Super simple supper

Remember, my personal motto is "look like Martha Stewart in half the time". So I was really excited to try this pot roast recipe.

You start with a roast. I didn't have one. However I did have two fairly thick cuts of beef in the freezer. We had a quarter cow delivered from a local farmer, and I still don't know what each cut is called. Regardless, they went in the crockpot. I added baby potatoes and carrots.

Now this is the super simple magic part. You take three packets - one reduced salt brown gravy, one ranch dressing and one country herb.

I only had turkey gravy so I used that - which means mine will be very salty. Oh well. 

Sprinkle the packets over the roast. 

Add about an inch of water. Cook on low for about 6-7 hours.

The roast will be yummy and the gravy is awesome.

Super simple supper!

Garden season begins

You really have to like working in the soil to be an effective gardener. I find the best time of day is early morning, despite the fact that the Mosquitos will eat you alive. 

I am trying to plant things that will do well in our small farm store - zucchini, cucumber, carrots. I am even trying potatoes this year.  The trouble is that I am quite enjoying myself, and next year when my mat leave is over I am going to miss having this time to garden.  I just hope I can keep it up.

The raised beds make the world of difference. Things are growing in leaps and bounds and covering them with greenhouse plastic gave me a good head start.

This is our raspberry and strawberry patch. If the birds don't eat them we will have a good yield this year.

And yes, that is one gigantic happy rhubarb! I can't wait to make rhubarb pies!

Market Sign is almost done!

This has been the longest project ever - but I am really happy with the results. 

I just finished putting a coat of clear varnish on them to seal them and give some UV protection. I used a spray can varnish simply because it's easy and there is less clean up! 

I then began my next sign - I think I am addicted. :)

I used a piece of old barn board, and wooden letters that I got at Wallymart. They were only $1.00 a letter! So this was a cheap sign to make.

The store is coming along...here is a sneak peak. It's still got some finishing touches before its done.

Market Venture - Sign making part two

This project is taking a little longer than I thought, but I am quite pleased with the results.

I printed out my words, taped them on the boards with painters tape and used a sharp pointed pen to trace on top of them pressing firmly on each letter.

This is what it looked like when I lifted the stencil.

There was an imprint of each letter. I then used a black sharpie to outline the back lettering and a white gel pen for the white lettering.

This part took a little patience.

The white gel pen was a bit tricky, but worked well enough.

Coco kept me company - and supervised. (ps. That's our new chalk wall in behind him)

And then the little guy woke up! So I will have to start painting tomorrow. 

 

Market Store Venture

We have decided to open a small market store to sell our eggs and produce.  It's quite a venture - but there's no time like a mat leave to start something new!

Sadly for my better half I have spent a lot of time browsing Pintrest (those 3am feedings haven't been so bad).  So my version of what the store should look like is Pintrest worthy. After all, if it's a country store it should be charming.

I envision a barn red store with cute flower boxes and a tin roof. We will see if he can deliver.

My job is to make signs. I found this one on Pintrest of course:

 

I am going to try and make a copycat. I picked my colors and set to work.

 

The first coat looked pretty good!  But since it's going to be outside I thought a second coat would be a good idea. I am using Behr paint and primer in one, in outdoor flat finish.  It goes on really well and I liked how thick the paint is, the colour is also nice and vibrant.

 

 

I then had to call it a day because the little guy woke up from a nap. Not like the old days where I could finish a project in one day! LOL!  Ah well, he's worth it.

Seriously good cookies

As a new mum, I am already looking for short cuts. I need recipes that make me look like Martha Stewart...in half the time.

Actually, more like a quarter of the time.

Today the wee farmer didn't want to nap. He was cranky and tired and fussy.

But I still managed to make these.

They were seriously good! And definitely something I will make again.


Easiest Fudgy Nutella Cookies
Yield: 12

ingredients:
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 large egg
1 cup of Nutella
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine flour, egg and Nutella in a large bowl and mix together with a spoon until dough comes together and no flour lumps remain. Stir in chocolate chips until evenly mixed into the dough.
2. Make dough balls, about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Place on cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Press down slightly on dough so the dough balls are more like very very thick round disks rather than perfectly round balls. Smooth edges that may have cracked from the pressure of pushing down on the balls, so that you have thick round smooth disks.
3. Bake for about 10 minutes. Cookies should be mostly set, but might be slightly still soft in the middle. Let cookies cool on rack until completely set. Enjoy while still slightly warm or after completely cooled.

Goodbye winter coats!

I always have a good giggle when we shear the sheep. I swear they stand around and look at each other thinking "Matilda, is that you?"