Rain, Garden and Old Recipes

We did manage to get 3/4's of the garden planted last Saturday late afternoon and evening. We are hoping to get the rest in this coming weekend.

We have gotten quite a bit of rain the last 3 days. We really needed it. We are getting into the dry season for our area so this has been very welcome.

We were given 3 chickens; 2 are roosters. The family was doing 4-H and live in town the roosters were not welcome by neighbors lol. The little hen has a crooked beak but seems to be doing well.

Recipes:                       

From the book; Colonial Cookbook

Oyster Stew

¼ cup butter

1 quart (4 Cups) oysters, drained

2 cups warmed milk

2 cups light warmed cream

Salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon paprika

Melt butter and sauté oysters in it until edges curl. Add remaining ingredients and heat to almost boiling. Can serve with small crackers. Serves 4.

Oxtail Soup

(cow tail)

Wash 2 pounds of oxtail cut into short sections. In large pot brown oxtails in fat (butter or olive oil works). Cover with water. Add a bay leaf and simmer until meat falls off the bones. Strain broth to take out bones. Add meat back in. Add 4 cups diced vegetables (carrots, potatoes, onions etc.) Cook slowly until vegetables are tender. Season to taste. Serves 4.

Pumpkin Soup

1 tablespoon butter

1 small onion, chopped fine

1 pound fresh pumpkin, steamed drained and pureed

2 cups chicken broth

½ teaspoon thyme

1 bay leaf

1 cup cream

Chopped parsley or chives

Melt butter in soup kettle. Saute onion until golden. Stir in pumpkin, broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook over low heat 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and cool. Stir in cream and heat thoroughly. Remove bay leaf. Garnish with the chopped parsley or chives. Serves 4 to 6.

Soda Crackers

4 cups flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

¾ cup sour milk (3/4 cup less 1 tablespoon milk, then add 1 tablespoon vinegar and let sit 5 minutes.

1 cup butter

Sift or stir dry ingredients together well. Cut in milk and butter, mixing well into stiff dough. Roll and turn over repeatedly until the dough is very stiff. Roll very thin, cut into squares, prick with fork and bake 400 degrees until edges are lightly browned. Makes 50 to 60 crackers.