Saturday, October 17, 2009

Oh yeah, I have a blog...

Been away a long time. Almost forgot I had a blog. Okay, I DID forget I had a blog. But, a lot has happened since the last time I posted, so maybe it's time to get back in the saddle. I'll start small, though, maybe a few bullet points:
  • My long-time love, Ron, moved in with Dakota Sue and me in July of 2008.
  • Ron surprised me by proposing this past Fourth of July at the Algona Motorcycle Rally, just after the Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band had finished.
  • We just got married out in Spearfish, SD, this past weekend, surrounded by about 35 of our family and friends...and Tred.

So, yeah, there's been some stuff happening. I'll try to write about it, since I know everyone's been waiting with trembling anticipation for my return to the blogosphere. ;)

Monday, June 30, 2008

How to use an arm roast

No, not an arm rest, an arm roast. A chuck arm roast, to be exact, and one of the cuts of Grazier's Organic Beef from Josh's and my first beef order. I figured I should ease up on the rationing a bit and use some of the non-hamburger beef while it was still only a month or two old.

So, unsure of whether I'd ever used an arm roast before (I don't think I had), I decided to go with the Old Faithful of cooking techniques: my crockpot. But, the problem is, in the summer, you don't really WANT pot roast, do you? All those onions and carrots and potatoes just taste heavy and make you think about sweaters. So, what's a good summer alternative? BBQ!

The recipe couldn't be simpler:

1 chuck arm roast (preferably from a happy, ethically-raised cow)
4-5 cloves garlic, smashed
1 yellow onion, sliced
Salt & pepper
Your favorite BBQ sauce, to taste (I used some from Gates BBQ)

Put the meat in the crockpot, seasoned with salt and pepper and add in just a small amount of water (probably 1/4 cup?). My roast wasn't even fully thawed, thus is part of the beauty of a slow cooker. Let it cook for a few hours, then add in the garlic and onions. Let cook until an hour or so before you want to eat it. Pull the roast out of the crockpot and discard the onion/garlic/water broth. Using two forks, shred the roast, discard any fatty bits and give the slice of arm bone to your dog, who will make sweet, sweet mouth love to it in the backyard for almost an hour. Put the shredded meat back into the crockpot and mix it with as much BBQ sauce as you want. Put the cover back on and let it warm through for an hour or so.

I ate it as a sandwich on a whole-wheat hamburger bun with mustard and accompanied by some of Grammie's Cucumber Salad and a beer. Ahhh, delish!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Here's just one reason why I'm choosing ethically raised beef

I see no reason for this.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/06/26/meserve.livestock.cnn

(Be forewarned, this is a graphic video)

Monday, June 16, 2008

What's in the garden?

So, I figured I should document what I'm growing in my garden. I think I'm done, but that's never a guarantee...

In the raised bed:

  • 'Marketmore 80' cucumber (1)
  • Zucchini (3)
  • Italian parsley (1)
  • Curly parsley (1)
  • A couple miscellaneous herbs (thyme & marjoram, maybe?)
  • Sweet basil (4)
  • Cilantro (2)
  • Sage (1)
  • Butternut squash (2)
  • 'Ghostbuster' white eggplant (1)
  • 'Neon' eggplant (1)
  • Red bell pepper (1)
  • Yellow bell pepper (1)
  • 'Apple' sweet pepper (2)
  • Jalapeno pepper (1)
  • Serrano pepper (1)
  • 'Five-color Silverbeet' Swiss chard (12)

In "Tomato Row" on the back fenceline:

In the other back fenceline bed:

  • Green tomatillos (starting from seed -- not established yet)
  • Green bell pepper
  • Another Marketmore cucumber
  • 'Envy' edamame (starting from seed -- not established yet)
  • 'Fortex' green beans

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Word of the day: "Cowpooling"

cowpooling pp. Purchasing a whole cow or side of beef from a local farmer and sharing the cost among multiple families. [Blend of cow and carpooling.]

From WordSpy.

MSNBC waves the locavore flag

How to make my Tuesday? Show me a major news organization reporting on locavory.