Soup & Cornbread Kind of Day!

I found this great recipe for cornbread! It is just SO yummy I had to share it with you! I usually just throw together a Cornkit and call it done, but I decided to try something a little different today. The weather is dreary out and there is a chill in the air. So, I just felt like today was a soup & cornbread kind of day!!

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.

3/4 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 cup flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

pinch of black pepper

1 cup corn ( I used can but you can use fresh or frozen)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar

3 jalapenos seeded, and thinly sliced

oil to coat pan

Preheat oven 400* Place 10 in cast iron skillet in oven. Meanwhile, mix with electric mixer butter and sugar until pale yellow; about 3 min. Beat in eggs 1 at a time till very Incorporated.

In another bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and pepper. Add to the butter mixture and stir with wooden spoon till combined. Fold in corn and cream. Then fold in cheese and jalapenos. Do not over mix batter.

Remove skillet from oven coat with oil. Pour batter into hot skillet and smooth the top with wooden spoon.

Put back into oven and bake until toothpick inserted comes out clean or about 45 min.

Mine turned out so pretty! If you like sweet cornbread you'll really like this recipe!! It's sweet with a kick!! I ate mine in a bowl of Campfire Stew!!

Campfire Stew ( my version!) I just throw stuff in. Start out with ground beef and add canned veggies or veggie leftovers...usually stewed tomatoes, corn, pinto beans, minestrone soup, diced potatoes....you get the idea. I cut up and saute with the meat- onion. bell pepper...whatever I have on hand to spice it up a bit. Served over cornbread it's yummy!!

Nothing says Fall better than a hot crackling pan of cornbread!!!

Mini Cow Crazy!!

Well friends, I did my research and I now have my Farmgirl heart set on getting a Miniature Jersey as my family milk cow!! This is a picture I found of 2 beautiful Mini Jerseys!! They are just like a standard Jersey only smaller. To qualify in the Miniature Jersey Association they can be no taller than 42".

This picture shows how small they really are!! Aren't they SO sweet!! While doing my reading I found that a standard Jersey produces 4-8 gallons of milk a day! Yep, I said A DAY!! Well, that freaked me out a bit! What was I to do with all that milk. But then, in Mary Jane's magazine, I read about her mini Jersey and that they are perfect for a family cow because they produce 1-4 gallons a day! Now, that is more manageable! So I started researching these cows and I found out great information about them. You can go to the American Miniature Jersey Association website to find out more about these cuties if you want to. I haven't found a seller in Texas yet but I'm looking!! I'm really excited about the idea of having our own milk cow!! The pros really do out way the cons. After finding out about the conditions of processed milk and how pasteurization strips the milk of all nutrients turning it into a substance completely different from it's original form, I was sold!! Everything I read about commercialized milk was negative. It made me never want to drink store bought milk again!

I have the space and barn for a cow this size. Having a smaller cow means less feed costs and space to house them. I'm going to be on the look out for dairy equipment at all the antique and thrift markets! There will be butter and cheeses to be made. Not to mention, cream and buttermilk to be separated and kept. I'm SUPER excited about this!! I'm not going out and buying a cow tomorrow, BUT I am set on the idea, and hopefully God willing and providing I will be able to make this a reality for our farm.

This is exactly the same way chickens came onto our farm and they have been awesome!! I'm getting about 5-6 eggs a day! That makes about 3 dozen eggs a week!!

The Blue Ribbon Farmgirls had their first meeting! I know I'm going to LOVE being a part of this great group of women! We are meeting for 1 project a month. October we will make homemade noodles and take a Farmgirl portrait. 1 of the women owns the Wool and Cotton shop, she offers classes as well. I'm not good at sewing so I'm excited to see what I can learn. Every Farmgirl was different but we all had one thing in common...a condition of the heart to be a Farmgirl!!

Fall is in the air and the cotton is blooming! Miles had the Cotton Festival this past weekend. We had So much rain, everything has been just a muddy mess! The kids still rode in the parade in the rain! Maddie rode on the 4-H float. It will be an event to remember...everyone slippin' and slidin' in the mud! AND where was my camera?! If only!! Guess I was too busy trying to stay upright and dry!

I decorated for Fall!! I LOVE FALL!! It is truly my favorite season! The falling away of the old to make new in Spring. The colors of Fall are all my favorite! The smells of pumpkin and spices..yummmm!! Oh and the food!! LOVE the FOOD!! Soups and chili, lots of cornbread, apple pies, pumpkin breads, turkey and dressing!! The list goes on and on! The chill of the air on Halloween night trick or treating with the kids! Lighting the fireplace and drinking hot cocoa!

Can you tell I'm ready for Fall to take off?! However, today is a warm 80* out! AND I'm talking about hot cocoa!! Hahaha! Well, it will be here soon! I hope!

Happy Harvest!!!