I Love Technology

Isn't technology great?

I mean, yes, it can lead to some serious laziness. "Convenient" everything.

But this morning, I love technology.

Because after 81 days, I got to see my husband's face.....from the other side of the world.

My children got to see their Daddy, for the first time in nearly 3 months.



Wouldn't you love this technology too?

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

I like to use organic ingredients around here. I do so as much as possible, but one thing I can never seem to find, is organic Ricotta cheese.

So I make my own!

This is so unbelievably easy, and is about as fresh as you can get! I love the buttery, creamy smell this sends around the kitchen.

You need:
1 Quart whole milk
1 cup Half and Half
pinch salt
2 Tb lemon juice

First, take a large colander and set it in a larger bowl. Line the colander with a double layer of damp paper towel, or cheese cloth.



Now, in a stainless steel, or enameled saucepan, bring the milk, half and half,and salt to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.


As soon as it comes to a nice boil, remove from heat immediately - you know how milk likes to boil over! Stir in the lemon juice. The mixture will immediately begin to form curds. If it doesn't form after a half a minute or so, add another teaspoon of lemon juice.

(I know these are hard to see, but what can I say? Milk is white!)

Pour the mixture into the colander, and let it drain 15 - 30 minutes, depending on how dry you want it.


This recipe will make approximately 1 *full* cup of Ricotta cheese. You can easily double it as well.


Use it right away, or put it in the fridge, covered to be used the next day.

Making Jelly with a Friend

My friend and I went a-pickin' again this morning, and came back to give her some lessons in making jelly.

Here she is crushing the berries in the pot...


Straining the rich juice from the berries...


Little mama wanted her Mama, while Mama stirred the jelly.


Jarring the jelly


Hot, hot, hot!


"Mrs. Q" made 12 jars of wild blackberry jelly today! YAY!!!!!

Nachos

This is a quick and easy meal or snack!

1 lb ground beef
2 cans re-fried beans
1/2 jar of your favorite style salsa
2 cups grated cheese
lettuce
sour cream
extra salsa
tortilla chips (etc)

In an oven-safe skillet, brown your ground beef.


Stir in 1/2 of a jar of salsa


Stir in your re-fried beans


Mix it all together and spread it in the bottom of your skillet


Now shred your cheese...we love this kind but you can use MonteryJack, Colby, Colby-Jack, or whatever you like.


Sprinkle the cheese all over the top


Then pop it in your oven at about 350 degrees, or until melted and bubbly. Serve with shredded lettuce, sour cream, extra salsa, tortilla chips....it might even be yummy all wrapped up in a tortilla!

Enjoy!

A Rainy, Summery Day

This afternoon, as I finished up with the jelly, and began cooking dinner, it began to rain. And my boys, being the country boys they are......played in it.



That kind of innocent fun, is utterly infectious, and of course the next thing you knew, neighbor kids were all at it!


(I think I may have found a boy even sillier than mine!)

"Coolness" was out the window, and fun was falling from the sky!



And of course, what is rain without mud puddles....BIG mud puddles?







This is some serious rain!


And an all-out race in the rain ensues...








The girls won't miss out on the fun either!


And neither will my girl


My neighbors are going to be blessing my name with they do the laundry this week.

Go run in the rain!