Things My Grandmother Knew: Fresh Herbs

My grandmother always had a garden.  I remember her putting up quart after quart of beans, pickles, pickled beets and watermelon rinds and much more.  I don’t remember her having herbs in the garden but I think she must have at least had dill to use for her pickles.  I have been TRYING to have a window sill herb garden since the early days of my marriage.  Sometimes, I was successful and sometimes I wasn’t.  This year however, I’m determined will be a successful year because there is nothing better than cooking with fresh herbs.

I don’t start my herb plants from seed for lots of reasons.  They are too temperamental for me and my light green thumb and our growing season is VERY short.  In fact, you can see from this picture below, that my herbs for this year are still in movable pots so that I can bring them inside at night.  Why?  Our frost free date is not until June 10th so until then, I keep them in my sunroom.  (That’s our sweet dog Oscar…looking on!)

Herbs seem to be a bit more “fussy” about how much water and sun with which they thrive.  So, for me, it’s taken a bit of trial and error and I have developed my favorites that don’t seem to be as difficult to grow:  rosemary, tarragon, mint, lavender, majoram, thyme, oregano, parsley, dill, parsley…to name a few.

One of my favorite recipes using Rosemary is below. (Chicken Salad with Rosemary)

Chicken Salad with Rosemary

3 celery ribs

3 cups cubed cooked chicken

1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise

1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

1 tbsp fresh rosemary

Thinly slice the celery and combine it in a bowl with the chicken.

Blend together the mayonnaise, sour cream and rosemary.

Pour the dressing over teh chicken and celery, stirring until the ingredeitns are thoroughly mixed.

Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

I also love throwing some rosemary into fresh biscuits in the morning.  YUM!

Enjoy!

Faith and Courage,

Lori

***The inspiration for this series came from my reading, How to Sew a Button:  And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew

Things My Grandmother Knew: Baking Bread

I can’t really remember my grandmother making bread, but I do remember my mom teaching me how to make bread and using Aunt Velda’s Refrigerator Roll recipe.  I even baked bread for some of my favorite teachers in high school. So, I guess you could say this is an area that my grandmother knew and that I learned along the way.  To me it is one of the most relaxing things to do and has been so much easier than when I first started due to the wonderful mixers and bread makers available to us.

Now, I do want to let you know that I’m NOT a fan of bread makers.  I saved and saved for one years ago and was so disappointed by the product it produced, I ended up putting it in a garage sale and going back to the old fashioned way.  To me, there was just a distinct difference in the texture of the bread.  However, I did save the recipe book that came with the bread maker and still use it to bake bread in the oven.

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Just this morning, I made five loaves of bread using recipes found in the bread maker recipe book.  It seems almost as quick and easy for me to use my Kitchen Aide mixer with its dough hook then it did to use the bread maker and I like this texture much better.  Just like when you use a bread maker, I dump all of the ingredients into the bowl of the mixer all at once, then I turn the mixer on low and let it mix and knead the bread.  When it is finished, I put it in a greased bowl and let it rise until double.  Then, I punch it down, form it into a loaf or circle (depending on the style of bread I’m making) and let it rise again.  Then, in the oven it goes at 400 for the first 10 minutes and the at 350 until an inserted knife comes out clean.

Now, I live at 9400 feet above sea level so once I moved here, I had some issues with some of my old bread recipes working at this altitude.  I’ve over come this by doing a few things differently.

1.  My best bread is made in circle shape and baked on a pizza stone.

2.  I always add gluten to the recipe OR

3.  I add an extra teaspoon or two of yeast. (regular not rapid-rise)

Just those simple things seem to make the bread come out perfectly almost every time.  Even when I use a regular loaf pan, adding the gluten or the yeast, really helps with consistency of the bread.

I’ve also experimented with breads using freshly ground wheat and grain and I LOVE the taste, but I HATE the mess of grinding so I don’t do that very often.  However, using the method above, I’ve baked bread three times in the past week.  It’s that easy and cleanup is a snap.

Here are the two recipes I used this morning.

Raisin Bread (for a 2lb loaf)

1 1/2 cups water

4 cups white bread flour

2 tbsp. dry milk (I substitute regular milk when I am out of dry milk and have no problems)

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 tsp. active dry yeast (at high altitude I used 2 1/2 tbsp)

Mix and knead with mixer.  Let dough rise in greased bowl until double.  Punch down, form into desired shape and let rise until double.  Bake at 400 for 10 minutes and then at 350 until an inserted knife comes out clean and bread is golden brown.

French Bread (for a 2 lb loaf)

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tbsp water

4 cups white bread flour

2 tbsp sugar

2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. active dry yeast (at high altitude I used 3 tbsp. active dry yeast)

Mix and knead with mixer.  Let dough rise in greased bowl until double.  Punch down, form into desired shape and let rise until double.  Bake at 400 for 10 minutes and then at 350 until an inserted knife comes out clean and bread is golden brown.

Still sound like too much work.  I assure you the smell of freshly baked bread and your family’s reaction to it will be well worth the effort.

Faith and Courage,

Lori

***This post series has been inspired by my reading the book:  How to Sew A Button and Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew

New Series: Things My Grandmother Knew

I’ve been thinking alot about my grandmother lately.  It’s been two years since she passed away and I miss her terribly. She knew so much about so many things…about things that most of us don’t even think of teaching our own children and perhaps, things that our own generation doesn’t know.  I ran across a book recently that talks about just that….How to Sew A Button: And Other Things Your Grandmother Knew by Erin Bried.  Reading through it, even casually, has reminded me of so many things my grandmother taught me and other things I wish I would have been more attentive about.

So…over the next few posts…for however long this topic holds my interest, I’m going to go through some of those topics…those that I have already learned and those things that I still need to learn or wish I could learn.  I hope you will join me on this journey!  Should be pretty interesting!

 

Staying Present in the Moment

We’ve been gone from the ranch for about a week now.  We left Colorado and have traveled through Arizona, New Mexico, a little of Utah, Nevada, and California.  We have spent some wonderful time with our son Jeremy, his wife Jessica and their beautiful baby daughter.  As I type this, John, Jordan and Jared are downstairs packing up the camper with all of our things and all of the things that Jordan is taking home from his time in California.

And now, we are heading out to go back home to the ranch.  I have to admit that being away from it has been good for all of us.  Bottom line, there is alot of work there and of course, we are working hard and struggling to make things work there….much like many other families in various situations around the country.  With so much having gone on in the past couple of years, I think I’ve developed some bad habits…..one of the worst is the habit of not being present in the moment.  It seems like I always have something on my mind….some stress, some situation, some project, some relations…SOMETHING…..but always there is something that is distracting me from the precious moment in which I find myself.  I miss alot when I do that.  When I do that, it’s like I never really embrace anything but instead, I’m left just trying to corral things that are constantly swirling in my head.

Even before I became ill and ended up in the ER and then in the hospital for five days, John and I had been talking about this bad habit that we have both let creep into our lives and yes, even affect our family life.  SO this trip was kind of line in the sand, a renewal, a new starting line to get back to some things that we know are important.  There is nothing like being around a baby to help with that….especially with the habit of staying in the moment.

So, for the past few days we have spent time with Emma, our precious six month old granddaughter who definitely lives in the moment and by being around her, I have been reminded of how precious each moment is and how many gifts I am given each and every day.  As I held her, I cherished the gift of having the strength to hold her because three weeks ago, I did not have that strength.  As I climbed the stairs to see her, I was thankful that I could get up the stairs, because three weeks ago, I needed alot of help.  As I watched her play, I found myself taking joy in the simple things that she did and the facial expressions that she gave me.  I was reminded of living in the moment.

Yes, I know that a wise woman plans for the future.  However, Scripture also talks about not taking thought for tomorrow and not being anxious….things I needed to be reminded of after the events and challenges of the past two years.  So, as we head home…..all four of us have been talking about staying present in the moment.

I woke up a bit anxious this morning.  It’s been three weeks since I’ve really put in a good day’s work due to being ill and of course, as we were heading home today, I woke up feeling a bit anxious and overwhelmed.  I went downstairs before anyone else was up and visited facebook and received an update on a sweet family that had unexpectedly and tragically lost their 20 month old son and I was again reminded….I need to stay present in the moment…..I need to not look to the right or to the left….I need to NOT be doubleminded.  Instead, I need to be HERE…..NOW……and to treasure each and every gift the Father has given to me.  Then I started searching for quotes and for scripture on discouragement.  Here is one of each.

Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That’s not the place to become discouraged. – Thomas Edison

Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

 

Because I have been forgiven, I can with reverence, serve Him, in this moment…..and the next…..and the next…

 

Your Custom Homestead: Tips and Reminders

The author of Your Custom Homestead ends her e-book by giving tips and reminders to her readers.  This is such a valuable section of the book.  She gives eight of these tips and reminders but here are the ones that really helped me.

1.  One thing at a time.

2.  It’s not always romantic.

3.  Sit back and enjoy it.

4.  Acknowledge your accomplishments.

I think the need for someone living this lifestyle to observe these tips and reminders is pretty self-explanatory.

My journey through the book, Your Custom Homestead, is now complete.  However, I will be gleaning the benefits of reading this book for a long time to come!

Set Aside A Day Of Rest: Day 21 on My Journey to My Custom Homestead

Out of all of the 21 days of assignments, this one is probably the most challenging.  With so much to do and with that “to do” list surrounding us night and day, it has been very easy to allow that list and the projects on it to overtake our lives.  Between the ranch and owning another business, challenging economic times and a learning curve, it’s been a challenging two years.  I’m anxious to get this day’s assignment, setting aside a day of rest, and become almost legalistic about it for awhile in order for us to establish better habits in this area.

So, after we return from a brief jaunt to California to “retrieve” our third son, we are going to choose one day of the week that will be strictly reserved as a day of rest.  The author of Your Custom Homestead says that a day of rest does not mean that “you have to stay in bed and watch movies all day” but instead it is a day when we take a break from the deadlines, projects and urgency usually felt in farm and ranch life.  She is right when she says, “If you are waiting for all of your projects to be finished before you allow yourself to take a break, then you are going to be waiting for a very long time.”

So, on our day of rest we are going to do something fun with our family, something different from our usual routine.  I’m sure establishing this as a hard and fast habit will be difficult but I’m sure the results will be well worth the effort.

Practice Preservation: Day 20 On My Journey to My Custom Homestead

Growing up fast!

Since moving to Colorado, I have learned to can and learned more about freezing.  I have invested in a water bath canner and a dehydrater.  I haven’t done any pressure canning.  I had a friend that helped me learn about canning tomatoes and peaches and I have gained alot of information from online sources and great books.

I have canned peaches, tomatoes, salsa, tomato soup, apple jelly, peach jelly, peach salsa, dill pickles, bread and butter pickles and more.  I have frozen corn, beans, peppers, and more.  My pantry reflects the storage of various grains as well.

I didn’t know much about any of this before I moved here but I had always wanted to do this type of thing.  I admired my grandmother and my great grandmother who “put up” food every year and who seemed to instinctively know when different produce would be available to “put up”.  Living in a rural setting where I can’t just slip out to the store on a whim, it’s been great to have a well-stocked pantry.

Take the Animal Plunge: Day 19 On My Journey to My Custom Homestead

Well, in all actuality we have already taken the animal plunge.  Just two months after moving to Colorado we got our first two horses, followed quickly by chickens and then Angora rabbits.  However, our adventure with Angora rabbits was very short lived because we just were not as “into them” as we thought we would be.  They take alot of care with the brushing of their long hair and the cleaning of their huts etc.  We did breed them and had one litter but after realizing that we had caused ourselves some unneeded stress and had some animals we didn’t really enjoy, we found a good home for them and moved on.

Because of a medical condition of one of our children, we decided to try goats milk and goats milk products.  Although our child was unable to tolerate even that type of dairy product, we still kept the goats and they have become a hobby for our 14 year old.  We started out with two, one of which was expecting.  Jared read and researched all about goats and the birthing process and when the birth occurred, he was there helping his goat and delivered a beautiful baby goat.  Then began in the milking process.  Now, we have five females and a buck and all five females are pregnant in early to mid-summer.  I can’t wait.  That was one of the most special experiences we’ve had since moving here.  Watching Jared grow through the process and being there with him, was very special.  We even filmed it!

We have raised one steer who is now in the freezer and is the best beef I have EVER eaten and we will start another one soon.  We now have six horses, six goats, thirty chickens, 1 dog and 1 cat.  I love it!  I’m hopeful with the start of warm weather and some better health, I will be outside more and around those animals.  It’s therapeutic.  No plans to add any additional animals any time soon….especially with the baby goats arriving shortly.

Plant Something Edible: Day 18 On My Journey to My Custom Homestead

I’m really working hard at fulfilling this day’s assignment of planting something edible.  It’s been quite the struggle to grow anything at an altitude of 9400 feet above sea level.  Our last frost date is June 10th and our first frost of fall comes sometime in late August, so our growing season is short and the soil leaves much to be desired.

This year, however, I’m trying some new approaches.  I have started some herbs inside in the windowsill and John and Jared have built some raised beds for me to try veggies in.  In addition, we came across a gentleman giving away several whiskey barrels and I picked up three so that I could put tomato plants in those.  We will bring in soil and when the frost date has passed, I will put already started plants in the ground.

I’ve worked hard at making sure I have a plan to each raised bed plot and I’m finding my hopes raising with each sunny day that passes.  I can’t wait to set out some flowers as well in containers around the very large deck that we have.  I just have to make sure that the goats stay off the deck.  HA!   Oh the challenges of country life.