Where the heck did summer wander off to? Must've been good, because it sure went by fast!
Life here on the 3/4 Acre Farm has been busy as well. This time of year, I spend a lot of time getting the chicken coop and yard ready for the winter weather to come. The garden is pretty well harvested now, and since we've had a couple of hard frosts I believe that any new stuff is done growing. I still hope to gather up some late lettuces and radishes, and perhaps some last minute beets. Ahh, beets. How I love thee! And if you don't grow, the chickens will love to eat you as greens--before the snows come! Fall is also a great time to do some canning and freezing of fall fruits and vegetables. I just love stocking up for a long cold winter ahead, and knowing that I don't have to trek to the grocery store to get good things to eat. I only need to open the freezer or check the cupboard. Lately, I have been really into apples. Everything apples: Sauce, pie, chutney, pudding, you name it, I like it. For book club, I made a batch of Apple Sausage Bundles. They were a huge hit! Follow the recipe below if you want unadulterated adulation from family and friends:
Apple Sausage Bundles
You'll need the following (locally grown is best!):
1 package sausages, at least 4 inches long each
1 apple, sliced and cored
1 pound thick cut bacon
3 Tbsp. peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground mustard
1/4 cup lemon or orange juice
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, mustard, juice and sugar. Cut sausages into thirds. Place sausage into marinade, cover with wrap, and refrigerate overnight or at least a couple of hours. When ready to make, take a piece of sausage, a slice of apple and wrap in a piece of bacon. Secure with toothpick and "dunk" in marinade. Place on a lined cookie sheet and broil four inches from burner. Broil each side about 3-5 minutes, turning often to prevent burning, until browned and crispy. Serve to non-vegetarian friends, warn them about the toothpicks, and prepare for the outpouring of love to commence. This recipe would be a good one to serve when you are "wanting" something in return! Or, just because you can never have enough pork products!
