Whiteley Creek Homestead

pit fired bowl filled with porridge

Oh gosh. Could one person be capable of this degree of happiness? Today. It is so. I received a long-awaited parcel. Truthfully, the wait hasn't been long considering its journey. Shipped from Australia 14th December 2021. Arrived central Minnesota USA 1st January 2022. Yenara, who is the potter at YenCeramics, carefully wrapped each item to assure safe arrival, tying each parcel so prettily with string, and kindly included a postcard photo of herself...and her hands. Lovingly encircling tiny bowls. One of which I purchased to hold my used teabag, after steeping tea to drink from the black and white "dimple cup," which is the third item in my shipment. Its style invites one to encircle the cup with both hands to feel the beverage's warmth inside. Yen's listing describes it as a "hug mug." 

On her Etsy shop, Yen explained that "a pit fire of timber shavings, bark, leaves, coffee grounds and other organic materials from the property where which the studio is situated creates stunning markings across pieces." My bowl's beautiful random patterns, rugged edges, and warm earthy tones begged to be a vessel for hearty porridge. I decided upon Pompanoosuc Porridge, which I first tasted for breakfast at the beautifully rustic cafe at King Arthur Flour Headquarters in Norwich, Vermont the morning after taking a bread baking class there with my granddaughter. It is a blend of steel cut oats (or Scottish oats which are quite finely ground versus cut), whole wheat bulgur, and flax seeds. But. My porridge morphed. Into a mix of steel cut oats, red bulgur wheat, millet, pearled farro, amaranth, and wild rice...1/2 dry cup each. And lots of water for cooking to softness. Leftovers for many breakfasts. Hulled buckwheat, quinoa, and teff would be perfect additions, too. 

Then there are the toppings, which I selected for their earthy tones. Dried white mulberries, figs, Montmorency cherries and pistachios for their hand-painted colors. A diced apple, Milk. A drizzle of maple syrup. In my bowl, created far away in Australia. Because of the hands that gently formed it, I may nourish my body and soul. Be it porridge or soup. 

jane kinderlehrer

In the 1930s, J. I. Rodale started the first organic farm in the U.S. then founded Rodale Press Publishing Company as a vehicle to share his organic farming methods. Since the 1970s, I have had a subscription to Organic Gardening and also Prevention Magazine which are both published by Rodale Press. Jane Kinderlehrer held the position of Rodale Press senior editor then Prevention Magazine's food editor. However, her name would not become permanently embedded into my soul until I purchased two of her cookbooks titled Smart Cookies (copyright 1985) and Smart Muffins (copyright 1987). 

The first recipe that I chose to make was Hearty Pear and Pecan Muffins. It has remained a favorite never-fail go-to over the years. My granddaughter O and I together made the muffins when she was a couple years old. (As a time passage frame of reference, she will begin her high school senior year at September's beginning...in the UK as a study abroad student.) One of my favorite framed collages is of Jane proudly smiling in my granddaughter O's direction as she scoops the pear muffin batter into a pan. She is/was a vocal proponent of encouraging a deeply rooted healthy eating foundation in children that would carry over into adulthood.

Over the years, I have collected all of Jane's cookbooks published from 1971 (Confessions of a Sneaky Cook) through 2002 (The Smart Baking Cookbook: Muffins, Cookies, Biscuits and Breads). One of the books titled The Antioxidant Save-Your-Life Cookbook is coauthored by her son Daniel A. Kinderlehrer, M.D. who is an "internist and expert in diet, nutrition, and holistic medicine." I have decided to more intently and purposefully traverse this book collection to glean knowledge and build my tried and true nutritional powerhouse recipes from those held within the books' pages. In doing so, I will honor the life of Jane Kinderlehrer and her dedication to promoting wellness.

coiled wire treetop star

I had a coil of wire. Like a Slinky but not. For years, there it was. Housed in a small box alongside my tool box. I knew not its intended purpose nor what I might do with it one day. Until this year's Christmas. I was sure that a star atop our tree felt right. But not just any star. It must be one befitting of a King who was to be born into this world within a setting absent of grandeur and fanfare. The star would represent our Saviour's humble beginnings and sit in a place of honor upon the most coveted uppermost branches. It was a search for inspiration that led me to FOOD52's online shop. There, you will find a beautiful hand-crafted wire star tree topper that I patterned mine after. We cannot create everything. This may be one of those times that you allow someone else to make it for you and feel the joy when it arrives on your doorstep ready to hang upon your tree. When I checked today, the original price was $32.00 and now on sale for $25.60. But, if you so desire to construct your own, this is how I made my star.

First, determine the star's desired dimensions, then draw the shape onto a piece of paper. Next, lay yarn around the star's perimeter to calculate the length of wire to straighten at one end of the coil .

Tape the star onto a board scrap then pound a nail into each corner of the star. Begin wrapping wire around the nail at the star's lower center. Working your way around the star, continue wrapping around each nail until your journey brings you back to where it all began. Secure with a simple twist. Rather than utilizing a frame, you can free-form your star, too. However, the simple and rapid frame construction makes winding the wire a breeze. Remove the star shape from its frame and hang upon the tree. Adjust the coils so they rest comfortably one upon the next. Sweet.

monoprinting

Yesterday, I took a monoprinting class at The Crossing Arts Alliance in downtown Brainerd (Minnesota). "Monoprinting is a form of printmaking that has lines or images that can only be made once, unlike most printmaking, which allows for multiple originals." To print shapes, words, lines, etc on paper, the instructor provided a wide variety of materials to spawn creativity like purchased and handcut stencils as well as items commonly found around the house such as bubble wrap, string, cheesecloth, non-slip shelf-liner, wooden skewers, lace, etc, etc.

This is how we did it: 1) With a brayer, roll desired color(s) of paint onto GEL Press printing plate. 2) Over the paint, lay down item(s) selected to produce a pattern (i.e., stencil, string) 3) Set printer copy paper atop. Press and smooth your hand (or use a tool for burnishing paper) across paper's surface. 4) Slowly remove paper. *If you want to create a layered effect, repeat steps with a different paint color and stencil but use the same paper. Note: Although monoprinting technically means one print, if you press a second and sometimes third piece of paper onto the gel printing press, you can get a lighter print. Or, you can create a "ghost" print by removing the stencil and pressing down a piece of paper.

During independent work time, we made a variety of patterned prints then chose ones to create a collage. Upon spreading out the prints on my work table, three different papers stood out instantly. In my mind's eye, they immediately formed a contrasting bond...a cityscape, a barn and silo, and a field. My collage is not yet finished, as I will mount the prints on watercolor paper then coat them with matte or gloss medium (i.e. Golden brand or Mod Podge), and/or secure them behind framed glass, or make copies to create greeting cards. In addition, I may paint the watercolor paper background, add ink pen drawings  or writing to my collage, or add another stencil layer, but the photo I am sharing is what I finished in class. For the collage on the left, I created the chunky "buildings" in my cityscape by rolling paint across the gel press with the brayer but I didn't entirely cover it. I pressed down a sheet of paper on top of the painted gel press, then removed and allowed it to dry. Meanwhile, you can wash the gel press to remove its paint or, instead, I rolled a second color directly over top of the previous paint. After coating it with the different color, I set a grid-pattern stencil down, pressed the previous paper over top, then removed to dry. For the print on the right, I used two metal stencils. I placed the word "now" underneath what I envisioned to be an old building in a city's warehouse district. You know, the industrial buildings that are being renovated into apartment buildings, restaurants, and shops across the country. The former grandeur and strength of what I see NOW as a "crumbling building" can be seen. That's the intrigue of the monoprinting process. Going in, the end result is uncertain.

bird in nest paper craft easter basket

Looking for a a sweet spring craft that can be easily transitioned into an Easter basket? For bird assembly, I extend grateful thanks to the creator of an instructional video titled "Paper Crafts for Kids - How to Make Paper Bird (Very Easy)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n64xhcD_wg 

To add my own spin, I created a simple nest for it to rest upon and to optionally provide a pocket for use as an Easter basket. I attached my bird to a half paper plate for sturdiness and to provide a surface on which to staple the nest's paper folds.

First, I created patterns for the bird's body, wings, beak, and tail feathers by folding paper and drawing desired shapes and sizes then cut the shapes from construction paper. Next, I glued all bird pieces together except the front wing which allows you to reach under it with a stapler to secure all layers of the bird to paper plate. Finally, glue the front wing to bird's body to conceal the staple. 

Lastly, I used brown packaging paper that was wrapped around items in my Vitacost order to fashion a nest by stapling it around the edge of the paper plate.

If using for an Easter basket, I found authentic-looking bird eggs at Target. Lindt Mini Eggs Solid Milk Chocolate Eggs with a Crisp Candy Shell. After Easter, set out empty-nested bird for lovely spring decor.

rabbit home

A rabbit has become a regular visitor at our front door where it nibbles on tender young shoots of Dwarf Korean Lilac.

Upon following tracks across our front porch, it is evident that the rabbit's visitor status has transitioned to permanent resident.

Underneath a weatherproof tarp, straw is mounded along a wall of our exterior basement entry for insulation against the cold of winter. What a cozy winter home our rabbit has found!

dry soup beans

In my childhood, we watched Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and Bonanza on a black-and-white vacuum tube television...when it was working.

On cold winter evenings, my family would cluster in our small living room to watch T.V. while shelling dry soup beans that we had grown and harvested from our large garden plot. Recently, our youngest daughter, Jessie, came for a visit. To shell beans from my garden and experience a memory from my lifetime so long ago. It was a tender moment in time.

Sitting upon a shelf in my pantry, is a small jar of beans... shelled from pods growing on vines planted many years ago on my parents' farm when they were a thriving, viable source of nourishment for a family of twelve children. 

 

deer cohabitation

Three deer regularly visit our front yard to eat from a flowering crab tree heavily-laden with cherry-sized apples that determinedly cling to their branches despite winter's grip. Frustratingly, the deer believe that my perennials, shrubs, and young tree branches are free game, too. So, determined to retrain our visitors, Dick and I set some beyond-their-prime apples upon a chair along a pathway where we often sit. Far away from our house and the landscaping surrounding it.

After checking twice each day, our efforts proved fruitful. On the third day, it was evident that the deer had conferred and agreed to each leave a snack for later, as there were but three apples remaining. Going forward, have we seen nary one deer in our yard? Did our kindness have a boomerang effect? I would like to report that our deer have not returned. But such would be a tale. One that gives hope to countless others. When hope is something I cannot give. Our experiment produced healthier deer. Nothing more. Their willingness to be retrained is hopelessly nonexistent.

instant pot bone broth instructions

Supplies are gathered. Freezer is stocked with collagen-rich bones. Here's what to do with them.

Instant Pot Bone Broth Instructions

Place bones in pot. Add vegetables, herbs, egg shells, and peppercorns. Mix vinegar with water and then pour over the ingredients in pot being careful not to spill any water in chamber under pot.

Check to be sure that lid’s sealing ring is secure. Lock the lid onto Instant Pot and set the steam release valve to “sealing” position.

Press the “soup” button, then set for *low pressure/normal mode by tapping the “pressure” button to reset to low pressure, and then tap the “adjust” button to reset to normal mode. Set time to 180 minutes by pressing the + or – button. It will take approximately 30 minutes for Instant Pot to come to full pressure at which time the red float valve will push upward to indicate that the lid is sealed and the timer will begin to count down. Note: Programs and buttons vary depending upon the Instant Pot model. *Some instructions state to cook at high pressure for 120 minutes. When the timer reaches 0, the pot will beep. Press “cancel” and allow the pressure to release naturally which will take approximately 30 minutes. If you get busy and don’t hear the beep to press cancel, the pot will go into “keep warm” mode and automatically begin depressurizing. Do not attempt to remove the lid until the red float valve drops downward to indicate it is safe to remove lid.

Strain the broth into a two-quart canning jar. In addition, I often have enough broth to fill a peanut butter jar. If using the bones to make a second batch to which you'll add fresh veggies and a few additional new bones, scoop out vegetables first. I toss the veggies into my garden compost and place the bones, if reusing, into a container to store in fridge.

Place strained broth in fridge overnight. After it has gelled, skim off the solidified layer of fat that forms on top. (Beef bones produce a greater amount and more solidified fat layer than chicken bones.) Discard, or use to grease pans for adding amazing flavor to fried foods.

Keep a record of what combination of bones worked well so that it can be repeated.

 

homemade bone broth supplies

If your bone broth is thickly-gelled like Jell-O, and even thicker yet so it doesn't even jiggle, you will know that you have perfected the process. It requires the correct amount of...

• Collagen-rich bones
• Water and vinegar
• Cooking time

"Animal bones, tendons, ligaments, and other flexible connective tissues in the body contain a protein called collagen. Collagen is the main (and most abundant) structural protein in the human body." Source: Kettle and Fire Bone Broth The animal parts that are used to make bone broth are the same ones that tend to break down in our body as we age (bone marrow and cartilage).

Here's what you'll need:

Bone Broth Ingredients and Utensils

For Cooking Down Bones to release their collagen, there are 3 choices:

• Pressure Cooker
• Stove Top
• Crock Pot

My preference is a pressure cooker because, with the other two methods, additional water must be added to replace what is lost through evaporation. Therefore, flavor and collagen concentration is reduced. (I own an Instant Pot 8-quart IP-DUO8O Model).

For Bones: In our central Minnesota locale, SuperOne Foods has a good selection.

• Turkey and chicken: necks, backs, wings, the carcass after roasting a whole bird (for a turkey, portion into two parts and freeze half for later), chicken drumsticks (Costco family-pack sells for $0.79/lb or watch for sales at regular grocery stores), and chicken feet (Walmart sells 9 per Styrofoam tray).
• Beef: Knuckles, femurs, neck bones, and oxtail (sometimes labeled "beef tail").

Note: You will portion out the drumsticks into quart freezer bags w/ 4 per bag, then place those bags into a gallon freezer bag so that you can locate them more readily in the freezer. Likewise, portion the chicken feet into quart bags w/ 5 per bag, then tuck any stragglers leftover at end into the bags which will make 6 in a few bags rather than 5. Place each bag into a gallon freezer bag as you did with the drumsticks.

For Veggies:

• Celery
• Carrots
• Onion
• Garlic Bulb w/ individual cloves to break off

For Seasoning:

• Dried or fresh parsley
• Dried or fresh rosemary sprigs (adds amazing flavor- fresh if possible)
• Whole peppercorns

For Cooking Water:

• Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar with the 'mother' to help draw collagen from the bones.

 For Straining:

• Stainless steel wide-mouth funnel w/ handle (Suggested: Norpro Stainless Steel Funnel with Handle for Regular and Wide Mouth Jars available on Amazon)
• Large mesh strainer to set inside funnel (a. not double-mesh, as it clogs too easily and b. It's advantageous for it to be taller than the funnel, as it holds more solids to expedite the straining process)
• Long-handled soup ladle
• Two-quart (8-cup) glass batter bowl with a lid and measurement markings to mix vinegar with water and store bones in fridge if using them to make a second batch of broth
• One two-quart wide-mouth canning jar with lid
• One peanut or almond butter jar w/ lid

For Weighing Bones:

• Digital scale (Use the “weight converter” on https://www.coolconversion.com to convert ounces to pounds.)

For Record-Keeping:

• Notebook to keep track of type of bones, weight, and combinations that worked well so it can be repeated.

 

Homemade Almond Milk

Making almond milk in your own kitchen is simply...simple. Soak. Strain. Squeeze.

Homemade Almond Milk

1) At bedtime, put 1 cup raw almonds in a quart canning jar. Cover with enough warm water (not city water treated with chlorine) to allow for nuts to plump. Add 1 tsp sea salt. "Salt in soaking water activates enzymes that neutralize enzyme inhibitors making the nuts easier to digest and their nutrients more readily available." Fallon, Sally. Nourishing Traditions. Washington, DC: NewTrends Publishing, 2001. 512. Also, soaking makes nuts easier to pulverize.

2) After soaking 8-12 hours, drain almonds and rinse well.

3) Fill blender container with 4 cups water. Add soaked almonds. Blend until creamy. 

4) Pour liquid through a nut milk bag, cheesecloth, or a square of unbleached 100% cotton unbleached *Osnaburg Fabric. When milk flow slows down, draw together the sides of the fabric, then squeeze to extract remaining milk. If desired, save the pulp to use in recipes. (1 cup almonds produces 1/2 cup packed, or 1 cup loosely scooped, moist almond pulp.)

5) Pour milk back into blender container and add 1/4 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp almond extract and 2-3 dates. (If dates are dry, presoak in a little warm water to soften.) Although I haven't tried this, to make a richer, creamier "homogenized" milk, add 1 tsp -1 tbsp sunflower lecithin. Lecithin is a fat emulsifier that keeps fats (in the nuts) and liquids (water) from separating.

Note: I order truly raw, unpasteurized Italian Organic Almonds and Medjool Dates from Food to Live.

*Oznaburg is typically used for cross stitch and embroidery and is sold on a bolt at Joann Fabric & Crafts. I like it because the weave is larger but still tight enough so that almond pulp particles aren't allowed to eek thru the milk, and it allows the liquid to pass thru more rapidly than closely-woven fabric. After selecting a receptacle to use for straining the milk into, measure its diameter, then add on extra for overhang so that you have ample width to draw up the sides of the fabric to form a pouch that you can grasp and twist to squeeze out any remaining liquid from the pulp. The dimension of Oznaburg that I use to create a fabric strainer over my largest vintage Pyrex mixing bowl is 18" x 18". So, 1/2 yard of 45" natural, unbleached Oznaburg will provide you with two squares.

 

house front lighting

Even though the landscape is stripped of leaves and blossoms, winter is by no means drab. However, the soft glow of strategically-placed lights add a welcoming touch.

Although summer's outdoor furniture has been stored away, a spiral lighted tree threesome and a 10-bulb set of Smith & Hawken drop string lights, hung from our front porch roof, provide a cozy glow at nightfall. The lights were a thoughtful gift from our daughter, Heather. 

snow-covered landscape

Although a light covering of snow blanketed the ground for Christmas Day, it wasn't until two days later that our first heavy snow of the season provided the beauty that we anxiously anticipate each winter. The kind that hangs heavy on trees and shrub branches and isn't whisked away by the wind for days.

The tendency, during autumn cleanup, is to cut perennials back in preparation for spring regrowth. However, I choose to leave the stems and dried heads intact to provide texture and form to the landscape rather than a barren tundra. The dried blossoms catch and hold the snow forming fluffy tufts that are reminiscent of peony blooms. There will be time in early spring for trimming old growth.

Throughout the winter, I continue to add fruit and veggie scraps to my two compost tumblers. Even though their frozen state prevents decomposition, in the first warm days of spring, the process begins anew. Nothing is wasted and so much to be gained in the rich, black soil that is created. 

honey almond brittle and healthy mexican wedding cookies

Christmas goodies, more often than not, are mega loaded with sugar and fat. However, a quick online search confirmed that, by subbing healthier ingredients and using substantially less sweetener, we can still enjoy an equally satisfying treat. While I heated honey and chopped nuts to make Honey Almond Brittle, my daughter, Jessie, made Vanessa Brady's vegan, raw, grain-free Healthy Mexican Wedding Cookies (aka Russian Teacakes) posted on her blog, Tried and True, by mixing ingredients in a food processor. Both keepers. Note: I neglected to record where I discovered the brittle recipe, but, when I rediscover it, I will give credit to its source.

Honey Almond Brittle

1 cup honey

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)

4 tablespoons of butter

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped nuts (of your choice – any type can be used)

Pour honey into a heavy saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat until it reaches 275 degrees F on a candy thermometer. This will take several minutes, up to 30 if you are using low heat. You can also use the cold water test to ensure you’ve reached soft crack stage.

While the honey is simmering, spread the nuts over a cookie sheet and toast in a 350 degree F oven for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven, sprinkle with salt and set aside.

Once soft crack stage is reached, keep the candy mixture over the heat source and stir in butter, vanilla (if desired), toasted nuts and any further additions you wish to add to your candy. Cook for one additional minute, remove from heat and spread over a parchment lined baking sheet.

Place in freezer for around 30 minutes to cool. Break into pieces and store in the freezer in single layers between parchment paper. Keep frozen until ready to eat since the candy turns soft at room temperature.

 

autumn into winter preparation

Each autumn, there is winter prep to be done. That is just the way it is in the Minnesota climate. Some tasks are of the proactive type to prevent water pipes and septic systems from freezing and to maintain a source of warmth throughout the house. Other winter prep tasks make spring's arrival so much easier when there is much to be done.

Cleaning my potting shed was one such task. I began by sorting items into categories so that I could better realize the scope of clutter. Next, after eliminating broken, unusable items, I set aside what I decided was a reasonable number of duplicate items to keep, then I discarded the remainder by recycling, repurposing, donating, or placing in the garbage. What remained was easily organized in my potting shed and will make finding seed starting and seedling repotting supplies a breeze. 

The season's harvest has been gathered and the garden space tidied. Tarps, secured with bungees to prevent the brisk north winds from whisking them away, are draped over the greenhouse. Animals in the surrounding woods know, too, that winter will soon arrive, so they are, likewise, scurrying to store up food...some of which came from my garden, finding new homes, or cleaning and insulating their old ones. It is now time for the land to rest.