Homemade Mayo

We stock up on mayo when it's BOGO at our local market.

Big K likes the jarred stuff.

Mimi used to make the homemade version

when we were kids.

I thought I'd give it a go,

since we had all these free-range eggs.

This is a great recipe to have in the family recipe file.

The taste is so different than what you find in the store.

It would be great added to sandwiches, pasta or potato salad,

or used as a tarter sauce substitute with fish.

Homemade Mayo

(Mother Earth News)

1 egg yolk

pinch kosher salt

3/4 C olive oil

3 t lemon juice or cider vinegar

1/4 t Dijon mustard

garlic or herbs to taste

Add all ingredients (except oil) to food processor bowl.

Start the machine while dripping olive oil

1 drop at a time at first.

As emulsion forms,

oil can be added in a slow stream.

Adjust seasonings (I added a bit more salt).

Keep refrigerated up to 1 week.

Enjoy!

Chicken Coops

After our meeting with Colleen,
where we purchased farm fresh eggs,
I started researching more about housing chickens.
Check out these examples of chicks livin' large!

 

You can find out more about a local company
who makes hen houses by hand. 
Read  more here.

If you'd rather build your own,
you can find information here.

Wordless Wednesday-Moon at Sunrise

Tuesday Tidings-A Family Ride

We haven't been able to do much bike riding as a family

in the last year due to other obligations.

We decided to pay another visit to one of our favorite

state parks-

Highland Hammocks in Sebring, FL.

Ready for a tour?

Walking trails are a great detour for stretching your legs.

The cypress knees spotted the forest floor.

We marveled at the height of the tree canopy.

With an abundance of shade,

it's no wonder there is lovely moss growing,

even right on the paved roads.

This is the same shrub that we found growing in our yard.

It has dark leaves and pink blooms.

Must be a native.

There was a lot of standing water this time.

We'd never seen these puddle-loving purple blooms before.



It's not easy to see here,

but there was a spider web stretched from the tree

on the farthest left to the farthest right.

(Sorry, I don't know how to add arrows.)

Wow, that was some work!

I think it'll have food stocked up for quite a while.

This is one of the buildings built by the CCC

long ago.

We managed to find some critters on our adventure,

or maybe they found us...

Lil' Guy spotted this beauty as we entered the park.

This sweet thing came to pay us a visit

as we sat down to eat.

He's spied our picnic spot!

Little stinker wanted some of our lunch.

It sure felt good to be out there!

Hopefully, we'll get to do this a lot more often.

Have a wonderful day, y'all!

Parmesan Crackers

Since discovering that most aged cheeses contain

no sugar and therefore,

no lactose,

I've been enjoying eating my share of cheddar and parmesan.

This recipe is adapted from Ina Garten's series

The Barefoot Contessa "Back to Basics".

It's the perfect cracker for a picnic, just snacking

or bringing along in the car.

Cream 1 stick of unsalted butter.

Grate 1 C Parmesan cheese.

Combine with 1 t thyme

(I used Italian herbs)

1/4 t pepper and 1/4 t salt.

Stir to combine.

Add 1 1/4 C flour and form into a disc.

If it seems too dry, add 1 t water.

Roll in wax paper or plastic wrap until you get a 9" log.

Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Cut into 1/2" slices and place on

parchment-covered cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 22 minutes.

That is one good cracker.

Enjoy!