Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Sweet Shop - my neighbor at the market

Lisa is an artist with a cupcake! Beautiful colors and designs, creative flavors - my favorite is Lemon,lemon,lemon. The pink ones are new - Pink Champagne. Her booth is always mobbed, and she sells out every week before closing time.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Curried Rabbit

1 rabbit, cut into pieces
1 T butter
3 large onions
1" piece of fresh ginger
3 tsp ground coriander powder
2 cups chicken stock
1 tsp curry powder
1 can can corn
salt to taste

Brown rabbit pieces on all sides in butter, then add onion and ginger and continue frying for a few more minutes
Mix the ground coriander with the chicken stock and add to the pan with a good pinch of salt.
Cover and simmer for about 2 hours or until the rabbit is tender. (If the liquid is reduced too much add more water as necessary.)
Finally sprinkle in the curry powder and the sweet corn and simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes
Serve over rice

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Babies everywhere!

3 pearls from my FA/NZW meat pen

Larue, Britton, and Ram#877
It was very quiet in the mixing pen tonight - very contented, mellow lambs.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Larue at 5 days

Britton at 4 days




Catching up - finally got six ram lambs from X1

Adagio's whopper, born this morning.  15.5#

Ballad's Twin ram lambs
Collette's ram lamb
"Spot", Bess' ram lamb
Wilkie's ram lamb

Pecan Crusted Lambchops

6 lamb chops 1/2 c coarsely chopped pecans
1/4 c flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 T fresh rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
2 medium cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 c bread crumbs, fine, dry, plain or seasoned
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
2 - 3 T Dijon mustard

Preparation:  In a food processor or chopper, combine pecans, parsley, rosemary, garlic, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. Process until very finely chopped. Transfer to a plate. Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a baking pan or roasting pan which will hold the chops in one layer. Set oven to 350° and place pan in oven to preheat. Rub each chop with mustard then place on pecan mixture, turning to coat all sides. Place in preheated pan in oven and roast for about 20 minutes for medium to medium-rare, turning once about halfway through.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Monkey Portrait

Overseeing the shearing operation. Every job needs a supervisor to make certain everything is well planned and properly executed.

Shearing is over!

We sheared last night after I got home from work. Sam got here at 7:15, and left at 10:30. 34 fleeces all ready to work with now.
Here is Sam shearing.

1st ram lamb of the season


Somerhill Colette had a ram lamb just as I got home tonight. These X1 sired lambs are so nice. He was up in no time, and eating right away. I'm really pleased with them. He is the only pink skinned lamb so far.

Somerhill Rowan lambs

These two ewe lambs were born this morning.  Last year, Rowan had triplet black lambs.  This year, only one is black.  I'm pleased with the vigor of these X1 lambs!  The black is Lexi, and the white is Lucerne.

Somerhill Britton


Ewe lamb born Monday morning to SHF Caliope.


Sunday, March 13, 2011

Announcing Somerhill Larue !

Hello! I am the first Llwygy X1 sired lamb born in the US.
My mama (Royce) is very proud of me.
Life is good!

Friday, March 11, 2011

THE RIVER CITY FARMER'S MARKET IS CLOSED SATURDAY

Due to the danger of flooding, the farmer's market is closed tomorrow.  The Ohio River is expected to crest just below 40 feet, and if so, the fairgrounds should not be flooded.  However, for the safety of the vendors and our customers, the market board decided to cancel Saturday's market.  We should be back to our regular schedule on March 19th, and will open at 9AM.

Lamb steaks with crab topping

2 lamb leg steaks 2-3 strips of bacon
1/2 c long grain rice
3 T snipped fresh parsley
1 T butter
1/3 c  half-and-half or light cream
1/2 a 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese
2 T thinly sliced green onion
1/2 tsp. seasoned pepper or herb-pepper seasoning
2 oz. drained, flaked canned crabmeat (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 tsp. lemon juice

Season steaks with salt and ground black pepper. Wrap edges in bacon, and secure with a toothpick. Place steaks on unheated rack of broiler pan. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat for 18 to 21 minutes for medium(160 degrees F). Turn once halfway through cooking. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan cook rice according to package directions. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the parsley and the 1 tablespoon butter. Cover; let stand for 5 minutes. In small saucepan combine half-and-half, cream cheese, onion, seasoning, and remaining parsley. Cook and stir over medium heat until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in crabmeat and lemon juice; heat through. Place steaks on two dinner plates. Pack rice in two 6-ounce custard cups; invert onto plates. Spoon crab topping over meat. Serve with steamed snow peas or a nice salad. 

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Farmers Market Vendors

Fallon's have started bringing their mixed bean sprouts. 
Soon they will have lettuce, green onions,
 and other early spring veggies. 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Oh joy, snow

Yes, after over a week without it, we have snow cover again.
Should be melted early in the week, though.
I was remembering 3 years ago this weekend, when we were lambing several ewes bred to CH R1 and Barlaes Titus.  It was the only storm of the winter - snow, gale force winds, sub-zero temperatures. The 3 sets of triplets we had that weekend were not fun, although they all survived.   Since we have several ewes bred to Llwygy X1 due starting March 17th, I'm hoping for some decent nearly spring weather for those few days. 

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Rae and the kits

The pearls - now why can't I get any from my French Angora does?  
Pearl, tort, black, and REW.  The little tort is a girl, and a cutie pie
.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Southern Fried Rabbit with Gravy

1/3 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 rabbit, cut up
vegetable oil
3 T. flour
1 1/2 c. milk or chicken broth
salt and pepper
brown bouquet sauce (if desired)

In a lg. plastic food-storage bag, combine 1/3 c. flour, the salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Shake to mix. Add rabbit pieces and shake to coat.
In a large skillet, heat 1/4 inch of oil over med-high heat until hot. Add coated meat. Brown on all sides. Reduce heat and cover tightly. Cook over very low heat until tender, 20-25 minutes, turning pieces once. Remove cover, and cook 5 mins. longer to crisp.
Transfer meat to plate lined with paper towels. Set aside to keep warm.
Discard all but 3 T. oil. Over med. heat, stir flour into reserved oil. Blend in milk. Cook over med. heat, stirring constantly, until  thicken and bubbly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add bouquet sauce if darker color is desired. Serve gravy with meat.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Farm Market Vendors

One of the vendors at the Marietta farmer's market makes wooden kitchen tools, and sells herbs.

Somerhill Nethy Bridge

This is "Bo", a short yearling ram which I will be entering in the show/sale at Wooster, Ohio in May. He will be judged, and then entered in the auction sale on Sunday, May 29th.
Bo is doing very well learing to walk on a lead.  He is a
pleasant tempered, easy going fellow, and seems eager to please.

Columbus

This is the view from the top of the Chestnut St parking garage. I had to park on the top (9th) level while attending SWCD meetings in Columbus this week. That is the Hyatt Regency to the right, where the meetings were held. Its a block away by enclosed walkway.

Washington PA show results

 I decided to return to the Washington PA show after a few year's hiatus.    We had 15 Frosties entered.  For Show A,  Diana Keisel had ...