The harvest is upon us

The bounty of the season is upon us!  Cold mornings trigger plants to really produce, sugars run higher and we get to finally enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Today is butcher day.  I set the water to boil off,  as I sit and reflect on the day ahead.   I am thankful for the knowledge that they had a good life, were treated with kindness and their harvesting will be dealt with the same.  

Knowing where food comes from is more than just understanding, it's a deep respect we have for them too.   Be blessed today.

Finding Hope in a rough year

How has 2020 been for you?   If you are still alive, have a roof over your head, food in your belly, and friends and family to call - then I'd say you're doing pretty good.  The rest is just window dressing.

2020 has been a difficult year for some.  I've not taken the time to make a bunch of posts on the blog this summer.  I have written a hundred different things in my head, even as drafts -  then deleted them.  Let me say it one time - I believe in equality for all, but don't believe all get it.  I believe in personal responsibility and honor to my surroundings (human, animal and otherwise).  I believe that we as a human race can do better for ourselves and our planet.  But I also believe in reasonable goals and acknowledge that it may take many lifetimes to continue towards a peaceful world.  Forward progress is still progress.  If you look back thru history, we've come a long way - but we still have more to do!

So how does that really affect Books N Brew?   I've stayed as a silent witness to many situations this year.  I usually will not speak up in a crowd as I don't like being bullied.  I don't like confrontation very much and would rather walk away then blow up and say some pretty vicious things which I may or may not truly mean.   This right here is my platform.  I don't accept ads for this site, I don't accept endorsements, so I answer only to me.  I choose this space to be free from bullshit or drama or hate.  This is just me, my food, my reading, my friends, my family, and my ideas that are put out to the blogosphere.  Maybe it will reach someone, maybe it won't.  This is a therapy to me to get my words out.    You can read them, you can scroll on by.  That is your choice in life.  

You may be wondering what's been holding me back.  Why haven't I written about this before now?  One word? Anger.   I was so angry at the mob mentality of people that I was seeing online, the social warriors who became bullies to others who didn't believe as they did.  I was angry at people I know pushing others, calling them names and bullying them for not acting out (sorry, bullies of all kinds are not tolerated here).   I was overcome with anxiety just reading news articles about our local and federal governments - not knowing if my job or my husbands job would be secure in the next few years.   I was dealing with swirling emotions as I was staying home, working from home, isolating from family and friends and seeing the "I don't Care" or "I" culture folks who only care about themselves, laugh about being quarantined with too much time on their hands.   I have been disgusted by folks who viciously attack those online when they ask basic questions.  I am tired of people not being courteous as well as I am tired of people not taking initiative and using the correct resources to research their questions.  My heart hurts when people choose to rant and rave about another person / business but make no efforts to talk to the person and or business and try to bring the issues to light.   It's too easy to become inflamed over perceived slights when it could very well be the other party has no clue why you are so upset. What boggles me the most is that our American society has become so self-centered that it's almost unfathomable for many to even think outside of their comfort zone.  

Remind yourself (yes I know it's hard) that others do not have the same experiences as you do.  Try to look at a situation from the other side's perspective.  It's okay to get a little angry at a situation, but don't let it fester.   It's okay to feel anxiety or depression, but if it is stopping or limiting your daily activities or you have a major attack - it's also completely normal to have a chat with your doctor about it.    These feelings and emotions don't make you "crazy", they make you human.  Acknowledging them is the first step, not ignoring them is the next.    We all need a time out sometime and fresh perspective from time to time.   Those are my thoughts, my rant and rave for the summer.    

As for the good parts - due to me working from home, the dog has had lots of attention (he's a bit co-dependent now), we got chickens  (post coming soon!), and even though we've had too much rain in the spring / early summer, the heat finally showed up!  Our tomatoes are now setting fruit, zucchini are pushing into giants, and the best of all, we figured out a way to turn our annual Gumbo house party into a Drive-Thru party!   

If you take away anything from this post - let it be some hope that others are out there feeling just the way you do.  Try to find one positive thing and hold onto it.  Then take that little bit of light, and let it shine for others to see. 

  

Soup for spring

The last Tuesday of spring 2020. It has been very wet here in the pacific northwest.  So much that instead of grilling, I have craved soup!  So I indulged. 

Shrimp bisque is one recipe that I follow pretty close.   I have used a recipe I found d at theviewfromgreatisland.com a few times.  It is simply delish!

Wishing warm days, garden growth and more for this last week of spring.

The world keeps turning... the garden keeps growing.

There is no doubt, we are living in strange times amid this virus crisis.  I feel very lucky to live rural where I can walk around my yard and not feel so isolated.

There is a constant in our life that gives hope, no matter how bleak the news of the day is.  Our Garden.  The overwintered veggies are springing to life.  Carrot seeds are popping, same with dill and garlic.  Lettuce, radish and kale seeds are sprouting, and our purple broccoli is showing their pretty heads!

My daily routine is totally changed with this crisis, but I am thankful to be still working from home.  The lack of a commute leaves me more time to devote to our continued sustainability.  Here at Books n Brew, we have always lived by the motto of "why buy it when you can make it yourself", and we will continue that motto long after those who are frantically buying seeds right now, lose interest.  Major plans for a bountiful year are in the works!

Just remember, like grammy told me that the cows didn't know it was the depression, our Gardens don't know we are in a crisis. ❤❤

We did make an investment that will forever change our little half acre, chickens!!

Exciting times are ahead!  The uncertainty of today will not darken the bright light of hope.

Stay safe my friends, be thankful for fresh air, blue skies, good internet, books, and social media to keep us all connected while isolated.  This crisis is not yet over, and this will undoubtedly change all of our lives from this time forward.

Blessings to you.

Irish Feast Week 2020

2020 has had it's challenges.  For the first time ever I planned an "Irish feast week" which started the Sunday before St. Patrick's day and lasted thru the end of Winter. 

It was a challenge only because we didn't have folks to share it with us at our dining room table.  Instead, every day we shared the nightly meal on social platforms -doing a virtual feast of the eyes to our friends and family.   

If you need a good cook book to read, I would totally suggest The Farmette Cookbook.  I used the Patsy's Pies pie crust recipe and it was voted the BEST!

Irish Feast week Preparation

In planning our meals, we wanted to use items more than once, to  utilize leftovers and limit single use ingredients if we could.   We wanted to show that American Irish food was about adapting, using what you have, and being appreciative of simple ingredients.

Our shopping list entailed things such as (not in any order)

corned beef

yellow potatoes

orange carrots

head of cabbage

garlic

green onions

Kerry Gold butter

flour

heavy cream

whole grain mustard

dry mustard powder

dijon mustard

Guinness beer

plain beef brisket

beef stock

chicken stock

bay leaf

parsely, fresh

dried herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, sage

eggs

rye bread

mushrooms

bangers

irish sharp cheese

sharp regular cheddar

puff pastry

ground pork

sour cream

chocolate

more chocolate

"leprechaun dust"

dark chocolate cocoa powder

whiskey

ice

more beer

ice pack for my foot

laughter

patience

Our Menu comprised of a Prep Nigh.  I needed to make sure we had all the items as proprotionate before we started.   The plan was to start with a lot, and use leftovers thru the week, ending the week with a flourish and good memories!

Day 1

     Corned Beef, steamed cabbage & carrots, Mashed potatoes, champ, Irish Sausage rolls, craggy cheddar and green onion drop biscuits plus Guinness mustard

** Everything was made with a little extra in mind **

Day 2

    Irish Bangers, mashed potatoes, with grilled onion gravy and parsley carrots

** using leftover mashed potatoes, adding dried parsley to the steamed carrots and microwaving with a pat of KerryGold butter, using up some leftover grilled onions and beef broth to make the gravy**

Day 3

  St. Patrick's day Irish stew with brisket

** using whatever carrots were left, plus more, adding potatoes, a new brisket, mushrooms, onions, in a white broth plus trimmed brisket (not corned) plus a cup of the strained corned beef jous and of course some beer.

For dessert we dined on the beautiful Chocolate Stout cake in the "mini donut form".  I am going to call these super chocolate bombs, and they were good!!!!!!

Day 4

     Leftover Corned beef hash with cabbage, breakfast style; aka with over medium eggs and rye toast!

** the remainder of the corned beef, plus the steamed cabbage, and mashed potatoes, plus half an onion and a clove of garlic made use of most of the leftovers.

Day 5

   The last meal of Winter - Irish Stew Pie

Using a homemade crust (best one i've ever made), we used all the leftovers from the St. Patrick's stew, added flour as a thickener and baked as a pie.   It was devine and so filling!

This was a fun week of meals to plan.  I'm only sorry that more people couldn't be here to taste each one.

As usual, I don't post the recipes for St. Patrick's Day.  I should, but that would make this post really long!  Maybe next year I'll post them as i go along.  If you want to recreate anything I have pictured here, just ask!   Most of these are just an "as you go" recipe meaning that there isn't one way to make them and they change based on what you have available.

My dream is that one day to host a St. Pats Party, with ALL of these dishes for sampling.   My what a feast that would be!!  

But for now we' re shifting into Spring mode.  That means plantingand planning and using the freezer and canned stores to make room for this year's horde.  Looking forward to seeing what i will do with all my  apple sauce and pickled asparagus!!  We have a great garden planned and should see some greens and radish in just a few weeks.   

Peace and blessings from our house to yours.