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. 

Summer time happenings at the "farm"

For those of you who know me, well, ya'll already know that I go MIA occasionally, and I am not a  "steady" blogger. Anyway, summer time has definately arrived at the farm. We got our very first cucumber of the season just this week, and it seems like over night they multiplied by the dozens. So what do you do with dozens of cucumbers???

Well, you make pickles, of coarse. I will post the easiest sweet pickle recipe ever in a few days. I want to show you something more fun today, because summer time at the farm is not always all work.

Camping has become a big part of our lives. Just look at these two relaxing in their chairs. Yes, this is HER chair, and she knows that it belongs to her. If you ask her if she wants to get in her chair, she goes to the red one that her daddy brought home for her.

 We have enjoyed camping so much over the last two years that we want to upgrade again, to a fifth wheel this time. This is the one that I want, and this is the little salesman that has no idea he is on my blog.

 Ya'll all know how much I love to cook, therefore,  I want need a great kitchen.  It is so pretty with the upgraded cabinets and counter top. This really has a lot of counter top space for a camper kitchen.

The leather furniture would work wonderfully for Sophie, especially when she comes in with those little nasty feet after chasing the squirrels.

 It takes so little to impress me. I love that it has a storage cabinet for the garbage can. The salesman thought it was hilarious that I was so impressed with this.

 Hubby loved that there was a remote for everything in the camper....slides, jacks, and of coarse the tv and radio.

 It didn't hurt that it had two recliners. I suggested taking one out because it would be a little roomier with just one, but hubby says no, Sophie will want one all to herself, right  beside him. He thinks he is her "favorite" parent. Okay, so he is!

They have agreed to put a fireplace under the tv, if we decide to purchase this one. Well, my mind is made up already, so we will see how things play out.

Soooo, even tho this one is only a year old and we have made many great memories in it, it will be going up for sale in a week or so.

This was our first little camper, and we loved it, but quickly realized that it just wasn't big enough. Wish us luck in another upgrade. The next one will be our "forever" home away from home if it works out.

Do you camp?? If so, do you prefer all of the "amenities" of home, or do you enjoy primitive style camping?

Stay tuned for that pickle recipe if you have extra cucumbers.  

Strawberry Jam/Syrup

It is finally summer time here at the farm, and I am LOVING it! We have had fresh strawberries for several weeks now, so I finally got around to making some "jam". Well, hubby wants it really runny so that he can pour it on his pancakes, so I call it "syrup".

This is hubbies plate from last night....pancakes with the strawberry "syrup" and cool whip on top. This strawberry "syrup" is right from the pan.

 It is so wonderful to be able to go out and pick fresh fruit when ever you choose.

 I had to drag out all of my canning pans........

 and jelly jars

I used twine and brown paper to label them with instead of writing the name and date on the top. It just seemed a little more "farmhouse" like. 

 Guess what will be on the menu next week?? New potatoes in white gravy sauce, with cornbread. Oh YUM! I can't wait for fresh potatoes!

Of coarse, we will have to have some fresh onions with it. It will be scrumptious if you wanna stop by for a bite :)

Speaking of canning and such, have any of you ever tried this?? I did last year, and I have already bought up packets for this year. I used this for canned pasta sauce, and it is the best "stuff" I have ever eaten! It must be a popular item, because I couldn't find it at the end of last summer. I made it and used it with the cheese stuffed ravioli. Try it if you have extra fresh tomatoes, you won't regret it. Oh, I am not getting paid for advertising this, it is just something that I LOVED.

Happy Memorial Day!

Bubba C's Homemade BBQ Sauce

Ya'll all know how much I LOVE to cook, and eat!! My friend's husband made me some home made barbecue sauce from scratch, so I couldn't wait to do some pulled pork to put it on. Oh YUM! I wish ya'll could taste it. But since you can't, I will show you pictures and tell you how good it was.

Since I am trying to drop a few pounds, I left the bread off. Normally, I would have put the pulled pork and slaw all on a bun, and stacked it as high as I could get it. As you can see, I didn't, and it was still wonderful just like this!

I cooked a pork tenderloin in the crock pot, in lemon juice, to cut that pork "whang" taste that I can't stand, then tore it apart and poured the Bubba C BBQ sauce on it....yea, that is the official name. Doesn't it sound great?

Can you see how thick it is?  It is an original, which I like. I do hope he remembers what he put in it, because I need another batch to keep in the camper :)

This is what it looked like after soaking up the Bubba C BBQ sauce. Isn't it beautiful?? Wish you could taste it!

Of coarse I had to make some baked beans and cole slaw to go with it, then put even more sauce on my meat.

If only I would have had it last week end at the camp ground to put on these burgers...but his wife kept forgetting to bring it to me....bet he doesn't know this!

Thank you, Bubba, for the BC BBQ sauce. It is great!

Easiest ever strawberry cake

I can remember my mother making this when I was a child, and I wouldn't touch it! Oh, if I had a piece now. I posted this on my old blog once upon a time, and it was actually published in another blogger's family recipe book. It is a great summer time desert, and as easy to make as it is good!

See, I could stop at this step right here. Oh, this cake mix smothered with sweetened condensed milk is fabulous! But, the recipe goes on......

Not much to the ingredients, but I think cooking with fresh eggs makes everything better.

Once the cake is done and still hot, take a fork and poke holes in it until it is pretty much torn to pieces.

Next, and this is my favorite.....take two cans of sweetened condensed milk and pour all over the cake. See those chunks of tore up cake in there?? Well, take a huge bite of that, you may really stop here...oh yum!

 Once the milk has soaked in, and the cake has cooled, take two container's of frozen strawberries with the juice and pour on cake (the more the better according to hubby)

Top with cool whip, chill and serve. Actually, it is much better if you make it the day before, and it is just down right cold. Of coarse, this has to be refrigerated, if it last that long. Give it a try, you will love it!

One yellow cake mix, cook according to directions
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
2 containers frozen strawberries in juice
1 container of cool whip

Linking up with Maria Elena  for Tuesdays at our Home