From your “Farm-ily”! This picture was taken at Mabry’s Mill during a late summer trip we took. We hope you had a lovely holiday and have a Happy New Year! We have been having cozy evenings by the fire reading books and playing games. During this warm weather we have been getting the cow’s winter housing finished up before the nasty winter weather sets in. It’s always a blessing to have better weather longer than you expect. It helps you get ready for when it’s going to be rough on the animals and crops. Cold rain is the hardest to deal with for animals. Well for people too!
We are having awesome winter meals lately! We are making lots of soups with the root veggies. A member made a split pea soup with a ham bone and beets and carrots, they really enjoyed it. It’s hard to go wrong with any combination of winter veggies and soup. We are loving having salad so far into winter this year, that keeps your vitamins and minerals up to fight colds and flu. It also makes me feel healthier after indulging in lots of Christmas sweets! Our special surprise this week in shares is Brussels Sprouts. I sauteed onion in a big dutch oven with lard and butter, then added a little more and tossed the brussels sprouts in. I put the whole thing in the oven at 425 for about 30 mins. While that was cooking I took 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/2 raisins and boiled them in a small pot and then turned it off and let them absorb the vinegar. When the sprouts were done roasting I tossed the raisins on top and added some crumbled bacon too. It was grand! We are also enjoying Kale, mustard greens, sweet potatoes, and carrots this week.
I have been keeping up with our yogurt making as well. Once you get a system, it isn’t hard to keep it going. I heat my milk to 180, then I cool it with an ice paddle. This really speeds up the cooling time since I do about 2 gallons at a time and it can take a LONG time to cool. That way I don’t feel like I have a project going all day. Then when it reaches 115, I add the yogurt starter and mix well. Then I put the mixture into jars and into the dehydrater for 4 hours at 115. Super easy breakfast with our homemade granola on top! We have granola in the cabin for sale, but sorry we aren’t offering yogurt at this time.
We can’t believe it’s time to think about the major spring planting! We will begin ordering our seeds in the next week. If you have any veggie requests please let us know! This year we are trying to have tomatoes earlier, longer and more of them! If only they were as disease and bug resistant and okra and eggplant! HA HA! Enjoy your food and family and friends and count your blessings as we enter a new year with so much potential!
ALL CSA and MILK SHARES are available at regular times. Enjoy!
Blessings,
The Bakers
PS Remember to stay tuned for baby watch, “Ducklegs” is the mama cow due in January. She will be brought into the birthing area in a few days.