Summer Squash

Summer squash Local farm verses store bought

So the summer is quickly approaching and the vegetable gardens are springing up the action. I recently bought some amazing squash from Mr. Produce man  on the corner; by the way he is awesome! I love pulling out some cash for the guy and talking to him about the weather,crops, value of the dollar and the amazing produce he always has in his truck. (the produce truck) Well I have previously posted this picture in a coupon club about what the difference in cost and size are from local produce verses the cost in store; I really want to show off this amazing squash again.
 Any way the other reason is to share a quick and easy recipe for all who love a good vegetable side. I never really enjoyed squash unless really cooked, but now I can eat it like a cucumber. The taste is a little lighter and the color get me every time. The bright and cheeriness from across the aisle at the supermarket or even the shine as I pass Mr. Produce man. SUMMER SQUASH its what's for dinner.

Vegetable Pie = vegetables baked and served in a pie plate
You need :
3 or 4 summer squash sliced 
enough to fill a regular pie plate
1 large tomato

Veggies Mound

1 cup of fresh spinach
1/2 cup of snow peas
salt and pepper
a little olive oil or butter

Now once you have all your veggies ready this is very simple. Place squash in pie plate, then tomato slices. Mound your spinach on top followed by your snow peas. Now salt and pepper the top of your pie adding a little olive oil. You can also cut tablespoons of butter and place on the sides of your pie dish. Cover with aluminum foil and push down on the top of your pie so it become flattened. Your veggies are getting ready to bake. Place in oven and bake on 350 for 30 minutes. Ready when they are tender and bubbly.

Options are all up to you. I love to make this all the time but I switch veggies around too.
(use zucchini add onions or mushrooms) I also make a aluminum foil bag in place of the pie plate when cooking on the grill. No hot kitchen in the summer! As long as you make sure your veggies are fresh and your seasonings simple, this is also a gluten friendly dish. You would be surprised how some veggies in your supermarket have been given food starch to keep fresh or even fresh frozen veggies can also have gluten in them.

Scrapostable

Compost
So everyone has those food scraps when cooking, I know I do, and if you set up a good system it can save you money and have a lasting effect in your garden.When I say scraps I mean like egg shells,onion peels,potato eyes,banana peels basically any extras.(no meat or bones) Everyone who has bought strawberries or grapes from the grocery knows that those few grapes or blueberries that are not edible.
Here is the plan:
1. Set up a small garbage can-small or big depending on what you feel your trash output would be.
I use a small closed top lid and reuse the plastic bags that I occasionally get form the grocery store when I forget my reusable's. then that is it.
2. Fill -when full take outside sprinkle under plants or in a com-poster you may have outside. The garden will thank you and you will get a better harvest for giving your plants those extra scraps.

Keeping up the Pace Its February!

Well, almost through February... I cannot believe it. The days are passing by quickly and this is my first post for the month! I better start cracking. March is David's birthday so I have some things to get done. I also have to keep up in my new found ATC hobby. My seeds for pre-garden are doing well, I will have to post pictures and of course we have our new Boxer puppies running around. This month has been a little crazy! Don't worry I will post soon!

Egg Cups

     I have always enjoyed egg cups. I have quite a few different ones ranging from cows to bright colors, even a vintage polish one from my husband's great grandma. My great grandma also had special wooden egg cups she would use. I have grown up with them, but generally  you never do see these on a menu with the eggs? Many people have no idea what an egg cup is. Well for those who do not know, an egg cup; it is a small cup that can hold an "egg,". Normally it holds a soft boiled egg or for certain decorations it can also be used for hard boiled eggs!  I just found this cool  tool that helps me out when making soft boiled eggs. It cuts the tops off your eggs. I seem to hit and miss when it comes to taking the top off my eggs, because I do not know how far I will actually hit the small egg on the side. I end up cracking the egg down the side.
     Growing up this was something that my mom and grandma made for my brother and I. It is definitely a memory maker! I have cherished this special memory and pass it down to who ever wants it. If you want to try something different for your kids or your family,or even for yourself, The recipe for an egg-cellant breakfast is below. I find it can be a healthier alternative then fried eggs in a pan.




Soft Boiled Egg and Toast... aka Dippy Eggs.

2-3 uncooked eggs in their shells from local grocery or backyard chickens.
small sauce pan
water
white,wheat or rye bread, for toast


   Take a small saucepan and place two or three eggs in bottom. Add water to cover eggs. Turn on high and bring to a boil. Once boiling begins, time for one minute. Turn pan off. Get egg cups ready and carefully take hot eggs out of pan and place in egg cups. This is where the cool egg topper would come in handy. Slice off top of egg. You should have a nicely soft boiled egg. While you eggs where getting ready to boil you should make your toast and when fully cooked to your specifications slice into thin pieces 1/2 long. This will help with getting into the egg. For my niece I tend to run a small spoon around the edges first so the egg is not connected to the shell. This will help as she tries to get the egg out of the shell when the (dippy) yolk is gone. to make a sweeter egg dip add a drop of syrup to the egg when the top is cut off. Enjoy!

Farm Fresh Eggs

     The amazing part of living with farm animals is the ability to really use what you have. Chickens are great creatures. The eggs they make are used in so many foods and to just be able to go outside and bring in fresh warm eggs,then crack into a hot skillet and enjoy is wonderful.


    The best way to make sure that your chickens will keep laying, is to keep their home warm. The more comfortable they are the better they will be at producing.
My ladies had a few troubles, and the weather changed in mid-laying of  their starting process, but I think they are getting back into it.

     Speaking of chickens, and farming a great book that my Sister and Brother in law gave to us when we moved to our little piece of property. Living the Country Lifestyle for Dummies. I love this book! This book is not just about animals but about everything from canning, to bee keeping, to laundry. I think if you are looking for a book that will encompass more than one country style hobby, this is the book for you, or a friend. 

Chicken Show

I had my friend Robyn over and we were discussing chickens. My husband and I have about twenty-five chickens and a few roosters. I love that people enjoy these lovely but very messy creatures. We are starting to get back the egg supply that dropped with the change in whether. I really love to go out in the afternoon and see if we have eggs and I think that my ladies(hens) do too! Chickens, if you have the ability to have them, are really entertaining. Our farm is slowly growing, my husband hopes to have some rabbits and goats. I think that I am warming up to the idea of goats purely because I want to make soap; goats milk is supposed to be great for your skin! I am taking our farm one day at a time, just as I am with blogging. God has truly blessed our family, and he is amazing!

Speaking of chickens my niece Justice is the chicken whisperer. I enjoy watching her catch them and check for eggs. My next mission is to get my egg cartons ready for when the chickens all fully start to lay. Cartons will be posted shortly.