the phone and forget the contract. Or just use the land line.

For some reason, I don't feel as if I've arrived at wisdom's door. I may have caught a glimpse of it a couple of times this year, but something tells me that I've got a long ways to go.

So, for 2011, I say...

BRING IT ON!

But slowly, just in case wisdom is on hiatus.



Christmas Biscotti

Every year for Christmas, I like to make up "little trays of happiness" to give as gifts. In order to make the cut, the items must be homemade and they must be something that I would like to hide in the bathroom and devour all by myself.

Yes, I said bathroom. It's the only place where I can truly be alone.

Some of the goodies in the past have included: Chocolate Truffles, Peanut Butter Balls, Date Pinwheels, Mexican Wedding Cakes, Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Cookies, Gingerbread, and the must-have for any parent, Sugar Cookies with hideous colors of frosting adorning them.

This year, I decided to go rebel and deviate from the norm.

Sometimes I do that. It keeps things interesting.

This year, I'll be giving away Reese's Thumbprint Cookies, Toffee Bars, Coconut Macaroons, Double Chocolate Peppermint Bark, Old-Fashioned Spritz Cookies and Christmas Biscotti.

In the spirit of gift-giving, I may have to avoid the bathroom until the 26th.

For regular visitors to the local espresso shop, biscotti is something that you'll recognize. It's usually sitting under a glass case or in a cute canister in plain view of the thirsty patron. Because really, who doesn't enjoy a nice cookie with their coffee? Biscotti is best eaten with coffee, tea or even milk, as it is a very hard cookie.

Biscotti and coffee. Now that's the thing Christmas dreams are made of.

Christmas Biscotti

1/4 C. unsalted butter, softened

3/4 C. sugar (I used organic sugar)

Zest from 1 orange (use an organic orange since you're using the zest)

1/2 t. vanilla

2 eggs

1 egg white

2 C. organic white flour

1-1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. sea salt

2 oz. white chocolate, chopped

1/2 C. dried cranberries

1-1/4 C. unsalted pistachio nuts, chopped

For the drizzle: 1 C. white chocolate, chopped

1 t. coconut oil

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, orange zest, and vanilla until fluffy. Mix in the eggs and egg white, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually blend into the creamed mixture.

Stir in the chocolate, cranberries, and pistachios.

Cover and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 325F.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into halves. Form each half into a 12"x3" log. Flatten slightly. Arrange the logs at least 3 inches apart on the cookie sheet.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until a light golden color. Allow logs to cool on baking sheet until able to handle, approximately 10 minutes. On a cutting board, cut logs crosswise on a diagonal into 1-inch thick slices.

Place back onto cookie sheet and return to oven for an additional 15 minutes, or until golden.

Transfer biscotti to wire racks to cool completely.

In a double boiler, melt 1 cup white chocolate with 1 teaspoon coconut oil, stirring constantly. When melted, dip 1 end of biscotti into chocolate. Return to wire rack to dry. Or, lightly drizzle the chocolate over the top of each piece.

Store in an airtight container when dry.

*I found that the adults prefer the drizzle, while the kids enjoy an entire end of chocolate covered biscotti.

Enjoy!

Christmas Edition of Menu Monday

I have fond memories of Christmas dinners as a child. It was the one meal where everyone fought over the catsup bottle, but not to disguise the taste of the food, just to enhance it. I smile when I remember my aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents, parents and siblings passing around the bottle, and in later years, the 6 lb. can that someone was so thoughtful to bring.

Some foods just pair well together: salt & pepper, macaroni & cheese, eggs & bacon, peanut butter & jelly...and catsup with Pig-in-the-Blanket. Pig-in-the-Blanket is not the official name of this dish, some may even know it as "Cabbage Rolls", but in my family, cabbage did not evoke a positive response. At least, not with the children. So, Cabbage Rolls were given the kid-pleasing moniker of "Pigs-in-the-Blanket". And it stuck. Just as it's catsup counterpart did.

Our special Christmas meal was always prepared by my grandparents. It was a long process that began with the harvesting of 10 lb. heads of cabbage in the fall. Grandma would make lacto-fermented sauerkraut, before the fancy name, and leave it to ferment in the carport in huge crocks covered with grape leaves. She didn't shred all of the cabbage though, first she would remove the largest leaves, then steam them before placing them inside zip-lock bags and freezing them. When Christmas rolled around, the sauerkraut was ready, and it was just a matter of putting the rolls together. None of us kids were privy to the recipe until recently. Grandma is now 90 years old and can no longer stand in the kitchen long enough to make these cabbage rolls, so each of the kids got her long-guarded secret recipe. And just as her German mother did before, we now have the pleasure of sharing this family recipe with our children. A tradition that will hopefully continue on, long after I'm gone.

 Including the 6 pound can of catsup.

This week, besides the Pigs-in-the-Blanket, I'll be making Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas morning. Along with my kids, we'll be making some favorite holiday cookies and candies before finishing off the week with several Christmas desserts. I would love to give you the names of these special treats, but we haven't narrowed down the list yet. Right now, we're at 20.

I love Christmas goodies, but 20 is overkill, even for a dessert aficionado such as myself.

Unless someone else is making them.

Then 20 different goodies is a perfect number.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Here's what else is cookin' this week...

~Monday~

Simple Soaked Oatmeal

Salmon patties, Macaroni & Cheese, roasted brussel sprouts, steamed Swiss chard

~Tuesday~

Banana Muffins w/ yogurt cream cheese

Chili, Cornbread (still being carried over!)

~Wednesday~

Pennsylvania Dutch Baked Oatmeal

Ravioli Soup, Sourdough bread

~Thursday~

Fried eggs, toast

Soft shell tacos, homemade tortilla chips, salsa

~Friday~

Speltcakes

Clam Chowder, Sourdough bread

~Christmas Day~

Cinnamon Rolls

 Roasted Turkey, Pigs-in-the-Blanket, Fondue, Green Bean Casserole, Potatoes au Gratin, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Spinach/Cranberry/Almond Salad, Southern Ambrosia, Rolls, Smoked Salmon & Chive Cheeseball w/ Salmon Roe, desserts to be determined...

And don't forget the catsup. 

For more meal planning ideas, visit The Organizing Junkie for Menu Mondays.  

Happy Thanksgiving~Country Style!

How do you know you live in the country?



Turkey and brine cooling in the snow



When the front porch can double as an extra fridge!

~~~~~~

From our chaotic house to yours...



HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Raw Cranberry Relish

In honor of Thanksgiving and the cranberry that tries to be the shining star of the meal, I am reposting a recipe that I originally shared back in March. I'll be serving a traditional cranberry sauce, but will also serve this version, packed full of enzymes to help digest the rest of dinner.

Maybe the cranberry really is the shining star.

A few months ago, I decided to go "raw".

It lasted until dinnertime.

And, it was not one of my finer moments.

Since then, I have had great respect for anyone who feels convicted enough in their beliefs to choose a path and stick to it.

My path has lots of roots poking up out of the ground. I'm forever tripping over my own ideas and plans. I start down one path, see an obstacle, then switch paths, only to find myself switching back a little while later.

It makes me dizzy.

That's not to say that I am going back to raw. Hardly.

I like meat. And I like it cooked.

What I'm saying though, is with our experiment of eating fresh and local, I'll be adding some raw recipes to the mix. There will also be some steamed, sauteed, roasted, grilled, fried, baked and poached recipes. And whatever else I can come up with.

For dinner tonight, we enjoyed a roasted turkey, for no other reason than we had it in the freezer. We also had creamed, red, Swiss chard on fresh sourdough bread and raw cranberry relish on the side.

Since we have a freezer full of cranberries, we'll be enjoying this relish for awhile!

2 cups washed, raw cranberries (can be frozen, just thaw slightly)

2 peeled, cored Granny Smith apples (or other tart apple)

1 large, organic, unpeeled orange, cut into sections

1 cup organic sugar (I used the full cup, but next time will only use about half.)

Process the cranberries, apples and orange in food processor. Pulse until everything is chopped, but not mushy. I call it medium-chopped.

Pour into a bowl and add sugar. Stir well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

The colors were so brilliant, I wish they would've showed up better on film. Even outside, it's hard to convey just how pretty this is.

*Cranberries pack a nice little punch in the nutrition department.

Per 1 cup of raw cranberries:

44 calories

11.5 g. carbohydrates

4.4 g. fiber

8 mg. calcium

6 mg. magnesium

12 mg. phosphorus

81 mg. potassium

12.4 mg. vitamin c

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Week Menu Plan!

Can you believe that it's already Thanksgiving? While this is my absolute favorite holiday, there is something that I love more than turkey day.

SNOW!!



This will make butchering our Thanksgiving turkey more challenging, but snow is always welcome here.

Always.

Because it's not raining. And I have an excuse to drink hot chocolate. And it's not raining.

Did I already mention that? 

Last week, I was down with a pinched nerve in my back, so that meant the family ate whatever they prepared. 

It was almost a vacation. 

Except for the whole pain thing.

While preparing this week's meal plan, I realized that I haven't shared with you one of our favorite recipes! Cincinnati Chili is one of those comfort foods that tastes good in any season, but is especially wonderful when there is snow on the ground. And with over 300 blog posts under my belt, the fact that I haven't shared this is appalling.

I'll have to remedy that.

Here's what's cookin' this week...

~Monday~

Soaked Oatmeal

Chili Nachos

Spicy Hoppin' John (still new!), cornbread

~Tuesday~

Scrambled eggs & sausage

 Leftover Spicy Hoppin' John

Corn & Bacon Chowder (I'll post the recipe on Wednesday!)

~Wednesday~

Cornmeal Pancakes w/Lumberjack Prune Syrup (still new!)

Leftover Chowder

Cincinnati Chili (new), spinach salad

~Thursday~

Soaked Oatmeal

Thanksgiving Feast (see below)

~Friday~

Apple Coffeecake (still new!)

Leftover Cincinnati Chili

Leftovers

~Saturday~

Eggs & Sausage

Gobbler sandwiches on sourdough bread (turkey, Raw Cranberry Relish, cream cheese)

Turkey Pot Pie (new)

~Sunday~

Granola

Venison Stew, Buttermilk biscuits

Most of my Thanksgiving recipes come from The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.

I think she may love Thanksgiving almost as much as I do.

~Thanksgiving Day Feast~

Fresh, brined, roasted turkey

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage & Apples

Sweet Potatoes with Pecan Streusel

Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce

Roasted brussel sprouts

Mashed Potatoes w/ homemade turkey gravy

Pumpkin Cream Pie

Nantucket Cranberry Pie

Dreamy Apple Pie w/ Hard Sauce

Check out http://orgjunkie.com/2010/11/menu-plan-monday-nov-22nd.html.