The Real Life of a Ranch Hand's Wife

Domestication....Canning

  "Lucy!!! You have some esssplaining to do!" That was the thought that woke me up this morning. I've had a cloud of guilt circling over my head for the past few days, well at least a week, for not posting sooner. I've got all these posts under lock and key in my little pea brain, and haven't been able to get them out for some reason. Maybe it's just the rush of the end of summer, yeah let's go with that. I'm enjoying the temperature now. There are things that need to be done around the house and ranch before snow flies. Hunting season is upon us. The fall gather, weaning and shipping is fast approaching. Seems like I just set the coveralls aside, but before long they'll be out and walking around again. How the time flies!

 

      I was busy for a while getting things "put up" for winter. For those of you that aren't hopelessly domesticated like myself (don't let that get out, some days I'm still in denial that I'm this far gone), that means that I've been home canning. Yes, like your grandma used to...I also knit, dabble in quilting, bake bread, make my own noodles for chicken noodle soup, and the list goes on and on (again, don't let it get out). However, there is a gap in my training, I do NOT iron. Some wild things just can't be tamed, or forced to iron.

   

    For my generation of younger ladies, if you've always wanted to try to can, but always thought it's too hard, it's not. I hate recipes, but if you're just starting out, then follow them and once you've got the hang of it, throw them out the window like I did.   Go here!   I go to this site every fall when I forget what I put in my pear butter, but then refuse to follow the recipe. Crazy, I know, but I am what I am! They have every step you need from start to finish with pictures too! There are other recipes as well that are easy and quick. I like that they show you step by step the canning process too. Or you could buy a canning cook book, those are priceless!

 

    Since I don't follow recipes, I rely on taste, color and texture. I peeled and cored the pears, threw them in a pot with half water and half orange juice and let them cook till good and soft. Then strained them, but kept the juice. Throw the pears in the crock pot with a few cups of sugar, a couple teaspoons of cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice (I never have cloves and allspice on hand, so whatever), and a dash of salt. Then I mash them up a bit with a tater masher, you know those things run be elbow grease. Let 'em cook to mush, checking every couple hours (mash again with masher if it's still chuncky, if it gets too thick, just add some of the saved juice or too thin, let it cook for a while without a lid). This is when I taste and add all of the above spices and sugar again, except salt. I really have no idea how much of anything goes in, but like I said, I hate recipes. So if you're a recipe person, then go to the site provided in previous paragraph and have a ball, it will still be just as yummy!

 

    Some of the yummy things I've stumbled across in my canning days are flavored canned tomatoes. You prepare you tomatoes to can as you normally would, whole or diced (without the skins, you drop them in boiling water for about a minute or until the skins split a bit, take them out and put into a cold bath, then peel...easy peasy) however you prefer. Then before you fill your jars, put the seasoning in the bottom of the jar. (I can't remember where I found these, but the Chili ready blend is one I came up with)

 

Italian Blend--

    4 tsp Basil    2 1/2 tsp Oregano    2 tsp Thyme    1 1/2 tsp Rosemary    1 1/2 tsp Sage    1 tsp Garlic Powder

    1 tsp Hot pepper flakes (optional) 

    Use 2 1/4 tsp per pint jar, if not using pepper flakes, then only use 2 tsp.

 

Mexican Blend­--

    6 tsp Chili Powder    2 tsp Cumin    2 tsp Oregano    2 tsp Garlic Powder    2 tsp Coriander   

    1 1/2 tsp Season Salt (optional)                   Use 2 1/2 tsp per pint jar, 2 tsp if no salt

 

Cajun Spice Blend--

    3 tsp Chili Powder    2 tsp Paprika    1 1/2 tsp Onion flakes    1 1/2 Garlic Powder    1 1/2 tsp Allspice

    1 1/2 tsp Thyme    1 tsp Cayenne Pepper                 Use 2 tsp per pint jar

 

Chili Ready Blend--

    4 tsp Chili Powder    2 tsp Onion Powder    2 tsp Garlic Powder    2 tsp Paprika   

    1 tsp Cumin    1 tsp Cayenne Pepper                    Use 2 tsp per pint jar

 

    You can get very creative with canning I've found. I generally like to stick with the hot water baths, just because I'm impatient like that, but green beans would have to be my favorite pressure cooker thing. I like to cook up bacon and diced onions to put in the bottom of the jar-----wickedly yummy! Last year I did pumpkin butter that was soooo ridiculously good for pies and baking. Spicy garlic pickles you ask? Put the usual peppercorns and dill in your jar, then add several (if it was me, like 3-4 per pint jar, but I'm a garlic-o-holic)  smashed (lets the flavor out easier) garlic cloves and a half of a jalapeno pepper, seeds and all. Don't even get me started on pickled green beans! Now do you see why I hate recipes? They're so restrictive!

 

    I almost forgot salsa! Here's my recipe... tomatoes, garlic, onion, peppers (mix of Anaheim or big jims, jalapenos, and Serranos), cilantro, salt and dash of lemon or lime juice. Hotter? more hot peppers with seeds and ribs (jalapenos, Serranos, habaneros). Milder? mild peppers with no ribs and seeds (Anaheim, big jims, and maybe jalapenos). Cook just till heated through, then spoon into jars, and only hot bath for about 10-15 minutes. You don't need or want to cook the crap out of it, tastes better when you don't.

 

    So I think I covered all the questions and such that many of you asked on the Facebook page about my recipes and canning. If I missed anything, feel free to holler at me and I'll do my best to help. I do however think I feel another post coming on this week since I finally got this one out of my head! Happy Canning!

Gourmet Hot Dogs

   

    I really believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the same sense, (haha pun intended) the term "gourmet" is in the taste of the taster's buds. I say this for a couple reasons. As most of you know by now, I'm pregnant, and yes, with that comes cravings. Last week I spoke of nesting, but I'm soooo over that...for now anyway. This train of thought started with hot dogs and ramen noodles. I promise, it will all come together, just follow along with a hormone crazed pregnant woman and you'll see. lol

   The Cowboy and "J" (ranch-hand) were headed up to cow-camp to set up the camper, take a look around and make general preparations for this coming week of shipping cows. Cow-camp is about an hour from the main ranch, through town, and "over the hill" so-ta-speak. Since they'd be there for a while, Shell (J's wife) and I drove up with the munchkin to check it out, and have supper with them.

    We were chatting, as us girls are always so good at, when a familiar story popped in my brain. She told me that the Cowboy stopped in at their house, and J was fixing a snack and my Cowboy preceded to steal it from him, forcing J to make another packet of Ramen Noodles. Don't worry, it's a universal cowboy thing, they're always hungry. I can't tell you the times that my fridge has been raided, or have been given that fore lorn look of "please have pity on me and FEED me".

    So anyway, the Cowboy pulled rank, and took the already prepared noodles, secured a hot dog and was asking Shell for a can of corn. No corn could be found, so just the noodles and hot dogs were enough. When Shell relayed this story, my pregnant stomach cringed, but knew where it came from. I then told her the detailed "back story" to Hot Dogs and Ramen Noodles.

    The Cowboy and I had been married just shy of 2 years and as most cowboys are, we were broke. He had a great opportunity training horses with an up-and-coming trainer. So while he trained horses, I mucked stalls and we got by. We had 2 dogs and 1 cat in a 32 foot motorhome. No power, no running water, parked in an open pasture a couple miles from the main ranch. We hauled irrigation water to flush the toilet and drinking water from the horse barn. I REFUSED to bath in irrigation water, so that too was hauled from the barn. Funny how terrible that must sound to some of you, but I don't remember being miserable at all.

    We came home one evening, a few days away from payday (we all know how that is) and began to look through the cupboards and coolers (no fridge, remember). The Cowboy announced he would cook dinner. Ramen Noodles, Hot Dogs, and a can of Corn. I was less than thrilled. I've hated hot dogs since I was about 10. I try to only eat about 2 a year, any more than that, and I'd better have a gun to my head. So needless to say, he was a little hurt at my lack of enthusiasm over his "gourmet meal".

    You see, when the Cowboy was very little, he thought this was his favorite meal. He didn't know until much later in life that it was a meal of necessity. Till he was about 5, he was raised by a very hard working single mom. She went without so he could have his fill, even if all there was on the menu was Ramen Noodles and Hot Dogs. I don't know of a good parent that wouldn't sacrifice something for their child, we've all done it. It's just a parent thing.

    I was not aware of the story behind this meal, until he told me, and then called his mom to relay the memory of the meal. At that moment, I was a very ungrateful wife. Sometimes you just have to choke down a freakin hot dog already! So I did.

    Now I look in my freezer and realize that I'm blessed. We have a freezer full of home-raised beef, lamb, pork and soon will have chickens. Beats the heck outta hot dogs, which ironically are the munchkin's favorite.

    Everyone needs some tough times to appreciate the good times and the times of plenty. Sometimes to appreciate the steak in front of me, I have to remember, I've had to choke down alot of hot dogs and I'm no worse for the wear. In the paper yesterday, I noticed hot dogs are on sale....

Nesting

    I'm a terrible blogger! It seems like it's been years since I sat down and actually wrote something out. Ok so it's only been a couple weeks, but still, I've missed all of you!

    I think I can safely blame my absence on fatigue. I don't remember being this tired while carrying the Munchkin, course I wasn't chasing her around then either. She's been so good about me being so tired though. She's content to snuggle up on the couch with me, her blankie, blue bear, some milk, and "tartoons". I've also been treasuring these moments, even if I am half asleep. Then there's the poke in the eye, the pull of an eyelid, and those 3 little words.... "Wake up Mommy!"

    For those of you that might be procrastinators, or are just set back by circumstances, have no fear....there is a person worse than you! Between the Cowboy and myself, we've got ya covered. I'd love to say that my garden is knee high and looking so gorgeous, but it's not. Haven't even plowed it yet. Yes, in case you were wondering, it is in fact June 13th. (can you tell I'm not bitter?)

    I can say that the "nesting" bug has set in. I looked at my living room the other day and was terribly annoyed. So out came the vacuum (for under the furniture that hadn't been moved in 6 months -- I'm sooooo not that person that every time I vacuum I pull out the furniture!), and I tore up the living room. Normally, this would have just been an hour or so project, but with interruptions such as, I'm hungry every 5 seconds, tired every 15 seconds, and going to help the Cowboy work cows (I just pushed them to the chute, nothing glamorous), it took most of the day.

    As I sat in my newly arranged living room, I looked toward my kitchen and was deeply, deeply annoyed. So the kitchen was tackled yesterday. I even finished it off with a hands and knees scrub of the floor. This is the #1 reason why I know this is nesting that I'm feeling. I say this because, if you knew me and showed up at my house on a regular basis, you would know how out of character that last move was for me!

    Now I'm looking at my porch and wondering how long it would take us to remodel and make it into usable space....hmmmm? Ok ok so maybe the nesting bug will pass, but while it's here, I kinda like getting this stuff done.

    I know it was forever ago, but I did promise to post some baby-horse pics. I finally got them off my camera, so here's just a couple.

    I love me a red-head! (I'm not kidding. My husband, favorite dogs, and favorite horse are all red-heads!)

 

This is why mommies "nest", to protect and cherish our little ones!