How My Morning Went and A Cool New Resource

This morning I came across a great chicken resource I perused while I drank my morning coffee snuggled up with my four- year- old little man. A great start to beautiful spring morning, right? Once my coffee was all gone, I put on my boots to start some morning chores. What I found in my boots should have been a clue that this morning wasn't going to be without its excitement. My nice warm feet were welcomed by a cold wet puddle that my preschooler had lovingly dumped in my boots the night before.  I just moved on with Lake Superior around my toes and let out the flock of layers that were gifted to us. 
Then I headed up to the rabbit colony to see how the kits fared in last night's storm, and my oldest daughter joined me on the way.  We opened the nest box to find that two kits were missing.  We started to look around the area and sadly found one dead far from the nest box.  Then we prepared ourselves to find another lost little one. The missing one was black, and blended in with the cold wet ground, but we found it cold and still moving.  Quickly we covered up the others, removed the dead kit, and carried the cold little life inside to get it warm. It was so wet and cold from the storm, but it was still very strong. 

Thankfully, we were able to get it all dry, warm and returned to the nest.  While my daughter worked on saving the kit, I moved on to the other chickens.  My second daughter and I worked on feeding and watering the 41 chicks in the brooder. The meat birds needed a little adjustment made to the brooder, but thankfully all went well.  I moved on to our original egg layer flock to get feed for them and flock #2.  While dividing up the feed, I heard a chicken calling very closely.  I looked around and found her...

Can you tell she has been enjoying this hidey-hole for awhile?

I carried the feed, 10 eggs, and chicken wire back to the house to feed the other flock, make the brooder adjustments and check the age on this egg stash.  Returning to the original flock, I needed to clean and fill the waterer.  I lost a battle with the "snake hose" as my kids call it. Don't worry I just was completing the total wet feeling to go with my boots!

I lugged the 7- gallon waterer back to the coop pondering how did I get so weak!  My chores were done! My oldest was finishing up the rabbits, and I went inside to that cute little man standing at the baby gate saying. "Mom can you make me breakfast!"  Sure, I know it is 10:00 am by now. I sat down with my kids around the table and ate some grits and eggs, and my mind went back to that great chicken resource I watched earlier.  As crazy as it can be sometimes,  I wouldn't have it any other way!  I love to see the chickens scratching through the green grass! I love seeing the rabbits happily jumping around.  This feels right to me. It's not perfect. It's not cheap. It's not easy, but it is doable and what I feel called to do!  There is so much peace in knowing where the food on my table comes from and how it got there.  If you are just getting started or if you have had chickens for awhile I recommend taking a look at this resource, because we all have something to learn!

Seriously, check this link out!
Permaculture Chickens

Keep on keepin' on!
Jill

Hot Buttered Rum

 

 

 

 

If you know me or have read my blog for any time you know that my family enjoys going to a biannual event called Earthskills Rendezvoses.  This is a great time of camping, learning, and campfire laughter.  

 

One evening while we were sitting around enjoying the fire and music our friend, Seamus brought out a three handled pottery mug, a liter of rum, a bag of brown sugar, a stick of butter, a jug of water, and a long iron rod.  This event was a tradition that we were warmly welcomed into, but what was about to happen we weren't sure of!  Seamus placed the iron rod deep into the fire's coals until it was a rageing orange glow. This magical rod we found out was called a mulling iron.  This was traditionally used to warm beer or other spirits in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.  Here is an example of one being warmed in a fire. It will be used to warm the liquids in the large pottery pitchers.

 

http://passionforthepast.blogspot.com/2014/03/old-sturbridge-village.html

 

Seamus freely dumped butter, brown sugar, water and rum into the mug.  We later found out that the mug was made by an awesome potter that we knew from the same event, Deb Sands. It was similar to this Friendship Mug. (Kind of) 

 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/louisianastatemuseum/5054596317

 

 

Once the mulling iron was glowing, he removed it from the coals and placed it deep into the clay mug.  The liquids quickly boiled and melted the butter and sugar into a wonderful treat. The group passed it around the fire, outside of Christina's time period canvas tent, while we listened to Jeff's guitar playing. To be honest, I had had hot buttered rum before, but this was truly the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Sometimes, I want to relive these memories so I make a little hot buttered rum, listen to some good music, and say a prayer for my friends.  We have met some amazing people that are very talented at these gatherings.  So when you want to gather some friends and share some music or just the joy of forming community try sharing some hot buttered rum, it makes everything sweeter!

 

This is my more precise version.

 

Hot Buttered Rum

• 1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch ground cloves
• Pinch salt
• Bottle of spiced or dark rum
• Boiling water
 

Directions

In a bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Refrigerate until almost firm. You can roll this into a log and wrap it in plastic wrap for storage or even freeze it for later use. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the butter mixture into 12 small mugs. Pour about 1 to 2 ounces of rum into each mug (more if you must). Top with boiling water stir well, and serve immediately.

Makes 10-12 servings 

 

 

 

To heart warming gatherings this holiday season,

Jill

The Herbal Hutch

Mulled Wine

I found this recipe in Southern Living, way back in 2003. I can't believe I have had this recipe that long!  It has always been a hit, and I have enjoyed sharing it at family gatherings over the years.

2 (750ml) bottles red wine
2 cups apple juice
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons mulling spice
If you want to make your own check out Mountain Rose Herbs post on mulling spices, or this one from McCormick.

Bring all of the ingredients to boil in a Dutch oven; reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.  Pour mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a pitcher, discarding mulling spices. 
Serve hot.
For best results use a fruity red wine like Pinot Noir.
Makes 9 cups

This is a great thing to sip by the fire even if you aren't a wine drinker.

Wishing you many slow evenings of sitting by the fire with those that you love this holiday season,

Jill
The Herbal Hutch

Homemade Holiday ~ Coffee Liqueur

Under the tree or as a hostess gift, this handmade treat will be greatly appreciated.  One year, I gave a homemade "real food" hot cocoa kit with handmade real marshmallows and coffee liqueur for the big kids in the family.  This is a tasty and easy thing to keep stocked for yourself! 


4 cups strong coffee
3 cups sugar
5 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups vodka

1. Combine the coffee, sugar and half of the vanilla in the slow cooker.

2. Cover and heat on a low setting for 2 to 3 hours.  Stir twice to blend the sugar as it dissolves.

3.  After three hours add the remaining vanilla and the vodka and heat for another hour.

Yields: About 7 cups

After this last hour, let the liqueur cool completely and bottle in a mason jar with a ribbon or any gift worthy bottle.  You can double the recipe and make some for yourself!  Be sure to store it in the refrigerator to keep it safe.  Enjoy this over ice, with a little milk, or in your coffee.  This is a delicious after dinner dessert drink.

Slow Cooker size 3-5 quart


Happy Creating,

Jill
The Herbal Hutch

Vanilla Extract

This has to be one of the easiest and tastiest Christmas presents you can make!  Many years ago, when I first got started making things from scratch, I wanted to make Vanilla Extract, but the ingredients weren't easy to come by...or so I thought. Things are much easier to access now due to online herb and spice venders.  My favorite high quality supplier is Mountain Rose Herbs. 

Anyway, I was visiting Callaway Gardens with my daughter, and their farmers market season was just beginning.  


Credit: CallowayGardens.com

We had a great time meeting the vendors, one of which had the most amazing goat's milk and cheeses!  Then I spied a vendor selling herbs and spices, I quickly made my way over to see what she had in stock.  To my surprise, she had a vanilla extract making kit with everything I needed to make the extract except the vodka. Yes. I said vodka. That is how extracts are made.  An alcohol is used as a solvent for the herb or spice. 


 I was very excited to be able to go home and finally check this "how to" off of my list!  It was so easy and very cute in it's cork capped bottle. These bottles can be found from Walmart to Amazon.  I assembled my extract and then waited the eight weeks for full flavor.  It won't be sweet like commercial vanilla extract, because sometimes they add simple syrup to give it a sweet after taste. This will not be a problem if you intend to use it just for baking. 

Vanilla Extract 

*3Vanilla Beans
*1 Cup Vodka
* Glass jar with a tight fitting lid


1. Split the vanilla beans in half lengthwise with a pairing knife.  Be sure to leave an inch connected at one end.

2.  Place the vanilla beans in the jar and cover completely with vodka.

3.  Shake the bottle every so often and store in a cool dark place.  It will be ready in 4-8 weeks. 

It will last for years, and you can keep topping it off with vodka and give it a good shake as you use the extract.

 Vanilla sugar can also be made by putting a split vanilla bean into a jar of white granulated sugar.

This is a great gift for foodie friends or a DIY kit gift for your favorite Do It Yourselfer. A pretty jar, a nice bow, directions and a cute tag seem like the perfect gift to me! You can also use different alcohols to change up the flavor.  One year my sister-in-law made us Kentucky Vanilla Extract made with Kentucky Bourbon. It was different, but just as yummy, and great for label appeal!


Also, if you make this for yourself be aware you are on the cusp of herbal medicine making!  This is a very similar process to making all of those expensive herbal tinctures you see in herbal stores!

Happy Creating,

Jill

The Herbal Hutch









 

A Handmade Christmas

There are so many ways to bless people during the Christmas season.  There are also wonderful handmade gifts that can bring joy to the foodie & handmade lover in your family.  Over the next few days, I would like to share some ideas for  handmade Christmas gifts.  I have been blessed to be on the receiving end of several of these ideas through the years.
Hand Embroidered Flour Sacks for the Kitchen here's an example.

Hand stitched & trimmed flour sack clothes.  We use these for everything...covering bread, ferments and drying dishes. 

Home Roasted Coffee give it a try.

Hand poured  Beeswax Candles ideas from Mountain Rose Herbs

Arm Knitted or Finger Knitted scarf ideas

My lovely daughter made this beauty a few years ago.

 

 

 

I will be sharing more handmade ideas with you over the next few days to help you have a Handmade Christmas!

 



Happy Creating!

Jill
The Herbal Hutch

Baby's First Cough

I knew it would happen at some point, and I am thankful it didn't happen until he was five months old, but he had to get sick sometime.  It is such a hard thing to see and hear your little one when they are sick. Not surprisingly it all started with my oldest son getting a very strong cough, and a few days later little man followed suit. Suddenly, I woke to him coughing through the baby monitor and got him up to feed him as a precautionary measure.  After feeding him, I was awake and racking my brain to think of all the things I could safely treat this little one with. I know what I would do for myself or my other kids, but it always makes me take extra caution with one this young. I started taking elderberry tincture so that he would get some medicine through my milk, but I wanted to do more for him. Look at this face! How could I not do all I could to help this sweet guy?

 

I started searching google, when I came across a garlic remedy from The Elliot Homestead that sounded great. It also reminded me that this is exactly how I had treated my last baby with his first illness.  So in the middle of the night, like any good mama, I whipped this remedy up with my stick blender.  It worked great!! I rubbed it on his feet (cover feet with socks) and chest every diaper change.  Yes, he smelled like an Italian restaurant, but he got better in a few days, and his cough was greatly reduced in one day. I am so thankful for simple and safe ways to help my baby.

 

 

 

Homemade Garlic Salve for Coughs and Colds
You will need:
– 8 cloves garlic, peeled
– 1/3 cup coconut oil
– 10 drops lavender oil (optional)

Combine the ingredients together in a food processor or blender. Blend for about 3 minutes, or until it is a perfectly smooth whipped butter. You may need to scrape down the sides of the food processor to get all the garlic completely worked into a paste. (By The Elliot Homestead)

Happy Healing!

Jill

The Herbal Hutch