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My Initiation into the World of Goats

My 1st Gallon of Raw Goat Milk!
Yes, I know it is not intended for sale for human consumption! So sad really!

As you read this please don't get the wrong idea. I like goats really I do but in the limited amount of contact that I have had with them (petting zoos, and fairs etc) they have always really seemed to be pretty dirty and dumb animals. Okay, let me explain. You go to a petting zoo and they always have poop on them somewhere, maybe from another goat climbing on them or from rolling around the ground...anyway I hate for my kids to even touch them and always make sure I have the hand sanitizer and wipes ready for the minute they are done (not a germaphobe either but animal poop is gross) because that is what the kids are there to do!

Today I went and picked up my first ever gallon of goat milk from a local goat farmer. I am a city girl...I will always be a city girl but that doesn't mean I can't eat well and want what is best for my family but I have to tell you that picking up goat milk today I was so far out of my element that it wasn't even funny!

The owners had given me really good directions (thank goodness) because getting there sure made you feel like you were in them middle of nowhere (right in the middle of the city though), right down to the dirt roads with no street signs!!! Okay, anyway I pulled into the driveway and parked my car. As I was looking around and getting out I saw a woman (a very pregnant woman) over in the goat pen (is that what you call it?) and I could here her yelling to the goats "Tell me where they are?" And to my very goat uneducated ears I could have sworn I heard the goats saying "there, there, there". I didn't really want to interrupt but I wanted my goat milk! So I yelled out to her and asked her if I was at the right place. She snapped back at me that she had no idea and what did I want...now I had only spoken to her husband so maybe she didn't really know anything about it. Then I thought I had better see if I could help her find what ever she was looking for because it didn't seem like I was getting any milk from her until she was finished. So I asked her if I could help her. She snapped back at me (yes, again) did I know anything about goats...I said no but if that was what she was looking for I could probably identify one! The whole time I am thinking "what a nasty b*****!". I got into the goat pen and started walking around. Turns out we were looking for 2 of the babies that she had that were missing. I started searching the fence to see if they had just gotten out and then I started looking under the rocky area and the trees. Now she had started yelling for her husband and, I kid you not, every time she yelled out "Leal" the goats seemed to say it as well "Leal, Leal, Leal". Very bizarre!

Anyway we finally found the babies. They had hidden themselves in their covered area behind a box and the wall and under some straw??? and I no longer had to worry about the wild goat eating animal I was envisioning. The goat lady apologized to me and gave me my milk and off I went. These goats though changed my mind. They were really smart (they could talk!) and they were so nice and clean! Now I have my goat milk. I can't wait to make some yogurt!!! I also can't wait to see what my next adventure will be with the goat people!

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

Autism Trek

Stefan Marinoiu is walking 452 kilometres from Toronto to Ottawa to raise autism awareness in Canada. Specifically he plans to speak with the federal government about increasing funding to support families like his who are dealing with autism and to fund more autism research. Mr. Marinoiu's trek is motivated by autism reality, the reality of raising a 15 year old autistic boy:

Marinoiu has a 15-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism when he was a child.

Marinoiu and his wife have struggled to provide proper support while their son's condition has deteriorated with age. He has now become aggressive, a common symptom in autistic children, and Marinoiu is afraid the Children's Aid Society may take him away, fearing he could hurt their younger six-year-old child.

"His autism has progressed to the point that communication is a struggle," Marinoiu said. "We just do not have the money to provide proper care for him."

- The Belleveille Intelligencer

Rhetoric about finding the joy in your child's autism does not help families like the Marinoiu's. Real solutions to difficult and at times heart wrenching challenges are needed. Hopefully the federal government will give Mr. Marinoiu an audience in which they listen to his concerns and come up with ways it can help families like the Marinoiu's. Not every autistic person makes submissions to the Supreme Court of Canada or the Canadian Senate. Some face much more serious challenges and require much more help to live a decent life in this country. Hopefully Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Health Minister Tony Clement will listen to this dedicated Dad who has put it on the line to trek from Toronto to Ottawa in the cold Canadian winter.

Pasta with Shrimp and Basil Pesto


Last week after I went to the Worden Farm's Farmer's Market I made some fresh basil pesto with the basil and garlic that I had bought when I was there. Click here for post and recipe. So I thought I would show you what I did with the pesto.

I cooked the peeled and deveined shrimp in some butter and garlic just until they were no longer opaque. Cooked the pasta according to the box (use whatever type of pasta you have available). Toss the past a shrimp together with as much pesto as you like. You will have to judge it based on your taste. Sit down and enjoy. This is one of my favorite meals. I could truly eat this everyday!!!

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

Souper Wednesday

Chicago has been hit by quite a snow storm (yet again!)... so thank goodness for getting out of work early. My once a month cooking efforts paid off too since dinner required nothing more than warming up a bowl of comforting soup. Tonight we had a rich and creamy loaded baked potato soup with a toasty kaiser roll.Here's my recipe for my loaded baked potato soup (this isn't for dieters!):

1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 large baking potatoes, peeled & cubed
1/2 cup diced prosciutto
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
8 cups chicken broth
1 stalk green onion, sliced
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream or half & half
1-2 cups shredded cooked chicken (optional)

In a dutch oven, heat over medium heat & add butter and oil.
When butter/oil is heated, add onions, garlic and prosciutto.
When prosciutto has crisped up, sprinkle in flour.
Stir and cook until the raw flour smell is gone - about 2 mins.
Add mushrooms and cook until softened.
Add chicken broth and potatoes.
Allow potatoes to cook until tender.
Add green onion and slowly stir in cheese until melted.
Add cream/half & half and stir, allowing it to warm through.
Add chicken if using or serve as it with hot toasty bread.

Conor the King of Snow Mountain















It was a mild afternoon today and as we headed to the car for a trip down town Conor decided to climb the snow drift beside our driveway. It has been a traditional Canadian winter with lots of snow. Conor enjoyed himself on the top of his snow mountain. Like anyone who grew up in Canada I knew exactly how good he felt up there. We ARE Canadian.















Farmer's Market Day!

cilantro, shitake mushrooms, beets, red swiss chard, onions, carrots, spinach, strawberries and dandelion greens

I am so loving Wednesday's right now. I seem to find myself looking forward to this all week long. I go to Punta Gorda to visit the Worden Farm's farmer's market that they set up at Fisherman's Village every Wednesday. Today I got a whole new lot of fresh vegetables that are grown on their certified organic farm. I was also able to get some fresh boat shrimp from a fisherman that just caught them last night!Cute little carrots!

Shitake Mushrooms

Fresh picked strawberries

Today I was able to get red swiss chard, dandelion greens, cilantro, onions, carrots, spinach, beets, shitake mushrooms, and eggplant. I went to the local U-Pick and got some fresh picked strawberries and tomatoes as well. I can't wait to use all of this! I am thinking maybe shrimp taco's with fresh pico de gallo and avocado (bought last week)?

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

Oops! Royal Foodie Joust Voting - ending soon!

I have been so preoccupied this month that I even forgot to invite you all to vote for my entry in the Royal Foodie Joust! It will only take a minute...! My entry was the Lentil Stuffed Eggplants.

To vote for this entry all you need to do is got to The Royal Foodie Forum and click on my entry! Simple and very much appreciated!

I am off to the Wednesday Farmer's Market so check back later for a post on my treasures.

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

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