Tuesday July 06, 2010
Just when we thought we were going to see a repeat of last summer, which brought us nothing but clouds and rain, we get hit with this tropical heat! Will the Berkshires ever get the clement climate it deserves? The animals at Boulderwood are just as curious but are certainly adept at finding cool solutions.
The chickens trade the sun-struck grass for dusty barn floors...
The cows commune under the shade of trees and marvel at how the horses....
just don't seem to care....
Monday July 05, 2010
Waitsfield, VT, The Inn at the Round Barn, Anne Marie DeFreest,Tim Piper, Jack and Doreen Simko, Paul Finnerty, and of course, my love, Jim Finnerty. Time spent in a favorite place and with my favorite people.
Sunset Rock, the Long Trail,
East Warren Rd, Warren 4th of July Parade,
Thunder Road Stock Car Races,
dairy cows, starlit nights, great food.
Route 100, covered bridge, Mad River, No bugs.
A place I know so well and miss dearly.
A soul refreshed. A dream reborn.
Friday July 02, 2010
As we meander into the 4th of July weekend I first wanted to reflect on what it is to be an American - and it just isn't all about the apple pie! We have the freedoms here in the USA to be and think freely; to embrace diversity and celebrate our independence through our diversity.
Ok, so what's cookin' in my kitchen this weekend? Right now I have some vegetable soup on the stove - a great way to use some of the greens I have amassed in my fridge from the CSA. And because it's been quite chilly it will be a welcome item on the menu!!
My thoughts on food right now are to keep things simple like a spice rubbed flank steak, leafy green salad, beet salad, broccoli and fresh blueberries.
Here's my favorite spice rub recipe:
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix together, then rub into flank steak. Place flank steak in a gallon freezer bag with any extra rub and place in fridge for at least 8 hours for maximum flavor. Grill on stove top or outdoor grill - your choice! Slice it thinly against the grain and serve over salad or with potatoes (salad or roasted new) and any other farm fresh veggies.
Celebrate your independence!! I plan on doing the same.
Wednesday June 30, 2010
Today in the studio we had with us Teresa Tavares who was born in the Azores (more specifically, the island of Terceira) which is an archipelago located nearly half way between the U.S. and Portugal. If Teresa taught us one thing about Portugese food it's that you can never have too much sea salt in your pantry and onions and garlic for that matter too! What made her interview truly unique for us was how much she had to say about the use of veggies and meats in traditional dishes more than seafood which we had believed to be more of a culinary staple. Listen in and let your mouth water as Teresa describes the heirloom Al Cathra clay pot, her special steak recipe, family-famous rice pudding and much much more.
Carole Murko 20100630 1300.mp3http://www.box.net//static/flash/mp3player_player.swf?playlistURL=http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_v2_mp3_player_shared%26_playlist%26shared_name=upfv4t62yq%26node=f_459750962
Tuesday June 29, 2010
We've got all of our chickens in a row at Boulderwood this morning!
Most days you can spot them taking dirt baths under the porch, competing for cracked corn, eyeing the forbidden gardens and chasing each other around. Along with the endless barn yard entertainment they also provide us the most delicious eggs. Recently, we were anxiously waiting to see if the pile of eggs one of our hens was sitting on for days were going to hatch or not but to no avail.
In the background of this particular picture you can see where Jim has left off trying to literally straighten out the old ice house. Presently it is the shelter for both the chickens and the horses but has experienced some serious sinkage over the last couple of years. So far, Jim, with the help of his son Matt, successfully raised the left side 6 inches! One more inch would make it perfect but we didn't want to push our luck trying to lift the building again with the tractor. Great job guys!
