CAN WE SURVIVE A BLIZZARD?

My sister and I chatted long distance on Christmas Day. They were expecting a blizzard that night, and was anxious to get to the store for bread and milk, and few other things.

Got me thinking.

We have goats for milk.

We have chickens for eggs.

We have feed and hay for chickens and goats.

I have 23 pounds of flour (because my baking business is taking off) plus yeast, baking powder, canola oil and other things to do baking.

In our dining room window and on the tiny storefront shelves by the front door, we have pots of these growing: string beans, tomatoes, lettuces, radishes, and herbs like rosemary and parsley.

I have jars of things I've dehydrated and put away, like zucchini, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, etc.  And canned goods like premade soups, tomato paste, fruits, etc. A freezer full of chickens.

We have a fireplace and plenty of wood.

We have water.

We have enough to last a minimum of a month. Probably closer to a year.

What about YOU?

http://www.rosemary-ridge.blogspot.com

UPDATE FROM FAMILY ON DEC 13 2012

I realize it's been a while since I've written here, but so much has happened.

My Tween has turned into a 16 year old with autism and epilepsy. He has some neurons that didn't form correctly in his brain (in utero) and some lesions and a small tumor.

We live out in the boonies, on a tiny 2 acres. Goats: 2 girls, 1 baby girl, 1 buck and 1 wether. Chickens: about 50 ranging from 3 days old to 2 years old, bantams and standards. Chicken varieties: silkies, cuckoo marans, black australorps, red stars, eggers (standard size and bantam), and all kinds of crosses that we hatched ourselves.

We grow as much of our food as possible but it'll be years before nut trees and some of our fruit trees bear. Loved the red raspberries and blueberries we ate this summer; we're adding even more plus yellow raspberries, purple raspberries, blackberries and currants in 2013.

Started a goat milk cheese share program in 2012 to help pay for my kid's expenses. Going well and have gotten egg and produce customers from it too.

We still have a LOT more to do but yes, we consider ourselves homesteaders. Do we believe the world will end on Dec 21 2012? Nope, but we still prep and could be considered survivalists.  We get powerful snowstorms and windstorms and microbursts (mini-tornadoes) out here a lot so we often are without power. We adjust.



= = = = = = =

Check out our farm's website we just started: Rosemary Ridge

PADAVALANGA KUZHAMBU CURRY(Quick n easy Snake gourd curry)

INGREDIENTS

Padavalanga/Snake gourd-------1 medium size

Red chilli powder------------------ 2 tsp (adjust to taste)

Grated coconut-------------------- 1/2 cup(grind to a smooth paste)

Cumin powder---------------------a pinch (optional)

Salt as needed

For Tempering

Oil------------------------------------1tsp

Mustard seeds---------------------1/2 tsp

Dried red chilli---------------------2

Small onion/shallots---------------3 sliced

Curry leaves-----------------------1 sprig

METHOD

1. Scrape and clean the Snake gourd and cut in to small cubes.
2. Cook the cut pieces with needed salt, water and chilly powder.
3. Add ground coconut to it. 
4. Sprinkle cumin powder to it.
5. Now do the tempering . For this, heat oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds,dried red chilli and curry leaves.Then saute the onion slightly.
6. Pour the tempering to the curry.
7. Serve hot with rice or chapathi.

Note: The curry should be thick.So don't add too much water.

GOAT YOGURT IN THE CROCKPOT

I have a yogurt maker. Hubby bought it for me when we first moved out here on the farm and the goats started producing milk. (Hubby is lactose intolerant and my Kid would eat a $3.00 bought goat yogurt a day). I used it a couple of times but never could get it to come out good enough.

Trying again, but this time, without the yogurt maker. I'm using my crockpot. I tried it last weekend, without looking up a recipe at all, so naturally, it didn't work. Did make a very nice cheese tho!

Then I googled "how to make yogurt without a yogurt maker" and came across a wonderful blog of a person who cooked 365 in her crockpot. Yogurt was just one of those days.

Here's the condensed version but reduced to fit my 3 quart crockpot and using my ingredients:

Suggestion: Start in early or mid morning to get best results.

Ingredients:
6 cups of fresh whole goat milk (qt and a half) (I pour mine directly from filterer)
1/3 cup plain yogurt (if Dannon, use a bit more)
 (Someday I will try 1/4 tsp probiotic instead as suggested elsewhere)

Directions:
-Pour milk into crockpot and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours.
-Turn off crockpot and let sit for 3 hours.
-Take out about 2 cups of milk in a glass measuring cup.
-Whisk in yogurt or probiotic to the measuring cup.
-Pour back to crockpot. Cover with heavy towel to keep warmth in.
-Let sit overnight.

Afterwards:
To make it thicker, stir in a couple pinches of tapioca starch or unflavored gelatin to the yogurt starter (mix well then add).

Serve with a drizzle of pureed fruit or honey or agave nectar or maple syrup.  I'm gonna portion some out and add some powdered dehydrated fruit and either refrigerate or pour into popsicle molds for a frozen treat later.

Keep some of the plain to the side (in the fridge) to use as a starter next time.

And to keep it super healthy, pour your finished yogurt into 4 or 8 oz jelly jars, top with lid, screw on the ring and refrigerate. Good to add to your loved ones' lunch boxes without adding more waste to the trash can. The current batch I have going ... I'll add some pureed raspberry to the bottom of one, pureed peach to another, homemade blackberry jam to another. Gives us variety even tho it doesn't last long.
Gluten-free!

METHI /FENUGREEK LEAVES PEPPER CURRY (Post natal food)

This is a very traditional dish .
This curry is served along with plain rice or rice kanji/rice porridge as lunch or dinner for up to 28 days after delivery. The same curry can be prepared with drumstick leaves too. 
This is highly nutritious and a good source of iron. It is very good for breastfeeding moms.


INGREDIENTS


Coriander seeds/powder---------1/2 tsp
Black pepper corns/powder-----1 tsp
Cumin seeds------------------------1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder-------------------1/2 tsp
Grind the above ingredients to a smooth paste and keep it aside.


Fenu greek /Methi leaves------a bunch
Garlic ---------------------------------2 large cloves crushed
Ginger---------------------------------a small piece,crushed (optional)
Water as required
Salt as needed


METHOD

1. In vessel add little water and then add the ground masala.
2. When it boils add methi leaves,crushed garlic and needed salt.
3. Cook in medium flame.
4. Serve hot.

RAGI AND MUSTARD KURUKKU(Post natal food)

This is a very healthy food.In my family this is given as breakfast to woman after 15 days of delivery.

INGREDIENTS

Ragi powder------------------------3tbsp
Mustard powder-------------------1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder------------------1/2 tsp
Grated coconut---------------------1/2 tsp or to taste
Ghee or Sesame oil---------------- 1/4 tsp or to taste
Salt as needed
Water as required

METHOD

1. In a vessel boil a cup of water with mustard powder,turmeric powder and salt in it.
2. Next,mix smoothly(without any lumps)the ragi powder and little water in a bowl .
3. Now add the ragi to the boiling water and keep stirring for few minutes till it is fully cooked.
4. Add grated coconut and keep stirring in medium low flame for about 2 minutes.
5. Serve hot with little ghee or sesame oil in it.

Note: Adjust water to get the required consistency.

HOLIDAY MENU PLANS

Putting the finishing touches on my plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Here's my criteria:
-gluten-free
-lactose-free
-corn-free
-use one of our huge roosters - we call this chicken "Thanksgiving" and some of our garden produce

Thanksgiving:
huge chicken, roasted with garlic, "butter" and poultry seasoning
stuffing with mushrooms and water chestnuts
potato skins with bacon and rice cheese
sweet potatoes with "butter" and cinnamon-toasted-pecans
cranberry-and-orange muffins
pecan pie tarts

Christmas:
ham (gotta buy this year)
homemade bread
green beans with sliced almonds
mashed potatoes
apple chunks fried in cinnamon with walnuts and pecans
pumpkin-cheesecake-yogurt tarts

What would YOU add to these menues?