Family Friends & Farm

Mexican Style Beef Pot Roast

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Judging by all the comments on my Facebook page, it is still very much winter in most areas of the US. It's been predominantly cold, wet, and dreary at the farm as well, so we're still in hibernation mode.  Bring on the comfort food!

This dish, tried, tested and appropriately adjusted by Steve Made, is a delicious infusion of the classic pot roast bursting with south-of-the-border flavors.

(Pulled, the meat works beautifully for burritos or tacos too!)

Ingredients:

2 – 3 ½ lb beef pot roast
1 lb baby potatoes
3 large carrots, cut into bite sized pieces
1 tsp black pepper½ tsp salt1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 20 oz can red enchilada sauce, medium spice (or as spicy as you like it!)
1 10 oz can diced tomatoes
1 4.25 oz can diced green chilies
1 15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz can corn, drained
1 2.25 oz can sliced black olives, drained
* Suggested toppings: Sour cream, Green Onion, Cilantro, Lime Slices, Avocad

Instructions:

  1. In a 6 quart crock pot pour ½ cup of the enchilada sauce to cover the bottom.
  2. Add roast and top with salt, pepper and remaining enchilada sauce.
  3. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours or until beef is tender.
  4. 2 hours into cooking process, turn over pot roast - add potatoes, onions and carrots.
  5. In the last hour of cooking add pinto beans, corn, black olives, diced tomato and green chilies.
  6. Garnish with sour cream, green onion, cilantro, sliced avocado, sliced lime and/or fresh squeezed lime juice.

Ole'

A Portrait of a Boy

Zachariah by Michael Reagan

Zachariah by Michael Reagan

Recently I was gifted the most remarkable thing; a portrait of my son, Zachariah.

There is a man, by the name of Michael G. Reagan, an internationally recognized artist who has an amazing heart and an amazing talent. I heard of Michael's work some years ago. He has drawn over 4500 portraits of fallen soldiers, providing them to surviving families, free of charge.

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He has also provided portraits of children lost to violence in schools, including all victims of Columbine, Sandy Hook, and the many other horrific school shootings. He is working currently on the most recent Florida victims.

Michael lives in the same corner of the world as I do and our paths have crossed a few times. He drew my portrait, which hangs in my studio, many years ago, and a few years back attended one of my Fall Harvest parties which was a military theme, honoring our men and women in uniform.

After I lost Zack, Michael wrote to me and asked me to send him some photos of my son, he chose one that I think best captured Zack's spirit; in it he is wearing his green beanie, snowboarding jacket, and a mysterious smile. 

Michael visited me at the farm recently and presented me with Zacky's portrait, which brought me to my knees. I am eternally grateful to Michael for this gift, and for the abundant generosity of his heart.

You can learn more about Michael and the remarkable work that he does at the
< Fallen Heroes Project >
Donations are gratefully accepted.
 

New Year's Day Brunch Menu & Recipes for 8

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We all have our "go to" resources, The Good Housekeeping All-American Cookbook ©1987, is mine. 

I was cruising through looking for ideas this holiday season, when I landed on their New Years Brunch menu, for a group of 8.  To make it an extra special spread, for an extra special day, the menu suggest 3 different fruit juices, blueberry muffins AND coffee cake, and two-melon granitas.

Here's the entire menu and accompanying recipes for you to pick and choose from:

Fresh Fruit Juice
(orange, grapefruit & pineapple)
Country Brunch Pancakes
Breakfast Sausage Patties
Party Creamy Eggs
Blueberry Muffins
Pecan-Curmb Coffee cakes
Two-Melon Granita
Tropical Fruits
Coffee


PLANNING AHEAD

2 days ahead - Bake muffins and coffee cake. Make and freeze granita - soften to scoop, arrange scoops in bowl, then refreeze.

1 day ahead - Prepare fresh juices. Make sausage patties and pancake batter; cover and refrigerate.

Early in Day - Slice fruits and arrange on plate; refrigerate until ready to serve. Fry bacon and sausage patties; keep warm in oven, Make fig-maple syrup.

1 hour ahead - Make pancakes; arrange with sausage patties and keep warm in oven. Prepare mushrooms, avocados, and smoked salmon; begin cooking eggs; add bacon to accompaniments. heat muffins if you like.


RECIPES

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2/3 cups sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 3/4 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemo peel
  • 1/2 teasoon vnilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries.

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease muffin-pan cups.
  2. In bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. With pastry blender or 2 knives used scissor-fashion, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
  4. In small bowl, beat eg, ilk, lemon,peel, and vanilla extract until blended.
  5. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just util flour is moistened (batter will be lump.) Fold blueberries into batter. Spoon batter into muffin pan cups.
  6. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden and toothpick inserted in center come out clean. Immediately remove muffins from pan. Serve warm or cool muffins on wire rack to serve later; reheat if desired.

PECAN-CRUMB COFFEE CAKES

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup pecan halves, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2/3 cups quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

  1. In medium bowl with fork, stir brown sugar, cinnamon and flour. With pastry blender, or two knives used scissor fashion, cut in 1/3 cup butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles large crumbs. Stir in the chopped pecans; set aside.
  2. Grease and flour two 8x8 baking pans. Preheat oven to 375 F.
  3. In large bowl, mix sugar, oats, baking powder, salt, and 3 cups all purpose flour. With pastry blender or cut in remaining 2/3 cups butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  4. In medium bowl with fork, beat eggs with mild until blended; stir into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Spoon batter evenly into pans. Evenly sprinkle pecan mixture on top of the coffee cakes. 
  5. Bake 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool coffee cakes in an on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans. Serve warm. Or, to serve later, wrap cakes with foil and reheat in 375 F oven 35 minutes.

TWO-MELON GRANITAS

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 1cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 ripe small cantaloupe (about 2lbs)
  • 1 rip small honeydew melon (about 2lbs)
  • Mint leaves for garnish

Directions:

  1. In small saucepan over high heat, heat water and sugar to boiling. Reduce heat to medium, cook 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in lemon juice.
  2. Cut cantaloupe into chunks. In blender at medium speed or in food processor with knife blade attached, blend cantaloupe until smooth.; pour mixture into 8 by 8 baking pan. Repeat process with honeydew melon; pour into another 8x8 baking pan.
  3. Pour half of sugar mixture into each baking pan; stir until well mixed; cover pans with foil or plastic wrap and freeze melon mixture until firm, about 5 hours, stirring occasionally so mixture freezes evenly.
  4. To serve, let the granitas stand oat room temperature about 3 minutes to soften slightly. With spoon, scrape across the surface of granitas in pans to create a pebbly texture. Soon some cantaloupe granita and some honeydew granita into each of 12 chilled dessert bowls. Garnish with the fresh mint leaves. 

BREAKFAST SAUSAGE PATTIES

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs pork shoulder blade roast - boneless cut into 1" cubes.
  • 1/4 cup shopped parsley
  • 21/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

  1. With food grinder using coarse cutting disk, rind cubed pork into large bowl.
  2. Add the chopped parsley, salt, rubbed sage, and peper; mix well. Shape the mat mixture into patties.
  3. In 12 inch skillet oer medium low heat, cook the patties about 25 minutes or until they are browned and well done.
  4. Carefully turn the patties occasionally with pancake turner to ensure thy cook and brown evenly. Serve patties immediately.

COUNTRY BRUNCH PANCAKES WITH FIG MAPLE SYRUP

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda'1/2 cup milk
  • 1 8oz container creamed cottage cheese
  • 3 eggssgjt;u beaten
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salad oil

Directions:

  1. In large bowl, mix flour ad next 4 ingredients. Add milk, cottage cheese, eggs, and lemon juice; stir just until flour in moistened.
  2.  Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat until drop of water sizzles; brush lightly with salad oil. Pour batter by scant 1/4 cupfuls onto hot griddle, making a few pancakes at a time; cook until tops are bubbly and bubbles burst;  edges with look dry. With pancake turner, turn and cook the pancakes until the undersides are golden; place on warm platter; keep pancakes warm.
  3. Repeat until batter is used, brushing griddle with more salad oil if necessary. Serve with Fig-Maple syrup

Fig Maple Syrup: In 1 quart saucepan over high heat, heat 1 1/2 cups maple or maple-flavor syrup., 1/2 cup dried figs, finely chopped 4 Tablespoons butter, and 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel to boiling; reduce heat to low and simmer 3 to 4 minutes; keep warm.

Tropical Fruits: Mangoes, Persimmons, Papaya, Kiwi Fruits. Peeled and sliced. Arrange on a platter in a visually appealing way. 

PARTY CREAMY EGGS

Ingredients:

  • 3 8oz packages of thick-sliced bacon
  • Seasoned Avocados
  • Sauteed Herbed Mushrooms
  • 14 eggs
  • 1/4 tablespoon pepper
  • 6 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 3oz packages of cream cheese, diced
  • 3 3oz packages of sliced smoked salmon

Instructions:

1. Cook Bacon:

  • Arrange bacon slices, overlapping slightly, on rack in broiling pan.
  • Place about 5 inches from source of heat; broil bacon at 300F 10-15 minutes until golden.
  • Turn bacon, separating slices.
  • Broil about 10 minutes longer or until bacon is browned and crisp.
  • Remove to paper towels to drain; keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, prepare Seasoned Avocados; cover and refrigerate, stirring occasionally.

2. Prepare sauteed mushrooms; keep warm

3. Prepare cream-cheese scrambled eggs.

  • In large bowl with fork, beat eggs and pepper until just blended. 
  • In 12 inch skillet over medium high heat, melt butter. 
  • Add egg mixture. As egg mixture begins to set stir slightly so uncooked egg flows to bottom
  • When eggs are partially cooked, add diced cream cheese.
  • Continue cooking until egg mixture is set but still moist.
  • Remove from heat.
  • To serve, spoon mixture into warm bowl, place on large platter. Arrange seasoned Avocados, sauteed mushrooms, bacon strips and smoked salmon around eggs on platter.

Seasoned Avocados:

In medium bowl mix 1T sugar, 3T white wine vinegar, 2T salad oil, 1T chopped parsley, and 3/4 t salt. Peel and remove seed from 2 large avocados. Cut avocados lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1/4" thick slices. Add avocado and 1 2-oz jar of sliced pimentos, drained, to dressing in bowl; toss to coat well with dressing. Makes 2 cups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Pet Products | Whistle & iFetch

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It's no secret how much I love animals, and if you love your pets as much as I love mine, they'll be included on your holiday shopping list this year. Here's a couple of suggestions:

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Not long ago, my lab went missing and for a bit I thought we'd never see him again. He eventually came home, and soon after I got the Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker and now I always know where he, and the rest of my furry buddies are!

  • Whistle 3 connects to your pet's collar
  • Receive fast alerts when your pet leaves it's home turf
  • Pinpoint and track  your pet nationwide from your smartphone
  • Reduce time searching for your pets!

 

Get (or give) the #1 device that's keeping more pets safe, and save $30 by using code DELILAH upon checkout at Whistle.com.

Learn more about Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker HERE.


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My dogs love the award-winning iFetch ball launchers and yours will too!

This interactive ball launcher will be your dog's new friend. Train your dog to drop the iFetch ball into the IFetch and watch them retrieve over and over again. My kids love to use this with our mutts!

Find the best model for your pets HERE.

  • Great mental and physical stimulation for your dog
  • Choose from three models
  • Programmable distance setting on iFetch and iFetch Too models

Save $30 off (1) iFetch product now at GoiFetch.com.
Use coupon code DELILAH at checkout.

Wishing you and your pets a healthy, happy, holiday season!

Love,  Delilah

A Season of Giving | Balsam Hill Donates to Point Hope

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Christmas is one of the best times of year to lend a helping hand to those in need. In keeping with the spirit of the season, and on behalf of Point Hope, I'm thrilled to partner with Balsam Hill, a company that is not only the leading provider of premium realistic artificial trees, but also one that places high value on giving back to the community.

This December 7 through January 8, Balsam Hill will be launching its annual “A Season of Giving” philanthropic campaign. For each engagement on campaign-related posts social media, they will be matching with a donation for five participating charitable organizations while encouraging others to help spread awareness about each worthy cause.

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The participating charities include; the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Idaho, JDRF of Minnesota, Enchanted Makeovers, Point Hope, and Reba’s Ranch House, with each to be featured on the Balsam Hill Facebook page, blog, and Philanthropy page.

Every share, comment, or Facebook reaction is equivalent to a dollar amount, and Balsam Hill will tally all the engagements and donate corresponding funds to each organization.

This is not the first giving campaign where Balsam Hill has made Point Hope a benefactor of their philanthropic work. I can't express my gratitude to Balsam Hill, and all the really beautiful and giving people within the organization for inviting us to participate in their "A Season of Giving" campaign.

Please help spread the word and join us in supporting Point Hope and their mission to be a voice for forgotten children.

Visit the Point Hope page, and Balsam Hill's blog and Facebook page to learn more!

September is National Preparedness Month | SERVPRO®

For 13 years, National Preparedness Month has been observed throughout the month of September. This year, the theme is “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. YOU CAN.”

Peach Crumble

My sister's friend, Sue, makes the most delicious peach crumble! Since peaches are ripe in my trees, and many of yours too (also available at fruit stands across the country!) I begged her to share her recipe with us. It is soooo simple, and soooo yummy!

What's Your Plan? | Home Fires & SERVPRO®

Did you know that home fires make up the majority of the 70,000 annual disasters that the American Red Cross responds to each year? And when fires strike, experts estimate that you may have as little as 2 minutes to exit a burning home.

New Movie | The Case For Christ

New Movie | The Case For Christ

Opening in theaters on April 7, THE CASE FOR CHRIST is perfect for the Easter-season and anyone who has ever wondered if there is a God, and if so, how giving themselves over to His will would change their lives. Watch the trailer!

Love | Eternally

Love | Eternally

This month I’ve been exploring love in all of it’s glorious nuances and applications. We've talked about the importance of loving one's self, the ups and downs of romantic love, and today I’d like to cover eternal love. Love that knows no time limits, no constraints, no bounds whatsoever.

Savory Beef Strudel

Savory Beef Strudel

My nephew, is a 3rd year student at the University of Washington (yes, proud auntie!) After two years of dorm living, he's now in an apartment and having to cook for himself. Look at this savory beef strudel he made! I've got this recipe and so many more at Delilah.com.

Love | Real, Raw, and Romantic

Romantic love is intoxicating and exhilarating, it makes you feel as if you can leap tall buildings or swim across the ocean to be with your true love. It's the stuff of poetry, plays, movies, lyrics, and sometimes, all out war.

Love | It All Begins with YOU

Love | It All Begins with YOU

February is welcomed here like the Mother Ship returning to the outpost with fresh supplies and news from home. (Pardon, so many of my children are sci-fi fans, I’ve begun to speak their language!)

All Things Work Together for Good | Myasthenia Gravis

All Things Work Together for Good | Myasthenia Gravis

Baby Delilah was a healthy, active baby and toddler, meeting all her benchmarks on time or early until she was 2. At that time she was afflicted by a mysterious illness and became unable to walk or move, her eye drooped, she became lax and unresponsive. Rushed to the hospital, there was no answers.

"Do one thing every day that scares you."

"Do one thing every day that scares you."

Many folks I know are happy that 2016 is slipping away and a new year is here! With the changing of the calendar comes new chapters, challenges, and fresh starts.