A Farmwife's Easter Egg Hunt

One of the most fun traditions of Easter is the Egg Hunt.  However, they don't have very many for adults (unless you happen to be brave enough and close enough to take on the crazy moms at Alpenrose Dairy in hunting for diamonds in their eggs - I am not).

On the farm, we get a daily egg hunt!  Here is what it is like for me.

Go outside, and get a big bucket of scratch (cracked corn, sunflower seeds and whatever other treat we mix in there this time)

Head out to the aviary / coop area.

Toss scratch out to the Lovely Ladies.

Some get too impatient and just come and get it from me.

Gotta give treats to the pheseants too!

Look!  Pheseant eggs!

Found one!  Lazy bird didn't want to go lay it in the nest.

Found some in the coop!

Today's Bounty

Happy Easter!

Name the treat Contest, Part 2

Well, I had some amazing name suggestions, and I just couldn't do it on my own.  SO, I've picked my top 4 and will let YOU decide. 

This sweet confection (recipe found here) really needs a name!  See the contest on the sidebar and vote!  Winner will get a wonderful surprise in the mail (and yes, that will most likely include some of the newly named treat as well).

Contest ends on Friday, April 7th at 10:30p Pacific.

Google me this

When I'm fighting insomnia or needing methods of procrastination I will occassionally spend time googling people I know.  I really have found some interesting things that way.

Well, the other night I decided to google *this* site name, just to see.  Because, you know, I stalk my analystics and often wonder how people find my site.

I was happy to see myself pop up right away (btw - Bing doesn't bring up nearly as much, so stay with Google! :D )

I also found someone else who had TALKED about me!  The Accidental Farmwife had done a similar thing and Googled 'farmwife' to see what else was out there.  Ahhh, the amazing things we find when we seek to find more about ourselves.

So, what's the most interesting thing you have found out about someone (or yourself) by using Google?

Thursday's Sweet Confection

This *to be named*  dessert came about after I happened upon a bag of caramel Hershey Kisses.  They begged to be made into a sweet treet.  And not just ANY sweet treat or cookie - something special.  So, this is what I came up with.

6 egg whites *

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Pinch salt

1 3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 bag of caramel kisses, unwrapped

*a trick I learned years ago when trying to beat egg whites, they will work much better if they are at room temperature!

In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Sprinkle with cream of tartar and salt; beat until soft peaks form.

Gradually add sugar, cocoa, vanilla and peppermint extract, beating until stiff peaks form, about 5-8 minutes.

Line mini muffin tins with liners, place a spoonfull of mix in each tin, add 1 unwrapped kiss in each.  Then cover with another spoonful.  Do not fill all the way, as they will rise.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 275 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until firm and hollow when tapped.

Makes apx 48

These sweet delights need a name!  Hop on over to my facebook fan page, become a fan and enter a name!  Winner will be announced on Friday, March 26th.

Chore Wars

The generation-old battle between parent and child and the completion of chores continues on in my household.  My kids are fairly good at getting things done, but they often rush through it just to get it done, skip steps, etc. 

A couple things I've learned about my kids:

• They are easily distracted (like raccoons and shiny objects)
• They do better when they only see what they need to do, and are able to check off when things are done
• They like knowing ahead of time what is expected of them
• They do better when they can touch, feel, physically check something off, etc

We used to have a weekly chore list, and they'd check it off each day.  Some of the chores alternated between the two of them, and we found that they'd often get confused who was doing what on which day. 

I came up with the idea of a small, individual checklist.  I bought 1/2 sized clipboards at Wal-Mart.  I made chore lists for each day, then put them back to back on a piece of construction paper and laminated them w/ the self-lamination sheets you can get at the store.  They have chores for Mon-Sat.  They use a dry-erase marker to check of when they're done, then they will get a parent signature to verify that it is done to expectation.

At the end of the week, they will turn in their clipboards and we will calculate their allowance based on the percentage of the work that they completed.  For example, if they did 80% of their work, and their allowance is $5, they will get $4.   We still haven't figured out the amounts, I'm trying to determine what would work best.

Here are some great links and resources for chores as well:

Age appropriate Chore List: http://www.familyroi.org/Family_ROI_Age_Appropriate_Chores.pdf
Online, interactive chore chart: http://www.chorewars.com/

Product Review Wednesday: Pampered Chef's MeasureAll Cup

I've decided to do a weekly Product Review.  There are a ton of gizmo's out there and I will admit to being tempted to try too many of them.  I promise never to buy the Bump-It, but DO love the Ped-Egg.

This is one of my ABSOLUTELY favorite baking items.  I used to sell Pampered Chef products, and I think I spent more for myself than I ever made.  This is the most versitile measuring cup you will ever need.  On one side, you measure your liquds.  And it goes up to 2 cups.  So, when making something that may call for a 1 1/3 cup milk and 1/2 cup water - I can use ONE measuring cup and wash less.  Although, I do have to use math, so it may be a trade-off for you.

The other side is for dry ingredients.  You pull the inner part down to pre-measure, say, 1 1/4 cup brown sugar.  Then you pack it in, and PUSH the brown sugar out in one nicely measured section.  Now, this is ESPECIALLY fabulous for sticky things like Peanut Butter and Shortening.

Also, my friend is a Pampered Chef consultant.  She has an autistic son and specifically sells to make money to cover the added costs of his very particular gluten-free diet.  Her husband is in the Armed Forces, so you can buy something from her and support both Autism and the troops, and you get some amazing stuff!.  It's a win/win/win situation.  http://www.pamperedchef.biz/khutchinson   Hostess name: Katie

Lemon Poppyseed Zucchini Bread

Ingredients
4 cups flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 3.4oz package instant lemon pudding mix
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1-1/4 cups milk
1 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon extract
3 cups shredded zucchini
1/4 cup poppy seeds
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two greased 9x5 inch loaf pans.

Combine the flour, sugar, pudding mix, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, oil, lemon juice and extract.

Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the zucchini, poppy seeds and lemon peel.

Pour into the prepared pans and bake on lowest rack in oven for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool for 15 minutes and then transfer to racks.

Cool completely before slicing.  ENJOY!