My family is obsessed with Alton Brown.
My children, as babies, found him fascinating. They still "videoit" whenever he is on. My brother, my father, they watch every episode whenever possible. Perhaps my children found him interesting because their grandfather was watching him during their formative years...I'm not sure. But, nonetheless, he is a unique TV personality.
My aunt even followed Alton all around the US on a trip that he wrote about in his book.
Unfortunately,I don't share the total obsession as I live on the farm. My cooking life is not filled with mushroom brushes or pate knives, but is instead filled with copious amounts of seasonal produce that needs to be put down immediately. Alternatively (or concurrently, depending on the season), I need to have multiple meals ready at particular times...although those times may change with the weather.
This is my small ode to Alton. Through his tv show, I finally learned to grill without tears.
I find that Alton is a bit scientific for me. I realize that flour by weight is indeed more accurate than flour by volume, but honestly, I don't care. Half the time my recipes are 50 to 100 years old and require different amounts of flour anyway. I mean, really, when we aren't grinding our own flour, the consistency is different.
And professionally, I can tell you that the gluten profiles in modern wheat varieties are different. Thus, all old recipes must be adjusted accordingly. But that is another blog.
Somewhere ('cause I can't find it online), Alton had an episode which talked about how men are bad barbequers. He didn't mean "bad" as in good...he meant bad as in didn't use separate plates and utensils and therefore transferred bad bacteria. And men didn't use meat thermometers. So he showed them how to grill by the clock...which helped me a lot.
Or maybe the whole episode was in my imagination. It doesn't matter anyway. I can now put a grilled burger/pork chop/chicken piece on the table cooked to the correct temperature on time just about every night.
However, it is 20:30 now, and supper was supposed to be ready for 19:30. And the cats have already tried to eat the whole thing.
Sorry Alton, there is no planning for farmers.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
farm kids
It is spring time despite the frost warnings, so the little baby animals are out and about. This brings a great deal of delight to my little girls' lives.
Trips to take coffee to the tractor, or to soccer practice, or to the lake are punctuated by "look at the adorable little calf", "I think the white one is soooooo cute", "oh, that foal is just so sweet" etc., etc.
I'm trying to keep things real with the girls. It is a survival mechanism to avoid the pony. Ponies are not inevitable, no matter what the neighbours say.
Anyway, while the girls were gushing over the new calves while we drove by Desrochers this evening, I asked them if they realized that the cute little calves turned into big, ugly cows.
From the back seat, my youngest replied "yes, but that's okay because then the big, ugly cows get together and have babies and then there are more cute little calves."
Wonder if I need to have a chat with the Kindergarten teacher...there are a lot of new baby siblings in the K class this year, and it sounds like perhaps the little people have figured it all out. Or maybe it just comes with being a farm kid.
Trips to take coffee to the tractor, or to soccer practice, or to the lake are punctuated by "look at the adorable little calf", "I think the white one is soooooo cute", "oh, that foal is just so sweet" etc., etc.
I'm trying to keep things real with the girls. It is a survival mechanism to avoid the pony. Ponies are not inevitable, no matter what the neighbours say.
Anyway, while the girls were gushing over the new calves while we drove by Desrochers this evening, I asked them if they realized that the cute little calves turned into big, ugly cows.
From the back seat, my youngest replied "yes, but that's okay because then the big, ugly cows get together and have babies and then there are more cute little calves."
Wonder if I need to have a chat with the Kindergarten teacher...there are a lot of new baby siblings in the K class this year, and it sounds like perhaps the little people have figured it all out. Or maybe it just comes with being a farm kid.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
one of those days
Things are "going" on the farm. I wish they were going faster, but the weather can't be helped.
As I read my brother's blog tonight, I recognize that my lifestyle may not be the most conducive to planning. I have also noticed this when talking with my parents, who are trying to co-ordinate their travel plans around my harvest schedule.
Today, for instance, my in-laws were getting concrete poured in their garage. Dale was just going to shut down the seeder and go help with that. However, I am a pest/nag therefore I asked to be shown how to sow in order to keep the machine moving. We only started sowing yesterday, it is late, it was a kindergarten day - no reason why I couldn't drive the tractor.
Thing is, we knew about this...last night. Makes things difficult to plan. Add the weather, which looked sunny (I took my sunglasses out to the tractor) until it started snowing, ice pelleting and finally raining really hard and my day ended up being full of strange and diverse tasks.
Make coffee; make breakfast for kids; make lunch for kids; do hair for kids; ensure kids have all belongings; get dressed for work; drink coffee; put kids on bus; add parka and insulated overalls to work clothing; go to tractor and sow for a few hours.
Drive tractor back to yard when it starts pouring; drive home (grouchy); make lunch for self; eat lunch.
Surf web; wake poor husband from nap; nag poor husband to go get seed as it has stopped raining and is drying up.
Boil soup bones.
Make cookies.
Get kids off bus; help with homework; feed kids snack; change out of work clothes; apply makeup to cover dirt; get child ready for soccer and go to soccer practice.
Get mail; get groceries; get fuel; get child from soccer.
Make supper; eat supper; continue making stock; water poor little cold plants in the coldframe; close the coldframe; put kids through bath; make coffee.
Take coffee and cookies to tractor; put kids to bed (threaten children); drink 1/2 cup of coffee left in the pot; continue making stock.
Put stock in garage to cool overnight; soak pressure cooker; unload dishwasher; load dishwasher; wash floor.
Answer weather call; wish that the stupid system had stayed in Montana.
And today was a quiet day, and very, very nice as Dale fed himself all day long. Tomorrow - well, I know that Jo has soccer practice and I should probably skim that stock. Other than that, we'll just have to see!
As I read my brother's blog tonight, I recognize that my lifestyle may not be the most conducive to planning. I have also noticed this when talking with my parents, who are trying to co-ordinate their travel plans around my harvest schedule.
Today, for instance, my in-laws were getting concrete poured in their garage. Dale was just going to shut down the seeder and go help with that. However, I am a pest/nag therefore I asked to be shown how to sow in order to keep the machine moving. We only started sowing yesterday, it is late, it was a kindergarten day - no reason why I couldn't drive the tractor.
Thing is, we knew about this...last night. Makes things difficult to plan. Add the weather, which looked sunny (I took my sunglasses out to the tractor) until it started snowing, ice pelleting and finally raining really hard and my day ended up being full of strange and diverse tasks.
Make coffee; make breakfast for kids; make lunch for kids; do hair for kids; ensure kids have all belongings; get dressed for work; drink coffee; put kids on bus; add parka and insulated overalls to work clothing; go to tractor and sow for a few hours.
Drive tractor back to yard when it starts pouring; drive home (grouchy); make lunch for self; eat lunch.
Surf web; wake poor husband from nap; nag poor husband to go get seed as it has stopped raining and is drying up.
Boil soup bones.
Make cookies.
Get kids off bus; help with homework; feed kids snack; change out of work clothes; apply makeup to cover dirt; get child ready for soccer and go to soccer practice.
Get mail; get groceries; get fuel; get child from soccer.
Make supper; eat supper; continue making stock; water poor little cold plants in the coldframe; close the coldframe; put kids through bath; make coffee.
Take coffee and cookies to tractor; put kids to bed (threaten children); drink 1/2 cup of coffee left in the pot; continue making stock.
Put stock in garage to cool overnight; soak pressure cooker; unload dishwasher; load dishwasher; wash floor.
Answer weather call; wish that the stupid system had stayed in Montana.
And today was a quiet day, and very, very nice as Dale fed himself all day long. Tomorrow - well, I know that Jo has soccer practice and I should probably skim that stock. Other than that, we'll just have to see!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
sure signs of spring on the farm
It must be spring. The calendar says it is May, but I think it might almost be getting there in real life. Here are 10 reasons why I think so:
1. wood ticks.
The ticks are out. Charlotte is attracting them like only Charli can. She picked one out of her hair this morning (not her first) - although considering the weather yesterday, it was unexpected. I had hoped that they had all frozen! She has to learn not to take her entire scalp with the tick, although she did get the head, so I guess that was good. I'll catch her with the polysporin after her bath.
2. soccer in the snow
It is soccer season. First game was last night. It snowed. Jo wore her skating tights under her uniform and her beige mini mitts - she was warm and looked somewhat normal for soccer. I, however, froze my little butt. We still haven't stopped Jo from skipping while playing, but she sure was happy!
3. skating in the sun
It is still skating season. We'll be done next week, but it is called "spring school", so that must make it spring. And most of the time (today was an exception), there is no snow. It is nice to go from sneakers to skates, and to only have to pack one set of clothes (again, excepting today, when we had to sit inside the rink, in the cold.)
4. rummage sales and garage sales are on
We had to sit in the cold Foxwarren rink today because the warm waiting room was crowded with bargain hunters. I had already shopped - the stuff has been there for two weeks. I did wonder why there was such a steady stream of traffic headed towards Hamiota, until I realized that it was town-wide garage sale and auction sale day! Oooh, what fun.
5. lawn mowing
I mowed the lawn today. I didn't really plan to, I was just trying to run last year's gas out of the push mower so that Dale could service it. After mowing the whole stinking lawn, I have had my workout, the mower still has gas in it and the thing will have to wait until the grass grows again to get serviced. Blah.
6. wood cutting and child labour
I got the chainsaw out again to get rid of a few suckers on Maple trees and other assorted bush debris. The kids will be paid to move the branches, although they're going to be waiting a while for that new Hannah Montana soundtrack at this rate!
7. campfire and wieners
We've already had the first campfire of the season, using last years branch harvest to cook our stuff. It was a great way to clean up the lawn - the kids burnt all of last years leaves (that they raked up) and we got rid of a few bits of wood too. We're barbecuing wieners too these days. I have to giggle - the cats won't leave meat alone on the plates or the counters - horrible habit, I know. If bread stuffs are left out, they'll eat right through the bag. However, the hotdog that Char couldn't finish is still left out on the table unscathed...
8. Almost buds on the trees - or at least that hairy look
But no sign of any asparagus. And I'm not sure where some of my perennials have gone. I think I moved them. I don't remember. The rhubarb is there, at least. I haven't lost that. I have the kozy koats out with tomatoes in them. I have the cold frame out with plants in it. But, with lows of -3 tonight (and lower for the last few), they are covered with blankets, again.
9. Coffee is made more than once a day
Today was the first day that the coffee machine has started to earn its living (well, other than when Granny was here :-) ) We've invested in stainless steel thermoses (thermi?) to make this season go a bit smoother. It is rather retro - everything looks so nice and sleek right now. I'll give it about a week until the thermi a) get lost somewhere in the tractor and grow mold; b) get run over by the tractor or implement; or c) come back dented and greasy, making me wonder what exactly has gone on in the tractor
10. The "I'll call you when I need a ride" has started
Tonight, it's supposed to be before midnight. The girls will get back into the habit of sleeping in pyjamas that can transfer to the car. This lifestyle is a good thing. We're finally started anhydrousing. This should last a week or so - Dale and his dad will be working from first fill (6:30 - 7 a.m.) until they run the tank out sometime after 11 p.m. every night. I'll get to harrow when the kids are in school. Then we (hopefully) will start seeding.
And maybe, by then, it will really be spring, and not this joke of a season.
1. wood ticks.
The ticks are out. Charlotte is attracting them like only Charli can. She picked one out of her hair this morning (not her first) - although considering the weather yesterday, it was unexpected. I had hoped that they had all frozen! She has to learn not to take her entire scalp with the tick, although she did get the head, so I guess that was good. I'll catch her with the polysporin after her bath.
2. soccer in the snow
It is soccer season. First game was last night. It snowed. Jo wore her skating tights under her uniform and her beige mini mitts - she was warm and looked somewhat normal for soccer. I, however, froze my little butt. We still haven't stopped Jo from skipping while playing, but she sure was happy!
3. skating in the sun
It is still skating season. We'll be done next week, but it is called "spring school", so that must make it spring. And most of the time (today was an exception), there is no snow. It is nice to go from sneakers to skates, and to only have to pack one set of clothes (again, excepting today, when we had to sit inside the rink, in the cold.)
4. rummage sales and garage sales are on
We had to sit in the cold Foxwarren rink today because the warm waiting room was crowded with bargain hunters. I had already shopped - the stuff has been there for two weeks. I did wonder why there was such a steady stream of traffic headed towards Hamiota, until I realized that it was town-wide garage sale and auction sale day! Oooh, what fun.
5. lawn mowing
I mowed the lawn today. I didn't really plan to, I was just trying to run last year's gas out of the push mower so that Dale could service it. After mowing the whole stinking lawn, I have had my workout, the mower still has gas in it and the thing will have to wait until the grass grows again to get serviced. Blah.
6. wood cutting and child labour
I got the chainsaw out again to get rid of a few suckers on Maple trees and other assorted bush debris. The kids will be paid to move the branches, although they're going to be waiting a while for that new Hannah Montana soundtrack at this rate!
7. campfire and wieners
We've already had the first campfire of the season, using last years branch harvest to cook our stuff. It was a great way to clean up the lawn - the kids burnt all of last years leaves (that they raked up) and we got rid of a few bits of wood too. We're barbecuing wieners too these days. I have to giggle - the cats won't leave meat alone on the plates or the counters - horrible habit, I know. If bread stuffs are left out, they'll eat right through the bag. However, the hotdog that Char couldn't finish is still left out on the table unscathed...
8. Almost buds on the trees - or at least that hairy look
But no sign of any asparagus. And I'm not sure where some of my perennials have gone. I think I moved them. I don't remember. The rhubarb is there, at least. I haven't lost that. I have the kozy koats out with tomatoes in them. I have the cold frame out with plants in it. But, with lows of -3 tonight (and lower for the last few), they are covered with blankets, again.
9. Coffee is made more than once a day
Today was the first day that the coffee machine has started to earn its living (well, other than when Granny was here :-) ) We've invested in stainless steel thermoses (thermi?) to make this season go a bit smoother. It is rather retro - everything looks so nice and sleek right now. I'll give it about a week until the thermi a) get lost somewhere in the tractor and grow mold; b) get run over by the tractor or implement; or c) come back dented and greasy, making me wonder what exactly has gone on in the tractor
10. The "I'll call you when I need a ride" has started
Tonight, it's supposed to be before midnight. The girls will get back into the habit of sleeping in pyjamas that can transfer to the car. This lifestyle is a good thing. We're finally started anhydrousing. This should last a week or so - Dale and his dad will be working from first fill (6:30 - 7 a.m.) until they run the tank out sometime after 11 p.m. every night. I'll get to harrow when the kids are in school. Then we (hopefully) will start seeding.
And maybe, by then, it will really be spring, and not this joke of a season.
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