Pre-Dawn

The sun has yet to peek over the horizon, but my house is already full of activity.

We woke up to snow this morning (It really wouldn't be almost Halloween without it)

Mastering the Art of French Cooking: Souffle de Poisson

We have a freezer full of Spanish Mackerel and Nick asked me to do something different with it.  I asked Julia what I should do with it, and this is what I found.  I'd been reluctant to try it because I've always had such terrible luck with meringue and other whipped egg whites, but Nick wanted something different and not only have I never made a souffle for him or anyone else, but neither of us has ever been served one.

I'm gonna deviate from my usual strategy of giving you a working overview of the recipe, because the original was a (necessary) 8 pages.  Instead, I'll just skim over the steps.  If you want to make it, Go get the book already!

 Get a 6c souffle dish, butter it and sprinkle it with grated cheese.  

This is What Happens When I Forget My Smartphone

Yesterday, I was talking to a neighbor who told me that there was a winesap apple tree at the park down the street, and that it still had some apples on it.

I know that I said I was done canning, but who listens to me anyways?  And winesap apples are great for canned pie filling.  So off to the park I tread.

I picked about a peck, which was all that was in reach.  I'll hafta come back another day to get the higher up ones.  On my way back, I walked by a tree absolutely overflowing with yellow-orange goodness.  I know from talking to that same neighbor that it's an American Persimmon tree and that you shouldn't eat them 'till you've cooked them. 

Christmas from Scratch: Hand Milled Soap

I know Christmas is still a little ways away, and I'm no fan of Walmarts putting out Christmas stuff before the Halloween  candy is gone but I figured it was high time to start the Christmas from Scratch series.  Making presents takes time, after all.

There are a few reasons to hand-mill soap.  Sometimes, It can save a batch of homemade soap with some imperfections in it.  Mostly though, you do it for nicer soaps.  There are materials you can put in hand-milled soap that you can't put in regular soap.  Also, compared to hot process soap, hand milled soap takes to molds much better.

All Done

No More, no way no how.  I have filled up every jar in the house (sometimes multiple times) and bought a small fortune in more jars this year.  I am officially declaring full-blown canning season done.  That's not to say I won't still fill a jar or two here or there, but there's not a lot of harvest season left and there are even fewer jars left.

I now present to you, My Canning Cellar:

Playing Catch-Up By Way of Bullets

•  Cacciatore has escaped 3x since last reported.  She's becoming quite the little escape artist.  

Cacciatore Triumphant

The chicken tractor has needed pooper-scooped for almost a month now.  Before you go and accuse me of being negligent with my girls, I must point out that I have in fact been out there with shovel and newspaper 3 times... and each time it has proceeded to pour on me.  Today we finally got our beautiful day and it was time for some homestead chores.  They would have gone perfectly smoothly, if it weren't for my little Cacciatore.

Cacciatore has always been one of our braver chickens.  Not rough and tough brave, like General Tso but rather busy body brave.  She has to know what's going on, and she'll forgo her chickeny skiddishness if she has to to  get that info.  

Fall in a Jar, Pt. 2

We got home late Sunday night with our car full of fresh, unpasteurized cider in old liquor bottles.  We tossed everything in the basement fridge and went to bed.

Fall in a Jar, Pt. 1

If apples aren't the trademark of early fall then apple cider certainly is.  It smells incredible, it tastes incredible and when it's warm, it can fight off even the dampest of chills.  It's the official drink of haunted houses, hayrides and corn mazes everywhere.  Have I mentioned I like apple cider?

Well, this year we got an extra special treat cuz some college friends who recently moved back to the area so he could attend seminary have a cider press and invited us to make a day of it.

Farmers Market Challenge: Week 4

I went to the farmers market with $10 and I bought...

$1 - A head of garlic from Beth the hydroponic lady (cuz I like her)

$3 - A "Magical Michael" Basil Plant
$6 - 2 Bunches of Indian corn