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Farm Kitchen Basics: Rendering Lard
Now there are many benefits to keeping a pig (or three), although some may surprise you. Besides all that bacon and pork chops, there’s the land that they clear and pies. Yes, don’t forget about the pies—they’re the Farmer’s Wife’s Fa-vor-ite. You see, most of the year she makes her pies and cookies with plain ol’ butter, which is just fine. Unless she can get her hands on some Lard. Then they’re amazing. And not just any lard will do. No, it has to be her lard, made her way. And this is how it’s done. The large slab of fat around the innards is chopped and set into a large…
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A Good Loaf of Bread
Now, there are many kinds and ways bread is made on the Farm—some sweet, but mostly not. We save that for all the toppings we slather on in the way of Jams and Jellies, Butters and Creams of the Whipped Varieties—more on that next week. But for now, no loaf is made or enjoyed more often than this simple sourdough. But, to make it yourself, you’ll need some Starter. On the Farm, they have their jar in the fridge. Once a week, some of that Starter is taken out to make a Good Loaf of Bread, and some fresh water and flour is added in its place as a way…
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Farm Kitchen Scones
Scones have been a bit-of-a-challenge for the Farmer’s Wife. For many a year she would try something new, something different. When she thought she’d gotten it just right, she’d make the call. “Hello, Mother,” she would say. “I’d like to have you over for tea. I think I’ve finally done it.” Later that day her Mother would arrive to a table laden with cups and saucers, cream-stirrers and sugar-dippers, cloth napkins and a steaming pot of just-perked-tea. But none of those matter. What does is the platter gracing the center of the table: the platter of Scones. Next to them lies the whipped cream and sweetened butter, the jams and…
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Shrove Tuesday=Lots and Lots of Pancakes
What and When is Shrove Tuesday? Simply put, it is the day before Ash Wednesday (making it today) and as for what–no one really knows for sure. Well, at least that’s the story I’m going with. Here’s the Farmer’s Wife’s take on it (from the Farmer and his Wife, to be released 3/16/21) Shrove Tuesday Spring brings with it more than Robins and tulips, planting and plans. At the Farm. they celebrate Easter, and by that, I mean really celebrate it. It begins some forty days before when they make pancakes. Yes, pancakes. The Farmer’s Wife flips another onto a plate. “I don’t think I can do it,” whimpers one.…
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Chapter One: The Heist, continued
The chickens—they’re the ones who start all this. To be fair, it isn’t their fault. They simply do what chickens do. They lay eggs. Surely, they have no idea that these particular eggs on this particular day will change everything—how dare you suggest it! Why? Do you see their heads tilted to the side, looking for Hannah again? Yes, it is certain those chickens have been getting rather devious as of late, but to suggest they plotted this whole thing just to get Hannah to themselves is preposterous! We will not even discuss it. They lay their eggs and that is that. The neighbors arrive, as neighbors so often do.…
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The Farmer and his Wife Book: A Small Taste
Yes, the Farmer's Wife has written a book all about their life on the Farm. And you can get a small taste of it here. Enjoy.
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The Chickens issue a proclamation: No More Snow!
The Chickens have met and made their demands. They are done with all this snow. No. They will have no more of it. They see, as surely you do, the boots on the feet of all who make their way here and there on the Farm. And are they given boots? No. They’re not. They’re expected to walk around in this Stuff in nothing but their bare feet! Will such a thing be tolerated? No. It will not. A Pro-Claim-Ation was handed to the Farmer just this morning, and this is what it said. We (The Chickens) do herby state Winter is done. There is to be no more Snow.…
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Farm Kitchen Staples: Pound Cake with Hot Lemon Pudding
There are few things which delight the Farmer’s Wife more than a good memory. And since most of her memories are made up of food, it’s not surprising we should find her reminiscing a bit here and there while she’s cooking away in the kitchen. But this one is her Fa-vor-ite. You see, when she was growing up, there was no Farm, just a small plot in the city where her parents did the-best-they-could. There was an itty-bitty garden. And a lot of canned meat transformed in the way of salmon patties, tuna noodle casserole, and other such delicacies. There was chipped beef on toast—or S.O.S., as the Farmer likes…
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Winter Fun: Sledding
There is a place not far from the Farm where a great number of hills lie silent and waiting for a new day to begin. Oh! This is their very fa-vor-ite time of year! When the snow covers thickly, and little feet clad in boots and hands in mittens silently trudge up them, tugging at sleds that are trailing behind. When there’s yelps and hollers and laughing and fun. When the sun rises and daylight streams down on many a happy face, delighted to be living at such a time and place as this! And the Farmer and his Wife and their children, along with some of their friends, count…
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Brioche Toasts: A Christmas-ee Jam and Brie
Warmed apples and cherries drenched in a brandy-laced bacon caramel topped with Brie, all nice and melty on Brioche toast? Yes. Please.
