Soup For The Soul

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Deborah

As the sun lightens the sky this morning, it reveals a low fog that has settled over the lake during the night. The tree tops of the offshore islands are just barely visible, with nothing to see below but fog. It blends with the calm waters of the lake making for an eerie and ethereal landscape. A Blue Jay screams good morning as he lands on the bird feeder, breaking the silence. Good morning to you too I reply.

With the temperature hovering around 46F and my hands firmly wrapped around my mug of hot tea. My thoughts wander to … Read more...

Signs Of Fall

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Deborah

The Autumnal Equinox officially happened yesterday at 4:44 p.m. Prior to Sunday though, it had already felt like Fall the past couple weeks. The sun has been much lower in the sky with the days noticeably shorter, and cooler.

The cheery summer warblers, thrushes and sparrows have all vacated the north, departing at least 2 weeks ago for a warmer climate. The last hummingbirds were seen at the feeder a week ago Sunday. The feeder has since been taken down and washed, replaced by a suet feeder for the chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers who live here year round.

The leaves … Read more...

Next Week’s Menu

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Deborah

The first full day of Fall is Sunday. I am sad. Very sad. After Sunday, you will find me buried under my duvet with my cherished pillow refusing to come out until next Spring. It seemed like just a few weeks ago I was planting my tomato and pepper seedlings. Now I am harvesting the last of the fruit and composting the remains. I even put my canning pot away the other day, although I will probably haul it back out next week or so if the Green Monster offloads more tomatillos before a frost hits.

This weekend will hopefully … Read more...

Having a Stocked Pantry is….

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Deborah

like having your very own grocery store in your home. Minus the outrageous prices and hard to pronounce ingredients that belong in scientific experiments.

I am winding down on canning season, my big ‘ol canning pot will soon be put away for another year. It is time to enjoy a well stocked pantry and take pride in knowing the food we will be eating is actually that – food. Not genetically modified, disease resistant and/or hormone filled products that the government deems safe. What is safe about ingredients that have more than 12 letters in its name?

Me, I prefer … Read more...

Random Weekend Stuff

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Deborah

Busy. Busy. Busy.

That just about sums up our weekend. Saturday’s weather was gorgeous, so hubby took advantage of the sun and warm temps to continue on with fixing the dock that was damaged during last April’s freak ice show put on by Mother Nature.

First was making a 33′ long side section that will sit on top of the frame timber on the left side of the dock. Fashioned from a double set of 2′ x 10’s screwed together, the beast weighed a TON. It sure looked purdy sitting up on the blocks….but then we had to haul it … Read more...

Next Week’s Menu

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Deborah

First off ~ Happy Friday the 13th!!!

I didn’t realize it until yesterday that today was going to be another Friday the 13th. Port Dover, Ontario will be swarming with bikers as well as the curious to see what the hubbub is all about. If you are not from Ontario and are wondering what the fuss is about, more on the spectacle that started in 1981 and continues on every Friday the 13th here. Google images has some really great photos of the event.

Now on to this week’s menu board….last weeks wasn’t bad for just getting back to … Read more...

Next Week’s Menu….

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Deborah

Has returned. Just in time for Fall. Which is apparently around the next bend in the road, you know the one, the one with the dead birch tree that split into 5 pieces when it fell and hit the rock outcropping.

I have to stop here and mention something before I continue….Today is the Northern Homestead’s 300th Blog Post!! 2 1/2 years has gone by since I started this blog and I have reached a new milestone. Hope you all are enjoying it as much today as when I started and I thank all my readers for faithfully tuning in … Read more...

Peach Crisp Delight

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Deborah

Old friends came up to spend a few days with us at the Homestead over the past long weekend, which made for a heck of a lot of laughter, hijinks (mental note: do NOT give Dave the slingshot again), late nights around the firepit and lots of good food. As much as we hated to see them off on Monday, it was probably a good thing as all that laughter was killing me.

Saturday’s dinner menu was French (Chicken Cordon Bleu, roast carrots with garlic and roasted mini red potatoes) followed by Sunday’s Mexican fiesta of rollos del mar (rolls … Read more...

The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year!

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Deborah

Bwahahahahaha…the kidlets head back to school today. Thank goodness the running amok all day long, screeching like banshees is done with for another summer.

I don’t like children very much. I tolerate them at best. They are loud. They can be smelly. They can definitely be dirty…and they ask WAY too many questions.

Why?

WHY?

I don’t know why! Go ask your father!

So in honour of today’s special day (Back to School Day), I am spending the day in my jammies, knitting, reading, skinning and chopping tomatoes for sauce along with making one last batch of peach jalapeño … Read more...

Preserving and Canning Food Guidelines

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Deborah

In light of recent news of a jam being responsible for the food poisoning episode last week at Toronto’s annual CNE (Canadian National Exhibition), it shows that even a commercial maker of jam’s and jellies can slip up when making their product.

Home cooks must follow a very strict and rigid set of rules when canning/preserving food for their families to avoid serious illness contracted from bacteria as a result of improper food handling.

I preserve a lot of food for my family, most of it being different types of jams, jellies and tomato products. I have always taken every … Read more...