We Need A New Name

I'm in the process of getting my New Year's Resolutions, Part II post written, but in the mean time . . . .

The chickens are FINALLY laying again! They went through the worst molt I've EVER seen this fall, and I haven't delivered eggs since October 28th! (Insane!) So, now that we have fresh eggs again, I took six of them to make ourselves dinner last night.

My mom always made this when I was growing up, and it's called Pancake Fluff. As a child, we ate it with maple syrup, but Tom and I have been taking to eating it as is . . . or maybe even with some salt & pepper. It's very light but also rich. Almost all protein. I think that, in the future, I'll spread some mozzarella & chopped ham (or some such thing) on the top & then put the broiler on for the last two minutes or so. At any rate, we're moving away from 'pancake', and so we need to think of a new name! Anyone?

Mixed up and ready to go into the oven.


It rises like a soufflé!


Side view. Maybe I should have put it on the bottom shelf!


I added roasted pecans in the last minute or two.
I didn't want to add anything while the batter was still soft
because I wanted the pecans (or cheese & ham) to decorate the top and not sink in.

Voila!
A side of homemade cinnamon & brown sugar applesauce (from my folks' trees!),
cooked spinach (already on our plates), and it's a meal! (AND there are leftovers for today!)

Nightie, Night

I should be in bed. Or, nearer to it than I am. But, since the rest of our week's schedule is lookin' pretty crazy, I thought I'd better take the time now to write.

A blogger who I occasionally read (no segue here, but did any of us know what a 'blogger' even WAS ten years ago?!) just wrote the following: "So I've been writing [. . .] quite some time. And since I started this site I've come to meet a lot of fine people along the way. People from all over the world who take part in all the little triumphs (and troubles) [. . . .] Now I want to ask you a favor. If you read my blog regularly, please respond to this post with a comment about yourself. Tell me where you're from, what you do [* . . . .] What would you like me to write more about? Is there anything I can explain better? The more I know about the people reading up on me, the better I can write stuff you'll be interested in taking time out of your busy lives to read. But beyond content and criticism, I'd just really appreciate getting to know more of you, as you've all come to know me. So please come in, sit down, and say hello."

I couldn't have said it better myself (so I didn't). But, the point is, who are YOU? I know of The Usual Suspects (Mom, Tom - he says he likes to know what he's been up to!, Mrs. Phys-Phys, KT, B, and Uncle M), but who else is out there? As of (hang on) . . . NOW . . . that blogger has received 40 replies! If I'm even 1/4 that lucky, I'll be tickled. ;) (And, my * refers to me adding "why you read this blog".)

Now, back to the daily drudgery (Did I just say that? Must be the Mexican hot chocolate talking.)

I FINALLY got the salsa all canned today! Some of the tomatoes had been waiting a little too long for my attention, so a good portion were thrown to the chickens, ducks, turkey, and goose. BUT, that's good, too: it will come back to us in healthy eggs and meat.

This initial shot is of our Swamp River Ridge Salsa (medium, thank you very much) in the big pot . . . up close and personal. ("Swampy Salsa"? Umm . . . no.)


And . . . a satisfying shot of a job completed. 23 half-pints of salsa, all tolled. Yayyy!


Next it was on to the honkin' big zucchini that had been living on my countertop for a week or more (having been harvested - as the above tomatoes had been - from my mama's almost over-abundant garden). They were, by far, the easiest processing I've done this year between the green beans, pickles, salsa, and now these. They just needed some sugar to help preserve them in the freezer.

So, after peeling and shredding them all (I should have taken a picture of that!), I divided them and their respective amounts of sugar into freezer bags. Now I have 11 packages ready and waiting for 11 batches of zucchini bread to be made some cold winter day. Mmmm, can't you almost smell it baking already?

Meanwhile, after a full morning of volunteering at the local folk school preparing for the big shebang this weekend and a full afternoon of meetings, Tom came home early enough to hit the last of the wood we harvested this past weekend. The small, gangly tree ends were thrown into the truck, as is. (The guys didn't take time to cut them onsite.) So, with proper OSHA-approved clothing and footwear (ah-hem!), Tom took care of that pile tonight with his lightweight baby-sized chainsaw.


That's all for now. Happy Hump Day (in 5 minutes).

Rainy Thursday

It's a rainy, overcast day . . . a PERFECT day to stay in bed! But, alas, that's a pipe dream. Although, Tom and I did sleep WAY in this morning - we were both SHOCKED when we looked at the clock! (And I won't even tell you what time it read - it's that embarrassing.)

Tom and I both had big work days yesterday. The piece of rental equipment that Tom needed for his Trapper Cabin Handyman job in town was not available (even tho it had been reserved for him), so he switched gears. After cleaning out the accumulation of recycling, garbage, and JUNK in the woodshed, he logged and worked on firewood all afternoon and late into the evening.


I, meanwhile, had another pickling day and finished up all the pickling cucs. I got 21 1/2 pints put up yesterday, and it feels GREAT to have that all accomplished! I get a great sense of satisfaction out of working all day and then having the "instant" gratification at the end when I see all that I've accomplished. And, talk about saving money! In addition to only including "healthy" (no preservatives), organic ingredients, all the pickles I've put up this year (10 quarts and 30 1/2 pints) would have cost around $186 . . . and that's the WHOLESALE price that I pay! So, not counting Mom's blood, sweat, and tears that went into planting, nurturing, and harvesting the seeds - and my blood, sweat, and tears in cleaning, slicing, preparing, and canning the pickling cucs - only MINIMAL cost went into the pickles. Maybe $5, $10 total. Now THAT'S a savings! (And a big psychological reward!)

Today I need to finish blanching and freezing the green and yellow beans (which have been languishing on the cold floor of my pantry) and then attack sa-sa-sa-sal-SA! ;)


These two pictures are from the pickling process . . . examples of something that, as a canner, you NEVER really want to see! So, remember when I wrote about the last jar of pickles splitting open as I lifted them out of the water bath? Yup, this is what that mess looked like.


This second picture is from last night and WAY more dangerous! See the jar of pickles on the top right in the group of six? That lid pushing up is what you call P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E! Just as that batch was finishing, I heard a loud POP! and thought, "Sugarjets! Another jar broke open!" (And, okay, I didn't really say 'sugarjets', but you get the jist!) Anyway, no, I'd - apparently - had a bad seal on that jar, causing the pressure of the boiling brine in the boiling water batch to convex the lid out! Not good. So, it was with great trepidation and fear . . . and shielding my eyes as best as I could . . . that I removed it from the water bath. And, as the jar cooled, so relaxed the pressure within. All was well, and now that jar is in the refrig as our "test" jar. (Haven't tried them yet.)

Mmmm, the rain coming down outside is WONDERFUL (we need rain soooo badly). Problem is, all it makes me want to do is make a batch of cookies and then curl up in front of the crackin' fire (eating the cookies!) with a good book!