Back in the day when we lived in the country and had milk goats, I used to make different kinds of soft cheese on a regular basis. The easiest of the cheeses was paneer, an Indian frying cheese used in curries. I hadn’t made it in years but decided to try it with cow’s milk…
Category: DIY
{Easter} Veggie-Dyed Eggs
Editor’s Note: This is Erika’s second post where she rocks the Kilpatrick Family Farm veggie-dyed Easter Eggs. Our newest contributor introduced herself in her first post. Her first contribution was an insight into her food philosophy…in case you missed it. -Christina {from L to R: carrot, golden beet, red beet, and onion skin***} I decided…
{recap} Power to the Boil 2011
Editor’s Note: I’m pleased to announce that Dianna has her name in lights {finally} and that I’m not credited with her wonderful posts any longer. Dianna has her final post on the 2011 maple syruping season. If you missed the “How To” or my photo diaries on: tapping and one their three “big boils”, take…
{photo diary} The Big Boil
We have moved beyond the “tapping sap” stage to the “big boil”. Dianna & Michael are in the midst of their 2011 maple syrup season and had their “big boil” on two separate days this year. I won’t go into the details because Dianna will be writing up a recap of this year’s antics in…
{St. Patricks Day} Corned Beef & Cabbage
In full disclosure mode, as usual, I will be totally honest with you. I have never celebrated this holiday. Even though I am a mut, I don’t have a dominance of Irish in my family tree so it was part of my life. I don’t see this changing anytime soon as I married a half-Korean,…
{photo diary} Tap Your Own Maple Syrup
When Dianna told me she tapped her own syrup I almost knelt down and bowed to her urban homesteading greatness right there and then. When Dianna sent in her post on syruping hows to’s I knew I needed to watch it in action. I was lucky enough to catch Michael tapping the last two buckets…
{Experiments with Grain} Kasha Three Ways
Last Spring I stopped eating wheat for a few months. During that time, to cope with the absence of ever-familiar wheat, I started broadening my grain repertoire. I’ve tried to keep it up since then and this week I challenged myself to figure out roasted buckwheat, also known as kasha. I was pleased to see…
{Valentine’s Day} DIY Craft: Cards
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, YEAH! I have had the house decorated for a month. Pink, red and white tablecloths, hand towels, paper plates and candles. I love this holiday. It is fun, involves chocolate and gifts from sweethearts. This is one of my favorite quick and easy ways to decorate for the…
{Valentine’s Day} Host a Cupcake Decorating Party
Who doesn’t love a GREAT cupcake? Cupcakes are so HOT right now. Cupcake shops are popping up all over the Capital Region (Albany-Schenectady-Troy-Saratoga Springs), cupcake shows and showdowns all over the Food Network and yes one of our biggest sellers this year for Halloween was a Cupcake costume. (I am in the Halloween Retail business)…
{New Year} Cutting Back on Refined Sugar
“The Clock” and writing New Year’s Resolutions: a Sheehan tradition. This, however, was a tradition that was FORCED upon me and one I never liked to embrace until last year. I am so thrilled that I embraced this family tradition, it only took 34 years. Here’s how writing New Year’s Resolutions works in my family….
{New Year} Organization 911!
Editor’s Note: To read more of Leslie’s successes in organization, read her two posts (one and two) on meal planning. -Christina I’m not sure what it is about this New Year, but I am really feeling the new-ness. In the past, I have never really been into making a resolution. This year, though, my brain…
{thanksgiving} Our Last Thoughts…tips & tricks
Our last thoughts for the biggest foodie day of the season… Alexis: “Do like me and get someone else to cook you a rockin’ Thanksgiving dinner. If you are the chef, be sure to drink wine while you are preparing the meal, or, preferably, while waiting for someone else to make it. My general advice…
{thanksgiving} Our Family Tradition…Brining Willie Bird
Thanksgiving….it is one of the holidays that revolve around tradition. All week we have been talking about what our family traditions are when it comes to Thanksgiving. My family loves this holiday. My husband loves to entertain, cook and he especially enjoys preparing the annual turkey that we refer to as “Willie Bird”. The kids…
Beer Can Chicken {oh so juicy! oh so fancy!}
One of our weekly staples is one, 4 pound roasted chicken. Beer Can Style. In the oven. So juicy. So fancy. My farm-to-table schedule: I buy a chicken from Dick & Peg (and sometime their grandchildren) of Brookside Farm (farmers of the egg share for Denison Farm CSA package) at the Saturday Saratoga Farmers Market….
{the strict avoidance chronicles} halloween tricks or treats?
Now that I’ve pondered my own indulgent eating I’m taking a 180 degree turn and focusing attention on the Halloween holiday and tots 1+. What is out there for trick-or-treaters that are either “slightly healthier” or at least “less artificial” or “food allergy friendly” and also the non-food category for the tiny kiddos? At our…
