Winter Grazing

Remember when several weeks ago i commented on how fortunate it was that i could begin the grazing program as taught by Jaime Elizondo which he terms #total grazing or #nonselective grazing. Well, the easy street is well over. I went on a couple week getaway and came back to 8-10 inches of snow and single digit daytime highs and below zero night time lows with wind chills well be low zero. Although other producers who are much more dedicated than i am are doing a stunning job of total grazing right through the snow and cold as evidenced by the beautiful photos they post on Instagram.

But i cannot do cold – never could – so if i can get my cows on a 10 acre to 20 acre paddock with tall grass and running water in the ditch and provide them with protein tubs, kelp, and salt – i say ‘sayonara’ see ya in a week. Maybe it’ll be up to 10F by then.

Beef cows do not need barns – why are so many barns built – a mystery. It’s a pain on the old barns to rig up something that will sort of block all the doors and holes in the barns so the cows don’t get inside and make a mess, get sick, or worse crowd up and smash someone to death. (several years ago, nasty weather encouraged the cows to bust down a south doorway, crowded into the barn you see here and 3 young cows were smashed to death! It was a sickening and discouraging day as i dragged them out with long log chains hooked to the pickup. ) Who said ‘life on the farm is kind of laid back.’?!

Egg Noodles w/Sausage & Kale

Egg Noodles with Sausage and kale. Dallas spilt a bit of farm fresh milk. He thought this photo he took is perfect with much more interest.

Enjoy this yummy comfort food!  

Cheers!

tauna

 

Egg Noodles w/Sausage & Kale*

INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 lb lamb or beef sausage ½ lb kale, tough stems and center ribs discarded and leaves coarsely chopped (or spinach, which is our family’s preference) ½ lb dried egg noodles 2/3 cup water ½ cup Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook sausage, breaking up any lumps with a spoon, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Meanwhile, blanch kale (or spinach) in a 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, 5 minutes. Remove kale with a large slotted spoon, drain over pan, and add to cooked sausage in skillet.  Sauté, stirring frequently and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of skillet. Return cooking water in pot to boil and cook egg noodles in boiling water, uncovered, until al dente. Add noodles to skillet with a slotted spoon and ½ cup reserved cooking water if necessary, tossing until combined. Stir in cheese and thin with additional cooking water in desired.  Serves 6.   Tips: Retain some of the noodle cooking water and add to any leftovers for easier warming up. As always, use eggs (for making noodles) from pastured hens and sausage from grass-finished animals for best nutrition and flavour. Grow your own or buy the greens from your neighbour.   I make beef sausage a few days ahead and freeze; time allows the spices; salt, sage, black pepper, to meld with the ground beef. *adapted from recipe in the March 2006 Gourmet magazine.

Egg Noodles

INGREDIENTS 2 cups unbleached white or whole wheat flour 3 egg yolks 1 egg 2 teaspoons salt 1/4 to 1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS Make a well in center of flour. Add egg yolks, egg, and salt; mix thoroughly . Mix in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough is stiff but easy to roll. Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Roll dough, one part at a time, into paper-tin rectangle on well-floured cloth-covered board. Cut into narrow strips with a knife or noodle cutter. Shake out strips and place on towel until stiff and dry, about 2 hours. Break dry strips into smaller pieces. Cook in 3 quarts boiling salted water (1 tablespoon salt) until tender, 12 to 15 minutes; drain. About 6 cups noodles. Storage: after drying, noodles can be covered and stored no longer than 1 month.   Use these noodles for the Egg Noodles w/Sausage & Kale Recipe.