Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 148 and The Farmgirl Buzz!

 

Dear friends, Welcome back to your favorite Friday Blog Hop for farmgirls far and wide!

I'm so happy March has finally arrived here in the northeast. Even though we are still experiencing unusually cold weather for this time of year I know without a doubt that soon I'll be spending more time outdoors cleaning the greenhouse, raking left over leaves out of the flower beds and planting seeds for this years flower crop! 

 Plus, I've got a long list of DIY projects for inside! This is the year we are FINALLY going to finish our ECO-FRIENDLY kitchen re-do we started a few years ago. It started with refacing the kitchen cabinets, and a new vintage inspired farm sink. NEW floors and a NEW island top are top of the list, plus as always there will be furniture and walls to paint! I'll do my best to share as we go! 

We are also just two weeks a way from our 150th Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop and our BIG announcement!!! Stay tuned!!! 

Here's The Farmgirl Buzz from Farmgirl Chit-Chat!

Life is humming along on Farmgirl Chit-Chat  this week! We are wrapping up a craft swap, stitching together a crochet along, and tying one on with an apron swap! 

PLUS,  Heidi is having her Grab an Apron Blog Hop and Dolly is hosting a giveaway for one of her beautifully custom designed reversible fabric handmade bags! And, Debbie aka Farmgirl Unleashed is about to become a first time Bee Keeper!

So, if you haven't joined us yet, please do! You won't find a more active, productive and supportive group on Facebook! Well, besides the amazingly brilliant MaryJanesFarmgirl Connection that is, which inspired us to start our own!

Thank you all for your fabulous entries each week! You are all simply amazing and we ( Heidi, Dolly, Debbie and I ) LOVE how you share your farmgirl lifestyles and inspire others. Keep up the GOOD work! Farmgirls Forever!!!

Time to link up for your weekly dose of what??? Farmgirl Soul-food that's what!

Heidi, Dolly, Debbie and I love to see what you're up to from week to week so let's get going!

Heidi of My Simple Country Living 
and White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog
Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking
Debbie of Farmgirl Unleashed 
and me of course!

You don't have to live on a farm to join this hop!

 Farmgirl is a Condition of the Heart~ MaryJaneButters 

Brag a little ( or a lot ) about your farmgirl talents! Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea! Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

Tasty Tuesday~ FRESH Strawberry Pie

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday at Dandelion House! Your go- to spot for trying something new and healthy each week in your homestead kitchen.

 Depending on where you live, it just might be strawberry season already! Who doesn't LOVE a fresh picked, sweet and juicy strawberry right out of the patch? Strawberries do taste best at room temperature but if you bake or cook with them, you must try Dolly's FRESH STRAWBERRY PIE!

Before you click over to Dolly is Cooking for the full recipe  ( and more delicious southern fried recipes) read Dolly's hints below for picking the best strawberries! How does she know? Well, she worked on a Strawberry Farm of course!

 

  *** Hints for picking the best strawberries*** 

When your local berry field opens

  If you are like me excited to eat some go pick some to eat and enjoy that first real berry taste

1. Wait about 2 weeks then go and pick more they will be sweeter, providing the weather is warm.

2.  If you are going to make jam wait until they are very ripe and sweet.

3.  Do not pick if the nights are very cold~your berries will be bitter not very sweet

*When the nights are warm and there is plenty of sun then go pick!

4.  Do not wash or cap your berries until you go to use them.

5.  Refrigerate them dirty...If you have a few not quite ripe leave them out on counter overnight...

6.  Freeze your berries washed drained on paper towels. Place on a baking sheet not touching first freeze, then place those berries in a freezer bag for making jam, or using in baking.

*No they will not taste like a fresh berry when taken out of the freezer I don't care who tells you that.

7.  You may prepare berries for freezing to make shortcakes over the winter in this way with room      temperature strawberries.

     a.  wash and slice

     b.  Keeping on counter still at room temp. add sugar, stir often to dissolve the sugar, They will make their own syrup.  When you have the syrup you need in them, usually within an hour place in freezer bags and freeze.

8.  Pick as often as you can because the season is short lived enjoy every minute of it!

Dip into The Farmgirl Friday Recipe Box when you're looking for an old fashioned favorite or a home- cooked meal made from scratch with love. You'll find recipes from the best homestead kitchens, inspiration for setting a beautiful table with all the charm of a farmhouse kitchen PLUS tips for stocking and organizing your pantry. 601 now following!

* All recipes featured here have been submitted to the ORIGINAL Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop at Deborah Jean's Dandelion House

Tasty Tuesday- Apple Crumble Pie

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday at Dandelion House! Your go- to spot for trying something new and healthy each week in your farm kitchen.

 This weeks Tasty Tuesday featured recipe comes from The Wilderness Wife's New England home kitchen in Maine. My husband would eat pie every night if I made one for him. He would rather eat pie, than cookies, cake or any sort of fancy desert. I can't blame him. Homemade pies are comforting, tasty and so easy to make once you get the hang of it. And, they are the perfect desert for almost any meal. How bout you? Pie or Cake?

Here's what the Wilderness Wife says about her Apple Crumble Pie and more!

Apple Pie and Mom …it’s an American thing!

This Apple Crumble pie is one of my favorite Apple Pie recipes..  I love making pies and ,of course, Bill loves eating them, and apple is his favorite. To change things up from the typical two crust apple pie, I try different recipes.  This apple pie recipe for Apple Crumble Pie is from an older cookbook circa 1978 called “Better Homes and Gardens All Time Favorite Pies”. This is my “go to” cookbook for pie recipes as it contains enough pie recipes for a lifetime, 169 total.  If you ever get a chance to grab one at a yard sale or on Ebay, it’s a good investment. One hint, be sure to use pie apples when baking an apple pie. Click this link for a helpful chart from that New England favorite, “The Old farmer’s Almanac”.

Be sure to visit the Wilderness Wife for the entire recipe and baskets full of more delicious pie recipes! 

Dip into The Farmgirl Friday Recipe Box when you're looking for an old fashioned favorite or a home- cooked meal made from scratch with love. You'll find recipes from the best homestead kitchens, inspiration for setting a beautiful table with all the charm of a farmhouse kitchen PLUS tips for organizing your pantry. 584 now following!

* All recipes featured here have been submitted to the ORIGINAL Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop at Deborah Jean's Dandelion House