The Old Folks Home

[chickisoup]

Quote: No apples here

The winter took out completely or severely damaged just about everyone's mature apple trees including the professional orchards. Good thing I did a super big batch 2 yrs ago because of a bumper crop. Figured it would be light last year so I would skip and do more this year. Not going to happen, The apples that are available are just too high priced.

Wow, that is waaaay too much sugar in that apple butter recipe for us. As for my "recipe", never had a real one, is to peel, core and throw as many apples in my big nesco (or pot on the stove) as will fit, I like using the nesco because I don't have to babysit it to avoid scorching later on like on the stove, anyway then I pour in a gallon of apple cider (the unfiltered of course, cheap at Walmart this time of year) and let her start to cook down. If you like your butter sweeter, as soon as there's room, start dumping in another gallon. I set the nesco on medium(ish) and let it go until I can stand my wooden spoon in it. At this point I add in whatever flavoring strikes me, usually cinnamon, a bit of allspice for some kick and I separate out enough for a couple pints for the city grandkids that were raised on junk food (his, not mine) and add some maple syrup to sweeten it up some more. Sometimes, if my regular batch didn't sweeten quite enough, I will add a bit of maple syrup in there as well. Then I just keep cooking until it's as thick as I want it. Then water bath can. done.

BTW-I usually buy my cider a year ahead because it never comes into Walmart up here to match the time the apples are ready.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Chicken Canoe

When you said you got taken, I was sure you were going to say he took your cage and never came back. That would be getting taken.
You didn't get taken, you got dinner.

No we don't want duck dinner.

We are going to take him to Wisher she has a friend that will take him in. Thank goodness!

 

[chickadoodles]

Ron and CC I told my DH for 3 years I did not want to raise chickens that I did not want to have to deal with roosters and all that mess.

But I finally gave in and said ok. I wanted to raise our own chicken to be able to eat fresh clean meat. But my husband has a tender heart and said that anything he raises is a pet and not food. We have cows that he keeps for pets also. It kind of makes me crazy since I know what ours eat compared to the mystery meat in the grocery stores!
But that is like here on the Wilson farm. lol

 

[Peep_Show]

Love the drill-to-peel idea. Do you think it would work on pears?

I've got a shipping box full of Bartletts ripening and two lugs of apples, plus what's still out in the yard. Apple butter tomorrow, for sure, along with more applesauce. Friday I'll be starting on the coop building, but Saturday is hooky day for the State Fair. Looking forward to cruising the livestock buildings and, of course, every food you can fry on-a-stick.

DH who doesn't know much about chickens (city boy now transplanted to the country) is very taken with Pat the OE, our little unsexed dark chick. Pat is the first to sprout tail feathers, so I'm hoping that portends a pullet... DH is absolutely mortified that, if not, there might be Pat Pot Pie in our future.

 

[vehve]

@Peep_Show I'm thinking the shape of the pears would make you waste quite a lot of fruit when taking the core out, and with very ripe pears it might not work, but if you're cooking with them you'll want them to be a bit on the raw side anyway, so why not. Larger pears would lead to less waste. You could of course take the cores and cut out the seed part of them and use the rest.

 

[ronott1]

Ron and CC I told my DH for 3 years I did not want to raise chickens that I did not want to have to deal with roosters and all that mess.

But I finally gave in and said ok. I wanted to raise our own chicken to be able to eat fresh clean meat. But my husband has a tender heart and said that anything he raises is a pet and not food. We have cows that he keeps for pets also. It kind of makes me crazy since I know what ours eat compared to the mystery meat in the grocery stores!
But that is like here on the Wilson farm. lol

I understand Cheryl. I have been helping on a thread for first time processors of chickens and etc. and it ca be quite a process for many.

I am lucky here since my family is fine with eating home grown food. We processed a Rooster that was over a year old last week and had rooster and dumplings for dinner and then pot pie.

There is nothing like the flavor of a year old rooster!

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I wish I was able to eat our own since I know we only feed them good healthy food and not and junk and poisons or steroids.

 

[drumstick diva]

I'm on your husband's side, I feel the same way. Everyone has their own comfort level and suffer badly when they overstep the bounds.

 

[Cynthia12]

Where is Bunny, bunny has to see this..
It is so strange for me to watch..they are so quiet while begging, no meows..no barking, no ... clucking!

http://msnvideo.msn.com/?channelind...d#/video/e91af9b8-af54-f51e-5512-a07efc060b0c

And, if you get the commercial with the big yellow dog..that is a Goldendoodle..I have a cream pup that color. She's going to be prettier in the head than that one though.
If it's the shrimp commercial...no shrimp heads here.

 

[Bunnylady]

Where is Bunny, bunny has to see this..
It is so strange for me to watch..they are so quiet while begging, no meows..no barking, no ... clucking!

Nope, just lots of nibbling and crunching and sharp little claws!