Tag: Recipes

‘Royal’ly Cool Ideas for Cookie Decorating (Part 1)

Posted on by Kasha
Yes.  I think that's funny.  I'm lame like that. I was doing some Christmas shopping at Michael's craft store the other day and couldn't resist the adorable assortment of cookie cutters.   WHAT?  Michael's has great percent-off coupons!  I NEVER make rolled cookies and I NEVER have the time to decorate rolled cookies without a small child at my side.  This week, I had the time.  And obviously I now had the cutters.  I know, you're shocked.  My resistance is really low at Michael's, Target, and Bed, Bath and Beyond. It was cookie week on the Martha Stewart Show, and in...Read More
Heaven in a Springform Pan: Pumpkin-Mascarpone Cheesecake

Heaven in a Springform Pan: Pumpkin-Mascarpone Cheesecake

Posted on by Kasha
What a busy weekend! And the holidays aren't even really upon us yet.  Heck, I haven't even vacuumed up one single pine needle.  *sigh*  It's gonna be a lonnnnggg and crazy December. [caption id="attachment_2536" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Thomas had to journal about his weekend with JoJo the Dinosaur. I doubt any other kid in class has a pic like THIS![/caption] This past weekend The FarmGirl took the party on the road.  I gave my very first Mobile Cooking Lesson!   I took my kid and some equipment and lots of homegrown veggies and journeyed to a friend's house to teach her and her...Read More
Life Goes On. I Guess.

Life Goes On. I Guess.

Posted on by Kasha
Ready or not, life does indeed go on after a natural disaster.  Heck, for those not affected, life continues unchanged... THEY remain unchanged. But sometimes an event affects you so deeply that even going about your regular daily chores is an emotional struggle.  I found myself in need of basic essentials following the second flood and when the road was finally cleared and my car didn't have to don water wings to make it through, I went to Target.  I did a quick browse through Borders as it was their last few days in business (this makes me very sad) and I...Read More
Brief Respite and Breakfast for Dinner

Brief Respite and Breakfast for Dinner

Posted on by Kasha
[caption id="attachment_2080" align="alignright" width="300"] I love him... 'cause he's a lot like me.[/caption] I know.  I've been a total Debbie Downer lately and I'm sorry.  Ironically, my snark has been off the charts, but I just don't feel like recounting much of it.  I've been very sentimental.  I guess that comes from seeing so many valued possessions soaked to ruin and/or washed away.  Some things I'm sure we haven't even realized are missing will likely be remembered at a later date -- and we'll say, "oh.  The floods." We did the same thing when our barn burned to the ground in...Read More
Something Old, Something New… yada, yada, yada

Something Old, Something New… yada, yada, yada

Posted on by Kasha
We celebrated Thomas'  birthday a few weeks ago - no surprise he's a Taurus, huh? Full of  the bull, my boy is. On his birthday proper, I brought cupcakes to school so his class could celebrate this momentous occasion.  If he can't lose a tooth in first grade, at least he can turn 7.  I didn't want to buy canned frosting, although that would have been easier and the rugrats wouldn't have minded one bit, I'm sure.  I just felt all weird since I'm pretty much a 'from scratch' kinda gal. I did a little research and nothing tickled my fancy.  I have...Read More

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemon Curd!

Posted on by Kasha
[caption id="attachment_1664" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Like a burst of sunshine!"][/caption] Top 5 Reasons to NOT COOK: 5) the chef is under the weather (repeatedly) 4) the chef's kid is sick and requires constant attention (also repeatedly) 3) the chef's cat is injured and requires care, including oral antibiotics - which we all KNOW is a near-impossible task 2) doctor and/or veterinary appointments take up much of the day And the Number One reason? 1) extended winter turns simple daily chores  into drudgery I can't be the only one who had the March from hell, right?   One crappy thing after another made me wish I could go...Read More
Retreating from Progress

Retreating from Progress

Posted on by Kasha
Eat Local and Eat Seasonal are inescapable buzzwords these days.  They are all over the news and for the most part, we all think that style of eating is a great thing, right?  Well, yeah - until we're just 'dying' for that tomato for our salad in January or by March we've got a hankering for fresh peaches on our cereal.  And when we WANT something, how concerned are we about where it's coming from? Chances are, not very.  Now, remember, not long ago ours was an agrarian society - a society made up of self-reliant farm people.  If we...Read More

The Freezer Wasteland

Posted on by Kasha
[caption id="attachment_1327" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption=""You're no match for me! Your icy length taunting me from afar. I'll get you... and if I don't, my ally the Sun surely will." "][/caption] You have one too, right?  The freezer, be it upright, chest or attached to your beloved fridge, tends to be forgotten territory - especially the back or bottom.  We all know the ice cream sits front and center - no need to reach or look any further!  [caption id="attachment_1325" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Maybe we need snow tires on the wheelbarrow?"][/caption] I'm mid-way through my New Year Clean and Purge event.  Each room,...Read More
Brrrr! Where are My Fuzzy Slippers?

Brrrr! Where are My Fuzzy Slippers?

Posted on by Kasha
'Cause it's getting REALLY cold out here on the farm! [caption id="attachment_973" align="alignright" width="240"] Good Morning, Sunshine![/caption] Temps have been consistently in the 30s each morning, but the frost lingered until long past the time when I usually take Thomas out for the bus today.   Amazingly enough, very few of the green items we have at market right now are from the greenhouse.  Most, like spinach, kale(s), collards, turnips, brussels sprouts, lettuce and bok choy, are still being harvested from the fields weekly. As long as the weather isn't too harsh right away, the plants become accustomed to the weather and actually thrive. ...Read More

Oh No, Say it Ain’t So… A Vegan is Coming to Dinner!

Posted on by Kasha
WHY are people afraid of different? The 'V-word' strikes fear in the hearts of many when faced with the prospect of cooking for a dinner guest who eats no animal products whatsoever, especially at holiday time.  What the heck do you feed a vegan or vegetarian  for Thanksgiving? Well, first off, do NOT go out and buy a Tofurkey unless it's requested.  Sure, some people NEED to have something to carve at their Holiday Table, but let's face facts.  It's still a processed food product that will TASTE LIKE it came out of a box. [caption id="attachment_937" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Toasting the...Read More