keepin it real

Some of the Thanksgiving mess I had on my table as I was getting ready to host Thanksgiving at my house this year. I shouldn't have cleaned some of it up prior to the pic... Just a small gathering of my side of the family (but snow came our way and they didn't come). Not to worry, my family was together and that is what matters. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday actually.
 So much has been going on with us. And I don't blog much anymore.
I was so busy this week. Crazy busy. A lot of time on the road. My son got his braces off Monday!!! YAYA!! (It's a 1.5 hour ride to the Orthodontist one way). Then Tuesday I had to go back to get his retainer and make sure it fit and all. I just gotta say his teeth look amazing! Worth everything!! He was excited because he could eat peanuts and pop corn! 2 years without it and he was hungry for both! He's such a great kiddos! So all day Wednesday I was cooking and cleaning. The kiddos helped out a lot too. They were great! And Thursday morning we were getting ready for our meal. My husband was outside cleaning up the mess from the snow we got Wednesday.
 We had a great Thanksgiving meal. I only had a few minor glitches in the food prep...but such is life. My turkey came out good. It was a fresh, locally raised one.(No we didn't raise it. But we will). I made a champagne infused turkey! I just love that recipe. I've made it several times and I've yet to be disappointed with the results. Just gotta add that we had local corn, and potatoes, homegrown carrots, and squash (that I forgot in the microwave) apple cider, and butter!! We had some other food, but not local stuff ;) Just gotta plug that local food thing, ya know!

I forgot the squash, one of my favorite things to eat. I knew something was missing, but couldn't put my finger on it..until we were picking things up and I found it in the microwave... ahhhhh. Our table with all my life gathered around it. Made my heart full!

My turkey. I always try my hand at decorating it a bit...whatcha think? I'm no Martha Stewart fer sure!! haha. If your wondering what is on it, it's onions, seasonings and some parsley.

Me and My Man dancing. :) :)

No I didn't go shopping on black Friday either. Nope. Nope.
Have a great day ya'll!!!

the view...

...from my world never gets old. Ever.

Have a great day all!

suzie

says hello!

Today they are out in the pasture enjoying the sunny weather and fresh green grass! Everyone is doing well. Maggie has not come down with milk fever and I think she's going to pass by it this time. I think the calcium pills must have helped. I'm relieved too.
All is well and quiet on the farm today. We are getting ready for our haying season. The weather should be nice for a good 5-6 days in a row!!! That is a lot for us this year. So hopefully we can get our first crop in. The fields are finally ready!
Have a great Monday all!

new life

Oh this time of year on a farm!!! Maggie had her baby yesterday.

On her due date no less! Just before the rain came in, about 1:30. Missed the whole thing. Totally bummed about that.
 When we did chores yesterday morning we checked her out, and she didn't look like she was gonna have it. They slept in the barn due to down pours the night before. I'm glad she didn't have the baby during the night. The kiddos and I had lunch and then were headed out to check on things and there was the baby, fresh wet and super cute. I ran in the house and called my husband, but didn't reach him. He was pulling in the driveway as I was dialing his number. He was coming home to check on me. Apparently I had left the phone off the hook, for almost 2 hours, and he was concerned. I ran out to tell him about the baby, my camera in hand. We walked out to the pasture  and I snapped the above photo. Then tucked the camera under my shirt, because it was starting to rain. He grabbed the calf's back legs and looked...
a heifer!!!!!!!!!!
 As you can see Maggie is cranky. She has had 5 calves, and this is her 4th with us. She didn't charge at us, (as the picture would indicate she would) we had a stick in case she did. She shows a great deal of tough, and throws her head and paws the ground. We know her, and we know our limits with her. We are always careful.  My husband picked up the calf and I kept the stick close to Maggie's nose in case she decided to be funny. She didn't try anything. She stuck close to my husband and mooed as we walked to the barn. I think she must trust us with the babies now. She has calmed down since the first one she had with us. She is a great mom.

Mmmmm yummy colostrum.
Maggie looks pleased with herself. She has given us 3 heifers in a row. So I'm pleased. I'd be happy  if it were a bull calf. But I'm not gonna lie, I'm very pleased it's a heifer!!  I just want everyone to be healthy. And this little girl is healthy.

Cuteness all over the place!! We are in love with her already. Her name you wonder?

                                              
                                                      Black Eyed Susan AKA\ "Suzie"

She is named after one of our daughters favorite flowers. She is her calf.

 So far mama and baby are doing well. We are watching Maggie closely. Her last calf she got milk fever, but we caught it early and she came out of it, without too much complications. We gave her a calcium pill this last night, and she'll get one later today. So that hopefully will keep it away.
Have a great day all!

whats cookin in my kitchen

So maybe I've been a little busy. Or just sitting in the sun that actually made an appearance the past few days. Yes we actually had SUN and warm weather for three days in a row!!! Oh the joy and happy dance I did. That is very rare here this year, so far. I even got a nice tan...err rather burn first then it became a tan!  And not to be too excited, today its pouring. So very sad. I love warm sunny weather...makes me very happy!
anyways...
So I told you last time I would post something wonderful, and today I will make good on that. Go ahead, I'll wait while you drool....

This is so amazingly good. I promise!  If you like lemon and cream cheese. BUT I will say that the frosting (that is where the lemon and cream cheese are) light, creamy, and dreamy. I've already made this 3 times. So I should know, right?! And I have not been disappointed.
So what it this dreamy dessert? You wonder. It's called (a copy cat that I actually modified again) Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake. Where did I ever find such an amazing combination of wonderfulness you ask yourself? Pinterest of course!

So easy to make. Really. Easy. The recipe follows if you are inclined to lemon and cream cheese.

The cake:
 Yellow box cake mix.
Gahhhh I shudder to think. This gal don't go that way. So I decided to make Pioneer Woman's Red Velvet Cake. What?! Wait a minute this cake is NOT red. OK, so here is my other thing. I HATE red velvet cake, it tastes like a chemical to me. Gross.  I use this recipe for any yellow cake I make, I just leave out the red dye and chocolate that she puts in it. This cake is so good and moist and well I just love it.  But if you like box cake mix go ahead. I won't judge. (But if you want the recipe I used it's called Red Velvet Cake by Pioneer Woman).
But make the cake you want, and put it in 2 greased round 8-9 inch pans and bake until done. Cool.

The frosting/filling:
8 oz cream cheese (room temp)
2 C powdered sugar
3 T lemon juice
1 C heavy whipping cream
 Beat cream cheese powdered sugar and lemon juice together until smooth and creamy.
Whip the cream to stiff peaks.
Gently fold in the cream cheese mixture in to the whipped cream. Put in the fridge to keep it cold and the flavors to blend to a perfect creaminess.While the cake cools

* Crumb topping:
1/2 C flour
1/2 C powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
4 T butter
Cut together till crumbly
*I  only make half of this. It makes a large amount.

Once the cake is cool cut each in half. Put on a plate and spread half the frosting/filling on it. Then put the top on and put a little more frosting on top. It's all good if it oozes out the sides and down the sides of the cake. Sprinkle some crumb topping on it. Repeat with other cake.
Keep in the fridge so it won't spoil.
I put some lemon slices on top to make it look pretty. So there you have it. I just love this cake. It's light and creamy. Mmmmmmmmmm. I think I might have a large slice for my lunch!
Enjoy your day!

whats cookin in my kitchen

OK. So last week I teased with this...

mmmm looks so good. Well today I will share the recipe I used. I found it on Pinterest, and modified the frosting recipe they had with it! 

Swiss Roll
1/4 C cocoa
1/3 C flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 t instant coffee
1/2 C sugar
1 t baking powder
4 egg whites and yolks (separate them)

Sift dry without the sugar. Whisk egg yolks with the sugar. Whip egg whites to stiff peaks. Add it to the dry. The mixture will be dry, don't worry. Just mix it. Add 1/2 of the whites and beat to combine. Then fold in the last 1/2 of egg whites. (makes it light and fluffy).
I cooked it in a well greased stoneware pan. Or use a greased and lined jelly roll pan. Larger then a 9x13, so it's thin.  Bake 425 for 6-8min.
Once it's out of the oven let it cool for about 1 min. Get a tea towel, and drape it over the roll, flip the pan over and let it fall on the towel. (This is why it needs to be well greased) Once out, roll the roll in the towel and let cool on rack.  I wish I had pictures. Sorry, I hope you understand ;)  Cool completely. Make frosting.

For the filling I didn't use what the original recipe called for. They used marshmallow cream in their frosting, and I didn't have any. So I used my whoopie pie filling recipe. And that is as follows. And I didn't copy down their filling recipe either.

Filling
2 egg whites whipped to stiff peaks
3/4 C shortening
2 C powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
 Put in mixer and beat until smooth and creamy. 
Unroll the roll and spread filling on top. Carefully re-roll the roll up. Then...

Ganache Topping
1/2 C heavy cream
2/3 C dark chocolate
Warm cream and melt chocolate in it. Mix until smooth. Pour on top of jelly roll.
I found this was way too much ganche, for the size roll. Crazy I know, but it was. So I would only make 1/2 of this.
Dump this on the top of the roll.

To make it look pretty I sprinkled a little powdered sugar on top right before I snapped the picture. But I will say that it dissolved into the ganache, and made it look funny. So I wouldn't do that if you plan to make it and sever it later. People might think it's molded..just a word of caution.:)

* I found this very sweet. The roll and the frosting together, was too sweet for me. So I would try a different filling next time. I think I would use Pioneer Woman's "This is the best frosting, ever" recipe. It's sweet, but not overly sweet. I think it would complement the Swiss Roll much nicer.
But all in all I'd say it was good and I will make this again! If you make it let me know what you think! I'd love to know!
Oh and don't forget to check back soon I will have another recipe that I will be sharing! Oh it's amazing! Simply ah-maz-ing!!!  Trust me!!
Enjoy!

memorial day

Happy Memorial Day to all past and present veterans! I am so thankful to you and your families for your service and sacrifice to this great country! May God add His blessing.