Easy soft Caramels!!!- Recipe

OMG I had no idea caramels were this easy! 

Homemade Soft Caramels

Ingredients

1 c light corn syrup

2 c packed light brown sugar

1 can(s) sweetened condensed milk

1/2 lb butter

Directions

1 Combine corn syrup, brown sugar, milk and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for 20 Minutes stirring constantly. Pour into buttered oblong pan.

2 Cut into squares when cool.

Blue Heron Farm- Healthy Vegetarian Recipes

Here are a few picture recipes created by Blue Heron Farm. A goat dairy local to us, who are actually more concerned for the care of the animals then making the all mighty dollar. My hat truly goes off to this amazing couple. 

Broccoli-Chard-Goat Cheese Pie

I first tried this pie at our local goat club meeting held at none other then Blue Heron farm. I was a little leery as I have never tried chard (that I know of), but I set that aside and gave it a try. WOW is all I can say. 

   After coming home and seeing the picture recipe posted via Facebook I had to have it and set in down in my blog so I can use it as a staple in our household.

    Lisa was kind enough to add some other picture recipes that I am adding to create a healthy recipe book online. At the bottom of this thread I will provide the link to the Blue Heron website and Facebook page. If you are ever in the area I challenge you to stop by and purchase some of their amazing goat cheese. I promise you won't be disappointed! 

1. Chop broccoli, chard & onion. Saute in olive oil until just softened.

2. Cool slightly, mix in 8 oz of herbal goat cheese.

3. Spread on 1 sheet of thawed puff pastry

4. Top with second sheet of pastry

5.Bake @400 until puffed and golden

6. Enjoy! 

Enchilada Casserole

1. Layer tortillas in a 9x13 pan.

2. Cover with 1 can of refried beans and about 1\2 a diced onion

3. Cover with another layer of tortillas, 1\3 a can of enchilada sauce, 1 bag of baby spinach and a handful of cheese.

4. Cover with another layer of tortillas, the remaining enchilada sauce and another handful of cheese.

5. Bake @350 for about 35 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

6. Eat and Enjoy!!! 

I'm sure I will add a few more as Lisa posts something I just can't live without trying, but for now you will just have to find them on facebook and see what all she has shared there!

Find Blue Heron Farm on Facebook

Or

Check out their website

Black Beans and Rice

Black Beans and Rice

3 cups black beans (We used dried that we soaked overnight and boiled in the morning until they got soft.)
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/2 yellow onion chopped
1 yellow pepper chopped
10 cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup corn (We used frozen organic corn)
1 small jalapeno seeds removed and diced
2 cups water
1/4 tsp garlic
4 T oil (We used avocado oil)
Juice from 2 limes
1 cup wild or brown rice + 2 cups water

In a small pot, add the rice and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then turn down, cover and simmer until all the water has been absorbed. About 20-30 minutes. In a large pan, combine the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil, turn down and simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed. About 20-30 minutes. You can add the rice into the pan, or keep them separate like we do. That’s it. Enjoy!

   Recipe from-  mywholefoodlife.com

Recipes for Fruit Leathers (Fruit Roll ups)

Fruit leathers are really easy to make.  Much cheaper too!  I used my dehydrator, but you can make them in your oven as well.  I just love the dehydrator because it quietly runs and I can even leave the house with it on.  It also doesn’t heat up the kitchen.  This is so easy, it’s almost silly to call it a recipe.

Peach Fruit Leathers

5 peaches
1 T honey or maple syrup (optional)

If using an oven, preheat it to 150.  Cut and pit all the peaches. I left the skins on, but you can also remove them if you want. In a food processor or blender, mix the peaches into a smooth puree.  Take a taste.  If the mixture is on the tart side, add a small amount of sweetener.  If you are using the oven, spread the mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet.  Make sure it’s as even as it can get.  Bake for about 7 hours or until the mixture is a bit tacky.  I kept checking on mine to see how easily it could pull away from the parchment.  I also line my dehydrator trays with parchment.  Set the dehydrator on 150 and run for about 7 hours.  I got about 10 fruit rolls out of my batch.  I really wish I had made more.  Feel free to double the batch!  Enjoy!

From- mywholefoodlife.com

The house smells amazing when these are cooking, kind of like when I make my crock pot applesauce.  The best part is that you probably already have all the ingredients in your own cabinets!  I used applesauce to make mine, but you can most certainly use real apples and puree them first.  Think about it though.  When your store has a sale on applesauce, you can stock up and make these.  It would save a lot of money and make your kids happy too. I used a dehydrator to make mine, but you can certainly try this in the oven as well.  You just need to keep an eye one them.

Apple Pie Fruit Leathers

4 cups unsweetened applesauce (I used Eden Foods)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
2 T maple syrup (Optional) I did not use it

If using an oven, preheat to the lowest setting or 135.  Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Line your baking sheets with parchment and spread the mixture out evenly.  Bake for about 4-6 hours, depending on how low the temp your oven will go.  If you are using adehydrator, line the trays with parchment as well.  You can use the dehydrator sheets as well, but I think parchment is much cheaper and works great.  I baked mine in the dehydrator at 135 for about 6-7 hours.  Once it feels tacky, it’s pretty much done.  I got about 20 fruit leathers out of my batch.  Enjoy!

From- mywholefoodlife.com

Links for REAL FOOD

http://wegotreal.com/food/recipes-2/

http://wegotreal.com/mushroom-and-spinach-crustless-quiche/

http://www.realfoodgirlunmodified.com/balsamic-roasted-tomatoes/

https://www.facebook.com/RealFoodOutlaws

2015 Breeding Plans??

 Here I am on a cold and rainy February evening thinking about breeding plans. It occurs to be I might be slightly insane as I play the name and number game. Who should have a date with who? Or ohh no she's going to have to have a date with me and my new speculum!

Now why might you ask that I might be insane? Totally normal to have breeding plans in advance so you aren't running to the buck pen saying eanie, meanie, miney,  mo. Yup having a plan isn't a bad thing at all however....... Only ONE of my does have freshened so far! 

Yup just one lonely doe, who is stuck giving us milk twice a day. We try to get them to freshen is pairs, but it didn't happen this year. Oops!

However I am sitting up running numbers like a mad woman and finding that now that I have at least the basics of AI the sky is truly the limit. Now I know that I am not the only one doing this and I bet there are several breeders already finished with their breeding plans. (Thanks guys! It's nice to not be alone in this!!)  

 I am thinking so far:

 SGCH Aja-Sammati Psyche will either be bred to *B Kastdemur's Kal-el or AI to http://www.adgagenetics.org/GoatDetail.aspx?RegNumber=N000967801 Since I can't get a name to show the link goes to COPPER-HILL ALGINONS BREAKAWAY.

Caprine Beings KGK Elizabeth live breeding to *B Kastdemur's Kal-el Looks promising! Lizzy X Kal

Aja-Sammati Katyusha (Kat) Live bred to Wingwood Farm Tac's Troy

Beaujest GNE Lunar Eclipse... Luna is where I am going to stop for a break for now, but I will be finishing up soon.

   
       
   
         

Let's Build an AR-15!

   Yes that is a scary photo! My hair, well idk what was going on that day! Anyway I have been really biased about AR's in general. I think them nothing more then something to play with as you can't really hunt with them, and the last time I checked killing people is still illegal. However all that changed when this Windham Muddy Girl Camo AR-15 Came into the store.
   
Girlie camo or not I really like the way this AR is put together. However I am not about to pay $897.00 for something I still can't justify owning. I mean I have pistols, but they actually have a purpose. Home & Farm protection along with target practice!! I think one of the best ways to blow off steam is to go to the range and fire away at a target. Which reminds me..... I am way overdue and need to go shoot the little Ruger .22 pistol I got for Christmas..... You know to break it in ;-)

   Back to my AR though. I have customers come in and pretty much teach me everything I need to know though you do have to have a certain skill at detecting BS, but for the most part I have learned some pretty interesting information on firearms in general. One thing in which is I can actually build I own AR! Now I know I can't justify spending almost a grand on a firearm, but what if i only spent a little at a time? And I could customize it any way I choose! Which is a huge feature for me because there are several I have seen at the store that I just straight up refuse to own.

    I have a pretty regular customer I sold a gun to roughly 5 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. Now I of course didn't remember him, but he remembered me and apparently I was nice that day! LOL I have an issue with some people as stupid questions and refusal to listen to what I am saying generally make my sarcasm kick in.  This customer and I got to talking one day though because he comes in to buy .223 ammo all the time and I am of course wanting to learn more about the guns I am selling start to ask a few questions here and there. Well the other day he gave me a website where I can start to order the parts I need to build this thing a little at a time as I have the funds to do so. He even went as far as to write down the parts I needed as well as offered to put it together for me when I get everything. Me being the do it yourself person I am will attempt to put it all together on my own, but I imagine I will ask him a bunch of questions as I go.
One of the places you can start purchasing the parts you are going to need is http://www.botach.com/ They offer free shipping which is a bonus for those of us who have to save our pennies where we can.

You will still have to find a place that will sell you a "lower" as it's called. Which is the part that you will need to fill out a 4473 forum and be approved to purchase a "firearm" though it isn't all put together yet.

There is a place off of HWY 290 and Cypress N. Houston Called AGR where you can purchase the "Lower".

   Aside from purchasing the "lower" you will also need to purchase:
Lower Parts Kit
UTG Adjustable Rear Stock
Upper- Be sure to match your upper and lower brands to be sure everything will fit accordingly.

I will add photos and tell you further how to put it together as I get mine done.
If you happen to build yours before mine is complete let me know how it shoots!