Easy, Cheap, Quick

After picking blueberries and canning ALL DAY the last thing I want to do is make a really involved dinner. So I looked at the garden, looked in the fridge, and decided on this quick skillet dinner.

After I had my fill, oops!

I found the recipe in one of my favorite new cookbooks, "Meatless", by the editors of Martha Stewart Living, which in my opinion is one of the best new-ish cookbooks out there. Meat is REALLY expensive (plus, I was a vegetarian for 5 years and am not a big meat fan) and this cookbook is really great at giving you some new ideas for using veggies. It's perfect for me because I can look up recipes by ingredient; for example what's about to go bad in the fridge (mushrooms!) or what I have plenty of in the garden (kale!). I'm not being paid or anything to rave about this cookbook I just really like it! Basically this meal is just eggs cracked onto a bed of sauteed mushrooms, garlic, onion and kale. Really simple and easy to cook (like most of the recipes in the book) it took almost no time! It was VERY tasty especially after a hefty squirt of Sriracha sauce. :)

So what about you? Do you have a "go-to" easy peasy dinner that you like to make after a busy day? 

Until next time,

xoxo Stacie

Busy Summer

It seems that the summer chores never end when you live in a place where summer lasts about as long as a sneeze. There are things to fix, things to dig up and move, things to plant and harvest, harvests to put up, and animal housing to figure out. This week I'm on vacation and it's great to FINALLY be able to try to catch up. Bush beans need to be planted where the garlic was, blueberries need to be picked and made into jam, the front steps need to be stained, the gutters cleaned, the trim painted....it's enough to make me pull my hair out! So instead, I'll take a breath and be thankful I have the health and vigor to do all these things. The want and happiness to do these things. And of course, there's the sunshine to enjoy!

Until next time,
xoxo Stacie

Another beautiful day

Since I often spend my time on the computer while drinking my coffee in the morning, I thought I'd try and jot a little something down here. We've added to our little duck flock, acquiring ten little Muscovies. They are in their own little pen right now since they're only a few weeks old, but once big enough can be put together with the Khaki Campbells. The garden is doing fantastic! We have been eating kale almost every day (and even giving lots away). We have plenty of peas, although I can't help but eat the immature ones because they are my favorite. After picking the radishes I reseeded with kohlrabi and collards, and in the lettuce's place I planted more radishes. I have to say I like this square foot gardening business.

I've started this fantastic book called, "Your Money or Your Life", which is basically just reaffirming all my beliefs regarding working. Right now it's a necessity but someday it will not be. We've also been looking at camps farther up north with stars in our eyes. 10 acres in the middle of nowhere with a little A-frame house, no running water and no electricity. Someday that will be ours. Either that or if we come into a large amount of money there is a plot right up the hill, a beautiful 26 acres that I'd love to buy. It's a little above our price range though. I just hope some developer doesn't buy it. I wanted to live here forever but things are changing in this small farm neighborhood already. We'll see how long we last. All I know is if we move, the asparagus beds and rhubarb plants come too!

Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful Friday!

Until next time,

xoxo Stacie

Happy Fourth of July

Celebrate in any way you can, as this is one of the most, if not the most, important holiday we have as American citizens! I'll leave you with a quote by one of my favorite founding fathers, John Adams.

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

Remember when you light those fireworks and eat your barbeque those brave men in 1776 who stood up for what they believed in for this country, regardless of the strength of those they opposed. And of course, remember all the farmers as well as soldiers who took up arms to protect the country they held dear. Would you do the same today?

Until next time and Happy Fourth of July!!!

xoxo Stacie