My Texas Boy

Born in 1991, he's now 22 years old....originally from Texas, Ft. Davis to be exact.  He's stocky, very muscular and a super sweetheart....we should all be so lucky as to have one just like him.  

These days Joey is out to pasture.  He has some health issues and can't be ridden {by an adult} but who doesn't have issues once reaching that older age?   This boy is my pet, acts like a dog at times and comes trotting up when he sees me.

Like a child, he enjoys chewing on things he isn't supposed to be chewing on.  He likes to test his owner to see how far he can take things before I stop him.  

He's well behaved when placing him in 'solitary confinement' is necessary for his health.

And just a week or so ago, I learned something about Joey that no horse owner ever hopes to experience.  Joey listens in an emergency situation.  The 12 years that I've owned Joey, he's never been in an emergency situation, until a couple of weeks ago.

He was tied, where he is in the photo below, with me standing at his side waiting for the farrier to arrive.  I have always tied him at this spot, for years but never did I notice the small bolt pointing down under the wooden platform at his nose level.  On this particular day, Joey decides to scratch an itch he had on his face by rubbing it along the wooden platform.  His rope halter was caught on that small bolt, pinning his face up against the platform without an inch to spare.

Joey pulled all 1200+ pounds of his body weight backwards to try and escape the frightened feeling he was experiencing.  My heart was racing, beating out of my chest.  I didn't have a knife on me to cut him loose so I just firmly and loudly said "Whoa"....and you know what?  He froze.  Just like he was supposed to.  He trusted me enough to think I might be able to get him out of this situation he had gotten himself in to.

Trying hard to remain outwardly calm, I carefully, being sure not to get my fingers pinched off in the process, pulled the rope halter off the bolt it was stuck on, and it was like nothing ever happened.  He just stood there, stared at me for a moment and went about his business waiting patiently for the farrier to arrive.  

This situation could have ended oh so different....he could have not listened to me and broken his neck.  He could have pulled so hard to where something snapped free and landed on me.  But instead he trusted and listened.  

I love my Texas boy.

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TT w/Linky: Workout Trainer

This morning it was a bone-chilling thirty something degrees....maybe even 29 degrees here in northern CA.  I know that temperature doesn't even register as cold for many of you but it's just too dang cold for me to get my butt out of bed at 5 a.m. to go to boot camp class....where we run outside for a portion of the class.

When my alarm went off this morning, I rolled over and buried my head.

Plan B.

I ran three miles at 9 a.m. in 41 degree weather.  Much better.  Okay, not really but that's what I tell myself anyway.

Workouts are a mandatory part of my life.  If only for the reason that I can come home and eat and drink things like this.......

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Rubber Boots Required

Second week in to Christmas vacation....no snow trip, no Disneyland trip, nothing out of the ordinary except for the fact that there's no school....but why leave home when we have cousins coming over to hang out at the ranch "playground" with?

In above pic, cows are lined up and patiently waiting for their turn in the milking parlor.

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TT w/Linky: Dutch Oven Chuck Roast

Growing up, I remember my mother cooking roasts on what seemed to be a weekly basis.  We raised our own beef and ate some sort of beef every single night of the week.  This included tongue soup, liver and onions and even some tail soup.  Still clear in my mind is the memory of walking down the lane with the neighbor kids from the bus stop, and as we approached my house, the smell of braised beef would waft out the window and down the lane leaving all the kids craving food once they got to their own doorstep.

Fast forward to the present, we normally always have a freezer full of our own raised beef just as my parents did but it's getting down to slim pickin's at the moment......only a few roasts and some short ribs along with a pile of ground beef chubs remain.  I DO like roast but my only way of cooking it, until now, has been in my slow cooker.  Well, Santa came a few days late this year with this fabulous 8 quart dutch oven roaster and I now can braise and cook my remaining roasts the way my mom used to.

Salt and pepper a roast.  I used Chuck Roast this time.  Add some olive oil in the cast iron roaster and braise the beef until you hear it sizzling for a few minutes and it browns.

Flip the hunk-0-meat and do the same thing to the other side.  I could have probably seared it a little bit longer, but this was all new to me and it was my first time using this method.

Remove the roast and set aside.  Add some butter and sliced onions to the roaster and cook until translucent.  Add some garlic and cook until it's soft.

Add 1 cup of white wine and 1/2 cup of water to the pot, stirring and scraping with a wooden spoon, all the brown bits from the bottom of the pot.  About 1 minute.

Return the beef roast to the pot and add any vegetables you might like.  I use potatoes and carrots.

Cover and transfer to a 300 degree oven for about 3 hours.

The thing I like about cooking roast is you can make it your own.....you can add stewed tomatoes, rosemary, any sort of root vegetable to change it up every time.

Beef Roast

Ingredients:
1 beef chuck roast {about 4 pounds}
Kosher salt and ground pepper
2 T unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup water
1 pound of potatoes
carrots

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Heat an 8 quart dutch oven {cast iron roaster} over medium heat until hot, about 5 minutes.  Add olive oil.  Salt and pepper the chuck roast and add to the roaster.  Brown both sides. Transfer to plate and set aside.

Add butter and yellow onion to pot.  Cook until onion is translucent.  Add garlic, cook for another 3 minutes. Add wine and 1/2 cup water to pot and cook, stirring and scraping brown bits from bottom of pot, about 1 minute.

Return beef to pot and add vegetables and more salt and pepper.  Cover and transfer to oven, cook for about 3 hours.

Link up with anything you’re thankful for! And if you’re not a blogger, just let us know in the comment section what you happen to be thankful for on this day.
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Super Simple Last Minute Party Food

Well, 2013 is just about here.  I'm not a 'New Year's resolution ' type of person but I will say, in the year 2013 it's going to be all about simplifying and organizing my life.  

Here are some super simple last minute party recipes that I hope you'll enjoy!

Pico De Gallo......

Simple ingredients, plus some garlic and lime {not shown}.

Chop equal amounts of tomato....I use Roma.

Red onion, until you cry.....or at least I do, EVERY time.

Cilantro.

Mix all together with 1/2 tsp of minced garlic, Kosher salt to taste and lime juice.

So good!  You can even add some chunky ripe avocado to make guacamole.

Here are some others you might enjoy:

Baked Brie with Chokecherry
Baked Nacho Platter
Baked Parmesan Dip
Caprese on a Stick
Fennel and Chicken Flatbread
Guacamole - Low Fat with Greek Yogurt
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Boneless Buffalo Wings
Lettuce Wraps
Ribbon Zucchini Crostini
Strawberry Bruschetta
Pear and Blue Cheese Flatbread

Happy New Year to you and your family!! ~Nancy

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Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles of Joy

I can always count on my brother-in-law to serve bacon wrapped something for Christmas dinner and this year he AND my niece, Ami, did NOT disappoint.  

Christmas evening I tasted the BEST green beans I have probably EVER had in my life.  My niece wrapped green bean bundles in bacon, drizzled them with a butter, garlic and brown sugar mixture and baked.

Now THIS is my kind of baking, without a doubt.  I think I gobbled up about three bundles right at the start.........

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Raspberry Strippers

If you know me, you probably think I came up with the title of this post all on my own.....but I didn't!  Nope, I can't take credit for it.  It's all by Cooking Light this week for my 'Best of the Web'.  And the best part.....not a whole lotta guilt with these.

These Raspberry Strippers look irresistible, don't they?!!  I could do these for breakfast, for sure.

photo and recipe by Cooking Light

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Norad Tracks Santa

It's almost time to begin tracking Santa's journey across the world.  Santa is ALL up on his social media, he is smart phone savvy and I just love it!  Norad Tracks Santa does a fantastic job for online viewing and you can EVEN load the free app onto your phone!

Beginning at 5 a.m. eastern time on December 24th, the Norad Tracks Santa tracker starts up.  I'm sure the kids will commandeer my phone throughout the entire day to see how much closer Santa has gotten to the farm.

You can also play some interactive activities on the site, either on your computer or your phone.

If apps or online viewing isn't your thing, you can also CALL, toll free, or email to get Santa updates.  How cool is that?!

Santa update phone number:  1-877-446-6723
Santa email update:  noradtrackssanta@outlook.com

So during the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve, don't forget to check in on Santa's whereabouts!

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TT w/Linky: Cookie Exchange ~ Chocolate Clouds

Every holiday season I attend at least one Cookie Exchange party.  A great way to trade cookies and acquire an entire eclectic array of delicious goodies.....and have a cocktail with the ladies at the same time.  

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Easy and Chocolate Trifle that Feeds a Crowd

'Tis the season for holiday parties.  I love this time of year and really enjoy attending holiday gatherings at friend's homes; everyone brings a little something to share, which allows more time for everyone to visit rather than preparing the meal during the party.  

The dinner party we attended this past Saturday night was at my friend, Mendy's house.  It was so much fun; great food, friends, white elephant gift exchange, wine, more wine and a sit down prime rib dinner for 12....SO good.

I brought dessert.  A chocolate trifle that feeds a crowd and then some.  I highly suggest bringing this to your holiday gathering if you're on dessert duty.....REALLY easy, light and airy and it involves chocolate.....can't go wrong!

I used a straight up box cake mix...chocolate fudge by Duncan Hines.  Before baking, I sprinkled some chocolate chips on the batter....can never have too much chocolate, right?

Bake according to the directions on the box and let cool completely.  I baked mine the day before the party so it was ready to roll when I was ready to put the trifle together.

You can use a trifle bowl, punch bowl, or any clear glass bowl to assemble your trifle.  First layer begins with the baked chocolate cake, cut into small squares and layered in the bottom of the bowl.

Next, add a layer of chocolate pudding.  I made the Jello Instant chocolate pudding mix with whole milk, 5.9 oz size.

Now, you can use pre-made whipped topping but I prefer to make my own whipped cream....it's SO easy and tastes 100 times better.

One cup of heavy whipping cream, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract,

and 2 tablespoons of sugar {add more sugar if you like it sweeter}.  Whip it up with an electric mixer until it forms peaks.

Done. Then add the whip cream layer on top of the pudding layer.  Fourth layer, sprinkle crumbled up Heath bar on top of the whipped cream and begin the layering process all over again.

Finish with a healthy helping of Heath Bar crumbles on top.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the  fridge for a few hours before serving.

What's your favorite holiday dessert?

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I Caught Santa

Every year it's my job to catch Santa in the act.....the kids totally love the fact we have a pic of Santa unloading the presents under our Christmas tree.

You can create one with your own Christmas tree.  

There's this really cool site, it does cost $7.99 to $9.99 to capture Santa in your house, but WELL worth it to me and really easy to create!  

Have fun!  Here's the link.........

I Caught Santa

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Christmas Treats ~ Easy Oreo Truffles

There is almost nothing I like better than an easy, elegant looking dessert that will appeal to almost everyone.  I mean, we're talkin' Oreo cookies here!....you know, "Milk's favorite Cookie"?!  

Oreo's covered in chocolate with an ice cold glass of milk....mmmm, mmmm.

The asembly of this recipe reminds me of the Melting Snowmen Cookies I showed you last week.....so easy and kids just love helping with this one in the kitchen.

My 'Best of the Web' for the week before Christmas is from Midwest Living.  

photo and recipe courtesy Midwest Living

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TT w/Linky: Obliging Mama/Farm Pic

This morning was one of the coldest mornings thus far in this late fall/early winter season.   Thirty-one nippy degrees on the way to school drop off, all I wanted to do was get back home and plant myself in front of the wood stove to warm back up. 

But then I remembered Joey was due for his eight week mani and pedicure.  So after catching him in the pasture, I gave him a vigourous brushing which he thouroughly enjoyed and it helped me to warm up while waiting for the farrier to arrive.

Alongside where Joey was tied stands one of our barns with some Mama cows who happened to be enjoying this brisk morning, cozy in their rice hull bedding and basking in the sunshine chewing their cud.   

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A Six Year Old and a Mallot & Guest Bartending

December is about the craziest month of the year....always......I'm sure we are in agreement on this.  

The middle part of the weekend.....way too early on Sunday morning....I had scheduled our 4H Cooking Group to meet at my house to make Gingerbread houses but at last minute decided to have them make something a little less time consuming.......Melting Snowmen Cookies.

I was reminded JUST how much noise a six year old can make with a mallot while crushing cookies.

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TT: w/Linky: Bacon Chedder Pinwheels = LOVE

'Tis the season for holiday parties isn't it.  There are just loads of cocktail parties happening right now and I normally opt to bring an appetizer over anything else.

My apps normally involve bacon as a key ingredient....because, really, is there anything that actually tastes bad with bacon?!....

I think not.

Okay.  So, here's any easy one to  put together that everyone but maybe a vegetarian will just LOVE.

Ohhh Baby...

Recipe and photo courtesy Pillsbury

Ingredients:

1  can (8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury Crescent   Recipe Creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet

 2  tablespoons ranch dressing

 ¼  cup cooked real bacon pieces or 4 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

 ½  cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

 ¼  cup chopped green onions (4 medium)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut lengthwise into 2 long rectangles. Press each into 12x4-inch rectangle.

2. Spread dressing over each rectangle to edges. Sprinkle each with bacon, Cheddar cheese and onions. Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edge to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 8 slices; place cut side down on ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

Link up with anything you’re thankful for! And if you’re not a blogger, just let us know in the comment section what you happen to be thankful for on this day
.

For those of you in the area, come down to Finnegan's Marin the evening of Saturday December 8th, where we're conducting a Toy Drive to benefit UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and I'll be 'Guest Bartending' beginning at 8:30 p.m.  Should be a fun party! Finnegan's has a full menu and bar for those who would like to eat and drink and  DJ dancing that night as well!  I hope to see some of you there!

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No Bake Melting Snowmen Cookies

I'm always looking for something theme related and fun for the kids to do.  I JUST found this no-bake snowman cookie recipe through Nabisco...

Aren't they the cutest things?!  And so easy too!

Photo and recipe courtesy Nabisco

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Begin with a Bang.....

December is definitely starting out with a bang.  From the I don't know HOW many inches of rain we received....maybe 7?  To the very festive Clover Stornetta Christmas party, an exciting weekend for sure.

The Clover Stornetta party was held in a renovated barn done up with 12 hanging chandeliers {the pic doesn't do them justice}, white twinkly lights, lighted Christmas trees along the walls, beautifully arranged dinner tables and cocktail tables.....a warm and festive atmosphere in the high ceiling old barn.  

We ate, drank and danced our way into the next morning.

Only to wake up to massive amounts of water rushing through the ranch.

Thought for sure we were gonna need to build an Ark to get through the weekend.....but our girls were safe and sound and dry if they wanted to be, in their free-stall barn.

One stopped up culvert and massive amounts of rain can really put a damper on what was supposed to be a day to watch football, attend a party and decorate our tree.

Although I'm not complaining {too much} about the rainfall....I know many across the nation are in desperate need of it, but it would be nice not to get it all in one weekend.

I did manage to watch a bit of football {BooHoo...Niners LOST} and do some decorating...

On another note..........

For those of you in the area, come down to Finnegan's Marin the evening of Saturday December 8th, where we're conducting a Toy Drive to benefit UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and I'll be 'Guest Bartending' beginning at 8:30 p.m.  Should be a fun party! Finnegan's has a full menu and bar for those who would like to eat and drink and  DJ dancing that night as well!  I hope to see some of you there!

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