Bubbles.... Bubbles... Bubbles...

So a couple of weeks ago a friend gave me some sourdough bread starter....  YAY!!

..............................Or so I thought

I have to tell you that my only experience with starters has been the famous sweet Amish Friendship bread starter..... Yes, I know I too lost a few friends of the "sharing" of that starter.... :~)   And here, I was wanting to try it again.  This starter was different... No sugar.  (insert frown/ I just don't get it look here)  But I did what I was told to do.... Yea, Well that didn't work out so well..... After a little bit of research I now know, I should have kept going and it would have been fine... (oops, shoulder shrug here)   So Now, I'm on a mission! Yes, a sourdough mission! I did start once again that famous Amish bread starter.... 

And I've tried a few different bread recipes that were NOT a quick bread, I have to say everything turned out yummy.... Note here I didn't say pretty.  Just wish now I would have filmed them after they were finished cooking and before the family consumed it all....... oops again... still learning.

I can't wait to see what else I come up with.  Also can't wait for my 100+ year old starter comes in the mail.

Until next time,

Amy

Farewell, Mickey my love

Farewell My Love,
I will forever miss slurping that piping hot morning go juice from you!

**sniff sniff**  (((blasted castiron sinks!!)))

Until Next time,

Amy

Wordless Wednesday

 

Till next time,

Amy

No time, NO TIME!!

Peppers

        WOW wow WOW....   (wonder how many times I can say that without taking a breath?)



This has been a really busy week so much so I really haven't been able to spend much time in the garden. The weeds have noticed and are growing faster than rabbits reproduce!


However, I have been harvesting an enormous amout of tomatoes and I'm finally getting a few okra. Enough okra for 1 pint jar to pickle later today! Yippy skippy that's good stuff! Squash bugs have taken over anything squash or vining. So yuck for us!   BUT we have tomatoes!!

Until next time,

Amy

The Week of canning.

First let me apologize for being so quiet the last few days. My goal was to post at least every other day... ** insert quiet giggle here**  If you know me, then you also know that my intentions are always good. But the need of Prioritizing takes precedence, In other words my list of things to do MUST without exceptions have check marks! 


So you have heard about the Brown Apple Tree... Then you'd known that I have received quit a few bags of green apples. I have also picked my small but might peach tree.... And really needing to thin out my pear trees!  ** insert frantic scream here**


But first things first. To dig out all those empty jars and hoping there will be enough!  

Then washin' all those nasty jars!!  This in itself was a full days work. (next time they will go into plastic containers with plastic lids.

Prepping all that fruit!  And trust me when I say it was all hands on deck. The kids loved it and only one walked away will a little scrape. 

 ....and the finished product so far is canned apples in a light syurp and apple butter.  The kids are loving that the pantry is filling up with yummy fruit..... and so am I!
Till next time.


Amy

In Loving Memory of the Brown Apple tree

Received a call this evening from a friend.... "Amy would you like some apples?"   {ummm, Sure}  "They are still green but my apple tree split....."   You get the picture right?

 It's a sad day for The Brown Apple tree indeed!  But let me just say to you, this was one HUGE tree! And it was L~O~A~D~E~D with apples. We're blessed with wonderful friends that are willing to share their apples. But I must say, I am sadden at the untimely death of the Brown Apple tree.

Now onto business! What to do with all the apples! Candied apples, apple butter, apple sauce, pie filling, apple cider, perhaps some apple cider vinegar. Who knows, I might think of a few more things to make from the apples between now and then.... I guess we'll have to wait and see.


Amy

Oh Yea, It's Sand Plum Jam Recipe.....

Its nearly noon and the aroma of simmering sand plums are filling the air as I breath it in deeply. The anticipation of the sweet tart jam makes all those scratches, from that wild thicket fade away.

As I peer into that pot of sweet bubbling fruit, I can't help but to think..... "Now, where oh where could I plant a few bushes..."   I shake myself back to reality.

I must confess, I have never made sand plum jam, and have no recipe to follow. So I'm doing what I do.... And winging it! Crossing all my fingers and toes hoping for the best!

My first batch of sand plum jam.....  And it tastes heavenly!  A perfect combination of sweet and tart!

Ingredients:
4 lb of ripe wild plums
2 lb of white granulated sugar
1/2 pint of water

1. Wash the plums and discard any damaged fruit.
2. Slit the plums with a knife. This will allow the stones to float to the surface during cooking so that they can be easily removed.
3. Put plums sugar & water into a large heavy bottomed saucepan (or preserving pan) and heat very gently until the sugar has dissolved.
4. Bring the jam to the boil and continue to boil very rapidly for about 8-10 minutes until the jam reaches setting point. At this stage carefully remove the stones as they float up to the surface, with a slotted spoon. Or mash threw a colander.  (What is setting point? See tricks and tips below).
5. When the jam has set, carefully pour into warm, sterilised jars, using a ladle or small jug leaving 1/4 headspace. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean towel
6. Cover the jars with tight fitting screw-top lids, .Hot water bath for 15 mins.
7. when cooled test for seal (press the center of the lid it should NOT Pop!  and store in a cool, dark place, away from damp.

Tips and tricks:Jam “set” or “setting point”:Getting the right set can be tricky. I have tried using a jam thermometer but find it easier to use the following method. Before you start to make the jam, put a couple of plates in the fridge so that the warm jam can be drizzled onto a cold plate (when we make jam we often forget to return the plate to the fridge between tests, using two plates means that you have a spare cold plate). Return the plate to the fridge to cool for approx two minutes. It has set when you run your finger through it and leave a crinkly track mark. If after two minutes the cooled jam is too liquid, continue to boil the jam, testing it every few minutes until you have the right set.
Amy

Welcome to My Garden

Welcome to the Garden 2010,

This is where I love to spend my time.  I would rather be in my garden than to wash dishes or do laundry.  I find digging in the dirt, planting and harvesting relaxing... even in the hot Oklahoma Sun!  Grab a glass of Ice Cold Tea, kick your shoes off and enjoy the garden tour.

The Herb Bed... along with a few plants I didn't have a "REAL" thought out home for, landed here.

This area is also new to the homestead this year, and right out my front door.

This area receives about 6 hours of the morning sun.

Not sure I can say anything about this garden area. Except, I think every homestead needs one! Mostly shade.

Thought this might save some time.... This is the main Veggie Garden 2010.

The top picture shows off my 75 tomato plants and a few squash and okra.

The bottom shows a nice empty area where I will be planting the fall crop, slatted to go in some time in the next couple of weeks. 

(right after I finish pulling out those weeds) Full Sun

My lovely Asparagus bed! 

 I worked so hard on this bed for a whole year. I added grass clippings and leaves flipped and flopped until it was broke down into wonderful organic matter.  And this spring I added my roots and they are taking to that bed like pigs to mud! full sun

 I have since pulled all the corn out. (was a really bad spot for corn) I'm not really sure what I will plant here with the leeks but I'm sure I will come up with something. Part shade until the pear tree gets a trim.

The Melon Bed..... cantaloupe, acorn squash and sugar baby watermelons. 

the two pots are just some flowers that I moved out of the way while mowing and never put them back.... story of my life!  

 Last but certainly not lest... the new bed. Mostly shade so I'm not real sure what I will be planting here. More than likely it will be my experiment bed. (if I can ever get it finished) Then again it might just be the perfect place for my rhubarb plants we will have to see how that one plays out.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have enjoyed your stay! 

And Come back often ya hear?!

Amy

Welcome

I have had several people ask in the past several months if I blog....  I always answer "No, Blogging just isn't for me."     And now look, I'm attempting this new world.

Let me first start by saying welcome. Come in, Sit for a spell and have a cup of tea. My goal in life is to raise my family and enjoy the journey. The Journey which we all have gone through, going through, or will go through.

As of right now I have 3 basic areas of my life....The Kitchen, The Kids and The Gardening. Come along with me,  I will share with you the life of raising life on The Cottage Homestead.