Friday, February 25, 2011

The Menu

Sorry for the delay on this weeks menu, I have been watching the weather...
What does the weather have to do with it, well we are having house guest and I was not sure if I was planning to feed 2, 3 or 5. The count is in and it will be three for Friday,Five for Saturday and Five most of Sunday,so here is the *master plan.
(*subject to change;)
Friday  a Friday usual Anti Past Spread with smoked Prosciutto and fresh bread
Saturday: French Toast
"Thanksgiving Dinner" Turkey with all the fixings
Sunday : Waffles
Dinner: Clam Chowder
Hamburger Pepper Steaks

From Miz Helen's Kitchen
2 pounds extra lean Hamburger
1 large yellow onion sliced thick
1 large bell pepper sliced thick
1 cup of sliced mushrooms / NOT in our House
2 cups evaporated or whole milk
1 cup graded sharp cheddar cheese
dash hot sauce of your choice
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
Divide the hamburger into 8 equal parts. Make a round ball of each part and flatten. Place an onion slice on 4 of the flatten hamburger steaks, and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder . Next cover the steak with the other flatten steak, making sure that the edges are sealed together and season the outside with salt , pepper and garlic powder. In a large heavy skillet brown the steaks on both sides careful not to disturb the edges. When the steaks are browned, place a bell pepper slice on top of each steak. Pour 1 1/2 cups of water in the skillet and cover it. Let the steaks cook on medium heat for 20 minutes or until done. Mix the milk and cheese in a small sauce pan and melt the cheese over medium heat, add the mushrooms and a dash of hot sauce, mix well.
Monday: Turkey Soup

Tuesday: Salad Grilled Beef Tips
Wednesday: Veggie Stir Fry with Rice
Thursday:
Chopped Pizza
Collected from Erin ~ The Sisters Cafe
Recipe from Rhodes Bake n Serve
8 Rhodes Texas™ Rolls, thawed and risen (or 12 regular Rhodes dinner rolls)
1 cup diced ham
4 tablespoons chopped green onions
4 tablespoons chopped green pepper
4 tablespoons sliced mushrooms
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
4 tablespoons sliced olives
6-8 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Place 2 rolls on a bread board. Top with 1/4 cup ham, 1 tablespoon green onions, 1 tablespoon green pepper, 1 tablespoon mushrooms, 1/4 cup each of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Chop everything with a knife until ingredients are mixed into the rolls and top with olives and cherry tomatoes. Lift with a spatula onto a sprayed baking sheet and shape into a 6-inch chopped pizza. Repeat process with remaining ingredients. Covered with sprayed plastic wrap. Let rise 20-30 minutes. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.












This is Lager last summer, I'm
dreaming of spring, green grass and multiple Rotties, on the farm.
Remington is going to come for summer vacation on the farm. YAY

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Piro

So let me be the first to say I might have a problem, with fire. I am a bit of a Piro, I love fires, every day ( when the winds not whipping) I love to light a fire. I LOVE my fire pit, it is perfectly located by the paddock.

The run inn's are frequented by woodpeckers, it is fun to bird watch by the fire!

Big Sexy is always close

and today even kitty stepped out of the tack room and 'helped" with chores.

There is still a fine balance between ice season and mud season.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011



The day started out frigid cold-1. In the afternoon it was quite pleasant 36. I shoveled for over an hour in the front paddock, and took the two hounds each for a long walk.
Tonight it is supposed to drop to single digits again, so I am back out to blanket the Team. Can hardly wait till temperatures go up and stay up!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

Method




 Preheat the oven to 350°F  Bake 1 hr

HMM


I think he is going to miss the race

What I Like About Sundays

Smells Like Sunday

I cooked up a pound of bacon and an apple pancake for breakfast ,and now have a smoked sholder on the stove for dinner.

APPLE PUFF PANCAKE


Credit: The Farmchicks Cookbook
I have posted a version of this before, but every time I mention making it some one asks how



1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
5 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup all purpose flour
Dash of salt
Maple syrup or confectioner's sugar for serving
Heat the oven to 425 F. Place the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a 9-inch glass pie plate.

Heat in the oven until the butter is melted and bubbly - 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir well and mix in the apple slices. Return to the oven and bake for 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the eggs, milk, flour and salt in a blender or food processor and process until frothy - 1 minute.
Pour over the apple mixture. Bake until the cake is puffed and the center is set - 18 to 20 minutes.
Serve warm with maple syrup or sprinkled with confectioner's




* we had ours this morning served hot with vanilla ice cream

Thursday, February 17, 2011

This Weeks Menu Plan


Friday : French Dip
Saturday : Cod Fish Plate with FFries
Sunday: New England Boiled Dinner
Monday : Salad topped with grilled beef tips
Tuesday:Corn Chowder Two Cheese Grilled Sandwich
WednesdayPepperoni Pizza Bake Recipe
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Pepperoni-Pizza-Bake
Thursday:Fried rice with Chicken and pineapples
To Bake this week end
Whoopie Pies
Corn Bread
Baked Apple Pancakes



Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentines Day Dinner In...


Yes
Everyone on our farm gets a Valentine, all in the form of edable treats.
Saturday night Bob took me out to dinner for "Valentines Day ".
Tonight I am making him a steak house dinner in ,turn about is fair play.

On the Menu :
                             The Classic Steak House Dinner
House Salad w/ Parmesian Peppercorn Dressing Home Made Croutons
Rubbed Rib Eye
http://www.food.com/recipe/dry-rubbed-rib-eye-steak-restaurant-style-330484
Mashed Potato's with Carmalized Onions
http://amyswhatscookingoodlookin.com/?p=1306
Snap Peas
Banana Fosters with vanilla ice cream
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/bananas-foster-ii/Detail.aspx

Sunday, February 13, 2011

My Growing Boy

in the barn

and the house

What a pig!

Valentines Day

What's a couple of foodies to do for Valentines Day, but think food.
Last night Bob took me out on "a date" we went into Kennebunkport for a salad, it was a nice treat.
I made him a chocolate coconut cake . Today I made sugar cookies, for Bob and some of the folks at work. Additionally I wrapped some chocolate bars, for a couple of  girl friends.
Check out these free downloads

http://heatherbullard.typepad.com/heather_bullard_collectio/2011/01/french-chocolate-labels.html
Tomorrow I plan to fix a nice dinner, what does your Valentines day look like?
Chocolate-Coconut Cake

1 (18.25-ounce) package chocolate cake mix
2 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk - divided use
15 regular marshmallows
2 cups flaked coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa

Prepare and bake chocolate cake mix according to instructions on package. In a heavy saucepan, combine granulated sugar, 1 cup evaporated milk, and marshmallows; bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; then stir in flaked coconut and vanilla extract. Cool and spread between the cake layers.

In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, powdered sugar, unsweetened baking cocoa, and 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Beat on high speed of an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Frost the top and sides of the cake.
Makes 12 servings.
Recipe is the property of Nestlé® and Meals.com.



I added an additional layer of coconut (Bob's had 3 slices in 24 hrs)

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Dreaming

I WANT A YURT!
but I would settle for a canvas wall tent!
For almost three years I have wanted a Yurt .
Bob says no, I swear I would not make him sleep in it.
I think this would make an awesome quest house, what do you think?



http://www.blueridgeyurts.com/


http://longwinterfarm.com/blog/


 

BIG PLANS

 http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/


We are looking at 39 days till spring and it is frigid cold. The snow we have mounded around the farm, is unlike any I have seen in years. The cobble stone entrance and driveway are covered with ice. Everyone slept inside the barn last night, including the big boys. If spring does not arrive in a timely fashion kitty is going to need a diet , he seems to be in hibernation refusing to leave the barn.
I have two indoor projects I want to work on in the next month , but my mind keeps wandering to outside.

  1. First inside is the three season porch , (I call it that because it is to costly to run the gas stove in the winter).
I have a vision of this becoming more of a work space for me. I plan to leave the table both to work, and occasionally eat at but redecorate. I want to finish organizing my recipe books and magazines , bring out my cook book collection and frame some photo's to make this space less of a Hodge podge and more useful.
 I want to make it a menu planning / foodie space.

   2.  Next the guest room , ( called this because it has an extra bed ;)
I have a vision of this space becoming more of a retreat . I plan to leave the bed ( or get a new one) but add a headboard .Change out the bed bedding and perhaps the curtains. I want to keep the " New England Beach" theme it has taken on but fix the broken frame, and add some framed prints of my own.


I can not wait to start the gardens and need to shovel out the hoop house to start cool crops , soon.
Additional spring projects that are calling me include an area, some place in the yard / or perhaps on  the deck for Dining Alfresco.
 We did not dine on the deck last year because we have no shelter there from the sun.
and bathing alfresco I currently have a claw foot tub in the yard, but it's just there. I picture huge sunflowers painted on my tub and the addition of some type of privacy screen, or curtain.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Cost vs.Value of Two Chicken







So I purchased TWO chickens @.99 per. pound.

The first chicken was almost 7lbs and the second almost 8 so lets say 15lbs = $15.00
On Saturday I roasted the two birds on a bed of veggies from my pantery and stuffed them with onions and lemons.

In addition to the birds I purchased a $1.00 package of celery and two lemons, to complete this task = $2.00
After we ate our Saturday meal of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots and gravey I then picked the chickens.

I put all of the veggie cuttings and peels in the stock pot with the bones and boiled for stock.
After boiling the stock I drained and had 8 pints of stock at ZERO cost.

On Sunday I made a roast beef dinner, while it cooked I used the oven to also cook e-clairs a bannanna bread and a chicken pot pie made with the meat from the picked birds on saturday.

I made a pound of rice in the rice machine with chicken stock for the dogs to enjoy on cold mornings this week with their kibble.

The pot pie recipie I had down loaded was a quick easy version selected for after work Monday night. Becouse I decided to make my pie on a leasure Sunday I did not use the rcipie. I did however use refrigerator pie crust and a bag of frozen mixed veggies, with a pint of stock a can of condensed onion soup from the pantrey salt and pepper.  Total $5.00

Tonight all I had to do was reheat the pie and serve, a nice easy meal after work.

Tomorrow we are having crab meat sandwich a splurge at ($10.00not included in total) and tortillinni $3.99 and chicken stock.

I am no money expert , but I venture to say I got my 26.00 worth

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Not incouraged

 I am pleased to report no animals, or people were injured in the filming of this escapade.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Random Thoughts

What I am Reading
Half Broke Horses


What I am thinking of adding to the Menu
Potato Cheese Soup
What I What You'll Need:

4 cups chicken broth
4 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup onions, minced
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into chunks
Step by Step:
Combine broth, potatoes, onion, and spices.
Boil on medium heat until potatoes are tender.
Smash a few of the potato cubes to release their starch for thickening.
Reduce to low heat.
Add cream cheese.
Heat, stirring frequently, until cheese melts.
Yield: 4-6 servings

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Ground Hog Day 2011





Go figure, the weather man was correct this time.
We got snow and lots of it.The local bank, and Maine Mall were closed.
The snow stopped for a couple of hours over night, but it snowed all day today.
The horses all slept in , and Nick was very happy to play in the snow today.
Bob has spent hours on the tractor in attempt to keep the farm manageable and safe.
The chickens have not been out of their coop, I opened the door only long enough to add feed and water.Pig hunckerd in his house after breakfast, not to be seen again till 3pm when I dug him out.
We will have a full barn again tonight,even the drafts will be tucked into stalls.
Good news the Ground Hog says early spring.