Hipster sighting!!!
Double points for 'roll your own!!'
Double points for 'roll your own!!'
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
First Blood
The evil mandolin claims yet another victim.
(click the pic for an even larger view!!!)
Even though I know to be careful with mandolins...even though I know it's easy to get cut while using a mandolin...and even though I know you shouldn't try to use all the potato when slicing on a mandolin.... I still managed to shaved off a chunk of my finger today slicing potatoes on a mandolin. Surprisingly, it doesn't really hurt at all. It's mostly just annoying to be down a finger. It's funny how you don't realize how often you use an appendage until you can't. It's also funny how your body naturally compensates for it. A simple task such as typing is so involuntary, but my unharmed fingers seem to have rallied together to help out their fallen comrade. It's a strange cut though...not quite in the undernail meat...but still bled a fair amount.
On that note! Today's lunch menu: Ramp and Corn Chowder, whole wheat dinner rolls, pickled beets and apple-pear cobbler
First task: bread duty. On the farm, we use whole wheat flours whenever possible...so all the time. Baking with whole wheat can be a bit of challenge. For the bread today, we used half whole wheat 'all purpose' and half whole wheat pastry flour. The rolls turned out really good, but just a little courser than bleached flour rolls.
The weather here today was over cast and soggy, but no rain. I was going to run, but didn't want to trudge my clean Nike's through the mug to get to the road. Instead I opted for some conditioning in my tiny cabin. Pushing things to the walls and folding up my rug, I spent a little QT with my girl, Zuz, from BodyRockTV. She is a ridiculously ripped lady from Prague and she has a website that she posts daily at-home-work outs! Push up count: 3 sets of 5... whew
Lastly, I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a hot shower here on the farm. I'd be happy with a luke warm shower. And I'd even settle for a goosebump free shower. But no. I have been avoiding the shower since Monday when I had my first chilling experience, but I was starting to smell too much like a hipster. So, I had to face it again. Anyone passing by the packaging shed might have been alarmed by the shouts coming out of the men's bathroom. Yes, the men's bathroom. There isn't a shower in the women's bathroom. Which is another cause for concern. I feel funny about showering while the crew is here, especially in the men's bathroom. So, I wait until they leave, which is around 630. I am still holding out hope that something is just not right with the shower and that it can be fixed or that there is some kind of trick to get the hot water to work. fingers crossed!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Pics!
This morning I woke to the sound of rain. The soft and steady kind that farmers just love! My urge to go for a rainy run was quickly over come by the stronger urge to lay in bed and listen to the rain fall. The consolation for getting out of bed was that I got to make a pour over! (Yesterday morning, my coffee was non-existent!) With my morning libation in hand, I headed down to the packaging facility where I was introduced to the field crew. The crew is almost completely Hispanic and only speaks a little English. Yet another instance in my short career where I hear both my mom and Chef Dunn’s voices echoing in my mind, telling me I should learn Spanish. …maybe tomorrow…
The highlight of today’s prep was oxtail! I tossed close to 20 pounds of oxtail in a spicy rub to marinate for fajitas on Friday. I have never worked with oxtail before so I am looking forward to how it turns out!
Today’s lunch menu: meatloaf, braised cabbage, ramps and fruit salad. Perfect for a rainy day!
I have some pics for you!!! Although, I was quite disappointed when I realized that what I thought was my camera battery charger was only an attachment to the charger. So, I have no idea where my charger is. If I had to guess, I’d say somewhere on Ann Street. So J and danda…keep your eyes open! Two bars of battery are not going to last me long!
Here it is! This is the farm kitchen.
Firm believers in mason jar storage! love!
Ramps! Served at lunch! Just a quick saute with sesame oil, fine red onion and fresh garlic!I have to admit, these were much better than my first very oniony encounter...
Monday, April 25, 2011
First Day
Day number one: complete!
Today's lunch menu: Beef stew, cornbread muffins and spinach salad with red onion, apple and citrus-poppy vinaigrette.
I started work this morning around around 8. Browned the meat, deglazed with some canned tomatoes from last year's harvest, made the muffins (with green chilis) and washed some spinach. I got a quick tour of the chef's areas (coolers, freezers, etc). Lunch was ready and out by noon. After lunch was clean up and I was done for the day! A breezy 5 hours.
After work, I went into town and got my very first PO box! I'm not sure if this is really all that exciting, but I feel like someone in the movies when I open my little mail box! It would be even cooler if there was some mail in there! feel free to send me some!!! :)
While in town, I found a store called Viroqua Food Cooperative. A little food gem out here in the middle of nowhere, stocked with organic and locally made/grown products, special diet foods, a nice asian section, bulk spices, teas, granola and flours, locally roasted coffee, fair trade and organic coffee, kombucha, a small deli and salad bar.... i was amazed! I am so very excited that I have a place to buy great products here!
On my way back to the farm, I decided to test my memory and drive back without looking at the directions. I got so close...and then I don't know what happened! All of a sudden I recognized an area that I knew, but wasn't supposed to be on this route! Luckily, I was still able to get back to the farm by memory, but just not quite the way I intended.
Driving from Viroqua to the farm is actually quite nice. Much like driving back roads in Michigan, farm land is everywhere. However, much unlike Michigan, this farm land is quite hilly and sometimes terraced. The first 10 minutes of the drive is up along the top of the hill. On either side of the road, which winds and turns constantly, you can see the homes and farms down along the hill sides. The second 10 minutes is spent descending the hill into the valley and navigating the 'slight' turns to your destination. Not all the streets are marked out here, and most 'intersections' are so vague you hardly realize there was an option to turn at all! Which is what I would venture to guess happened to me on my way back!
The roads are pretty empty. However, there is an interesting mix of travelers who share the road. Today, I saw a big tractor coming down the road at me, immediately followed by a Hummer! Also, 2 Amish buggies; one on coming, one I had to pass. They always wave at you. Add one more buggy to the tally I saw while on a quick run and the grand total was:
1 tractor
1 Hummer
3 buggies
1 hard core (pedal) biker
and maybe 3 other cars.
I spent the evening putting my cabin together. Or at least, attempting. I managed to assemble my computer desk (although I'm sure something isn't quite right with it...it still stands pretty sturdy so I'm not going to mess with it!) and two other shelving units. Once those were all put together, I could start putting things in their places. It's still not picture worthy, but by the end of the week I should be able to get some pics up!
Today's lunch menu: Beef stew, cornbread muffins and spinach salad with red onion, apple and citrus-poppy vinaigrette.
I started work this morning around around 8. Browned the meat, deglazed with some canned tomatoes from last year's harvest, made the muffins (with green chilis) and washed some spinach. I got a quick tour of the chef's areas (coolers, freezers, etc). Lunch was ready and out by noon. After lunch was clean up and I was done for the day! A breezy 5 hours.
After work, I went into town and got my very first PO box! I'm not sure if this is really all that exciting, but I feel like someone in the movies when I open my little mail box! It would be even cooler if there was some mail in there! feel free to send me some!!! :)
While in town, I found a store called Viroqua Food Cooperative. A little food gem out here in the middle of nowhere, stocked with organic and locally made/grown products, special diet foods, a nice asian section, bulk spices, teas, granola and flours, locally roasted coffee, fair trade and organic coffee, kombucha, a small deli and salad bar.... i was amazed! I am so very excited that I have a place to buy great products here!
On my way back to the farm, I decided to test my memory and drive back without looking at the directions. I got so close...and then I don't know what happened! All of a sudden I recognized an area that I knew, but wasn't supposed to be on this route! Luckily, I was still able to get back to the farm by memory, but just not quite the way I intended.
Driving from Viroqua to the farm is actually quite nice. Much like driving back roads in Michigan, farm land is everywhere. However, much unlike Michigan, this farm land is quite hilly and sometimes terraced. The first 10 minutes of the drive is up along the top of the hill. On either side of the road, which winds and turns constantly, you can see the homes and farms down along the hill sides. The second 10 minutes is spent descending the hill into the valley and navigating the 'slight' turns to your destination. Not all the streets are marked out here, and most 'intersections' are so vague you hardly realize there was an option to turn at all! Which is what I would venture to guess happened to me on my way back!
The roads are pretty empty. However, there is an interesting mix of travelers who share the road. Today, I saw a big tractor coming down the road at me, immediately followed by a Hummer! Also, 2 Amish buggies; one on coming, one I had to pass. They always wave at you. Add one more buggy to the tally I saw while on a quick run and the grand total was:
1 tractor
1 Hummer
3 buggies
1 hard core (pedal) biker
and maybe 3 other cars.
I spent the evening putting my cabin together. Or at least, attempting. I managed to assemble my computer desk (although I'm sure something isn't quite right with it...it still stands pretty sturdy so I'm not going to mess with it!) and two other shelving units. Once those were all put together, I could start putting things in their places. It's still not picture worthy, but by the end of the week I should be able to get some pics up!
Move in
I'm a valley girl now! However, from what I've heard about 'the' valley, this one is a little bit different.
No cell service.
No running water or indoor plumbing.
No quick 'run up to the store'.
Today I moved to Viroqua, Wisconsin. I will be working as the farm sous chef on an organic CSA farm. I am also living on the farm in a tiny cabin behind the main house. My living quarters is a one room cabin with a loft, electricity and a porch. that's it.
cute, yes.
simple, yes.
much different than i'm used to, ohyeah!
This could take some getting used to.
No cell service.
No running water or indoor plumbing.
No quick 'run up to the store'.
Today I moved to Viroqua, Wisconsin. I will be working as the farm sous chef on an organic CSA farm. I am also living on the farm in a tiny cabin behind the main house. My living quarters is a one room cabin with a loft, electricity and a porch. that's it.
cute, yes.
simple, yes.
much different than i'm used to, ohyeah!
This could take some getting used to.
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