Family Farm
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Morning Stretch
www.organicsoul.com
Ah, I can feel it now – that amazing stretch when I wake up. Not only does it help me actually get up in the morning, but it feels great, almost like I get a shot of much needed rejuvenation.
What to do with all that Thyme...& Top Tips for Great Fall Gardens
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3346/
www.motherearthnews.com
Start now for your best fall garden and harvest broccoli, carrots, kale, lettuces, spinach and more for your holiday feasts.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
How to Coupon Effectively
A girlfriend said to me today, "Teach me how to do this!" I had some advice, but found a great article and thought I'd share it...
I went to Costco, the Grocery Outlet, Walgreen's, & Food Pavilion. I go online to the websites for the products I like and print out manufacturers coupons. Then I go through the adds in the Sunday paper (my parents), the Value Coupons from the mail, and the store adds. I go through magazines and clip out product coupons too. I write down all the sales and base my menu on a lot of it. I get basics I can bake and cook with, plus at the Grocery Outlet they do have organics. With my garden in full bloom, I don't have to buy any produce except for a few things. It takes a lot of prep work but sooo worth it in the end!
How to Coupon Effectively
A Beginner's Guide to Couponing
If you're interested in couponing, but aren't sure how to get started, this guide’s for you:
Where to Look for Coupons
There are lots of coupons up for grabs, if you know where to find them. By far, the best places to look are:- Newspapers- the Smart Source and Valassis coupon inserts appear on a near-weekly basis. The Procter and Gamble insert appears at the start of each month
- Magazines- women's publications such as Woman's Day, Red Book, Family Circle and Good Housekeeping frequently carry manufacturer coupons
- In store- look for coupons on store shelves, on products and on the back of your receipts. Also look for coupons to print out at the register
- Online- look to free grocery coupon sites for loads of printable coupons. Not all stores take them; but if yours does, you’re in luck
- Junk mail- high-value manufacturer coupons have started to appear in junk mailers, so be sure to look before you toss
- Direct from the manufacturer- check manufacturer websites for printable coupons or contact companies (by mail, e-mail or phone) to request coupons
- Store mailings- get a frequent shopper card for the grocery stores that you shop, and you may be rewarded with special coupon mailings
- On products- look in and on the packaging of the products that you buy for special loyalty coupons
How to Keep Coupons Organized
There are lots of ways to organize coupons; the key is to find the approach that works best for you. Three options to consider:- Clipping out all coupons
- Clipping out just the coupons that you intend to use
- Leaving the coupon inserts intact, and clipping coupons on an "as-needed" basis
- Develop a filing system. Many couponers organize their coupons by grocery category--dairy, frozen foods, deli, etc. – but it's not the only way to go. Find a filing system that works for you--by aisle, by expiration, etc. – and put it into action.
- Find a container to hold your coupons. Use a shoebox, a storage container, a coupon binder, a coupon wallet or a recipe box – it doesn't matter what you choose – but it's important to have a landing spot for all of those coupons.
- File coupons the same day you get them. Okay, so you may not always have time to file your coupons right away, but try to file them as soon as you can. This will prevent them from getting lost, and save you the hassle of having to sort through a big mess of coupons all at once.
- Purge regularly. Expired coupons won't save you money, so don't let them hog space in your coupon file. Set a schedule for purging expired coupons, and stick to it.
- Shop at stores that double coupons
- Keep your coupons with you at all times – you never know when a deal might pop up
- Match coupons to sales – use a site like couponmom.com to help you do this
- Learn each store's coupon policy
- Get creative: Clever Couponing Strategies
Couponing Resources
Save More on Groceries
Frugal Living Printables
Of Course I Can! & Recipes too!
Recipe: Cornmeal Cake with Mixed Berry Compote
Down South, summertime is all about barbecues and beach bashes, pool parties and potlucks. Anything to beat our infamous heat! And where there's good times (and hopefully water), you can always rely on great food. I'm continuously on the hunt for those perfect recipes to bring along. You know, ones that are easy to throw together and light enough to stand up to the weather, yet delicious enough to have everyone coming back for more.
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/recipes/recipe-cornmeal-cake-with-mixed-berry-compote-153226
Raspberry Cream Bars from Molli Lomsdalen Allen
"A yummy fluffy dessert using frozen raspberries. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, etc. would all be so good in this too!"
Ingredients
Crust
1 cup pretzels,
crushed 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
Cream Layer
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
8 ounces Cool Whip
Raspberry Layer
1 (6 ounce) packages raspberry Jell-O gelatin
2 cups boiling water
20 ounces frozen unsweetened raspberries, partially thawed, undrained
Directions
Dissolve the Jello gelatin in boiling water; add raspberries. Put in refrigerator to thicken slightly.
Mix crust ingredients and press firmly into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. Cool completely.
Cream the 1/2 cup sugar and cream cheese; fold in the Cool Whip until well mixed. Spread over cooled crust.
Pour raspberries over cream layer and chill.
If you like, more Cool Whip can be spread on top.
"A yummy fluffy dessert using frozen raspberries. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, etc. would all be so good in this too!"
Ingredients
Crust
1 cup pretzels,
crushed 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
Cream Layer
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
8 ounces Cool Whip
Raspberry Layer
1 (6 ounce) packages raspberry Jell-O gelatin
2 cups boiling water
20 ounces frozen unsweetened raspberries, partially thawed, undrained
Directions
Dissolve the Jello gelatin in boiling water; add raspberries. Put in refrigerator to thicken slightly.
Mix crust ingredients and press firmly into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. Cool completely.
Cream the 1/2 cup sugar and cream cheese; fold in the Cool Whip until well mixed. Spread over cooled crust.
Pour raspberries over cream layer and chill.
If you like, more Cool Whip can be spread on top.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Lammas Quiche
Pooka Pages - for Kids
http://www.pookapages.com/index.htm
http://www.pookapages.com/Lughnasadh%20Issue%202011.pdf
From Elsie’s friends, Evelien, Eleanor and Andy in the Netherlands comes this wonderful recipe :
Lammas Quiche
with corn, smoked salmon and chives
7 ounces of plain white flour
1/2 cup water
3 ounces butter
Pinch of salt
For the filling:
10 1/2 ounces of dried peas or beans for "blind" baking
5 ounces of fresh corn grain, straight from the cob
Butter
Freshly ground pepper
Salt
Nutmeg
8/10 cup milk
8/10 cup cream
3 eggs
2 egg yolks
2 tbsp chopped chives
5 ounces smoked salmon in slices
3 ounces of grated cheese
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients for the dough and knead thoroughly. Let the dough rest under a cloth on a cool, dry and draft free
spot. Dust your working space with some flour and roll the dough to 3/4 inches thickness.
Butter a 10 inch pie dish with a minimum height of 1 inch and dust this also with flour.
Cover bottom and sides with dough and press down slightly. Let a bit of dough hang over the sides and set a bit of dough
aside for finishing touches.
Heat the oven to 338 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the dough with aluminum foil and fill with the dried peas or beans.
Bake the dough `blind´ for about 15 minutes.
Take from the oven and let cool. Remove the foil with the peas and check the dough for holes. If necessary use the
remaining dough to fill these. Cut off the excess dough outside of the dish.
Make the filling:
Freshen the corn grains under the cold tap and soften them by boiling them in unsalted water for 20 minutes.
Again freshen the corn and drain them well.
Melt a small pad of butter in a pan and add the corn grains. Season with freshly ground pepper.
Boil the milk and cream with 1 ounce of butter. Season with a dash of nutmeg, freshly ground pepper and salt.
Beat the eggs and yolks in a bowl. Mix the cream with the eggs, stirring slowly. Sieve this mixture and let cool slightly.
Now add the chives.
Cut the smoked salmon slices in thin strips. Mix the salmon, corn and half the grated cheese and fill the pie.
Then put in the egg-cream mixture and cover this with the rest of the cheese. Bake the quiche for 45 minutes on 302
degrees Fahrenheit. Serve with a fresh salad.
Serves: 6
For the dough:
Zucchini Dill Pickles
www.bonappetit.com
Cut to look like cucumber spears, zucchini make terrific pickles. Serve them with your favorite burger or sandwich.
www.organicsoul.com
Using left over cans or even ice cream containers is a great way to upcycle by planting seeds to grow your own herbs, flowers, or vegetables. It also looks very attractive and almost has a “vintage” feel to it.
From the Farm Treats-Bringing Locally Grown Berries into the Fresh Baked Goodies for Burlington, Washington
fromthefarmtreats.com Little Red Barn: 18561 Josh Wilson Road Near I-5Open June 1—August 31 Mon. thru Sat., 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sun. 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Canning Class!!! August 13th, 2011
Canning Class
with Vivian Smallwood, WSU Master Food Preserver Educator
August 13th, 2011
1-3pm
Skagit Farmers Country Store in Burlington
No signing up, just bring a pen & notebook!
The handouts are awesome!!!
Will be held in the Warehouse.
Vivian Smallwood, a WSU Master Food Preserver educator, brought a couple hundred jars of canned food for participants to see during her canning class last year. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOAN DEVRIES
Going Back in Thyme...
So, many people have not watched my journey over the last several months. I have been using Facebook for some time now, and have decided to pull some of my small "blogging" so to speak and put it on here. I will do my best to keep it chronological! Most of this will include my livestock training and some other odds 'n' ends...hope you enjoy!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Favorite picks, tricks, tips, & recipies!!!
www.organicsoul.com
www.organicsoul.com
www.bonappetit.com
www.countryliving.com
www.nwherbalfair.com
www.organicsoul.com
awaytogarden.com
www.thekitchn.com
skagitfoodcoop.wordpress.com
skagitfoodcoop.wordpress.com
www.motherearthnews.com
www.herbcompanion.com
www.motherearthnews.com
strongertogether.coop
www.motherearthnews.com
www.project.nsearch.com
www.motherearthnews.com
www.healthdiaries.com
commonsensehomesteading.blogspot.com
www.youtube.com
www.livingthecountrylife.com
www.organicsoul.com
www.southernplate.com
planetgreen.discovery.com
www.organicgardening.com
www.motherearthnews.com
www.midwestliving.com
www.thekitchn.com
theherbgardener.blogspot.com
www.organicsoul.com
www.bonappetit.com
www.countryliving.com
www.nwherbalfair.com
www.organicsoul.com
awaytogarden.com
www.thekitchn.com
skagitfoodcoop.wordpress.com
skagitfoodcoop.wordpress.com
www.motherearthnews.com
www.herbcompanion.com
www.motherearthnews.com
strongertogether.coop
www.motherearthnews.com
www.project.nsearch.com
www.motherearthnews.com
www.healthdiaries.com
commonsensehomesteading.blogsp
www.youtube.com
www.livingthecountrylife.com
www.organicsoul.com
www.southernplate.com
planetgreen.discovery.com
www.organicgardening.com
Tips and Home Remedies for Treating Poison Ivy, Rash, Blisters and Itching - Healthy People Healthy.
www.motherearthnews.comwww.motherearthnews.com
www.midwestliving.com
www.thekitchn.com
theherbgardener.blogspot.com
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