Yummy Heritage Poultry Recipe[ Chicken and Dumplings

For anyone who has tried, cooking heritage bred poultry is a bit different than cooking the genetically modified, juice and stuff injected poultry from the factory farms. I have spoken with lots of folks who absolutely understand the value of the traditionally bred, pasture raised birds, the cost of the organic, un-subsidized healthier farming practices makes this very difficult. Another issue, these birds tend to be drier, and need to be cooked more slowly.

I know this can be another factor in the choice to go with organic, heritage bred poultry for your food choice, despite the knowledge that the choice for the environment and the health of those who eat the poultry may seem such a simple one.  So I am slowly sharing recipes that have passed the test of our family- my toughest critics!

So this would be the first installment, Chicken and Dumplings:

I know that not everyone likes veggies in their chicken and dumplings, so feel free to omit as appropriate to you....

1 whole chicken, without skin.

6-8 cups water

poultry seasoning

salt and pepper

6 medium potatoes

1 medium onion

2 cups veggies, if desired

1 cup butter

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

enough milk or broth for dough

Place the whole chicken in the crock pot, rub with poultry seasoning until liberally coated, add 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh garlic (bottled or chopped and frozen works just fine), and add 6-8 cups of water (enough that the chicken is mostly covered.)  Feel free to sprinkle in a little salt and pepper, then cover and cook on low for a couple hours.

Coarsely chop six medium potatoes, add them to the pot along with a diced medium onion.  By now, the chicken should be cooking well, feel free to add additional spices to taste. Cover and allow to cook again for another 2-3 hours. At this point, you should be able to begin pulling out the bones.

Add 2 cups of mixed veggies, I used some carrots, corn and peas and beans. (Note, in my opinion, corn is fine as an occasional component, but not the central focus of nutrition. You can include or omit veggies as you wish.)  Cover, turn the crock pot up to high, and let the broth heat while you make the dumplings.

Mix 1 cup of butter, 3 cups of flour and 1 tablespoon of baking powder, add milk or broth until a dough is reached.  You can choose to either roll out the dough and cut into strips, or roll into little balls or drop by spoonfuls into the hot broth of the crock pot. The broth being hot enough should seal the dumplings. COver and allow to cook to the desired dumpling consistency, serve hot.

Let me know how you like it!

The larger of the babies in the brooder moved out to the juvenile area this afternoon.  They weren't too sure what to do with the different flooring, 

The six of them are feathering out nicely, I do believe there are a few roosters among them...

Oh, and I hear there are two new babies in the bantam Cochin pen...

Just right of the center in this photo is the beginnings of a cucumber.See the little flower at the end?

Here is a bit larger cucumber down lower in the garden box. This plant really struggled when I transplanted it, so I am thrilled to see it doing so well. Now to not let Wyatt see them until they are big enough to pick!

This is a volunteer plant that loves to creep up in this planter box each monsoon. I will try to look it up later, as I need to double check what it is (again.)

Here I go with sunset photos again. The storms were back, and parts of town got it good! We got a few sprinkles, but nothing much, it went around us. This is actually to the East, there were really good storms about twenty miles that way, as the crow flies.

This was to the South West, where there was actually a storm. As if on cue, it came back to drop a few more random drops after I took this photo. Still, nothing new in the rain carrels!

Anyone need prickly pear? In heavy production presently are the pomegranates and the prickly pear. We also have lots of spineless prickly pear plants available and herbs, too!

This barrel cactus is cute!I think it looks like it is trying for a cactus shaped like a snowman contest. Although he is really leaning over! leaning tower of cactus? 

Oh, well, time to get some work done! On a positive note, the missing goat registration paperwork has been found in another part of the state. A long story as to how it happened, but the folks where it was sent by mistake contacted me for the address today, so hopefully they are on their way soon!

By the way, these two items came home with me today from town. Any guess as to where this project is going? Stay tuned for updates, and have fun guessing along the way!

On a sad note, one of the old hens in the show pen, Annette the Silver Phoenix passed away this morning. Such a sweet, silly friend. She retired from showmanship a couple years back, since she only wanted to sit and nap on the table, but was very instrumental in keeping the young roo in the pen in line! I will make her a post a bit later.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Black Javas are Growing Up!

The black Java chicks came to us almost ten weeks ago. they were little tiny things then!  They have been in the chick area on the back porch, in their raised cage, growing up together.  I have been trying hard to guess whether they are young cockerels or pullets.  I really think there is still a chance one is a girl... okay, I hope, anyhow!

Today after a few other chores got done, Bailey helped me weight them.  They don't like the bucket on the scale any better than the rest of them.  It took quite a bit of cuddling and cajoling to get their weights with anything remotely approaching accuracy. 

I think this one was hoping to eat the plants in the windowsill...

In the end, the weights were:

#99- 45.09 ounces- 2.82 pounds- re-banded #49

#97- 38.10 ounces- 2.38 pounds- re-banded #48

#96- 38.55 ounces- 2.41 pounds- re-banded #77

Re-banded? Yup, their leg bands had become too small! 

 So they went from little red ones to nice big blue ones!

Sadly, the heaviest is the one I was holding out hoe was a hen... 

And I know someone was practicing their crowing this morning...

No one is quite so tough, though, once we are rocking them in our arms!

Bailey agreed that since the Buttercups had lost their rooster to old age earlier this year, and they lay white eggs, that the Javas, large brown egg layers with what seems to be a preponderance of males, could move in to the pen with them.

So when Bailey and I got home from morning errands, and Wyatt was doing his workout and Bailey was walking Miss Verse, I set to cleaning the Brahma pen and setting up the new water we bought them, and then cleaning and setting up the Buttercup pen so the Javas could move in. 

Then, after weighing them with me and helping with the leg bands, Bailey settled the Java juveniles in with the Buttercups.  Bailey snapped a few photos for me, but clearly they aren't hanging out with the Buttercups yet at this point!  Bailey is checking on everyone throughout the day, once we aren't hovering, I am sure they will settle in fine!

For those of you following the heritage meat bird project, the average weights of these birds are ten ounces more than the Delawares Wyatt raised a year and a half ago.  The Brahmas, however, still averaged a good 1-2 pounds more at this age.  Can't wait to see how this goes, as they are still half the age of what is considered maturity for the heritage meat birds.  These goofballs seem to go in spurts, though, so who knows! And I must admit, this is a very small sample size in regards to good science!

Happy Friday!

Last night, after teaching in town, I got bust on round three with the animals for the day- they need a lot of fresh, cool water this time of year, especially since they are pretty indiscriminate about which to use for drinking and which to use for a standing pool (they use both for both.)  

Since Wyatt was still at football, I double checked his, too, and gathered his eggs with mine, and guess what I found? WE HAVE  ANEW LAYER IN THE BRAHMA PEN!!! Those new Brahmas that did so well for Wyatt at fair this year are growing up!  We cannot wait to see what we get from them!  For now, the hens are learning, and this little egg is barely larger than the d'Uccle egg it is sitting with!

Shadow ran around with Bailey and I, trying to be a good farm dog (outside of getting in the garbage once before I caught her).  She was helping me water when the boys got home from football.  We had stepped inside for a moment, and when she heard Charlie's car she went CRAZY!  I am glad those two have each other.  They are quite the duo together, even if he does spend training time on log rolling instead of long sits and stays sometimes.

You know me and those beautiful sunsets!  I cannot help myself.  But there is a special reason for a photo of this one.  Those clouds, which make the colors streak so beautifully across the sky- do you know what those mean?

Moisture! The humidity is finally arriving.With historic temperature highs in the forecast the rest of this week and into the weekend, I am so glad to see the first glimmer of hope for our monsoon season.  The first the isolated showers appear int he forecast is Monday, and usually the East side gets the rain long before we do.  I am so thankful to see the hope!!!

Well, happy Friday to you all!  This is the best time of day to work outside, so I had best get back out there.  Have a greet day!

Back from the Home School Convention and Busy as Ever!

Bailey and I had lots of fun learning at the Home School Convention last weekend.  Saturday night after it all wrapped up, we were energized and excited but also overwhelmed.  We loaded into the car and drove away from home instead of toward it, heading to Buckeye to pick up a new friend for our little herd.

In that crate is a sweet little doe, name Aqua Patch Across the Universe.  I do promise a few good photos to come, once this little doe is fully settled in to the swing of things at Patriot's Dream.  Also, Bailey is looking for a nickname, because Across the Universe is way too long!

On Monday, Wyatt and I pulled out the scale and weighed the little three week old Black Java chicks. So as of 17 June 2013:

#99: .67lb

#96: .52lb

#97: .43lb 

Wyatt and I played guess which are boys/ girls.  We had been thinking one roo, two pullets, but now with the tail feathers starting to grow in, we are not so sure.  We are enjoying trying to figure out while we wait and watch them grow.  We are also enjoying the weight comparisons with other heritage breeds we have raised and tracked through the growth process.

This one looked me straight in the eye, and was ready to go pack to her pen and play with the others.

I had to get the little requisite scale shot!

Well, this week, Wyatt, Bailey and I have lots of plans.  We are working on dividing one pen to keep a couple of roosters happy, fixing and doubling the grow out pen, and tomorrow we have plans for a field trip to the aquaponic store to see if we really do have most of the supplies needed for a special project Wyatt wants to try!  Wow.  Seeing as how it is already Thursday, we had best get busy!

Friday Night- Lettuce tomatoes and ice cream cake?

A small portion of the lettuce I harvested last night.  I harvested about one sixth of what is out there. Since we hit 100 degrees today, I will finish harvesting all the last of our lettuce in the next few days.  While what we have is holding strong, it won't for much longer, and it has stopped regrowing underneath.  I was pretty fortunate to have lettuce this long!

We are looking forward to Wyatt's birthday coming up- especially him!  The tradition here is that you get to design your own cake.  For Wyatt, that means an ice cream cake.  Chocolate cookie crust, mint chip ice cream, Oreo cookie layer...

Did you notice the different cookies?  Someone decided to eat the ingredients...

Today he picked out the next layers... at least it will be a deterrent to me against overeating... Reese's ice cream (if peanut butter wasn't a strange enough ice cream, right next to the mint...) then a thick layer of chocolate sprinkles...

With that back in the freezer to harden for the next chunk, it was back to chores.  Shadow couldn't face the chores, and Wyatt had his bedding out to wash, so she helped herself.

Well, the three little Black Javas are doing well.  I am thinking there may be one rooster.  Do you all agree? They aren't so sure about me yet, but they got their pen cleaned today, and seem to have grown some in the time they have been here.

Well, morning comes early.  Hope you all have a blessed Saturday!

I am really feeling that final stretch of the school year and the coming changes in our lives here.  I have been ready to pass out by eight every night, though I don't know if some of that may also have to do with the heat and trying to decrease my caffeine intake!  Maybe it is just the fact that I am doing all of that at the same time?

But the last couple of days have been busy, though I cannot say that I have accomplished all that much!  Wednesday, Wyatt was promoted to middle school.  He wants to try homeschooling, we will see how it goes this summer before committing to him not attending the 6th grade in town.  I think we are all seeking true balance in our lives, so I am hoping this path we have laid out will allow us the balance while still challenging the kids academically.

After the big ceremony, we had ice cream.  Turns out the place near auntie's now has their favorite kind- Blue Bell- in a shop where you can get cones.  Now to figure out how I can get them to her!  I know she would love it!

After the geese came home on Monday, we were also lucky enough for a local farm who has been bringing in a very special line of Black Javas, working with a group trying to bring this heritage breed back from the brink of disappearing, to have Beth at the farm in town share three babies with us.  We have such a love for the heritage poultry, we are truly excited to raise these with our other heritage birds.

The have this amazing setup there, and Wyatt was so glad to get ideas for upgrading the poultry spaces this summer, and Bailey and he both loved her hydroponic setup.  We have a lot of the base items for a setup, so we decided one day next week we will have a fact finding mission at a little store in town that teaches the hydroponics!

After fixing the flag pole on Sunday, the solar lights looked good on Monday, and this still seem to be lined up right for the full height as well.  YAY for small miracles!

I had set up this planter on Tuesday, it is on the front porch in full Arizona sun.  Fortunately, it seems to be establishing well.  Gotta love a little patriotic color in the goat planter!  Now to ind some blue daisies for the one next to it!

We atrated some cantaloupe and honeydew seeds about a week ago.  So glad to see them doing so well.  If they keep it up, I may transfer a couple plants to the new planter box by the swing set. (Hoping, hoping)

I don't know about your house, but the hens are desperate to go broody around here!

Oh, had to share this photo, too.  I saw this in the parking lot at work, and thought everyone might enjoy the cool paint job with all of the trees.

Well, off to another busy day.  Hoping to get the sewing done and the house cleaning and finish that new planter when Wyatt and I get home early this afternoon.  Oh, and start Wyatt's birthday cake!  But for now, leaving hte farm in the care of Charlie and Bailey!  Have a great day everyone!!!

Family Day...

Charlie's big request was a fruit tart, so while I was putting this together yesterday morning, I was working on researching new sources for chicken feed.  We used to be able to get soy free, corn free, but then that changed, and now that my grades are posted for the semester, I can get back to working on things like finding local sources and repairs.

So as I was dishing this treat of yummy berries up, I was also finding a recipe for making my own (chicken feed, I mean).  I didn't get a chance to finish much of that research, though,  Hopefully this week!  Have any of you tried it?  Getting bulk reliably seems like a questions before making a jump like this, too.  I sure miss the days of a grocer ordering in for you!

The English Lavender are starting to really perk up, too- bonus!

I worked on the kitchen, and cleaned out the medicine cupboard.  Now I have a big bag of old stuff to take in to the pharmacy tomorrow, and things fit back into the cupboard.  Then I headed out to the chickens.  These eggs came from a pen where a few extra hens snuck in with the Brahmas.  The darker egg is a Brahma, the next lighter tan egg is a Delaware, and the other is a Phoenix. The Delaware really loved the rooster in that pen, so I  just weed out her eggs and don't let them hatch.

Shadow Paws offered to help Wyatt clean his room.  She made him make his bed, and took a nap while waiting for him to do the rest.

I finally got started on the new sign board for the farm, but only got as far as the first few coats of chalkboard paint.  I hope to get that finished and up this week, but haven't finished selecting the framing wood.  I am thinking of using upcycled pallet wood for it.  Have any of you tried it?  I like upcycling, but don't want to have to remake this project after the monsoons, either! 

Chalrie helped me fix the flagpole.  YAY! Just in time for Memorial Day.  It will go to half for Monday, for for now will fly at the top.  Nice to have Old Glory back in her place out front where she belongs.

A gentleman came by to pick up a couple extra Silkie roos that had hatched and we were giving away for free, and  he promptly fell in love with the Brahma roosters and purchased four.  Those really have been a striking, majestic  breed that has thrived here.

After picking up my car, I snuck off to get something for a project the kids and I are working on for Charlie for Father's Day.  I will take pics while we work on it, bu the overall project has to be a surprise for the finish!  We sure hope it turns out like we are planning.  Just need a few more components and we can start putting things together.

Well, now it is Memorial Day and I am just getting this posted.  I am going to go to work for a little while, but am looking forward to sitting down to write a Memorial Day post later, hopefully with the help of some guest bloggers.  Interested?  Please share a photo of your soldier, sailor or airman, and a  story about them on the farm page.  If you are interested in helping submit to the blog for this one, please send me a message, email PM or whatever works.  I am glad to share the mic, so to speak.  Have a great day, and take a moment to reflect on those awesome freedoms that so many have given so much to provide and sustain for us.

Love to all,

Erin