Posted on 12/01/2025 5:54:31 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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A salad and something on the grill. Dinner is served!
Brining your own ham looks pretty easy! Thanks, again.
Alton Brown says:
https://redtablemeats.com/processed-meat/ham/how-to-brine-a-ham-alton-brown/
Martha Stewart says:
https://www.marthastewart.com/8295708/how-long-cook-ham-guide
I still have a half peck of apples from the orchard- this looks good to me.
Roasted Apple Salad with Spicy Maple-Cider Vinaigrette
Now that’s funny! (I only play the lottery if someone gives me one as a gift. I’ve never been the least bit interested.)
I did look at the Baker Creek catalogue and if you get the one from Baker Creek let me know how it works.
Yes, winter and all the associated "slop" is here! Hope you have enough in the pantry for any possible extended snow-in! I had to go and shovel out after a brief 5" snow. (2 days ago, its all melting away! Good!)
Hansen-Mueller Co., a major Nebraska grain dealer operating nine elevators and four port terminals across the Midwest, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 17, 2025, leaving farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses across 34 states facing unpaid claims totaling millions of dollars. CEO Josh Hansen stated the court-supervised process would facilitate "an orderly sale of our assets for the benefit of our creditors, employees, and all stakeholders." The filing exposed vulnerabilities in rural supply chains and raised urgent questions about recovery prospects for thousands of creditors.
Hansen-Mueller operated a substantial infrastructure spanning nine grain elevators, four port terminals, and a processing mill, with trading offices in Toledo, Omaha, Salina, Kansas City, Tallulah, and Alabaster. The company employed approximately 120 staff members at the time of filing. However, the creditor list revealed a far broader footprint: between 1,000 and 5,000 unsecured creditors across 34 states, with secured debt led by BMO Harris Bank at $50.9 million. (More at link)
Beautiful this morning - it’s snowing. I’m guessing about 2” and it should stop mid-morning. I took the trash can out to the road which has been treated ... the ‘country boys’ are flying by in their PUs .... snow doesn’t scare them LOL! All the county schools are closed (long weekend for the kids) & many businesses are opening 2 hours late. It doesn’t look like we’ll get above freezing today, but tomorrow should get into the 40’s so our driveway will probably clear a lot - black asphalt melts snow quickly. We have no place to go today, so we can hunker down & enjoy the scenery while it lasts. Full moon last night was really pretty & if the clouds lift by tonight, the moonlight on the snow will be especially bright.
Frying up the last of the scrapple to go with some eggs this morning. I’ll have to get some more - cheaper than bacon. After being outside in the snow, it’s a 2-tea bag morning and the hot mug is a good hand warmer. I’d love to be eating at the local diner - their food & coffee (which I don’t drink at home any more) is so good & I’ll bet it’s ‘extra’ good on a cold, snowy morning. Just the cozy, old-fashioned country diner ‘atmosphere’, the locals & the super friendly & efficient waitresses make this place a favorite for everyone in the area.
Cow Chronicles:
It looks to me like there are at least 10 little calfs in the herd now. I saw one getting tagged Wednesday. It’s hard getting a good count because they’re mixed in with the adults although some calfs hang together and play, chasing each other, running like crazy. It’s fun watching them play. I saw a calf close to White Face yesterday, but I can’t tell if it’s hers or not. There were 2 other calfs in the vicinity so she could have been ‘baby sitting’. :-)
Watching baby calves play is a rare treat, enjoy. When they get huge there is no more running like that. Really a joyful sight.
My cousin’s fiance (a successful farmer) was here for Thanksgiving. We were talking ‘cows’ as we looked at them from our bay window in the kitchen and I was telling him about the ‘down’ cow, the babies so far, watching the farmer tag the newbies, etc. He gave me an ‘amused’ look and said “wow, you really keep a sharp eye on those cows!” I told him ‘not only a sharp eye, but BINOCULARS!” He just cracked up.
The only bright spot in that is Chapter 11 is just to re-organize and get the finances straight; they may not completely go out of business, but that is a BIG chunk of change that they’re owing!
If it was a Family Operation, then it’s in the 3rd or 4th generation where ‘the kids’ bleed the company for cash. Jerks.
My old bread machine died a few weeks back so Beau ‘bought’ me one for Christmas!
After I wrap it and put a bow on it, then unwrap it on Christmas Day I’m going to be back in business! Can’t wait!
https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/make-sourdough-starter-scratch/#wprm-recipe-container-26697
https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/bread-machine-sourdough-bread-recipe/
"My goals in life are to eat as much hay as possible, beg for apples and poop on everything in sight!"
After watching the farmer try to catch a calf that was ‘only’ a couple of weeks old, then try to ‘steer’ it to the gate by the tail (where it got away from him), they aren’t adorable nor easily manageable for long .... it was a rodeo!
💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
It’s a good thing I don’t believe in jealousy. You are so blessed!!
He’s handsome now.
Cocoa?
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