Another good day!

Well today was my market day, my day away from home!  Maybe its wrong to think of it like that but I get to go somewhere and I do not have to take care of anyone, its almost like alone time even though I am working!  I picked some of our oyster mushrooms last night and sold them today. I wish I could figure out how to get them to grow easier.  I am getting there.  We were pretty busy today, sold alot, especially the famous yogurt covered pretzels!  Tomorrow I need to get the bar soap made, my experiment with it the other day failed.  Try Try Again.  I did receive some good news from the market manager today that we will be able to sell our dairy products!  I guess I better work on supper, these kids get made if they don't get to eat when they want.

Sick Little guy

My baby will be 2 years old next Friday. I have had a rough week.  Tuesday my oldest son had three caps put in his mouth, he did great.  The next day my middle guy had three caps and two root canals, he cried all afternoon  :(  Thursday my little guy woke up with a fever and had to be held all day long.  For three days I got nothing done my house is trashed, lol.  Today I had high hopes that were shattered an hour in.  My little guy seemed a little better, I picked him up and I said you smell stinky lets change you!  Not soon enough before it was all over  my leg, and totally all over him.  Talk about grossed out.  It gets better, he can not swallow so twice he has drank, gagged and vomited on me.  At this point he has finally fallen asleep and I am typing with one hand!

The normal

Today was a pretty normal Monday for me.  My four year old had pre school today, somedays he wants to go other days I have to fight him because he is "busy".  Today was one of those lets fight days.  He would not get dressed, would not do his homework, and then would not get out of the bath.  Finally, I did accomplish this feat, but of course there was a small promise about a huge bubble bath after school!  Next I had to get him in the classroom.  We made it in willingly but he was not about to stay in there.  I love the teachers, they are just wonderful, but do I feel bad for them when I leave a fussing child they had to pry off of my legs.  Mrs. Thees took him and all was good, silly boy.  I came home to rush  around to get my potatoes cooking for my potato salad business.  I got the first batch done but I had to get going to my 1:30 appointment.  My appointment of course got long winded but I just made it to pick the boys from school.  Now it was home to finish the potatoes.  That was done while I chatted with my husband about what to do with our milk business.  Finally, I left to pick up the little guy from Granny.  While on the way my mother called and needed help to drain her water bed.  The things I get myself into.  I picked up the little guy first and went to moms.  I got there and the stinking bed was drained, go figure.  As usual then the little guy won't leave so I have to piddle around there for fifteen minutes to get him to go.  Anyway we finally left and then I had to get home to  mix my potato salad so I can get it delivered tomorrow morning.  I have a dentist appointment tomorrow late morning for my oldest son, wish me luck.  Tomorrow will be the big bar soap making experiment.

Paneer Cheese

In the near future I am going to operate my own dairy shop so I have been experimenting with cheese and yogurts to make.  Today I decided to make Paneer, it is a cheese from India.  It is a totally vegetarian cheese because you use only milk and juice from fresh citrus.  This cheese is very versatile it is a non melting cheese that you can mix in almost anything or fry it totally on its own.  Here is how I did it:

1/2 gal of milk(this must be a whole milk, fat free will not work)
2 large limes juiced(1/3 cup)

Heat the milk on the stove to 200 F stirring constantly
When the milk reaches 200 F remove from heat and gently stir in the lime juice
The milk should begin to curdle, if not add a little more juice
Put the pan back on the stove on the lowest setting, let it remain there for 10 minutes without stirring
Drain the whey off the in a cheesecloth lined strainer, you can save the whey for other uses like cooking pasta
Let the cheese sit for 30 minutes and then squeeze any remaining whey out
Finally form the cheese into a block, keeping the cheese cloth on and press it between two cutting boards or two plates.  Place a gal jug full of water on top.  Let this press for 5-7 hours, then the cheese is ready. 

I personally am going to try to fry this tonight, hopefully I can get picture.  My soap making has been changed to Tuesday its too darn cold for me to do it today.

Exhausting Day

My Saturdays start at 4:15 am, every Saturday.  It has been this way for 7 years.  Funny thing is I would not change it.  We go to the 2nd Street Market in Dayton and sell fresh produce, meat, and yogurt covered pretzels.  The busy season is coming since spring is on the horizon.  Today we sold an immense amount of produce, some meat(not as much as I would like but its getting better), and about 60lbs of yogurt covered pretzel(blueberry, raspberry, cherry, cinnamon, and peanut butter flavored!)!  These pretzels are absolutely awesome.  Today my mother in law put the spinach on the table, easy enough right?  She should remember that there is more under the table to restock.  Well it hit the early afternoon and we were out I asked her to fill it up and she tells me she already put it all out. I did not think anymore about it, until I was packing up at the end of the day and found it.  Sometimes I wonder where that woman's head is.  She means well and I do not pay her so I can't be real picky!!  We had a great day.  I want to work on a recipe holder for the market next week.  That means I have to dig into my creative side, good luck.  Tomorrow I am going to make some homemade milk based lye soap, wish me luck.  If it goes well I might put some pictures on!  Its 7:10 pm and supper has been made and now to work on my blanket.

Weather

Today has been one of those days.  Really it was a good day but this weather has been something.  I was on the road today and twice I was pelleted by pea size hail.  The lightning was absolutely insane and the rain.  I personally can say I do not ever remember 2 years where weather has been so crazy.  This afternoon when the rain and storms finally stopped we had sun and it was absolutely beautiful, for about an hour then came the wind.  Yea I said more wind it seems like every two or three days we are windy windy.  I notice this only because we live in the middle of nowhere and you notice it.  The kids can't walk, that is funny!!  Tomorrow I have to go run our farmers market, up early home late!   

Canned Beef Success

Canned Beef

Ingredients

Enough fresh or frozen beef to fill as many jars(quart or pints) as you need or as many as the canner will hold.  I have a small canner and it will hold seven quarts.

Salt

Water

Heat cleaned and sterilized and pack full with meat leaving 1 inch headspace
Put 1 teaspoon of salt in the jar.
Add water to the jar, filling it half way.

Push a knife around the jar to get out air bubbles, put on lids and rings.  Put in the canner and can for 90 minutes.

So easy and it will make the toughest meat tender.