Good Season'n With Herb'n Renewal

As a child, I would have been thrilled to wake up and see that there was no school and the hills had snow on them. I could spend the day sledding and then come in to the house and find that my mom had opened a can of soup, heated it and that sure helped warm me up!

As an older adult, I wake up and have to roll into position to see out of my window...cautiously I might add so as to not move a joint quickly which would mean much pain. It does not matter if there is snow or not, because I am not leaving the semi warmth of my home and I now know how to make my own flavorful soups with ease!

Getting old does have its advantages...we do not have to go sleigh riding, we do not have to really enjoy the snow and if we don't want to leave our homes we do not have to...the grandkids can find their own way to our doors! Lol The good part is they can be met with the scent of wonderful homemade soups cooking on our stoves.

Herb'n Renewal really does take the guesswork out of seasoning! Here's a great starter soup for a cold winter day.

Chicken Veggie'n Rice Stew

1-2 lb. chicken, cooked & diced

1 cup celery, chopped

1 cup onion, chopped

2 tbsp. olive oil

4 qt. chicken stock

1 lb. frozen mixed vegetables

1 1/2 cup white rice

2 tbsp. RUB'N SEASON POULTRY

Roux for thickening (optional)

In a large pot, saute' celery and onions in olive oil for 5-10 minutes. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add everything else, except the roux! Bring back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer till the veggies and rice are tender...about 1 hour. Thicken with roux (equal parts melted butter and flour mixed together) if desired.

Enjoy the snow from the inside of your warm home!!!!

Looks like it is going to be a hot one at the Bluegrass Farmers' Market tomorrow. Its a good thing Drew took that into consideration when he was trying to decide what to sample at the market. Look for some “Not Your Average” egg salad! He'll also be making sandwiches with crisp fresh lettuce from our garden...it's the last of it for the season.

Karin has been busy in the soap shop, so look for a new soap this week...Little Bit O'Loofah! It smells wonderful and the loofah slice in the center adds a bit of whimsy and great exfoliating too!

The fresh tomatoes are in at the market so make sure you grab some of our Salsa Season'n. It really is sooooo simple to make and quick too! Simply dice tomatoes, onions, green peppers and add the seasoning. You're done and ready to enjoy!

Don't forget that special dad in your life! Have to admit that I was semi thinking of my dad when I created a great gift basket to take to the market tomorrow. It's got Craftsman BBQ tools in it! It's loaded with some of Herb'n Renewal's favorite grilling herb blends. I had to laugh and shed a tear at the same time. My dad was an avid woodworker but he couldn't boil water! HaHa I kept seeing the word “Craftsman” and thinking about him and his tools. Then I looked at the seasoning and thought how he would have passed it over to my mom so that she could cook him something. I miss my dad.

Heading to the kitchen to pack while Drew boils and peels the eggs. I gave him that job because I have a tendency to peel off half of the egg every time...he's much better at it. Guess all of those years spent in a kitchen paid off!

Hope to see you all at the Bluegrass Farmers' Market tomorrow...Herb'n Renewal will be there from 9 until 2!

Poor “Chuck” decided that he had other plans for us last Saturday and we missed the market. We actually spent most of the day on the side of Rt. 27 trying to figure out why he kept spitting a main belt out each time we started him up! Believe me, we would much rather have been at the market especially since we were loaded down with freshly harvested lettuce, herbs and a bunch of Herb'n Buns! Hey, the folks that stopped to help us ate good that night! Lol

So, a full day later, we think “Chuck” is once again in full service. We drove him into the big city of Lancaster last night so that we could take our GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) class and I'm happy to say we both passed with flying colors! But, I don't think anyone has ever failed. HaHa! It just means that Drew and I are both certified GAP and qualified to hand out samples at the market. Poor Drew, my brain started working on the way home as I thought of things we could sample using what was available at the market. Honestly, I think he was looking for a big rock to hide under...sorry Drew...part of the market experience!

We've got some more good news. Herb'n Renewal is now back at the Wood Shack in Bryantsville! It's been awhile since we have had our seasoning there and it's nice to be back. If you've never been to the Wood Shack, this weekend is a perfect time to start. They are having a “Picnic On The Porch” to celebrate Memorial Day and you'll find 20%-70% off throughout the whole place. It's a country decor lovers dream come true! Country crafts, florals, quilts, candles, gifts and of course herb seasoning! They've been in business at the same location for 22 years so “the Shack” is there to stay! If you happen to be looking for a great place to visit this weekend, you can find them at the junction of Rt.27 and Rt. 152...it's only about a 30 minute drive from Lexington. And, they'll have free food and drinks on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 until 6!

One last thing before I head to the kitchen to bake...please take a moment out of your Memorial Day celebrations to remember why we even have Memorial Day. We has so much to be thankful for because of the men and women who have given their lives for our country. We salute you and your families. Don't forget to fly your flag in their honor! We'll be flying ours at the Bluegrass Farmers' Market this Saturday from 9 until 2. Our flag always waves in your honor on the farm!

I was doing my normal, everyday chores this morning and as always I take a moment to look out of a window and smile from ear to ear. We are the luckiest folks on earth. No, we're not rich, in fact we're down right poor. But we've got a wonderful life...one that makes you smile everyday no matter what the day brings. Just looking over our small farm is enough to make any day worthwhile and I give my thanks everyday for the privilege of being able to touch and smell our bounty.

Yes, it's the little things in life that make you smile from ear to ear...we know because we are living our dream on our little farm. The only way we can do this is because of our wonderful and supportive customers and the folks at Local Harvest. Without you, we would still be enjoying our farm but only as we leave and return from our “real” jobs! Lol

We thank you all for your continued support of Herb'n Renewal. You are the ones who make us smile!

And, here's a recipe that we hope will make you and your guests smile. :)

Have It Your Way Omelet

Chop up your favorite omelet “fillers” such as ham, cheese, green peppers, onions, etc. Place them in separate bowls and set aside. Bring a large kettle of water to a boil. Meanwhile give each guest a quart size freezer Ziploc bag and have them write their name (with a permanent marker) on the bag. Break two large eggs into each bag and let the guests “squish” until the eggs are well blended.

Now comes the fun! Let each guest “dump” whatever “fillers” they like into the bag of eggs. And, don't forget the herb seasoning! We typically use either our Herb'n Cowboy or Cheese'n Season but if they would like to add a little spice to their lives, try our Cajun Wing'n Season. Remember that you'll only need a small pinch cause our herb blends are always fresh and full of flavor. Tell them to give the bag a shake and close it tight trying to get as much air out as possible. Gently drop them into the boiling water, holding each bag for just a second or two...just enough to “set” the eggs. Set your timer and boil for 13 minutes...yup, boil them for exactly 13 minutes! You can boil up to 6 bags at a time! Believe me, your guests will stand around the pot with their jaws dropping and they will think you have gone nuts!!! Won't they be surprised when a perfectly cooked omelet comes out of that bag!

After the 13 minutes of boiling, remove the bag and cut it open, just above the omelet, with scissors and let them roll out onto a plate. Or if you want something really special try rolling your omelet onto a warm flour tortilla and top with homemade salsa!

This recipe is sooooo easy and there are no pots to clean so you get to enjoy your guests. It's a perfect way to start Thanksgiving Day. You'll be free to get your “bird” into the oven!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from our farm to your home!