I'm Barefoot Today!

This is not a joke. That is really me about 10 minutes ago. You see, today I am gardening...barefoot! I know..I said I wasn't gonna mention it anymore. But today I am planting my forget-me-not and baby blue eye seeds.And it is about 75 degrees in my garden this Saturday morning. Some of my columbine flowers are starting to bloom and my nasturtiums are sprouting back up.The leaves on little cherry are starting to open up too. I am gonna say it. It is downright warm out today. For supper tonight we are pretending it's summer. Making BLT sandwhiches, corn on the cob and I am making a macaroni salad later this afternoon. If you are coming to the Valentines Party you are welcome to come early and stay for Supper on the Porch tonight. We'd love to have you.

You're Invited To A Valentines Tea Party

Strap on your snowshoes everybody and come on over. Farmhouse is throwing a Valentines Day Tea Party. And everyone is WELCOME !


Where: My Farmhouse Kitchen

When: Sunday, February 14, 2010

Time: 3 o'clock or till the biscuits run out


Menu

Pink Champagne
Cherry Blossom Tea
Strawberry Lemonade
Ginger Ale


Lemon Squares
Angel Food Cake With Raspberries and Strawberries
Butter Biscuits
Jumbleberry Jam from last Summer's Berries
Busy Day Cake
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Pink Icing
Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies with Pink Sprinkles

All doggies are cordially invited and encouraged to attend. Valentine treats and fresh water will be available. Party favors include a tiny heart shaped cookie made by Buddy with love

Each one who attends will receive a party favor bag of emergency biscuits to take back home.

Overnight accomadations will be available for those who's plans are canceled due to snow.

Carriage rides will be available around Farmhouse for those spending the night
Hot chocolate will be provided. All dogs are welcome on the ride. Plaid blankets to wrap up in also provided

Each bedroom has a fireplace , robes and quilts...extra firewood is stored downstairs by the back door. Please help yourself.

The kitchen is open all night to anyone

Breakfast and tea will be served in the morning

Please R.S.V.P. at My Farmhouse Kitchen

Hope to see everyone there

Cherry Tree and Mache Lettuce

I promise...no more today. But this was the view out my kitchen door this morning.
If you look close you can see the Cherry tree just barely starting to open.And that green grass by the bird bath is mache lettuce...that is flowering. The little tree in the back is my Santa Barbara Peach. It hasn't opened yet. This winter John planted 3 cherries and the peach. We have a Seek-No-Further Apple and a Pumpkin Russet Apple along with a Blenheim Apricot.... o.k. that's all for today. Enough is enough.....

I'm Not Kidding You

I'll keep this short.
I really did hesitate on if I should show you this...or not. But I'm not kidding. These flowers are really blooming in my garden...today. February 10th. To be fair...it has been raining alot. But this morning we woke to clear sunny skies and a warm sun. Took Buddy for his walk in my slippers. Then headed out to the garden in a t-shirt in see what was blooming. I won't dwell on it. We are going to walk downtown now for some tea. There is an old plum tree in full bloom right now at The Old Mission in downtown San Luis Obispo. I want to get a picture of it before it goes by to share with you...Spring Dreams, my friends....

A Chicken Called ...Buttercup !

Yesterday I am over at Borders crusing the isles and I come to the Farm Section. You know the one..where there is Mary Jane's Farm, Hobby Farms Home, British Country Living, The Herb Companion,Culture..the one that shows you how to make your own cheese...more on that later....Mother Earth News..and then I see it. What is that? A magazine on Chickens? It is...I grab it and head to checkout. I know this is for me...

I told John the other day that this spring I want to get some chickens. Every spring over at Farm Supply they have the baby chicks. And every year I stand there and yearn. But with all the remodeling here at Farmhouse...a chicken coop was like the last thing on the list...but we MIGHT be getting close. It doesn't need to be the Rolls Royce of chicken coops..at least not for now..I have seen the ones that look like a cottage from Carmel set in a cherry tree orchard with the window boxes spilling over with red and yellow geraniums, shutters on the windows, a little peaky shingled wood roof and a gaslight lampost leading to the front door...but that's just not going to happen this year....we still need to do the bathroom.... I'll take the simplest I can get just to have the chickens.

So I opened it and what a whole new world. Did you know there is a yellow chicken?The last picture is of that variety. They even give sources for mail order. I am IN LOVE with her....and there is a variety called Buttercup...Oh, please...how much more belovedness can I take. Buttercup !

I have visions of the girls lazily pecking through the garden on a warm spring day. High white fluffy clouds in the sky...maybe a light drizzle for late in the afternoon. My clothes, sheets and yellow gingham tea towels are flapping in the March wind on the clothesline out back. I am gathering a small stack of wood to start the fire with tonight in the woodstove and am picking rhubarb to make into a small pie for after supper. A small bouquet of sweet peas that I picked this morning fills the kitchen with the fragrance of bubble gum and spice. A basket of straw filled with brown eggs from the girls sits on the drainboard ready to be made into a country quiche for supper. ...sigh...

I am thinking of naming them after my italian aunts that still farm up in Santa Cruz. Rose, Maria, and Diana...Hope they don't mind. Maybe I won't tell them.

....and the teacup goes to....Lorrie

Well I have to say that this really was alot of fun..and the winner of the sprig teacup giveaway is LORRIE from lilylovekin tails.....Congratulations, my friend...
Lorrie, email me at myfarmhousekitchen@yahoo.com with your snail mail address and it will be on it's way with all good wishes...with love from, Kary

Double Jackpot

So I am pushing the cart along at the grocery store...fighting the Super Bowl shopping crowds..and I am thinking.....pork chops....with I don't know....broccoli ?...That doesn't sound too good....and I am over in the meat section...have the pork chops in my cart...and then I see it. Lurking in the meat section. A beautiful rib eye steak. One and a half pounds..perfect for 2.Jackpot. So I dump the pork chops, plop the beef in the cart ,head to the produce and what do I see there? Fresh asparagus. Double jackpot.

Came home and got out the cast iron skillet. That's what I am cooking the roast in.

After the roast comes out of the oven I will let it rest while I whirl up some yorkshire pudding batter...I'll heat the cooking fat (sorry, my new diet) and add the batter. Let it bake till it puffs way up and turns golden brown and serve it with au jus. I also got fresh horseradish and sour cream to go along side. Hello Mr. Toast...I think I am in your territory with this meal...being english and all..am I right , my friend?

As far as the asparagus goes I am just roasting it in the oven with olive oil and some of my precious pink sea salt.

I have been making yorkshire pudding and roast beef since I was in high school and still living at home. And I ALWAYS used the recipe from my FAVORITE cookbook. "The Treasury Of Great Recipes" by Mary and Vincent Price. You can see how soiled the pages are...well worn and well loved....indeed.


The drawing for the sprig tea cup is Monday and your response has overwhelmed me.
I saw some cute Valentine cookies today and a tin of Spring Cherry tea so I'll sweeten the pot with those goodies too..A little bit of Spring Cheer. I think we could all use some of that right about now.

Thank you all for your kind comments. It makes me feel good knowing that there are so many wonderful people out in this world. I am so lucky to have met each and every one of you. You're THE BEST !