Turkey Soup!

The turkey's been stuffed and now so am I! One of the best things I've ever done is buy a pressure canner and conquer my fears of pressure canning. When I was young and my mother would can green beans she put the fear of God into me by throwing her arm across the kitchen door and yelling "don't come in here! It might explode!". Well goodness! If that doesn't scare you, nothing will. But my desire to preserve leftover soups and sauces prevailed. This marks my second year of preserving my Thanksgiving Turkey Soup! I am having fun working over that carcass for any spare piece of delectable meat to put into soup. It starts on Thanksgiving day. After the gravy drippings, I pour any additional drippings into a jar or two and refrigerate. I wrap the turkey up in plastic to for my stock pot the next day. I boil the turkey and man does it smell great for the second time in a week. I pull it out and let it cool just enough to handle. Then, with clean bare hands, I peel every savory bite off of it and put it back into that stock pot. Then I go for the any other leftover turkey and those drippings I saved. I skim the fat off of the top and drop it into my pot. What flavor! Then I add chopped onion, celery, garlic, carrots and parsley to the pot and simmer. I like to add my homemade noodles to it later so sometimes I add potatoes and sometimes I don't. I did this year. But in doing so, I allowed for potato absorbtion of the broth. Meaning, make sure you have plenty of broth in your soup if you do decide on potatoes. Simmer simmer simmer! Prep your jars and when ready, add your delicious soup! This year I got 13 qts of soup. Pressure can for an hour and 15 minutes. Where I live its for 10lbs of pressure. Nothing like hearing that satisfying pop once they are sealed. Now I have the wonderful flavors of Thanksgiving for the rest of the year. Homemade noodles added to this are the best! What are your recipes for your leftovers?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well here we are! It's Thanksgiving! I had every intention of blogging so much in November! One of my favorite months of the year and my favorite holiday, I felt like I would have so much to share with you and I did! But...work and life hung me up. A good problem to have. But....I missed you. For the first time in my Thanksgiving life, I am away from home and yet right at home. I am at the sweetest little town that smells like pine trees and fresh rain. I've been in heaven cooking all day for my kids and just now enjoying the fruits of my labor. And having a cocktail.

I love this holiday for so many reason. From my front room window I have watched countless happy travelers leave to see their families and watched many happy reunions of those separated too long. I truly love every minute of the cooking and watching my family enjoy it. Everything is from scratch. The rolls, the stuffing and I have acquired quite a recipe selection of what we love and what we don't. Things I used to not be good at is improving and my recipe's are, as always, options. Now its time to relax, enjoy my family. Tomorrow brings the turkey, more cooking, the best parade, good wine and football. The best part is each other. I miss my daughter terribly but I will be holding her close in my heart until she comes home at Christmas. I wish each one of you a joyous Thanksgiving Day with your nearest and dearest. 

It's Halloween! Time to Make the Donuts!

As dawn breaks on this beautiful Halloween morning, I am up making the traditional Halloween donuts. What started as an envy my high school friend growing up as her mom always had cider and donut holes for Halloween, I decided to try my own hand at it my later years. I bought a can of refrigerator biscuits.

The cheap kind. The fancy big biscuits just don't work as well. I started out by quartering each biscuit and rolling it into balls. Then I'd drop them in a big pot of hot oil (not boiling). Once they were a golden brown, I'd roll them in cinnamon and sugar. Ta da!!! Now I have progress into full blown donuts. I take the whole biscuit, put my clean finger through the middle and shape it into a donut. A do as many as I'd like to make for the day and while my oil heats up. There is always that "tester donut" that has to go in first to no doubt tell you your oil isn't hot enough. But it will be. I keep it on med to med hi heat. Once its ready I drop them in one by one.

Let them cook on one side them flip them over until they are golden brown. Using a slotted spoon I carefully remove each one. Once they are cool, I roll them in a cinnamon and sugar mixture. In years past, I have also iced them with chocolate frosting and festive sprinkles. When I lived on a more populated area, my home was known for the donuts that I passed out on Halloween night. Now I share with family and close friends. Tradition in my home is a big pot of homemade spaghetti sauce and of course the donuts. Top that off with a simmering pot of cider complete with cinnamon sticks, a sliced orange and whole cloves and your home will also smell like Fall, tradition,  ghosts and goblins. Trick or Treat!

It's Great Intentions, Charlie Brown!

You know what they say the road to hell is paved with? Well it's not quite that bad. But in my grandiose dreams, I had had the vision of making my fresh pumpkin pie filling and canning it. Giving it as Christmas presents with the recipe to just add eggs and evaporated milk. I bought 6 of the prettiest little pie pumpkins. I cleaned them and halved them and put them in the boiling pot. While they are cooking, I reference a favorite site to see how long I should water bath or pressure can my magical mixture. And according to Living Home Grown, don't do it. Ever. For any reason. Something to do with PH but that was enough for me to abort my mission. Apparently canning pumpkin chunks is fine put puree' is a definite no no. So what do you do? You go to town and get pint sized freezer containers. Yep! Freezing is a go and I have done that before but not in bulk. So now I have 7 pretty little pint containers of mashed pumpkin just waiting to be pie, or cheesecake or muffins. My lesson that I am passing on to you today, my fellow canners is to research your project. Even if you are seasoned at preserving, check with a reputable site just as I did to know the right and safe way to process your food. I am disappointed that another Christmas gift is foiled. But I am very excited that I have this ready at my disposal anytime I want to bake a yummy pumpkin treat!

Mama C's Fabulous Cranberry Sauce

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. Every year I cook for 20 even if only we have 5. I don't know how to do it any different. A 22 lb. turkey. Four homemade pies and everything with fresh, real and whole ingredients. No scrimping of diet substitutes on this day. Actually ever. But especially not on Thanksgiving. This year will be a little bit different. Due to the schedules of my kids, it makes more sense for me to load up the kitchen and go to them. And that means, planning ahead and preparing what I can. Today, canned 10 half pints of my fantastic cranberry sauce! Now, I was a child of Thanksgiving out of the box. I think my mom just got tired or didn't know different herself. Therefore, my kids and I grew up with the jellied cranberry sauce. I do still like it and to be honest, my adult children, especially Amanda, still look forward to the canned shaped jellified thing that the knife slips right through. One year, I taught myself how to do what I think is better! I hope you do too. Now....you can make this on Thanksgiving day or make ahead and can. And as you know by now, my recipes are simply suggestions and trust your taste. I start with fresh cranberries.

Rinse them off and put them in a pot. Add sugar. I like my sauce slightly tart. Remember you can always add sugar but you can't take it back out. Put the heat on medium low and stir in your sugar. I like that when all is said and done that my cranberries still resemble cranberries and not jam so be careful not to over stir. Once they start producing their own juice, add a cinnamon stick or two. Next, zest one orange right over the pot. Of course do this to taste knowing you can add more. Once that's done, squeeze the juice of that orange into your sauce.

Be careful not to get seeds in your sauce. Now...add just bit of ground cloves. Again to taste. When I make this Thanksgiving day, I like to use whole cloves, careful to count and pick them out when finished. For my project today, that would have been too much. Bring to a nice slow simmer. Today, I thought I had my sauce slightly too sweet but as my cranberries cooked down and added their own beautiful tartness, it was almost perfect. Your mixture may be a little runny. If so, (and it likely will be) dissolve a little corn starch in water and add slowly. Keep it simmering and add slowly until you get the consistency you want.

Place in a pretty bowl and put it right on your table! If you are canning, water bath for ten minutes. It tastes so good and smells just as good when you are cooking it. Now, I have 3 for me and 7 for gifts. It's great on your baked brie, turkey and always fresh carved turkey sandwiches! Let me know how this works for you and tell me your own variations!

Sleeping Single? Not so much....

Facebook is filled with comics of couples and singles and their challenge of getting a good nights sleep. My bed consists of a snoring Corgi, a snuggling Siamese and my latest addition, Little Binks the Chihuahua. What does this mean? Well let me tell you! Isobel the Wonder Corgi likes her own pillow. Right beside mine. If you've ever owned a corgi, you know they don't sleep in tight little balls, the spread out...on their backs...butt in your face and snoring. Or....worse. Then there is Mooshu. The perfect Snowshoe Siamese cat who is....autistic. Yes, I do know he is autistic and if your spent any time around him, you would concur. Moo is a snuggle bug who likes one particular blanket that is between the comforter and the sheet.

He will tap my face and paw at the comforter until I wake up just enough to open the blankets enough to let him knead endlessly upon said blanket while purring loudly. Then he will eventually lay down but do not try to put the comforter over him. Oh no. He needs his air. But he will make sure he is pressed up at tightly against your throughout the night. Then there is Little Binks.

I acquired Binky last January. She is 5 lbs on a good day and rarely sleeps on top of the covers. She sits up and begs at the side of the bed until I open the sheets and she jumps in and snuggles at my feet. HOWEVER, she requires a lot of reassurance and will frequently surface for kisses throughout the night and then burrow back in. It is also worth mentioning that should Moo decide to join me past Binky's refuge is in place, he treads on the comforter as if it were a land mine, cautious not to set off Bink's ferocious growls should she be stepped on. Yes, this is my world. And I wouldn't change it. And this set up does keep me from getting further pets at this point because where would they sleep? More than once I have woke to find myself crosswise in my bed as to not have disturbed their slumber. My slumber on the other hand? Don't ask. Naps are great! Tell me your pet sleeping joys and challenges!

Blessed Autumn Equinox

 Hello everyone! I survived Round Up and am so excited that it's now Fall! It's the end of one thing and the start of another which is always very exciting for me. It's all I can do not to put all my Halloween decorations today. I did get some candy corn lights hung up and rest is calling my name. I take a lot of grief for my holiday enthusiasm but I won't apologize. I read something the other day along the lines of where the world is today and wherever you are able to find happiness is where you should grab it. So if Jack O Lanterns in September do it for you, grab it! I recently landed on this thing called a Fall Tree! It's a must have in my home this fall. In fact, its on my to do list today! How great is this! So what are your Fall traditions and what are you really excited to do this Fall? I love hearing and sharing ideas. With Fall comes my big cooking season so stay tuned for great and easy Fall cooking recipes!

Let'er Buck!!

Ahhhh.....it's finally here! Mardi Gras done western. The rodeo of the summer. The party of the year. That's right, it's Pendleton Round Up time, again! I look forward to this every year. I get to see people that I only get to see at this event and am sure to make a few more friends. Everyone is a cow folk even if you just have a big hat but no cows. I have my favorite things about this event that I hope never change. The Grand Entry is second to none and this girl will for sure be in her seat to not miss that every day. There is the legendary Chinook and rider Bryson Bronson that give me goose pimples every time.

There is the shopping in the Indian Village where Native Americans bring there wares to sell. Most popular being that huckleberry jam. The Indian Relay races that I kind of watch through my fingers are electrifying. When all goes well (and it usually does) it is a spectacle for sure. And of course...what would Round Up be without some fun in the Let'er Buck Room with good friends! And let's not forget the four day rodeo where the best of the best converge on little Pendleton, Oregon! I'll keep you updated as tonight kicks off with the PBR in Happy Canyon Arena. I will report back. Tired but with a smile on my face! See you in the Let'er Buck Room! I'll have a Pendleton's and Diet, please! What is your favorite thing about Round Up?

Lend a Helping Hand

When I started this blog, part of my motivation was to be an upbeat, happy site where we could share and appreciate and maybe even help one another. I want to stay away from anything hard or heavy. But then on the other hand, it didn't feel right to write something light hearted tonight when so many in our nation right are suffering nature's wrath in one form or another. I followed fellow blogger, Cindy in Texas as she brought her chickens inside to avoid flood waters. And where I am now is so heavily blanketed in smoke that I am worried for so many here in the Pacific Northwest and Montana. I guess what I'm asking now is that if you can, even in some small way, help. Can you donate to your local red cross? Are you good at giving blood? That could save a life. The west side of my state (Oregon) has asked for help in evacuating horses and several areas in the Northwest have asked for safe places to keep horses and other stock until it's safe for their return. I have seen a fellow horsewoman locally offer her home as a safe haven for horses while she is away. Shelter's need foster care providers for pets to house pets that are lost and frightened. Miranda Lambert's Mutt Nation has been a huge part in helping shelters in Texas and some of my money has gone there. Maybe you could just check on a neighbor. Make sure they have water and are safe. Or maybe just ask the Universe to provide sunshine to the south and rain to the Northwest. Whatever you can do. Whatever you can provide is so baldly needed now. I promise my blog will return to lighter hearted faire once this passes. In trying to find the good, maybe Mother Nature is trying to tell us, yes, we can love one another just a little bit better. Stay safe out there. Let me know if you have a specific need where you are and I promise I will spread the word. ~Blessed Be.

Not Always Perfect Peach Pie

Happy Thursday! So last weekend I bought some beautiful peaches from a local stand. Looking at them I thought, wouldn't peach pie be wonderful in the Fall or for a dreary Winter day? I found this great recipe for peach pie filling and started peeling and peeling and peeling 15 lbs of peaches. Since recipes are merely a suggestion to me, I also added cinnamon, the almond extract and some nutmeg. And then it called for something called Clearjel. After stopping at two stores, I found no such thing. Well apparently, it is important. Beings I couldn't find anything that sounded comparable, I decided to use cornstarch and water to substitute this item. It did not work.  I had the right idea. Just the wrong product. In cooking it, I could see it getting  thicker but not enough to hold form in a pie or cobbler. So I either need to use more corn starch to water ratio or add this Clearjel item. But in reading all about it, it appears this product is like a mega corn starch or something like cornstarch on steroids. Don't get me wrong, its still delicious because I had to cook one up to see, of course. It just didn't get very thick. So I am using a lifeline and asking the audience. Do you use Clearjel, other than for acne (which was my original thought)? Or do you have a great substitute that you would like to share.  I'm all ears! Especially since apple fie filling sounds pretty tempting, too!

We Are Facebook Official!

Many of you have asked me how to know when I've posted a blog entry. I thought there would be a subscribe button but I have been unable to locate it. So in thinking about it and wanting a better page for myself and others when what's happening in the world brings us down, I came up with a Facebook page! Shocking, right? So if you are a Facebooker, please like my new Facebook page. You will get notices as to when the blog is updated and fun antidotes to share. I also plan on passing on pages for you of local (and not so local) homesteading events for you to check out. 

I also found a great site called Baking and Eggs.  Cindy is down in flood ravaged Texas and I'm following her story and I love the way she cares for her ladies. Her recipes also look divine. So if you get a chance, send her some love. Tell her I sent you! 

Thank you all for your warm responses. I'm having fun! 

So Cindy....today this is for you. Stay strong down there and thank you for being an inspiration.

Perks of Being Single

Good Sunday Morning to you all...

Every time I make something cool or do something really great for myself, I think of you all. Especially my sisters out there who are enjoying (and some of you are not enjoying) the single life. There are definite perks to being single. Some of them I practice on the daily. For example, I can buy a watermelon, eat the heart out of it with a spoon. No one complains! The chickens get the rest! And cooking for one? It can be heaven! I like to be really good to myself and I try to eat fairly clean and healthy. One of my favorite dishes to make for myself is PASTA! I have switched to whole grain organic pasta and I love it. It's easy to make for just one. I purchase seafood, like shrimp or scallops and freeze them or buy them already frozen. That way it's easy to just grab 3 or 4 scallops, defrost them in the microwave and go right to you pan of olive oil, butter, white wine, garlic, fresh veggies, etc.. Tacos are another thing that can be hard to make for one person and not eat it all or to keep fresh. Here's a tip. When you make your meat (chicken, burger) and you take the amount you need for your meal, freeze the rest! That makes is easy to grab a shell out of the fridge, grab your meat out of the freezer, microwave for a minute or two then add your toppings and you have a taco anytime!

Want to know what I did last night with my hot and steamy Saturday night? I know you do! I watched Pre Season football with a glass of Pinot Gris! And I got hungry. What you need to know about me is that I love potatoes! Chips, fries, tots, baked, mashed....YUM! I can pass up the sweets but give me the potatoes! And last night I wanted fries. So I found baby potatoes in my fridge, heated up olive oil in a pan and sliced them up. I had some unused Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix left over so I sprinkled some of that on. When they were finished I sprinkled freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top. It was delicious! And it hit the spot for my snack. What are some of your favorite meals-for-one hacks? I'd love to know! Pass the Parmesan cheese, please!

Peach BBQ Sauce

Peaches are coming on! And who doesn't love a juicy ripe peach? I found this great recipe for Zesty Peach BBQ Sauce and I just couldn't resist giving it a whirl! Of course, as you know, to me, recipes are merely suggestions. So here is the spin I put on it.

Someone gave me a sample to try and though their's was perfectly tasty, my vision was to have it a little chunkier. So I mixed up my ingredients on a pulse setting on my processor. I also used a red onion instead of a white or yellow onion for color purposes only. And as every chef knows, all onions matter. I left it as full bodied as possible knowing it would cook down. I added my fresh peaches very last and left them in half slices or smaller depending on the density and firmness of the peach. If they were a little too chunky once the sauce had cooked down, I cut them a little smaller before putting them in jars. It's up to you! I also omitted the dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce. The idea of those did not set my palette right and I was so pleased with the outcome.

What I ended up with was a sort of sweet and sour onset with a peachy middle ground and nice big kick of heat at the end. I am in love! I can't wait to try this on pork, fish and I really want to slow cook chicken breasts, pull them apart, add the sauce and use as sliders! That will be another blog! If you try this, let me know! I'd love to hear your spins and your results.

Fair Season

Oh my gosh how I've missed you all! I apologize for the long departure but life got crazy for a moment. We had our County Fair. My son moved. My business added another division and life took me on the road often. But here I am. I have Peach Barbecue Sauce simmering on the stove (that will be another blog) and I have a moment. Let's talk about Fair Season!

Tell me. Do you all actively participate in your Fair? Growing up if my cousins or I complained about there was nothing at the Fair, my Grandmother would as us, well...what did you contribute. From me teens until my own children entered their drawings and baked goods I always entered something in the Fair. I live in a fairly large rural county and I just don't see people doing it like they used to. Myself included.  Sadly life gets too busy and it feels like one more thing to add to the list. I do enjoy looking at the beautiful things that others craft.  This year for me, it was more about taking it in. And boy did I!

I discovered beautiful poultry breeds that I had not seen before. My young friend and I took in the Pirate Parrot Show, which was highly educational. Who knew! We ate Fair Food and took in the LoCash Concert, which was my third. That was a magical night. The moon was a day past full and singing with the crowd to I Love This Life was beyond cool. The following night we took in the Pro Rodeo and watched the best of the best from the West compete. I also spent a few hours volunteering. Did I mention I've been really tired? I think it's safe to say that Fair signifies harvest and the completion or near completion of Summer. I am glad that even though I didn't enter items, I contributed time and a big smile. Already looking forward to the next one!

Meet Stevie

Yep....there she is in all her glory. My Stevie Girl. Stevie is the best money I have ever spent on myself. By accident, of course. As almost all great purchases are. As a young foal, she was being weaned in the barn of a trainer and friend. I fell in love. I even named her before I left. Her owner made me a deal and, well, she was mine. Stevie is named after, you guessed it, the rock icon Stevie Nicks. Look at that blonde coat and her gorgeous face and how could she be anything else? She had me Spellbound! In this photo is Stevie's second time under saddle. No fuss. No fit. She is the kind of filly that makes you think you are a good trainer. She is smart. She is beautiful and she wants to figure it out and learn. The first day I showed her a tarp, she moved it around with her hoof and walked over it. She let me put it on her, she let me rub her coat with it and she walked around with it on her back. She spoils me. So today I drove an hour to meet with a trainer to discuss "bitting her up". Such great information. She is ready and now the only thing I have to figure out is if I am brave enough to put the first ride on her or if I want to hire the young lady I met with today to do it. I am not going to decide today. Stevie will let me know. As will my heart. Regardless, I will have the trainer on site. And I'm sure it will be with great fan fare and possibly a tear or two. I'll keep you posted. 

I will be away for a couple of days to earn the hay money. Maybe with new adventures to tell! See you Sunday and stay safe out there!

There's a Tear in My Tomato Beer

Not really. I'm having a blast! But 7 pints of canned tomatoes, 6 pints of knock-your-socks-off-salsa and soon to be hopefully 7 pints of pizza sauce later, I'm not even through half of my tomatoes. This will be a marathon...not a sprint. Tomorrow....or with a burst of energy, tonight, I will conquer! I just sat down to write this with a glass of wine and my sweet little dog, Binks who is licking the splatters of tomato off my shirt and several suggestions have come to mind.

First of all, I am a novice canner. I have such fond memories of my mother putting the absolute fear of God into me that we would all die of botulism if everything wasn't just so, that I have always wanted to get back to it. Sighting that I just didn't have the time before, last Fall I bought a pressure canner and a water bath canner this Spring. There is not stopping me now! But that's not all you need. I highly suggest that if you are going to can anything that ends with the word sauce, you invest in a food strainer. My parents used to put up some ridiculous amount of tomato juice when I was a kid. I want to say something like 120 quarts. My dad liked his tomato juice. My job was to run those little bastards through the hand sieve. I took this job very seriously. Those contents were dry in that sieve by the time I was done with them. I found my strainer last fall on local classifieds on Facebook. It was in great shape and it saved the day! So much easier and even fun!  It makes fast work of those tomatoes and I won't need shoulder repair surgery just yet. My other suggestion is get a good food processor! For my salsa today is was the boss! I loved it and made a job of jalapenos and onions much better. Back to my sauce....stay tuned.

PS...
I have had some of you ask about subscribing to this blog and I'm looking to put that option on here. Thank you so much for your kind words! I am just having fun! More soon!

Be Kind to Your Neighbors

Ah....enjoying a well deserved glass of wine while the water bath boils. In it are the contents of 7 pints of whole roma tomatoes. But I digress. There is a story of how all this came to be. Almost every night, my dogs and I take a walk around the irrigation ponds on the adjacent property. On this trail are two camp trailers that I originally thought might one day be my demise since I had no idea who lived there. Then I met Dave. Dave claims to be "three years older than God". A widower who escaped the home, works part time for a local produce farm and feeds his bunnies and squirrels faithfully. During a friendly visit on my walk I asked him if tomatoes were coming on yet. He said yes...and asked if I wanted some. Sure! I said. I was planning on making tomato sauces and pizza sauces this summer. He asked how much. I said about 50 lbs ought to get me started. He said he'd get them and then I could pay him. Deal! Forward to last night. I get a call from my buddy Dave. He has my tomatoes. Could I come get them. Sure! And I was merrily on my way. Well...when I got there...Dave didn't have my 50 lbs of tomatoes. No. Not at all. Dave had 80 lbs of tomatoes, about 40 lbs of tomatillo peppers, roughly 20 lbs of jalepeno peppers, two honey dew melons, two cantelope and one watermelon! After I picked my jaw up he said he had a proposition for me. I said...oh yeah? He said not that kind! My sugar daddy hopes dashed he said there was no charge for the produce if I would do a canner full of tomatoes for him. DONE! Easiest request ever! Well there was some squabbling about who would pay for the jars but I won that one. Then with a wave of his hand and a friendly "get out of my hair", I was off. To panic. And buy jars. So the first batch of anything is Dave's tomatoes. I am proud of them already. And the friend I have made along the bunny trail.

Hello, Cucumber Salad! It's Been a Minute!

Who remembers hot summer days with the BBQ going and someone bringing out the cucumber and onion salad? Me! I loved it as a kid but can pretty much tell you that I haven't had it since. Until today. One of my favorite things about summer is the abundance of fresh produce. I can not get enough! Between my little garden and my neighbor's huge garden, I am in the height of my revelry. Longing for this and knowing that it's easy to make for one, I waited until I had a BBQ to go to in the evening. Not wanting to run the the store, I was so happy that this crossed my mind an all my ingredients were within reach. I found this recipe and of course, made my own embellishments. This recipe calls for two cucumbers but as in all things, size does matter. So the one I had was more than ample. It called for one garlic clove but two is always better. I added one medium Early Girl tomato freshly picked though I debated using two. Thoughts? And I doubled the water and vinegar. I think my mom just added apple cider vinegar and water. Maybe salt and pepper. But she is no longer here to ask so...I'll just tweak this little baby and see what happens. I put it all together in my pretty not-so-little Pioneer Woman bowl and we are ready for our BBQ. Maybe I'll pick up a nice crisp white wine on my way. I'll let know how it goes!

Let's Talk Chicken

So farm life is a little new to me. Chickens are very new to me. Like....only a year now. I used to refuse to eat farm fresh eggs because I just knew I would crack an egg and a baby chick would fall out and that would launch me into the full vegetarian existence that I'm not really all that far away from already. So in the past year I've learned that only if you have a rooster does that come in to play. Oh. Okay. Something new! The first time I made scrambled eggs from my own eggs I was very wary of what they would taste like. So I made them with sweet coffee creamer in case they taste like....I don't know.....dead baby chickens? Now I won't eat anything but! I pride myself on my well cared for chickens and their organic-as-you-can-make-it eggs that they produce. You will learn a lot about my chickens here and I don't want to use all my blog ideas on my first night. You will meet everyone in due time. Tonight please meet Nugget and her baby chick, Dudley. They are new to my farm. Nugget was brought in to help two brooders I had with their dilemma. Only one chick hatched. That would be Dudley. Nugget was mean as hell when she first got here but she now understands that I am friend and not foe. The other hens have yet to really accept her so she and Dudley do their own thing and I make sure they get their share of food. Bye the way....Dudley may become Dumpling as we learn if he/she is male or female. I do have Speckle, the Transgender Hen but that's a whole new entry for another day! Stay tuned and be sure to share with your friends who might enjoy hearing about my single, sustainable farm life!