Carmel Farm

Honey For Sugar?

Hi Everyone, I am trying to buy all of our foods that we are not growing ourselves as locally as possible. This brings up an issue for my baking. Can I substitute honey for sugar? If so, is it a straight switch or can I reduce the amount of honey compared to sugar? Also, does that affect the consistency of baked goods since honey is a liquid & sugar is not?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Wendy

We went "organic" about four-five years ago, but just last year we started using honey instead of sugar in everything. The only thing we do special is if we can, we add the honey in with something room temperature or liquid we can mix and dissolve it that way it doesn't clump up in the batter. I love honey in lemonade instead of sugar. Gives it a tangy taste. I also use honey in spaghetti sauce instead of ketchup (ick!) or sugar.

I say go for it. If it doesn't work in some things then you'll know, but in most, if not all, honey works great.... same measurement as you would use for honey and it doesn't seem to affect the texture at all.

Miss Jocelyn

Saturday's Snapshot July 5th, 2008

Don't let his cuteness fool you, he is Grade A Varmit. 

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

Today... Happy 4th!

I took the girls to the parade.  They decided at the last minute to help with the church's float, so I took them.  It's about 30-35 miles from our house, so we got up early and got some chores done then left.  The Parade theme this year was REMEMBER WHEN... and our church's float was small (just a pick-up truck with several walkers walking by it).  They had signs that said "Wise Men still seek Him"  and 3 wise men in the back of the truck with a wooden camel.  They got lots of cheers, I guess, through out the parade, so they knew people appreciated the thought.  My kids handed out flyers with the rest of the walkers... they has small children's booklets and magazines to hand out and a few adult flyers as well.  I just watched from a friend's house which is the very corner the parade starts and while we saw all the floats, many weren't in sync until after the first block. 

After the parade, I quickly ran into town with a friend's keys to her store and picked up as many empty boxes as I could fill in our mini van for the BIG FIRE CLEAN UP!  I so appreciated the boxes, that means I can start right away (and we did this afternoon), just removing dirty items from the immediate house and have them out of the way for the cleaners.  I packed up my cookbooks and then boxed up all the food they told me to throw and I also inventoried it all.  My girls packed a few boxes of items they did not want to have messed with when they are away at camp.  

We are to record our time cleaning and boxing items and we can work off our deductible.  The insurance adjuster told us to keep track of times.  He does not have the exact rate we will be paid at, but it will be between $8-10.  I figured if we got the rate of $8, we need to work off 132.5 hours.  So far, we've logged 16.25 hours.  Not much, but it's hard to do much when they say you can't clean until the cleaners come.  But some things like laundry and boxing up items we can do (now that we have approval).  I have four pages of inventoried items from my spice cupboards.  The adjuster said I'd likely have to take a price shop and get some prices on the items and then figure the cost... by how much was left in the packages.  Full, half, 1/4, etc.  I am really hoping that turning in sheet with prices will be adequate.  Rebuying everything right now seems just over my head.  First, there is no where to put it, and second, I just want the house clean before I think about restocking the cupboards.   I will say however that fried potates with no seasonings aren't as grand as one might think... LOL.  I really should buy a little salt and some garlic or a couple seasonings... but then again... maybe I just shouldn't fry anything!!!  That's bad for my health anyways!  

I am feeling a bit better today.  I was thinking about how overwhelming this process is really turning out to be.  And yet... I recall that recently I was stunned by the doctor's diagnosis of depression.  As I was thinking of the garden... if you are gone 1 week, it takes nearly 3 weeks to catch up with weeding... things just don't stop growing!    As I looked at the house and noted my past couple years worth of keeping house (little was done when I was dealing with my daughters illnesses, our hard sheep year, and my depression)... I realized I kept the family areas clean... as clean as say... there wasn't food stuck to the furniture, but dusting was done every couple of months rather than once a week... I had lots to catch up on... and if it worked out like the garden... even though I am getting my energy back, trying to keep up and catch up at the same time was still going to be a lengthy process.   Now I am offered help.  I was at first mortified that they are cleaning EVERY little piece of my home, but I am beginning to be grateful for this opportunity... I mean how often does one get a full cleaning and professional cleaning help when one does spring cleaning?   I simply have to humble myself and just admit that I need help to get back on my feet... and Wow, God already provided that help!  Even before I asked.  How great is that?  God is sooooo good to me sometimes that I know I hardly deserve any of this (I don't deserve any of it!), but oh how grateful I am to be His child!    

Warmly, ~Melissa

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Does anybody make organic strawberry rhubarb jam? If so could I please have a recipe.. I might have a buyer for my jam but they want it all organic! I would love to have the outlet for this sale....

Blessing Sister Brenda

Jello...

Could you please tell me if jello is organic??? How would I find the answer to that question??? Thanks

Blessings Sister Brenda...

I am still here

Simple Beef and Rice Dinner

Lasagna Garden Picture Update

It's the 4th of July. About time to assess this garden experiment. So the photos have been collected and we went from this:

To this:

We've had our battles. We still have battles to win. But the overall judgement is this:

BEST GARDEN we have ever had on this piece of land! 

 Steve is just as impressed as I am. He keeps saying, "Why didn't we do it this way before?" Well, the answer to that is, we didn't know. Thanks to the Lasagna Gardening Book we now know!

We are eating our fill daily of the greens, salads onions, cucumbers and herbs... Looking forward to the almost ready zucchinis and cherry tomatoes. Looking forward to plenty of tasty garden produce all summer long.

HAPPY 4TH

Ray and I would like to wish you and your family and happy and safe 4th of July... God Bless America!

Blessings Sister Brenda

Red, White and Blue

Red- My newly painted toenails... I finally redeemed my pedicure yesterday... Thanks Mom... please excuse my four knuckle toes.
White- Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, a must for any 4th of July cookout! Mmm...
Blue- Freshly picked blueberries, to be made into our Independence Day Breakfast... thanks Linz.

I hope you all have a Fantastic 4th of July... be happy, be safe, and be thankful.  God Bless the USA!!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas