Come by and eat with us...

Yes, it is an open invitation. Ya'll know that I love to cook. I hate to start using up my "stash" so early, but I have had a long day, been in the road most of it, and just didn't feel like putting forth a lot of effort to prepare a meal, so........I just pulled out a jar of my semi-home-made pasta sauce. Take a look. Can you smell it??

Go ahead, take a bite. You know a good cook always taste of everything before they serve it. Well, actually, I taste it so many times, I am usually too full to eat by the time it is all prepared :)

 It all started with fresh tomatoes from our garden.

 Then a packet of this mix.

 Of coarse the directions do not call for this pesto sauce, but I use a jar of it in mine, along with a can or two of tomato paste for thickening. Actually, the sky is the limit, and you can add anything you want. Garlic and fresh herbs would probably be good also.

 I don't remember how many jars I ended up with, but while eating tonight hubby was kind enough to suggest that I do another batch or two while we still have fresh tomatoes :)

 I use the five cheese ravioli from the freezer section at wal-mart. Just boil, drain, and mix with the heated pasta sauce. (You can use any pasta you like, this is just my preference.)

Top with your favorite cheese, if you choose,  and I love this one.

There has been a lot of corn cutting around here too. I did this one cream style, so if you don't like the pasta dish, we can fix you some fresh veggies. Either way, if you stop by, you won't leave hungry :)

They are gone...

Summer time at the farm has led to some pretty big changes. Hubby has decided to let go of a few of his "boy-toys". He hasn't seen these pictures yet, but I will show them to you.

This is "Old Orange", as I called him,  he was the first to go. I thought hubby was going to cry when he left, but, he went to a local man who is going to give him a much better home. He is going to re-paint him and give him the attention that he needs. He has been driving him around and showing him off, so old orange really does have a better home.

This one was the "Old Navy" truck. Do you remember when Old Navy actually had these trucks sitting inside their stores??  I advertised this one and the red one on Craigslist on Sunday night, and they both sold on Monday to the first man that came to look. I wish I had a few more to sell because that was three weeks ago, and I have gotten numerous calls everyday since, and I finally deleted them off yesterday.

Some of you may remember this one. I got to use it in my fall decor last year. I knew the love was gone when he let it come out of the shop and be exposed to the weather for days.

These are the two men who bought the 51 and 52. They were just like two little boys with brand new toys. They were so funny, and nice.

Are you wondering what will replace them?? I will show you as soon as it gets here. We ordered a new fifth wheel this week, and it should arrive sometime in August :)

Nine day Sweet Pickle Recipe

I know, I know, everyone is going to be out of cucumber's before I get around to posting this easy sweet pickle recipe. Sorry......

Of coarse, the first step is to wash and slice the cucumbers, then put in a gallon jar, either glass or plastic will work.

(1) The first three days, fill jar with cucumber's, and put a heaping tablespoon or two of pickling/canning salt and fill with water. Leave for three days. Can you see my painter's tape?? I had to write the date on them so that I would remember when to rinse and start the next phase. Now, when these three days are up, pour in a colander to drain, rinse well.

(2) The next stage is the alum, with all of the cucumber's back in the jar, fill with water, and sprinkle alum in there. Leave for three days, and then again, dump in colander to drain and rinse well at the end of these three days.

(3) The third and last three days, of coarse put cucumber's back in jars after rinsing the alum off, fill with vinegar, leave for three days, and again after these three days, dump in colander and rinse well.

Now....before putting back into jars, cover with ice and leave for a couple of hours...

This is optional, but it helps make them crunchy, which that is what the alum is suppose to be for, but the ice thing makes a huge difference. Now, it is time to put them back into the jar once more, only this time, add your sugar and spice.

I usually put a layer of cucumbers, layer of sugar, and on and on until the jar is filled.

I wrap my pickling spice in cheese cloth and tie up so that it is not loose because it is bitter if you get a bite of some of these little spice things. Well, actually, I used sterile gauze bandages that hubby had brought home  because I had no cheese cloth. It has worked perfectly :)

 This is what it will look like before the sugar dissolves. Now, throw in a few of those little spice bags. I went ahead and made up a zip lock bag full to have on hand because I knew I would be needing them. I usually put about four of five in the big jar, just all depends on how much spice you want.

Can you see this thick syrupy pickle juice?? The longer they set, the better they are. Now, I haven't done it yet, but I will put mine in individual jars to store them. You don't have to seal them. I have used this recipe for years, and hubby loves them. He has almost finished off one of the gallon jars, so I have started another one already, which will make my sixth one.

This is what my counter tops have looked like for some time now. No, I'm not complaining. It is sooo good!

Just look at this fresh corn and these tomatoes. There is just nothing better!

This is just a small portion of beans that have been canned and ready to go in the canning cabinet.

I love having a hubby that wants to be a farmer :) Just look at him and his chicks.

I hope you have some cucumber's left to do some pickles with. Sorry it took me so long....it is just busy on the farm right now.