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Life is too short to eat bad food! Sharing great recipes, farm life, stories and photography from our Northern California dairy farm.

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August 31, 2015

Where To Store Your Fruits and Vegetables

We are knee deep in corn, zucchini and cucumbers right now.  We're trying to power through all the zucchini as much as we can but it's difficult to keep up and I so hate to waste food.  We've been giving away as much as we can and storing all this produce is becoming a bit of an issue.  We store our zucchini in a cool dry place......basically all over our kitchen counters.  The cucumbers seem to last a bit longer in the fridge and we'll probably end up freezing a good portion of the corn.

Terra's Kitchen was kind enough to send me this helpful information on the best way to store some of our favorite fruits and veggies to share with you!  

Hope your end-of-summer is going well.  I don't know about you, but I'm very much ready for autumn to begin!





To store in the fridge:
  • Bell Peppers: Refrigerate loose in the fridge.
  • Berries: Either eat them the day you get them, or you must refrigerate, as they are highly perishable.
  • Eggplant: Store loose in the produce drawer of the refrigerator and branch out and try all of the amazing sizes and colors. If you are not a lover of this nightshade, we are sorry for what you are missing!!
  • Sweet Corn: Refrigerate in their husk until ready to use and keep in mind that should be sooner than later as the sugars begin to turn to starch as soon as they are picked.
To store on the counter:
  • Apricots:  No matter how strong is the urge to refrigerate these beauties, store unripe on the counter or windowsill at room temperature.
  • Garlic: Do not refrigerate and keep them on the counter or in a basket alongside your onions.
  • Mushrooms: They are full of water and need to breathe, so store in the original packaging, or if in a cluster, in a brown paper bag. If only using a portion of them rewrap the top in plastic wrap or keep in bag.
  • Onions: Keep them dry in a basket on the counter.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: Tomatoes should never be refrigerated as it spoils their unique individual flavor. Keep on the counter until ripe and then use in rapid abandonment once they are.
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August 10, 2015

A Few Twists on S'mores For You!

Who doesn't love a warm and gooey S'more!  If you're planning on celebrating National S'more Day, here are a few ideas from Family Fun magazine that you can try out without a campfire.  How fun are these?!  




CHOCOLATE-DIPPED BONBONS
Line a tray with parchment paper. In a small bowl, melt 1 cup chocolate chips according to the package directions. Place 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers in another bowl. Quickly dip one marshmallow at a time in the chocolate, then in the cracker crumbs (you should have enough for 12 bonbons). Let them cool on the tray.


SWEET AND TOASTY PARFAIT
Place 3 marshmallows on a parchment-lined baking sheet and broil on high for 1 minute. Place 3 tbsp. graham cracker crumbs in an 8-oz. glass or jar. Add 1/4 cup chocolate pudding and top with the marshmallows.


TEDDY BEAR CRUNCH
On a parchment-lined baking sheet, toss 2 cups chocolate Teddy Grahams with 3/4 cup mini marshmallows. Melt 1/2 cup white chocolate chips according to the package directions, then drizzle it over the other ingredients and let cool. Break into pieces before serving.


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August 3, 2015

July's Endless Summer Photo Re-Cap

July is my favorite summer month.  No school, warm northern CA weather and busy with fun summer time activities.  Here is my photo re-cap...


Chamber's Landing in Lake Tahoe.  A definite favorite and one last minute, fantastic trip with friends.





Stopping in Auburn, CA on the way home from Tahoe.....




 Lunch date with my favorite boy.....







 Spa day morning with some favorite ladies.....




Spa Day evening with the same ladies......





A few of these fun Fridays at Indian Valley Golf Course, near our house.....





Enjoying Sonoma County Farm Bureau's Love of the Land event with some good friends......






Many graduation parties.......
 



Some beautiful sunsets......





Girlscout Camp.......






Ending the month with a five day camp trip in Cloverdale with family and friends.....




.....and a super cute pooch......




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