Daily Farm Photo: 8/31/06

Pepper Puzzle

These are my favorite Aconcagua Sweet Peppers. You can see another freshly picked pile of them here and read more about them here.

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Each Bale Is Handled Four Or Five Times Between Field & Barn

Daily Farm Photo: 8/30/06

In Season

Even after all these years, there is an indescribable feeling that comes over me when I harvest something from my kitchen garden. Maybe if you took enormous scoops of joy, passion, pride, excitement, exuberance, hunger, & delight, and then tossed them all together in a bushel basket you might come close. But only close. For you really must rub your fingers across the smooth, almost unreal surface of this sweet bell pepper. And bury your face in the scent of basil. And be blinded by the jewel-like colors of high summer. Only then can you truly begin to feel it. The thrill of the garden. The simplicity of absolute bliss.

It is also difficult for me to describe just how rewarding it is to hear from so many of you who have been inspired by Farmgirl Fare and In My Kitchen Garden to get your hands dirty and grow something edible--whether that meant tearing up half your backyard and filling it with vegetables or simply sprinkling a few lettuce seeds in a windowbox. Thank you for letting me know. May your gardens and your enthusiasm continue to flourish. And may you always find your bliss.

A year of Daily Photos ago:
From Here To The Barn Seems To Take An Eternity

Daily Farm Photo: 8/29/06

Seeing Things


I probably walked past this a dozen times before finally stopping to take a picture of it.



Then I walked around to the other side and took this photo.
What do you see?

A year of Daily Photos ago: Raked Hay Ready To Be Baled Today

Daily Farm Photo: 8/28/06

Every Bush In The Yard Has Been Precisely Trimmed To Cary Height

A year of Daily Photos ago: Discard On Display

Daily Farm Photo: 8/27/06

The Cat Cabin


The Cat Cabin Was Originally Used As A Smokehouse



J2 & New Cat Love Living In It



Corner Detail Of The Hand Hewn Logs

Click here to read my previous post about the Cat Cabin.

Attention Cat Lovers! This is Weekend Cat blogging #64!
Head over to Masak-Masak in Malaysia where Boo has all the links to this week's kitties. For more fun cat photos, catch the traveling Carnival Of The Cats each Sunday night. And the weekly Friday Ark boards everything from cats to caterpillars. Allergic to fur? Weekend Herb Blogging is for you--don't miss the roundup every Monday.

Click here if you haven't read my post about the big cats who really need our help. Please spread the word.

A year of Daily Photos ago: Running A Farm Is Hard Work

Daily Farm Photo: 8/26/06

Robin Loves Life On The Farm

Attention Dog Lovers! This is Weekend Dog Blogging #49!
To see fun dog photos & discover yummy new food blogs, visit Sweetnicks each Sunday night for the roundup. Pining for more puppy pics? The Friday Ark boards everything from dogs to frogs. If you prefer plants to pets, don't miss the always tasty & informative Weekend Herb Blogging roundup every Monday. Catch it this week at Kalyn's Kitchen.

A year of Daily Photos ago:
These Misty Summer Mornings Feel So Peaceful

Daily Farm Photo: 8/25/06

Snugglebunny's Twin Girl Hiding In The Summer Sun

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Some Of The Most Cheerful Wildflowers

Daily Farm Photo: 8/24/06

Finding Foodies


Freshly Dug Potatoes

Reader CountryGoalie recently left this comment on my Savory Tomato Pesto Pie post:

"This may sound a bit ridiculous coming from someone who has only just made her first batch of granola, and who only recently discovered breadmaking, but...... what are some of the symptoms of becoming a foodie? I fear I am beginning to develop them. Please, do tell!"

Rather than simply list a few of the characteristics that I personally think classify someone as a foodie, I thought I would ask for your help. Are you a foodie? How do you know? Was there some defining moment in your life when you realized you had crossed over the line between living on food and living for food--or did you gradually just keep coming down with more and more symptoms until the diagnosis was blatantly obvious?

I'm sure there must be more concerned eaters like CountryGoalie out there who are simply afraid to speak up (or admit that they have indeed become one of us). For their sake, let's define a foodie once and for all.

Do you routinely harvest dinner in the dark? Has it been suggested to you that if you want your salad that fresh perhaps you should be out grazing with the sheep? After a week long visit with your mother, did your significant other turn to you and say, in a slightly uneasy whisper, "All you two talked about was food?" Those would all be me. So what about you?

Writings From Windridge Farm Update! Random Food Notes
Click here to read a little bit about this foodie's first summer on a farm. Click here if you don't know what this is about but wish you did.

And finally, for those of you who have been asking--I am definitely not a vegetarian. I am, however, extremely picky about the meat I do eat.

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Lucky 13 Is First Out Of The Barn Nearly Every Morning
Click here to read a little more about sweet Lucky 13.

Daily Farm Photo: 8/23/06

Big Chip Is A Big Pet

If you haven't met this handsome 10-year-old before, click here to read his story--and to learn the proper way to hug a sheep. By the way, after all these years Big Chip still demands a hug every time he sees me. And who's going to say no to that face? This is one sweet fellow, but he's serious when it comes to getting hugged.

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Hardy Echinacea Blooms All Summer Long In The Garden

Too Many Tomatoes?

Of Course I Still Love You

I'm blaming the heat. In the past 48 hours, not only have I been unable to come up with an interesting little story to go along with this new recipe, or figure out a nice way to photograph it, I can't even think of a decent name for it. If I call one more creation "Susan's Super Simple Summer Something," people are going to start thinking there's something wrong with me.

It happened the other day. I almost kinda sorta started getting tired of eating tomatoes. At first this didn't seem possible. After all those months of patiently yearning (not to mention all that sheep manure I hauled up to the garden), had my child-like thrill over that first ripe tomato already given way to the glutton's nonchalance? Then I realized that I have been enjoying ripe tomatoes from the garden for six weeks now. Six weeks of pretty much getting every one of my 5 to 9 daily servings of fruit and veggies from tomatoes. And I didn't feel so bad anymore.

But I still had a problem. Everywhere I turned in the kitchen I saw ripe tomatoes in desperate need of being dealt with. And while the rest of the world apparently gathers up all of their imperfect, overripe, questionable looking tomatoes and roasts them (and while I adore the deep flavor of roasted tomatoes at least as much as the next person), turning on the oven for 8 hours in August to cook up anything is--how shall I put this?--never gonna happen in my kitchen.

So I threw them in the blender instead.

And I created yet another super simple summer recipe. That I can't come up with a name for.

Fortunately (while I was slurping it up with a spoon)* I did manage to come up with several ways to use this sublime stuff. The most obvious is to pour it over pretty much any kind of salad you feel like tossing together (including my Colors Of Summer Salad). Or you could drizzle it over a platter of sliced tomatoes and mozzarella that you've garnished with fresh basil sprigs. I think it would be fantastic in a chilled pasta salad.

If you happen to feel like turning on the oven for a much more reasonable one hour, you could whip up some homemade pita breads, stuff them with fresh baby spinach and other veggies and perhaps a few chunks of cheese, pour on a little dressing, and eat your salad as a sandwich. Or you could have warm pitas filled with some nice cooked Italian sausage, slices of roasted red pepper, a few chopped tomatoes, and topped with a splash of dressing. You could use it to liven up deviled eggs or egg salad or even chicken salad. Make it thick and use it as a dip for slices of crunchy sweet peppers, carrot sticks, or hunks of raw cauliflower. I think you get the idea.

I just can't believe that with all the critters and crazy goings-on around here I wasn't able to come up with a better excuse for my lack of creativity in the naming department than the stupid heat. Maybe there really is something wrong with me. Oh well. At least I'm still eating my tomatoes.


Susan's Seven Second Tomato Glut Solution

One 16-ounce carton sour cream or yogurt (or a combination)
Several vine-ripened tomatoes, preferably heirloom & organic
Your favorite basil pesto (you'll find my recipe here)

Spoon the sour cream into a blender. Toss in as many halved or quartered tomatoes as you like, cutting away any questionable looking spots if you are dealing with overripe or imperfect bounty. The more tomatoes, the thinner the dressing--meaty, plum tomatoes will give you a thicker end result than regular "salad" or "slicing" tomatoes. Add a few large spoonfuls of pesto. Whirl it all up in the blender, then turn it off and take a little taste. Add more tomatoes and/or pesto if desired. Sprinkle in some salt if needed. Whirl once more and enjoy however you like.

Variations:
--Use yogurt cheese in place of some or all of the sour cream or yogurt if you want a thicker, dip-like consistency. (Click here to learn how easy it is to make your own yogurt cheese. And click here to see the handy dandy little yogurt cheese maker I finally bought and am absolutely loving as well as a yogurt maker and a few of my other favorite things.)
--Use arugula pesto instead of basil pesto.

* I know, I know, I tend to do that a lot. In fact, I've consumed quite a number of meals standing in the kitchen, wielding a large spoon. Just the other night I had pesto for dinner. Not pesto pasta, not pesto pizza--just pesto. Straight out of the food processor. It was really quite tasty. It's not my fault, though. I inherited an incredibly vigorous taste-testing gene from my mother. You should see us with a bowl of cookie batter.

NOTE: Since almonds, basil, garlic, olive oil (they're in the pesto), yogurt, and of course tomatoes are all some of the World's Healthiest Foods, this recipe fits right into ARF/5-A-Day. Catch it every Tuesday night at Sweetnicks.

Contents © 2006 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares stories & photos of her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.

Daily Farm Photo: 8/22/06

Looks Like A Fine Day For A Birthday To Me!

Happy Birthday To My Mom!

Who already emailed me late last night with all the details of her early birthday celebration dinner at a beautiful Northern California inn. The description ended with these words: "Then for dessert one order of Chocolate Lava Cake. We should make it when I come. Google the name and check out the first couple of recipes."

My mother is coming to visit next month. I expect the meal-by-meal request list for all her favorite farm foods to arrive any day. But now it looks as though there will be something new on our menu as well. I have never made (or even tasted) a Chocolate Lava Cake. Does anyone have a favorite recipe for Chocolate Lava Cake they would care to share? No one wants to disappoint their mother.

A year of Daily Photos ago: Happy Birthday To My Mom!

Daily Farm Photo 8/21/06: Dreaming Up a Rainstorm

Our parched farm greedily soaked up an inch of much needed rain over the weekend. It's still thirsty.

A year of Daily Photos ago: All In A Night's Work

Daily Farm Photo: 8/20/06

Multi-tasking Is Essential When You're Running A Farm
(Here Farm Boss Patchy Cat practices his yoga while rehydrating.)

Attention Cat Lovers! This is Weekend Cat blogging #62!
Head to Heather's Space for all the links to this week's kitties. For more fun cat photos, catch the traveling Carnival Of The Cats every Sunday night. And the weekly Friday Ark boards everything from cats to camels. Allergic to fur? Weekend Herb Blogging is for you--don't miss the Monday roundup at Anthony's Kitchen.

And click here to read about some big cats who need our help. (Scroll to the end for a current update.)

A year of Daily Photos ago: Smudge

Daily Farm Photo: 8/19/06

My First Glimpse Of Cary Each Morning

A year of Daily Photos ago:
At Last! Ripe Tomatoes In The Garden.

Daily Farm Photo: 8/18/06

A Most Extraordinary Hug

When I stepped out the front door this morning, I had a sudden urge to detour around to the garden before heading down to the barn. The morning light was beautiful, and I thought I might find a photo. Okay, busted. I was mainly going to see if anything in the garden had been ravaged during the night. I only gave the garden a cursory glance, though, because my attention was drawn to something much more interesting.

I have seen these beautiful Luna moths before, but never two at once--and never intertwined. They are large, with wings that span four inches across. They stayed like that for several minutes while I stared, fascinated. Four hours later, they were still there. I lightly tickled each one with a blade of grass, just enough to see if they were alive--yes. I suppose they may have been busy making more moths (I know nothing of moth mating habits). I do know that pressed together, holding tightly to each other's little legs, it was quite a romantic scene--and a glorious morning surprise.

I am thrilled the photos I took came out. Click here if you would like to see the rest of them.

A year of Daily Photos ago: Baaaaaa!

Daily Farm Photo: 8/17/06

The Destructive Duo (aka Cary & The Nanny Bear) Have Been Temporarily Kicked Out Of The Kitchen Garden (You don't want to know.)

On the other hand, I happened to be standing at the kitchen window today when the wild turkeys came out for a stroll in the hayfield just beyond the garden. I spotted two mama hens with at least 11 baby turkeys in tow (they've gotten much bigger!)**--and as far as I could tell, not a single one of them was digging up or munching down anything of mine at all. It was really quite peaceful.

A year of Daily Photos ago: Surprise Bounty On My New Plants

**My apologies for the confusion. I haven't posted a turkey photo--but not for lack of trying. It's just very difficult to get close enough to them. That link above takes you to the post where I previously wrote about seeing these baby turkeys.

Big Cats In Trouble--Maybe You Can Help

One Very Happy Patchy Cat

You never know when something is going to come out of the blue and knock you right upside the heart. It happened to me this morning when I opened my email inbox and found a message from a friend. She had seen a story on the news and immediately thought of me. Big cats in trouble, it said. Maybe you can help. And maybe I can. Because sometimes, once you start to think about it, a reason for that out of the blue knock to the heart becomes clear. I'm not sure where to begin, and I'm going to do my best to connect some seemingly disparate things without rambling, so I guess I'll just start typing and see where I end up.

If you've been reading Farmgirl Fare for any length of time, you know that I am crazy about animals. I mean, my daughter is a sheep for crying out loud. No matter what ludicrous or heartbreaking or backbreaking thing that may be happening on the farm, at some point every single day I feel grateful to live in a place where I am constantly surrounded by so many wild and domestic creatures.

My father, who died of a sudden heart attack when he was 40 and I had just turned 11, may have loved animals even more than I do. One of the few things I remember him telling me was that by the time I was grown up, there wouldn't be any lions or tigers or bears or elephants or other big animals out in the wild. The only ones left would be in zoos, he said. He honestly thought it would happen that soon, and it made him very sad. My father has been gone a long time now, and although his memory is never far from my thoughts, I do not dwell on the past or on what things might have been like if he hadn't died when he did. There is one thing I find myself wishing for every once in a while, though, and that is that he could see me here--living on this farm out in the wilds surrounded by animals. I like to think it would make him happy.

Many of you know that my brother (who was my only sibling) died suddenly last December 24th. He probably would have argued that he loved animals even more than me or our father, and he might have been right. He had several cats who were his best friends and constant companions for years. He wanted to be a veterinary assistant, and he dreamed of opening an animal sanctuary. He even had a piece of land picked out and people lined up who wanted to volunteer. Unlike my father, he did have a chance to see me on this farm. He stayed here for a month in February of 2005, and he didn't want to leave.

Back to the big cats in trouble. There is a place in Colorado called The Wild Animal Sanctuary. For the past 26 years, the volunteers at this non-profit organization have been rescuing lions and tigers and bears and other big creatures and giving them a chance to happily live in their natural habitats. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is being forced to close down due to lack of funds. All they are trying to do now is stay open long enough to find as many homes as they can for their 150 exotic animals. Not an easy task by any means. Any animals they can't find homes for will have to be put down. And now you might understand why their situation grabbed a hold of my heart. It's been an emotional day for me.

Yes, this is the part where somebody asks you for money. Nobody likes asking for money, let alone begging for it. It's easier to ask on behalf of someone else, though, and when those someone elses are some of the most magnificent animals in the world, I don't have a problem asking. I emailed the Wild Animal Sanctuary today and received a reply from Pat Craig, the Executive Director. This is what he said:

Thank you Susan. We are closing for sure – but the time is a relevant thing based on how much help we get. Right now we only have enough funds to stay open a couple weeks… and that isn’t enough time to find the animals new homes. It will take a lot of time and money to get the animals placed, so each bit of support that we receive buys another day that we can stay open and work on saving animals. Even if all the animals had promises of new homes, it would take a couple months to get them all to their new homes – but as it stands now – there are very few places for these animals to go… and no time to seek those places.

If you want to write about our situation we would be very grateful – as it would help buy time for the animals. Thanks.

There are several reasons I made the decision to write about this on my blog. One is that simply looking at the photos of these animals brought me to tears. Yes, I am one of those people who breaks down when they see six tigers romping together in a pool. Reading about their plight had me sobbing. And from the number of you who tell me how much you care about Cary and Donkey Doodle Dandy and Patchy Cat (who was rescued seven years ago from a home where he was no longer wanted) and Molly Doodlebug and Robin and Bear and Snugglebunny and the chickens and all the rest of the critters around here, I think a fair amount of you are animal lovers like me.

This brings me to something I have been wanting to write about for a while now, and I think now is the perfect time. We are all surrounded by those in need, and everyone has their own personal charities or organizations they choose to support. Me, I usually choose animals close to home. Joe and I make regular donations to a tiny animal shelter that is run on a frayed shoestring budget by a group of incredible volunteers. Although it is always packed to overflowing with dogs and cats and puppies and kittens because they absolutely refuse to put healthy, adoptable animals down, I have literally never seen happier animals at a shelter. To some of them, this is the only home they have known--and ever will know. But I have discovered a way to be able to send them even more money, and that is by giving donations in peoples' names rather than giving them gifts they don't really need or want.

For instance, when a friend has a baby, I hand write a letter to the baby explaining that we have donated money in their name to our favorite animal shelter, in the hopes that it will help some orphan animals find families as wonderful as the one the new baby has been born into. One friend sent me a note thanking me for the thoughtful gift--and for not sending yet another baby garment that would be too small to wear in a week. At holidays and birthdays, I tell animal lovers that I am donating money in their name to the animal shelter. When a friend's beloved pet dies, I donate money in memory of their animal companion. I realize this is not a new concept. But many people simply haven't thought of doing it on a regular basis. So many of us do not need another useless gift, and yet even $10 to this little animal shelter makes a difference.

When my father died, people were asked to make donations to Audubon Canyon Ranch (a place we used to visit often as a family) in lieu of sending flowers. Those donations funded the construction of a much needed bridge on the ranch property.

It's starting to get dark, and I have animals that need tucking in. There are 25 pounds of plum tomatoes sitting on the kitchen counter waiting to be processed. And I'm hungry. But I thought this was more important than some tomatoes or my rumbling tummy. I'll end this by giving you some ways to rationalize a donation to the animals at The Wild Animal Sanctuary, but if you're still reading at this point, you probably don't need them. I could remind you that Farmgirl Fare and In My Kitchen Garden and Writings From Windridge Farm are labors of love that are available to anyone and everyone for free. I could ask you how much seeing the Daily Farm Photo is worth to you. Ten cents a day? Twenty-five cents a day? Is one of my favorite recipes now one of yours? Is it worth the price of a cookbook? And all donations are tax deductible of course.

Or you could do something really brilliant (not to mention time-saving) and take care of all of your holiday shopping right now. Imagine--done in August! Instead of presents, give everyone on your list a handwritten note letting them know that instead of getting another scarf or tie, this year they helped save one of the big cats.

Thanks so very much for your time. The critters and I are always here waiting for you, whenever you feel like taking a little e-trip to the farm. And if you choose to make a donation to The Wild Animal Sanctuary, I do hope you'll let us know. Click here to visit their website, where you can meet the animals, read all about the organization, and make a donation or buy something from their gift shop. Executive Director Pat Craig told me that "Donations can be made on our website – over the phone – or mailed in. We take Am Ex, Visa, Master Card, and people can send checks by mail or send their credit card info that way too if they don’t like using the internet. We can process donations from other countries – and I just processed one from Germany and one from Bavaria… Thanks again for helping us." Their address, email address, and phone number are all on the website.

Please feel free to pass this post along to fellow animal lovers. You are welcome to put a link to it on your own blog or use any part of it you like. Click here for the permalink.

8/18/06 Update: In a Denver Post article yesterday, Sanctuary Director Pat Craig was quoted as saying, "If 100,000 people gave just $5 each, it would buy us a year." What a wonderful way of showing how every little bit really can help--and that saving these exceptional animals is truly possible if we all pitch in.

I wish I had learned about this extraordinary place sooner, as I would have liked to have visited it (they built special highrise walkways so people can walk above the animals and view them without bothering them). And who knows. If things had turned out differently, I might have ended up working somewhere like this--and absolutely loving every minute of it.

8/20/06 Update:
Many, many thanks to all of you who have responded to this plea to help the animals at The Wild Animal Sanctuary. The news of their plight is zipping around the blogosphere, and donations are being made. Several people have kindly offered to contact zoos and other facilities in their area to see if places might be available for some of the sanctuary's 150 large carnivores needing homes. Others wondered if the Sanctuary could receive assistance from organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund. I emailed Sanctuary Executive Director Pat Craig about these things, and just received a reply:

"We appreciate everything that you have done - and are very glad to see that your supporters are truly animal lovers. We have approached every organization you can think of - especially all the big animal welfare ones.

In any case, the zoos (in the US and all over the world) have a huge surplus problem of their own, so there isn't any room for these animals in theirsystem. Once in a great while one or more of our animals have been able to fill a spot in the zoo system - but in most cases - many more animals flowout of the zoo system than go in.

Tell your supporters we greatly appreciate their caring so much--and we have one good chance at saving the animals by each person spreading the word to others (just as you have to them) - as that's the only way this situation will gain enough traction to get positive results."

Let's not give up hope yet.

9/17/06 Update: Wonderful news! The Wild Animal Sanctuary has received so many donations & promises of donations that they are able to keep operating for now. Click here to read the latest closing update on their website. Many, many thanks to all of you generously made donations and wrote about the Wild Animal Sanctuary. Note: they are now accepting donations from anywhere in the world via PayPal. Please keep spreading the word! IT REALLY IS WORKING!

Daily Farm Photo: 8/16/06

Misty Morning Peace--Stop & Breathe It In

A year of Daily Photos ago: Lucky Buddy Bear

Daily Farm Photo: 8/15/06

Little Stinker

I was walking from the barn up to the house after tucking in the sheep, looking at the ground as I walked, lost in my thoughts of this photo and what I should say about it. Something about how I never know what I'm going to find when I step outside each morning, as I saw this little critter two mornings in a row, happily scampering about in the llama pen adjacent to the barnyard.

The second time was when we (me, Cary, Bear, and Robin) all went in for the close-up photo. I want to say this is a baby skunk, as I have seen much bigger ones, but I don't know for sure. Perhaps it is simply a smaller variety. It immediately took notice of us and started hopping around, its tail pointing straight up, but it didn't spray. It really is cute.

So there I was, face to the ground, carefully watching where I was walking (the terrain is uneven, plus we have snakes), my mind on the little skunk, when something over by the creekbed caught my eye. I looked up to see two spotted fawns bouncing right toward me. They seemed airborne--I think I saw maybe three hooves total actually touch the ground. Their gangly legs moved in all directions at once, their speed surprising. I fumbled for my camera but Bear spotted them before I could get it out. In a whirl of tan and white they were gone. I stood there blinking, wondering if I had actually seen them at all.

And then I realized that I never know what I'm going to find when I step outside--not just in the morning, but any time of day.

A year of Daily Photos ago: Sunrise On A New Week

Welcome new visitors to Farmgirl Fare!
Please click here for a brief introduction to this site.

Daily Farm Photo: 8/14/06

And Another New Bird Nest Is Added To My Collection

I found this one laying on the ground near the giant cedar tree in front of the house. It was probably knocked down during one of the back to back storms in July (since we haven't had any storms--or even any rainfall to speak of--since then). It just took me a while to find it. It's one of the smaller types, less than three inches across and similar to several I already have. But as I mentioned before, each bird nest is a unique work of art.

I saw two little puffs of wool lining the inside right away, but a closer inspection revealed several delicate hairs along the inside as well. I pulled one out, and although it resembled human hair, it definitely wasn't mine or Joe's. (I do have one bird nest that has a piece of my long hair woven throughout it--what a magical find that was.) And then I realized it was half white and half dark. Nobody I know has hair like that. Except maybe. . .A quick tummy rub, and the mystery was solved--they were Lucky Buddy Bear belly hairs! There is certainly no shortage of nesting material on this farm. Click here if you'd like to see another recently found nest and read a little bit about my collection.

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Morning Glories Are Taking Over The Garden

Daily Farm Photo: 8/13/06

Everybody Gets Tomatoes This Time Of Year

Well, almost everybody. About half of the sheep absolutely love tomatoes. These are the ones who will greedily slurp up bucketfuls of juice and seeds and skins leftover from canning or freezing and then gaze up at you with a big, wet, drippy red smile. The other half of the flock can't figure out what the big deal is.

Now while Cary has sampled (and acquired a taste for) practically everything else in the garden, she has yet to bite into one of the many ripe tomatoes weighing down the vines. And since I don't know if she's a tomato liker or disliker, I'm certainly not going to find out by giving her one. The day Cary decides she likes tomatoes is the last day she enjoys her garden privileges (and they already aren't nearly as lax as they used to be).

A year of Daily Photos ago: New Cat In The Cat Cabin
(This is the photo that made me realize what I was seeing on my computer screen was not the same thing everyone else was. If you're curious, see the comments section in the post, and then click here to find out what I discovered.)

Savory PlumTomato & Basil Pesto Pie Recipe with a Foolproof Biscuit Crust

Worth Turning On The Oven For

Sometimes it's good to be alone in the kitchen. That way, when you pull a pie like this out of the oven and are standing there staring at it cooling on the counter, mesmerized, your mouth watering, stomach rumbling, fingers twitching, you don't have to worry about losing control and getting your hand slapped because you can't resist it. You can simply tear off a piece of that warm, golden crust with your fingers and pop it into your mouth—and nobody will ever know, because pieces of crust break off all the time.

Of course if you end up nibbling off five or six inches of the edge, well, you're going to have to come up with a really good explanation as to why it is missing (pets can be quite handy for this). If the pie is just for you, then you will be forced to face the fact that you just gobbled up the very best part off a large portion of your pie.

This recipe is actually a combination of four things that I love. The first is pizza. The second is homemade pecorino romano crackers (yet another recipe I've been meaning to share for over a year now) which I don't make very often because Joe doesn't care for them. This means it's up to me to eat them all--and I have absolutely no self-control when they're around. I've had entire meals that consisted of nothing but these crackers.

The third thing is a similar pie I've made with tomatoes, cheddar cheese and fresh basil using a recipe from a 1998 issue of Country Home magazine. The fourth thing is something I invented on a whim years ago when I had my little bakery cafe in California. It was basically a freeform calzone made with a biscuit-type crust and filled with sliced roma tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and pesto. I called them Pesto Piezones, and each one was about the size of both of my hands put together with fingers spread apart. I sold them for four dollars apiece, and they were usually all spoken for well before lunchtime. Until the other day I'd forgotten all about them.

Now this may look like a pie, and I may even be calling it a pie, but it is really not a pie. So those of you who are afraid of pies can keep on reading. And now I'm going to say this again in a slightly different way because people who are afraid of making pies have often been tricked into making them and then suffered traumatic experiences: This is not a pie crust. It is made with a biscuit dough, but, for those of you who are afraid of making biscuits, it is not made from biscuits.

This dough is easy to work with. This pie is quick and easy to make. That—for anyone who is still suspicious—means that this is by no means a difficult culinary endeavor. You can make this pie. Yes, you. And when you do, if you decide to share it, it will most likely make whomever you feed it to immediately smile with delight and love you even more than they already do. And you certainly can't beat that.

Purchased pesto will give you perfectly good results in this recipe, but if you have half an hour to spare and can get your hands on some beautiful fresh basil, by all means make your own. Use your favorite recipe or try my latest version that I created specifically to use in this pie, inspired by the basil pesto recipe in The Sonoma Diet book.*

The Sonoma Diet pesto recipe caught my eye because it called for pine nuts or almonds. I never put pine nuts in my pesto. I don't particularly care for them, and they are always frightfully expensive. Almonds, however, I like. I 'd never thought of using almonds in pesto and was thrilled with the results. I've even used roasted & salted almonds instead of toasting raw ones—yum. I'm looking forward to enjoying this new pesto in other ways besides in this pie and by the spoonful.

The tomatoes are my own addition. They give the pesto a whole new flavor while making it thin enough so as to be spreadable. You can save time by making the pesto a day or two ahead. Or you can make the entire pie ahead of time and simply reheat it in the oven. Individual leftover slices can be wrapped in foil and reheated in the oven or toaster oven, although it isn't too bad cold either. If you are very, very gentle, you can heat a slice in the microwave.

What I like most about this recipe is that although the tomatoes are cooked, they manage to maintain their fresh-from-the-garden taste. Yes, I've gone from Summer In A Bowl to summer in a crust. Be sure to use the meaty plum tomatoes, as other varieties are too juicy. As always, I urge you to seek out the best locally produced and organic ingredients you can find—they really do make a difference in so many ways. Enjoy.

Farmgirl Susan's Savory Tomato Pesto Pie
Makes One 9-Inch Pie

For The Pesto:
Makes about 1-1/2 cups (you'll need 1 cup)

1/2 cup (about 2½ ounces) raw or roasted whole almonds
3 to 6 large cloves garlic, peeled
4 ounces fresh basil leaves (about 4 cups packed, but it's best if you weigh it; I love my digital kitchen scale)
1/2 cup finely grated pecorino romano cheese
10 ounces fresh tomatoes (about 3 smallish) any kind, quartered
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or more if desired

If using raw almonds, spread them on a baking sheet or piece of aluminum foil and place in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes; at oaster oven works great for this, especially in summer (I adore my Oster Toaster Convection Oven and use it every day).

Process the almonds and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the basil, pecorino romano, tomatoes, and salt and process until thoroughly combined and the consistency you like. (Alternatively, you can use a gigantic mortar and pestle if you're trying to build up your arm muscles.)

With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil through the chute. Add more salt to taste if necessary and more olive oil if desired. This pesto will keep several days in the fridge, or you can freeze it. Cover the top with a thin layer of olive oil to keep it from discoloring if that sort of thing bothers you.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

For The Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour (I use Heartland Mill organic)
4 teaspoons baking powder (make sure it's fresh!) **
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick/ 4 ounces) cold butter
1 cup (about 2-1/2 ounces) finely grated pecorino romano (or other hard cheese, such as parmesan)
3/4 cup milk

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix in the butter using a pastry blender, fork, or your fingers until the largest pieces are pea-size. Stir in the pecorino romano. Pour in the milk and use a fork to gently form a soft dough. Do not overmix. Divide the dough in two pieces, making one slightly larger than the other.

On a generously floured surface, use a rolling pin to gently roll out the larger piece of dough into a circle about 12 inches across, rolling from the center outward. Sprinkle dough with flour if sticky. Gently fold the dough in half and transfer into a 9-inch pie pan. If the dough tears, simply press it back together with your fingers. Roll out the remaining piece of dough into a slightly smaller circle and set aside (or wait until you have the filling in the pan and then roll it out).

Assembling The Pie:
1 cup pesto, divided
2-1/2 pounds of the best plum tomatoes you can find, sliced lengthwise into 4 or 5 slices each (I used San Marzanos & Golden Romas to add extra color as well as more flavor)
8 ounces mozzarella, grated or thinly sliced (I used a fresh log which can't be grated)
1/2 cup (about 1-1/4 ounces) finely grated pecorino romano (or other hard cheese such as parmesan)

Using a spoon, spread 1/2 cup of pesto over the bottom layer of dough in the pie pan. Layer about half of the tomatoes over the pesto. Cover the tomatoes with about 2/3 of the mozzarella. Layer on the rest of the tomatoes (you may not need them all to fill the pan). Carefully spread the remaining 1/2 cup of pesto over the tomatoes. Cover with the remaining mozzarella and the pecorino romano.

Roll out the second piece of dough if you haven't already, and carefully place it over the pie. Fold the edge of the bottom piece over the top piece and press together to seal. Use your fingers to make a crimped design around the edge. If any dough falls apart, simply press it back together with your fingers. Don't worry if it isn't perfect. The handmade look has much more charm.

Cut four slits in the top of the pie for steam to escape. Bake at 375 degrees F in the center of the oven until the crust is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Cover the edge with foil if it starts to brown too quickly.

Let cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving. Crust edges may be sampled much sooner. (As with nearly any fruit pie, if you cut into it while it is still warm, some juice will seep out. If you plan to store any leftover pie right in the pan, simply drain off the juice so the bottom crust doesn't become soggy.) Or cool pie completely, cover, and refrigerate.

You can also freeze this pie. I wrapped a hunk in foil then put it in a zipper freezer bag and tossed it into the freezer. I defrosted the whole piece overnight in the refrigerator, then cut it in half and reheated the slices in my beloved toaster convection oven for 15-20 minutes at 325 degrees, each on a fresh piece of foil and covered lightly with the foil so the tops wouldn't brown too quickly. The bottom crust was a bit soggy, but I'm pretty sure that was because I let the pie sit in the fridge three days before deciding to freeze it. Otherwise it looked and tasted as if it had just come out of the oven the first time. Hint: If you plan to freeze the entire pie and don't want to freeze it in the pan, use a disposable pie pan or line your pan with a piece of heavy duty foil so you can simply lift the whole cooled pie out of the pan.

Other Ideas:
—Use arugula pesto or spinach pesto instead of basil pesto.
—Omit the pecorino romano from the crust, and use cilantro pesto (thinned with salsa, if desired) and jalapeno jack cheese in place of the basil pesto and mozzarella.

*I highly recommend The Sonoma Diet book for anyone who loves great-tasting, real food that also happens to be good for you--regardless of whether you want to lose weight. The book basically offers a new way of thinking about and appreciating food, and it doesn't involve counting or measuring or scary meal replacements. In my opinion, the "Seasonings" recipe section alone is worth the price of the book. The Peachy Berry Cobbler came together in minutes and didn't taste like diet food.)

**Fresh baking powder is essential to the success of any recipe that calls for it. If your baking powder is more than a couple of months old, toss it out and buy a new container. It will cost you about two dollars, and your homemade baked goods are surely worth much more than that. I buy Rumford brand because it does not contain aluminum and consistently gives me good results.

© Copyright 2006 FarmgirlFare.com, the tomato crazy foodie farm blog where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.

Daily Farm Photo: 8/12/06

Waking Up The Farm

I took this photo a while ago, immediately fell in love with it, decided it was too dark, and relegated it to my personal file. I came across it yesterday and fell in love with it all over again. When I first started this blog, I found myself hesitating over certain photos, wondering if they were good enough to post. I also found that the ones in question usually ended up being quite popular. So I promised myself I would always listen to my heart, go with my first impulse, and the heck with everything else. But once in a while I forget about that promise. So here, finally, is this photo--because I love it. And that is that.

A year of Daily Photos ago: Hornet Nest Under Construction

Daily Farm Photo: 8/11/06

Tweet

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Dinky Donkey Doodle Dandy Greets Our Surprise Visitors

Daily Farm Photo: 8/10/06

There's Nothing Subtle About Our Dan--He's Ready For Bed!
No, I haven't had the courage to remove his (now extremely) ratty blue halter yet. Though he seems quite willing to let me yank it off.

Kitchen Garden Recipe Alert!
Yesterday I posted a new recipe on InMyKitchenGarden.com. It's called Colors Of Summer Salad, and it proves once again that Less Fuss, More Flavor is definitely the way to go--especially in this heat. What? You didn't know about my kitchen garden blog? Where do you think most of the food from this one ran off to? And it's not just for gardeners either. You can read about everything from why I love my sun hat to how to make it rain. Check the sidebar over there for links to more of my original kitchen garden recipes.

A year of Daily Photos ago: View Through The Dew

Daily Farm Photo: 8/9/06

Feather Wait

A year of Daily Photos ago: Robin's Smile Is Infectious

Daily Farm Photo: 8/8/06

Side View Of The Cat Cabin

Several readers have asked me to tell you more about the Cat Cabin, so I will. I don't know a whole lot about it, but a quick phone call to the grandson of the previous owners of our farm (who also happens to be the Donkey Peddling Cowboy) confirmed my suspicions as to its original purpose. He said he didn't know for sure, but it was most likely used as a smokehouse or for storing corn.

"I never saw Grandma smoke any meats or anything in it, but that's what she always called it--The Smokehouse."

At one time there were 40 families living down in this little valley. There was a large sawmill and even a school. Part of our house (which is over 100 years old) was the general store, so it would make perfect sense to have a smokehouse next to it. All of the houses except ours are long gone--most were destroyed by flood. The Cat Cabin is just a few steps from the house so it, too, has survived. But as you can see, I wasn't kidding before when I said it was literally sinking into the ground.

This historic little structure, which is 'decorated' on the outside with aged odds and ends, now serves as a storage space and (as its current name implies) home to New Cat and J2 (who are the best of friends). They absolutely love their cabin and spend much of their time in it. It has shelves to climb around on, conveniently placed perches from which to safely survey the world, a dining spot high above dog level, and even a cozy wool bed.

So there's the story of the Cat Cabin. If I find out anything more about it, I'll let you know. I also have a few more photos of it that I hope to get around to posting, including a close-up of one of the corners. The construction is truly amazing. As for my investigative phone call to the cowboy grandson--well, the subject of donkeys also came up, but that part of the conversation will have to wait for another time.

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Show & Tell: What I Did This Weekend

Daily Farm Photo: 8/7/06

Sweeping Off The Truck--Or Dancing With The Broom?

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Red Russian Kale Is Wonderful In Salads

Daily Farm Photo: 8/6/06

Baby Cary Is Three Months Old Today!

I was looking through some of her early baby photos, and I can't believe how much she has changed. She's even a totally different color. (To Tree and anyone else who wondered if I'd sheared Cary because she looked lighter--no, the sun is bleaching her wool. Plus sometimes the camera makes her appear even lighter if the sun is hitting her--like on her back in this photo.)

At age three months, Cary is happy and healthy and doing just fine. She is 23 inches high, 35 inches from the tip of her nose to the base of her tail, and weighs 45 pounds (some of you were very close with your guesses!). We still spend much of the day together, as she has not been fully assimilated back into the flock yet (though she mingles with them in the afternoon and sleeps in the barn with them every night).

We have fallen into a comfortable daily routine which begins each morning when I greet her in the barn with a bottle of milk replacer, and she sucks it down in about two seconds flat. Then we push Dan outside, count the sheep, and set everyone free so they can graze in the fields. I prepare Dan and Leopold's treats while Cary nibbles on some oats. Then I feed Dan, and Cary runs over and starts inhaling his food (you'd think she would have learned her lesson). Fortunately Dan can be a very patient donkey. We take care of any barn chores that need doing (replenishing minerals and salt, filling water troughs), and then we follow Dan as he heads out to the front field in search of the flock.

If all is well, after a little while Cary and The Nanny Bear and I walk up to the house, where I work in the garden, Cary works on eating it, and The Nanny Bear keeps an eye on both of us. Breaks from the heat are taken indoors. These days Cary usually prefers to lounge on the living room floor with my dirty long-sleeved gardening shirt that is hanging on a chair draped over her head. (Lambs recognize their mothers by smell, not sight. Or, as Joe put it, "Honey, she loves your stink.") If it is very hot, she will join me in my air-conditioned little office and either quietly stand by my side chewing her cud or curl up at my feet while I sit at the computer--just as she's done from the start.

Every day with Cary continues to be a precious adventure. She keeps very busy growing up and learning new things.


Back when she was just three weeks old, she attempted to take her first drink of water--and then she tried to eat the bucket.



Joe Giving Cary Lunch On June 7th

And while she still loves her bottles of milk replacer more than anything else in the world (well, except me--I think). . .


She now sips water like a perfect little lady.

Thanks for all of your wonderful words of support over the past three months. I had no idea my tiny "bum" lamb would become this popular. I'm just thrilled that Cary has so many dear friends and fans around the world. I'm looking forward to sharing more of our lives together with you over the coming months (and hopefully years!).

A year of Daily Photos ago: New Cat On The Potting Bench

Weekend Dog Blogging #46

One Last Bite Before Bed

All of the other sheep have been rounded up and are headed for the barn, but Cary has discovered a tasty patch of grass and refuses to budge. The Nanny Bear doesn't mind, though. He patiently keeps his ears to the wind, his eyes on his charge, and that trademark grin on his face. Cary is safe with him on the watch. Besides, he knows she'll be done nibbling soon--then they'll catch up to the flock in no time.

Lucky Buddy Bear is half English Shepherd and half Australian Shepherd. He loves his sheep! Click here for more about him.

Attention Dog Lovers! This is Weekend Dog Blogging #46!
To see fun dog photos and discover yummy new food blogs, visit Sweetnicks each Sunday night for the roundup. If you prefer plants to pets, don't miss the always informative Weekend Herb Blogging roundup every Monday.

Weekend Cat Blogging: Under Cover

Ever Seen A Cooler Cat Cover?

4-1/2 Pound Molly Doodlebug (aka The Doodle Monster) is spying on Patchy Cat and Cary—who (much to The Doodle's dismay) could not care less.

© FarmgirlFare.com

Daily Farm Photo: 8/5/06

Just When You Thought You'd Seen It All. . .


Donkey Doodle Dandy Loves To Roll In The Dirt

Okay, I haven't figured out how to make a video of Cary with my camera yet, but I did muster up the courage to turn the little dial from its permanent setting on AUTO to a new shooting mode--Fast Shutter: "For shooting fast moving objects." So while I don't have a mini movie of this priceless donkey moment (do you love that big white underbelly or what?), I did get several more action shots. Click here to see them. This photo is actually the last one I took--right before (and this has never ever happened) the memory card announced that it was full!

(If you're wondering about that ratty blue halter, click here.)

A year of Daily Photos ago:
At Sunrise, The Possibilities Are Endless

Daily Farm Photo: 8/4/06

The Latest Addition To My Collection

For several years, when I lived quite another life in northern California, I bought and sold and amassed collections of all manner of 1920s-1950s stuff. (The selling was a direct result of too much amassing.) I no doubt trekked dozens of miles at antique malls and outdoor flea markets, searching for everything from colorful pottery and catalin jewelry to lucite purses and Art Deco chrome.

Now I collect rocks and bird nests. (Though I still have many of my earlier finds. Most are safely tucked away in boxes, but certain items have escaped confinement and are haphazardly scattered around the The Shack. There are, for instance, five 1930s bakelite radios staring down at me from a shelf above my computer. Below the shelf, four fluffy kittens from the same era are forever cavorting around a fishbowl in a small, rectangular print. A brightly flowered curtain from the 1940s covers an unused door in my office.)

But I digress. Anyway, yesterday I put the sheep in a large Donkey Daycare Grazing Pen for a while. There are two enormous sycamore trees in this pen, and below them are piles of large branches that broke off during the recent storms. During their midday rest period, the sheep happily nestled in the shade amongst the debris. While I was carefully picking my way through it to check on everyone, I found this glorious nest laying on the ground--no doubt knocked out of the sky along with all of the branches.

I probably have at least two dozen bird nests by now. Most of them are startingly different from one another, but even the ones that were obviously crafted by the same species of bird are each unique creations. I don't think there will ever be a time when I am not in awe of a bird nest. I become mesmerized and find myself staring at them, trying to figure out how in the world I could even come close to constructing something so precise and perfect using nothing but my mouth.

Most of my bird nests are between three and four inches wide, but this new one measures six inches across. It is somewhat similar in size and shape to this nest I found last year. While I have yet to find the time to research what types of birds built each of my nests, I know exactly what kind of bird built this one--a very smart one! This has got to be the warmest, woolliest bird nest in the world. Click here if you would like to see the underside and a close-up of the construction detail.

I think this is a good time to mention that I only collect bird nests that are obviously no longer being used. Most of them are found on the ground. I do have a couple of nests that still contained teeny tiny, unbroken eggs when I discovered them, but even these had obviously been abandoned. Someday I will get around to photographing more of my collection (and some other day we will build a proper case in which to display them all). Each of these nests is truly a work of art. And as you can see, I easily get carried away talking about them.


A year of Daily Photos ago:
Surprise Lilies Are Also Known As Naked Ladies

Looking back each day at the photo I posted a year ago has been very interesting. I don't look ahead, preferring the daily surprise instead. This means (as you may have noticed) that sometimes I find myself posting new photos that are amazingly similar to ones I posted right around the same time last year. The surprise lilies are a case in point. But rather than feeling embarrassed by these inadvertent repetitions, I am taking comfort in the fact that although it often feels as if everything is always changing, there are some things around the farm that do remain the same year after year. And fortunately many of them are things of quiet beauty (or cuteness).

Daily Farm Photo: 8/3/06

Cary Running To Me At Top Speed. . .



Which Is Too Fast For The Close-Up Photo

A year of Daily Photos ago: Breakfast Under The Mist

Daily Farm Photo: 8/2/06

The Evening Sun Shines On One Final Photo Before Slipping Behind The Ridge

A year of Daily Photos ago: Lucky Buddy Bear

Once again I am behind, behind, behind on all things blog related. I have questions to answer, pictures to post, and several summer recipes I'd like to share--hopefully soon. Thanks, as always, for your patience--and for taking the time to send me comments and emails. Your feedback is so important (and often incredibly entertaining)!

Daily Farm Photo: 8/1/06

The Chickens Love When There's Company In The Farmyard

A year of Daily Photos ago:
Nicotiana Flowers Sweetly Perfume The Thick Evening Air