Monday, September 17, 2012

Harvey Warrick's Lincolns

Every now and again, something so wonderful happens in my life, that I feel I should pinch myself to make sure that I am not dreaming.  Just such a thing has happened yesterday.  These lovely sheep walked off of the trailer and onto my farm:


They are the core of Harvey Warrick's white Lincoln flock, which just arrived here at North Valley Farm in Yamhill, OR from Adrian, MI courtesy of Doug Montgomery of Bideawee Farm over in Newberg.  They are absolutely beautiful, every last one of them, and their fleeces are divine.  And so begins another chapter in my quest to put together a Lincoln breeding program that is commercially viable using these tough and intelligent sheep that have roots going back to the Roman invasion of England.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Dinner a la Romanesco

Every once in a while, I get a bee in my bonnet and I'll get busy in the kitchen.  This time of year, the Romanesco broccoli makes its appearance.  It's quite dramatic, with bright green spires and twists here and there.  It is considered an heirloom vegetable and is classified as a form of cauliflower.  Here is the gigantic head we picked up at the grocery store today:
I use it in a recipe for broccoli and potato soup.  First I brown some yellow onions and then add the Romanesco florets.  After about 5 minutes, the peeled and chopped potatoes are added, as is some beef broth.  One cooks the soup just long enough that the potato becomes soft and starts to fall apart.  Serve with freshly grated pecorino, plenty of pepper and some shredded basil leaves - yummo!




Saturday, September 8, 2012

Petunia the Pig

Every farmer that I know has a pet here or there, stashed somewhere in the barnyard.  A creature that we hold near and dear to our heart.  Petunia the pig is just such an animal for me.  She is smart, opinionated and curvaceous.  Many of us know that pigs are smart - I would guess that Petunia is smarter than 4 of my 5 dogs, the Border Collie being the exception.  But did you know that pigs talk quite a bit?  They are very vocal and it's easy to tell whether Petunia is excited (loud grunts and squeals), upset (shrill squealing) or happy (quiet grunts.)  Here Petunia is telling me that it is time for a tummy rub:
She loves her tummy rubs!  The only thing that will divert Petunia from a massage is the promise of food, because being a pig, she needs to maintain her streamlined figure.  My pig also has lovely dark brown eyes and the best snout in the barnyard.