Sweet August

I can't think of a better way to end July and welcome  August than with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a delicious piece of White Texas Sheet Cake.  This Taste of Home magazine recipe has been in my recipe collection file since 1993 but today was my first time to bake and serve it to my family.  It was easy to make and  a perfect Sunday dessert to serve the family!

White Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs,beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar,sifted
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional


Directions:

In a large saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil. Remove from the heat; stir in flour,sugar,eggs, sour cream, almond extract, salt and baking soda until smooth. Pour into a greased 15-in x 10-in. baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until cake is golden and tests done. Cool for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, for frosting, combine butter and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat; add sugar and extract and mix well. Stir in walnuts if desired; spread over warm cake.

Yield: 16-20 servings

                                                               Happy August!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

When you look at our tall corn crop and the green pastures,

 it's hard to believe August is just around the corner. 

I'm thankful for the blessing of rain we have received in July 

for our crop  fields and pastures

and

for our crop of sunflowers.

down on the dairy farm.

Moon Moos

We talk about the stars aligning just right, but it was the full moon

 that caught my eye rising directly  above  the milk barn. 

 The cows didn't seem impressed as they were leaving the barn after being

 milked for the second time today.   I'm sure they were anxious to get to  the

 feed barn for a snack and a drink of water before bedtime in the pasture.

                                       It was an end to an  ordinary day but a simple reminder
                                           of how extraordinary  God is if  we just look up!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It's never too hot in the garden when you are thinking about

 eating corn on the cob  with a lot of sweet butter!

I'm thankful that the corn is picked and in the freezer!

Ice Cream Month

We enjoy ice cream all year at my house but homemade ice cream is our special summer time treat down on the dairy farm. A bowl of homemade ice cream kicks off   every  July 4th celebration.

If you're a serious ice cream eater, you will  enjoy Candy Bar Ice Cream from the Sassafras Cookbook by  the Junior League of Springfield, Missouri.  It's a fact,there is no bad ice cream! 

Candy Bar Ice Cream

6  2.16-ounce Butterfinger candy bars,frozen

1  3-ounce package vanilla instant pudding mix

1  14 ounce cans sweetened condensed milk

1   tablespoon vanilla

1/2 gallon milk

Crush frozen candy bars into very coarse crumbs. Combine crushed candy bars, pudding mix,condensed milk and vanilla in an ice cream freezer. Add milk to within 1 inch of fill line. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Makes 3 quarts.

Here's the scoop on  ways to celebrate Ice Cream Month:

• Enough Ice Cream? by Farmer Bright
• Mint Chocolate Ice Cream by Kimmi’s Dairyland
• Why this Ice Cream Addict has a New Addiction: Ice Cream Sandwiches by New Mexico Milkmaid
• Sprinklers, Fans and Ice Cream in the Barn Modern-day Farm Chick
• Here’s the Scoop on My 5 Favorite Ice Cream Recipes by Eat Farm Love
• Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal a la Mode by New Day Dairy
• Gimme the Jimmies by The Deere Milkmaid
• Ice Cream Month by Spotted Cow Blog
• Oregon Ice Cream by Guernsey Dairy Mama
• In Celebration of Ice Cream by New Moon Farms
• Sadie’s Homemade Ice Cream by Dairy Good Life
• The Best Ice Cream Stand by Raising a Farmer

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the things we enjoy everyday down on the dairy farm such as

faithful farm dogs,

wild Egyptian geese that love our farm habitat,

and

curious cows that are always looking for 

green grass on the other side of the fence.

Dairy Tall Tale

It's not a tall tale,  but it's the tale of how tall  corn can grow on an

Arkansas dairy farm when you have the right nutrients and

 almost perfect weather conditions. 

Can you see the dairy farmer's smile?

Our cows produced the manure that we applied to the field prior 

to planting this spring.

 Manure, also known to us as a nutrient,  improves the soil by increasing 

the organic matter,adds nutrients for plant growth and increases the water 

holding capacity of the soil. The amount,source,placement 

and timing of manure on fields for crops that we raise

 is part of our farm's nutrient management plan.  

 By following the plan,

we are  protecting the environment and improving the land.

Our tall tale is also a perfect tale of  sustainability.

At the end of this tale, when eating corn silage this fall,

 our dairy  cows will be so happy!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

As the weathermen or weather-women were consoling us  about a rainy

 4th of July holiday weekend, the dairy farmers were smiling. 

It's not that we wanted to ruin any one's plans but a rain any 

day in July is a gift down on the dairy farm! 

I'm thankful for the 3 inch rain that watered the garden

and

 the corn crop that our dairy cows will enjoy this winter.

Dairy Family Tradition

Our July 4th celebration begins like every day down on the dairy farm...

with our dairy cows. 

We will be feeding calves and cows 

 and milking long before the fireworks begin.

Our  family  holiday fun  and  our family tradition begins  

  when we retreat to our July 4th picnic spot after all the chores are done.

 It's where 4 generations of farmers  have enjoyed picnic

 suppers  together, paddling across the pond to throw a fishing line 

and  setting off a sack full of fireworks.

       

We're adding a few more fireworks to our celebration 

to welcome Hattie Claire into the family tradition!

Happy July 4th!