tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735874202864586222024-03-05T23:38:46.081-08:00Two Lovebird LocavoresThe adventures of two inexperienced, wannabe homesteadersWho Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-26455523843829508612024-01-27T09:40:00.000-08:002024-01-27T09:40:46.350-08:00Chicken-Keeping Advice <p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigGNEGP235KDqZxiDQSD0uPbjw4wu52IQjjGfrFYEDsRRhJdhpP-CAkOnUTXFZ3CPeftyrU9jlDj8rdciDaivJ208olpjp3X4_6WdKwR5tDkFS0xE2duf8-9vSA5vCofc-iYr4USnoA_31c_Ycmu67BqDgAlcMdqGX9jrAgRA_UmK51YMy9xRufXF79sM" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigGNEGP235KDqZxiDQSD0uPbjw4wu52IQjjGfrFYEDsRRhJdhpP-CAkOnUTXFZ3CPeftyrU9jlDj8rdciDaivJ208olpjp3X4_6WdKwR5tDkFS0xE2duf8-9vSA5vCofc-iYr4USnoA_31c_Ycmu67BqDgAlcMdqGX9jrAgRA_UmK51YMy9xRufXF79sM" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cardi B, a hilarious flock member</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> I'm working on a grad school assignment around multimodal literacies, and when I paused to think about something that I've become quite literate in during my adulthood, chicken-keeping came to mind quite instantly. I'm grateful for this assignment because it has brought me back to this blog, which for years, I've been telling myself to come back to -- mostly because when I blog about sustainable living, I am more attune to it and because blogging gives me a reason to write, which without reason, I often put off even though it brings me peace and joy. </p><p>Today, I'm going to focus on advice that I would personally give to new chicken-keepers after 13 years of chicken-keeping with my husband on our little homestead right outside of Madison, Wisconsin. </p><p><b>Getting Started:</b></p><p>1. Obviously, check the ordinances for where you live. The last thing that want to do is purchase and fall in love with some chicks only to have to rehome them. Many cities are expanding their chicken allowances: Madison, Wisconsin now allows 8 hens. </p><p>2. Get the <a href="https://twolovebirdlocavores.blogspot.com/2010/07/good-bye-marley.html">Marek's </a>vaccine. I've posted about this before, but it is something you can easily add on. We lost an entire flock. Also, don't get chicks from an unknown source. This is often how chicken diseases are spread. </p><p>3. You'll need a <a href="https://twolovebirdlocavores.blogspot.com/2014/08/new-brooder-equals-unrivaled-space.html">brooder</a>. Make it more spacious than you think because the chicks grown quickly! If you're adding to a flock, pullets need to be nearly the same size as your existing chickens in order for a safe transition. </p><p>4. Bond. Spend lots of time handling the chicks. The more time, the better for your long-term relationship and ease of handling for illness, vet appointments, and so on. </p><p>5. Make sure your coop is predator-proof. Get a hawk-proof netting. Use hardware cloth rather than chicken wire around your run. Put pavers or garden-beds around your run to prevent digging predators a way in. </p><p><b>Day-to-day maintenance:<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKKZIa9HGQ6bY8C6uhxbWZoVnJe8eRQF55xgcXJ5UjQcpR2PvuQ2WiBJ5KNEIoLSa3sO-H7kE8ny3dMlzC_IvdoOaxhnsAmNBXBfewOes_9q1-pfJecUObXCLf5GIb_-ASvZEd7qK1u5WTiAwUtODybDGYPwepHMbywiMglSfHGfA_9bZUp_VuRPUX3jU" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKKZIa9HGQ6bY8C6uhxbWZoVnJe8eRQF55xgcXJ5UjQcpR2PvuQ2WiBJ5KNEIoLSa3sO-H7kE8ny3dMlzC_IvdoOaxhnsAmNBXBfewOes_9q1-pfJecUObXCLf5GIb_-ASvZEd7qK1u5WTiAwUtODybDGYPwepHMbywiMglSfHGfA_9bZUp_VuRPUX3jU" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Beautiful Adele, with space to play.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></p><p>1. Continue that bonding as often as time allows. </p><p>2. Did you know that you can freeze eggs if you get too many? You can! Simply crack them open into a Ball jar and write the number of eggs inside. Pop into the freezer. When your hens are molting or not producing eggs, these will come in handy! </p><p>3. Feed them healthy table scraps. Most veggies and fruit are okay, and the they not only make your chickens healthier, they also make the eggs more nutritious. </p><p>4. Make sure they have space to run and play. Whether that means that you give them time to run around your yard each day or you have an amazing run, healthy and happy hens need space. </p><p>5. Close your coops every night. No matter how secure that you think they are. </p><p>6. If it's <a href="https://twolovebirdlocavores.blogspot.com/2012/07/summer-heat-part-one-rip-prudence.html">too hot </a>outside, make sure you're problem solving. You can spray down the outside of your coop with cold water. You can give your hens frozen veggies or fruit. Make sure there is shade and that you're giving your chickens enough water throughout the day. </p><p><b><br />Other things I've learned:</b></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqqHgNjzF0bZe8cGG8epT8hycLQ9pbjUJMAwhYl8Ew87lPzwwR10TWIXDc6zRs7LjNoMfM-jzO28GLXMWp_AAJ18Ram64ACnWl1yQ4g02goIKkj5q6xVr0BfstQ8b3lDKXcTzUqwo11mermd6N9HjlszQqXnpzFB4S9DiExaiEGAnH3BlrP4IvTfIYhoQ" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqqHgNjzF0bZe8cGG8epT8hycLQ9pbjUJMAwhYl8Ew87lPzwwR10TWIXDc6zRs7LjNoMfM-jzO28GLXMWp_AAJ18Ram64ACnWl1yQ4g02goIKkj5q6xVr0BfstQ8b3lDKXcTzUqwo11mermd6N9HjlszQqXnpzFB4S9DiExaiEGAnH3BlrP4IvTfIYhoQ" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Day-old chicks</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>If you're anything like me, you don't want to contribute to the violent death of any animal. When<br /> we order only female chickens, we must think about what's happening to the roosters. It's not great. If you have space, you can have a bachelor pad of roosters as long as there are no hens in sight. Something to consider! I, like most people, assumed that roosters could never coexist. </li><li>Chickens purr when cozied up on your lap, near sleep. How cool is that! </li><li>Chickens tend to molt in the fall --> you'll notice that many of their feathers are gone. It is quite painful for them, so avoid picking them up during this time if possible. </li><li>They dust-bathe. It's adorable. </li></ul><div>Have fun with your chickens! They are a pleasure to have! I love talking chickens, so feel free to post questions! </div><p></p><p><b><br /></b></p>Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-22085046080226523852015-08-30T07:52:00.000-07:002015-08-30T18:26:19.871-07:00Bourbon and Blueberry Bundt Cake with Blueberry-Basil-Bourbon Glaze<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lRToUcx83viTPs1mneUjTwuIo_9047Rla51hjzObjORUnsttRTXxKpRtJ5Q9yrGQtR5JcgZCOulYhofUpJk4HOhiE-TTGNpuxFa6A1ptI2FHzdEhrisb2aOnG3SwCCLMJdJhZWH7qlc/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lRToUcx83viTPs1mneUjTwuIo_9047Rla51hjzObjORUnsttRTXxKpRtJ5Q9yrGQtR5JcgZCOulYhofUpJk4HOhiE-TTGNpuxFa6A1ptI2FHzdEhrisb2aOnG3SwCCLMJdJhZWH7qlc/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a>What could be better than a dense, delicious, fruity bundt cake? One drenched in bourbon, of course!<br />
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This recipe was inspired by a list of ingredients from our friend and house-sitter. When asked how we could repay him for taking care of our chickens, cats, gardens, and dog while we gallivanted around the northern part of the country, he replied with his usual, kind, "Make me dinner." He suggested a list of ingredients and among them were blueberries, bourbon, and basil. Upon our first attempt with googling the ingredients, we discovered this combination makes quite the popular doughnut choice. Who knew?<br />
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We went to the trusty Paprika app on our iPad and found several recipes for blueberry-bourbon cakes and glazes, but settled on modifying <a href="http://lizzy-onceuponaplate.blogspot.com/2014/02/kentucky-bourbon-cake-with-blueberry.html">this one</a>, and then we added our own extra alcohol-y twist with a Bourbon Sauce. Despite an appetizer of fried plantains, a peanut stew for dinner, and drinks to fill in the rest, we all had room to indulge in this keeper! <br />
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The amount of bourbon that we added to this cake would make a sailor whistle. The first saucepan of bourbon sauce soaked right in, so we cooked up another. We added that, which proceeded to soak right in as well. And then we added the glaze on top, full of bourbon. Despite using almost a bottle, the bourbon melded delightfully well with the blueberry and basil flavors. The cake was rich and moist, and it made my summer night feel all the more summery. I predict that it will make snowed-in, wintry nights all the more wintry, too.<br />
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Without a doubt, this cake will show up on our table again soon.<br />
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<b>Ingredients for the cake:</b><br />
3 cups flour<br />
1 tsp. baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp. baking soda<br />
1 tsp sea salt<br />
1 cup unsalted butter<br />
1 1/2 cups sugar<br />
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar<br />
4 eggs, at room temperature<br />
1/2 tsp. vanilla<br />
1/4 cup bourbon<br />
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature<br />
1-2 cups blueberries (depending on your preference)<br />
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<b>Ingredients for Bourbon Sauce </b><b>(we ended up making three batches of this...we like ours real dense!):</b><br />
1/2 cup bourbon<br />
1/2 cup unsalted butter<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract<br />
3/4 cup sugar<br />
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<b>Ingredients for Glaze </b><br />
1 cup fresh blueberries<br />
1 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped<br />
2-3 tablespoons bourbon<br />
3 cups sifted powdered sugar<br />
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<b>Directions:</b><br />
1. Grease a 10-cup metal tube or bundt pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.<br />
2. To make the cake, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.<br />
3. Cream the butter and sugars together on medium-high speed until fluffy, about five minutes.<br />
4. Blend in the eggs, one at a time and add the vanilla. Combine the bourboun and buttermilk in a bowl. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the bourbon mixture in two parts.<br />
5. Pour the batter evenly in the bundt cake pan. Bake until the cake is golden and springs back when touched, about 40 to 45 minutes.<br />
6. Before the cake is finished, you'll make the bourbon sauce. Heat a small saucepan and melt the butter. Mix in the sugar and vanilla.<br />
7. Remove the pan from the heat, pour in the bourbon, and combine butter mixture with bourbon.<br />
8. Put the pan back on the stove and heat until slightly bubbly. Sugar should be dissolved.<br />
9. Poke holes in your finished cake, and pour the sauce over it. You can reserve some for the top, if you'd like.<br />
10. Let the cake completely cool, and then flip it over onto a serving platter.<br />
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11. To make the glaze, start by pulsing the blueberries, basil, and 2 Tbs of bourbon in a food processor or blender until smooth.<br />
12. In a large bowl, measure out the powdered sugar. Gradually stir the blueberry mixture into the sugar. Taste and add the last Tbs of bourbon if you desire. Drizzle over cooked cake.<br />
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13 And then, if you like strong libations in your bakery, you can always add more of the Bourbon Sauce! </div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-91749493385114340492015-08-19T18:28:00.000-07:002015-08-19T18:29:33.502-07:00Salty and Crispy: Kale Chips<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwG4Qb7FwtgediB7MOYqfeZfDZcbBhQV7XXzsnWnsBDfxnFLVeASg5hl3BAgDCyIW7XuK2WNyEVW51AMLdIIuV3Fl81FpnmDzu0pagJEdyzU4_NXY8jmzSm_zN3cZq68p73UopPt6QxWE/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwG4Qb7FwtgediB7MOYqfeZfDZcbBhQV7XXzsnWnsBDfxnFLVeASg5hl3BAgDCyIW7XuK2WNyEVW51AMLdIIuV3Fl81FpnmDzu0pagJEdyzU4_NXY8jmzSm_zN3cZq68p73UopPt6QxWE/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" width="320" /></a>Kale chips have been all the rage for a few years. And why wouldn't they be? Salty. Crispy. Can't Stop At Just One. And (semi) nutritious. What could be better? <br />
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They're super easy to make, and it's fun to play with different seasonings and flavorings. I like cracked pepper!<br />
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<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
A bunch of kale<br />
Olive oil<br />
Salt<br />
Seasonings of your choice<br />
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<b>Process:</b><br />
1. Wash kale to remove dirt.<br />
2. Rip chip-sized pieces off the rib of the kale. Discard the ribs. Use salad spinner to dry kale pieces.<br />
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3. Toss kale pieces with enough olive oil to lightly coat throughout.<br />
4. Spread on cookie sheets.<br />
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5. Sprinkle with salt and other seasonings (I love pepper, for example!).<br />
6. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until kale chips are crisp.<br />
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We store ours in open ziploc bags with a piece of paper towel to soak up excess liquid over time.<br />
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They should last for up to a week.<br />
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Enjoy! </div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-70078322345269207032015-08-03T07:06:00.001-07:002015-08-03T07:06:33.276-07:00Pickled Beets, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Full disclosure: this recipe is 100% not our own. The reason? Every year, I forget from which source I located the pickled beets recipe because I have never blogged about pickling beets. I go searching online, browsing through other cookbooks....only to just choose something random and different each and every year. So, I'm shamelessly blogging about a recipe I found in a cookbook.<br />
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And ... the beets in this cookbook are wonderful! Slightly sweet, tangy, and perfectly pickled, this is my favorite recipe for pickled beets thus far. At this pint, I fully endorse <i>The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving</i>. Granted, this is the only recipe from the book that I've seen to fruition, but I bought this gem only a month ago. I love that the cookbook focuses on small batches because, let's be realistic, I live with only one other human: we can only consume so much food. </div>
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Anyway, try this pickled beets recipe! We used chioggia beets and golden beets, hence the interesting colors in the jars. We also a little more than doubled this, so we ended up with 4.5 quarts</div>
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<i>Easy Spiced Pickled Beets </i>(makes 4 pints)</div>
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8-15 pounds of fresh beets</div>
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2 cups sugar</div>
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2 cups white vinegar</div>
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1/3 cup water</div>
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16 whole cloves</div>
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8 whole allspice berries</div>
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2 cinnamon sticks, about 4 inches long</div>
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2 tsp pickling salt</div>
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1. Trim beets, leaving 1 inch of stem and taproot attached. Put in pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, and then turn down heat, cover, and simmer for 25 to 45 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them! Cook just until tender..... </div>
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Once tender, drain and rinse with cold water. Remove skins and cut beets into desired size pieces. If you have chickens, be sure to save the scraps! They loved them....</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken treats or compost ingredients?</td></tr>
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2. Combine sugar, vinegar, and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir occasionally. </div>
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3. In sanitized, hot jars, place 4 cloves, 2 allspice berries, and 1/2 cinnamon stick in each jar. Pack beats into jar. Pour hot liquid over beets to within 1/2 inch of rim. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">4. Process 30 minutes for 2-cup jars and 35 minutes for 4-cup jars. </span></div>
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Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-70378252453403095012015-01-01T13:52:00.000-08:002015-01-01T13:52:40.219-08:00Pinterest and Sweet Potato Pie Dip <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
2014 was my year of Pinterest! This <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/95631192057789915/">pin</a> was the basis for building a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in our house. We now have a shelf behind our sofa in our small living room because I saw this <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/95631192059150343/">pin</a>. I brought a cheesy, gooey Jalapeno Popper dip for a Christmas Eve appetizer thanks to this <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/95631192059138036/">pin</a>. I used the recipe for a tart, sweet, and spicy Jalapeno Cranberry dip on this <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/95631192063217238/">pin</a> for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and again for New Year's. Last night, I made a creamy Sweet Potato Pie dip because I thankfully pinned <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/95631192063352953/">this</a> a while back.<br />
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I'm blogging about the Sweet Potato Pie dip because it is definitely a keeper, I want to make a minor adjustment to the original recipe, and family members who sampled it last night asked for the recipe AND suggested alternate uses for leftovers, which I want to share here.<br />
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<u><b>Dip:
</b></u><br />
1 (8-oz) block of cream cheese, softened
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1 cup brown sugar
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2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
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2 Tbs butter<br />
1 tsp vanilla
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1 tsp cinnamon
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1/4 tsp nutmeg
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Graham crackers or ginger snaps
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<u><b>Pecan Topping:
</b></u><br />
1/4 cup brown sugar
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1/4 cup white sugar
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1/4 cup butter, melted
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1/2 cup dry oatmeal<br />
1/2 cup chopped pecans<br />
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<u><b>Directions:</b></u><br />
1. Preheat oven to 350.<br />
2. When oven is ready, bake the sweet potatoes until they are fork-tender.<br />
3. Mix together the cream cheese and brown sugar. Add the mashed sweet potatoes, butter, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. I used a food processor to get the consistency nice and smooth.<br />
4. Mix together all the ingredients of the pecan topping. I added oatmeal to the recipe because when I made it according to the original recipe (without oatmeal), the butter pooled on the top. Adding the oatmeal will give the dip a crisp-like feel and will eliminate butter pooling.<br />
5. Sprinkle the topping on top. Bake for 15-20 minutes and serve with graham crackers and/or ginger snaps.<br />
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This dip was so good that by the time I remembered to take a photo for the blog, we had it 1/4 eaten!<br />
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For leftovers (if you have any) or if you just want a twist, this would make a classy dessert served in nice glasses decorated with a cookie dipped onto the top. You could also add a dollop of real whipping cream or ice cream on top.<br />
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Pinterest treated me well in 2014. Hoping 2015 brings the same type of success! <br />
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Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-75043352719304170312015-01-01T13:00:00.000-08:002015-01-01T13:00:21.537-08:00A Feast for Our Chickens, 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC2CFv5dbGE-ytmqLSfhqxODX1SSmwJ3i7pvORy5ixpVb-orbwfvQdV235pAL2Uq2gA7PO9uo6sOZMlrRZ2hOG0SUzbgRpca3AMjOCNfoRGdJp5ltbi-h-RdPc59bt_UzDmJHlNLY6ss/s1600/100_2910.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC2CFv5dbGE-ytmqLSfhqxODX1SSmwJ3i7pvORy5ixpVb-orbwfvQdV235pAL2Uq2gA7PO9uo6sOZMlrRZ2hOG0SUzbgRpca3AMjOCNfoRGdJp5ltbi-h-RdPc59bt_UzDmJHlNLY6ss/s1600/100_2910.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>This New Year's Day, we decided to celebrate the lives of our backyard flock chickens. Inspired by <a href="http://heartlandfarmsanctuary.org/">Heartland Farm Sanctuary's</a> <a href="http://heartlandfarmsanctuary.org/3rd-annual-feast-for-the-turkeys/">Feast for the Turkeys </a>event, we made up a meal in which the chickens were the honored guests rather than the main dish.<br />
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We halved a few Delicata squashes and filled them with a mix of cranberries, beets, carrots, kale, yogurt, and Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Cereal.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkNaFBZQMVmTYIgxLHi6L3fcp7YHL3-frDKkumGZXe0yaK5tAxEy_9IFafAvr2f3sGDtTyiUdn-MqFDdfZK1yMHH8p5H57LZix4xThjBuRSn0F6E_kR8TqoDL_lLKf-UZC4fRWa8f8Po/s1600/100_2905.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkNaFBZQMVmTYIgxLHi6L3fcp7YHL3-frDKkumGZXe0yaK5tAxEy_9IFafAvr2f3sGDtTyiUdn-MqFDdfZK1yMHH8p5H57LZix4xThjBuRSn0F6E_kR8TqoDL_lLKf-UZC4fRWa8f8Po/s1600/100_2905.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One half squash for each chicken</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We spread them throughout the run.</td></tr>
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As you can see in the pictures below, our chickens were delighted. Rocky, the rooster, expressed his excitement by getting a case of the hiccups.<br />
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Our youngest chickens, hatched on August 18th, are a bit more skittish around us than any of our other chickens have been. Surrounded by squash goodness, they hung out around us this morning as they enjoyed their feast. What a treat for all of us!<br />
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Happy New Year! </div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-79527139680354989832014-11-03T19:17:00.003-08:002014-11-03T19:18:25.435-08:00Salads in Jars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yumminess before the jars. </td></tr>
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A couple of years ago, I made my first set of salads in glass jars for lunches; they were convenient and delicious, but I fell into my old habits and reverted back to leftovers and soups. This past week, our CSA box contained a bag of spinach and another bag of salad greens and carrots and celery and radishes and broccoli and I thought -- hey! I should really get back to those salads. <br />
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By the way, making salads in mason jars for weekly lunches is so much faster than making a pot of soup. Duh, right?<br />
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The brilliant news is that jar salads stay fresh for a solid <strong><u>5-7 days</u></strong>. I'll post a picture of Friday's salad later this week just to confirm. <br />
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<strong><u>What are the rules?</u></strong><br />
<ul>
<li>Put the dressing at the bottom. I used 2 Tablespoons, which was plenty for me. </li>
<li>Then, put something that can serve as a barrier between the lettuce and dressing. Obviously, this layer is going to get the most exposure to the dressing, so choose a more sturdy vegetable. I used carrots, celery, radishes, and broccoli for this week's salad. Use whatever you have. </li>
<li>Next, add a grain or noodles, if you'd like. I used a quinoa this week. </li>
<li>If you're up to it, a protein such as cheese or hard-boiled egg goes next. </li>
<li>Finally, the greens themselves. </li>
</ul>
<strong><u>How do you eat it?</u></strong><br />
<ul>
<li>I take a bowl to dump mine into, but you could also try your luck just diving right into the glass jar. </li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just dump it right in! </td></tr>
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I use Myfitnesspal.com to track my calories and nutrition information, and I got an immediate green (which is good!) on the fiber section. The other side benefit of making salads in jars is for the sheer aesthetic pleasure of it! They are beautiful. <br />
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Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-65588719814260019852014-08-25T08:42:00.000-07:002014-08-25T08:42:19.126-07:00New Brooder Equals Unrivaled Space<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our friend Fjud spent his Sunday building our chicks a bigger brooder. Because we got the chicks so late in the season and because winter here is so brutal, we are going to have to keep these babies inside a bit longer than we have when we've gotten them before, in the spring or early summer. Not wanting them to get crowded, we proposed a sort of inside coop/brooder to our construction-savvy friend. He was up to the challenge.<br />
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This is what former chicks and the newbies have resided in....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tY4VPEx7zC0gjk-7Og4bWBafiHAJf3nn_iSTZgofqevewAzRs8TwPRCz-pthr7I4Clq7AdgzePJAh-KF8Uix2PpXbZUCNWwE25p5FXeCFB7YyWJUtH5hlDNM-ICDKwCprf2eA9DyJlc/s1600/IMG_2281%5B1%5D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tY4VPEx7zC0gjk-7Og4bWBafiHAJf3nn_iSTZgofqevewAzRs8TwPRCz-pthr7I4Clq7AdgzePJAh-KF8Uix2PpXbZUCNWwE25p5FXeCFB7YyWJUtH5hlDNM-ICDKwCprf2eA9DyJlc/s1600/IMG_2281%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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Now, check out their new digs....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B8_vIitBQ9TStno3EWdZubyfrI08LVpeU3Jfr37674JUd9maPOPet0GNQdIWQbr8g3Aq5PwhO37cklLyDGfvosj6R5RRhL7nvRMzLsFnpw2u1IObfbjycE04S8VjqSRTbgQAcmmSIew/s1600/IMG_2277%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B8_vIitBQ9TStno3EWdZubyfrI08LVpeU3Jfr37674JUd9maPOPet0GNQdIWQbr8g3Aq5PwhO37cklLyDGfvosj6R5RRhL7nvRMzLsFnpw2u1IObfbjycE04S8VjqSRTbgQAcmmSIew/s1600/IMG_2277%5B1%5D.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the perching bar to the left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1F1T6L6usl9RQX80YR4DT-r2QsmQHoJB_uWhc0DkSCKTH2poA6enkxsPmlieG0Afrx5Gfoq5AjViZWfhNVbRktHjh7zIXql0M9WTfAyef0IQc9CH00OU8xqYlbbiXNz1f-_eZGtn9IU/s1600/IMG_2283%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1F1T6L6usl9RQX80YR4DT-r2QsmQHoJB_uWhc0DkSCKTH2poA6enkxsPmlieG0Afrx5Gfoq5AjViZWfhNVbRktHjh7zIXql0M9WTfAyef0IQc9CH00OU8xqYlbbiXNz1f-_eZGtn9IU/s1600/IMG_2283%5B1%5D.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy access to allow chicks out to play. This will be useful for introductions to the big hens, too.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFqqoHnmtkdabMFHAJCBWdnvWZHW5KeJ4G-hP3juZ9VKmQURy0SwsVyNCUXyMbaNjHbxaFQSkpqQUN5fGWUfWOz3MJyq91GbR_GaSVZAV9UGrdj8V9bI9HdXFD6zj4bhxvVICPql8UKY/s1600/IMG_2284%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFqqoHnmtkdabMFHAJCBWdnvWZHW5KeJ4G-hP3juZ9VKmQURy0SwsVyNCUXyMbaNjHbxaFQSkpqQUN5fGWUfWOz3MJyq91GbR_GaSVZAV9UGrdj8V9bI9HdXFD6zj4bhxvVICPql8UKY/s1600/IMG_2284%5B1%5D.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View upon opening the above door.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcV9JCuENXmCTFrcEd9OEZZLCmFczSncZbe0WlwDSTKENVHsn0nIUd1Qc2XrkYPpOqP6Eo5ySlka-bbl7dTUu8huppKsmTzgsHKGPPTienu2VRvvT2c71hTWQ8j1E44izX-EfaQ9cGnCw/s1600/IMG_2286%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcV9JCuENXmCTFrcEd9OEZZLCmFczSncZbe0WlwDSTKENVHsn0nIUd1Qc2XrkYPpOqP6Eo5ySlka-bbl7dTUu8huppKsmTzgsHKGPPTienu2VRvvT2c71hTWQ8j1E44izX-EfaQ9cGnCw/s1600/IMG_2286%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of entire operation</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We couldn't be happier with the results. This is a project that will benefit us for all future poultry endeavors. Thanks, Fjud! </div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-1413938602039418132014-08-25T08:04:00.001-07:002014-08-25T08:07:31.689-07:00A Flock in Chaos: A Tumultuous Week of Backyard Chicken Keeping<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spindy, on one of her in-home nights</td></tr>
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This week, we put down Spinderella (our favorite hen), got a set of 4 baby chicks, and buried one of said baby chicks. It was a tumultuous week for the flock and for its owners. <br />
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Back in July, Spinderella began acting lethargic, not excited for the mealworms or cherry tomatoes she so loved. We found a local vet who often works with hens; she diagnosed Spindy with fatty liver. She predicted that we may have called too late, but she gave us instructions to feed Critical Care (actually made for guinea pigs) through a tube twice daily and to give Spindy some R and R inside. We followed instructions, and Spindy's crop got nice and full. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyCI6YM9i5yKknTUKPu4Lptgg6XWpjvq5K6jy5dhl_d3HbZW7aFZUR0OutKzo9I3KTIz6nsUoKH8biXJsanSWdkrvHahVx_1PTPqG6n2ypofhIa4hU3GRgAhMqR51cTjZf-ec7JRdU_w/s1600/IMG_2099%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyCI6YM9i5yKknTUKPu4Lptgg6XWpjvq5K6jy5dhl_d3HbZW7aFZUR0OutKzo9I3KTIz6nsUoKH8biXJsanSWdkrvHahVx_1PTPqG6n2ypofhIa4hU3GRgAhMqR51cTjZf-ec7JRdU_w/s1600/IMG_2099%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some TLC</td></tr>
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As soon as we put her outdoors again, Spindy began riding a roller coaster of health. One day, we thought she was better; the next she spent the day puffed out under a tree. When the heat index increased on Friday and Saturday, she began floundering around, unable to stand. Even in the air conditioning, she was panting, and we knew it was time.<br />
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To all of those hard-core farming types out there, this is where we former city-dwelling, inexperienced, overly compassionate and sentimental homesteaders fail. We took Spinderella to the emergency vet and paid to have her put to sleep via injection. I rationalize this expense by remembering why I wanted backyard chickens to begin with: to give animals who provide me with food a happy life, filled with dignity. There is just no way either my spouse or I have it within us to end her life in the more traditional methods, though we have discussed seeing if we can buy the injection supplies needed for future situations. At the vet, both of us felt the pain and stress of putting a pet down, which to me, means we had succeeded in giving Spindy the type of life I had wanted for her.<br />
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On the other end of the week, on Monday, the 18th, four chicks hatched at My Pet Chicken and were shipped our way! Their fuzzy little bodies are a delight to anyone!<br />
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Our friends' kids have flocked here this week, and we've personally enjoyed watching these little ladies grow feathers and flutter around. Our flock is comprised of hens with musically-related names, and this year we let our nieces and friend's daughter name the hens.<br />
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We have a:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRveHNsrCeFultBr6UVcyPkfO61pr3KFMWNHazBZltMOFQa0EvXJcRSy7Fqpc7NSzL0hbKbx6CL1W6SIB11UZhm0H_o_lIRbiYh3EpyKPy6blZ7dbAc_0CvaC_TjV9gsCEJfNPMTw9naY/s1600/IMG_2216%5B1%5D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRveHNsrCeFultBr6UVcyPkfO61pr3KFMWNHazBZltMOFQa0EvXJcRSy7Fqpc7NSzL0hbKbx6CL1W6SIB11UZhm0H_o_lIRbiYh3EpyKPy6blZ7dbAc_0CvaC_TjV9gsCEJfNPMTw9naY/s1600/IMG_2216%5B1%5D.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleanor Annie Cosette (Eleanor for Eleanor Roosevelt - strong woman; Annie for Annie Lennox, Cosette from Les Mes)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P!nk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bTyAZh4jE3ESYwgWw7h7Xj1DRBE5AjNWQL_NCz8hdRKYL4lIl1L7-3aZjsq63z9xe_eNemajxaci_UptGsL9H1vlUGVV20hLDEtZbg_I8Gc1LWnqSTj6ywK0kjNSkvmlCq9DOpEBszc/s1600/IMG_2249%5B1%5D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bTyAZh4jE3ESYwgWw7h7Xj1DRBE5AjNWQL_NCz8hdRKYL4lIl1L7-3aZjsq63z9xe_eNemajxaci_UptGsL9H1vlUGVV20hLDEtZbg_I8Gc1LWnqSTj6ywK0kjNSkvmlCq9DOpEBszc/s1600/IMG_2249%5B1%5D.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katy Perry</td></tr>
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One of the chicks, our Buff Orphington, didn't make it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwpnlc0K3603k4V6rBDscXiI5eP1L9-U8mZt30BpZH8FQ8sfPFVjSqPfEvGymd483rkn-ckvjXIhk36Xj3RZp6TL2L0WtKUSd6DHGhJ2IrQAy86Am56Heo6F2WnMFTFIAhJHOhdaNfp8/s1600/IMG_2256%5B1%5D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwpnlc0K3603k4V6rBDscXiI5eP1L9-U8mZt30BpZH8FQ8sfPFVjSqPfEvGymd483rkn-ckvjXIhk36Xj3RZp6TL2L0WtKUSd6DHGhJ2IrQAy86Am56Heo6F2WnMFTFIAhJHOhdaNfp8/s1600/IMG_2256%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIP Little Taylor Swift</td></tr>
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We came home from dinner (the same day on which Spindy was put down) to find our little chick face-down in the brooder. We are unsure what happened, but we suspect heat. It was a sad day around these parts.<br />
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For now though, we'll enjoy the sound of our little peepers singing away in their brooder...and so will the mammals<br />
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Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-46589121264870399032014-06-01T17:03:00.001-07:002014-06-01T17:03:56.873-07:00CSA: A Bi-Weekly or Weekly Venture?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything consumed in time for Box 2!</td></tr>
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For years, we've picked up a weekly CSA box on Saturday mornings from the first weekend in May to roughly the end of January. As our farmer predicted, by year three, we had a system to either eat everything or freeze or can that which we did not consume in a week's time. We did well. Our friends would marvel at how we, two people, managed to eat so many veggies.<br />
<br />
Well, those days seemed to be over last year. With the purchase of a quarter cow and half of a pig (to be eaten by the omnivore in the family), we found ourselves with loads of roots and greens that ended up being chicken treats by week's end. Additionally, our gardens have grown exponentially in the past half decade, and when we bought a house in the country, we had hoped to someday be much more self-sustainable.<br />
<br />
It seemed the time had come to downsize our CSA box, but we have commitment problems hence no children, no addition to the house...you get the idea. Even downgrading our CSA order seemed so daunting, but we took the leap (sarcasm intended for those of you who can never figure out my sense of humor!).<br />
<br />
Well, on May 10th a CSA box was delivered to our normal pickup site, and we weren't on the receiving end. Admittedly, we felt a bit deflated. We doubted our decision. Then, May 17th rolled around. What a joyous occasion to see overwintered spinach and parsnips, freshly dug sunchokes, thick pink stalks of rhubarb, and the bright spring green of sorrel. Heavenly.<br />
<br />
We think we made the right decision as this past Saturday, the 31st, we picked up our second box and were able to fit all of our new veggies in the fridge because ... get this: all of our other veggies had been consumed in the past 2 weeks. Regardless of how this first month went, we're going to keep track of how often we run out of veggies too early, how often the chickens are benefiting from our lack of consumption, and how much our gardens are contributing to our overall eating plans. We want to be decision-ready come 2015's order.<br />
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Something I made last week that was springy, healthy, and entirely local was Sunchoke-Parsnip soup, adapted from our very own Harmony Valley Farm newsletter. Here's how I made mine:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9g26JdRD_VHqNHk8tH6xuICVZuX40ZBgAVHhWgi05tRYEqWT6S8jGucudqua-hhm5id0fpKYKkwmcLEAoZNruGohrBxezoskhw4Z0m6WREW-IbWJ1IK1xvNsJVmyBp76XuXFcLOhr2I/s1600/100_2395.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9g26JdRD_VHqNHk8tH6xuICVZuX40ZBgAVHhWgi05tRYEqWT6S8jGucudqua-hhm5id0fpKYKkwmcLEAoZNruGohrBxezoskhw4Z0m6WREW-IbWJ1IK1xvNsJVmyBp76XuXFcLOhr2I/s1600/100_2395.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>3 sunchokes<br />
4-5 parsnips<br />
2 Tbs. olive oil<br />
1.5 tsp of salt<br />
1 Tbsp butter<br />
2 Tbs. chopped ramps (onions would work too)<br />
1 quart water<br />
2 cups fresh spinach<br />
1 Tbsp lemon juice<br />
ground black pepper, to taste<br />
<br />
<u>Instructions:</u><br />
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut parsnips and sunchokes and put them into a baking dish with oil and salt. Roast for 30-45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender<u> </u><br />
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<u> </u><br />
<u> </u><br />
2. Melt butter in a small saucepan. When the butter has melted, add the ramps and saute. Add the roasted parsnips and sunchokes and water and bring all to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes.<br />
3. Remove from the heat and stir in the spinach. Once the spinach is wilted, transfer all to a food processor and blend until smooth. Adjust the seasoning and serve.<br />
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<b>Makes 4-6 servings.</b><br />
Nutritional information per cup:<br />
Calories: 113<br />
Carbs: 10<br />
Fat: 8<br />
Protein: 2<br />
Sodium: 28<br />
Sugar: 5<br />
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Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-21093908303244422832014-04-21T17:59:00.001-07:002014-04-21T18:01:36.260-07:00Spring!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is spring, my favorite season of the year. So much potential. So much excitement. So many new beginnings. More than at New Year's, I find myself coming up with resolutions to do better, be more focused, use my energy in more productive ways, and to find happiness in everyday moments. This winter has been especially trying for me as my father passed away the day after Christmas, in the middle of what always seems to be a difficult season anyway. But just like the green grass in spring always can be counted on to appear, one always finds herself on the other side of grief. Spring affirms that there is always new life, new love, new opportunities. This spring, I plan to capitalize on the positive energy that the re-arrival of warmth, plants, late and sunny nights, and all things green give me. One of the ways in which I hope to be better and more productive is to write more about the happenings around the homestead and keep up with this blog. <br />
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So, here it goes: spring in Dane County has arrived! In the quiet of the morning, the sounds of birds chirping and the hens scratching, purring, and clucking are ever-present. Rocky, the rooster, is back at his business with the ladies, and we find 3-4 eggs in the coop per day.<br />
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The spring flowers are up, and buds have formed on all of the perennials. Last year, we planted honey berry plants, service berry trees, and gooseberry plants, and they are shiny and green. We haven't seen any bees buzzing around, and we've yet to remove the insulation from the hive, so we're not sure of the state of the hive, but most hope that they've survived the many negative temperature days is gone.<br />
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Despite the bees, spring remains the time in which I feel everything gleeful rests on the horizon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7NvACIDew8RKv_8hftzgWgL7D5smaOuck61lFBV3-w57JCg_fiJolgYth670nAB08XHs_BDZ_oWlc0seLahc75-rxNTOTjL4-1rR0tNKZVUfaHhkmwvvoLBByX9Kb4SQpqMW8q_Mmpk/s1600/100_2337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7NvACIDew8RKv_8hftzgWgL7D5smaOuck61lFBV3-w57JCg_fiJolgYth670nAB08XHs_BDZ_oWlc0seLahc75-rxNTOTjL4-1rR0tNKZVUfaHhkmwvvoLBByX9Kb4SQpqMW8q_Mmpk/s1600/100_2337.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honeyberry plant</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic shoots</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aronia and grapes</td></tr>
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The dark, cold winter is over for now, and I plan to live every moment of spring in the present, basking in it all. </div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-71310076909277169842013-09-08T11:47:00.002-07:002013-09-08T11:47:32.701-07:00A Ratatouille of Sorts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My <a href="http://www.thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2013/08/swiss-chard-rolls.html">last post </a>was based off of another person's recipe. This post is based off of another person's recipe. Apparently, I've been more into reading recipes than I have been into whipping up original creations lately. That said, this ratatouille feels like the answer for every overzealous gardener who finds him/herself with an abundance of veggies. Like the <a href="http://www.thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2013/08/swiss-chard-rolls.html">Swiss Roll recipe</a> I posted last month, the ingredients in this recipe are flexible; I've made two different versions during this week alone.<br />
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The inspiration for this comes from <a href="http://theweek.com/"><i>The Week</i> magazine's</a> "Recipe of the Week" page. Officially called "Ratatouille tian," this is often served over rice or as fillings for a sandwich. Here at our house, we simply make it and serve it up. We also don't have the proper baking ware -- the <i>tian</i> is actually the earthen baking ware used traditionally. We simply used a glass pie pan, which seems to work just fine.<br />
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I also would recommend adding in sliced sweet peppers or other vegetables that would caramelize well. <br />
<br />
This recipe is easy to put together, but does require about 1.5 hours of baking! <br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
3-4 small eggplant<br />
salt<br />
3 tsp herbs de Provence<br />
3-4 zucchini<br />
6-8 Roma tomatoes<br />
olive oil<br />
2 yellow onions<br />
8 fresh sage leaves, minced<br />
2+ garlic cloves, minced<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
1. Cut eggplants into 1/8-inch sections. <b> </b>In a colander, toss with a teaspoon of salt. Let sit for one (or more) hour(s). Transfer to a bowl, and add a teaspoon of herbs de Provence.<br />
2. Cut zucchini and tomatoes into 1/8-rounds. Put into two separate bowls. Sprinkle each vegetable with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 tsp herbs de Provence.<br />
3. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil baking dish. Thinly slice onions. Spread them evenly on the bottom of the pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.<br />
4. Arrange a row of one of the vegetables along the side of the...pack them tight enough that they almost stand upright. Follow with another row of vegetables. And then the other. Alternate to fill up the pan. If you have extras at the end, simply stuff them into the rows.<br />
5. Drizzle with 3 Tbsp olive oil, spread the minced garlic and cut-up sage leaves among the veggies, and cover loosely with foil. Bake for 30 minutes.<br />
6. Turn up the heat to 425, and bake 30 more minutes.<br />
7. Remove foil, and bake for 30 more minutes or until the veggies are tender, and the tips are lightly browned.<br />
8. Serve hot, warm, or cold. <br />
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Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-74284636595587895972013-08-15T07:52:00.001-07:002013-08-15T07:52:42.896-07:00Swiss Chard Rolls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The recipe I want to share with you all today is not my original recipe; it is stolen, but it makes such a delicious and healthy product that I feel compelled to write about it. And it was "stolen" from our CSA newsletter, which makes me feel a little bit more okay with my almost-recipe-plagiarism. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All wrapped and ready to go. </td></tr>
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Anyone who has ever grown Swiss Chard and/or collard greens knows that it can be hard to keep up with cutting, using, and really maximizing all of bounty that a few plants offer. I freeze bags full for smoothies and winter stews, but enjoying it in its actual season, and near its raw state, is satisfying. This recipe lends itself to just that.<br />
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And one word about the ingredients: like any fold-able food (think burritos, egg rolls), the ingredients in these rolls can vary. I enjoyed the creamy texture that the avocado provides with the slight kick from the jalapeno in this version, but building these really requires a grain, a sauce, and some diced veggies. I intend to play with various versions and spice combos, but I do not doubt that I will come back to this exact version from time to time.<br />
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We enjoyed this at an evening at <a href="http://wcoconcerts.org/performances/concerts-on-the-square/">Concerts on the Square</a> with a bottle (or two) of Chardonnay. <br />
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<b>Swiss Chard Rolls </b><br />
by Chef Beth, <a href="http://harmonyvalleyfarm.com/">Harmony Valley Farm</a> <br />
<br />
Makes 8 rolls<br />
<br />
8-10 large chard leaves (we also used collard greens)<br />
1/8 cup yellow squash, small dice<br />
1/8 cup cucumber, small dice<br />
1 half avocado, small dice<br />
1/2 cup black beans, rinsed<br />
1 cup seasoned quinoa, cooked<br />
Juice from one lime<br />
1/2 jalapeno pepper, small dice<br />
2 Tbs mayonnaise<br />
1/2 medium sweet Spanish onions, small dice<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
1/2 tsp coarse pepper<br />
<br />
1. Bring large sauce pan of salted water to a boil. Blanch each chard or collard green leaf by holding onto the stem, placing the leaf in the boiling water for 15 seconds. Then, transfer to a towel and pat each leaf dry.<br />
2. In a mixing bowl, mix all other ingredients. One by one, fill the leaves, ribbed side facing up, with a spoon of the mixture.<br />
3. Fold in the sides of the leaves, and fold into a roll. Finish by cutting the stem and cutting each roll in half and place on a serving tray. Serve.</div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0Madison, WI, USA43.0730517 -89.40123019999998642.8875022 -89.723953699999981 43.2586012 -89.078506699999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-79587475990287451452013-05-27T16:32:00.005-07:002013-05-27T17:37:53.809-07:00Barbacoa, Take Three <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been on somewhat of an unintentional blogging hiatus. Work and life sped up, and blogging took a backseat. This Memorial Day weekend's <i>barbacoa</i> rejuvenated me in more ways than one, and I've revived my writer's bug. There exists nothing quite like a day of cooking with people whom you love to get the creative juices flowing.<br />
<br />
In years past, along with our friends, we have tried to put goat or lamb meat in the ground under a fire. <a href="http://thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2010/06/hot-summer-day-complete-with-barbacoa.html">Once we burned through the pot</a>, and the second time, we didn't cook the meat enough and had to reheat it in the house. This year, we attempted another approach: we put the meat, water, and maguey leaves in a pot and set it on top of the fire for the day. It seems like it was quite the success: according to the meat-eaters, the meat tasted tender and juicy.<br />
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While the <i>barbacoa</i> turned out well, we did have a bit of a fiasco with our <i>carnitas.</i> My good friend, Gaby, came over in the morning to prepare both the lamb meat for the <i>barbacoa</i> and also get the pork meat going for the <i>carnitas</i>. I watched as she added containers of lard, orange juice, milk, and a bit of caramel to the pot, and finally the pork. It smelled delicious. She left to get ready for the day; I went outside and, being the non-meat-eater that I am, I figured all was well with the cooking meat. But, by the time Gaby returned, the pork had turned to charcoal. As a vegetarian, I felt guilty that the pig meat was a waste...but mistakes happen, and next time, I'll know to pay more attention. No use crying over burnt pig.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hoyQBJBMq1IDVOinVmj0eaK2yNwhvbVqawdP6RZ_wocO_RnsXfUZDuX00PU_K9nC_Lb6GuFvcjCpIsrOKFM7L5VsNVeg92BoJSXzsU2aLDk25-7IzSJO4-BEPnEqUw10OMm7L87sN1k/s1600/252242_10200612770796020_746772221_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hoyQBJBMq1IDVOinVmj0eaK2yNwhvbVqawdP6RZ_wocO_RnsXfUZDuX00PU_K9nC_Lb6GuFvcjCpIsrOKFM7L5VsNVeg92BoJSXzsU2aLDk25-7IzSJO4-BEPnEqUw10OMm7L87sN1k/s320/252242_10200612770796020_746772221_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Carnitas</i> before they became charcoal</td></tr>
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Friends arrived, and the feast exploded. Someone brought <i>carnitas</i> (thank you!). Salsas, rice and beans, berry pie, chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting (with a cayanne kick), beer, beer, beer, tequila and lime drinks, hibiscus tea, Thai tea, chorizo, tortillas, fruit salad, and more salsa filled three tables. We gorged ourselves. Some of us took naps. Others of us needed coffee to help digest. A few of us poured insane amounts of leftover grease onto the campfire (yes, we have a pyromaniac on our hands). Friends told stories. New friends got to know one another. All of us laughed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knew dumping grease on a campfire could be so fun?</td></tr>
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Despite the cool Memorial Day weekend, I haven't felt so cozy warm all year. The fire helped, but what really did it were the presence of such wonderful people, the vast amount of such amazing food, and the joy of such a blissful day of cooking. <i>Barbacoa</i>, take three, proved to an enormous success. </div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-45126975974309060562012-12-23T13:48:00.000-08:002012-12-23T13:54:24.371-08:00Date Balls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb3Bpa6ofBFxoMg91H3b9YADnZx06HHwWoAFqY56KsgiRL6aoAZCn3_y1slLjopMFOlJt3HTgQ0UY0gmJgjmLEzj1F7tEfgSx1vld9mTtP9y5bIKlMSX__ZhvfPo0AwSxTLu76c0_qoM/s1600/100_1485.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb3Bpa6ofBFxoMg91H3b9YADnZx06HHwWoAFqY56KsgiRL6aoAZCn3_y1slLjopMFOlJt3HTgQ0UY0gmJgjmLEzj1F7tEfgSx1vld9mTtP9y5bIKlMSX__ZhvfPo0AwSxTLu76c0_qoM/s320/100_1485.JPG" width="240" /></a>Yesterday, in my blog post about <a href="http://thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2012/12/peanut-butter-balls-yummy-tradition.html">chocolate-covered peanut butter balls</a>, I mentioned that I don't get too into baking for the holidays. Yet, here I am, about to write about another holiday sweet. Today's delight is a bit healthier. It's entirely vegan and raw. I'm writing about date balls!<br />
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Medjool dates arrive to our house every year in our CSA box, and often, I don't know what to do with them. They are deliciously sweet and are packed with nutrients (weight for weight more potassium than bananas, full of fiber, good B-12 complex vitamins...and fat-free), but their caloric make-up is high (65 per one Medjool date). A recipe for Date Balls came with our CSA box this week, and since we're on a running kick in our house, the timing for this recipe seemed perfect. Plus, what a wonderfully healthy addition to the holiday sweet table. Leftovers from there will serve as energy boosts before some big runs or snowshoe adventures in the upcoming weeks.<br />
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The recipe couldn't be simpler, and the amount of ingredients is small. Most of the ingredients cannot be bought locally here in Wisconsin, but dates and oranges are in season right now in other places.<br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
1.5 cups of pitted dates<br />
1/4 cup of shredded coconut<br />
3 Tbs. of cocoa powder<br />
<i>optional: 1 tsp. of espresso powder</i><br />
<i>optional: 1 tsp. of orange zest </i> <br />
<br />
To cover date balls, you could just use one of these or you could make a variety:<br />
coconut flakes<br />
toasted sesame seeds<br />
toasted and finely chopped hazelnuts<br />
toasted and finely chopped pistachios<br />
...and I tried Eden Organic Seaweed Gomasio (Sesame Seeds, Seaweed, & Sea Salt) for some of the balls<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
1. Pit the dates.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOcMq8HbfN06IbRiwLd7BQ8-PXpSh1nAb6dkqTWJqAF6RyhBXvLnNe3B825ZO_5L9cdLfvv-1ZEe4MLq4rT_EmbuVw2JaNRvqUzKRbJfN_CP4RPMD4IF4YsfOQTRitEUlddCqvRR7a1s/s1600/100_1479.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOcMq8HbfN06IbRiwLd7BQ8-PXpSh1nAb6dkqTWJqAF6RyhBXvLnNe3B825ZO_5L9cdLfvv-1ZEe4MLq4rT_EmbuVw2JaNRvqUzKRbJfN_CP4RPMD4IF4YsfOQTRitEUlddCqvRR7a1s/s320/100_1479.JPG" width="240" /></a> <br />
2. Mix the pitted dates, the 1/4 cup of coconut, the cocoa powder, and the optional ingredients (if you're using them) in a food processor. Mix until the mixture forms into a ball. If it is too dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time. If it is too wet, add more coconut.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iuYTIu5aSALDsUfFpxsM2xkIyhoFFOsV3E-GVES8EAwtYXlOehS0UjMtvUZAtK_uy1NPiFCt1EzdtaR7Ld0lNTYB10jBUj9DsxNt1Dei-ViiOwshATC-sUWq9GZ_d7LWsXWkMJGlumw/s1600/100_1481.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iuYTIu5aSALDsUfFpxsM2xkIyhoFFOsV3E-GVES8EAwtYXlOehS0UjMtvUZAtK_uy1NPiFCt1EzdtaR7Ld0lNTYB10jBUj9DsxNt1Dei-ViiOwshATC-sUWq9GZ_d7LWsXWkMJGlumw/s320/100_1481.JPG" width="320" /></a> <br />
3. Put the date ball coverings into their own bowls.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhDG-lMMGHqGaHudaQ_vrabCUN4sk30cyWhVyAtDdYPjmcJri9iFpuKAEw3oMntoa4bNoVWiGf4hy2egrdhZbQcj52zq6k-E2WI9ywTkYXSA_bMPlfK9DMa0l1kghy6HSGCtkxibNRH4/s1600/100_1480.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhDG-lMMGHqGaHudaQ_vrabCUN4sk30cyWhVyAtDdYPjmcJri9iFpuKAEw3oMntoa4bNoVWiGf4hy2egrdhZbQcj52zq6k-E2WI9ywTkYXSA_bMPlfK9DMa0l1kghy6HSGCtkxibNRH4/s320/100_1480.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Form 1-inch or smaller balls of the date mixture in your hand, and then roll them in the desired coverings. I got creative here and did some simple, one-covering balls and some mixed. <br />
4. Refrigerate.<br />
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Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-13568877134612912752012-12-22T11:19:00.004-08:002012-12-22T11:21:22.649-08:00Peanut Butter Balls: A Yummy Tradition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bDaL19qgReX1QTu4LN4q-Qhrony6ZRf-u0LF0tvGGh9sq_N5AH4BczbbAUwVf9af9NvbL-u41kSu_c2CWkL2oBE8xC6kRdf6zII68xCV6PIIg94fcPV07K1FVlVI5uK4U-EVUvKWNks/s1600/100_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bDaL19qgReX1QTu4LN4q-Qhrony6ZRf-u0LF0tvGGh9sq_N5AH4BczbbAUwVf9af9NvbL-u41kSu_c2CWkL2oBE8xC6kRdf6zII68xCV6PIIg94fcPV07K1FVlVI5uK4U-EVUvKWNks/s320/100_1474.JPG" width="320" /></a>We don't get too into making Christmas cookies here at our house. There is an annual tradition in our extended family for all the ladies to get together a few weeks before Christmas and turn the kitchen into a bakery, so the family as a whole is plenty stocked come Christmas Eve. However, here at our place, we do create one sweet delectable every December: peanut butter balls. Usually, we give them as gifts at work and save a few for our own holiday festivities; this year, because of two snow days in a row, we have Peanut Butter balls galore.<br />
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<br />
Other than the rolling-in-chocolate part, these sweet treats are super easy to make.<br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
2 cups creamy peanut butter<br />
1/2 cup butter<br />
4 cups powdered sugar<br />
3 cups Rice Krispies<br />
<b>...for chocolate sauce...</b><br />
one 24 oz. bag of chocolate chips<br />
2.5 Tbs of butter<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
1. Melt peanut butter and 1/2 cup butter over stove top.<br />
2. Mix together powdered sugar and Rice Krispies.<br />
3. Pour peanut butter mixture over powdered sugar mixture. Mix well.<br />
4. Form mixture into 1-inch balls. Freeze.<br />
5. Once the balls are frozen, use a double boiler (or a bowl over a pan of hot water like I did) to melt the chocolate. Dip the frozen balls into the chocolate, using a teaspoon. Place on cookie sheet. Freeze again to set.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_19ZonWoMeKM5WNvAnAlrWCv1AZ7wQDJvCMkmDsK7rMrmO4Kayhx5VDgqwNbsM4n1Bl7nSQE0vToJa9zeWq0dcAnzvgIuF0fsIvceQccCQWZtKG7N9rhagx7cz4uHv7B4pUzk6htCD4/s1600/100_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_19ZonWoMeKM5WNvAnAlrWCv1AZ7wQDJvCMkmDsK7rMrmO4Kayhx5VDgqwNbsM4n1Bl7nSQE0vToJa9zeWq0dcAnzvgIuF0fsIvceQccCQWZtKG7N9rhagx7cz4uHv7B4pUzk6htCD4/s320/100_1472.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Without a double-broiler, I just put hot water in a pan and put my other ingredients in a metal bowl.</td></tr>
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These are always a crowd-favorite, and they make wonderful gifts. Enjoy!</div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-15736420063457437172012-12-03T18:10:00.001-08:002012-12-03T18:10:41.104-08:00Squash CurrySomething that I make quite often is Squash Curry. It's so simple, and doubling the recipe makes it great for potlucks or packed lunches. Plus, between our gardens and our CSA box, we usually have squash growing out of not only our ears, but our toes and nostrils too. <br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
1.5 lbs. of cubed squash<br />
1 14-oz can of coconut milk<br />
A few cups of broccoli or other green vegetable<br />
1 medium onion, cubed<br />
1/2 jar of Thai kitchen red curry paste <br />
3/4 cumin seeds<br />
1/3 cup water<br />
1 cinnamon stick<br />
3 cloves<br />
1 Tbs plus 2 tsps of sunflower or olive oil<br />
<br />
Optional:<br />
basil leaves<br />
spinach leaves<br />
fish sauce<br />
lime wedges<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
1. Heat 1 Tbs of oil in skillet and add cumin seeds and cubed squash. Heat for 6 minutes or until squash is browned. Turn off.<br />
2. In another pan, add the remaining oil and saute the onion. Add 1/4 of the coconut milk and the red curry paste. Stir over heat until mixed well. <br />
3. Add the squash, rest of the coconut milk, water, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Once the squash is tender, add the broccoli. Heat. If you're adding spinach, fish sauce, or basil, add now too. <br />
4. Serve over rice or on its own. Squeeze lime on for an extra zing. <br />
5. Enjoy!<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstXVxgJHuY-GfgzDrMbsnZpwtxKqiUG9vPzS4Y1_zZBpZwlduXcTVXAxTeKJa6KFXtuUnHBp09lKXH22gwyTE_4PckqzxDynqandoovqbHFcVn5wWfe31tfapyow9SzHIMC_t0NlqFy4/s640/blogger-image--1126252889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstXVxgJHuY-GfgzDrMbsnZpwtxKqiUG9vPzS4Y1_zZBpZwlduXcTVXAxTeKJa6KFXtuUnHBp09lKXH22gwyTE_4PckqzxDynqandoovqbHFcVn5wWfe31tfapyow9SzHIMC_t0NlqFy4/s640/blogger-image--1126252889.jpg" /></a></div>Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0Madison Metro (null)43.028739 -89.166742tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-37130917396198416392012-11-25T09:15:00.001-08:002012-11-25T09:28:41.333-08:00An Under-the-Weather Thanksgiving WeekendAll of our plans after a family Thanksgiving on Thursday have been thwarted by illnesses. Bright and early Friday morning, we realized we'd have to cancel my family Thanksgiving, and by last night, it became clear any plans of Christmas-tree shopping or friendly gatherings at our place would have to be postponed. So much for our idealized four-day weekend.<br />
<br />
So, now we're on a mission to get better by tomorrow's workday. I've personally been out-of-school for meetings and such so often that I can't justify a sick day tomorrow unless I am unable to physically move. <br />
<br />
First up: a juicy concoction. Today, I juiced spinach, ginger, oranges, and Granny Smith apples. Not the prettiest juice, but full of the Vitamin C and other cold-fighting goodies that I need. <br />
<br />
Next up: Deborah Madison's Sick Person's Soup. Here's the recipe: http://foodforearthlings.net/delicious-dieters-or-sick-persons-soup/ <br />
Deborah Madison's Soup Cookbook is wonderful, and I turn to this recipe at least once per fall/winter to help me or Andy out with preventing and/or conquering an illness. The ginger, cabbage, and spiciness are all so healthy in combination with the warm broth.<br />
<br />
And throughout the weekend, we've been pushing Ginger Tea and Green Tea. Luckily, we usually have both ginger and Green Tea on hand. <br />
<br />
What about all of you? How do you push through a cold? How do you prevent one in the first place?<br />
<br />
Be well. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTAm6KYkdxzc6Lenagk2qO8hRZiZkMREH_x6aUUpZ2izVb4ky_wxevikqSnX0VeC1BusrTE6hWVDhFeJACi74_Ll9oX6jca4LkmeD0VpJ7GxjWhjote0Rbt9LbRAc19V5pzQML4WEG4M/s640/blogger-image-357669444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTAm6KYkdxzc6Lenagk2qO8hRZiZkMREH_x6aUUpZ2izVb4ky_wxevikqSnX0VeC1BusrTE6hWVDhFeJACi74_Ll9oX6jca4LkmeD0VpJ7GxjWhjote0Rbt9LbRAc19V5pzQML4WEG4M/s640/blogger-image-357669444.jpg" /></a></div>Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-46711029668303766432012-10-21T15:31:00.004-07:002014-11-02T13:49:55.016-08:00Garlic Planting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93RbGlsOFGlLFkHDTsrxTfB43FdkI__Vv-Gugovj-RGYVuMFeZZvBRUia1CUUrCIPkif-xv-0IBnTpdcqqVTntNbj2we_Ubu63lGO1sjnYtAYJBf_Ib9eLHQ0tWphQD4rsnrW7jID23k/s1600/100_1386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93RbGlsOFGlLFkHDTsrxTfB43FdkI__Vv-Gugovj-RGYVuMFeZZvBRUia1CUUrCIPkif-xv-0IBnTpdcqqVTntNbj2we_Ubu63lGO1sjnYtAYJBf_Ib9eLHQ0tWphQD4rsnrW7jID23k/s320/100_1386.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bed of garlic deliciousness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today, this year's saved garlic cloves are resting snugly in the ground, covered by chicken litter and leaves.<br />
<br />
Looking back, we increase the number of plantings by about 10-20 each year.<br />
In<a href="http://thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2009/07/garlic.html"> 2008</a>, we planted 8. <br />
In <a href="http://thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2009/10/planting-in-dark-garlic.html">2009</a>, we planted 26. <br />
In <a href="http://thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2010/10/glorious-garlic-planting-2010.html">2010</a>, we planted 45. <br />
In 2011, we planted 64 <br />
In 2012, we planted 82.<br />
In 2013, we planted 90....<br />
<br />
And today, November 2, we planted 110! We should probably buy the Co-op out of toothpaste and breath mints! <br />
<br />
<br />
If you're new to planting garlic, click on the links above. You'll find some pretty good explanations, if I do say so myself.<br />
<br />
Happy Fall! </div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-40304031719515349092012-10-14T19:27:00.001-07:002012-10-14T19:27:47.325-07:00Stuff...and stuff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the past week, I've heard a common theme in a variety of non-similar situations from crowds who seemingly have not much in common. Maybe as the holiday season picks up or as I find myself locked into a maddening schedule of commitments, I am just more intune. But the ever-present idea that I heard over and over this week was one of simplicity.<br />
<br />
The first, and perhaps least surprising, place this week in which I heard a message of simplicity was at my Wednesday night yoga class. As we stretched out our stress-ridden muscles, our instructor spoke about letting go of internal stress, of avoiding meaningless holiday stress, of just enjoying life, being in the moment, being simple, and --in a sense--being free. On the car ride home, Andy and I talked about ways that we could incorporate the sereneness that presented itself with that discussion, in that moment, throughout our winter.<br />
<br />
Days later, we attended our niece's birthday party. A different crowd for sure -- but amidst the bustling children and cake, I overheard a conversation that resonated the same idea with me. A friend of the family is moving to New Mexico. Because of that, a major rummage sale was had, and a major epiphany delivered itself. The couple moving talked about how they realized how pointless <i>stuff</i> was -- how they never considered themselves people who were very into <i>stuff</i>, but how much they had accumulated in such a short amount of time, and then how little it sells for, and how letting go of it really has no negative effect. In fact, to them, it felt a bit cleansing -- freeing.<br />
<br />
And then, that evening, at a friend's dinner party, among a group of bicultural folks, who passionately discussed Mexican, South American, and American politics, the same idea emerged. This time, in terms of food, but nonetheless, it was one of simplicity. One of our friends reminisced about his days in Mexico, before NAFTA and before Wal-mart began its destruction in his hometown, when his mother could go to the market, gather a basket of simple foods, bring it back and cook for his large family for days. We don't need to line our cupboards and shelves with endless cans and boxes of foods which we'll most likely never eat, yet we do.<br />
<br />
At the same time, a facebook friend and former classmate started a blog called <a href="http://naturallyadventurous.blogspot.com/">Naturally Adventurous</a> in which she chronicles her experiences following the principles of a book entitled <i>7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. </i>The first step of this is eating only 7 foods for a month. Why is she doing this? In her words, " Life has gotten so busy and distracting that I
find myself with little time to, well, actually live. I feel
disconnected and stressed and need to set the reset button...I am
hopeful that this experiment will provide the opportunity" <br />
<br />
These four separate instances, all different, but with a similar message has made me take a good, reflective pause. Why do we as humans feel the need to consume <i>so </i>much? Food. Toys. Trinkets. Gadgets. Clothing. DVDs. Hair products. Lotions and creams. Countless kitchen gadgets that serve only one purpose. And, how many of us make the connection between all of this <i>stuff</i> and the ever-rising power of corporations? When will we see that with Wal-mart and the other big box shops we lose small-business, mom-and-pop flavor, and we lose the ability to truly keep our money localized? When will we realize that the food we buy impacts so many facets? Workers' conditions. The environment. Immigration. Our bodies. Our health.<br />
<br />
What we buy and don't buy matters.<br />
<br />
Today, I felt a bit inspired. With the rain ruining any chance of outside work, I grabbed some food and began a cooking frenzy. A dozen pluots from last week's CSA box were looking like a day away from decay. So, I made some jam. I didn't have a few ingredients, but I didn't go buy any. I scavenged through the cupboard to find something suitable to use instead. My husband whipped up a good, fall soup using escarole, onions, carrots, herbs, and beans. I bagged up clothing that I haven't worn in a while to take it to Goodwill. And I talked to Andy about trying to give Christmas gifts this year that are meaningful and not just more <i>stuff</i> that our family and friends will have to figure out what to do with until the inevitable day this trinket and that one end up getting sold for a nickle at a rummage sale.<br />
<br />
And so, these are my reflections today. As the school week winds back up and commitments continue to present themselves and the holiday spirit starts to infect everyone around me (including myself), I hope I can resist the temptation to become unaware and to continue working towards living simply and presently. </div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-72601570693989435622012-10-07T18:41:00.000-07:002012-10-07T18:41:15.229-07:00Sweet Pepper Soup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We grew a lot of peppers this year. A lot. I remember earlier in the season, someone asked me how many peppers we usually received on each plant. Curious myself, I said I thought maybe four.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHDb4PgY718YJZgU3CdxaAA8cF_Xhe0bC-ZOUzA27FFU61I-uTx6BfFWUdWkt2COi1_-RWvKKbD0BXbxFtPoxO39mOYCXi4u1-I0cG_k14VF0LDjV-w3RamOvUp2pIuQhK2W6NLfYQj4/s1600/100_1368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHDb4PgY718YJZgU3CdxaAA8cF_Xhe0bC-ZOUzA27FFU61I-uTx6BfFWUdWkt2COi1_-RWvKKbD0BXbxFtPoxO39mOYCXi4u1-I0cG_k14VF0LDjV-w3RamOvUp2pIuQhK2W6NLfYQj4/s320/100_1368.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini-sweets getting all nice and sauteed, before blending</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, I was wrong! Peppers, both sweet and hot, both king-sized and mini, flourished. We made a quart of hot sauce. We pickled some hot peppers. We froze some sweet peppers. And then we made this delicious soup. I got the idea <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/tri-colour-sweet-pepper-soup-412524">here</a>, but we changed it up quite a bit. I think our recipe is pretty darn good, and I'm sure we'll make it time and time again. <br />
<br />
Most of the peppers we used are called mini-sweets. We saved some seeds from a bag we had in our CSA box this year. If anyone would like a seed or two, let us know. They're as sweet as candy, but a lot better for you.<br />
<br />
We made a bit batch....17 cups to be exact. If you don't want that much, cut the recipe in half. We're taking it for lunches all week long. <br />
<br />
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
5 medium-sized potatoes<br />
9 cups of sweet peppers<br />
3.5 Tbs. of butter<br />
8 cups of vegetable broth<br />
6 garlic cloves<br />
1/2 cup of half and half<br />
4 cups of diced tomatoes<br />
<br />
<b>Directions:</b><br />
1. Heat butter in the pan. Saute onions, garlic, potatoes, and peppers until the potatoes begin to brown.<br />
2. Add the tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender.<br />
3. Blend in a food processor (or with whatever tool you use) until smooth.<br />
4. Return to pan. Add cream. Mix.<br />
<br />
Done! To serve tonight, we added a dollop of sour cream. Enjoy! Super easy! Super healthy, as evidenced here:<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 145px;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2"><div style="font-size: 15pt; font-weight: bold;">
Nutrition Facts</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font-size: 8pt;">
homemade<br />Sweet Pepper Soup</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><div style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold;">
Serving Size: 1 serving</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><table bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img height="9" src="https://www.myfooddiary.com/images/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold; font-weight: bold;">Amount Per Serving</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold; font-weight: bold;">Calories</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">131</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><table bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt="" height="4" src="https://www.myfooddiary.com/images/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold; font-weight: bold;">Total Fat</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">3.6g</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> Saturated Fat</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">1.8g</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> Trans Fat</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">0g</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold;">Cholesterol</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">9mg</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold;">Sodium</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">303mg</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold; font-weight: bold;">Carbohydrate</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">22.7g</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> Dietary Fiber</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">3.6g</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> Sugars</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">7.5g</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-weight: bold;">Protein</td><td align="right" style="font-size: 8.5pt;">3g</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><table bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt="" height="4" src="https://www.myfooddiary.com/images/spacer.gif" width="1" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td nowrap="nowrap" style="font-size: 8.5pt;" width="50%">Vitamin A 65%</td><td align="right" nowrap="nowrap" style="font-size: 8.5pt;" width="50%">Vitamin C 285%</td></tr>
<tr><td nowrap="nowrap" style="font-size: 8.5pt;" width="50%">Calcium 4%</td><td align="right" nowrap="nowrap" style="font-size: 8.5pt;" width="50%">Iron 7%</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-40099805615856066552012-10-07T12:24:00.001-07:002012-10-07T12:24:29.588-07:00Lucy in the Sky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lucy passed on last night, warm in a kitty cage in the house. One week ago, she began acting a bit unlike herself. Twice, she perched in a tree and wouldn't go into roost without some human intervention. Last night, all the chickens ventured safely inside the coop, but she resting right by the coop door, apparently unable to make the jump. So, we brought her in.<br />
<br />
The dazed look she exhibited struck an immediate cord with us. We've lost several hens to Marek's, and this is a common symptom. When she was hatched, she received the Marek's vaccination, but we're wondering if it is not a 100% guarantee. Recently, she had a terrible molt. We're curious if this stressed her body out so much that she was more vulnerable.<br />
<br />
Now, we've only three hens and one rooster left. Something that is stressing both of us is the question of whether or not to get more hens. Neither of us grew up with any sort of farm animal, so we're curious if this much loss is normal. In our three-year stint with chickens, we've had 13, and now we have 4. Is this much loss expected? Rocky, the rooster is a big guy, and I'm concerned three hens (one of them a Bantam) are not enough. Thoughts? Experience? Any help or advice is appreciated (except to cull the other birds; two are vaccinated, and two are just carriers).<br />
<br />
For now...enjoy the biography I wrote 1.5 weeks ago for our wonderful pet-sitter, who wanted to know everything about all of the pets, including the pet birds.<br />
------<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Name: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Lucy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Nicknames:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> Lucy-Poo, Lucy in the sky</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Hatch Date</span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">: </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">23 March 2011</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Breed: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Easter Egger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Eggs: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Pinkish-white, medium</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Second hen in the
pecking order</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFiPqJW0ZbPa4fyliOm80RDwm-s9hUIDKqc73zAhv_MaSEsvvVXhgId506lvgL-oVv0UnFS6BLuqOQ5NorbbXwR3j4EtPrafOV6hZicIXPNeDdK8pY7BzPw6oSU9CdKOCR_4gt4Ti8QA/s1600/lucy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFiPqJW0ZbPa4fyliOm80RDwm-s9hUIDKqc73zAhv_MaSEsvvVXhgId506lvgL-oVv0UnFS6BLuqOQ5NorbbXwR3j4EtPrafOV6hZicIXPNeDdK8pY7BzPw6oSU9CdKOCR_4gt4Ti8QA/s320/lucy.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lucy arrived in
the same box as Rocky, the rooster, and Sadie, the hen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you close your eyes and think of a baby
chick, she looked exactly like the picture you most likely conjured up in your
head. Fluffy, yellow, and peeping. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
this . . .</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsPbXHzXkKL1xxE2TQZr9oUM5vPDQImp9QTAaOAUnsLmO-wA3Z0vFXnNwZVZm1YEgL9NeuXLusismat28fwi_qqO0vZhXZIDxe3EVyijTDS618CHAfp7vsibKPHGBzruS4_3UuU_2wRw/s1600/lucy-poo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsPbXHzXkKL1xxE2TQZr9oUM5vPDQImp9QTAaOAUnsLmO-wA3Z0vFXnNwZVZm1YEgL9NeuXLusismat28fwi_qqO0vZhXZIDxe3EVyijTDS618CHAfp7vsibKPHGBzruS4_3UuU_2wRw/s320/lucy-poo.JPG" width="260" /></a><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Lucy’s
always been a bit standoffish, not into being held for long. When she was a
pullet, she’d wonder away from her flock. She’s her own lady. Unfortunately for
her, she is one of Rocky’s favorite ladies. For a while, she was losing
feathers like mad, and we’re still not entirely certain if it was a molt,
damage from Rocky’s spurs and beak, or a combination of the two. She looked
pretty ragged. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lucy had a bit of a raggedy situation
as a little chick, too. She pasted up, which happens to chicks when too much of
their doo is sticking to their rumps. It can be deadly if their humans aren’t
taking care to look at their tuckuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily for Lucy, her humans were paying attention. One night we found
ourselves in the bathroom, under dim light, wiping our little chick’s butt.
Never would have imagined that scene when I was 18…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lucy is impossible to catch…probably because
of her sort of anti-human sentiments. I’ve watched Andy chase her around the
same tree for 15 minutes, and I’ve done the same. Solely because of her, I
wouldn’t recommend free-ranging the hens until you’ve had some experience
handling them. The skill of Lucy=catching might take some time to develop!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You’ll observe Lucy to this day sort
of doing her own thing. Yell out, “Chickie, chickies, chickies,’ offer a treat,
and she’ll come a-waddling to greet you. She’s pretty darn cute.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-69127329806911906732012-07-17T17:47:00.001-07:002012-07-17T17:48:37.705-07:00Summer Heat, Part Two: Melting Honey Combs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The drought continues. The Madison area received only 7% of its normal rainfall in June, and so far in July, it rained only a trace at our place for about 10 minutes. And it's hot. I've never been one to complain about summer weather, but our <a href="http://thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2012/07/summer-heat-part-one-rip-prudence.html">birds</a> and our bees are suffering.<br />
<br />
On June 19th, during one of the first heat spells, most of our bees swarmed. Until then, they had been fervently setting up their complex system of combs and eggs and drones and making honey.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HSrcVZpx-6OndUks8gML8OanLDatAA-GH8LfsEHcZSPMIqbQwMsdnMqQ7Z99_7rDiNWsSJgU3bM0n9EPV5rFajJfULFE5b9dU1_KZ-PM2hPdzS9anORMBP8pkLtvkJq8cjkFP8AOpJ8/s1600/100_0467.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HSrcVZpx-6OndUks8gML8OanLDatAA-GH8LfsEHcZSPMIqbQwMsdnMqQ7Z99_7rDiNWsSJgU3bM0n9EPV5rFajJfULFE5b9dU1_KZ-PM2hPdzS9anORMBP8pkLtvkJq8cjkFP8AOpJ8/s320/100_0467.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the swarm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was shocking to find nearly all of the bees in a pear tree early that Tuesday evening.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlBkI67opbhe-h13RUL5rFWZbU508L5tmV6IIClSG0Mm0MuJgycTEm8qCZ3z8DTWuDhJt1vjLc8sZuMv-oOkElSnNDat_UjgzX3DzoMn2TQmgAsQ4zMwYpP-vAw_gU652W53k6zAcs9w/s1600/100_0494.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlBkI67opbhe-h13RUL5rFWZbU508L5tmV6IIClSG0Mm0MuJgycTEm8qCZ3z8DTWuDhJt1vjLc8sZuMv-oOkElSnNDat_UjgzX3DzoMn2TQmgAsQ4zMwYpP-vAw_gU652W53k6zAcs9w/s320/100_0494.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the swarm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlVHP2sMM3_Lmcm-xsmZWSdo6z4ezI_4I9Xzg_Q7xj_WzXtJn_S0ITR8u241iZIDwn3nDJ4YwoThO3Ix9uvc4-fucPte2ZLB7SBV_Bhx9a_MqdgNY4wAaEwbBy8_msszK0qvmEfuvG4o/s1600/100_0493.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlVHP2sMM3_Lmcm-xsmZWSdo6z4ezI_4I9Xzg_Q7xj_WzXtJn_S0ITR8u241iZIDwn3nDJ4YwoThO3Ix9uvc4-fucPte2ZLB7SBV_Bhx9a_MqdgNY4wAaEwbBy8_msszK0qvmEfuvG4o/s320/100_0493.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly 3 lbs of bees in our pear tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Frantically, we solicited facebook advice. Andy called several beekeepers in the area. We learned a lot that evening. One: the bees might have overheated, hence the need to escape. Two: A new queen established herself, and the first queen took her posse with her. Three: Most beekeepers have more than one hive, so that if/when this happens they can put the swarm into a new home.<br />
<br />
Apparently, two important women can't survive together in the bee kingdom...<br />
<br />
Well, we found a new hive. On Wednesday morning, the swarm still hung in the tree, so we were hopeful that we'd catch it and get it into the second home. Upon Andy's return with the new hive, to his disappointment, the swarm had fled. He set up the second hive, and we put our attention to the remaining queen and her attendees.<br />
<br />
These remaining bees are role models. They got right to work - no off-task behavior for them. It seemed that despite the hive's setback, combs would soon be dripping with honey.<br />
<br />
But then we had a 5-day spell of 100+ degree weather with humidity taking the heat index into the 100-110 degree range. To our surprise, the combs literally melted. A slushy pile of honey covered the bottom of the hive. One might think this would be enough to discourage this assmebly of workers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-t6o_Yb8O3hwxZv6lg1ziqgLkkBBFnVHdtZOumL9Xe-C5E1jFdSCkat-HKaRwjxFMT_gx_pfwFVqXe1RZVb0omA1D6NK_Cb1c7T9Ns7T1W9u6-AIqwGOMWw1a9LW5aX7IncXqBDj_Ao/s1600/100_0791.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-t6o_Yb8O3hwxZv6lg1ziqgLkkBBFnVHdtZOumL9Xe-C5E1jFdSCkat-HKaRwjxFMT_gx_pfwFVqXe1RZVb0omA1D6NK_Cb1c7T9Ns7T1W9u6-AIqwGOMWw1a9LW5aX7IncXqBDj_Ao/s320/100_0791.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sweet, slushy setback </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Nope. Tonight, we went to check the bees, and they're rebuilding. So many less of them are here than the 3 pounds that buzzed inside before the swarm, but those that remain are amazing. Driven by instinct maybe, but how much could we learn from these little buzzers? Keep working. Keep fighting. Don't give up.Rebuild. After a struggle, it will always be that much sweeter in the end. Viva la lucha! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HSrcVZpx-6OndUks8gML8OanLDatAA-GH8LfsEHcZSPMIqbQwMsdnMqQ7Z99_7rDiNWsSJgU3bM0n9EPV5rFajJfULFE5b9dU1_KZ-PM2hPdzS9anORMBP8pkLtvkJq8cjkFP8AOpJ8/s1600/100_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WLauPIZkyJ0m2ihuk51AHlCKnUxEIYj4Se12bmIQOuIqTzcfrgCEIZibz3tmq-D_83B41VDD7-JfjGXu7c2Udd6fCZV4LmSSbuCxBQLyLXZrww0aCdaUoqW5DPHUhljkxvIJtrFyzro/s1600/100_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WLauPIZkyJ0m2ihuk51AHlCKnUxEIYj4Se12bmIQOuIqTzcfrgCEIZibz3tmq-D_83B41VDD7-JfjGXu7c2Udd6fCZV4LmSSbuCxBQLyLXZrww0aCdaUoqW5DPHUhljkxvIJtrFyzro/s320/100_0894.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggs and honey and rebuilding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
No serious cooling in our future. No probable rain in our 7-day forecast. Hopefully these rockstar bees won't give up. </div>Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-82458693027965334552012-07-15T19:21:00.001-07:002012-07-16T06:28:51.593-07:00Our Visit to the Seed Savers Heritage Farm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What a wonderful weekend we had in Decorah, Iowa! Our good friend, Gretchen, grew up there, and we've enjoyed her enthusiasm and love for her hometown in dozens of conversations throughout the years. Since Andy and I began gardening in 2007, we have purchased our seeds from a non-profit organization called <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/">Seed Savers Exchange,</a>which is also located in Decorah. Each January, the new seed <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/Content.aspx?src=buyonline.htm">catalog</a> arrives and invites viewers to buy seeds (of course) and come visit<a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/Content.aspx?src=heritagefarm.htm"> Heritage Farm</a>. Biannually in July, <a href="http://gregbrownmusic.org/home.cfm">Greg Brown </a>visits for a Benefit Concert for the farm. The event's advertisement pictures always look ideal, and wow- ideal it is!<br />
<br />
Decorah itself is a little bubble of bliss, and we shopped around on its downtown streets, ate a delicious meal at <a href="http://www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com/">Rubaiyat</a>, devoured breakfast burritos and iced coffees at Magpies, visited the <a href="http://www.wwwinery.com/">Wildberry Winery</a> and frequented the <a href="http://www.oneotacoop.com/">Oneota Co-op</a> several times. For the purpose of this post though, Seed Savers gets all the attention. My expectations for experiences seem to always exceed reality -- but not in this case. I fell in love upon pulling into the driveway. Like kids in the middle of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, Andy and I rushed around Seed Savers Heritage Farm with no direction, gawking at flowers and vegetables and trellises and farm animals. It took us a good solid hour before we could explore anything with any sort of organization or direction.<br />
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In the front lawn, a variety of flowers and vegetables reside. If you're a gardener, it's difficult to pry yourself away. Any idealism I had lost with Madison's lack of rain was rejuvenated by the bursting colors and buzzing bees in which I delighted during this visit. I made several trips into the <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/Content.aspx?src=VisitorCenter.htm">Lillian Goldman Visitors Center </a>to purchase flower seeds for next year. I also got a bit camera happy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kklAZp-EwwsHpqln5TnmG3NsmSfnUEuXOevgsAijbAdlR3CKe4XGZp_OfHVifPDg8dPauXMfqO3TDxQpNLdu3vJmP7QRrBK1Z2CAE5d-m6MUqsUQ2zl8d9wvoREZ6nxv2WzCKjRQbMg/s1600/100_0875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5kklAZp-EwwsHpqln5TnmG3NsmSfnUEuXOevgsAijbAdlR3CKe4XGZp_OfHVifPDg8dPauXMfqO3TDxQpNLdu3vJmP7QRrBK1Z2CAE5d-m6MUqsUQ2zl8d9wvoREZ6nxv2WzCKjRQbMg/s320/100_0875.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love-in-a-Mist "Oxford Blue" (bought some seeds!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36LSp_YwXmEQKunXn5a0vVKSdAOPBD01IIpWIhWIZdHuhjdMd9pFTwDLEQdYs6am_MVmun2qWPyLNdSwzDh9pT6zverPSwECygynR_EZHU_iwTGz6hmiQaNvjrpqtHeGbx4aYWz95GW0/s1600/100_0876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36LSp_YwXmEQKunXn5a0vVKSdAOPBD01IIpWIhWIZdHuhjdMd9pFTwDLEQdYs6am_MVmun2qWPyLNdSwzDh9pT6zverPSwECygynR_EZHU_iwTGz6hmiQaNvjrpqtHeGbx4aYWz95GW0/s320/100_0876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love Lies Bleeding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYniyHmE7DoxalsrDThaeNuutCK9GGSD7SQm6P93eH5o6EmBTmQ2L_ldZIX9KfIoBVu3z4lXUIz8hyphenhyphenhABqkdFSyuXnXzys13ppAoYvQIMt2ksO9UEBl1rQ_aABpFKVgv4ZbOi-vzcG6_8/s1600/100_0877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYniyHmE7DoxalsrDThaeNuutCK9GGSD7SQm6P93eH5o6EmBTmQ2L_ldZIX9KfIoBVu3z4lXUIz8hyphenhyphenhABqkdFSyuXnXzys13ppAoYvQIMt2ksO9UEBl1rQ_aABpFKVgv4ZbOi-vzcG6_8/s320/100_0877.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider Flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTmg_fvn2_7q5_ZCqg_BRokvxBayebb5gOo5v4p6II3eYkzud3xe1FquVrli2HdJGWrMjHC77fT-ed034uXNfKVmPHs_0WntvsbzbteUBCXYCJM7CtBDWiRK0dCHENDtETXzdvXUr2y0/s1600/100_0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTmg_fvn2_7q5_ZCqg_BRokvxBayebb5gOo5v4p6II3eYkzud3xe1FquVrli2HdJGWrMjHC77fT-ed034uXNfKVmPHs_0WntvsbzbteUBCXYCJM7CtBDWiRK0dCHENDtETXzdvXUr2y0/s320/100_0852.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bed of delectables</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the back, you can visit Diane's garden. <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/Content.aspx?src=management_bio.htm">Diane Ott Whealy</a> is a co-founder of SSE, and she designed a magical garden of flowers and vegetables.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu28s61hGTNaJjQFGcHwsI-w0vV30hVtKl1fWJACffdf_s3Mh-VUlTG-zRhETovb4ggA1vcMBze9z_i2b_BQNx467xD8w92J1fec5HMBywHWhrzLun3tx5CIwUcheHB82dfIqhPvIjp8Y/s1600/100_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu28s61hGTNaJjQFGcHwsI-w0vV30hVtKl1fWJACffdf_s3Mh-VUlTG-zRhETovb4ggA1vcMBze9z_i2b_BQNx467xD8w92J1fec5HMBywHWhrzLun3tx5CIwUcheHB82dfIqhPvIjp8Y/s320/100_0868.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98LOPICthfdrBb9k3CrdQy9dyMzhTeNlrJEhDd7FLmdAk2uNLp17DyS7McF3jwtMmRv3KrTmNubLO4lAcqtWs_9ycqnPRWms9_-70m0RWyG_e8xCYoP9J2arFYRDikjkrbXSXc7UOReU/s1600/100_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98LOPICthfdrBb9k3CrdQy9dyMzhTeNlrJEhDd7FLmdAk2uNLp17DyS7McF3jwtMmRv3KrTmNubLO4lAcqtWs_9ycqnPRWms9_-70m0RWyG_e8xCYoP9J2arFYRDikjkrbXSXc7UOReU/s320/100_0855.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amaranth, corn, and flowers...hoping to do something similar in our yard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Behind that is the children's garden with willow huts and fences.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfD-ijc61Qdxnxqcc0Ab6XCFO2CohpratsEuRilbz3IBIih3r2CWLtPZ4OvOTNgm1B0Yp1oq7eITrfKNZ-bYrhjBtWn3QkV85CHhlWoawfhGoN85HC9ttYzdHNSrnP8sBmUXj4hfTxI4/s1600/100_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfD-ijc61Qdxnxqcc0Ab6XCFO2CohpratsEuRilbz3IBIih3r2CWLtPZ4OvOTNgm1B0Yp1oq7eITrfKNZ-bYrhjBtWn3QkV85CHhlWoawfhGoN85HC9ttYzdHNSrnP8sBmUXj4hfTxI4/s320/100_0862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the Heritage Farm even has rare breeds of farm animals. The Ancient White Park Cattle are a sight to behold. Through conversations with some of the Seed Savers staff and from information on the website, I learned that these white cattle traversed on the English Isles since before Christ was born. Now, there are only 800 left, and about 80 of those reside at Seed Saver's Heritage Farm.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIcuEKlImxzy2qq_1BdWaruFnrDZpekdT-KVoVVglM-NuQKNeshWF6o9Gw6ngg9YPQaRpmg8hZi70El1q3ArFEudtohAOJAVNHGZnCbDxlwuS3luM2m5MObMV5yr_px9iIvhc56i0OUE/s1600/100_0865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIcuEKlImxzy2qq_1BdWaruFnrDZpekdT-KVoVVglM-NuQKNeshWF6o9Gw6ngg9YPQaRpmg8hZi70El1q3ArFEudtohAOJAVNHGZnCbDxlwuS3luM2m5MObMV5yr_px9iIvhc56i0OUE/s320/100_0865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Other farm animal sightings included heritage breed ducks, geese, chickens, and turkey. We're told that in the Historic Orchard, there are also pigs, but we didn't have the chance to check the orchard out. <br />
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The best thing about Seed Savers Exchange is that the 37-year-old organization's mission is to protect and share the diversity of heirloom seeds and plants.With Seed Saver's leadership, gardeners around the world are able to partake in nature's wide variety of food and flowers and make sure that such variety is here to stay. With large corporations controlling much of what we eat and grow, Seed Savers Exchange and organizations like it are essential to protecting all that the world has to offer.<br />
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Greg Brown, accompanied by Bo Ramsey, took time in between songs to discuss the importance of local food and seed diversity. For foodies/gardeners such as us, the setting couldn't have been more ideal: folk music (some of it about food), sunsets and hills, colorful gardens, kind/like-minded people...it was truly wonderful.<br />
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And my garden dreams are restored! Look for future posts regarding obtaining ducks (I think I have Andy convinced!), weaving willow fences and shade structures for the chickens, growing flowers and more flowers, saving seeds, and doing more edible landscaping. <br />
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<br /></div>Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587420286458622.post-50352021976856877252012-07-08T11:38:00.000-07:002012-07-08T14:30:12.304-07:00Summer Heat, part one: R.I.P. Prudence<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prudence, during last year's heat wave</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Wisconsin is known for its blizzardy winters, and those that have lived here before also know that the summers can be quite hot and humid. Having lived in both Central and Southern Wisconsin, I've come to further appreciate the stark difference - our summers are often a tad warmer than those where I grew up. This last week though, Southern Wisconsin (and maybe the whole state!?) faced unprecedented heat. We were under a heat warning for six days, with temperatures over 100 for five of them. The humidity didn't help. We knew our pets, specifically our chickens would need a lot of care. We looked up last year's </span><a href="http://thebackyardmarket.blogspot.com/2011/07/heat-wave-shade-for-chickens-and.html" style="background-color: white;">blog past regarding heat</a><span style="background-color: white;"> and did what we needed to do: water baths, lots of water, free-ranging and leading the hens to the shade, and frozen treats. It didn't matter. On Wednesday, Prudence went into her coop to lay an egg, emerged a few hours later, and fell over -- dead.</span><br />
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If you've followed our blog for any length of time, you'll know that we see our chickens how many people see their pet birds, cats, or dogs. We truly love them, and it was shocking to witness one of our ladies literally drop dead from the heat. We buried her, and then went into emergency mode with the other hens. We brought Sadie into the house where it was a little cooler and put her in the bathtub with some frozen berries.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She perked up after about 10 minutes in the water. (Don't mind our rusty tub!)</td></tr>
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We filled up a kiddie pool and took turns setting each of the hens in the water (Rocky, the rooster, was not appreciative of this experience). Janis didn't mind it at all...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little hen princess eventually laid down in the water.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">And, for the rest of the week, we took hens that were laying eggs out of the coop occasionally to put their feet in cool water.</span><br />
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Then, we asked the questions: Were we negligent in some way? Did we do something wrong? Could we have done more? And, painfully, we decided that yes - there were a few things we could have done better.<br />
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For starters, when we got our coop two summers ago, we put it next to the house, which is right in the sun.<br />
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We did this because we wanted to be in close proximity to the coop to listen for predators and to interact with our flock frequently. We also did this because we thought our winters would be the real issue and that our house would serve as a barrier to the wind and that the sun would be a nice warmer in our sub-zero temps. Plus, we ordered winter hardy birds...because after all ,we do live in Wisconsin. But it turns out the winters have been easy. The real trick has turned out to be the summer. Around the run, we always plant vine beans and other crawling foilage to serve as shade...but with the drought this summer, well - nothing is growing enough to provide shade.<br />
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Additionally, there are a few tips I've read online since Prudence's passing. We will keep these in mind for all future hot days.<br />
1. Hang wet curtains over screens and fans in the coop.<br />
2. Mix electrolyte powder into the water. If the chickens are so hot that they are unable to drink, give it to them with a syringe.<br />
3. Lay hay or another material on the top of the roof to deflect the sun.<br />
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Prudence died instantly, and for that, we are thankful. She, as all our birds, was special and unique. She was an independent thinker, and she had the cutest and quickest waddle/run I've ever seen. The jet-black feathers around her neck were beautiful, and she loved being held. We hope we gave her a good life and that she didn't experience any pain laying that last egg. We'll be sure we don't let that one go to waste.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One day old</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With her "litter mates" and the cat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time outside<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last summer's heat wave</td></tr>
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</div>Who Are The Lovebird Locavores?http://www.blogger.com/profile/16196649194548904708noreply@blogger.com0