Monday, December 22, 2014

Christmas Dinner with the Family

As one might imagine we like hosting events here at Growing Boys Farm and what better event to plan than a big ole Christmas dinner for the Lykens clan. I have fond memories from Christmases past with my Grandparents. There were always presents under the tree but none of them could be unwrapped till dinner was done and every single dish was washed, dried and put away. That was torture to a child but now as I have grown I appreciate the routines my Granny had even on this sacred holiday. My Granny was not one to decorate much (only a tiny tabletop tree and a wreath)but  she was one of the best cooks EVER. Her holiday spread would put any chef to shame. My Granny has been gone for several years but the tradition of a holiday feast has lived on. I thought I might share with you our Christmas Dinner Menu and a few recipes, one of which is very special to me.
 
Ham (local and pastured from Johnson Family Farms)
 
 
Apple Brined Slow Roasted Chicken (from Growing Boys Farm)
Broccoli Salad
Chinese Cabbage Salad
Corn
Mashed Potatoes
Deviled Eggs
Kale with vinegar
Mac and Cheese
Green Beans
Rolls
Strawberry Cheesecake Pie
Butterscotch Pie and
3 Different Chocolate Pies
 
 
Disclaimer: These are not the most healthy recipes but hey it's Christmas Dinner!
 

Chocolate Pie

 
"Why?", you might ask, "Were there three Chocolate Pies at the family Christmas?" That would be because my Granny made the most AMAZING Chocolate Pies. To this day they are still my favorite dessert bar none. Someone ask one time what type of food I cooked best and I think it would be Chocolate Pie. It was the first thing I really learned to cook on my own and I still try to immolate my Granny's Chocolate Pie oh and her biscuits but that's an entirely different subject.
 
1 Pie Shell Cooked
You can use store bought but I like to make my own
Filling
2 Cups Sugar
3Tbsp Cocoa Powder
4 Forkful corn starch
2 Cups Whole Milk
3 Egg Yolks
Meringue
3 Egg Whites Room Temp
6 Tbsp Sugar
Scotch of Cream of Tartar
 
For Pie Filling
In a large sauce pan mix dry ingredients
In mixing bowl whisk milk and sugar
With stove top on med/high Add milk mixture to dry ingredients
Whisk till lumps are gone then stir constantly
When chocolate mixture gets to a thick pudding consistency pour into cooked pie shell
 
For Meringue
Beat Room Temperature Egg White till they form soft peaks
While beating gradually add sugar and cream of tartar
Continue to beat until stiff peaks form
Spoon meringue over cooled pie filling
Broil in oven until lightly browned but don't run off and leave it
because it will burn fast.

 

Clover Leaf Rolls

2 cups warm water
1 1/2 Tbsp Yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter or olive oil
2 t salt
4 cups unbleached white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
I use a bread machine to mix the dough
and when dough is ready rolls into 1 1/2"
ball and place 3 balls in each hole of a
buttered muffin tin. (Great job for Growing Boys or Girls)
Let the dough rise again until
each roll is peeking over the top of the muffin
tin. Bake at 350 for 14min or until golden.
This is the same recipe I use
for White Bread but bake in loaves for 25min
 

Enjoy or as we did  Enjoy x 3

 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Stewed Beef Heart With the Family That Used to Need More Acres

 
Recently we had diner with our good friends from Hickory Lane Farm (formerly Need More Acres). Potato kale Soup, Sweet Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts, Sautéed Wasabi Greens, Salad, Apple Cake, Blackberry Cobbler!! Ok snap back to it.
The Howells have moved to a new farm that does indeed have more acres allowing them to better serve the community and those they provide for. We were excited to check out the new place and all the work they have been doing around the farm. This summer the Howells along with some dedicated friends have built a new barn, commercial kitchen and two high tunnels to go along with the 1800's farm house. All that while still growing for farmers market, their CSA, and the introduction of animals to the operation. Did I mention that the Howells are an amazing family!
So during diner with the Howells and the gang from Stoney Creek Farm the conversation turned to meat production and then to the different cuts of meat. When I mentioned that I'm not so adventurous in my meat choices I was meet with a challenge. The challenge to cook a beef heart. Before me was held a frozen beef heart!
First I have no idea what to do with a beef heart and then there is fact that is looks just like one would imagine a heart to look. Enter The Nourished Kitchen a beautiful book by Jennifer McGruther which has all sorts of helpful advice and recipes for the Traditional Foods Lifestyle. The book also happens to have a recipe for Stewed Beef Heart. Now I'm not one to follow recipes, I use them more as guidelines so if you want the actual recipe you may want to check out her book but the improve version did turn out quite well.

 

Stewed Beef Heart

1 beef heart trimmed and cubed
Water
2 Tbsp salt
2Tbsp lard
1 1/2 t dried rosemary
1 1/2 t dried thyme
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
2 potatoes
2 carrots
1 cup mushrooms
2 cups beef broth
1 cup strong grape kombucha
1 jar whole tomatoes
2 bay leaves


Cover beef heart in salt water and let soak for at least 4 hours. Remove heart from water and let drain. In stock pot heat lard and sautee rosemary and thyme for about 3min. Remove most of the herbs leaving flavored lard. Sautee onions and garlic in lard, add chopped vegetables and meat. Cook till vegetable are slightly tender and meat is browned.  Add beef broth tomatoes (I like to chop mine some) kombucha and bay leaves and salt to taste. Simmer for 30min to 1hr.
 
We shared our stewed beef heart with our friends the Dicksons and their crew of boys. If we can get all five boys to eat beef heart stew it must be good.  A big thanks to Hickory Lane Farm for their hospitality, for providing the beef heart and the encouragement to step out of my meat comfort zone.
 
 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Christmas Time is Coming

Here at Growing Boys Farm we do get into the Christmas celebration. Celebration of the birth of our Lord with family, food, friends and yes the decorating. I like to decorate. Not the strands and strands of lights kind of decoration although I do enjoy a good light show but I am a little too cheap to pay for the electric. We like the garland and mistletoe kind of decorations.  As you may remember we always get a real Christmas Tree and this year is no exception. But this year our favorite Christmas Tree Farm was CLOSED! And since Christmas tree farms in South Central Kentucky aren't in huge supply we resorted to buying the tree from TSC. Gasp! I know we might should have just headed out to the woods for a cedar tree which would have totally been locally grown and sustainable but.. The reason for getting a tree from Tractor Supply is that I really wanted a pretty one, no offense to the cedar tree. You see this year Growing Boys Farm is hosting our family Christmas and I mean the whole big family with Great Great Aunts and everything. I'm really excited about that but selfishly I want a really pretty tree for the occasion. Maybe it will sound better to say I am supporting the tree farmers and their families even if they did have to be trucked into the local TSC.
 
The rest of our Christmas decorations did come straight off the farm. Wreaths were made from grapevines that grow along the creek and then woven to form the base which is decorated with a variety of greenery.

Mistletoe is one of my favorite Christmas decorations. The Growing Boys Grandmother started the tradition the first year here on the farm by bringing us a bunch. Maybe she was already hoping for grandboys but whatever the reason it has become a must have tradition. We spend an afternoon every year on the hunt for it. Did you know that mistletoe here in our neck of the woods usually grows in walnut trees. To add to the mistletoe I made a wooden chalkboard sign using the new amazing chalk pens that we also use for farmers market signs. Thanks to a good friend for introducing us to the pens, they are amazing. They write like a paint pen but erase like chalk!


 
The other decoration I am excited about this year is the burlap! The bow of choice seems to be burlap and hopefully the burlap table runner will be done in time. Our garland  for Christmas Cards and all the wreaths are adorned with burlap as well.
 
Now off to get the menu for Christmas dinner planned because Christmas time is coming...fast. 
How does a locally raised pastured ham and chicken sound for starters?
 
 

Pigs

Growing Boys Farm is trying our hand at pigs. Well, actually some friends of ours are growing the pigs for us on their farm since the Growin...