Brine Your Own Corned Beef

Here is the start of St. Paddy's Day Dinner! Cooking the brine for the brisket. Start with ONE and a HALF Gallons of water, aka

6 Quarts of Water (I use wide mouth canning jar to measure)

1 1/2 Cups Salt

3 Cups Brown Sugar

1 Cup Pickling Spice

4 Whole Star Anise

2 Whole Cinnamon Sticks

8 Whole Cloves

1 Cup of beet juice (I used pickled beet juice!) It adds color and subtle flavor

15 Black Pepper Corns IF the pickling spice you use doesn't have any.

Bring ingredients to a boil and stir for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Add:
2 Quarts Cool Water

Stir

Let brine cool to room temperature.

You can cut this recipe in half if using one piece of meat. This is enough for three Ziplock bags and meat.
Once brine is cooled, put brisket, a roast, a large flat steak, even London Broil cut of meat into a gallon sized Ziplock bag. Using a cup with a pour spout, pour brine into bag with meat. Cover the meat completely. Mostly seal the Ziplock bag, then slowly force air out of bag. Finish sealing bag. Put meat in brine in a bowl or casserole dish and place in refrigerator for 2-4 days. Turn bags over to be sure meat is fully submerged in brine each day.

Baby Chicks are Here!

Our newest batch of baby chicks have arrived! There are forty-two little nubbins and peepers. These little fluff balls are part of the Araucana count.

 
There are eighteen New Hampshire Reds. They were popularized in the 1930's as a dual purpose bird. They are known to be fast growing, on the large side, and they are also great layers.

 
The New Hampshire Reds were surprisingly different from the Rhode Islands that we got last year. Surprising because they have a similar lineage. These little peeps are just three days old.

 
They need plenty of fresh water which means about three changes a day, warmth from a heat lamp, and plenty of food to eat at will!


This batch is a combination of Araucanas and Silver Laced Winged Wyandottes. The Araucanas lay the beautiful green or blue or turquoise or even pink eggs. All of the others will lay a shade of brown; some lighter and some darker than the others.

Brand new baby chicks have a soft, peep, peep, peep song when heat,food,and water are just right...kinda sounds like all of us, huh?!

Farm Life

Southern Oregon weather has invited us outside in the first weeks of March without heavy coats and hats. We are celebrating spring is just around the corner and there are many, many jobs to do. Join us right now for a little fun on the farm!

~ Evelyn Rose ~

Welcome, precious Evelyn Rose! She was born at 12:20 am on this first day of February! Our Littlest Valentine, born in Alaska to the loving arms of Mama, Daddy, and sister Ada, weighs 7 pounds 10 ounces and she will be called Evey! We can't wait to go to the Last Frontier to hold and love the newest little bundle of joy! We love you Karyn, Zac Ada, and Evey! ~

Winter Glow

We get a lot of low lying fog in the winter in Southern Oregon. We just finished a stint of two weeks of heavy fog and freezing fog. On those days, there is no blue sky or stars at night. When the fog breaks and lifts, the colors of the winter sky are so striking and beautiful, and the mountains seem to rise taller and closer. The sun is setting at about 5:00 PM at this time of year. The sun is low in the sky all day long and the light blue and peach colored glow looks like candle light at the end of the day. On winter evenings, a little Irish Jam Cakes hits the spot! Here's to warm and cozy evenings and remembering the stars are always there, even when we can't see them!~