stout corned beef with roasted potatoes, cabbage, and carrots

st. patty's is tomorrow.  god bless the irish.  however, when you have kids the celebration takes on another tone.  and when you are married to a farmer and planting season is approaching...it takes on an even lamer tone.  so tomorrow is a day of garden prep, planting, and spring cleaning around these parts.  we will be having corned beef, though.  i was going to make guiness chocolate cupcakes filled with jameson chocolate ganache and topped with bailey's buttercream frosting, but then i gave up sugar for lent.  see? lame.  so, instead hendrix and i went green AND healthy...dark chocolate covered kiwi pops. not so lame now, am i? you're welcome.
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in case you haven't made plans for tomorrow or you bought extra corned beef...here's my no-fail recipe and (weird!) it involves the slow cooker.

stout corned beef
1 corned beef, rinsed and patted dry (discard spice packet)
1 - 1 1/2 bottles or cans of stout beer (guiness is an obvious choice)
1 head of cabbage, sliced into 2" rings
4 - 6 carrots, cut into 4 inch sections
5-8 yukon gold potatoes, cut into quarters
olive oil
salt
pepper
caraway or fennel seeds
place corned beef in slow cooker and cover with beer.  cook on low for 6-8 hours.  an hour before dinner time, prepare veggies.  preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease one baking sheet with olive oil.  arrange cabbage rings on baking sheet with season with salt, pepper, caraway seeds, and a bit of oil.  toss potatoes and carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  pour on another baking sheet.  roast vegetables for 30-40 minutes or until tender.  serve alongside corned beef and beer.

find printables here



catch up::prep

spring cleaning + organizing, beautiful weather, garden prep + planting, three year old birthdays, and time with my {baby}boy won out, my friends.  sorry, dudes.  i'm back.  i swear.

it is garden and rain barrel time!!

here's what i HAVE to tell you....

tilling: mike is quickly becoming booked, but for $50 (up to 500 sq. ft) mike will come till your garden with our commercial tiller.  tilling is a must for your traditional, in ground garden, to prepare the space for your new boxed, raised garden, or to work the ground of your raised dirt garden. email us to schedule a time.

compost:  $40 for 1/2 a pick up load.  mike can also till this into your garden if you book him for till job.  contact us for smaller or larger purchases.  this compost is black gold and will make your garden glorious.  great for containers, as well.

rain barrels:  check out our craigslist post for more info., the basic info is that these are brand new barrels with a garden hose spigot and are ready to go.  these are a great way to reuse water...so great we are putting one in at our rental property.

all natural, pest control:  we have 50 lb bags of diatomaceous earth available and duster applicators available, as well.  DE is an all natural way to treat those little buggies in the garden that won't bug off..pun intended.  read more here.  check out our craigslist posting.  the great thing about buying from us is that if you are in the omah area, no shipping!!

virtual gardening clinic: i'll be back.  i promise.  in the meantime, if you are semi experienced and ready to go...now is the time for collards, radishes, beets, asparagus crowns, onion sets, peas, spinach, & turnips to be planted.  (i know what i am doing when i get done writing this post!)  if you are not ready...no worries!!! you still of plenty of time.  we'll talk more later this week.

container gardening:  mike and i have been working on some awesome, {almost} completely maintenance free, container gardening set ups.  we have some around town that are going to be planted very soon...i will get some pictures very soon.  these are great ways for kids, busy people, people short on space, and handicapped folks to grow produce.  you can grow greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, peas, some root veggies, potatoes, and summer squash.  in fact, this year we will be growing quite a bit of own produce this way.  it will be easy for hendrix and easy for me if i am lucky enough to grow a baby this year, too.  pictures and details soon!!

consulting:  businesses and home gardeners, if you are wanting help with planning your garden or setting up your compost system please contact us.  initial consults are $40 and tailored to fit your needs.  i am becoming booked, but have time slots available.

community:  remember the heart ministry center when planting your gardens...plant extra and make a weekly donation to the food pantry.  fresh produce should not be a luxury.  also, did you know that the heart ministry center has a community garden??  perhaps plan to volunteer one afternoon there.  you will see our containers there, too.  we will be planting lots of herbs and greens in them making more room in the garden for other goodies.
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again, my apologies for a delay in posting.  frankly, i have been enjoying my time with hendrix and not having to rush to get things done like i had to last year.  this reaffirms our decision to not do the veg box this year.  i also have been percolating LOTS of ideas in my head.  so while i work those out...you may see lags in posting.  i will be back later this week with a clinic.  thanks!

an open (love) letter to my son on his third birthday

my love,
dear lord.  what happened this year? i just wrote a letter to you.  you just turned two.  heck, you were just born.  no? my heart aches with joy and happiness at the boy you have become.  you are everything i dreamed you would be and more.  you are my heart. 
in a year...
you have managed to speak complete, complex sentences; potty train yourself in a week, make new friends, be the life of any party, memorize every tool catalog ever brought into our home, be your dad's best buddy, slide down slides too high for my boy, and show me what mothering is really about. you rode on a ferris wheel for the first time.  you rode in a dad's new tractor for five hours. you went to school for the first time.  you started doing chores and earning an allowance. you went from a baby to a boy.  you are the love and the light in this house.  no one gives better hugs than you.  no one is as kind to animals as you.  your imagination and story telling abilities are spellbinding.  your humor and dance skills are second to none.  you can drive a tractor and farm like nobody's business.

in the coming year, you will be on a team and playing soccer for a first time.  you will learn to swim better.  we will make even more friends, go on an adventure to massachusetts with your mommy, go fishing with your daddy, and continue to amaze me with your intelligence, humor, and kindness.
it has been a joy and an honor to be your mother this year and always.  it absolutely breaks my heart that you are getting so old so fast.  i hope you are always a momma's boy.  i am not sure if my heart could handle it if you weren't.  every once in awhile i can close my eyes and it is march 13, 2009.  you and i are sitting in sun filled, hospital room talking with our nurse.  you are laying on the bed in your over sized onsie and i am telling the nurse that you look exactly as i had dreamed.  hendrix, you are better than any dream.  you are better than anything my meager imagination could of come up with...you are what true love is, my boy. 
your father is and has always been enamored with you.  you and him talk about  how to spell words, what different tools do in your stihl catalog, and what bobcat you think he should get.  he wakes each day and tackles each day to make life better for you.  he once told me that he never wanted you to grow to be cynical like him. he wants you to have more faith in people and life.  with him as your father...i have no doubt you will grow up to be a kind man with immense faith in others and yourself.  he has only wanted the best for you since forever.  you are a source of immense pride for him and always will be his little buddy.  you are his right hand, farming man. please always listen and learn from your father.  he is what all men should be made of.  all he could say when you first saw you was how beautiful you were.

you are the greatest thing we have done.  we wish the world for you.  we wish you great happiness.  we wish you had any inkling about how much we love you.  happy birthday, my heart.
love,
your mommy

save time

it occurred to me last night while i was assembling today's dinner in the crockpot that i really had wished someone would of shared with me how  much of a time suck the mundane, daily tasks would be....you know, like how much time mothers actually devote to meal planning & prep, cleaning, appointment making, childcare arranging, clothes shopping (because they grow out of stuff every.single.day), diaper changing, etc., etc.  i spend so much time doing this stuff.  it is insane.  however, i have gotten pretty good at saving time in certain areas so that i can cuddle on the couch with the kiddo or the hubby, work in my art::workroom, or (better yet!) sleep. 
here's what i got for you:
1. just do the dishes.
yes, i know they are sucking your will to live but they will be even more of a bastard in the morning.  clean sink every night makes for a much happier morning.
2. prep dinner the night before.
if it is going to be a crockpot meal, assemble and stick in the fridge the night before.  just set to room temp first thing in the morning and turn on before you are out the door.  if it isn't a crockpot meal, still do your chopping and any assembling the night before.  it will make dinnertime way more enjoyable.
3. put it away...asap
the minute we walk in from school, playdates, or errand running we put away our shoes, coats, bags, whatever.  otherwise, it piles up in the entryway and kitchen table.  and that blocks the sunlight to my soul.
4. 5 minute clean sweep
most nights (unless i am so tired, i want to die) i do a quick run through of the main floor and just pick up.  that way, in the morning, things start out organized....notice, i said start out.
6.  chores are glorious
i recently started a chore chart for mr. h.  and it is awesome.  that dude makes his own bed, puts his dirties in the basket, and picks up toys.  all for $1 a week. if you can get the kids to do it...let them.  i also still have him convinced that vacuuming is fun.  and don't anyone tell him different.
7. break up the list
i used to do all the cleaning in one day.  sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms - in one day.  that was stupid.  i thought i was going to die and spent too much time yelling at the kid and pets.  now one day i do floors.  another dusting and bathrooms. cat litter another day.  it doesn't take that much time and allows me to keep the house semi-clean while hendrix has some sesame street time,
8. avoid the pile up...at all costs
i am guilty of letting the laundry pile up to several loads.  like seven.  that is dumb.  because when i actually on my A-game...we have clothes to wear.  peed through pj's are not the end of the world.  you see where i am going with this.  my friend, anj, once told me she did laundry every day.  she has four kids and i thought she was nutso.  then, i came to my senses.  lady knows what she is talking about.
9. look at the big picture (in advance)
every month i make a list and attach it to my calendar.  the list is for appts that need to be made, sitters that need to be arranged, deadlines for activity sign up, daylight savings time, bills, scheduled mommy time, & hubby appointments.  it is my way of knowing what needs to happen and staying on top of it.
10. plan, plan, plan
i plan our following week's meals and activities (usually) every thursday.  then on sunday i take out meat to thaw, print chore charts, get any outgoing mail(bills) ready, and write it all down on the white board next to my calendar.  that is the most important part...writing it down.  otherwise, nothing happens.
11. take inventory
i am a cheap a$$ so i typically only buy kids clothes at consignment or thrift stores.  however, if you go when kids have really outgrown clothes...you won't find anything. it's how the universe rolls. so, twice a year, i take an inventory of hendrix's clothes (august/march) and make a list of how many pants & shirts i need.  then, i go shopping (by myself!!) to get it all.  i also check the clearance racks at target at the end of seasons to buy for the following year. shoes are the only thing i don't buy in advance or alone.  i have been burned one too many times.  kid has to try them on before i buy.
12. everything has a station
this year has been all about organizing and making a place for everything.  it makes it much easier on everyone if everything is in the same place.  diapers are always in the same place.  the same with the tools, art supplies, coat hooks, shoe catcher, hats & gloves basket, toys in the playroom, and bathroom stuff.  if it is not and you can't find your stuff....that is not my problem.  hendrix had to wait for the snow to melt to find his toy shovel.  when he finally did....he promptly placed on the porch where it belongs.
13. just let it go
the house will live on if it is not cleaned or perfectly organized every day. no one will die if you eat take out once in awhile. if someone shows up unannounced and it looks like a bomb went off...blame it on your housemates. that's what i do.

monday. oy.

no matter what your job is or how much you love said job...it is sometimes hard to avoid a case of the mondays.  and, boy, do i have it bad today.  i am in the process of converting rooms to art::workrooms and walk-in closets.  the entire upstairs is turned upside down.  gathering up gumption is difficult.  laundry is taking over.  disciplining a soon-to-be three year old is a wear out.
but, alas, tomorrow is tuesday.  the laundry is done....just looking for a home. i have a house to convert rooms in.  the three year old is being much kinder today.  in fact, he can make his own bed.

virtual gardening clinic: what's the plan, stan?

it's FRIDAY which means it is virtual gardening clinic day.  today, we are going to talk about the importance of having a plan (and sticking to it) before the planting begins.  winging it in the garden is not a good idea.   things will either not grow, maintenance will be a b*tch, or you will have way too much to harvest.  in short, taking the time to plan will set you up for success and allow you to reap the rewards of your garden.  and make you not want to kill.

1. decide what you want to grow based on your eating habits
we eat at home 5-6 nights a week and 40% our grocery budget is devoted to produce.  during the growing season, we eat very seasonally to cut down on our vegetable buying.  however, some folks are busier than others and only eat at home 3 nights a week. some folks hate all veggies except salad greens and home grown tomatoes.  only grow what you like, want to try, and/or are going to use.  if only like a couple of zucchinis a year, don't grow them...they are big producers and you're going to be veggie bombing your neighbors in the middle of the night. buy them at the market.  they are practically free.  on the other hand, if you love them and have freezer space...you can always shred or chop them up and freeze them.  always choose one variety that expands your horizons.  variety is the spice of life. 

2. what's your commitment style?
decide what kind of garden you want to commit to.  some neighborhoods have strict covenant agreements that do not allow their residents to just dig up a garden.  fencing can be pretty pricey and is necessary to keep critters out.  maybe your yard isn't huge.  or your dog is an asshole and will dig the garden up.  perhaps a lot of the veggies you have chosen to grow are root veggies and would do better in the ground.  whatever your situation is...do a bit of research, or ask us, to decide which type of garden will work best for you.  container gardens are nearly maintenance free and can grow almost anything.  if you would rather go with an "in the ground garden"...go with raised beds.  they allow you to amend your soil, till very deeply, and make maintenance much easier.  deciding now will allow you to work on gathering your garden materials and getting them prepared for planting.  also, knowing what and how much you are going to plant will help you know what type and size of garden you need.

3. timing
once you settle on what to plant, you will need to know when to plant them.  some vegs love cool weather and will fry in the sun. and some need to be planted early to have time to produce.  much like me.  others hate cool weather and will do nothing when it is cold.  much like mike. i kid. kinda.
so here is a basic guide:
cool weather: kale, chard, beets, carrots, radishes, most lettuces, spinach, potatoes, brassicas (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, brussels), peas, turnips, parsnips, asparagus, onions, garlic,  rosemary, thyme, parsley, tarragon, oregano, marjoram, lavender, arugula, kohlrabi
warm weather: beans, tomatoes, eggplant, cukes, pumpkins, squash, melons, corn, dill, basil, cilantro

4. vitals
all seed packets, seed dealer websites, or plant markers will tell you the vitals of the produce you are hoping to grow.  once you know what you want to grow, go to your favorite seed dealer website and read about the veggies.  they will tell you what kind of dirt you need, what type of "producer" it is, sun & water requirements, spacing needs, and how long you will have to wait to eat the goods.  these vitals are pretty dead on, so unless experience tells you differently, follow their directions.

5. location
you are going to need sun, soil, and water to grow your food.  whatever type of garden you have you are going to typically need at least 8 hours of direct sunlight.  you will need to be able to water it easily and efficiently at least 3 times a weeks and up to twice a day. your soil needs to be fertile.  we will talk more about soil at another time. but, in the meantime, you can pick your location now based on where you get the most sun.
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homework:

• take a moment this week to analyze your family's buying, cooking, and eating habits to help you decide what you would like to grow.
• think about how much time you really have or want to devote to growing food
• look around and choose a sunny place

this is an example of a ginormous garden and raised beds.  

next week:
we will talk more in depth about different produce varieties: where they grow best, how long they take to grow, weather they grow best from seed or plant, how much you can expect to harvest, preservation options, and when you can plant them.

giving up + going big

in the spirit of lent, i have given up sugar in the following forms: soda pop, cake, cupcakes, cookies, pies, bars, brownies, muffins, and coffee creamer.  which means i may or may not have cake on hendrix's birthday.  i make a mean chocolate birthday cake.  i also don't want diabetes by the time i am 35. soooooooo....the internal debate continues for the next 40 days.  please hold me accountable.  god knows i can't. ha!
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those of you who were at our wedding got to taste all the tasty food that my friend kadi helped prepare.  without her there would of been no food.  kadi's boyfriend, casey, is facing some serious medical issues right now.  and since the people she and he know are so wonderful...there have been sunday fun day fundraisers all over midtown for the past few sundays.  the next one is this sunday, feb. 26th from 1-8pm at tiger tom's near 72nd & military.  so weather you know casey or kadi, have had the pleasure of eating kadi's food (she is the head chef at tiger tom's, as well), or just really like tiger tom's...please think about having lunch or dinner at TT and going big for casey!!!