Apr 142013
 

traditional-lamb-stir-fryWith soccer season in full swing our family schedule is busier than ever.

And with everyone going in different directions, cooking dinner has become a shared responsibility. Needless to say, dishes that are both easy and filling are big hits with everyone in our house, especially the chef!

(add or subtract vegetables to your liking and/or what you have on hand.)

Enjoy!

Traditional Lamb Stir-Fry
 

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons red wine or water
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 teaspoons peanut oil
  • 1 pound American Lamb leg, cut into strips
  • 3 medium carrots, finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced diagonally
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 cup snow peas, trimmed
  • 3 cups shredded cabbage
  • 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
  • 6 green onions, sliced diagonally
  • 1 can (2 ounces) diced pimento, drained
  • Hot cooked rice

Instructions
  1. Toast seeds in wok; set aside.
  2. In small bowl, combine soy sauce, wine, garlic, ginger, cornstarch, pepper and cayenne. Set aside.
  3. Heat wok or large skillet; heat oil. When hot, add lamb strips; stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add carrots, celery and mushrooms; stir-fry with lamb for an additional 2 minutes. Remove lamb and vegetables from wok; keep warm. Add soy sauce mixture to wok; stir until mixture begins to thicken. Immediately add lamb and cooked vegetables; add pea pods, cabbage, chestnuts, onions and pimento. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
  4. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve with hot cooked rice.

 

 Posted by at 1:02 am
Apr 072013
 

laundry

As many of you know, last fall I fell and broke both feet and was immobile for several months. It didn’t take long spending that much time stuck inside before it felt like the walls were collapsing in. All our possessions became stuff, just smothering clutter. I craved open space and simple surroundings.

As soon as I was back on my feet I began cleaning, giving away, selling, and trashing everything that was neither necessary nor loved. My mission to declutter the house soon became a mission to simplify life. And soon I realized it was time to take my philosophy of sustainable farming and transfer it to sustainable living. The question became, what could I make or grow that would require less dependency on weekly shopping while continuing to live a good life?

While I was totally excited to be making my own laundry detergent, I fear my family thinks I have gone crazy. That was until I told them how little I spent on ingredients and how well it worked. Ha! Who is laughing now!

Laundry Detergent

  • 1/3 bar Fels Naptha
  • 1/2 cup washing soda
  • 1/2 cup borax powder

Bring 4 quarts of water to a soft boil. Meanwhile grate a 1/3 a bar of Fels Naptha soap. Reduce heat to medium, add grated soap and stir until soap completely melts.

Add the washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.

Add quarts of cold water to clean bucket. Add hot soap mixture and stir. Let the soap sit for 24 hours or until slightly gelled.

Store in gallon container. Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup per load.

 Posted by at 12:24 am
Apr 012013
 

What a crazy March this has been! We finally got our spring vegetables, including peas, kale, beets, carrots, radishes, and more lettuces planted in the garden this weekend. But looking back at the past couple of weeks, you have to wonder if winter is finally over.

Early Morning Snowfall

Early Morning Snowfall

Early Morning Snowfall

Early Morning Snowfall

Our last winter storm?

 

 

 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

 Posted by at 12:41 am