Vinegar is a cooking and baking staple that can be found in most pantries, but there are so many types of vinegars it is hard to know which one to use when. Everything from big jugs of distilled white vinegar to intricate glass bottles of artisanal aged balsamics are widely available, and with so many…
Author: Deanna
Deanna N. Fox is a twentysomething entrepreneur and writer. She lives in Delanson, NY on an old farm and apple orchard with her four year old daughter Edith, and three year old son Eric (and a bunch of mangy animals). Deanna is dedicated to leading a stylish, sustainable lifestyle (while having fun!) and teaching others how to live similarly regardless of living situation via her blog Silly Goose Farm. Deanna was raised on similar principles amongst farms in Chenango County, NY, and believes that most of the world's problems can be solved by first ensuring everyone has access to good, wholesome food. When not hatching up new business ideas, renovating the farm or playing the in the dirt, Deanna can be found obsessing over boats, practicing for the World Bocce Championship with an adult libation in hand, or holding impromptu dance parties with her kids. More about Deanna can be found at www.deannafox.org.
{drink it up} The Art of the Hot Toddy
It’s officially flu season. According to the CDC, the onset of flu season has been delay recently. If (like me) you thought that you were in the clear, think again. The nasty virus might still be lurking, waiting to take you as its next prey. And then there is all the other yuckiness that’s been…
{planning your garden} Guide to Starting Seeds
There are many ways to garden. Some people buy plants from a nursery, your local farmer or garden center, which is a great option for many. I have done this in the past, primarily with annuals flowers (like pansies and petunias), tomatoes and peppers.* Last year, I decided to try my hand at starting…
{the new year} Be More Mindful
Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it’s twice as onerous a duty. – John Selden I have always believed that once you put your intentions out in the world, you are twice as responsible for making them fruitful. And because of this, perhaps they are more likely to. Whether through cosmic intervention or personal obligation,…
{winter projects 2012} Three Berry Pop-Tarts
Editor’s Note: Who wants to learn to make berry-filled hot pockets of goodness? I do! I do! Deanna’s post was first published, in springtime on May 23rd 2011 as Sundays on the Sunporch: Three Berry “Pop-Tarts”. We also get a glimpse of a toddler cooking with a bucket on her head… who doesn’t do that?…
{from scratch holidays} Mocktail Mixers
{Grape Expectation} Holiday mode is in full effect. Tonight is the third night of Hanukkah and Christmas is this weekend. Or maybe you are more of a Winter Solstice person. And let’s not forget New Years Eve is next Saturday! Either way, you are probably going to get down with your bad self over the…
{from scratch holidays} De-Mystifying The Cheese Plate
The words holidays and entertaining seem synonymous. For most people, the only time the top of the bookshelf is dusted is when expecting an onslaught of visitors for the five to six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year. It also raises the timeless question what the heck do I serve all of these people?! If you are…
{how to} Cold Storage 101
I’ve pretty much wrapped up harvesting crops on Silly Goose Farm. Apples are done, tomatoes are done, and all that’s left to put-up is a couple of cabbages, a few rows of rainbow carrots, and a whole bunch of pears. The pear trees on our farm are over 100 years old and positively drip with fruit….
{drink it up} Rosie Collins
October is one of the busiest months for me. Well, make that August, September and October. Harvest time in the Northeast starts in August and doesn’t end until past Halloween (I won’t even begin to really harvest my pears until November!). Usually this means just cutting down and picking the wonderful veggies and apples and putting…
{DIY Apple Cider} from Tree to Tummy
Our old farm has a fun history. From the reseach I’ve been conducting on the property, here’s what I’ve found: The original farm was started by the Gaige family pre-Revolutionary War (the Gaige family can be traced to our area since the 1730s). The house across the street was built in the early 1800s by…
{Locavore Challenge} a locavore’s guide to booze
When it comes to being a “locavore,” it seems like food gets all the spotlight. People aren’t quite as conscious about what they are drinking. I know that the produce grown on and around my farm are the best anywhere, but sometimes I forget that the delicious beverages that accompany this produce on my table…
Life’s a Peach {Especially with a Stiff Cocktail}
A few weeks ago, I went on a From Scratch Club field trip peach picking with some of the other AMAZING contributors. And I tell you, did I ever pick peaches. I picked two bushels full, which equates to about 65 pounds of peaches. After blanching, skinning, pitting, slicing, canning, processing, freezing, and other various…
{Pizza Week Part Two} The Dessert Course
Ah, two of the most wonderful words in the English lexicon: Dessert and Pizza. Put them together, and it’s pure heaven. While it isn’t a “true” pizza, this Dessert Pizza combines a sauce and lovely toppings on a doughy crust, just as traditional pizza would. Plus (in my opinion), it really isn’t a meal unless you end it…
{drink it up} Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezey Refresher
Lemon is a confused fruit. There, I’ve said it – lemon doesn’t know what the heck it is doing. While it is really a fruit harvested in our winter months, we best enjoy it and associate it with the hazy temperatures of summer. Lemon ice? Check. Lemonade? Check. Lemony, fruit white wine? Check. We can’t help it. It…
{Hello} I’m Deanna
In an effort to expedite the “Getting To Know You” process, I thought I would break myself down by the numbers. Hold on to your hats and glasses, it’s about to get numerically ca-razy. 0 – Siblings I have 1 – Tombstones found on our property (creepy!) 2 – Kids I have 3 – Years…
