Recipe: Pear and Apple Crisp

Easy Autumn Baking with Less Fuss, More Flavor


Does Dessert Get Any More Comforting than This?

My next recipe post was supposed to be for the quick roasted brussels sprouts I've been eating by the pound lately—and which would be perfect for Thanksgiving. But all fresh vegetable goodness aside, sometimes you just have to eat dessert first. Stay tuned for the sprouts, which I'll hopefully have up in the next few days. In the meantime, enjoy this easy autumn dessert—which also makes a scrumptious breakfast or afternoon snack.

I love fruit pies, but many people find them intimidating. A fresh fruit crisp, on the other hand, mixes up in no time flat and involves none of that piecrust panic. I've made this recipe with Bartlett and D'Anjou pears, but other varieties should work, too. You can use soft or firm ripe pears; it's up to you. Overripe pears are perfectly tasty, too; the chunks just won't hold their shape as well.

I like to make this with sweet apples like Gala and Fuji, but Joe prefers the tarter Granny Smiths. Use a softer apple if your pears are very soft. Leaving a couple of pears and apples unpeeled will give your crisp a nice rustic look, especially if the apples have some red on them. I've even left all the skin on the fruits before.



If you prefer, you can make the topping with either just whole wheat pastry flour or just all-purpose flour. When you're assembling the crisp, it may seem like there's too much topping. There isn't, though a couple of stolen nibbles will never be missed.

Thick oats give a nuttier texture to the topping than regular old-fashioned oats, but if you can't find thick just use the regular (but not the quick) kind. This recipe fills my 8-inch square white baking dish right up to the rim, so if the sides of yours aren't very tall, you'll want to use a 9-inch square dish instead.

While fruit crisp isn't health food, it's definitely better for you than sugary cereals or donuts, and makes a wonderful breakfast treat when served with an ice cold glass of milk—although some mornings definitely require a side of vanilla ice cream instead.

As always, I urge you to seek out local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Unfortunately, both appples and pears are listed on the Environmental Working Group's 'Dirty Dozen' of most contaminated produce, but organic options are readily available in many areas, especially this time of year. When using citrus zest, organic is definitely the way to go. Look for organic flours and oats in the bulk bins at natural food stores. Organic butter is often on sale for the holidays; it'll keep for many months in the freezer. Local Harvest is a great source for finding all kinds of healthy food close to home.



Pear and Apple Crisp
Makes one 8-inch or 9-inch square crisp

Topping:
1/2 cup organic all-purpose flour
1/2 cup organic whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup thick old-fashioned (not quick) organic oats
3/4 cup (1½ sticks/6 ounces) organic butter, cut into small chunks

Filling:
2 pounds organic pears (about 4 large), peeled if desired, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks
1¼ pounds organic apples (about 3 medium), cored, peeled if desired, and cut into 3/4" to 1" chunks
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 Tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
3 Tablespoons all-purpose organic flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or 1/2 teaspoon pre-ground)

Heat the oven to 375°.

For the topping:
Combine the flours, brown sugar, and oats in a medium bowl. Blend in the butter using a pastry blender, two forks, or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Some larger chunks of butter are fine.

For the filling:
Place the pears and apples in a large bowl and toss with the lemon and orange juices using a large spoon. Add the lemon zest, orange zest, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix well. Pour the fruit into an 8-inch or 9-inch square dish and cover evenly with the topping.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is brown and the fruit is bubbling. Serve warm, with scoops of good vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream if desired.

This crisp will keep for 3 to 4 days in a cool pantry or the fridge. It also freezes beautifully. I've frozen one or two servings in containers (I love this Pyrex 14-piece storage set so much I bought a second one), but you could probably freeze the whole crisp; either leave it right in the pan (if it's freezer safe), or line the pan with heavy foil before baking, freeze the crisp in the pan, then lift the whole thing out of the pan in one big piece and transfer to a container or zipper freezer bag. Set it back in the pan when you defrost it.

Still have a sweet tooth? Give these treats a try:

Cookies and Bars
Molasses Ginger Spice Snaps
Baby Chocolate Chip and Toffee Shortbread Bites
Chocolate Biscotti For Beginners
Toasted Almond Chocolate Chip Biscotti
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies (and how to hug a sheep)
Yip Yap Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Snaps
Choco-Oat-Butterscotch-Coconut Crazy Cookies

Blueberry Breakfast Bars
Just Peachy Blueberry Breakfast Bars
Apple Blueberry Crumble Bars

Muffins and Scones
Cranberry Christmas Scones (tasty any time of year)
Spicy Pumpkin Pecan Raisin Muffins
100% Whole Grain Bran Muffins (four different flavors)
100% Whole Grain Ginger Pear Bran Muffins

Cakes and Tarts
Quick Emergency Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Babycakes
Easy Orange Yogurt Loaf Cake
Heavenly Lemon Coconut Quick Bread
Chocolate, Cinnamon & Banana Mexican Monkey Cake
Really Raspberry Tartlets

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the crustless foodie farm blog where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres—and crisp, crumble, and cobbler are some of our favorite words in the English language.

Thursday Dose of Cute—And Heartbreak:Rest in Peace, Little Donkey

Dolores and Her Baby Girl, About One Hour Old (previously posted photos here)







She's gone.

At first I thought she'd just caught a chill and then had become weak from not nursing for a couple of hours, but there was something else wrong. Something not working right in her complicated and miraculous little newborn system.

We thought Dolores had miscarried last winter because we found a large patch of blood in the snow by the barn and blood on her legs, and we were thrilled when she became so big it was obvious she was pregnant. But she could have been carrying twins and lost one. Twins in equines are almost never a good thing. The remaining fetus would have been weakend, and possibly harmed by residues that weren't flushed out during the miscarriage.

I saw Dolores pawing at her newborn baby, urging her to stand up. I've seen ewes do this before to their lambs. She meant well—and there was nothing I could do to stop her—but Dolores probably weighs 800 pounds. At one point, she put enough weight on the baby's side that I heard an audible expulsion of air. That can't have been good.

Or it could have been something else entirely.

Monday afternoon, in desperation, I tossed a bucket of treats onto the grass to distract Dolores (who is fiercely protective and could easily kill me with a single swift kick), hoisted up the baby, and carried her across the front field and up to the barn.






I then proceeded to do everything I could to save her. We spent the last five hours on the beat up old hardwood floor in the living room, next the the blazing woodstove, with Robin, Mr. Midnight, and Molly Doodlebug rallying nearby. Actually, Mr. Midnight, as cats are wont to do, kept trying to climb onto her soft, toasty body, but he finally settled for curling up on the other half of the pillow tucked under my butt.

When it became clear that nothing I could do was going to keep her from dying, I refused to simply abandon her. I wanted her to know she wasn't alone, and that during her short time here she was loved. I rested her head on my outsretched leg, folded my other leg protectively over her body, and proceeded to rub my hands gently across that oh-so-soft fur until she drifted into sleep and eventually took her last breath.

Her heart continued to beat. And then I felt mine break.

I'm no stranger to death here on the farm, and losing an animal is never easy, but losing this little donkey hurt more than most.

While we were sitting there together on the living room floor, I named her Flitta, because she flitted in and out of our lives. And also because it sounds sort of like an abbrieviation for The Flame Trees of Thika, a beloved book I've read numerous times.

When things are going badly on the farm, I often venture back to Kenya in the early 1900s, through Elspeth Huxley's Thika books about her childhood there, or by watching my all time favorite movie, Out of Africa, yet again. These women lived in a strange and beautiful and sometimes dangerous place, and the tales of their often difficult adventures always put mine into a comforting perspective.

I choose to live on this farm in the middle of nowhere, thousands of miles from where I grew up. I choose to surround myself with dozens of animals who depend on me and often become very close to my heart. The high points soar straight to the heavens. The low ones can reach down to the depths of your soul.

It's been a rough several days. Our sweet Zelda became ill on Friday and died on Saturday afternoon. Not long after we'd started naming all our new animals alphabetically according to the year they were born or arrived on the farm (last year were the 'E' names, this year are the 'F' names), I pointed to a ewe and said to Joe, "This pre-alphabet sheep needs a name."

"Zelda!"

"Zelda?"

"I doubt we'll make it to the 'Z' names," he said, "and if we do, she'll already be dead by then." It suited her perfectly. Zelda's death was unexpected, but at seven years old it was understandable. Chip and Chip, at 13, are considered pretty ancient by sheep standards.


About 3 Hours Old







Then of course came Flitta. Today is the first time it hasn't been raining or drizzling since Sunday. Joe has been out of town during all this, so I've been dealing with everything on my own.

Before Donkey Doodle Dandy unexpectedly came into our lives several years ago, I'd never had any experience with donkeys—let alone pictured myself owning one. Now we have a herd of six, and I can't imagine not being surrounded by these intelligent, entertaining, and very companionable animals.

My muscles ache, my heart is broken, and my darling little donkey girl is gone. Tears are streaming down my face as I type this, and I still wake up with a heavy thud of sadness. But despite the tragic ending, I'm still very grateful I was there for her beginning. That precious, amazing experience can never be taken away.



Want a bigger farm life experience?
6/3/05: An Unexpected Beginning (my very first blog post)
6/8/05: That Outfit Could Kill You
6/27/05: Chocolate Chip Sheep & Chocolate Chip Cookies
7/31/05: When? Soon (Living on Country Time)
8/10/05: Whoa! Farm Visitors

4/12/06: Hearts and Rocks and Numbers and Thoughts
4/13/06: Shepherd's Nightmare
5/14/06: A Tiny Tail for Mother's Day (the story of baby Cary)
6/15/06: How to Ensure a Happy Haying Crew
7/21/06: And Sheeeeeeee's SAFE!
7/18/06: The Tail of a Donkey and His Ratty Blue Halter
9/1/06: Happy Hour in the Garden

1/19/07: Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life is but a Stream
1/31/07: Sheep Shearing Early for a Change
2/3/07: Snowstorms and Sheep Shearing
5/13/07: The Tail of Two Mothers—A Mother's Day Story from the Farm
6/7/07: Farewell, New Cat
7/28/07: (It Only Looks Like) A Picture Perfect Walk in the Woods

2/3/08: Handyman Special
3/10/08: Broccoli Soup & Recharging Your Dead Batteries (Because Setting Them on Fire Isn't an Option)
3/13/08: Cary, No Baby
3/19/08: Flood Watch
4/20/08: Chick Days Are Here Again!
4/27/08: A Big Sunday Feast and a Mysterious Little Owl
9/18/08: Putting Up Hay and Losing Electricity
9/24/08: The Higher and Higher Cost of Farming
11/23/08: Heat Cheat

1/1/09: Happy Happy, New New
1/27/09: The Stuff of Farm Life—Losing Lambs and Lottie
5/6/09: Baby Cary is Three Years Old Today!
7/1/09: A Day in the Hay
9/19/09: Bye Bye Sheep Barn! (new barn photos coming soon—no, really!)
10/9/09: A Book, Building, and Bread Bakery Update

Lambing Season 2006 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2006 Part 2
Lambing Season 2006 Part 3
Lambing Season 2007 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2007 Part 2
Lambing Season 2008 Part 1
Lambing Season 2008 Part 2
Lambing Season 2008 Part 3
Lambing Season 2009
Lambing Season 2009 Part 2

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the grieving (yet hopeful) foodie farm blog where it takes 12 months to make a baby donkey—and only a second to lose your heart to one.

Thursday Farm Photo: Misty Morning Light

Shining on a Brand New Day (& Silly & her Darling Daughter) — Stop and Breathe It In

It's beautiful outside! I'm finishing up a long farm story post that will hopefully be posted tonight, but in the meantime I thought I'd share a glimpse of our morning in case you could use some peaceful scenery.

I've been out checking on the critters, soaking up the sun, surveying the grass situation in the front field (not bad for this time of year, though nothing like it was in June of course), unloading the several hundred pounds of sheep and donkey treats I picked up yesterday in town, watching a high-flying gaggle of geese heading south for the winter (one of the neatest things about living here), and even doing little impromptu donkey manure spreading in the kitchen garden. (And you thought we just kept the donkeys around for their entertainment value.)

I don't know about you, but this kind of light always feels rejuvenating to me. It's so invigorating and full of hope—like anything you might possibly dream up can happen.

Want to see more misty mornings?
7/6/05: Misty Morning Sunrise
8/3/05: Breakfast Under The Mist
8/10/05: View Through The Dew
8/26/05: These Misty Summer Mornings Feel So Peaceful
9/25/05: I Can't Resist These Pink Sunrises
10/11/05: Sheep Into The Mist
11/22/05: From Out Of The Fog, A Little Beagle Dog
11/26/05: October & November Same Scene, New View

2/19/06: Five Seasonal Views of the Haybarn
3/12/06: Misty Morning Rose Lamb
5/13/06: Morning Mist Rising off the Wet Weather Creek
5/25/06: Donkey In The Mist
5/29/06: Sun Hits Morning Mist
8/16/06: Misty Morning Peace - Stop & Breathe It In
11/23/06: Thankful To Call This Place Home

1/1/07: Two Trees Dancing Under The Morning Mist
12/13/07: Slow Traffic Ahead
12/14/07: Good Next Door Neighbors

4/8/08: A Fresh New Day
8/17/08: Quiet for Breakfast
12/11/08: My Favorite View, No Matter What the Season

8/23/09: Morning Peace (I love this series)

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the rubber boot stylin' foodie farm blog where four days of non-stop rain and drizzle makes this dose of late autumn sunshine especially nice to see. Dry, mud! Dry!

Sunday Extreme Dose of Cute:Welcome to the Farm, Little Donkey!

Just Before Noon Today, Not Long After Being Born

Congratulations, Big Dolores! As you can see, it's been a very exciting day here on the farm. I was so thrilled to be able to witness this newborn donkey's first few. . . well, firsts—first moments of life, first time standing on those wobbly legs (Dolores literally helped and held the baby up), first drink of milk, first wiggling of the ears (they're so long!), first touch of human hands. Amazing.

I'll share more photos soon. I've already taken dozens, despite having to make a mad quarter-mile dash from the front field back to The Shack to replace the batteries that died after the first few newborn shots. It took a while before I could tear myself away (I didn't want to miss a minute!), and for once wished I'd driven out there instead of walked.

In the meantime, mother and baby are both doing fine—and have been fiercely guarded all afternoon by our hardworking, baby loving Great Pyrenees, Crazy Daisy. But the best news of all? I'm 99% sure our new arrival is a girl—which means I get to keep her. I love her dark coloring. And she already let me pet her and hug her and snuggle her all over (while mom was busy burying her head in a much deserved bucket of treats).

Life is good.

Can't wait for more? Get a fix with these past pics:
Fernando (born 7/09)
Evie (born 7/08)
Esmeralda (born 7/08)
Dinky (born 7/07)

© 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the newborn foodie farm blog where you know I'm already thinking about F names. . . Felicity? Frances? Faye? Fanny? (I love that name, and my sweet Doll Face—who was born during my very first lambing season and whose real name was actually Fanny—just died this past winter at the ripe old age of 13). I guess we'll have to wait and get to know this dark beauty a little better before we make a decision—and after we confirm it is indeed a girl (they really tuck their baby tails in tight!).

Thursday Farm Photo: Looking Up

And Witnessing That Small but Mighty Staying Power Once Again

Want Another Piece of Sky?
8/6/05: Late Night Gratitude
9/2/05: The Work May Be Hard, but the Views Can Be Great
11/1/05: Good Morning
11/21/05: Seeing the Moon on a Sunny Day
3/2/06: A Brief Distraction from All the Cuteness
8/11/06: Tweet
8/21/06: Dreaming Up a Rainstorm
9/5/06: Another Beautifully Distracting Sky
9/12/06: A Peach of a Sunrise
9/23/06: Last Night of Summer Spectacular Show
10/24/06: There's that Distracting Sky Again
11/9/06: Big Sky
6/30/07: Stormy Weather on My Mind—But Not on My Farm
8/16/09: On a Sunny Afternoon

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the craning your neck foodie farm blog where one of the best things about living miles from anyone is looking up on a clear, dark night—and last night at about 1:00 when I was crunching my way through the frosty grass in the front field to check on Dolores after a very long day off the farm (still no baby donkey news yet!) it truly looked as if there were more stars up there than sky. Amazing.

Sunday Dose of Cute: Hello Girls!

Lined Up and Looking Fine

Want to see more sheep shots?
Sheep Stories & Photos
More Sheep Photos
And Yet a Few More Sheep Photos
Lambing Season 2006 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2006 Part 2
Lambing Season 2006 Part 3
Lambing Season 2007 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2007 Part 2
Lambing Season 2008 Part 1
Lambing Season 2008 Part 2
Lambing Season 2008 Part 3
Lambing Season 2009
Lambing Season 2009 Part 2
Farm Stories & Farm Life Tidbits

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the never content for long foodie farm blog where no matter what pasture the sheep are in or how incredibly tasty the grass is, eventually they always want to be on the other side of the fence—and if you look closely in this photo you'll see one of our wooly little sweethearts showing some autumn style with a dead leaf decoratively stuck to its rump.

Wednesday Dose of Cute: Sky High Kitty

Whiskers' New Favorite Spot Is on The Shack Roof (but He Still Loves His Cart)

And he's not the only one who likes it up there:
6/7/07: Farm Life, Farm Love, Farm Loss (Farewell, New Cat)
1/10/08: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
2/16/09: Looking for Santa?
6/7/09: Beauty and Grace (and a Scary Little Corner of The Shack)

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the always leaping to new heights foodie farm blog where some of us prefer to keep all of our feet firmly planted on the ground—and everybody else uses the ladder.

Tuesday Dose of Cute: Baby Donkey on the Way?

Gosh, I Hope So

As you can see, Daphne has lost all of her recent baby weight—and Dolores has found it. We thought Dolores had miscarried last winter when we discovered a large bloody spot in the snow, but it looks like we were (thankfully) wrong. I don't remember Dolores being this big when she was pregnant with Dinky and Esmeralda, so I'm thinking—and hoping—she must be very close!

Can't wait for more cute? Try these:
The First Daily Doses of Cute
Daily Doses of Cute Part 2
Daily Doses of Cute Part 3
Daily Doses of Cute Part 4
Daily Doses of Cute Part 5
Daily Doses of Cute Part 6
Daily Doses of Cute Part 7
Daily Doses of Cute Part 8
Daily Doses of Cute Part 9
Daily Doses of Cute Part 10
Daily Doses of Cute Part 11

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the pregnant foodie farm blog where it really is possible to start with one adorable little donkey and suddenly have a whole herd of them.

Saturday Farm Photos: Happy Halloween!

Don't let the goblins—or the bats—get you!

Want to see more spooky stuff?
10/31/05: Happy Halloween!
10/31/05: All Hallow's Eve
11/8/05: Did the Goblins Get Them?
10/31/06: Boo!
10/30/07: Halloween Construction Zone
10/31/07: Scare Cat
10/31/09: Pumpkin Substitutes

8/21/05: All in a Night's Work
6/26/06: It's Been a While Since I Caught a Spiderweb
10/19/06: High Wire Act
1/6/07: Precious Farm Jewels
6/13/08: Cloudy Morning Sparkle
2/2/08: The Return of Chucky

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the furry foodie farm blog where one of the neatest things about living here is knowing that we're surrounded by bats, including the little brown ones (which is what this one is), who can often be seen darting around overhead, chasing after dinner at dusk (the record number I've seen at once is 27!)—though we usually don't get many opportunities to observe these fascinatingly designed creatures up close.

Wednesday Dose of Confusion (and Cute):Where Did that Creek Come From?

Because It Definitely Wasn't Here This Morning

Wanna get wet?
3/18/06: Meandering By The House
3/26/06: The Bigger The Water Dish, The Happier The Dog
5/5/06: View from the Middle of the Creek after Six Inches of Rain
5/13/06: Morning Mist Rising off the Creek
5/13/06: Cat Fishing?
5/15/06: Sheep Crossing
1/15/07: Running Water, Rubber Boots, & Mud
1/19/07: Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life Is But A Stream
2/25/08: A Rare Winter Sight—And Geese!
3/19/08: Flood Watch
4/7/08: Who's A-fraid of the Big Bad Creek? The Big Bad Creek?
4/8/08: A Fresh New Day Full of Morning Mist (and lots more hazy photos)
4/10/08: Surf's Up!
5/16/08: Splish Splash!
1/18/09: Crossing Over to Bigger and Better Things!
4/24/09: Creek's Up!

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the flash flowing foodie farm blog where there's nothing like hiking out for a day of grazing in the far field and then finding a rushing stream of water has suddenly appeared between you and the barn (okay, maybe it wasn't exactly rushing, but still). Fortunately everyone is now safely back where they belong, the two loaves and dozen rolls of Honey Bran Whole Wheat I was in the middle of baking during all of this unexpected excitement didn't overrise, burn, or otherwise become inedible (though I did forget to grease the loaf pans—bummer), and I've now been thoroughly reminded that the big crack in one of my beloved rubber boots is even bigger than it was the last time the creek was up—and I never did get around to buying that replacement pair.

Monday Dose of Cute: One Scene, Two Angles

In Front of the Camera: Little Fernando All Alone at the Mineral Trough







At the Camera: Attacked by The Donkettes!


© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the no zoom lens here foodie farm blog where our photos never lie, but they might not always show you the entire picture.

Sunday Dose of Cute: Egg Layers, the Next Generation

Hello, Girls! It's So Very Nice to See You

Hallelujah! Six of the eight baby chicks born back in April turned out to be hens! They should start laying soon, which will then more than double our current egg output. Usually our hen to rooster hatching ratio is the other way around (and we really only need one Rooster Daddy on the farm), but this time the egg-laying odds were definitely in our favor. Maybe it was all that pizza.

Want to see more chick pics? (some categories overlap)
Chicken Photos & Stories
More Chicken Photos
And Yet More Chicken Photos
Baby Chick Photos
Baby Chicks 2008
Baby Chicks 2009

© Copyright FarmgirlFare.com, the fine feathered feminine foodie farm blog where grown up chickens are still considered cute, right? And if they're not, then you can break the news to Whitey, who, at nearly 10 years old, now has her eye on making it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the Oldest Living Chicken. She and her attitude are doing just fine, and she definitely still considers herself cute (she just hasn't posed for any photos—or had any more longings for motherhood—lately).

Saturday Dose of Cute: Under Color

Enjoying Lunch Alongside the Wet Weather Creek Bed up by the Sand Field

Want to take a bigger look around the farm? (some categories overlap)
Autumn Color 2008
Earlier Autumn Color
Farm Landscape Photos
More Farm Landscape Photos
And Yet More Farm Landscape Photos
Handmade Fence Photos
Homemade Swing Photos
Haybarn Photos
Hayfield Photos
More Hayfield Photos
Sunrise and Sunset Photos
Misty Morning Photos
Snow Photos
Same Scene, New View Photos

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the sunny, breezy, and beautiful foodie farm blog where this is the perfect kind of autumn day to wash a whole bunch of laundry, dig out the winter hats and jackets and scarves, and celebrate one of our most prized posessions—the clothesline.

Wednesday Dose of Color (and Cute):Little Bear in the Big Woods

On the Ridge above the Farm



Heading Back Down the Driveway



And Down

And Down Some More

Want to see more of the where we walk in the woods?
9/28/05: It's Starting
10/12/05: I'm Addicted to Our Daily Walks through the Woods
10/26/05: Where We Cut Firewood
11/9/05: Top O' the Forest to You
7/16/06: Morning Dog Walk through the Woods (and Not a Leash in Sight)
10/29/06: I Don't See Colors Like You Do
11/7/06: A Most Beautiful Walk in the Woods
12/26/06: Reflecting on the Bigger Picture, Remembering the Little Things
2/3/07: Looking up the Driveway, the Snowy Version
7/28/07: A Picture Perfect Walk in the Woods (but Pictures Sometimes Lie)
9/23/07: Hello Autumn!
10/21/07: A Flash of Brilliance
11/16/07: Exercising with a View
12/4/07: Just Another Day at the Office

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the transformative foodie farm blog where Lucky Buddy Bear (our English/Australian Shepherd who you can see more of here and here) is always a willing walking companion no matter what the season—and this year's autumn leaf show can only be described as fast and furious (and fabulous). Compare the second photo above to this same section of the driveway just a few short weeks ago—and look how much color there still was in the woods on November 4th two years ago). I took these photos five days ago, and everything already looks completely different out there—all glimmering golds and rusts and browns—but we've been walking so late each evening that it's been too dark to snap any currently colored shots!

Sunday Farm Photos: They Were Right About the Frost

Need to chill out a little more?
10/26/05: Why We Cut Firewood
11/10/05: Where Sheep Sleep, Take Three (The Frosted Edition)
11/18/05: Snugglebunny with Frosting
3/22/06: Garden Journal: Some Very Cold Garlic and Kohlrabi
10/28/07: First Frost! Plus Growing Strawberries & Preparing Your Strawberry Bed for Winter
And A Collection of Snow Photos (just in case you're really overheated)

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the jackets are now out of storage after last night's widespread frost warning foodie farm blog where it was a nippy 26 degrees (and very white!) at eight o'clock this morning (I didn't have the nerve to check the thermometer any earlier)—but that's nothing for our wooly band of sheep (including seven-year-old Tana pictured above) who chose to sleep out under the stars instead of in their fabulous new barn (pictures of which will be coming soon!)

Saturday Dose of Cute:Have You Heard? Winter Weather is on the Way!

It's Time to Get Up



And Fluff Up!

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the scurrying around collecting green tomatoes in the garden while the squirrels gather black walnuts in the yard foodie farm blog where 30° temperatures, along with a widespread first frost, are predicted for tonight. Not to worry—little Fernando (yep, I've finally decided that's definitely his name, though I thank you for all the other great suggestions!) is all dried off and ready for the first really cold night of his life.

Recipe: How To Make Really Easy Low Sugar Pear Butter

Slow Food Cooking with Less Fuss, More Flavor


A Little Dish of Homemade Pear Heaven Cooked in the Oven

After going through umpteen pounds of pears while working on the cookbook-that-isn't-going-to-be, I came to a couple of conclusions. The first is that pears just might be even more versatile than apples. The second is that homemade pear butter is one of the most wonderful things on the planet. It also happens to be extremely easy to make.

One of my biggest pet peeves—which, as my hunky farmguy Joe can tell you, I've mentioned about 5,000 times—is the vast amount of sugar that so many preserving recipes call for. One cup of fruit to one cup of sugar? Why? Fresh seasonal fruit is so sweet on its own. The other day I actually saw a recipe for strawberry jam that used two cups of sugar for every one cup of fruit. My teeth hurt just thinking about it. I make a one minute raspberry 'jam' that doesn't have anything in it but fruit.

I realize that some jams require a certain amount of sugar for the fruit to 'set,' which is one of the nice things about making fruit butter—there's no setting to worry about. You just let the fruit purée cook down until it's the thickness you desire.

There are numerous methods for making pear butter, most of which I find to be unnecessarily complicated. My simple version comes via the inimitable Cookiecrumb, who blogs at I'm Mad and I Eat and might very well have turned to making pear butter out of desperation, as one of her backyard pear trees literally produces hundreds of pounds of pears a year.

To make this recipe, you will not have to:
—Peel and core your pears.
—Dirty up a sink full of pots and pans.
—Boil your fruit in water to cook it and then pour that flavor (and nutrient) filled water out.
—Babysit a simmering pot on the stove for hours, stirring every few minutes so that it doesn't scorch.
—Use anywhere near a cup of sugar per each cup of fruit.
—Tell the lucky eaters of your fabulous homemade pear butter how little effort it actually took to make it.

You will need a foodmill and about two and a half hours of oven time, though the total hands-on work is maybe 20 minutes. You will also need very ripe pears—the riper they are, the sweeter they are. And as you can see in the photos below, bruised and battered specimens (which are also the secret to my scrumptious 100% Whole Grain Ginger Pear Bran Muffins) work fine.

If you taste pear butter without knowing what it is, you might mistake it for apple butter. After making both, though, I find pear butter to be sweeter and more flavorful (as well as easier to make, though I will be sharing an almost-as-simple apple butter recipe soon).

The only drawback to making pear butter is that it takes a lot of pears to make a small amount of butter. Of course if you're lucky enough to be facing a 1,000 pound mountain of fruit, this could be just the sort of recipe you need. (Planning to plant your own little pear orchard? Check out this post, where In My Kitchen Garden readers talked all about their pear trees.)


Sad Looking but Oh So Sweet



It Doesn't Get Much Faster than This

I took Cookiecrumb's instructions and streamlined them even more—skipping the peeling and coring (by using very soft fruit) and putting in only about a third of the sugar. I bet you could even leave it out entirely. If you have trouble getting your pears through the food mill because they aren't soft enough, you can always peel and core them first.










Pear Purée Ready for Baking

I use a classic Foley food mill and it worked fine, but I'm just looking for an excuse to order this Oxo Good Grips food mill which isn't that much more expensive than the Foley and has three different grinding discs along with several other nifty features (Do you have one of these? Please let me know if you love it!). If you don't have a food mill, you can press the peeled and cored pears through a sieve, but it'll probably take a while. Just don't use a food processor or you'll end up with liquid.

You can gussy up your pear butter in all sorts of ways (several suggestions are below), but I think the plain stuff is divine. Serve it on muffins or toast, or even spread between layers of a cake. My favorite way to enjoy it (besides straight from the jar) is on top of organic Triscuit-style crackers and thinly sliced sharp cheddar cheese with a glass of crisp white wine.


Into the Oven (this color is off—it's really pale yellow like in the photo above)



After 1½ Hours of Cooking

After 2½ Hours of Cooking

Cooking time will vary depending on the juiciness of your pears, the size of your pan, and the thickness of pear butter you desire. As Cookiecrumb puts it, "Pull it out when you like the way it looks," keeping in mind that it will thicken slightly as it cools. I like mine on the thick side and sometimes let it cook as long as three hours, but of course that means I end up with less.



Easy Homemade Pear Butter
Adapted from Cookiecrumb
Makes 1½ to 2 cups - Recipe may be doubled or tripled

For this size batch, I use a 9x13 inch Corningware baking dish (one of my most used dishes). When doubling or tripling the recipe, a large stainless steel roasting pan—another kitchen favorite—works great. You can process jars of pear butter in a water bath canner (I use one like this, and I think this accessory kit is invaluable), but it will keep unprocessed in the refrigerator for at least a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, pears are in the 'Dirty Dozen' of most contaminated produce ranked by the Environmental Working Group, so I recommend seeking out organic pears for this recipe.

3 pounds very ripe organic pears (I've used both Bartlett and d'Anjou)
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Optional additions to the pear purée before cooking:
The zest and juice of an orange or a lemon
A cinnamon stick (remove after cooking) or some ground cinnamon
A pinch of ground nutmeg, allspice, star anise, and/or cloves
Fresh ginger or ginger powder
A dash of vanilla or a vanilla bean (remove after cooking)
A little real almond extract
A splash brandy or pear brandy
Honey in place of the sugar
A few sprigs of fresh rosemary (remove after cooking)

1. Heat the oven to 300°.

2. Cut the pears into large chunks, removing any real bad spots (no need to peel and core unless your pears aren't very soft).

3. Press the pears through a food mill into a large bowl, remembering to reverse the direction of the handle after every few turns. You should end up with about 4 cups of smooth pear purée.

4. Stir in the lemon juice and sugar.

5. Pour the purée into a nonreactive (stainless steel, ceramic, or enamel coated) pan, such as a 9x13 inch Corningware baking dish (or a large stainless steel roasting pan for larger batches) and let it cook, stirring every 30 minutes with a wooden spoon, until it is the desired thickness, about 2 to 2½ hours. Start taste testing after 1½ hours. Remember that it will thicken slightly as it cools.

6. Let the pear butter cool and store it in an airtight dish or jar in the refrigerator. Alternatively, ladle it into clean and hot canning jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace, adjust the two-piece caps, and process 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Still hungry? You'll find links to all of my Less Fuss, More Flavor sweet and savory recipes in the right hand sidebar under Previous Posts: Food Stuff w/ Recipes.

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the fruit filled foodie farm blog where eating pear butter for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is indeed possible, though not encouraged, as it makes the pear butter disappear far too quickly!

Thursday Dose of Cute: Seeing Spots

She's Finally Growing into Her Ears—and Bright Pink Nose!

Like little lamb pictures?
Lambing Season 2006 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2006 Part 2
Lambing Season 2006 Part 3
Lambing Season 2007 Photos & Reports
Lambing Season 2007 Part 2
Lambing Season 2008 Part 1
Lambing Season 2008 Part 2
Lambing Season 2008 Part 3
Lambing Season 2009
Lambing Season 2009 Part 2
More Sheep Stories & Photos
Farm Stories & Farm Life Tidbits

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the we only use real sheep, not professional models foodie farm blog where neither the mother nor the father of this cutie pie sport any black spots whatsoever, and it looks as if somebody splattered their fountain pen next to her little baby face—except for the fact that her spots just keep getting bigger.

Wednesday Farm Photo: Color Coordinated for Fall

That Mother Nature Sure Has Some Style

A year of farm photos ago:
10/2/08: Gossip Central
10/5/08: Little Beagle, Large Backyard
10/7/08: Hey Good Lookin'

Two years ago:
10/7/07: Itchy Donkey
10/11/07: Living by the Light
10/16/07: A Beautiful Autumn Scene

Three years ago:
10/6/06: Baby Cary is Five Months Old Today!
10/14/06: Freshly Picked Fall Color
10/15/06: This Kohlrabi is Very, Very Safe

Four (!) years ago:
10/14/05: Dan and His New Charges
10/15/05: Dan's Opinion of His New Charges
10/15/05: Uncle Dan

And out of the kitchen came:
Less Fuss, More Flavor Quick & Easy Gazpacho
Gardener's Delight Simple Homemade Tomato Juice Recipe
Fiesta Cottage Cheese Veggie Dip (and Factory Tours)
Whole Grain Cottage Cheese Bread Recipe
Fresh Tomato and Basil Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread
Chocolate Babycakes (Made from My Emergency Chocolate Cake Recipe)

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the delicately blooming foodie farm blog where this really is the perfect time of the year to go for walks in the woods (as opposed to in July)—and there sure were a lot of Donkey Doodle Dandy photos posted during previous Octobers! (Dan is doing great by the way, and already starting to fluff up for winter.)

Tuesday Dose of Cute:Who's Soggy Now? (It's Another Sing Along!)

Fortunately Baby Donkeys Are Waterproof

So far Daphne's baby boy (who still hasn't been given his 'F' name! I've been leaning toward Fernando but haven't quite decided yet) is the only donkey we've had born on the farm this year. That may change very soon, however, since Dolores—who we thought had miscarried during the winter—is now huge. Judging by how much this little guy loves to chase, gnaw on, and generally torment (in a little brother kind of way) his big sister Evie (who doesn't have any interest in playing with him), I know he'll be thrilled if a new playmate shows up.

Want to see more baby donkey cuteness?
Daphne's baby boy (born 7/09)
Evie (born 7/08)
Esmeralda (born 7/08)
Dinky (born 7/07)

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the longeared foodie farm blog where what started as one little donkey has now turned into six—and if I can get them to start eating the dreaded cactus that is taking over the farm even faster than the donkeys are, I've been told by my hunky farmguy (and resident cactus hater) that a herd of 100 would be more than welcome!

Sunday Dose of Cute: Relaxing in the Afternoon Shade

Really Relaxing

Can't get enough cute? Try these:
The First Daily Doses of Cute
Daily Doses of Cute Part 2
Daily Doses of Cute Part 3
Daily Doses of Cute Part 4
Daily Doses of Cute Part 5
Daily Doses of Cute Part 6
Daily Doses of Cute Part 7
Daily Doses of Cute Part 8
Daily Doses of Cute Part 9
Daily Doses of Cute Part 10
Daily Doses of Cute Part 11

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the kick back with your hooves and paws up foodie farm blog where Daisy, who is actually resting just a few feet from her two-factioned flock in the farmyard, only looks as if she's completely off duty (and dead to the world). One strange little noise and she'll be all ears and bark. And besides, she know she's got big bad Marta nearby as backup.

Saturday Farm Photos: Color Me Autumn

Next on the Agenda: Getting this Picturesque but Very Dead Tractor (Hopefully) Fixed!

Want to see more of this place? (some categories overlap)
Autumn Color
Farm Landscape Photos
More Farm Landscape Photos
And Yet More Farm Landscape Photos
Handmade Fence Photos
Homemade Swing Photos
Haybarn Photos
Hayfield Photos
More Hayfield Photos
Sunrise and Sunset Photos
Misty Morning Photos
Snow Photos
Same Scene, New View Photos

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the roasty toasty foodie farm blog where the recent cool and stormy weather (yay—2.75 inches of rain) brought it down to a nippy 51 degrees in The Shack this morning. That's fine for me (I love wearing layers!) but a little on the chilly side for rising bread dough, so the first fire of the season in our little living room pot-bellied woodstove (our main source of heat) is emanating that into-your-bones warmth and crackling merrily away. Oh so cozy.

Now we just need to get in gear and go cut a lot more firewood before it's time to start up the big wood-fired furnace in the new building, especially since last year's wonderful heat cheat source petered out after just three deliveries. You know what they say about firewood—it warms you up four times: when you cut it, when you stack it, when you carry it inside, and when it finally burns. There's nothing that compares to it.

Catching Up: A Book, Building, and Bread Bakery Update

I'm Loving this Autumn Color

If everything had gone according to plan, right now I would be in a massive, fruit- and vegetable-filled frenzy trying to finish up the gigantic cookbook project I started working on last November. Unfortunately plans have a way of changing—especially if you live on a farm—whether we want them to or not.

Back in March, I did such a good job whacking my head on a low ceiling beam in one of our chicken coops that—seven months, three doctors, all sorts of treatments and therapies, and numerous hours spent with an ice pack and this awesome massager later—my neck and shoulder are still screwed up. And the thing that causes me the most pain just happens to be sitting at the computer (although putting up hay was a close second). This does not mesh well with very tight and very inflexible writing deadlines (or blogging!).


The New Building (which is basically a big metal barn) Looks out on the Hayfield

So no cookbook. (But no massive October frenzy either.) It's disappointing, of course, especially since this was a really exciting venture that went beyond just writing a book about making the most of your seasonal bounty. (Because of proprietary and legal mumbo jumbo, I can't share any more details about the project; I'm not purposely trying to be secretive.)

I've been approached by other editors at some wonderful publishing houses who are interested in my writing and photos, so there might very well be a book of some sort in my future. I figure an even better opportunity will present itself if and when the time is right—and I thank you for all the support you gave me for this one.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to sharing more of the Less Fuss, More Flavor recipes I created for the cookbook, including one for a ridiculously easy—and ridiculously delicious—homemade pear butter that I will hopefully have up this weekend.

With Three Big Sinks and My Favorite View, Doing Dishes Will Be A Pleasure

We're also back to contemplating our wholesale artisan bread bakery plan (you can see a photo of the whole building and read a little more about the bakery here), which was shelved last year due to a combination of skyrocketing gas prices, skyrocketing wheat prices, and all of my spare time being spent writing the cookbook.

Since we already have the 7-foot wide deck oven and 60-quart mixer installed in the commercial kitchen on the bottom floor of the new building, I know we'll eventually come up with some delicious way to use them. Joe says that if nothing else, every few months we'll simply bake a lot of bread for ourselves and our friends all at once.


Our New Bedroom (and the Locally Made Oak Stair Treads)

As far as my healing and physical therapy are concerned, we finally fixed all the plumbing problems in the new building (thankfully without having to tear into the beautiful bathroom tile), so although it'll be a while yet before we move in (there are still hundreds of feet of baseboard and trim to put up, the 'real' stairs to be installed, 17 windowsills to be built, light fixtures to be mounted, and a bunch of other stuff I'm probably forgetting—all of which are much better accomplished if you aren't already living in the space), the glorious whirlpool tub is fully functional.


Oh, Baby

And after spending 9 years without a working bathtub, boy does it feel nice. This is one splurge that was definitely worth every penny.

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the soak away your troubles with champagne, candles, and a bathtub built for two (only 6½ years after putting up the shell of the building!) foodie farm blog where this whole neck/shoulder thing has put a big damper on my ability to respond in a timely manner to your comments and e-mail. I love hearing from you, and I thank you for your understanding and patience.

Thursday Dose of Cute: The Boss Lady is Back?

Then I'm Going on Break!

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the off-duty foodie farm blog where Daisy and Marta, our livestock guardian dogs (who can get through/around/over/under/in and out of anything), did an excellent job watching over the sheep (as well as the rest of the farm) while we were away last weekend (me to Farm Aid 2009 and my hunky farmguy Joe, sadly, not to Farm Aid 2009) and, despite what it looks like here, did not run off the second I got home (well, not far off at least).

Wednesday Farm Photos (and a Dose of Cute):There's No Place Like Home

Heading Down the Driveway

I had a great time during my whirlwind trip to St. Louis for the Farm Aid 2009 concert. I arrived home happy, tired, determined to personally become much more involved in the fight against corporate factory farms and support of small family farms, and more grateful than ever to live where (and how) I do.



I also arrived home to find not only all of these adorable faces (that I missed while I was gone!) waiting for me, but also an e-mail from one of our new lamb customers (and a fellow food blogger) telling me how much he is enjoying the custom butchered whole lamb he recently bought from us ('What great flavor and texture!!') as well as a comment on my kitchen garden blog from someone who saw my post about building our low-tech, low cost homemade greenhouse and said, "I never thought I could have a greenhouse without spending thousands of dollars. Your greenhouse gives me hope. Thanks!" Encouraging words like these really mean a lot.


Looking Toward the Front Field

I'll hopefully be sharing my experiences at Farm Aid 2009 soon, but in the meantime, I think Neil Young had it right when he told us during the concert that each of us has the power to change things by voting with our dollars:

"Just buy the right food. Read the labels. [Our food system in this country] is a big complicated mess. Support family farms—they're too small to fail."


I Was So Happy to See Franny, My 2009 Bottle Baby (Whose Story I Haven't Told!)

If you missed the live Farm Aid 2009 concert broadcasts, it's not too late to watch it. DIRECTV's The 101 Network will be re-broadcasting the concert in HD, commercial-free, and surround sound four more times—click here for more info. And the Farm Aid webcast brought to you by EternaGreen will be up for free on the Farm Aid site through this week. After that, it will move to the FarmYard—Farm Aid's members-only area where you can watch this year's concert as well as past shows.

What is Farm Aid? Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land. Over the past 24 years, Farm Aid has raised nearly $36 million dollars to support programs that help farmers thrive, create and strengthen connections between farmers and eaters, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture, and promote food from family farms.

Want to get involved? Find out how you can take action here, become a Farm Aid member here, learn more about the Farm Aid community here, connect to the land and each other at Homegrown.org, or follow Farm Aid on Twitter here. And if you have $5 and 15 seconds to spare, text FARMER to 90999 to donate $5 to farmers through your cell phone. (The charge will show up on your next cell phone bill.)

There is good food to save and no time to waste.

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the critter loving, homebody foodie farm blog where somebody around here just gobbled up nearly a pound of quick and easy roasted brussels sprouts for dinner. (Fortunately they were the main course.) Recipe coming soon!

Saturday Dose of Cute:Off To Do Some Live Blogging at Farm Aid 2009 in St. Louis!

Daphne and Her Baby Boy

As I mentioned a few weeks back (what the heck happened to September?), I'm going to be at the Farm Aid 2009 concert tomorrow doing some live blogging for the Farm Aid website. I'm so excited! There's going to be an incredible lineup of artists performing, plus the HOMEGROWN Village where concertgoers can get their hands dirty and learn about food production, growing your own, composting, how farmers care for the environment, beekeeping, and more.

And of course there will be all kinds of fabulous food from local and family farms—which is one of the things I'll be blogging about. I'll also be spending some time in the FarmYard, a special place in HOMEGROWN village where farmers and concert-goers can meet, greet, and exchange a story or two throughout the concert day.

If you're in the St. Louis area, a very limited number of reserved seats for Farm Aid 2009 Presented by Horizon Organic have just been released. Tickets are available at livenation.com (click here), at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Box Office, by calling (877) 598-8703, or at participating Blockbuster stores (visit livenation.com for list of locations).

If you're not in St. Louis you can still enjoy the concert! It'll be broadcast live on DIRECTV's The 101 Network, live on FarmAid.org's Webcast, and live on Willie's Place on Sirius XM Radio. Click here for more info. And check out the just released video of Willie Nelson & Lukas Nelson talking about Farm Aid 2009 here.

Pre-concert events include The Homegrown Urban Country Fair in St. Louis today from 10am to 2:30pm at the Tower Grove Farmers Market. This hands-on, interactive and educational festival features exhibits, workshops and demos celebrating modern homesteading and how we're connecting to good food, farmers and the earth, and great live music. You can read more about it here.

Tonight there will be a public briefing called 'A Farmer/Urban Connection,' which will run from 5:00 - 6:30pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 7200 Delmar Blvd in St. Louis. Farm Aid, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, and other local, regional and national family farm organizations will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing family farm agriculture. Learn about how you can use your voice to push for a vibrant 'family farm' food system that builds thriving rural economies, strong communities, and resilient ecosystems to nourish us for generations to come. This is a free event open to the farmers, non-farmers, and all others interested in supporting family farmers. Click here to RSVP.

What is Farm Aid? Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land. Over the past 24 years, Farm Aid has raised nearly $36 million dollars to support programs that help farmers thrive, create and strengthen connections between farmers and eaters, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture, and promote food from family farms.

Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family-farmed food.

Want to get involved? Find out how you can take action here, become a Farm Aid member here, learn more about the Farm Aid community here, connect to the land and each other at Homegrown.org, or follow Farm Aid on Twitter here.

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the rushing around trying to get on the road foodie farm blog where we can't think of anything better than combining great music, great food, and a really great cause—keeping our family farms. Thanks for your support!

Thursday Dose of Cute: Cat Cart

Whiskers Loves to Lounge

Care for More Cat Candids?
Topaz
Patchy Cat
Smudge
Sarah Kit Kat Kate
Mr. Midnight
Sylvester
J2
Molly Doodlebug (aka The Doodle Monster)

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the blustery mustery foodie farm blog where the leaves that aren't blowing off the trees and fluttering to the ground (which fascinates Whiskers—who was an indoor city cat before moving to the farm—to no end) are starting to show the first hints of color, and it definitely feels like fall!