Perfect Hard Boiled FRESH Eggs

For those of you who love to buy farm fresh eggs AND want the perfect hard boiled eggs  - read on. If you use store bought eggs, or just don't care to ever make hard boiled eggs, I will save you the trouble. Stop now. Come back for a different post.

I have read all kinds of tips and tricks on how to get the perfect hard boiled eggs using fresh eggs. Because, you know, I have a ton of eggs from our lovely chickens. Most sources have come to the conclusion it just wasn't possible. BUT, thanks to a wonderful friend - I have the solution! Well, she has the solution and shared it with me. AND, gave permission for me to share with you!

This fabulous, amazing, wonderful friend did a TON of experimenting over several months. And wrote everything down. Thanks to her, we don't have to continue on our search for the perfect hard boiled egg using farm fresh eggs.

I was shocked at how easy it is. No special ingredients needed.

Are you ready? It's so simple, you are going to go make some immediately.

The trick? Bring the water to a rolling boil first. Yes, BEFORE you put eggs into the water.

Put eggs into the boiling water. I use a slatted metal scoop 'thingy' I have. One of those tools that come in handy but I have no idea where it came from or what it is called. Please, don't let your hands touch the boiling water. It will hurt.

Set your timer for 15 minutes. I turn the water down to a med/high temp to keep a rolling boil going but preventing the dreaded boil over.

Once the timer dings, carefully drain the boiling water out and add cold water. Dump the cold water and add a second round of cold water. This will help stop the cooking process and make the eggs cool enough to handle.

Then, peel away! Perfect smooth eggs every time.

Now, go make some deviled eggs, egg salad, potato salad, or whatever your heart's desire.

Until next time...

Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie is my husband's all time favorite dessert. I never liked it.  Maybe I didn't try it enough or only had less than good pies? I don't know. BUT, I wanted to learn to make them so I could do something special for my hubby.

The first pecan pie I made was a complete fail. He ate it, but it probably should have gone in the trash. He is such a good sport. I don't have any idea what I did wrong, but it was wrong. It took a while before I was able to summons up enough courage to try again. Pecans are an expensive mistake. In general, each pie recipe after that first one has been easy and turned out; but all were a bit off in flavor or texture than what my husband was looking for. So, I kept trying.

I soon discovered that all recipes were essentially the same. Liquid sugar, eggs, butter, salt, and pecans. Those that boasted better or deeper flavors tended to use different types of sugars. I also didn't like the idea of all the sugar being corn syrup.

My latest attempt was a success! It is a bit of combination between several recipes plus a happy mistake. So, I figured I had better write it down in a place I will be able to find it again. I happened to have a local dark honey on hand so I used that. Other recipes called for white and/or brown sugar, so I tried using some brown sugar. Recipes called for 1-3 eggs. I used four - because I wasn't paying attention (the happy mistake). Some called for vanilla, some didn't. I decided it might be a nice addition. I also used the highest amount of butter I observed across recipes - because, well, yum. I was a bit worried I would have too much liquid with all of this and the pie wouldn't set. But it did. Yeah! Caution, I use our own farm eggs, which tend to be creamier than store bought eggs. I don't know if using store bought eggs would make any difference, but it might. And last, I love to use cast iron when I can, so I do all my pies in a large cast iron skillet.

The result is a good sink you teeth into pie. The consistency is perfectly gooey without any dry crust on top (one of the previous recipes had a flaky top, this does not).   I like the flavor and depth the dark honey gives the pie. Of course, that will very based on the honey you have.

Pecan Pie

3/4 c dark honey
3/4 c corn syrup
3/4 c brown sugar
4 eggs
1/4 c melted butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups pecans
2 pie crusts

About the crusts - I have a 12" cast iron skillet. I need 2 crusts in order to cover the skillet. If you have a smaller skillet, you can get away with just one. For now, I used store bought crusts as I have not worked at making any from scratch. Maybe that will be my next adventure??

Preheat oven to 350 deg F.

Line cast iron skillet with pie crusts.
Sprinkle crusts with about half of the pecans.
Wisk all other ingredients in a bowl until combined.
Pour filling into crust.
Bake pie approximately 30 minutes or until center is set.

Enjoy!

Jill

Spring on the Farm 2015

Spring is in full swing on the farm. I took a few minutes today to walk a bit of the farm to check on our progress. I discovered lots of happy progress.

The grape leaves are still growing and we have lots of TINY grapes beginning to grow. Such a great relief as last year we didn't get any. They had been so overgrown we had to do a major pruning job - and as a result went a year without grapes. We should have lots of grape jelly and wine making going on this year!

The azaleas are in full bloom. Most others around are fading, but mine are just starting. They are quite overgrown, but I didn't want to prune until after they were done blooming. So they will get a haircut in a few weeks.

The blackberries are starting to flower! They are just at the beginning stages of flowering, so I expect they will be super pretty in a few more days. We just need a little more sun and some warm weather.

The peaches have a few fruit 'buds' on them. Considering how much the deer and/or sheep have enjoyed munching on these little trees, I will be surprised if we get anything we can eat. But I will be watching!

My potatoes have FINALLY started to pop up! I was worried we got them too deep and they would not sprout at all. This is the first time we planted them with the tractor. So, like everything else, we have done a bit of experimenting.

The birds are all growing quickly. All of our chicks arrived the end of March. About 125 new birds. The ducks are the fastest to get BIG. Which is normal. We will be keeping a few ducks on the farm this year in an attempt to get eggs.

The meat chicks are hitting their ugly stage. Gone is the cute downy yellow fluff.

The eggs layers are the oldest - and smallest of our 'new' birds. But they will be the prettiest. :) They should start laying late August/September.

The sheep are shedding like crazy. They are mangy looking creatures, but continue to be a joy to have on the farm.

We got a little more work done on the roadside stand. That is a slow process that we work on as time allows. We don't really need it done until mid June, so we are not in a rush.

We are trying hard to get the garden planted. It is a long process as I can only do so much squatting at a time. It is back intensive work. But the first round of all my veggies are now in! Hopefully I will finish the second round over the next week or so. We also need to get the corn and cotton in the ground.

PHEW. I'm tired.

Miss Pearl's Broomstick Lace

I have been working on this crochet blanket for what seems like an eternity. Actually, I started working on it during the 2014 ice storm in NC that left us without power for a few days. But, as the weather warmed up, I stopped working on this project as it was just too hot. Then as the weather started to cool, I started working on it again. I have finally finished this lovely blanket and they kids are fighting over it. Even though it is a lace pattern, it is really warm.

I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful neighbor (Miss Pearl) who is 90 years old. She still lives on her own and drives. I love all the time I get to spend with her. During the time of no power, Miss Pearl taught me this pattern. It was such a surreal experience. Almost as if we had traveled back in time. Of course, Miss Pearl lived without power for many years. It wasn't until 1951 that she had power to her house. Crazy, right? The things I have learned while working on this project have been incredible. The stories she has told...

Anyways, onto the pattern. This is a fairly good size blanket. I am doing it as a scrap blanket - using up lots of odds and ends of yarn. I don't know how much yarn this blanket required - lots. Most of this blanket used partial skeins of all types of yarns. The best I can say is several thousand yards of worsted weight yarn.

You will need a HUGE knitting needle (mine is size 35) or a broomstick handle. Something that is about an inch in diameter and 12-18 inches in length. This will be used to set the size of the 'lace'. Exact size is not important, it will just make the loops bigger or smaller. I will call this the 'point' as that is what Miss Pearl calls it.

Read through all the instructions before you start. There are some notes at the bottom that will help working the entire project. These pictures are all from mid project. The first row of lace will help set everything in motion. Once you have that first row of lace complete, then you can simply work from the previous rows, doing your best to stick to the pattern.

Let's get started!

1. Chain 300 (you may want to use markers along the way so you don't lose count).
2. Single crochet in each loop on the 'return'.
3. Put Loops on the Point: insert hook into first sc, yarn over, pull up loop, put loop onto the point. Repeat in the top of each stitch (and no, I don't count. Just keep going until you can't go anymore). Your point will be full and tightly packed.

4. Do not turn your work. Going back, in the first 2 loops, sc 5 times. The first sc is a little different -your hook is already 'inserted' through the 2 loops. yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over and pull through the one loop on the hook. All other sc will be normal. Since the first sc of each row is really a partial stitch, it makes pulling up the big loops of the lace slightly tricky. the very last loop to pull up will be in the funky stitch. You will see when you do it. Feel free to ask if you run into any problems.

5. In the next 3 loops, single crochet 3 times.
6. In the next 3 loops, single crochet 3 times.

7. In the next 3 loops, single crochet 3 times.
8. In the next 9 loops, single crochet 3 times. (notice, 3 of the loops are from a 3-3 set, 3 are from a 9-3 set and 3 loops are from another 3-3 set.)

9. In the next 3 loops, single crochet 3 times.
10. In the next 3 loops, single crochet 3 times.

11. In the next 3 loops, single crochet 3 times.
12. In the next 3 loops, single crochet 9 times.

13. Repeat steps 5-12 until you get to the end. You should have 2 loops at the very end, single crochet 5 times in these 2 loops.
14. Now you need to put loops on your point again. You simply repeat steps 3 through 13 until you put as many rows on your project as you want.

I wanted to keep my color changes at the ends of rows, as opposed to mid row. But that is entirely up to you. Of course, that means I now have a bunch of little scraps left over. To be a truly scrappy blanket I would simply change as my yarn ran out.

Sometimes, my counts get off. I have no idea why - apparently I don't pay quite enough attention as I am doing this. But this is a very forgiving pattern in which you can hide the mistakes. Make sure the top and bottom of your zig zags line up. Sometimes I do this by using just 2 loops instead of 3 or 7 instead of 9. Just depends on how badly I messed up. Don't worry, no one will notice.

Let me know if you have any questions. It is really a very easy pattern in which you don't have to do a lot of thinking. The best type of pattern as far as I am concerned.

Happy crocheting!

Jill

Crazy Farm

This weekend we welcomed some sheep to our farm! It has been so exciting adding some larger animals to the farm.

Meet Daisy May and her baby Binky (both are white). Binky is about 3 weeks old.

We also brought home Mabel who was pregnant. On Monday, Mabel gave birth to a cut little boy we named Hunter. Hunter looks a bit like a cow. I was lucky enough to witness the birth!! Mabel did a great job and is proving to be a wonderful mother.

About 1 hour post birth

With the addition of new animals to the farm, I have been put into scenarios I never dreamed possible. I also have imagined some scenarios I am SOOOO thankful never actually happened. I have to share these as they have given me some good laughs - now that I know they didn't actually happen and hopefully they never will.

The first came about while Mabel was in labor. Remember, we have NO experience with sheep - or other 'large' farm animals for that matter. I was blessed to witness the birth of a cow a few years ago at a neighbor's farm. There I learned that if the cow labors for 30-60 minutes and doesn't progress, they will help with the birth. Now, here I am watching Mabel move around with a couple of hooves emerging. I figured I should probably watch the clock. After about 20 minutes with NO progress, I was starting to worry (thinking about the cow time frame). I was able to get a vet on the phone, and sure enough sheep have the same 30-60 min time frame. Mild panic starts to surface. Luckily, mama was doing well and in no obvious stress. So, I start to prepare to 'help' mama. I found some gloves and washed them REALLY good. Changed my clothes and took my coat off - wouldn't want to ruin that. All the while I was praying Mabel would be done by the time I checked on her again. No such luck. A little more panic starts to surface. This is a sheep that doesn't know me, it is her first birth, I may need to help her, and I am the ONLY one home. ACK! Time to put my big girl panties on and do what needs to be done as we are now at about the hour mark. I take a few steps towards Mabel and she starts to bolt. Oh crap. I took a step back in hopes she would calm down.  How on earth am I going to hold her AND get the baby out??? So here is where the CRAZY scene pops into my head. Me, straddling Mabel BACKWARDS to try to hold her still while grabbing onto baby and pulling. Meanwhile she takes off running and there I am trying to hold on with all  my might and trying to deliver her baby. It still makes me laugh. Luckily, nature took over and Mabel delivered within another couple of minutes. I think God knew I was in way over my head and gave me Mabel a break. PHEW!!!

2 days post birth

The second scene that never actually happened came on Tuesday (the very next day). After getting home from work I let the dog out and went out to check on the sheep. And yes, I did change my clothes first - the mud on the farm is CRAZY after 2 days of rain. As I approach the area the chickens and sheep are, the dog is going crazy. A couple of steps reveals why - Binky had gotten out of the fenced area she was supposed to be in. Oh crap - again! I need to open a gate and get her in without letting the other sheep or chickens out. The dog needs to be put up as who knows what she is going to do. Daisy May is beside herself as she can't protect her baby. After several failed attempts on my part, Daisy May and Binky are now BOTH on the wrong side of the fence and in danger of getting into a tangle with the dog. Likely that scene was hilarious to watch - I bet we could make millions if we were on tv.  Then I see it - the gates that are my only hope of keeping these sheep contained on the farm are WIDE open. ACK! Enter, crazy scene. Daisy May and Binky running down the road with me chasing them, yelling, and waving my arms trying not to get hit by cars that are FLYING by at 55 mph. Luckily, I was able to get the dog in the house and gates closed before the sheep got out. By the time I got back, my little lovelies were safe and sound back where they belong. PHEW!

Thank goodness nature just took over and the right things happened. Since then, we have been trying to work with them so they aren't so skittish.

Hopefully there won't be any more situations that come up that will cause my panic to rise that much again. But, I'm sure there will. Until then, we will have fun with our newest farm members.

Until next time...

Jill