What have we been doing? Gardening!

I wanted to start out small. But when my starts come in packs of 4 not two and I just can't bear to throw away any plant (couldn't find anyone who wanted cabbage or brocolli starts) and onions come in packs of 40 (!) - ditto, my garden just seems to be getting bigger every day!

Some updated pics of my boxes.


My bocolli and cabbage are huge! Just had to brag ;o)

Carrots finally starting to look like carrots.

Some pepper starts that my Aunt Kathy sent over with my dad. Thanks Aunt Kathy!

Lovely snap peas that hopefully will start letting me help them up the trellis soon.

Planting corn - they have all popped up now!

Thornless raspberry roots that my Dad brought. 5 were looking great, then one came into contact with D's bouncy ball. lol But I think it will come back.

Emma's garden. She has one pea plant, about 3 of her carrots made it, 3 flower plants from seeds her cousin Hannah sent her and 4 corn stalks. She loves her garden and has tons of fun taking care of it.

Last year a friend gave me a petunia plant. No matter how many blooms Em and D pulled off, that plant kept putting out more blooms. So I got some for the kids to pick this year. Emma even snagged four from a local nursery float parade handout!

I landscaped this area for my herb garden. I got the bricks for free from a friend who was only too happy to have me remove them from her yard! lol I couldn't find a good before picture (forgot to take one) but here is D halfway through.

Finished! Now I just need to figure out what else to plant that doesn't need more than 6 hours of sun. Any suggestions?

Rendering Lard!

No - seriously! lol

My sis found directions at this site and another sis gave me the lipids (that really is what the butcher labeled them as) from the last pig they had slaughtered. So I took the plunge.

I started out with this from my freezer.


I put it in the wonderful, awesome, best ever gift from my honey (anniversary) - my new crockpot to thaw and render.


I let it cool a bit and poured it through my collander and ended up with this. Yummy! just kidding lol.


I poured it into my container and let it set to room temperature.


And there you have it. I have decided to store it in the fridge so that it won't go rancid so quickly. You see, I didn't add any hydrogenated fats or preservatives to it. ;o)


Just a warning - you will want to do this on an outside stove, in your summer kitchen or put your crock outside. This process STINKS!!! It smells like boiling a carcass all day. Not pleasant.

I have already used some of it in an awesome cookie recipie which I will post soon. Here's a teaser: cocoa and mint!

Cooking!

We have been tryimg so many new dishes around here. I thought I would post some of my faves that are definately keepers. :o)

I found a wonderful flatbread recipie that makes a pretty respectable pizza crust. In fact - since the discovery was what jumpstarted me into making pizza again since going dairy-free, Emma calls is pizza. Even when it is for toast or sandwiches. :oP And have you ever tried bacon and fried egg pizza? It's absolutely delish!

(mine got just a little too brown as someone dropped by to chat as it was cooking - it really is fantastic!)

Playing!

swapping!

I made 9 of each of these for a swap on a mothering chat forum. In a week I will be getting a lovely package w/ 9 other foods that the other moms in the swap have made.

Woo-hoo!!!