Dairy and Egg free Snickerdoodles

3 1\4 c. Flour

1/2 c. Water

1/2 c. Canola oil

1 t. Vanilla

1 1/2 c. Sugar

2 t. Cream of tarter

1 t. Soda

1/2 t. Salt

Cinnamon and sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix all ingredients, except cinnamon and sugar. Drop a tablespoon of dough, roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes.

" Yummy Summer Pasta"

                                                This is what we had for supper last night.

I dumped some of the veggies that are coming out of the garden, added a few other items, and Chewy named it. :) He names all my pasta dishes because pasta is his favorite, and he can eat a TON of it! :)

 

Yummy Summer Pasta

1 lb. ground meat (I use turkey)

2 T canola oil

1 t. salt

1 t. garlic powder

1 t. cumin

1 med onion, diced

2 jalapeños, minced

1 c. fresh corn, cut of cob

1 4oz. can sliced ripe olives

1 can great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 4 oz. can tomato paste

1 1/2 c. water

1 summer squash, diced

1 lb. box of pasta

 

Brown meat in oil, along with the onion, peppers and seasoning. When browned add, corn, paste, olives, beans, water. and squash. Simmer for 15- 20 minutes. Cook pasta according to directions and add to the sauce the last 1 minute of simmering time. Makes 8 servings

 



The Egg

  This is a pic of our eggs we got today! The one in the front is HUGE! We couldn't even shut the top! Way to go hens! Its so amazing how God created these birds to have these eggs everyday! (fyi... glad I am not a hen!)
 

The Man on the Tractor

This morning I dropped Sam off at drivers training, came home, and started to watch the morning news. I heard a tractor coming down the road. I looked out the front window, to see a older man, wearing a bright blue bicycle helmet driving the tractor. In the tractors front bucket was his bike! What???!!! I was laughing so hard! Its not a scene you see everyday. I was bummed I couldn't get a pic! I almost got in my van to chase him down:)  I decided that wouldn't be kind. :( He might have temporarily lost his marbles, and I was raised to respect my elders. Sooooooo stinkin' tempting though!!! ;)   (insert evil laugh!)

Anna, Chewy and Jess' Desk Project

  I bought this desk at Ikea maybe 10 years ago. It was black and has 2 locking drawers. We lost the key amd after a few years we broke into it hoping to find money! Nope... Just a few dried up pens! AGHHHH!! Anyway Anna and I decided to paint it. Chewy sanded it. Than we primed and painted it a soft creamy/white color. I love it! We moved it into "mommas command center".(AKA the corner of the living room with the phone, all the bills, and everyone's schedules). We also hung up a 1957 license plate over it, for magnets and notes. Jeremy found the plate on our property. I think it looks pretty cute!

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

  My family calls me a"food nerd". I love food, cooking and canning.I love creating and trying out new recipes. We make pizza every weekend at home. I make 4 large pizzas to feed the six of us. (yes, we are pigs). Normally we make this on Saturday night, and than watch a movie. This is the crust recipe I created, and I think its pretty good! ( you can cut this recipe in half, if you are not a large, piggish, family like mine).

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough- makes 4, large pizzas 

2 2/3 c. warm water

2 pkg. yeast

3 T. sugar

3 c. self rising flour

2 c. whole wheat flour

pinch of salt

2 T.oil

 Mix yeast, water ad sugar together. Let it stand 10 minutes  Add the rest of the ingredients. Place in a oiled bowl and cover with a cloth or plastic wrap. When it doubles in size punch down and spread out on your pans. top with your toppings. Bake @ 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

4 Eggs, 6 Yokes

  As I mentioned before, the "little chickens" are laying eggs. Today Jeremy decided to make egg sandwiches. We make them by toasting bread, slathering the bread with butter, and topping the toast with fried eggs, and cheddar cheese. Well, 2 of our little hens laid double yokes this morning! Way to go, you little overachievers! So proud of my ladies! Anna takes care of the little chickens. She was gone at a sleepover this morning. She is going to be sooooo upset that she missed this! Sorry Anna:( 

Peas Please!

I am soaking peas to be planted later this afternoon in the garden. It helps them germinate quicker. Peas grow best in cooler weather, and as it is August, its time for the second planting! (BTW what happened to summer?!) Peas are so easy to freeze also. Just blanch for a few minutes, cool, and freeze in bags. But nothing beats going out in the garden, and eating them right off the vines! I guess that explains why I have not froze enough for the year yet :/ oops!

Pigs by Matthew "Chewy", Chores by Elijah

As I mentioned before these next post are from the kids. Chewy is 9 and going into the 5th grade.

Pigs-by Chewy Brunink

One thing I don't like about pigs is - they are stinky! Some things I like is- that they are tasty, fun to watch and are fat! They are fun to ride too :)

This is Lij's post. He is 11 and going into the 7th grade

Chores-by Elijah David Brunink

Chores are NOT fun!

Chores SUCK!

My chores are gathering eggs, watering the chickens, taking out all recycle. On Saturdays we also have to clean the coops, clean our room and the kids' bathroom! 

That's all I have to say.

These post cracked me up! Thanks boys for the help, and all your words of wisdom! ;) 

My Little Chickens - by Anna Rose Brunink

I have asked all 4 kids to write a post for our blog. This is Anna's, She is 13, and going into the 9th grade.

  My little Chickens-by Anna Rose Brunink

We bought a few more chicks this spring. We call them our "little chickens". We also still have our older hens and my Daddy bought me 4 ducks! They have been through rough times! They have had to deal with a fox, a raccoon, a possum ,and crazy Michigan weather. We lost a duck and a few chickens after all of that :( My great uncle gave us 7 more chicks last month, and they are all getting along well with are other birds.They fit in perfectly! And I have even more good news! We are getting 7 or so eggs a day from our little chickens now! We love our little ladies! 

Pumpkins

    We planted pumpkins this spring. Guess what y'all? They are starting to turn orange! Pics to come soon! Have a great weekend y'all!

School Supplies, Birthday, Drivers Training and Crabby Teens

  This August is a huge month for us! I am working on getting all of our back to school supplies. Holy crap! I am doing just the basics, but it is costing a lot! This year we have 2 in high school, 1 in  middle school, and a 5th grader. Our three youngest all have birthdays this fall. So ALL the kids will be teens and pre-teens  Yikes! Sam, our oldest is in drivers training. How did that happened? I just brought him into this world! Now all I have is crabby teens! All they do is crab, roll eyes and eat! Also this month I turn 36! How did that HAPPEN!!!This is my plan for the first day of school:

1) Dance as the bus leaves
2) Go see a movie
3) Eat M&Ms
4) Read

What will not happen the first day of school:

1) No housework
2)I will not answer phones
3) I will not listen to: fights, gaming disputes, facts about cars, facts on weird movies and shows, or hear the words "I am bored"
4) Smell stinky boys!.

And I will say " I survived the summer of 2015!"

6324 Michillinda Rd. Whitehall

Today at the stand we have:
green beans
lettuce
kale
beets
summer squash


 Enjoy this pretty weekend we are having!