Kool-Aid!

We grow strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries here on our farm. The strawberries and blueberries get eaten fresh and the rest get frozen for kefir smoothies. We also enjoy eating the raspberries fresh, but raspberry jam has become a family favorite too.
When I make jam, I usually end up with a few berries leftover that I didn't need for my batch. They get put into the refrigerator, nibbled on some more, and then the day comes when they look less than desirable and nobody wants to eat them anymore. Well, before those berries start to grow mold, you can make them into a yummy treat for your family - KOOL-AID!
Let me explain..... One day I took those old raspberries, put them into a pot with water and let them simmer for a long time. Then I poured them through a strainer and put the juice back into the pot. After that, I added sugar and let it simmer until it got a bit more like syrup. Voila - raspberry flavoring!
Add some to a glass of water and you have raspberry water, or what Mike calls "Kool-Aid"! :) It's very yummy and a great way to keep kids hydrated on hot days without the use of fake sugars, preservatives, and dyes! It's the best!
I have also made it with the apricots we find on the ground under our apricot tree. I am sure any fruit would work. Experiment and enjoy! :)

P.S. You really do not need a recipe for this.......you can't go wrong. ;)

More About the Herb Class

I thought I would share with you some of the goals I have in mind for the herb class. First of all I hope to help those who are stuck with salt and pepper, go out on a limb, and try something new. :) Also I want to show those who purchase seasonings a better way, one without chemical additives, like MSG. But herbs are far more than great seasonings! Herbs combine good nutrition, good health, and good flavor!
There are many health benefits to cooking with herbs. Did you know that just 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano has the same amount of antioxidants as a medium sized apple?! And parsley, with its lame reputation as a decorative garnish, is actually one of the world's seven most potent disease-fighting herbs, a super food, loaded with high levels of many vitamins and has almost every nutrient known to man in it! WOW!! What an under-appreciated herb!!
So....I ask myself, how is it that such awesome foods have gone by the wayside in America? Is it because we have simply lost some of the culinary traditions of our ancestors through generations of apathy? Yes, I believe that is part of it, but I also think we have become lazy with our health. We want someone else to take care of us while we eat whatever tastes good, and is fast, whether it is a health risk or not. And we have also been brainwashed by drug companies, who profit from our dependence on the medical field.
This class in not just about making food taste good, it is far more than that! I hope to help the beginner feel more confidant using herbs, but also I want to encourage people to become more self-sufficient, to know about the healing plants that grow in their own yards, to learn about the medicinal plants that they can grow in their own gardens, to break the bond of dependence on expensive, and many times risky, drugs and medical treatments.
We actually hope to do many more classes on the subject. I do not know what the future holds for this country, but I do know that I don't want me or my family to be dependant on our health care system. I have a burden to learn and share what I learn, so that others can know the joys and the freedoms that come with self-sufficiency!

Cooking With Herbs Class

Are you interested in herbs and learning how to cook with them? Come join us at Housman Farms for an educational cooking class. We will be discussing ten different culinary herbs, their healing properties, and their nutritional values. Bring your appetite along for some taste testing, and we will send you home with the information and recipes you need to start cooking with herbs in your own home.

I have been wanting to do a class like this for about a year. Last summer, during our Farmer's Market, I had so many customers express an interest in learning more about herbs. People would look at the herbs I was selling and say, "I would love to buy that and use it, but I don't know what I would do with it." Or I had other people asking me what they could do with the herbs that they had growing in their own yard. So for all of you who are wanting more information, I am finally doing a class! :)

One reason I have been procrastinating doing this is simply a lack of confidence in my ability, but my husband keeps telling me that I am fully capable. Most instructors have lots of letters behind their names, giving them the qualifications to teach. I do have some letters I can put behind my name - MOM,HOMEMAKER,COOK. :) I am just someone who loves herbs, natural healing, and making healthy meals. I simply desire to teach you what I have learned from cooking three meals a day for my family for the past 16 years, and what I've learned from taking care of them by natural means.

The class will be held in my home, with limited seating available. Emily, my sister, Nadine, and I will be conducting the class. Weather permitting, we will be taking a tour through the herb garden. Then indoors we will be going over an information packet, so you can learn some specifics about each herb. Following our "class" time, we'll have some fun making a bunch of recipes, and then even more fun tasting them all! :) The menu includes main dishes, a salad and dressings, side dishes, desserts, and drinks.

Here is a sneak preview of a few of the foods we will be making...... and eating.

(We will send you home with at least 10 new recipes!)

(Cheddar Basil Biscuits)

(Rosemary and Garlic Lamb Chops)

(Peppermint Haystacks)

Class Details:

Tuesday, July 27th

6:30-9pm

$16.00

Housman Farms

320-275-0121

Call the farm to reserve your spot in the class. Hope to see you there! :)

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day from the Housman home.

Emily's rhubarb flag cake made with our blueberries and raspberries! YUM!

Uncle Sam (Brandon)

Patriotic homemade whole wheat waffles with fresh picked blueberries & raspberries, whipped cream, and our own boxelder syrup. The homemade lamb sausage completed our yummy breakfast! :)

We are very fortunate to have been born in this country. And we are exceedingly grateful to all the men and women who have fought for our freedom. Thank you!!

We celebrate today by giving thanks to God for these things and for the freedoms we have.......and pray we will continue to have them in the years to come.

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

The Housman Family

Amazing Lettuce! By, Emily ;)

Our crisp juicy lettuce - spinach, romaine, and mixed greens are coming in here on the farm! Not only does this stuff taste AWESOME, but you wouldn't believe the nutritional information about lettuce. Rich in potassium, lettuce also has a good amount of Vitamin C and choline. It has small amounts of Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, and betaine! This amazing green also reduces the chance of hip fracture in elderly women, constipation, cancer, heart disease, and cataracts. It helps promote urination, it induces sleep, helps in liver health, and prevents anemia!!! Wow! Now that you are convinced that you need to eat more of this wonderful vegetable, we have the perfect solution! Come buy delicious, organic lettuce this Friday at Housman Farms!