Friday, December 31, 2010

Saying goodbye to 2010

Every year I do the same thing...  reflect on my accomplishments and challenges of the year and ponder the future.  This usually means the making of lists.  I love lists!  I usually focus on personal goals such as hiking a 15 mile path or starting my craft business.  There are even more simple things such as learning how to make pasta, finding time to read more.... finding the time to write more.  So, looking over last years lists, I find it very interesting that many of the things I never get to (making winter clothes for those that need them, organize a garage sale and give the proceeds to a cause) continuously show up on the following years list. Why?   You can say, "I'm just to busy." But that is silly....  dreams and hopes are life...  Again, it comes back to priorities (at least for me).  Spending to much time doing the things that does not bring me, my family, my community in the for front.  Spending to much time on my own personal worries and fears.  Hum...  maybe.  Well, whatever the reason...  How will I get this years goals to "stick?" That is a very good question...  something I have time to think about... well, at least until tomorrow.  So, saying goodbye to an interesting 2010, and welcoming a great 2011!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

It's Lefsa time!!! Lefsa Tutorial

As the holidays approach, the smell of spices, turkey, and LEFSA are unleashed through our home! The 40th annual lefsa party was held a little early this year. We were blessed to have four generations of women under one roof for this event. This year we wanted to make sure we got the recipe and instructions right. The hierarchy of the family may be changing soon, so we made sure that the stories and traditions of lefsa from our eldest generation was written and documented to be pass down! So, how do you make lefsa and get it so darn thin? Well, this is how the Darling/Noel/Swihart family rocks the lefsa!

Ingredients:
5lbs of potatoes (will make about 33 rounds)
1/2 pound of butter
1 1/2 cups of flour.

Instructions
Boil and drain potatoes. Add butter (oleo) while mashing. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour a little at a time. It should look like this:

Form into balls and let is rest for about ten minutes.


Roll thin, transfer round to grid and bakc. I've included many pictures of the process! Don't be afraid to use that flour. It will not make the lefsa "tough" (which is what we thought it would do)! Flour saves you hours worth of time picking sticky dough off of towels and the rolling bin stocking!
Once you rolled it as thin as possible, transfer it with the lefsa stick onto a griddle.


When cooked, store immediately under towels.

When you are ready to eat it. Cut into triangles, spread with a little butter and roll! YUM YUM!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Presto Pesto


It's harvesting time!... What to do with all this basil? Of course, Presto Pesto!
I decided this year to freeze some of my Pesto in ice cube trays, to have later in the season. As for the rest, the pesto goes into everything! Yum-Yum



Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Plum Wine

Inspired by Aiko Keyes! I had the fortune of living very close to her for three wonderful months. She shared many of her great recipes, one being plum wine!

2 pounds of plums
2 cups of sugar
1.5 liters of vodka
wait 6-12 months before drinking!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Beef Lettuce Wraps




1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup grated carrots
1/4 cup grated zucchini
2 Tlbs. fresh ginger
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 Tlbs. rice vinegar
1/4 tsp. sesame oil
pinch of crushed red pepper
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
2 Tlbs. chopped fresh mint
10 lettuce leaves
cucumber

1. Cook beef, carrots, zucchini, and ginger in skillet for 6-10minutes (until beef is browned). Drain if needed.

2. Stir in soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and crushed red pepper

3. Remove beef mixture from heat and stir in green onions, cilantro, and mint.

4. Fill lettuce with mixture and slices of cucumber and enjoy!

* This recipe was modified from a Weight Watchers New 365 Day Menu Cookbook! It was SO delicious that I had to share it! Plus, 95% of the vegetables used to prepare this meal came from my own garden! This is a first for me, so I had to tell the world!

A NEW DIRECTION


I'm tired of using the excuse, "I don't have time to craft... to blog... to call someone I haven't talked to in a really long time. My priorities have been all out of whack, so I'm here to set them straight!

1) Family
2) Sustainability
3) Create

I think our garden is the place where these three priorities come together. We plant and harvest as a family, the food is used to feed us and our chickens, and we can create new dishes, beers, and wines.

I pay tribute to our garden... as a constant reminder of a new direction!