Guess what we’re going to do together? We are going to save the big bucks by manufacturing our own liquid laundry detergent. Imagine strolling right past that aisle in the supermarket. You could even cackle to yourself as you pass those silly shoppers paying those crazy-high prices for designer detergents (trust me: it will never get old). Why? Because we get several gallons of laundry detergent for about a buck and some change. Here’s how:

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Abbie, you lucky gal. You are just the cutest thing to shed fur. Oh, you mean you didn’t already know? Well, we took a vote and you got the most. What does that tell ya?

Well, go on you-cute-thing-you and stop acting surprised. If you don’t pick up that jaw, you’re gonna catch flies. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

A special thanks to all of the voters and contestants — you totally rock like KISS. You rock our little country world.

Second place goes to Jake. Jake, dear, your mommy is getting a kerchief to embarrass you with. We both know where it’s going when she’s not looking but your so ding dang adorable we wanted to send you a little something, too.

And folks, since you are here, please visit some of these killer blogs (just click on the voter’s names). I know I am.

And… the next contest? Messiest Kid Photo Contest

Send me a picture of your spaghetti/mud/whatever covered offspring. Grab a human kid or that other kind and send me your very best mess. What will you get if you win?? I don’t know. I’m open to suggestions. What do you want? Homemade soap? Napkins? Salsa? Another magazine? A book on Simple Living?

Popularity: 3% [?]

The day has finally arrived!! Vote for the cutest pet in the comments section. Tell your friends to vote for your favorite. All votes must be in by May 15, 2008. And What does our lucky winner get?? A full year’s subscription to Mother Earth News and the knowledge that they have the most adorable pet ever. That’s, like, permanent bragging rights. And who wouldn’t want a killer magazine subscription PLUS a seat at the pet-friendly popular table? Some people have all the luck. Check out these cutie patooties!

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Cilantro is loved by all — guarded by some (see above) — and we’re going to celebrate my first cutting of it with a foodie feast of color and texture.  Grab your forks (I’ve already got mine) and get ready for some good eatin’ and fun.

Salmon cakes, creamy tomato soup, and hummus — all with fresh cilantro!

Salmon Cakes

• 2 boneless, skinless salmon steaks
• 2 tablespoons minced jalapeño peppers
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• olive oil
• 1/4 cup each: bread crumbs, cornmeal, and flour, mixed

1. Cook the salmon steaks in a skillet (you guys already know what kind I like best) and then place them in a medium sized bowl.



2. Crush salmon with a fork.  Add jalapeños, garlic, mayonnaise, mustard, Old Bay, cilantro, and a few pinches of bread crumbs.  Place the bread crumbs, cornmeal, and flour mixture in a small bowl.





3. Pour a little oil in your skillet and get it nice and warm.  Grab a ice cream scoop and form the salmon cakes then pat the mixture of breading onto each cake.  Place into heated skillet.  Press the salmon cakes into disks.



4. Salmon cakes should be golden on each side.  Serve warm.  Serves four (but only two if you invite me).

Click here to see how to make the soup (just leave out the pesto — you’ll see).

Hummus

• 4 cups of cooked chickpeas or garbanzo beans
• 5-8 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cumin or 3 tablespoons tahini butter
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves

Mash chickpeas and then place in food processor or blender.  Add all remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.  Spoon into a pan and heat through.  You may need to add some more oil or lemon juice to keep it moist.  Heat until nice and warm, 3-5 minutes.  Before serving,  stir in chopped cilantro.  Serve with pita slices, celery stalks, or corn chips (I have no idea where the Frito’s came from… I’m innocent.  Really.  Shh!).

Popularity: 9% [?]

First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all moms, grandmoms, and moms-to-be. And now on with the dirt:

IMPACT adoption class went quite well. They kept our group (who admits to being a bit rusty on proper classroom procedures) plied with soft drinks, coffee, candy, MSG-filled potato chip snack packs, and pizza. All that sugar was like a hoof to the braincase. Josh and I collapsed in post sugar-rush coma-like naps once we got home from our six hour junk food binge. We’re still recovering. Please send help.

A little bit of an interesting note: when asked to draw our idea of the perfect child — Josh and I drew the exact same thing without having peeked at each other’s paper. All of us were on horseback on a farm not unlike the one in the little clip art thingy. Yup. We’re on the same page. Great minds…

We did cruise the My Turn Now site upon waking all fuzzy-headed and weak. After watching a lot of the videos and reading 169 profiles, we were depressed and needed some distraction so we watched Over the Hedge before passing out.

Oh and I burned my hand. I picked up a HOT cast iron skillet lid (and then promptly launched it somewhere). The lid had been set on a burner which was OFF. One would think that the lid would have been cool to the touch but our old stove has issues. You see, if the oven is on — all the burners heat to the temperature of the oven. You can well imagine my frustration.

I’m sorry for the short post and the lack of photographs lately. We’ve been rotten about taking pictures and vow to take quite a few in the next few days. I’ll even promise a garden post for this week. Oh, yes… don’t forget that we have a contest going on. Be sure you check out the Cutest Pet Photo Contest. Figure out who you are voting for and tell me for goodness sake!  (But do tell me on that post because I’m hopelessly disorganized.)

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“Playing cowboy is simply not done these days. … It’s all right for kids to play Indian maidens, mainly because Disney says so. Indian maidens were sensitive to the environment. Cowboys walked in the house with cow stuff on their boots. Indian maidens communed with wildlife. Cowboys shot varmints. Indian maidens ate wild hickory nuts. Cowboys had buffalo breath.”
- Charles Memminger, columnist

As a child, I played cowboy. You bet your sweet bippy I did. I cantered a path around our house on my little stick horse making snorting sounds and whinnying while performing flying lead changes. Did you ever try to make a stick horse rear up? It’s impossible. I tried. You end up hitting your chin. Tying a stick horse is also unsatisfactory because they inevitably slide down and end up hanging from the reins looking more like a castoff cane than a gallant stick-steed. Oh, but I loved my stick horse.

It’s not respectable for an adult to go trotting around on a pretend horse making sounds like you’ve got black lung or something. People will think you are funny in the head — unless you are with a child. I can’t wait to gallop to the mailbox on stick horses with my young one(s). I have no shame. We’ll be Pony Express riders off to our next post with our shoelaces flying and the dogs chasing behind. We’ll even shout super-cool things like, “Hi-ho Silver away!” and then sing the theme song to Bonanza. Maybe we can use twigs to make Z-slashes in the air before barreling down the driveway. (You can mix all that cowboy stuff up if you’re pretending, okay?)

Saturday is our first IMPACT adoption class and I have to tell you that we are so excited. We can’t wait to be full-time parents and to be part of our child’s adventures. Lately, I’ve made lists of all the things I can’t wait to do as a parent.

First order of business: play cowboy.

 

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Popularity: 14% [?]

Since I frightened so many of you with the sleeping turkey picture (I promise not to post pictures of dead critters — unless they are dressed and on a plate), I baked you a cake. Not just any cake, but a cast iron skillet cake. If you’ve never tried baking this way, then here is your chance to explore traditional American cooking.

As you use your skillet, imagine all those brave pioneer women who packed their cast iron skillet, kettle, and their Bible in a Conestoga wagon to tame the west with their husbands. Can you imagine? I can’t. I don’t even go to the grocery store without my insurance card and cell phone. Just thinking about that kind of adventure gives me goosebumps. Would I have been the kind of woman who would embark on such a trip? Would you?

Pineapple Upside-Down Skillet Cake

Topping:

• 1 can crushed pineapple*
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cake:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cup flour, sifted 3x
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. In the skillet, cook pineapple, brown sugar, butter, and salt until the topping thickens slightly. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Combine all dry ingredients in another bowl and gradually add them to the creamed sugar and butter mixture alternating with the milk. Add the vanilla. Mix well and then spoon over the topping. Bake for about an hour until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

*You may notice that I used sliced pineapple but let me tell you — that’s just for looks. If I’d made this cake the “right” way (with crushed pineapple), you’d have thought it looked terrible and you would never have made it and probably thought I had lost my little homesteading mind. Let me tell you, this woman’s hips don’t lie: use crushed pineapple.

Popularity: 15% [?]