Cookbooks Galore!

A few weeks ago, the shelf in the kitchen cabinet that was holding my piles of cookbooks gave way. I am horrible about procrastinating when things need organizing, but there was no ignoring that any more. Addicted to books in general, I especially enjoy cookbooks and needed to destash to make room for new ones. I gathered up quite a few to give away or donate, and made room for the others in a much more accessible hutch. Although there are many that I use, I analyzed which are my very favorite ones that I turn to on a regular basis. These made the cut:

Flavors of Kentucky: A Look at Kentuckys' Foodways including Recipes that Have Graced the Tables at Horse Farm Mansions, Won Awards For Creative Cooks, and are Favorite Di , by Sharon Thompson (just awesome recipes, especially for Jonathan's Hot Slaw)

New Cook Book (Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbooks) (a great general cookbook)

Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life, by Jamie Oliver (Maybe you've seen "The Naked Chef" on TV, this book has lots of wonderful artwork, photos, and garden information

The Farmhouse Cookbook, by Susan Hermann Loomis (lots of great farm-fresh recipes, I like the corn pancakes)



500 Low-Carb Recipes, by Dana Carpender (not just for low-carb diets, many easy and awesome recipes)


I do have a few new ones that I'm enjoying, especially Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa at Home (my first of her books), and The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine. Does anyone have Martha Stewart's Cooking School yet, and would you recommend it? What is your favorite cookbook? As I gain cooking experience, its most satisfying of all to throw together ingredients together from time to time, based on what's available. This soup came together based on a recipe I saw in a magazine or heard about on the radio. It turned out great and although it's a pretty high-calorie comfort food, it does have lots of nutrients and all of us loved it!

Root Vegetable Soup

1 medium-large onion, diced

4 stalks of celery, diced

1 butternut squash, skinned and cubed

4 carrots, peeled and diced

1-2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

3 parsnips, peeled and diced (a vegetable I never tasted until a few years ago, these add a lot of interest and flavor)

3 cups of chicken bouillion

2 T butter

1 cup of half and half

1 T garlic, minced

Cook the onion and celery in melted butter in a large pot until transparent. Add the chicken boullion, vegetables, and seasoning and heat to boiling. Cook until the vegetables are softened. Blend until somewhat smooth in a blender or food processor. Put back into pot and stir in half and half, reheat to a low boil. Serve plain or with a dollop of sour cream, chives, and paremesan cheese!

Pin It Now!

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle... Wow!

I just finished the first non-fiction book I'd read in a while, Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.). I can honestly say that this was a life-changing book for me. Not only did I enjoy it to the point of laughter and even tears at the end, but I found it incredibly interesting, informative, and motivating.

In it, renowned author (and Kentucky native) Barbara Kingsolver documents her family's move from the desert of Arizona to her husband's old family homestead in Virginia where they had spent many summers. Drawing from their heritage, experience, and knowledge of biology, nutrition, and farming, they endeavor to live for one year off of food only of a local origin and what they grow or raise themselves. Although the book is mainly from Barbara's point of view, there are excerpts from her biologist/professor husband and college-age daughter. Some of the funniest and most poignant stories are of the experiences she shares raising the garden and poultry with her youngest daughter, Lily, who starts her own egg business at age 9.

The book is filled with intriguing tidbits about our nation's sick food supply chain, horrible eating habits, need for more diversity in the plants we're raising, and dozens of convincing reasons to eat more local food and raise your own if you can. There are also tons of great recipes, which can be accessed at the book's website. In fact, there are oodles of great resources which I just discovered at the website!

So, this book has me completely energized to have our biggest and best garden ever this year. We have had nice gardens in the past (especially pre-children, when we first moved to the farm and I even sold at the Farmer's Market). But, motivation often seems to dwindle when the weeds hit and the last two summers of drought have presented more challenges than usual. Coming to my aid are the two new women at our farm, Jenny (our energetic alpaca farm manager) and Danna (a smart, young biologist living in our cabin who helps part-time). Ironically, they have both read the book and we've decided that we'll all pitch in and have the garden together.

Determined to raise many heirloom varieties of vegetables, we turned to Local Harvest, a site that offers all kinds of resources for purchasing just about anything that can be raised or made locally. I originally found the site when I was searching out beeswax for sealing the surface of my paintings. The seeds I purchased were primarily from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Happy Cat Organics- Southern Exposure shipped really quickly, but I'm still awaiting the seeds from Happy Cat Organics. I heard on NPR that seed sales are up by 30% this year, so don't wait if you want a garden. Even container gardening for apartment dwellers can be a major benefit!

I honestly can't recommend this book enough, and besides learning so much from it I truly enjoyed Kingsolver's beautiful writing and plan to read some of her fiction books soon. Times are so uncertain right now, and I am finding myself grasping for some control of our family's destiny in ways that are fulfilling, healthy, and sustainable.

Although I am not ready to become a locavore, we are going to make a concerted effort to do more local eating and buying, just as I am trying to recycle more, use cloth bags for grocery shopping, and other small things that make a difference. We are so very blessed with good health and the soil and resources that are literally right at our feet, and we look forward to hard, honest work and a wonderful harvest this year.

So, have you read the book? Has it motivated you to have a garden or make other changes? What is your favorite thing to raise? (I know, that's like asking who is your favorite child?). I'd love to hear from you!

Pin It Now!

Sweater Weather

I wonder how long I can keep up knitting a sweater a day? Okay, they are pretty small, small enough to use as an ornament, gift embellishment, or even for Barbie! (Guess who's going to be getting one?) You should have seen me sneaking into someone's room to try this on her!After listening to Susan Anderson's podcast with Christmas gift suggestions, I decided to knit a mini sweater from a book that I have and love, Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. Then I just had to do another, and I was pleased with the way the variegated sock yarn (Trekking XXL) looked on the sweaters.
These were really fun to knit, and I enjoyed the construction which entailed knitting two fronts, two backs, two sleeves, and then joining together at the yoke. I wish that all sweaters were this easy! Pin It Now!

Thankful

My candidate did not win, but nearly everything in my life is exactly the same today as yesterday, and we always emphasize to our kids that their futures don't hinge on any president or other politician. I have been deliberately concentrating lately on thankfulness and gratitude (appropriate for this month... and anytime!) and have been reading a good book, Thanks, which shares research on happiness. The main gist of the research is that people who "count their blessings" on a regular basis are the happiest, healthiest, and most successful in life. It discusses how people have a happiness "set point" to which they gravitate despite major ups and downs, but that point can be adjusted "higher" with a thankful attitude.
Some of the things I'm most thankful for today:

* The privilege of voting. I have my country and the women of the suffrage movement to thank for that. I love voting in our tiny little friendly precinct at the fire station, and feel patriotic every time I vote there.

* A newly-elected leader that demonstrates the fact that any person of any color and background who has vision and talent and is willing to work hard can succeed in our country. Again, Obama didn't have my vote but I admire him and can only hope that he'll be our best president ever.

* The good health of my family and myself.

* Another gorgeous fall day in Kentucky.

* And, thank you God for the help in getting Mirian to the bus on time this morning- a small miracle which affects my entire schedule today!

My best hopes, prayers, and thanks are with all of those who sacrifice in order to lead our country, and I hope for the best!

Pin It Now!