SOUP DU JOUR

JULIA CHILDS POTATO LEEK SOUP

Simplicity in itself is potato leek soup. With just the barest of ingredients, you can have, in a matter of 40 minutes, the mother of all soups.
With Autumn just now settling in, and temps in the 60's with lows in the 40's, soup just seems to be calling to me. I made this last year, using just water as my base, as per Julia's recipe, and found it to be a bit too bland. She does add a side note, saying you may, indeed, use chicken stock (I use only Kitchen Basics Stock...broth is just too watery), which I did. The results were...
magnifique!

4 cups sliced leeks, white part only
4 cups diced potatoes, old or baking potatoes recommended (I used old, baking potatoes!!)
6-7 cups chicken stock (you heard me, stock only!)
1-2 teas. salt
1/2 cup half & half or heavy cream(if desired...I used maybe 1/4 c. half & half)
1 TBL fresh parsley, minced

Bring leeks, potatoes, salt, and stock to a boil in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Cover partially, and simmer 20-30 minutes, or until veggies are tender. Puree soup if you wish. I did. Add cream or not. Sprinkle in fresh, chopped parsley.
Weep for joy.

STINK...STANK...

SKUNKED!!!!

This is Fuzzy.
Fuzzy has not had a good day, so far.
Outside for his morning stroll, he came upon a skunk.
Pepe Le Pew was not as delighted to find a new friend, as Fuzzy was to find Pepe.
Pepe let Fuzzy have it, full in the face.
Here Fuzzy is having his tomato sauce/Dawn dish soap bath.
Fuzzy is not happy.
And the house stinks to high heaven this morning.
Ahhhh.
Life on Cyn's farmette.
Does it get any better than this?

THE WELL STOCKED FRIDGE

Taking a cue from Cityfarmer, I took a look in my fridge to sort out the "must haves" from the seasonal.
Here's what I come up with...

eggs(from my girls)
unsalted butter
dijon mustard
olives(for that occasional dirty martini)
Cabot's 50% less fat cheese slices
homemade vinaigrette(Julia childs infamous recipe)
bags & bags of fresh, organic if possible, spring mix
scallions
seedless cukes
lemons/limes
apples
homemade teriyaki(Cityfarmers recipe)
Chardonnay(whatever happened to be on sale that week)
Sam Adams Lager(Farmboys choice)
light mayo/Ranch/sour cream
fresh parsley/cilantro
low carb flour tortilla shells
carrots/celery
organic strawberry jam
jar of minced garlic(sometimes I cheat and don't use the real deal!)
lean deli ham

I feel a salad comin' on!
How 'bout you?
Whats the staples in YOUR fridge?

I'm off with Farmboy for a couple days of R&R.
See ya Sunday!
Love,
Cyn

AND THE WINNER IS.....

MY GAL MAD!

(AKA...AMY!)

Sorry about the delay, friends, but when you live even the teensiest bit out of the city, the internet goes down for no apparent reason.
Just got it back minutes ago, and got this up asap.
Now Amy, you need to send me your snail mail addy!
I believe you e-mailed me a few months ago, so if you can find it, just send it on over.
If not, let me know via my blog, and I will get this out to you as quickly as I can!!!

And ladies, I would encourage you to do one of these yourselves!
How much fun is it to give something away???
And how much fun to be a winner???

Love you you all...
Cyn

ABUNDANT EGGPLANT!

Inundated with eggplant for the past several weeks, it has been a challenge to come up with yet another new recipe. I knew I had one for a panko crusted eggplant, but in the abyss of recipes, it was no where to be found. Never one to be "recipe challenged", I just made one up!
It was so good, it will be a keeper...if I remember to write it down somewhere!!!

eggplant...as many as you think you might consume in one sitting...I used 4 small

1 egg, beaten, with 1 TBL water added to thin

1 C panko crumbs (I looked at the ingr. list, and I will definitely be looking 'round for a healthier version...this one had shortening in it...bleh)

1/2 C grated parmesan, preferably freshly grated, but hey, haven't we all resorted to the "green can" at one time or another?

s&p to taste

olive oil, shallow coating in bottom of fry pan

Slice eggplant into 1/4" rounds
dip into egg mixture
dip and press into panko mixture
fry till golden brown on both sides in small amt of olive oil over med/high heat......be careful...eggplant is notorious for drinking too much...eh, olive oil that is!!!

I served this with a bit of spaghetti sauce for those who like to dip. I prefer mine straight up, so no sauce for me. The main entree was bleu cheese burgers from a recipe I got over at Cityfarmers cooking blog. Oh my goodness! Enough said.

C-I-N-D-Y

Cyn and Farmboy
Today, September 18, is our 36th wedding anniversary!
"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord" Proverbs 18:22

Let me tell you, there are times Farmboy has to say this by faith!!!

A couple weeks ago, Mimi, of French Kitchen in America,
tagged me. I'm supposed to take each letter of my name and reveal something about myself using that letter.
Here goes, tho I'm sure those of you who know me will find nothing new!

C...control freak. Enough said.

I...improving daily...Philippians 3:13 "Forgetting those things which lie behind(my sins and mistakes of yesterday), and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON..."

N...neighborly, (aka...nosey) I can make friends pretty much anywhere. Tag sales, grocery lines, the gym, ... Course, not everyone wants to be friends with the nosey neighbor!!!

D...dabbler...I know a little bit about a lot of things, ...but I don't know enough about YOU! (see "N" for nosey!)

Y...Youthful, young..."He satisfies my years with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle." Psalm 103: 5 I cling to this verse, especially on those mornings when I definitely do NOT feel young!

That's it for now!
Don't forget to add your name to the drawing!

GIVEAWAY!!!

I've been a collector of "stuff" ever since I can remember. The "old" has always fascinated me, and most of my favorite thngs have seen better days! I only just recently got rid of an old, green, mohair sofa and chair, as the family finds the scratchiness unbearable.
No worries.
I found a vintage, down-filled sofa to replace it, and am in the process of getting shabby, linen slipcovers made for it!

SO.....

I've been setting aside a few goodies here and there, in the hopes of having my very own giveaway someday.
That day has dawned.
And so, I present to you, my goodie box!
A little of this.
A bit of that.
See for yourself what wonders I have assembled!
Vintage hankies.
2 old, mini, rose covered TV trays.
Note cards.
Napkins.
Vintage dish cloths.
Floral tea cup.
Decadent chocolates.
And other what-nots.
You may very well be asking yourself...
"How can I become the proud owner of this box of delights?"
It's this easy!
Just leave a comment, between now and midnight,Wednesday, Sept. 19, stating you would like to be in the drawing, and I will slip your name into the hat.
One entry only, as I want to be as fair as possible.

See y'all Thursday morning!

FARMGIRL CYN'S GIVEAWAY!

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON!

Cyn's 1st giveaway, coming this week!

I've got a box of goodies I've been adding to the past few days, and thought, in honor of Autumn, I would host my 1st giveaway.
Stay tuned tomorrow for photos and entry details!
(No, you aren't gettin' one of my hens!)

Memere's boy

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have our grandson Austin living with us for a season. He is in the 1st grade this year, and when he comes home from school it is a real challenge for me to find something other than TV or vidiot games to keep him busy.
So yesterday he helped me form the rolls for supper. Something his mama used to do, as well as all the other kids.
What kid can't form a ball???
Unfortunately, one roll was all he ate for supper, as he wouldn't even taste the homemade chicken noodle soup. (with handmade noodles, no less!)
The child likes "chicken nuggets", hot dogs, garlic toast, pizza,(the frozen style), raw carrots or broccoli, and peanut butter on toast, and sugared up cereals. Oh, and box mac & cheese.
Refuses pretty much all other foods.
What's a memere to do?

WHERE WERE YOU?

Where were you when the world stopped turnin', that September day?

I'll never forget.

Sitting at my kitchen table, ready to start schooling my kids (we homeschool), catching a bit of news on my tiny kitchen TV.
First shock.
Then horror.
And finally numbness.
And a desire to hold onto my kids and my husband.
To find out if my other kids were doing OK.
And hold 'em all tight.
And pray as never before.

May God continue to bless America.

KALE...IT'S NOT JUST FOR LUNCH ANYMORE

Kale with Cannellini Beans

So...I've been getting loads of kale from the CSA farm we joined, and really have had no idea what to do with it. I put some in a quiche, and that was OK.
But the hunt was on.
What to do with kale.
I think it is one of those veggies you either love or hate.
I think I'm in love.
I found this recipe in "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone", by Deborah Madison.
Fixed it this morning.
Had it for breakfast.
See what ya think.

1 1/2 to 2 # kale, stems removed
1 small onion, finely diced
1 1/2 TBL olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
pinch red pepper flakes
2 teas. chopped rosemary(I used fresh)
1/2 cup dry white wine (I used the last dregs of a fine Clos Du Bois Chardonney, darn)
1 1/2 cups cooked cannellini beans, rinsed well (1 can)

Simmer kale in large pot of boiling, salted water for 10 min.
Drain, reserving some of the cooking liquid.
Chop the cooked leaves

In a large skillet, saute the onion in the oil, (about 3 minutes) adding the garlic , pepper flakes, and rosemary toward the end of the cooking time to avoid burning the garlic.
Add the wine and cook until it is reduced to a syrupy sauce.(approx. 5 min)
Add the beans, kale and enough cooking water to keep the mixture loose.(I added about 1/2 cup).
Heat through, taste for salt and season with pepper.
Serve with shaved parmigiano reggiano, and juice of 1/2 lemon

(Those of you who are unfamiliar with cannellini beans, they are a white kidney bean, but I think much more tender and creamier than a red kidney. They are one of my favorite beans. Used quite often in Italian cooking. You can find them in the canned bean section of most larger grocers.)

No longer will I sigh woefully when faced with yet another bag full of kale.
This was fab-u-lo-so.

Above...my flea market find this week: a bona-fide, patented, citrus juicer, pit/pulp strainer.
At the bargain price of only $3.00!

OUT WITH THE...

Farmchild Ave

Out with the old, and in with the new!
That's how I always feel this time of year.
The garden is lookin' sorry.
The grass is dry from days and days with no rain.
The hens have slowed down the egg production.
And Cyn is just plain tired from the hub bub of summer.
Time for a new "season".
Tho we have had wickedly hot days recently, the promise of cooler weather is just 'round the corner.
High's in the low 60's, so they say, for the end of the week.
That would have brought tears to my eyes a few weeks ago.
Not any more.
I am ready for a taste of autumn.
The crunch of leaves under my feet.
A sweatshirt in the evenings.
A fire down by the pond.
Fresh apple cider. (this is Michigan, ya know!)
And the sweet silence of the air conditioner NOT running!
(You don't realize how very annoying it is until you shut it off, and have complete silence!)

How about you?
What are YOU most looking forward to this fall?