Tuesday, August 25, 2015

from the {Little Barn Kitchen}

 a peek at what I've been cooking and we've been eating/drinking...

{Main Meals} 
(homegrown) roasted chicken, (homegrown) sliced potatoes, and (homegrown) gluten free fried okra
(local)B (local)L (homegrown)T on homemade gluten free bread and 
potato salad (using homegrown potatoes, homegrown eggs, and homemade pickles)
(homegrown) roasted chicken,
 (homegrown) roasted spaghetti squash topped with homegrown/homemade tomatillo salsa, 
and (homegrown) corn
(local) pork stir-fry with (homegrown) turnips, carrots, (homegrown) cabbage, (homegrown) squash, and (homegrown) peppers
 
homemade (homegrown) pimento sheep's/goat's cheese on homemade bread 
gluten free (homegrown) zucchini cakes
 

{Sweets}
 

{Additions to the Larder}
using (homegrown) tomatillos, peppers, and garlic
 
salsa 
(recipe from Food in Jars)
 
(homegrown) sweet pickles
chicken broth
I make broth in the crock pot after every (homegrown) chicken I cook. 
I pressure can it so I can use the broth in recipes later or so we can pop open a jar if we are sick.

Note: 
Lately, we have been eating out just as much as I cook, 
because we've been busy or away from home or because I just don't want to cook another thing.
It happens. 
Just want to keep it real.










Thursday, August 13, 2015

HOME Sweet Homestead

 One day I might try to do a "Day in the Life" post because I wish I could share how what was once just a dream has become a reality that is so rich and full. But, for now I hope I can share enough glimpses that you might see some of what goes on around the homestead. 
Once the garlic cured, I cleaned it up and it turned out beautifully and it tastes delicious.
  
I was a little disappointed in the potato harvest, because I thought I had planted so many. 
I was consoled a little when I heard it was a bad year for potatoes. 
I have been canning like crazy around here!!
I canned all my tomatoes
 and even bought two boxes at the farmers' market because my tomatoes got blight. 
I have canned tomato halves, salsa, pickles, and chicken broth all within the last week.
  
We have started raising rabbits thanks to a friend generously giving us a buck and a doe. 
We already had one doe (who was supposedly pregnant when we bought her, 
but she actually wasn't). Now, although I'm still in the learning process with this, I think at least one is bred. We'll see in a few more days. 
The boys wanted to read a section from The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit to our newly named Flopsy and Benjamin when they first arrived.
 
Last Monday, we started back to school (more on that soon). 
We only took the month of July off, but the boys were begging to get back to it.
Bryan and I celebrated our 12th anniversary Sunday
 
and that evening Bryan sheared our first sheep.
 He did an amazing job! 
We still have two to shear,
 so hopefully that will happen soon.
Speaking of sheep, at the end of July, eight more sheep and another Great Pyrenees came to our homestead. They will be with our six sheep and our dog until their owners are able to find a new home in Louisville. 
so every few days we move 14 sheep and two dogs around our pastures. 
I'm sure it's a sight to see, but seems to be getting a bit easier each time. 
 
 Then earlier this week, the boys and I went to pick up a load of feed at the feed mill
because 31 baby chicks arrived at the post office for us today. 
This round of meat birds will be processed in October.
 My mom asked me the other day, on the phone, if I ever rest, 
and I know it's hard to believe, but I really do. 
Sometimes. :)

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Silas is 4!

Silas is 4!
On Saturday, we celebrated his birthday with friends and family at the creek that's a mile from our house. Our boy searched for treasures in the creek, ate gluten-free Funfetti cake, bashed a thrifted bull pinata, and opened a few presents.
 
 
 
  

Monday (his actual birthday), he enjoyed some frozen yogurt from Stakz, made special by some candles and a birthday hat,
and licked his birthday lollipop on the front porch.
 
I hope it was one incredible birthday weekend for our sweet, adorable 4 year old!