Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

With everything else in the garden winding down and drying up, I was surprised to receive the biggest sweet potato I've ever seen   from my friend Joe's garden. It appeared that all the potatoes he planted in the same hill had joined forces to produce one massive  heart shaped  sweet potato. There just wasn't any choice but to   bake it ,slice it and bake a little longer in   a combination of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and topped with marshmallows for all the 'big' kids in the family.

 

 

 

I'm thankful that Joe is so generous with his produce and for the fact that he gardens just down the road in my in-laws old garden spot that has produced a garden of memories for my family down on the dairy  farm.

#AWBU Foodie Farmer

You don't hear too many farmers refer to themselves as a Foodie, but after this year's Foodie Friday event at the Arkansas Women Bloggers Conference located at Ferncliff  Camp outside of Little Rock, I'm thinking I'm a Foodie Farmer.


 If you look up the definition of what a foodie is, you will find a variety of definitions.  I don't fit the definition  of gourmet foodie but I do have a special interest in food and nutrition.  I also  appreciate the special talents of those who can present beautiful, tasteful food. As a dairy farmer, I'm an everyday Farmer  Foodie--working to provide a safe, steady supply of dairy products.

At the end of an afternoon of Foodie workshops that brought new and interesting information about food, nutrition and blogging, our Foodie talents were put to the test.  Seven teams of women competed in presenting a food creation with a variety of fresh  ingredients, no recipe, no knowledge of what skills each woman brought to the team and limited working facilities. Our creations were judged by a respected team of judges that enjoyed watching the madness of our preparation.

 

Our creation was a hot Cuban Slider made with Petit Jean ham and bacon and a unique

 Mango/Pineapple Salsa. It was   awesome tasting but we didn't win the contest! However, I think I can master this at home, if I can remember what the recipe was that happened in just a matter of minutes.
                    

I did learn a lot about creativity, had a lot of fun and met some really talented Arkansas Women Blogger Foodies.

I'm already looking forward to next year's competition!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

During last year's drought, we were praying for rain and  irrigating this Bermuda grass field located close to our dairy barn lagoon.

 

 

I'm thankful for every drop of rain, the perfect amount of sunshine and my family of farmers that enjoy working hard to harvest this  feed for our dairy  cows!

 

Labor Day Dairy Fun

I really can't imagine Labor Day without labor on the dairy farm and   our cows and calves expect it!  It might not make any sense, but you can find fun in labor.

                       If you asked me if I did anything fun on Labor Day, here's what I would say...

          I climbed into the dirty, dusty seat of the old ten-wheel silage truck to sit next to my honey so I could ride while he green chopped a load of feed for the milking cows. Riding in the truck or tractor always reminds me of our many 'dates' spent on a tractor or doing chores.

 One of our daily chores for the last couple of weeks is to 'green chop'  Sudan grass to add to the  cows feed ration.  I'm sure the cows would describe it as high protein, high energy nutritious candy!

 

Even though we weren't racing, it was fun to see Cody pull the chopper up close to the truck to start down the row, blowing the chopped grass into the truck. It's obvious  he gets a lot of joy and fun from  trying to scare his mother with his driving.

 

 

                                            I  admired the crop through the dirty windshield

 

and most of all  felt thankful for a green chop crop that our cows will enjoy!

After last year's drought and no crop...labor is a good thing.

 

 

 

 

September's Transition Down on the Dairy

Down on the dairy farm, September holds a lot of promise in the midst of this month of  transition...

 

 

 

Chester, my faithful friend,  is looking forward to cooler days,

 

 

the roses will be showing off  in their late summer glory,

 

and new babies will celebrate birthdays.

 It's these new babies that represent the beginning of high-quality milk from down on the dairy farm.

 

 

Happy September!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

Last week I was presented with a plaque from  Benton County Farm Bureau for my volunteer service as the Chairwoman of the Benton County Farm Bureau  Women's Committee. I've been blessed to work with the greatest volunteers, who I call my friends,  and with  the support and help of my family. I'm thankful for the opportunity I have had to help educate others about agriculture in a variety of activities!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to School Breakfast

A protein packed dairy and egg  Back to School breakfast is a winning combination for any student or  hard working parent. I'm thinking even an old dairy farmer might enjoy this recipe!

Egg and Cheese Waffle Sandwich

Ingredients:

2 frozen round waffles (4 inch)
1 egg, beaten
1 slice co-Jack or American cheese

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Generously coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Place waffles on baking sheet.

Spoon egg over waffles, spreading to fill cavities. Bake in 400 degree oven until egg is set and waffles are crisp, 10-12 minutes.

Top one waffle with cheese. Cover with remaining waffle and press together. Let stand 1 minute to allow cheese to melt.

Helpful hint: For more servings, multiply ingredients by the number of sandwiches desired. Use a second baking sheet if needed.

You can find more Back to School recipes at Incredible Egg or Dairy Makes Sense.