Let's Ride Out To The Farmstand

I live in the historic railroad district in downtown san luis obispo...and about 5 minutes away is a farmstand that i have been wanting to stop in on. it is called CORNERCOPIA. it is about one minute away from the house i grew up in...san luis obispo goes from a busy downtown to rural in the blink of an eye....you head out of town into an area called the edna valley..it is mostly vineyards and very pretty all year round.

this is the view across the street from the farmstand. this field has some yellow flowers growing it in. i think they are safflowers...i have looked at those dry, brown mountains every summer since we moved here from santa barbara when i was 14. on both sides of this field are vineyards.

i bought a jar of her jumbleberry jam. she said it was her BEST SELLER.

she had lots of buckets of pretty summer flowers

plums from her trees

how is that sign for old fashion and farmy?

another view from across the street..edna valley...july 24, 2010

What's In My Kitchen Today

Hey Teddy..are you asleep on the job today in mama's kitchen?

My first mum of the season getting it's drink in my farm sink

Every time I buy cherries i think to myself..is this the last bag..but we just keep on going..that darling little plate is from my dear friend, julie whitmore of julie whitmore pottery

Went to our local organic grocery store yesterday and got this beautiful bottle of california olive oil. and a bottle of pinot noir

We are bbqing again tonight..one is for teddy

How could i pass this up?

my sweet little dande girl...see all of teddy's chewies?

There he is..see that tail? always straight up

I just can't take my eyes off of him...look at that sweet face...

Scored this at Michaels yesterday for a dollar on the grab rack table..cute, huh? you can never have too many recipe boxes, can you? they have Fall in there too. you know i got some candles and Fall leaf window clingers. i have a thing for window clingers...probably cause i wanted them so bad as a child and there was no way mom was buying window clingers. i am making up for lost time...big time

Needless to say...i LOVE LOVE LOVE this plate. somebody else must have too. it has a repair at the top. i have it hanging on my wall in the kitchen. it makes me HAPPY

I collect any plates i can find that have turkeys on them. that Fall thing and all.

Little Hands Bakes A Birthday Cake

We had a birthday party here on monday night for my sister-in-law. With the help of my niece we made a pink birthday cake.

we added the birthday candles one by one. can you see that little ball of red behind the candles? that's teddy sitting on his favorite spot...on top of the couch.

Our simple farmhouse menu

a few festive touches

flowers , the guitar leaning against the wall ready for singing the birthday song and the doors open out to the apple orchard...the covered bowl in front of the picture is the dilly bread rising

our birthday cake, teddy and a tiny glass of pink lemonade for my little helper

getting started on the decorating

little helper with party streamers....we sure had a great time...

...and Teddy Picked Willow

We wrote down all the names of the the nice people that entered the give away from Farmhouse and Teddy's paw landed on Willow ! Congratulations, Willow. Send me your address and Teddy and I will get it in the mail to you so you can enjoy it.

Our email is: myfarmhousekitchen@yahoo.com

Thanks for all the kind words...you are THE BEST !!!!

We enjoyed the give away...and hope you did too !!!

Sending love,

Kary and Teddy

Sunday Night Comfort Food

I really am in need of some comfort food for Sunday night supper around here on the Farm. We are tired...been making lots of visits to the hospital..then out to dinner after with the family. So tonight we are taking a much needed break and staying home for supper. I think if you told me you would fly me to Rome tonight for supper at any restaurant I want...i would say thanks...but no thanks. I want to be home tonight.So I found this recipe from Giada for an Italian chicken and pasta casserole. Just the word casserole makes me HAPPY !

That little bowl of sauted chicken is you-know-who's supper..and he just ate almost all of it. Now he is sound asleep. Good Boy Teddy.

Even Whiskey Sour got in on the action. What ya cookin' mama?

It calls for bread crumbs on the top but I just put on some grated parmesan and some mozzarella.

It's easy cause everything goes in one bowl.

I had some spinach that needed to be cooked so I added that.

I used just the tiny farfalline pasta. The recipe calls for 1 cup dried pasta, cooked. It didn't look like very much but it was plenty.

Chicken and Pasta Casserole from Giada

Cook 1 cup tiny pasta and drain

Saute 1/2 a diced onion

Saute 1 cup cubed chicken

I added some cooked spinach....called for italian chopped parsley..but i didn't have any

Put everything in a bowl

Add one 14 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice

Add one cup mozzarella

Stir and put into a casserole

Add salt to taste

Cover the top with more shredded mozzarella and some grated parmesan

Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes

Good Bye Cherries * Hello Apples...almost

I took a ride out to the Avila Barn yesterday and the lady said that this would be one of the last cherry pies. The cherries are just about over for the season. I LOVE cherries and always hate to see them go...but cheer up because that means that the apple farms up See Canyon should be opening real soon.

Took a ride out to See Canyon and the first farm had a closed sign on it.But isn't it a cute sign?

See Canyon is an old country road that winds its way through the canyon...most all of the farms have apples.

My FAVORITE farm is the one that sits on the end of the road. It is called Gopher Glen Farm and they feature many different apples during the season. Gravenstein are always the first apples. I always like to buy the cider they press from the Gravenstein because it is real tart being the cider is pressed with these tart first of the season apples. I freeze it to have for Halloween night. I have to have cider and cinnamon sugar doughnuts from Dolly Doughnuts on Halloween. I read in the paper that Gopher Glen will be opening next weekend. Teddy and I can hardly wait.

See Canyon Road...late afternoon...July 16, 2010

A friend along the way. I wish I could take him home with me.

Farmhouse Sprig Teacup Give Away

It's Farmhouse Kitchen's one year anniversary and my 255th post...so I have decided it would be nice to do a give away. This year of blogging has been life changing for me ... I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support by all of you. My dear blog friends. You have been with me in happy days and sad days....good times and bad times. The loss of Buddy and the happiness of Teddy.Cooking, gardening and just living life here on the Farm.There are alot of wonderful people out there in this huge world...and this July as I look back over my blogging year I realize that I have been lucky enough to have made friends from all corners of this beautiful earth.

I consider each of you a friend...and I love you all.

I will let Teddy pick a winner with his paw on Wednesday, July 21st.

Sending love,
Kary and Teddy