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Hearty Mid-Winter Zucchini Bread

02.04.2022 by Raelene Bradley // Leave a Comment

I found a stash of shredded frozen zucchini in a freezer last week so I’ve been making LOTS of zucchini bread. We have seven (7!) chest freezers and 2 fridge freezers so unearthing an unexpected trove is not all that uncommon – ha!

We all love this recipe.

It’s easy to whip up and I generally do it after dinner while we’re cleaning the kitchen so it’s ready for breakfast in the morning and afternoon snacks thereafter.

The kids love it with a tall glass of cold milk. I like to add butter – because butter (chuckle).

Go on – dig out your own stash of frozen zucchini and add a little boost of summer nutrition to your breakfast fare this week. Your family will be none the wiser (wink wink).

Print Recipe

Hearty Zucchini Bread

Easy to put together with staple pantry ingredients, hearty and delicious for breakfast and snacks, this is my favorite way to use up my stash of shredded zucchini grown last summer and frozen to boost the nutrition of mid-winter days just like these.
Prep Time15 mins
Course: Breakfast
Keyword: zucchini
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 3 cups zucchini, shredded
  • 1 1/4 cups melted butter*
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs*
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 tsp cinnamon*
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Notes

*I have a LOT of butter on hand (thank you milk cow), but you could also substitute melted coconut oil or vegetable oil.
*It’s midwinter. Below average temperatures and way above average snowfall. My chickens aren’t laying. So I’ve been substituting 1/2 cup yogourt OR applesauce for the eggs instead. The bread does finish a little more dense, but with no loss of flavor or texture.
*Feel free to get creative with the spices. I often use an apple-pie mix of spices (including ginger, nutmeg, and cloves) or a chai-spiced version (with cardamom and black pepper).
In a large mixing bowl, combine zucchini, butter (or oil), sugar, eggs (or yogourt/applesauce), and vanilla. Mix well with a fork.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the flour mixture to the zucchini mixture and mix just until combined. Gently mix in chopped nuts (if using).
Pour batter into a greased 9×13 pan.
Bake at 350° for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick/knife inserted comes out clean.

Categories // Blog Post, Recipes Tags // breakfast, eat like a farmer, homestead

Baked Apple Oatmeal

01.23.2021 by Raelene Bradley // Leave a Comment

Hot cereal is a staple around these parts. We always have an abundance of fresh cream and there’s just nothing quite like a bowl of hot cereal doused in thick sweet cream to stick to your ribs and see you through the morning’s chores.

Oatmeal is a clear go-to for hot cereal and though it’s simple (and fast!) to make on the stovetop, we really love it baked.  We eat hot cereal at least four times a week and so this version has had a lot of testing! This Baked Apple Oatmeal is the kids’ favorite: it’s easy enough for them to put together on their own and bakes in the oven while they head out to do their morning chores.

With applesauce and all the traditional apple pie spices, along with tasty mix-ins like dehydrated apple chips and cranberries, this baked oatmeal makes everyone happy.

Print Recipe

Baked Apple Oatmeal

Easy to whip together and bursting with apple deliciousness, this stick-to-your-ribs oatmeal will fuel you and your crew well through morning chores.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time35 mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Pan
  • Mixing Bowls
  • 9x13 cake pan

Ingredients

  • 4 cups oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger ground
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups applesauce
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup dried apple chips optional
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries optional

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together oatmeal, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and salt.
  • In a separate bowl, combine applesauce, milk, vanilla, and eggs.
  • Stir applesauce mixture into the oat mixture. Fold in apple chips and cranberries (if using).
  • Transfer to a greased cast iron pan or 9x13 cake pan. (I like to grease the pan with coconut oil or butter).
  • Bake at 350* for 35 minutes or until the oatmeal is set.

Notes

*I like to use the whole gamut of apple pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger). Sometimes I'll make a chai version by adding black pepper, and cardamom. But you could just as easily use only cinnamon and still have great results!
*Feel free to experiment with other mix-ins. We use apple chips because we dehydrate bushels of them in the fall and almost always have them on hand. Raisins are another good option, as well as coconut, chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds, and even chocolate chips.
*We love to serve this Baked Apple Oatmeal with a generous drizzle of heavy cream and a tall glass of cold milk.

 

Categories // Recipes Tags // breakfast, eat like a farmer

Flaky Farmhouse Buttermilk Scones

04.27.2020 by Raelene Bradley // Leave a Comment

We have gallons and gallons of fresh milk coming into the kitchen every day and each gallon includes a quart of cream. After just a few days, that makes for A LOT of sweet, rich, golden, pasture-rich goodness. And so we churn butter. Lots of butter.

I usually leave the cream out on the counter to ripen for about an hour before churning, but the other day I got distracted doing a million other things (typical!) and so that when I went to churn it, it was a little too warm and the butter fat fluffed up but didn’t separate from the buttermilk.

I’ve read of this happening – usually in the summer when the cream gets too warm. It is sometimes called “fluffy butter.” Depending on the batch, you may still be able to strain it from the buttermilk, and press it together sort of. But because it’s too soft to wash, it has to be used first (it is the buttermilk that goes bad. Well-washed butter keeps well in the fridge for a long time). Sometimes though, fluffy butter won’t press together at all.  At that point, you can always give it to the pigs (they live for dairy experiments gone wrong!) or use it in a recipe that calls for both butter and buttermilk (which is exactly what it is).

So with our first batch of fluffy butter on our hands, Jordan decided to do a bit of tinkering and created this recipe for buttermilk scones. Since it uses both butter and buttermilk, it’s the perfect use for fluffy butter and they came out light, flaky, and delicious.   For the first test, since we couldn’t weigh them separately, we guessed on the yields of both butter and buttermilk based on our usual yields. But we’ve since made it with regular butter and buttermilk and narrowed down the ratios. They turn out beautifully every time.

Note: we use true buttermilk – the liquid left over from making butter. It is sweet and has the same consistency as milk.  After a few days in the fridge it gets a little more acidic, and just a little thicker. Store-bought buttermilk is decidedly different.  It is much much thicker, for one, so you may need to either add more or add milk to get the liquid consistency right. The dough should just barely come together, and still be loose and flaky – just like a biscuit dough.

Print Recipe

Flaky Farmhouse Buttermilk Scones

Flaky and delicious, these beautiful buttermilk scones come together quickly and are perfectly delectable every single time. Pair with a glass of milk for a true farmhouse breakfast.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Freezer Time30 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: breakfast, buttermilk, scones
Servings: 12 scones

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls
  • Parchment Paper

Ingredients

  • 570 grams flour (approx. 4 3/4 cups)
  • 100 grams sugar (1/2 cup)
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 250 grams butter (1 cup + 1 1/2 Tablesppons)
  • 340 grams buttermilk (approx. 1 1/2 cups)
  • 100 grams nuts, chopped or sliced (1 cup)
  • 120 grams dried fruit (1 cup)

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender (or two knives) until it resembles coarse oatmeal.
  • Add the buttermilk all at once and mix a few strokes. Add the nuts and dried fruit, and mix just until the dough comes together.
  • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and split in two. Using well-floured hands, pat and shape (but do not knead) the dough into two round disks, approximately 1.5″ thick. By the time you have the disks shaped, you’ll have used about 600 grams of flour – you want the outside to no longer be sticky. The inside of the dough will still seem wet, but holding its shape.
  • Transfer the disks to a parchment covered baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the over to 425F. Remove the disks from the freezer, cut into six equal portions (one cut down the middle and cut each half into thirds). Separate them on the baking tray by a few inches (to allow room for rise).
  • Bake 20-28 minutes, until puffed up and golden brown.

Notes

*Use whatever you have to hand to flavor these.  We love almonds & dried cranberries, almonds & dried blueberries, walnuts & dried apples. Experiment by adding almond extract or vanilla, or orange zest. We like to add fresh berries like raspberries and blueberries when they're in season as well.
*After the scones are cut, they can be returned to the freezer, well-wrapped, until later for a quick and easy breakfast. No need to defrost. You’ll just need to add approximately 5 minutes to the bake time.
*Scones are always best warm, fresh out of the oven. We don't feel like they need any garnish, but a dollop of creme fraiche or jam, a swirl of honey, or even maple syrup wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Add a hearty glass of milk for a true farmhouse breakfast.

Categories // Blog Post, Recipes Tags // breakfast, buttermilk, home dairy

belvederefarms

This time of year I worry about too much grass gro This time of year I worry about too much grass growing too fast before I can get the cows over to eat it down and make the most of it.
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As a grass farmer, it’s the very best kind of problem to have: grass tall enough to get lost in.
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Speaking of which: can you find the baby? Comment with a 👍 when you do!
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#grassfarmer #grassfedbeef #iamyourfarmer #farmraisedkids #intensiverotationalgrazing #grassfed #grassfedbutter #farmlife #homesteadlife #supportlocalfarmers
That milk pail foam tho 🤩🤩🤩. . Those firs That milk pail foam tho 🤩🤩🤩.
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Those first few weeks hand milking can be disheartening. Dribbles and squirts, milk running down your wrist, sticky fingers, and sore forearms. 
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Milking is a skill. No one is good at it right away. It takes practice. The more you practice, the better you get. The faster you get, the more sure and even your squirts.
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And then one day, there will be foam in the bucket and you’ll know you’ve arrived. Your squirts are fast and firm and sure and the sustained pressure of all that milk hitting the pail makes the most gloriously frothy foam.
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Keep at it friend. Whatever skill you’re working on now. Just because you’re not that great at it right now doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing or that you won’t get better.
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Keep working. Keep trying. Keep learning. The foam will come.
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#farmlife #milkmaid #modernmilkmaid #milkmaidlife #milkcowlife #handmilking #rawmilk #homesteadskills #traditionalskills
Transcript of a real-life conversation we had this Transcript of a real-life conversation we had this morning:

Me: Whaa? Why is there a frozen turkey on the counter?!

Seamus (4): Because I like turkey and chicken meat.

Me: So you went out to the barn…

S: …and got in the freezer. And brought in a turkey.

Me: Oh, love. We can’t cook a turkey until we have a stove [kitchen reno still on going 🤦‍♀️].

S: Well, then you can cut it up and cook it piece by piece in the microwave.

Me: Actually, that’s not going to work.

S: (looks outside) Well, it’s raining today but tomorrow when it’s not raining we can make a fire and cook it outside on the fire.
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Ever the problem solver, he was full of ideas. 🤣🤣
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I did finally convince him to put it back in the freezer and wait until we have a stove - with the caveat that we cook it for his birthday.
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#kidssaythedarndestthings
#farmkid #farmlife #homesteadmama #lifeonthefarm #farmraisedkids
We have two cows in milk right now: Sandy (old fai We have two cows in milk right now: Sandy (old faithful and best friend, there on the left) and Clara (new to our farm and momma to Ruby).
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How much work is two cows vs. one? I was so nervous about adding a second cow because the additional time/labor was an unknown, but when it comes right down to it, it’s about 20 mins more time milking. That’s it.
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Everything else is pretty well the same. It takes the same amount of time to bring them in to the milking shed. The same amount of time to move them to fresh grass. It still takes under an hour door to door to milk & do what needs done, and even less for evening milking.
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And since our oldest boy (14) helps milk the majority of the time, that extra 20 minutes doesn’t often figure in. Many hands (and even just one extra pair!) make light work.
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It does take a little more time to deal with the milk: more time straining, more time washing jars, more cream to skim, more butter to churn. But if more cream and butter are the cons, I’m here for it.
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What would you say is the biggest obstacle holding you back from getting a family cow?
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#familycow #milkcowlife #keepingafamilycow #milkcow #homesteadlife #rawmilk
Mud pie hearts. . Just because this day or month o Mud pie hearts.
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Just because this day or month or season or year is hard does not mean you are not heard or seen or loved. There is beauty all around, if we have eyes to see it, hearts open to feel it, and wild, barefoot, dirty, outdoor-loving farm kiddos to deliver it.
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#farmkids #wildandfree #mudpie #mudseason #springonthefarm #homesteadmama #farmmom
My cup - ahem. shirt - runneth over. Same same. . My cup - ahem. shirt - runneth over. Same same. 
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I gather eggs every morning and again every afternoon. Farm life is a constant reminder that there is #alwayssomethingtobethankfulfor 
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#farmfresheggs #farmeggs #rainboweggs #farmlifebestlife
Hello Friends! Jordan here, and it has been a hot Hello Friends! Jordan here, and it has been a hot minute. I went to Las Vegas last week to visit my brother and we made beef tongue tacos. I love using the whole animal and this was a fun process with a delicious outcome. You can check out the blog to get the recipe. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
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#wholeanimalbutchery #wholeanimalcooking #beeftonguetacos #tacosdelengua  #cincodemayo #grassfedbeef #homesteadkitchen
T-minus 3 days until our first frost and we’re s T-minus 3 days until our first frost and we’re spending these lovely fall afternoons gathering in the last of the garden.
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Today: dried beans (Christmas Lima and Cherokee Trail of Tears), Reagan’s sunflowers and luffa, the last of the tomatoes (gah! they just won’t quit!), and the rhubarb.
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Tomorrow: chopping, freezing, cooking, and canning.
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Months from now: bellies full of homegrown garden goodness.
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#homegrown #gardenlife #farmlife #preservingtheharvest #garden #fallgarden #ohiogarden #growyourown #sunflower #familygarden #kidsinthegarden #gardeningwithkids #happyfall #harvesttime #harvest #fallharvest
Hello, fall. 👋 You’re long overdue and oh so Hello, fall. 👋 You’re long overdue and oh so welcome.
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This morning was the first I stayed in a long sleeve shirt to milk and didn’t have sweat dripping down my face.
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It’s the first the temperature has dipped below 60* (even though the humidity is a resilient 100% what with the rain, mist, and fog).
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Technically, our first frost date should have been this week, but Ohio’s holding out and it doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen for another two weeks at least.
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In any case, it finally (finally!) feels like fall and oh am I ever so here for it. So much so that once the must-do chores are done (yogourt, butter, beans and laundry), I fully intend to curl up on the couch with a cuppa and read.
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#fallonthefarm #hellofall #fall #fallleaves #fallscene #farmlife #farm #ohiofarm #smallfarmcharm #simplehappycountrylife #homesteadmama #home #ilovefall #october
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