Woodland Wonder
Thursday, January 5
Wednesday, January 4
Tuesday, January 3
Monday, January 2
Sunday, January 1
Weekend Dog Blogging: #15
Looking. . .
Attention Dog Lovers! It's time for Weekend Dog Blogging!
To see more fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, head over to Sweetnicks on Sunday night for the complete roundup. We'd love to have you join us. Just post your pup and e-mail the permalink to Sweetnicks.
Pining for more puppy pics? Check out the weekly Carnival Of The Dogs at Mickey's Musings. And at The Friday Ark you'll find dozens of links to every kind of critter imaginable.
Saturday, December 31
Weekend Cat Blogging #30
How To Stay Warm If You're Not A Super Fluff
The boys love their new wool bed in The Cat Cabin--even if it is bright pink. (What was I thinking?) That's extra wool piled up behind them.
Attention Cat Lovers! This Is Weekend Cat Blogging #30!
See fun feline photos & discover yummy new food blogs. Visit my pal Clare & her crazy cat Kiri at Eat Stuff in Australia for all the links to this week's kitties. And for more pussycat pics, catch the traveling Carnival Of The Cats each Sunday night.
The boys love their new wool bed in The Cat Cabin--even if it is bright pink. (What was I thinking?) That's extra wool piled up behind them.
Attention Cat Lovers! This Is Weekend Cat Blogging #30!
See fun feline photos & discover yummy new food blogs. Visit my pal Clare & her crazy cat Kiri at Eat Stuff in Australia for all the links to this week's kitties. And for more pussycat pics, catch the traveling Carnival Of The Cats each Sunday night.
Daily Farm Photo: 12/31/05
Final Sunrise Of The Year
Thank you all for the incredible outpouring of comforting words and thoughts and stories and prayers and hugs you have sent me during the past week. Your kindness and caring mean more to me than I can even begin to say. Welcome to the dozens of readers who left comments for the first time. I am so touched. And I can't wait to share 2006 with all of you.
Monday, December 26
Daily Farm Photo: 12/26/05
This is my 200th Daily Farm Photo
In Loving Memory Of My Brother Derek
1970-2005
Alcoholism is real. And it kills.
And sometimes there is nothing we can do.
On December 24th, my only sibling drank himself to death.
His all time favorite movie was "The Jungle Book."
For years he had a Cheez-It loving cockatiel named Buddy
that he found nuzzling his ankle while sitting in the stands
at the county fair horse races.
He lived with four cats in a one bedroom condo.
He was in absolute awe last year when he saw me mix Miracle
Whip and Heinz Chili Sauce and make Thousand Island dressing.
He wanted to be a veterinary assistant.
He dreamed of creating an animal sanctuary.
He had a genius level IQ.
He was 35 years old.
When was the last time you said, "I love you?"
Sunday, December 25
Saturday, December 24
Weekend Cat Blogging #29
Now There's A Switch--Usually The Cat Watches The Birds
Yes, those are Joe's (now infamous) 'thrifty' egg layers keeping an eye on Patchy Cat. And yes, they laid two more eggs yesterday. Two. That makes five in less than a week (after months of nothing--which is what my two chickens are still laying). Oh, the humiliation. Oh, the fabulous Christmas breakfast Joe has planned for himself and those eggs. But that's okay. I'm having scones (made with eggs I had to buy).
Attention Cat Lovers! This Is Weekend Cat Blogging #29!
Visit my pal Clare & her beloved cat Kiri at Eat Stuff in Australia for all the links to this week's kitties--and to see why this is Clare's very best Christmas ever.
Friday, December 23
Daily Farm Photo: 12/23/05
Just When I'd Given Up Hope
No, this egg was not laid by either of everyone's favorite hens, Lindy & Whitey. It (and two others) were laid this week by Joe's 'thrifty' chickens (much to my embarrassment). My chickens are apparently too busy hacking into my computer and generally wreaking havoc. Oh, and they create original artwork, too. Who has time to lay an egg?
Speaking of hope and time, this is the last day to order from the Menu For Hope. In only 10 days, food bloggers around the world have raised nearly $14,000 for the victims of the devastating Kashmir earthquake. There are over 65 amazing prizes up for grabs for just a $5 donation--including the honorary ownership of next spring's firstborn ewe lamb on my farm. So what are you waiting for? Click here to donate. And thank you all for your wonderful generosity.
No, this egg was not laid by either of everyone's favorite hens, Lindy & Whitey. It (and two others) were laid this week by Joe's 'thrifty' chickens (much to my embarrassment). My chickens are apparently too busy hacking into my computer and generally wreaking havoc. Oh, and they create original artwork, too. Who has time to lay an egg?
Speaking of hope and time, this is the last day to order from the Menu For Hope. In only 10 days, food bloggers around the world have raised nearly $14,000 for the victims of the devastating Kashmir earthquake. There are over 65 amazing prizes up for grabs for just a $5 donation--including the honorary ownership of next spring's firstborn ewe lamb on my farm. So what are you waiting for? Click here to donate. And thank you all for your wonderful generosity.
Thursday, December 22
Recipe: Christmas Cranberry Scones with Dried Cranberries and a Touch of Freshly Grated Nutmeg
These easy to make scones are perfect for the holidays but tasty any time of year.
Despite the sad profusion of truly mediocre scones out there, you have no reason to be scared of them. With a light touch and the right recipe, anyone can produce a pile of perfect scones in about 40 minutes. Really. Update: Click here to read rave reviews of this scrumptious recipe from several first time scone bakers!
I once spent an afternoon demonstrating how to make these scones during a holiday open house at a kitchenware store. Talk about a fun job. People who didn't even know what a scone was would wander over, take a tentative nibble of a warm sample, let out a little moan of delight, devour the rest of their scone while watching in fascinated disbelief as I mixed up another batch in minutes, then snatch up a copy of the recipe and scurry home to make scones of their own.
This happened over and over. It was wonderful.
Beautifully golden brown and dotted with jewel-like cranberries, these cute little scones are sure to brighten any holiday table. They're buttery and crumbly and rich, moist on the inside, with a satisfying light crunch on the outside. They are, in a word, scrumptious. They are also very easy to make.
You can whip up a batch of warm scones for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea in no time, much to the delight of your starving friends and loved ones. Or you can make them when you have a few spare minutes and freeze them for later. Defrost them at room temperature and heat at 375° for about 5 to 8 minutes (I put them in my little toaster/convection oven).
I plan to pull a few of these out of the freezer and treat myself to warm scones and a large cup of café au lait on Christmas morning—that is if I have any left by then.
With such a simple recipe, top quality ingredients are particularly important. Fresh baking powder is essential. I always have good results with Rumford brand, which is aluminum free. Organic butter, milk, flour, and sugar are easy to find these days and really do make a difference.
The optional egg glaze gives the scones a beautiful shine and dark golden color. Look for locally produced eggs at your farmers' market or natural foods store, or search on Local Harvest for a farmer near you. You won't believe the difference compared to commercial eggs. The yolks are sometimes so dark they're a gorgeous deep orange like these, and the eggs actually taste like eggs!
If you've never grated your own fresh nutmeg, now is your chance. It took me years to get around to trying this, and I will never use pre-ground again. It tastes amazing, plus you get to use a cute little nutmeg grater. The scent alone as you're grating is worth the tiny bit of extra effort, and whole nutmeg will stay fresh for years.
I highly recommend investing in a couple of heavy duty rimmed commercial baking sheets. At about $15 each, they're one of the best kitchen deals around. I've been using some of mine for over 20 years for everything from baking rolls to roasting brussels sprouts, not to mention perfectly baking thousands of cookies. I line them with sheets of unbleached parchment paper, which is wonderful stuff, and I reuse each piece several times before discarding it.
To round out your easy scone repertoire, I suggest my popular Savory Cheese & Scallion Scones with Feta, which are made with cream cheese instead of butter. Add them to your holiday bread basket, serve them for breakfast or high tea, or split and toast them to make satisfying little leftover turkey or ham sandwiches. Enjoy!
Despite the sad profusion of truly mediocre scones out there, you have no reason to be scared of them. With a light touch and the right recipe, anyone can produce a pile of perfect scones in about 40 minutes. Really. Update: Click here to read rave reviews of this scrumptious recipe from several first time scone bakers!
I once spent an afternoon demonstrating how to make these scones during a holiday open house at a kitchenware store. Talk about a fun job. People who didn't even know what a scone was would wander over, take a tentative nibble of a warm sample, let out a little moan of delight, devour the rest of their scone while watching in fascinated disbelief as I mixed up another batch in minutes, then snatch up a copy of the recipe and scurry home to make scones of their own.
This happened over and over. It was wonderful.
Beautifully golden brown and dotted with jewel-like cranberries, these cute little scones are sure to brighten any holiday table. They're buttery and crumbly and rich, moist on the inside, with a satisfying light crunch on the outside. They are, in a word, scrumptious. They are also very easy to make.
You can whip up a batch of warm scones for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon tea in no time, much to the delight of your starving friends and loved ones. Or you can make them when you have a few spare minutes and freeze them for later. Defrost them at room temperature and heat at 375° for about 5 to 8 minutes (I put them in my little toaster/convection oven).
I plan to pull a few of these out of the freezer and treat myself to warm scones and a large cup of café au lait on Christmas morning—that is if I have any left by then.
With such a simple recipe, top quality ingredients are particularly important. Fresh baking powder is essential. I always have good results with Rumford brand, which is aluminum free. Organic butter, milk, flour, and sugar are easy to find these days and really do make a difference.
The optional egg glaze gives the scones a beautiful shine and dark golden color. Look for locally produced eggs at your farmers' market or natural foods store, or search on Local Harvest for a farmer near you. You won't believe the difference compared to commercial eggs. The yolks are sometimes so dark they're a gorgeous deep orange like these, and the eggs actually taste like eggs!
If you've never grated your own fresh nutmeg, now is your chance. It took me years to get around to trying this, and I will never use pre-ground again. It tastes amazing, plus you get to use a cute little nutmeg grater. The scent alone as you're grating is worth the tiny bit of extra effort, and whole nutmeg will stay fresh for years.
I highly recommend investing in a couple of heavy duty rimmed commercial baking sheets. At about $15 each, they're one of the best kitchen deals around. I've been using some of mine for over 20 years for everything from baking rolls to roasting brussels sprouts, not to mention perfectly baking thousands of cookies. I line them with sheets of unbleached parchment paper, which is wonderful stuff, and I reuse each piece several times before discarding it.
To round out your easy scone repertoire, I suggest my popular Savory Cheese & Scallion Scones with Feta, which are made with cream cheese instead of butter. Add them to your holiday bread basket, serve them for breakfast or high tea, or split and toast them to make satisfying little leftover turkey or ham sandwiches. Enjoy!
Farmgirl Susan's Christmas Cranberry Scones
Makes 12 small scones
**Click here to print this recipe**
2¼ to 2½ cups organic all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder (make sure it's fresh!)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or 1 teaspoon pre-ground)
Makes 12 small scones
**Click here to print this recipe**
2¼ to 2½ cups organic all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder (make sure it's fresh!)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or 1 teaspoon pre-ground)
1/2 cup (4 ounces/1 stick) organic butter, chilled & cut into small pieces
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 egg
2 Tablespoons yogurt + milk to make 3/4 cup (or 3/4 cup buttermilk)
Optional Egg Glaze:
Beat well with a fork:
1 egg & 2 Tablespoons milk
Coarse sugar for sprinkling on top
Heat the oven to 400°F. Combine 2¼ cups of the flour, the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Using a fork, pastry blender, or your fingers, cut butter into the flour mixture until it forms coarse crumbles. Add cranberries and pecans (if using) and toss gently until combined.
Use a fork to beat the yogurt/milk mixture with the egg, then gently fold into the dry ingredients, mixing lightly just until blended. Add up to 1/4 cup additional flour if dough is too sticky.
On a floured surface, divide the dough in half and gently pat each half into a circle 5 or 6 inches in diameter. With a sharp knife (I use a large serrated knife dipped in flour), cut each circle into 6 wedges and place on a heavy duty baking sheet lined with unbleached parchment paper.
Brush the tops and sides of the scones with egg glaze if desired, sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired, and bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm, or cool completely and store in an airtight container or freeze.
Can't survive on scones alone? You'll find links to all my sweet and savory Less Fuss, More Flavor recipes in the Farmgirl Fare Recipe Index.
© FarmgirlFare.com, the proud to be a sconehead foodie farm blog where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.
Daily Farm Photo: 12/22/05
Hello, Dahling
Have you ordered from the Menu For Hope yet? Last call is tomorrow night, and several delicious items do not even have bidders yet. You can help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Northern India & Pakistan for just a $5.00 donation--and possibly win one of more than 65 fabulous food prizes donated by food bloggers around the world.
We've raised nearly $12,000 and would love to hit the $15,000 mark. Click here to see the entire menu in pictures. Click here to read more about the Menu For Hope II Campaign & my little woolly prize that could be yours. By the way, Menu For Hope virtual raffle tickets make perfect last minute holiday gifts! Thank you all for your amazing generosity.
Wednesday, December 21
Daily Farm Photo: 12/21/05
Happy First Day Of Winter
© Copyright FarmgirlFare.com, the whited out foodie farm blog where a little snowstorm can't keep stock dog Lucky Buddy Bear from doing his work—or keeping me company everywhere I go around the farm.
Tuesday, December 20
Daily Farm Photo: 12/20/05
Farewell To Fall (My Favorite Season In Missouri)
Click here to see the Daily Farm Photo from the first day of fall.
Monday, December 19
Daily Farm Photo: 12/19/05
New Cat Isn't The Only One Fluffing Up For Winter
Don't you just want to rub that soft white underbelly? Click here to see Donkey Doodle Dandy's sleek September look.
Sunday, December 18
Weekend Cat Blogging: The Camera Never Lies
See The Glint Of Trouble In The Doodle Monster's Eyes?
© FarmgirlFare.com, the buff colored foodie farm blog where little kitties like to hide in big boxes.
Daily Farm Photo: 12/18/05
Do You Think She's Been Stolen?
No, I haven't been stolen. Just busy. You know how dogs are. They don't see you for a few hours and think you've been missing for days.
I am, however, supposed to be baking stollen--and so are you. That's right. My pal Clare at Eat Stuff (note the new address!) in Australia has issued a worldwide baking challenge. She is daring everyone to try their hand at making this delicious (and easy) classic German Christmas cake. Then write about it and send Clare your permalink so she can include it in the roundup. If you're not a blogger, make your stollen anyway, and let us know how it came out.
Click here for Clare's recipe (scroll down)--or use a recipe of your choice. Click here to see a photo of the gorgeous stollen Baking Soda in Holland made with her Dutch recipe. Since this one was gobbled up in only two days, she's going to make another one and write about it in English this time, so be sure to check back in at Bake My Day.
This traditional Christmas recipe tastes better if it has been "aged" for a while, so, as Clare put it, "Go on, get baking. What are you waiting for?" As for me, after Kitchenmage's speculation that I've been busy baking something chocolate, and then receiving an incredible sounding recipe for double chocolate cookies this morning from Heather, I may take these as signs and buck tradition slightly. Chocolate stollen, anyone?
Saturday, December 17
Friday, December 16
Thursday, December 15
Daily Farm Photo: 12/15/05
The Weathered Look Is Very In Around Here
Did you order from the Menu For Hope yet? Each $5 donated will support vicitms of the earthquake in Northern India and Pakistan and entitle you to one virtual raffle ticket toward any prize on this dizzying list. One lucky person will win a little lamb to call their very own! Wouldn't you like it to be you?
Wednesday, December 14
Daily Farm Photo: 12/14/05
I Don't Know How I Survived The Baking Season Without These Racks
I snapped up this handy set of three tiered cooling racks last year for just ten dollars at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. It's amazing what a difference a small amount of money can make sometimes. Did you know that you can help make a difference in someone's life for as little as five dollars? That's right. And you might even win a fabulous prize at the same time.
Just look over the incredible Menu For Hope that food bloggers from around the world have put together, choose whatever strikes your fancy, and then head to First Giving to make your donation. Each $5 donated entitles you to one virtual raffle ticket toward the prize of your choice. Please be sure to specify in the donation comment section which prize(s) you would like.
In just two days we have already raised over $4,000 to help support vicitms of the earthquake in Northern India and Pakistan. A little bit at a time quickly adds up to a very substantial sum. Please click here to read more about our Menu For Hope II Campaign and the little woolly prize I am donating to this very worthy cause. Thank you.
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