Blizzard Busy!

Sam and Farmboy

With bitterly cold weather and a blizzard warning in effect, we went to chop down our tree yesterday.

YIKES!
It was cold!
But they got 'er done!

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

At 5pm I finally had a chance to think about supper.
I knew beef was on the menu as we had found a couple of cheap center cut chuck steaks and had them marinating for a couple of hours.
I had bought a butternut squash with the intentions of making a squash risotto I saw on Barefoot Contessa, so even tho I had a late start, I got to work peeling and dicing the squash.
It was worth every second.
I'm a big fan of rice of any kind and a risotto is so creamy and tender and yummy and...
I think I have a new favorite risotto.
Don't be afraid of trying it.
It is time consuming, but easy-peasy!

Here's Ollie (aka Chunky Monkey) just lookin' so darn handsome!

Cranberry Orange Walnut/Almond Granola

1st thing this morning I made a double batch of Amazing Grace soap.
Smells divine and I can't wait to cut into it tomorrow!

Then I made a pot full of hot oatmeal and brought a big pan of it out to the chickens.
They will truly be "cooped up" for the next couple days as temps are too low to open their itty bitty door.
And I felt sorry for them.
Who wouldn't like a steamy bowl of hot cereal for breakfast???
(I had leftover risotto!)

Then....this afternoon I went into baking mode.

For gift giving I had thought I would make a double batch of granola and package it in those little cellophane bags you can get at the dollar store.
This recipe is SO easy and so very adaptable to anything you might want to add or subtract.

I would LOVE receiving a bag of this, wouldn't you?
That's what I thought!

Double batch Granola

8 cups old fashioned oats
4 cups sweetened, shredded coconut
4 cups chopped nuts, your choice ( I used walnuts and sliced almonds)
3 cups dried fruit (I used cranberries, tomorrow I will try dates and apricots)
1 cup oil (I used a combination of coconut oil I melted in the microwave, and sunflower oil)
3/4 cup honey
juice of 1 orange
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teas. cardamom ( my choice as I love the smell of it!)
zest of 2 oranges

Preheat oven to 325F

Toss the oats and nuts together in a large bowl.
Combine oil with honey and juice of the orange and pour over the oat/nut mixture.
Add the spices and stir with a wooden spoon until all the mixture is coated.
Pour onto 2 sheet pans or large roasting pan.
Bake, stirring every 10 min. or so, until mixture turns a light golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes.
At this point I add the coconut and the orange zest and bake another 8 min.
When I take it out of the oven I add the dried fruit. (if added during the bake time the fruit has a tendency to dry out or burn)
Let cool and package in individual cellophane bags or a large ziploc.


Till next time....

Keepin' Christ in CHRISTmas,
Cindy