Yep...it's a way of life!

Goat Wrangling

Hoof Trimming

Garden Weeding

Stall Shoveling

Coop Cleaning

Photo Credit:

confetti salsa!

My friend Peggy shared this recipe with me Wednesday...since then, I've made it 4 times!
It's called green tomatillo salsa, but looks like a happy toss of confetti to me!

Now here's the thing, there's no "right" or "wrong" to this recipe...and there are no specific amounts for ingredients.

Don't let that worry you...it WILL taste great no matter what you do!  Peggy chops her ingredients in a hand chopper so they're small and the result is a salsa that's much more sauce-like...yummy.

I like my salsa more (isn't there a better word than "chunky?!) substantial. So mine is less salsa-like and probably qualifies as more of a side-dish...is that a problem? It's fine with me! Anyway, I simply chopped mine by hand quickly because I couldn't wait to enjoy it.

So here you are, the recipe straight from Peggy. Ingredients are in a quantity order...for example lots of tomatillos, not so much cilantro. From the photo you'll see I love red onion...out of proportion to the recipe below, but this is yours to enjoy, so make it anyway you like! I'm going to add some avocado next time.

Peggy’s Salsa

tomatillos, peeled and chopped (lots!)

red onion, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

jalapeño pepper, chopped (amount to taste)

cilantro, chopped (to taste)

salt (to taste)

lime juice (to taste)

Combine all in a bowl, grab a bag of tortilla chips, get ready to be happy!

farmgirl photo...

Honeybee in the Tomato Soup...coneflower, that is!

I love the striking color of this variety...so glad I found it!

farmgirl phone photos...

I try to keep my camera handy, it seems there's always something that just needs to be saved for the memories...old barns with chippy paint, glorious flower gardens, centuries old farmhouses, and regional eye-catchers like the hundreds of wind turbines we came across on our last road trip...they seemed to fill the fields for miles. 

However; there are times I just run out the door and don't bring my camera along...those are the days I see the most beautiful sights, and I'm left with only my phone camera. Ugh...and so it goes.

Such was the case last week...this sunset was so beautiful that my daughter and I just had to pull the truck off to the side of the road and really enjoy it. The shape of the clouds, the intense colors, the dramatic shadows...no photo trickery here, this is what we actually saw. And yet, the camera couldn't capture all of the beauty we saw with our own eyes.

I'm sorry to say, all I had was my phone, but I snapped some pictures anyway and wanted to share them.

(At least I didn't run out the door without my phone...which happens more than I'd like to admit!)

apples + apples = applesauce!

This week is applesauce week here on the farm. Our Yellow Transparent apple tree is loaded with apples, and they're ready to pick.

NOW!

To be honest, it takes longer to pick, peel, and slice apples than to turn them into applesauce, and there are two really easy ways to make applesauce...no more keeping watch over them while stirring on top of the stove for hours.

One...pull out your handy slow cooker, it just couldn't be easier!

Slow Cooker Applesauce

10 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 c. water
1/2 to 1 c. sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker; stir to blend. Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours, or high setting 3 to 4 hours.

OR...

Electric Pressure Cooker Applesauce

8 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

1/2 c. water

1/2 c. sugar

juice of 1/2 a lemon

1 cinnamon stick

Combine all ingredients into the inner pot, close the vent, and press STEAM/CANNING button and set it at 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, slide the steam release valve and allow the steam to escape, remove the lid.

Now yes, I do have an "old-fashioned" slow cooker, BUT this was made in an Power Cooker brand electric pressure cooker my family gifted me with at Christmas. 

And if yours isn't a Power Cooker, no matter which brand of pressure cooker you own, you'll find oodles of applesauce recipes online.

No electric pressure cooker? The slow cooker works perfectly as well...it gives you not time to slip outside to do a bit of gardening, curl up with a favorite book, or wrangle a few goats for hoof trimming! (see what we have planned?)

What to do with all your yummy applesauce? Well, it freezes perfectly, so once it's cooled, simply spoon it into freezer containers.  

Or, preserve jars for yourself as well as to share with your family & friends. I'll be spooning extra applesauce into jars and canning them...ready in only 15 minutes!

Enjoy the day, friends!

a day to pause and reflect...

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations

to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God,

to obey his will, to be grateful for His benefits,

and humbly to implore His protection and favor."

~George Washington
October 3, 1789

chimney for the cute little house!

As promised, here's a better look at the chimney for the sweet little house in my previous post...

and wait until you get a close-up look at the exterior detail...

wow...

beautiful!

gorgeous!

This is the OUTSIDE of the chimney...amazing!

Next post I'll share a few more details...the windows and door are lovely, too.
(Okay, did I say I would move there in an instant?!)

Happy Friday!

Farmgirl photo...

love.

Love.

LOVE!

I'll tell you more about this soon!

Smoke house?

Summer kitchen?

Doesn't matter...I'd move right in in a heartbeat!

And wait till you see a close-up of the exterior fireplace...amazing.

happy Fathers' Day!

Here's to steaks on the grill, strawberry pie, and an afternoon nap!

Thanks for all you do!