Beginning of Gardens

This is how we garden on the Daniels Farm in the early Spring.

February - Fertilize the fruit trees, blackberries, and grapes. 

March - Prune, Cultivate, Gather Branches, and...

Burn! There's nothing better than the smell of burning branches. It signals a renewal of life on the farm and the start of a promising growing season. 

The Apricot trees are first to bloom. Their blossoms look like popcorn!

This year it's been too cold for the bees. We're hoping for warm days soon so the  honey bee can do what they do best... pollinate!

After the ground has warmed up, we will plant a vegetable garden on the same spot we burned branches. 

In the yard, flowers are now just working their way up out of the cold earth. 

It won't be long until the yard and orchard with be bustling with green leaves, splashes of colorful flowers, delightful smell of lilac, and the sounds of bees humming and birds singing. Oh... I do love Spring!

My Garden

Inspired by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

Superbowl Fiesta!

I've been counting carbs for the last few months, so when Superbowl Sunday came I looked for recipes that would be both healthy and yummy, while staying within my carb allowance. I found a few recipes on Pinterest that caught my attention. 

White Chicken Enchilada, Individual Seven Layer Dip, and Frosty's. You can link to the actual recipe or use mine below (I modified a couple of ingredients). We loved the individual seven layer dip... no double dipping here! All were easy and fast to make, had excellent visual appeal, and turned out to be a big hit at our house. These recipes went into my recipes to use often file box.

Put a bowl of tortilia chips out and add a green salad, and the meal becomes appealing to both the health wise and snack addict.

Now, get ready to have your taste buds super fired up!

White Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

• 2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheddar cheese
• 8 flour tortillas (soft shell)
• 3 T. butter
• 1 c. sour cream (I used low fat)
• 1 4 oz. can of diced green chilies (I used hot!)
• 2 c. cooked, shredded chicken (about 1 large chicken breast)
• 3 T. flour
• 2 c. chicken broth (I bought organic, low sodium broth from the healthy food section)
• salt and pepper

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees
• Cook/shred your chicken breast and mix it with 1 cup of shredded cheese.
• Lay 8 tortillas out and fill each one with the chicken mixture making sure they are all even. Roll them up tightly and put them in a greased 9x13 dish.
• In a saucepan, melt butter and add in 3 T. flour. Mix and cook for about one minute.
• Add in the 2 c. of chicken broth, whisking until it's a smooth consistency. 
• Whisk over medium heat until it is thick and creamy (5-8 minuntes)
• Mix in the sour cream, salt/pepper, and the can of chilies to the pan.
• Add 1 c. of the cheddar cheese over the top.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown. 
• Add salsa or cilantro and you're ready to eat!

Individual Seven-Layer Dips

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 1 (16 oz) can refried beans (I bought organic vegetarian from the health food section)
• 1 (10 oz) package taco seasoning
• 1 c. guacamole (I made my own from 2 avocados)
• 1 (8 oz) container sour cream (I used low fat)
• 1 c. chunky salsa or pico de gallo
• 1 c. shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 bunch of green onions, sliced
• 1 (2.25 oz) can of sliced olives, drained
• 8 (9 oz) plastic tumbles
• tortilla chips

Instructions

• In a small bowl mix taco seasoning with refried beans. 

Assemble layer as follows: use 2 T. per ingredient

• layer 1: beans and taco seasoning
• layer 2: sour cream
• layer 3: guacamole
• layer 4: salsa or pico de gallo (drained)
• layer 5: cheese
• layer 6: tomatoes
• layer 7: green onions and olives

Amt. per serving calories - 227

carbs - 16.1 grams

dietary fiber - 5 grams (can deduct 5 g. from 16.1 g. if counting carbs)

Complete nutritional information can be found on link above.

Frosty

Ingredients

• 6 oz. milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
• 15 ice cubes
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1-2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 t. xanthan gum (found in the health food section)
• 1/2 med. banana  

Instructions

place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth and thick.

1 serving - 10.5 carbs

This is normally 1 serving, but I used it as 2 servings. Very filling!

Share a recipe from Pinterest and how it turned out.

Awaken your creative side and join Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Quotography - Grandfather

A grandfather is someone who has 

silver in his hair and gold in his heart.

Grandpa Bentley was in the sunset of his life when I was old enough to remember him. His hair was a silvery gray. I knew him as a tender, kind man. He was cheerful and happy. Grandpa sang Irish songs as he bounced me on his knee.

They say as you age, you acquire knowledge and wisdom from years of living. That being the case, grandpa's challenges and trials in life helped refine him into a man who whose heart became "gold".  

Even though he had Rheumatoid Arthritis and lived out his last years in a wheelchair, he always had a smile on his face and a song in his heart. He taught me the value of being happy and positive, even in the face of pain.