Looking for Goat Keeping Resources

Posted on January 9, 2012 by

Looking for goat keeping resources? Me too!

Look who joined our family.

 
pygmy goats Looking for Goat Keeping Resources

 

We have a few books with goat information.

We have the name of a local vet who specializes in “ruminants”. So we do have “some” goat information. But I’d like more.

We have some basics down.

  • Goats are social, always keep at least 2 goats. Check
  • They need protection… uhm we learned this one the hard way. We lost our first pygmies to a mountain lion. We now have a secure goat shed that we can enclose them at night so they are protected. Check.
  • Water and food.. check.
  • Goats are a great tool to teach responsibility to kids. Check, we have kids! Feeding both morning and night. Carrying water morning and night.

Here are some areas I’d like more information.

  • How do you care for baby goats?
  • Can you milk a pygmy goat?
  • How do you start milking goats? will they just stand there???
  • Common goat problems and solutions.

I’ve been researching goat keeping books. There are so many to choose from. I’m looking for something that my kids can read and understand.

BTW… Quicksilver for sure is going to have babies… maybe puddles. :0) This is so fun. I’ll post about our unique goat coop (as my 8yo calls it). Built by my husband and sons we used a freecycle camper shell for the top. Cool!

So leave a comment…. let me know your favorite informative beginners goat keeping resources.

What are your favorite goat keeping resources… books or videos.

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Canning Meat

Posted on December 19, 2011 by

Canning meat…. it smells burned??

Mick asks this question…

I have canned beef stew and ground beef with no issue but my family complains about the smell when I open them. They it smells burnt and the hamburger smells like canned dog food. Am I doing something wrong?

Mick, the only thing I can think that might be making your meat smell burned is if you have browned it too much before canning. You should only be lightly browning the meat before filling your canning jars. Just enough to make it shrink a bit and not pack together.

The other possibility is you’ve simply over processed it. Be sure you are using proper canning times and pressure too. Depending on your elevation your pressure will vary. I’ve got processing directions on this page of SimplyCanning – Canning Meat. I’ve specified venison on this page but the instructions are the same for beef.

Hope that helps.

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Canning Apple Butter in Quarts: What was I thinking?!?

Posted on October 23, 2011 by

canning apples jonagold Canning Apple Butter in Quarts: What was I thinking?!?Canning Apple Butter in Quarts

Chas Asks:

I successfully made and canned 11 quarts of Apple Butter, I an now realizing that what the heck am I going to do with Apple Butter in such large jars? I mindlessly followed the recipe, but now I am realizing that I needed to can in smaller jars…. would it be safe to open the jars, dump into large pot, bring back to a boil an can in smaller jars?

Chas, Yes a quart of apple butter is most definitely a LOT of apple butter. :0) You can do these in smaller jars now. Be sure and bring to a boil fill clean jars and use new canning lids. Another option is for you to go ahead and leave them in the quarts, when you open one to use it you could freeze half of it, when the first half is gone thaw the second half. That way you would not have to go to the work of re-canning.

Sharon
SimplyCanning.com

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Cannng results on my counter

Posted on October 3, 2011 by

These past few days have been tomatoes and pepper filled. I turned this

10 3 021 300x200 Cannng results on my counter

green bell and pimento peppers

10 3 013 200x300 Cannng results on my counter

fresh picked tomatoes from my garden

Into this:

10 3 026 Cannng results on my counteron my counter this morning

19 quarts - stewed tomatoes (green peppers and tomatoes)
4 pints – stewed tomatoes (pimento peppers and tomatoes)
7 quarts – stewed tomatoes (pimento peppers and tomatoes)
24 1/2 pints canned pimento peppers

Plus not pictured – dried peppers and dried tomatoes

Other stuff on my counter:
9 pints dill pickles
2 quarts – Dill Pickles
8 pints apple butter

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Canning with Honey

Posted on August 27, 2011 by

Canning with Honey? You bet.

Hi Sharon,
I can’t seem to locate a place to ask a question so here it goes. Can I substitute brown sugar for regular in a jam (peach) recipe? If so, would it be the same amount? I would think it would really give the jam a wonderful flavor but wouldn’t think as much would be needed. Just curious. I like to try new things and I haven’t seen this anywhere! Please help!

Hi Cynthia, Here is a page on Simply Canning where I comment on canning with honey and other sugar substitutes. I must tell you that I have not used brown sugar in my jams but I’d not hesitate to give it a try.

Canning with Honeyhoneyspoon com Canning with Honey

I’m not sure if you were looking on Simply-Sharon (this blog) or my canning site SimplyCanning.com but….. for future reference. I have a question submit form on this page here. Help Form

At the top of Simply Canning There is a FAQ link that takes you to many canning questions that others have asked as well.

Honestly….. submitting here is just fine with me too. :0)

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New to Canning

Posted on August 27, 2011 by

Here is a question I received over at SimplyCanning.com (my home preserving website) I thought I’d share a few of these here.

I am new to canning. I have a borrowed Presto pressure canner without instructions. I’m not sure of the size. It looks like it will hold 6-8 qrt jars. At what pressure/temp. should I can at and for how long.

Mike,
Processing times will depend on the food you are canning. And correct pressure will depend on your elevation.

Take a look at these pages and see if they help.

Pressure Canning

Altitude Adjustments

New to Canning

You might also you might benefit from my canning guide e-book.

Hope that helps.

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Vacation in August? Expect Garden Overflow.

Posted on August 16, 2011 by

 

Just spent a fun long weekend with grandparents in Nebraska,  It was the weekend of their county fair so we visited and participated in a few activities.  The highlight was the kids peddle car tractor pull.   My 8 yo got to participate.

020 300x200 Vacation in August? Expect Garden Overflow.

My in-laws are auction addicts and so they always have fun old stuff that they have picked up.  Sometimes they get fantastic deals on vintage and antiquities of all sorts.    Grandpa is particularly fond of old lamps and has them stacked up on shelves and hanging from the ceiling.   I came home with a few treasures from them.  Two nice fermenting crocks will be put to use soon.

041 300x200 Vacation in August? Expect Garden Overflow.

 

Spent a nice last evening there playing croquet on the front lawn and headed home the next morning.

027 300x200 Vacation in August? Expect Garden Overflow.

 

I like Nebraska,  I like my in-laws, but there is nothing like the mountains of Colorado.  I am so glad to be home.   And we must have had some rain because the garden was not as dry as I expected.  And look at the produce we (my boys) picked this morning!

060 300x200 Vacation in August? Expect Garden Overflow.

beans and pickling cucumber overflows

That is not including the tomatoes, eggplant and Swiss chard that needs to be taken care of.    I had two of my boys picking beans and pickling cucumbers.  It is amazing how much pickling cucumbers grow in 5 days!!  Unfortunately some of these may end up chicken food.

My younger son came in all excited about the tomatoes that were ripe.  I told him to leave them on the vine!  Tomatoes can wait a day or two but the cucumbers needed to be picked NOW.

 

 

 

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Ice hockey, boys, and competition.

Posted on January 15, 2011 by

Not too much to say… except it was a very good day today. Three brothers had a blast.

brothers1 Ice hockey, boys, and competition.

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How to Cook Acorn Squash

Posted on December 21, 2010 by

How to Cook Acorn Squash

My husband grew up eating things like squash, kohlrabi and other garden fresh veggies. Honestly I’d never even heard of Kohlrabi!

Until we started growing acorn squash I had no idea how tasty it is! I’ve become a squash lover. I even love spaghetti squash… though I’ve yet to convince my family.

How to Cook Acorn Squash

how to cook acorn squash How to Cook Acorn Squash
First cut the squash in half. They can be pretty hard so it might take a little muscle. Use a large knife, place the tip on the table and press down. When you reach the half way point you may find as I did that the stem and point area of the skin is harder. I sliced off the tip and the knife slides right through.

After the squash is cut you’ll need to remove the seeds. Simply use a spoon and scoop it out. Save the seeds for the chickens or the mulch pile.

how to cook acorn squash 2 How to Cook Acorn Squash

I wonder if you can roast acorn squash seeds like pumpkin seeds. I’ll have to research that!

After the seeds are removed place the squash on a cookie sheet cut side down. Roast in an oven at 400 degrees for 30 – 45 minutes. The squash is done when it is fork tender. Scoop it out and serve with butter and salt (the way I like it) or brown sugar (the way my family likes it).

how to cook acorn squash 4 How to Cook Acorn Squash

From what I read it does not work well to cook acorn squash in water or by steaming it. Apparently it gets soggy and looses flavor. I’ve not tried it that way.

Enjoy your squash!

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Chicken Nugget Recipe

Posted on December 9, 2010 by

Chicken Nugget Recipe, Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Healthy Homemade Chicken Nuggets? Can it be done? Yes! Well maybe. These chicken nuggets are deep fried so I guess this depends on your idea of healthy. Oven baked would be healthier… but even deep fried, these have got to be healthier than the smashed up leftover chicken, that makes up most of the prepackaged chicken nuggets you can buy.

2 boneless skinless chicken breast.
1 cup flour (I use whole wheat)
1 1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
2/3 cup milk

Slice your chicken breasts into strips or nuggets. Set aside.

Lightly beat one egg. Mix in all other ingredients. You should have a somewhat thick batter.

Dip your chicken pieces in this batter. The trick is to get the batter to stick to your chicken… It’s not easy. Dip it thick and it seems to work ok.

chicken nugget recipe 3 Chicken Nugget Recipe

Fry your chicken pieces in a deep fryer about 4 minutes in or until golden brown.  Check a nice thick piece to be sure they are done through.

chicken nugget recipe Chicken Nugget Recipe

This also works in about 1 inch oil in a cast iron skillet.   chicken nugget recipe 2 Chicken Nugget Recipe

Fry 2 or 3   minutes in or until golden brown.  Turn and brown the other side.    Total time will depend on the thickness of your chicken.

Serve these with Ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, or whatever sauces you like. I liked mine just as they are.

Chicken Nugget Recipe Maybe not the prettiest things in the cooking world but YUM!

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