New Year, New Goals, Living Life

You always think a new year brings big changes and you will get up and get all these things started. Well that never happens for me so I don't put much into it anymore. But I did decide this year I was going to make monthly goals for myself and try to get my business working for me. 
Making a monthly list instead of daily or weekly seems to work better for me as some days I don't want to do things and the next I may.
In the cold months I always want to get the house cleaned and organized as I know right around the corner will be spring and I will want to get my garden planted, raised beds built and parts of the property cleaned up.........on and on.
As I sat today and wrote my list of veggies I wanted to grow and what seeds I need to buy, I realized how much we have added in the last four years. I now have blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apple trees, peach trees growing. Oh and I forgot my little tree that is growing in the middle of my veggie garden. I think it is a peach, hope to move him to a new place when it warms up. That is what happens when you put compost in your garden. To do it right there is lots of planning and thought that goes into it every year. I'm not sure I remember my mother doing as much work. Maybe she did what I'm doing right now. Staying up after everyone is gone to bed and writing, planning and thinking of spring...........
Of course now she lets plants go to seed and self seed all over the place. Why not she tells me, why not see where the lettuces come up.
If you are just starting a garden or thinking of it. Start small and start with what you eat. You can add every year but I find if you make it to big the first year you don't want to do it again. It is a lot of work. But the rewards are so good.
Night

Life on the Farm

About 4 years ago we decided to find our old farm house, which was harder than we thought.  Since it was not our first home we had things we wanted and knew to get some things up front as you never get around to doing everything. I was still in Oklahoma and my hubby was on the hunt for our new home.  

Since we moved in almost three years ago so much has changed in our life. I have always loved cooking, sewing, animals and of course friends. I always have to be busy and wanted to stay home and watch my kids grow up.  At this time I can say all of that has happened and I feel so blessed. I support local as much as I can and hope others do as well. I have learnt that I can do more than I ever thought I could. In saying all of this I believe you have in dreaming and planning to live the way you want. Still working on that.

I have also learnt more and more about where our food comes from. It is crazy to think how much food has changed over the years and how we all think what we buy in the stores are good for you. All I can say to all of you is look to see what is in your food and know what you are eating. Set little goals for yourself and work on them and then add more.

As for us this year will bring more animals and fruit trees. The garden I'm sure will grow and I will be busy learning about more food I can make and put up for these colder days where I can't go out and get it fresh. I'm cleaning out my house and getting it the way I know we love it before Spring.

As I get busy making lunches and watching kids, enjoy your day and many more to come.
Thanks for stopping by..........

Goals for 2013

As 2012 comes to an end and I look back at my goals, I did them all but one. I didn't build a new coop as I was not sure what design or location I wanted it. I'm almost to where I want it so maybe this spring I can make it happen. 

So what is going to be new at BullFrog Springs for 2013.

1. Build a compost bin/s that will last and be the way I want them

2. Build more raised beds, since I'm still working on my layout and how much I need to grow I may not have it the way I want it for a while.

3. Find a male goat for my girls. They are doing great and now I'm ready for babies.

4. Paint the fences. This needs to be done as soon as the warmer days come.

5. Fence in the rest of the goat area so they will not get out.

The big thing I would love to do it solar our place but that is going to take some money, maybe this year I can learn myself and get the bard done.

What are your goals?
As for learning different things in the kitchen so I can cut costs and make better food I will have another goal list for that.

Saving a buck

Not many know that we grew up with not much money. At the time I was not happy about not having everything and more. As a kid you think you should get whatever you want and why should your Mother not buy it for you. Most of my friends got what they wanted.
Looking back I would not want it any other way. Because we couldn't afford much, my Mother learnt to garden, cook, sew and anything else that came our way.  Which in turn she passed it all on to us that wanted to learn. So my sister and I have wonderful memories of cooking together. Making anything from cookies to full meals just for the family.  All of us learnt to plant veggies and have a love for the outdoors and gardening, picking food off one of the many food trees we had.  My Mother was also smart enough to learn that you don't need sprays or chemicals to make plants grow. Just some good time and love, well compost and water. But they grow and then you eat the best food in the world. We learnt to eat want was in season so it was forever changing and we learnt how to wash cloths, hang them on the line and iron what was needed.
As I have got older I also want to pass the art of being a true homemaker along to my kids. They have their gardens, they are learning how to sew and they are learning that they can do anything they want to do. 
So learning how to make things and cook at home we can save hundreds or dollars every year. If you work hard every day why would you not want to save some money and learn to live better.
Every week I try to find something I have never done before and stop buying it.

 If I can make more with less then I can save money.

PS My mother has just learnt to paint so I leave you with this piece I got for my birthday.

Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Bark

Years ago I was in Philly for a work trip and brought some peppermint bark. I have loved it ever since, but could not find it. So I decided like most things this has to be easy to make. Dark chocolate, white chocolate and peppermint candy. How hard is that.

So here is my recipe for it.

Dark chocolate. ( I use the candy coating, but use what you like)
White chocolate
Peppermint extract
Peppermint candy canes
Hammer

Melt the dark chocolate and add one teaspoon of peppermint extract. Spread onto a foil lined pan. Melt white chocolate and spread on top. If you wait to long, the chocolates will not stick together. However if you do it too fast they will mix. Which is not bad at times.  I wait about 10 minutes and spread careful. If it mixes a little the canes will cover it. Break the peppermint candy canes up. I put them in a ziplock and use a hammer. The kids love doing this part.

Spread broken candy over the top. Let sit for about an hour or longer. Break into pieces.

ENJOY we do and everyone that love peppermint will love it.
Sorry it was gone before I could take a pic. Maybe next time.

Note,
I do not use baking chips as they add stabilizers to keep their form. Also if you like more or less peppermint taste just change up the extract

Curry Beef

Thought I had posted this recipe.......

Curry Beef

This is one of my all time go to recipes on a cold night.

1 apple chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 onion chopped
1 pound of hamburger browned
1-2 teaspoons of curry

Put everything in the crockpot for at least 4 hours. I always do 10 hours but whatever works for you.

Serve over rice.

Christmas is right around the corner and I have been watching Christmas movies the last week or so. Now I'm so ready to put Christmas stuff up. But I believe every holiday should have it's time. A time to enjoy and relax before the next one comes. Why do people put things up before Thanksgiving. I know it looks pretty and we all love it but does it take away from Thanksgiving. The same with shopping, why do we think it is okay to go out Thanksgiving night to get the best deal. I'm sure most of the people working want to be at home with their families eating Turkey.

There is really only a couple of times a year that families can/will stop and make time for each other. We are so busy in life with kids, sports and work. I'm not sure we stop long enough to enjoy each other. We talk about it like we want, make the change this year. Make sure your neighbors and family are together with others. Stay out of the stores this Thursday and enjoy your day. Just sit and talk, play a game. Spend time with each other.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Wood Stove

One more step to living on less. Our biggest expense was fuel oil for heating in the winter. Living in the midwest and the first year we were here, we had snow on the garden for 3 months. It cost us an amount I don't even want to think about. The next year we had already decided to put in a wood stove for more than one reason. First to save money, second to not have to worry about heat if the power went out, third because it went along with our plan to learn to live of the land and lastly because I always had one as a kid and they heat so well.

In the midwest they have outdoor wood burners. These push heat into the house and work really well, however if the power went out we will still have to worry.  So we ending up with a beautiful cast iron woodstove.  As I sit here and watch the fire and feel the heat coming across the room,  I remember my childhood.  Sitting by a fire talking, laughing and playing cards or boardgames. I guess a fire brings people together. 

I still have to paint the wall behind but this is our first fire.

Almost Thanksgiving

I have not be able to blog for so long. It was not working with my old computer so I gave up and are trying to get it working after I have been reading a wonderful blog, with all kinds of good information.

This year has gone by so fast and now we are back to the cold months and lots of coffee to stay warm. The garden has been cleaned up and some fences fixed. Chicken coop cleaned and all the goodies on the garden. This is our first year with our wood stove. They had one years ago and took it out. I'm loving it and the heat from it is wonderful. There is nothing like coming in and standing by it to warm up.

Now I'm onto looking at seeds for next year and planning on where I can put things on our 5 acres.  Thinking of adding some more animals in the spring and maybe the first year for baby goats. Someone is going to have to teach me how to milk a goat. This should be funny.

This was also our first year for meat chickens. Love them and not sure we will ever buy one from the store again. There is something in buying local fresh food.

Spring Time

I love this time of the year but it always gets away on me. I have this long list of stuff to do before the Spring time gets here. I try so hard to get everything done inside before all I want to do is play outside. WELL I missed it again. Here I am inside cleaning out rooms and I want to be outside building a new chicken coop or planting veggies.

Today I was inside cleaning out my daughters room. I'm not sure where all this stuff comes from but she is doing well at helping me get her big room the way we want it.  Next will be paint and putting stuff in the right place. Something she needs to learn. She is all about horses, dance and flowers. Just a mini me.

Next I will be cleaning out the rest of the house, working out what I can sell, upcycle or give away.  One day I would love to have everything where I need it and in it's place. No more stuff coming in the house, but food and no more leaving. I don't need half the stuff I have. I'm not sure I use it all anyway.  Been here two years and still feel like we just moved in.

Making Butter

I thought this process was going to be really hard and not work. I know sometimes I have no faith in myself. I have been thinking about it for a while and have been wanting to give it a go and with the prices of butter going up I keep thinking it maybe cheaper and better to make it myself.

Well today was the perfect day for trying it out. The morning started with a trip to an reuse place, but it was closed when we got there so we thought we would find a local dairy farm I had heard about.  We were hoping they had a store where we could get some great products.  But it was better than that. The owner was right at the door when we walked in and he gave us lots of products to go home with including cups to have a drink in the car. Chocolate Milk of course.

So once home I made my butter.

I used 4 cups of whipping cream,

Place cream in a food processor or kitchen aid and beat. It took about 15 minutes and at this time the butter is separate from the liquid (whey). I put it in a cheese cloth and got all the liquid off. At this point knead and mix in salt. (if you are adding it) and wrap in paper.

It is very easy and taste wonderful.

Goals for this year

Wow it is almost March and I have not sat down and wrote my goals. I have thought alot about them and what will get done vs dreams.

1. First we need to get a temp fencing system around the garden. I'm not sure how big I would like it in the end so I don't want to make it hard to change.

2. My strawberry patch will need to go in very soon. I plan to order them next week. I can't wait for my own strawberries and no more worrying about sprays.

3. Chickens to get more chickens or wait until next year. The question is in the air.

4. Plant Swap. Oh I love my annual plant swap, making it bigger and better this year.

5. New Chicken Coop. That will have to be done before we get more chickens

6. Goats. Just two that is all I want.

7. Canning. I would love to do some much more this year.

8. Grow enough potatoes to get us through the whole year.

9. Finish the wood stove.

There is more to add but this will work for now.

Friends Maple Syrup

What a great day looking at my friends maple syrup process. I would love to try this one day, but since I don't have maple trees I just have their process to watch and learn. This is their second or third year of making their own. Which looked wonderful and they were having so much fun showing it to me. When I got there I saw the little blue cover tent out the back and wood being added. They are watching this the whole time.

                                              It has blocks under it, getting it off the ground.

On top they cut a hole to hold three big pans.

Two openings at this end to place wood in and create air flow

The pan in the middle has been boiling the longest and they take from the right and add to the middle. It was made out of an old oil tank. In the summer they plan to use it for a grill, take the pans out and place a rack over the hole. I didn't realise how long this process really was. Once they get it to a point they take the pans inside to complete the process and finish it out.

Friday It's Friday

I have not sat down and just wrote something in a long time. This week has been full of snow, rain and today is a beautiful spring like morning. It is still muddy outside from all the rain but the birds are talking as I went outside to dump the coffee beans on the garden. (They are very good for your plants) The sun is about to come up and I'm sitting thinking ohhhh I have so much to do this spring. But for now I will just enjoy the quite moment I'm in. I love mornings like this and I relaxed that is why I love camping and living in the country. There is just a pretty peace that you don't get in town. Well that is what I think anyway. Soon kids will be up and moving, lunches will be made, work will have to get done.
We are well into 2012 and I'm not sure I have sat down and wrote out all my goals. I know we need to fence in the garden this year if we want to eat anything before the chickens.  We also have to fix a two stone walls (They have been on the list for last year) and I would love to get some more fruit trees planted. As for animals I would love to add my two goats and some more chickens. Both meat and layers.  Welll my moment of quite is gone and I have to get into my day...........You have a wonderful day as well.

Basic Sandwich Bread - Mother Earth News

I still have  a long way to go when it comes to bread, but my plan is to stop buying it from the store. This is the first recipe where it did work well.

3 1/2 unbleached white flour
1 tbsp soften butter
1 egg beaten, I use my chicken eggs, nutrition value higher
1 tsp Salt use the full amount. I didn't the first time and it made a big difference
2 1/4 tsp dried yeast
1 1/4 cups milk at room temperature

1 egg, beaten and thinned with water. I tried it will milk too.

Note:If you rehdrating yeast with water, subtract the amount of water you added to the yeast from the milk.

Put flour in a mixing bowl, add soften butter. Use your fingers to work the butter into the flour until no large pieces remain. Add egg, salt and yeast. I use my fingers to give it a quick stir. Then add milk to form a dough. I use my kitchen aid, until raggedy and rough.

Turn your mixer on and knead for a few minutes. You don't have to knead long just until it comes together.
Place in a clean, lightly buttered bowl. I leave it in my kitchen aid and cover with a big plastic bag and I don't butter, but you should. Leave until it doubles in bulk/size about an hour- 1 1/2 hours. After it has doubled turn on a flour board. Gently press out the gas and form dough into a rectangle to fit buttered pan, and let rise until nearly doubled. About 30 -60 minutes. Brush the top with egg or milk and bake at 375 degrees until golden, about 45- 1 hour. Remove and turn out of tin. Let cool, if you can and sit on its side for 3 hours or cut and eat hot. Whatever works, hot bread and butter is the best in the world.

                                              Good luck and let me know how it goes for you.

Orange Shire Dressing

2T Olive oil
2 Cups plus 1 cup fresh orange juice
1 c toasted sesame seeds
2 T butter
1T packed brown sugar
1T worcestershire sauce
1T lemon juice
1t lemon pepper
1/8t salt
1/8 allspice

In a med skillet, heat oil over med heat. Add 1 cup of the juice, sesame seeds, butter and brown sugar. Bring mix to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Remove and set aside.

In a med bowl, mix worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, the remaining orange juice, lemon pepper, salt and allspice with a wire whisk.

Just before serving, spread a tablespoon of the sesame seed mixture on the top of a salad. (If oil has risen to the top, put this dressing in the microwave a few seconds until the oil is soft. Mix well again. Serve the salad with dressing on the side.

Yield: About 4 cups.

Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

Preheat the oven to 400F

1 Medium butternut squash cooked
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
12 oz small pasta shells
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

Puree butternut squash with milk, fold into pasta.

Grease a 9-inch baking dish. Spread mixture evenly in the dish and top with cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the top is golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Apple Ginger Granita - Tyler Florence

This is great for all that done feel good and have a sore throat.

Makes 6 adult Servings

3 Cups Unfiltered Apple Juice
3 Tablespoons Honey
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
In a large saucepan, combine the apple juice, honey, and ginger. Add 1 cup water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove the pan cool for 20 minutes.
When the mixture has cooled, pour into a 9 x 13 inch freezer safe dish. (you could use anything) Cover the dish and freeze for at least 2 hours, or until frozen solid.
Use a fork to scrape the granita into serving cups.

Ginger is an amazing home remedy that has been used to treat stomach upset, for more than 2000 years. The root contains pungent phenol compounds that also reduce inflammation, which makes it perfect for a sore throat.

Folding Clothes

Well this was a little funny, a friend came over and we got to talking about how one spouse is different to the other. One keeps everything clean and in it's place. One is a little more of a dreamer. Some how we ended up talking about T-shirts and how to fold them. I had to go and get one of the T-shirts out of our drawer. A nice folded T-shirt. She went home and posted these photos.

                                                                             Before

                                                                           After

                                                           I think I made her day. :-)

My Chocolate Icing

I have made several cakes over the years. (I'm working on uploading photos of most of them).  And I get requests for my recipes all the time. Which is one of the reasons why I'm working on my own cookbook.  I love looking through books, finding recipes and making changes when needed. I have made many mistakes over the years, but who hasn't that cooks.

Enough said...... here is one of my Chocolate Icing recipes.

4 Tablespoons butter
4 oz chocolate melted. (find a chocolate you like) or 2 Tablespoons cocoa mixed with a little hot water first.
1-2 cups powder sugar
water

Melt butter, add melted chocolate or cocoa and mix. Add powder sugar a little at a time. If it gets thick, too thick add water. Just mix it to the way you like it. Ice your cake and eat away. Or send me some. :-)

You can add vanilla if you would like. I forget it sometimes.