Winter Soup

I tossed this soup together without a recipe and it turned out really good.  And, it seems to be working well with my diabetes, so that's a bonus! 

Winter Soup

1 can (26.5 oz.) spaghetti sauce (I use the "no added sugar")

4 cups water

1 can (4 oz.) sliced mushrooms

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

1 cup pasta (I use Dreamfields brand pasta)

1 lb. ground sausage, browned and drained

Mix sauce, water, mushrooms and tomatoes in large saucepan  Add sausage after it has been browned and drained. Bring to a boil and add uncooked pasta, allow to boil and reduce heat.  Cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Sprinkle each serving with Parmesean cheese.

One Day At A Time

That's how I'm moving.  I feel good, considering.  Glad I took the weekend to just be sad and rest. And while I'm still sad and disappointed, I am thankful that I am able to look at it as a blessing. 
I'm still waiting to hear from the doctors office, which they won't call until tomorrow to set up the appointment at the hospital. 

Emily and I took some time together yesterday morning, and it was FUN! I had to go to Woodsfield anyway to the bank and put some gas in the van, for the trip to Marietta later.  We stopped at our favorite gift shop, Pat's Gift Shoppe, I think there is 16 rooms full of beautiful things.  We looked through each room, and each thing.  She found a Valentine teddy bear in the discount room, which is my favorite room to look through, after I check out their Gooseberry Patch cookbook display.  Was disappointed that the newest books are not in yet, but it was just as well, I didn't have enough money on me! :) Will keep checking on that.  After we shopped around there, we went to our next favorite place to go, the library.  We have our routine, she picks out 2 or 3 books, then we look at videos, then mommy is allowed to find some books.  Emily sits on the stool in the cookbook section and looks at one of her books while I look for my books.  It seems to work pretty good too.

Tax time is here.  We'll be digging out all of our tax stuff and that will be what I will be doing for the next couple of weeks or so.  Hoping the tax books don't take over our kitchen table like the cattle books have done right now.  Seems like our office expands to the kitchen.  I'm not looking forward to working on taxes this year.  Adding the cheese business to the already chaotic farm books has been less than easy.  May take a couple more years, but I'll get it all figured out.

Only about 2 months until we start making cheese.  I'm looking forward to it, for different reasons, 1. I enjoy making cheese, just wish my feet enjoyed it as much! 2. It means spring is on it's way! 3. Gets me out of the house and moving around.   Still hoping to add one more cheese, but as it is right now, we are going to have to really work hard to get the shelves in our cooler filled up.  Cheese is moving really well! 

Cows are all done with the herd certification for another year.  Always feels good after it is done.  Waiting for paperwork is all we have to do now.  Got our dry cows moved into the "upper barn".  In about 2 weeks through April we will be busy with babies!  Had one cow calve a week ago.  We bred her with beef semen, so we have a huge baby bull calf out of a Belgium Blue.  They grow and put weight on fast!  Mama cow is a bit wore out, but she's perking up now.  It was cold when she calved.  They seem to like to do that when the temps. fall down below 20.  We're making up a list of heifers and milk cows for sale this spring, or sooner.  Have had several folks contacting us for some animals.  So if anyone is interested in cattle, just let us know.  All ages and stages of lactation.

I found a couple of good diabetic cookbooks at the library yesterday.  I'm anxious to try something out for lunch, I just don't know what yet.  Watching what I eat, insulin and some exercise is really working well.  My morning fasting glucose this morning was 96, and even though my target number is 90 or less, I'm happy with my 96.  I looked back on my book that I keep track with, and less than 2 weeks ago my fasting glucose was 202.  I'm amazed at the energy I have, and I feel so positive and good.  I'll post some of the good recipes that I've tried.  I've found some really good ones, and even a dessert! 

Today we have snow and ice.  I want to take a walk later, and take my camera.  I didn't do that with the last snow because the temperatures dropped in the teens with a -0 windchill.  It's cold today, but I think it will be tolerable for a short walk.  Until we take that walk, today will be a busy laundry day! :)

Saying Goodbye....

I now have 2 babies that I have never had the chance to hold. 
We were told on Thursday, after looking at the ultrasound, that the baby did not
grow past 6 weeks, and the heart stopped. 

So, here at home I've been since Thursday, for the most part, sitting in my
pj's and not up to going out and about. 

I skipped the farm market yesterday.  I do apologize to my customers.  I just
could not make myself spend the day "business as usual".

My D&C was scheduled for tomorrow morning at 6 am.  I am rescheduling because there
is no way in the world I will be able to make the appt. at that time.  I want Al with me,
but those cows still have to be milked.  That's our reality, dairy business goes on.  Plus,
I would have to pull out of here no later than 4 am. 

And, maybe I'm just dragging my feet about the appt.  I want to be ready, not make the
appt. in a hurried way.  The news was so sudden, and I don't think I was even to myself when
they made the appt.  Now, I'm a little clearer, and have some questions to ask regarding it.

Emily is understanding very well.  I'm so glad we chose to tell her about the baby.  She would be
very scared at my hospital visit this week if she did not know why.  She told me that she
would take care of me. 

I will be going to an Endocrinologist (sp????).  The appt. for that is April 2.  Such a ways off!
It will be good to be with a specialist regarding my diabetes.  Thankfully my numbers are
heading in the right direction, and consistently.  I will make that the positive of the sadness.

Update & Recipe

Such a busy week this past week has been!  Two days were spent going to the doctors office in Marietta.  And yesterday was the farmer's market in Marietta.  I spend a lot of time in that town! 

The doctors appointment confirmed that I am pregnant, due around September 4.  Ultrasound is scheduled for this coming Thursday to see the heartbeat. 

I am meeting with a diabetic counselor, and she is Fantastic!!!  So good at explaining what I need to do, wrote out what I need to get out of each meal and snacks.  She started me on insulin right away, and I'm very happy to say it isn't all that bad!  I have to give myself a shot 2 times a day, right before breakfast and before dinner.  I check my sugar 4 times a day.  This will give her an idea of how well I am doing with the amount of insulin I need to take, if it will need adjusted. 

Emily is so excited!  She's been telling everyone that she sees that she will be a big sister.  Poor little thing, she thought that when we went to the doctors on Wednesday, we would be getting the baby that day!  Wish it could be that easy! 

I received my newest issue of Taste of Home Healthy Cooking.  It is a really great magazine!  What I like best is that it includes the nutritional breakdown of each recipe, so I can see just what I can have and how much.  I made a soup recipe that very night that the magazine came.

Lasagna Soup

1 lb. ground beef, lean

1 large green pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cans (14.5 oz. each)reduced sodium beef broth

2 cans (14.5 oz. each)diced tomatoes

1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce

1 cup corn

1/4 cup tomato paste

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 1/2 c. uncooked spiral pasta ( I found some that was recommended for diabetics)

1/2 cup shredded Parmesean cheese

In a large saucepan, cook the beef, green pepper, onion and garlic over medium heat until

meat is no longer pink; drain.

Stir in the broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, tomato paste, Italian seasoning and pepper.

Bring to a boil.  Stir in pasta.  Return to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes

or until pasta is tender.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Nutrition facts: 1-1/3 cup equals 280 calories, 7 gr. fat, 41 mg. cholesterol, 572 mg. sodium, 35 gr. carb.

4 gr. fiber, 20 gr. protein. 

Busy week, Finally!

I have to admit, after being snowed in for almost a week, I look forward to the busy week this week.  Yesterday I shipped out 8 wheels of cheese to Jungle Jim's.  Today, we took a ride to New Concord to deliver some cheese to Buttonwood Market,and of course I shopped a little while I was there! She has some good stuff! Found a wonderful cookbook that I can't wait to have a chance to look through.  It's called Simply in Season  by Mary Beth Lind and Cathleen Hockman-Wert.  Also picked up some of the chili seasoning I love so much! Just in case we get snowed in again, I can make sure we have some chili and cornbread made.
Tomorrow is my doctors appointment in Marietta, OH.  I missed last week because of the weather.  Looks like the weather tomorrow will be much better!  I'm nervous about the appointment.  I'm very concerned about keeping my diabetes in check during the pregnancy, and hope that the dr. finds that all is well so far.  Of course, I don't feel well, but that is a good thing!  Been so very tired, and sick to my stomach.  Finding that a lot of smells are not agreeing with me.  Al put on a show last night on the History Internation channel.  It was about Alaskan fishing....well, it showed how the process the fish, that was ok, until they got to the processing of the head and guts...ewww.....Needless to say, Al had to settle on watching Golden Girls marathon after that.  I thought I was being smart by putting back all my maternity clothes from when I was pregnant with Emily, but unfortunately, I believe they are going to be just a shade small this time around.  Will plan on stopping at Goodwill and looking through some of their maternity clothes. 
Herd testing is almost finished up for the year! Yay!  We tested 80 head.  A few more than last year.  We test the cows for TB, and the vet will be back in the check the cows tails for the results of their injection.  They also pulled blood samples on each cow to check for Johnes. We have a Johnes free herd, and feel that it is so important to do these tests.  It also helps us feel comfortable using our milk for the cheese.  We are sure that it is from a healthy herd.  Thursday will be when the vet comes in to check the TB and we'll also have a list of some cows that need to be palpated (checked for pregnancy, and how far along).  After that is done, I'll put that in our record book.  The testing yesterday too just over 4 hours.  It's a long day each year when we do that! 
I've been busy in the cheese house, but not as busy as I should be, thanks to the queasiness.  I have found that the smell of the vinegar that I wipe our wood shelves with makes my tummy hurt too.  We emptied the brine tanks awhile back. I'm planning on washing them up and getting them ready to fill up at the end of next month or beginning of March.  Cheese make will be here before we know it!  I'm ready!  It does feel good to take the winter off each year. Gives me some time to rest, and then when it's time to make I'm all refreshed! Would love to try out another variety, but not sure what yet! We're just thankful to be doing the 4 that we are doing, and having them coming out consistent. 
I've been having some fun in the kitchen lately, regardless of my icky stomach, I've been very, very hungry! That doesn't make sense to me, but I won't argue!
Made a few recipes from GBP Fast Fix Meals. 

Sloppy Joe Casserole

1 lb. ground beef

16 oz. can Sloppy Joe Sauce

2 (8 oz. each) tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

8 oz. pkg. shredded cheddar cheese ( I actually used our Hill Folk...can't help but experiment!)

Brown ground beef in a skillet; drain.  Stir in sauce. Unroll one tube of crescent rolls; spread out in the bottom of a 13x9 inche baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Top rolls with meat mixture; sprinkle with cheese.  Add second can of crescent rolls on top and smooth out.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until golden.  Serves 6.

Easy Potato-Cheddar Soup

10.75 oz. can cream of potato soup

10.75 can Cheddar cheese soup

3 cups milk

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 (16 oz. each) cans whole potatoes, drained and diced

Combine soups, milk, salt and pepper in a large soup pot over medium heat; stir until blended.  Add potatoes; simmer until hot and bubbly.  Serves 6.

Mmm...posting these recipes have made me hungry!  I have a few other recipes market from that cookbook, I think I will go and get something for dinner going.  It will either be Katie's Taco Casserole or Honey Chicken Stir Fry.  Both sound delicious!  Will post them as soon as I give them a try!

Have a great evening!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow!

It seems that a lot of snowing has been falling in Ohio, and a lot of other places surrounding us too.  Not sure how much snow we have right now, it looks like it could be close to about 10 inches or so.  We did make it out on Sunday and bought some groceries, stopped at the hardware stores, and had lunch at McDonald's, Emily's favorite place.  We figured if we're going to be snowed in for awhile, we might as well treat ourselves to lunch while we were able to get out.  We had snow each day after that.  Wednesday was my doctors appointment in Marietta, but I did not get there.  Rescheduled it for this coming Wednesday and I'm hoping that the roads will be clear enough for me to make that trip! 
As of today, we are on what is called a Level 2 Snow Emergency, in other words, stay home if you don't have to be out!  Which is good advice as far as I'm concerned.  We missed last Saturday's market, and looks like I won't be making it to Marietta tomorrow either.  Our supply truck for our milk  house supplies came yesterday, and he ended up putting his truck in the ditch in front of our house.  Called the township to bring a truck and pull him out.  We did get our 4 wheel drive pick up out and made a short trip to town.  Grabbed a few necessary things at our local Convenient store, and stopped at the local hardware.  Got home just before the second round of snow started. 

Even though we've been snowed in for almost a week for the most part, we do have a sled, and for Emily that means fun!  We've been making time each day, or evening to go out and play in the snow!  She don't seem to care how cold it is, or how wet her clothes get, just as long as she can take her sled down the big hill from the cheese house down the lane.  I make Al stay at the bottom and catch her, because she goes so fast at times that it scares me!  You can hear her laughing all the way down and then she'll yell out "here I come!"It's so much fun!

This is a bunch of snow that she was determined

to bring into the house.  I was informed that I

"broke her heart" when I told her no.  She

said she wanted to take it into her

room and play with it! LOL

We took time to take a silly, family

self portrait!

Planning on working on our cattle records today, good day to do it! We also need to get our paperwork ready for when the vet comes on Monday to run the yearly tests on the cattle.  That's a job, but well worth it to make sure our girls are all healthy.  I have 2 cheese orders that I need to get out this next week as soon as the roads are clear, Jungle Jim's put in an order, and thankfully are very patient with us and understanding that we've been stuck for the last week!  And Buttonwood Market ordered, and we're wanting to make the trip that way and deliver that order.  Looking forward to getting out on that day! 
Needless to say, we are closed here at the farm until weather improves!  My only way of getting to the cheese house is walking up that hill, not too far, but it's slick! 
Keep warm and safe!