Friday, September 9, 2011

What to do with those Heirlooms

What can you do with Heirloom tomatoes?  EVERYTHING!!  

I eat them with a touch of salt.  Add basil and fresh mozzarella for a great salad, as a sandwich, pan seared and served with eggs and hash browns, and so much more.

I knew that yesterday was the earliest I could pick them and have them taste fantastic.

This year's crop has been stunted.  My Eastern facing deck didn't get hot enough in June, nor was there enough early morning sun.  So they are about a month late.  I've also had a pest problem, so I cannot transplant them anywhere else for fear of spreading insects.  Everything must be washed before eating anything from the deck.  But the tomatoes are looking really yummy!!

So here's what we did with the TWO Black Krim Tomatoes we picked yesterday.

Pizza and Fresh Tomato Slices.  Pardon the not so perfect pictures.  The good camera's battery was dead, so we used the old Kodak, as we were hungry!!

BNB Pizza & Slices!

Pizza A was Heirloom Tomatoes, Fresh Grown Basil and Red Pepper; Light Tomato Sauce with Olive Oil and Mozza cheese
Pizza B was  Pepperoni, Salami, Ham, Onion, Red & Yellow Pepper; Tomato Sauce & Mozza.


Steps to Great Naan Pizzas!!
1. Gather your Fixins and Pans!
Ingredients for Tomato-Basil Pizza
2. Prepare the Oven.  Pre-Heat to 375
3. Get Non-Stick sheet big enough, rub down with little olive oil
4. Place the Naan on the sheet and sauce them
5. Add a layer of Cheese, then toppings of choice.  If you have too many tomatoes, just add a light touch of salt and eat them!!

Light Sauce with Olive Oil on Pizza A.
Pizza B had more sauce!  And more cheese!
6. Add more cheese if desired!
Going into the Oven (375 for about 8 minutes).
7. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted!
8. Watch these carefully so they don't burn!!
9.  Remove from oven, slice with Pizza cutter and serve!


After all was said and done, I realized that I didn't make a huge mess, and these were really easy to throw together.   If I wanted to, I could have made several of them and froze what I didn't want to cook.  I prefer a thinner, less doughy crust, so for me, these are Perfect!!

After Pizza B was done, it was eaten right away, so here is the final result of Pizza A!!

Pizza A, all done!!
Do you have picky kids?  I've found that having kids help when you make things will teach them Fantastic Life Lessons (Knives, heat, measurements, food waste, and so much more).  So why not prep all the ingredients, and for that birthday party, let them make their own!!  I sourced this bread at Top Foods, but Trader Joes has Naan Bread in a 6-pack for under $4.00!!  They're a little thinner, but well worth it!!

This idea was inspired by Pioneer Women's Steak & Onion Pizza, which reminded me I used to make a Chicken Pizza in years past.  Meat and Veggies.  The perfect combination!!

 Until next time. . .


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Cowlitz Prairie Grange Threshing Bee


Reminding Sammy how to drive the tractor

This is not the meat grinder that I want

Tractor seats, hmm. . . I wonder what my fiancee will make. . . 


Jar Lifters, who knew they could be multi-purpose??

The Supervisors. . . 

A great end to a great day at the Threshing Bee!

After the 47th annual cowlitz prairie grange threshing bee

Working man! Pitch that hay!

Dirty toes. . . 


Mt. Rainier in the Background!

Lots of John Deere's. 

My first Threshing Bee.   So much fun, lots of sun, tractors, family, and good times!!  Next year I'll bring my hat, not just my sunblock!

Until next year. . .

Reading Time in the Woods

One of my all time stress relievers is to sit and read a good book.

Reading also means I should have a cup of tea (hot or iced depending on the time of day) or a cup of coffee.  Well I found a new place to read this past weekend.  A cool morning in Eastern Washington meant I was reading while sipping coffee, wrapped up in a blanket and of course, I had to take a picture or two. . .

Here was my view, looking at the TD-9 while the sun came up through the trees.  Big Red, as I call her, is an old International-Farmall TD-9 Crawler Dozer.  My future husband and I decided to take her for a spin the day before.  Oh, did I mention we're getting married? Yup!!  No more single gal Fridays, it will be Married Woman Mondays!!  Most of my family knows this, so if it's a surprise to you, then SURPRISE!  Don't worry, we're waiting until next June.

We're planning a simple small mountain wedding, and Big Red will be a big part in the preparation.  Now, if only the seat didn't smell like diesel, and there was an Amy handle for the side.  My bruises from sitting and hanging on while we moved stumps and cleared brush are fading. . . the dust is no longer on my glasses, but the old gal sure showed me how "work" can be fun!!

We don't want a big splashy-fancy wedding, something small and simple with those we love the most around us We scouted the location, made some preliminary plans, and we're excited to plan a great party to celebrate our joining as husband and wife.

So, here I sat, a nice crisp morning, and a truck had driven down the dirt road too fast, loosening some dust that filtered over the tractor.  So while I read my book, I snapped some pictures and had a great morning.

International TD-9 Crawler Tractor at Sunrise
I can't wait to get back there and take another ride on Big Red.  Even if it's just to sit on her and read.  Or I'll watch my soon-to-be working while I take pictures!



It's Official!  We're engaged!