Corned Beef Brisket...recipe handed down from Chris's Mom Carol...

Every St. Patrick's day I get excited to make Corned Beef Brisket...it was a recipe Chris's mom (Carol) gave to me...and I love to cook anything she used to make so it gives him another awesome memory of her.  She could take anything she had in the cupboards and make something awesome and usually with little time, something I have not been gifted with, but she gifted me with a husband that can do the same!

While it has been almost 12 years since she passed...she is in our thoughts daily.  I laugh to think what she thinks about Chris, Richard and her husband Tony (Grandpa T) and what they have created on the farm.  Tony and Carol bought the land together many years ago and built a cabin hoping to one day live in it.  I know she would be proud and I am pretty sure she has been behind them every step of the way!  So since I live with a farmer we don't always do things on the right day but we usually try to do them with in a couple of days that we are suppose to. 

This past week our son Jackson (10) has been taking Hunter Safety Classes so he can do Trap shooting...which required transporting him three days up to Dowagiac and thank you to Mom, Dad and Grandpa T and the smarts of Jackson he got his license.  Yay for Jackson and now he can follow in his cousins awesome foot steps and go trap shooting weekly! 

So today....Chris took my five little piggies (Kyra, Jackson, Cyrus, Jorja May & Jones (dog)) to the farm so I can have some alone time and as I thank you I am making Corned Beef Brisket!

Here is the awesome recipe...and as I always promise...it is easy!

CORNED BEEF BRISKET

Ingredients:
1 Corn Beef Brisket
1 Cooking Bag
BBQ Sauce
Garlic
Pepper
Carrots
Potato’s

Put the corned beef in the bag (fat up – I have to put that because I had no
idea it mattered J),sprinkle the beef with pepper and about 2 TBL spoons of garlic, cover with your
favorite BBQ sauce, cut up potato’s (usually three or four for us) and carrott’s
put in the bag and add a ½ can of beer.

Cook at 300 degrees for about 2 ½ hours

Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Valentine’s Day or Happy Monday!

I am wishing all of my friends and family a special day. I know it is a "Card" holiday...but it is one more day I can make sure my friends and family know how much I love them.

I hope you got to spend time with someone you love! Farmer Chris splits his time between me and his Pigs (and the other couple hundred animals) --- and believe me they know how much he loves them.

As I was standing at the bus stop this morning (around 6:20) with my 12 year old daughter she was telling me a story! Kyra's class was discussing who was smarter - dogs or pigs. Most of the kids said pigs and her teacher thought they should test that theory and asked if anyone had a pig. Some kids jokingly raised their hands and Kyra spoke up and said no that she really did have pigs. The teacher said oh ok a Guinea Pig? and Kyra said no we have like 100 big pigs at the farm. Needless to say she was a little shocked. Kyra agreed that pigs are very smart, they know when her dad shows up they are going to be fed, they know if they bump Chris he will rub behind their ears, they know how to get out of the weather, they know not to touch the fence, a mama pig can deliver 15 babies all by themselves!

Don’t worry I am not jealous, I am just happy I married such a loving and caring human being!

Have a Great Valentine’s Day no matter how you celebrate it!

Happy New Year!

Well we surrived 2010. We had many ups and downs with our biggest being the barn fire that happened one year ago on January 6th, but I always believed after that...the year could only get better, and it did. We made many new friends and got to spend quality time with our old friends. I ended my long run on PTO board at the kids school and now can just enjoy volunteering when I want to or I can just go in and hang out with my kids.

My four kids still amaze me and I still can't believe I was blessed to be their mom.

                                                  Cyrus, Jackson, Jorja May and Kyra

We lost our dog Mcgee to old age...(14 years old)



Mcgee (14 years old)

 and gained Jones who has wiggled his way deep in my heart.



Jones (puppy)



Jones (9 months old)


My husband the farmer still surprises me with his crazy ideas...which his mom warned me about .... about 20 years ago. I know she is in heaven saying I told you so, but I know she wouldn't have it anyother way.

I always try to look at the positive side of things...so this year we all have grown as a family and as farmers! I never try to imagine what I will be doing in 10 years, because as long as I have Chris by my side, my kids and my friends...I know things are going to be just right! Besides living with Chris one never knows what we will be doing in TEN years...but I am pretty sure it involves muddy boots and more animals!

I wish everyone a Happy New Year and I am hoping to make a difference this year!

ps. I forogt to mention another huge event in 2010 -- Farmer Chris started a blog...so now there is proof I don't make this crazy farmer up!



Happy Birthday to Farmer Chris!!!

Everyday we celebrate this man in our house...but today was the day he came into this world, many years ago!

We walked for breast cancer in honor of his mom Carol!

Teaches our children that faith is important!

Last minute camping trip...he is the cook in the house!

He has taught our kids to compete for themselves...

Takes us blueberry picking...and Jorja still talks about wanting to go back!

He takes us on last minute field trips to pick up 300 turkeys...but makes them fun by staying in hotels and touring around towns!

Makes sure there is time for fun...for the kids and himself!

After a big loss in January (barn fire) on the farm he taught our kids we need to pick up the pieces and rebuild...he was very sensitive and sad at all of our loss -- especially for the kids!

Works day and night on the farm to allow for me to stay home with the kids!

Is just a great big kid on the inside!

Has a soft side...

Is our kids biggest cheerleader...just not as loud as mom! 

Surprises us with day trips to remind us what is important...Family!

He works hard for our family...teaching the importance of work and play.

We love you and thank God everyday that you are our Papa, husband and best friend!

Happy Birthday Christopher Aaron!

Michelle and Kyra, Jackson, Cyrus and Jorja May

Family time on the farm...

As most of you know, we live in the city and farmer Chris travels to the farm daily.  Well this past weekend at the last minute we decided to camp on the farm.  This means we get to eat dinner with Richard and his family and then camp (of course with chores down in between).  A couple years ago my father in law (Grandpa T)started building a cabin on the farm, which is where myself, Chris, Cyrus, Jorja May and Jones slept...Jackson and Kyra slept in a tent.  What a wonderful weekend...the weather was great and we got to spend time doing something we love --- being together!



The girls in an old whole the pigs dug!



Jorja May doing chores!



Getting closer to having a warm space for baby pigs in the winter!




The barn posts are in!




The campfire and the tent Kyra and Jackson slept in!







We wrote secrets and threw them in the fire...





Ahhh the colors of fall!




Jorja May picked out her marshmallow stick



Grandpa T's Cabin we stayed in!

We hope you were able to enjoy this wonderful weekend!

Michelle

Purple Porch Community Night Win goes to....

Chorizo (Mexican) Meat Loaf

Created by Chef Chris Hebron and made by Michelle Hebron

Tonight we had our Purple Porch Community night and from what I hear (because I was home sick) there was awesome food to be had...many many different types of food! 

And one of our rendations of Meat Loaf won....(people voted by putting money in paper bags and at the end of the night they were totaled.)  We also brought our other italian meatloaf that is also on this site.

Here is the recipe...I unfortunelty didn't get any at home, because they ate it ALL!

Chorizo (Mexican) Meat Loaf

Ingredients

2 eggs, beaten (FFC)
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
1 cup Spanish Rice
1 handful pea tomatoes (FFC)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf sage, basil, or oregano, crushed
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound lean ground beef (FFC)
1 pound lean Chorizo (Mexican) sausage (FFC)
1/2 cup Salsa (drained)
2 tbl ketchup

Directions

1. In a medium bowl combine eggs and milk; stir in rice, onion, parsley, salt, sage, and pepper. Add ground meat and Chorizo (Mexican); mix well. Lightly pat mixture into an 8x4x2-inch loaf pan.

2. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until internal temperature registers 160 degrees F. Spoon off fat - not needed if you use our meat. In a bowl combine salsa and ketchup; spread over meat. Bake for 10 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into eight slices.

3. Makes 8 servings

Can't wait for next month's entry...we enjoy trying to figure out how to use our ingredients.

Have a great night.

Michelle

Blueberry picking and Blueberry Bars yummm!

Friday night Chris called and asked if we wanted to go last minute Blueberry picking...so we did!

Luckily it was closing in the next hour -- so it wasn't too painful to the kids!

Then on Saturday Kyra made this...

BLUEBERRY CRUMB BARS

We have met so many wonderful farmers through Purple Porch - and one of them offered to teach Kyra how to bake (because everyone learns better from someone they aren't related too :)  So Marianne Christy from (Christy's Clean Crops) taught her to cook this last week!

BLUEBERRY CRUMB BARS

Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks or 8 ounces)
1 egg (from FFC)
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
Zest and juice of one lemon
4 cups fresh blueberries (from the Orgnaic Blueberry Ranch)
1/2 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch


Directions


Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

1.  In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour, and baking powder. Mix in salt and lemon zest. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of dough into the prepared pan.

2.  In another bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Gently mix in the blueberries. Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until top is slightly brown. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
 
And since we ate it all, Kyra made it again yesterday and it was awesome.  Now Chris says if we keep the blueberries in stock she should be able to make it twice a week!  :)
 
Have a great week!
 
Michelle

Happy 4th of July....a little late!

A little late.... but we hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July.  The upside of being a Farmer is you get to bring good food to good people, the down side, the animals don't take vacations, therefore their farmer doesn't either.  Farmer Chris is smart and on Friday at the last minute said lets go camping up by the farm.  That way the kids and mom feel like we get to go somewhere - the laundry and dishes stay at home and we get to have fun time with Dad.  We camped at a resort about a mile from the Farm.  It even had a beach with a diving board...my husband is very smart!

The four of them in the Big people's tent!

The lake...was wonderful!

The diving board!

They had something other then chickens, pigs and cows!

Me and my first born -- Kyra

Waiting for dinner... no worries the beer was not drank by them!

Jones got to play in the lake for the first time...and he definitely loved it!

We had a personal chef...who cooked good food!

Once again Chris gave us a wonderful mini vacation.  Coming soon is previews of our soon to be new barn... the rebuilding from after the fire!  We got the shipment in...now need the time and weather to cooperate!

Have a great week!

Michelle

Happy Fathers Day....to the greatest father!

(Self portrait at the park)

With having a farmer as a daddy our kids get the joy of spending time with Daddy all of the time!

I feel like most of the time they appreciate that they can go with Chris everyday over the summer -- especially Jackson who loves helping dad and grandpa T.  I am not saying that all of them are standing in line by the door waiting...but sometimes even Jorja May our 3 year old cries when daddy can't take her.

This Sunday Grandpa T did the morning chores, so we got to spend a couple hours in the park --- just enjoying our time with the kids.

Aww - this is at a park in Three Rivers!

Then we drove to the farm...

We found out our 2 month old Chocolate lab is not afraid of pigs - or electric fences...and I think they actually liked playing with him.  But after three of them came up on him, I decided it was enough.

Then he watched how they layed in the mud to cool off -- it is a little muddy by the water bucket....so Jones had to join in the fun...

He was covered in mud...and loved it!

I didn't get any pictures of us chasing baby Turkeys around...apparently Mom left the turkey coop open after feeding them and when we returned up to that part of the farm...they were running everywhere -- but we had fun hearding them back in!

We hope you had a wonderful Fathers Day and got to stop and remember what it is all about!

Have a great week!

Michelle and the Hebron's

Easter, Eggs, Piggies, and hiking on the farm...

We spent Easter at the farm...with my brother-in-law (Richard) and sister-in-law (Annette)!!!  What a beautiful day at the farm.  I wanted to share the pictures so you can see where your food comes from and who the special people are that raise and love it!

On our way to do chores...we found mama and babies had gone wild...

Apparently they wanted to take a walk for the day, so this is Cyrus leading the herd with a bag of bread!

Then Jorja May, Kyra and I went on a nature walk....

It is very pretty on my father-in-laws farm!

And of course they get to drive the mule!

On to chicken chores....which was pretty neat since it was Easter and we were finding eggs everywhere...

We hit the mother load here... and they are clean!

This is Kyra and Jorja May carefully picking up the eggs --- I broke two, they broke none!

Those eggs are from these pretty chickens!  We believe the more you talk to them, the more eggs they will give you!

This chicken wasn't done laying yet.  They do like their privacy, one was pacing beside it waiting for it to be free!

Daddy and his girls checking on his chickens!

Jackson getting feed for the pigs...he now is able to do the pig chores all by himself -- well maybe with a little help from Jorja May.

This is our free bird...

This is Jorja May after finding out we were having Pork Tenderloin for Easter Dinner!

Chris and his brother Richard solving the worlds problems...or trying to figure out how they are going to feed the world with our healthy food! (Gideon is in the back ground taking it all in)

We hope you had a wonderful Easter or Passover and enjoyed time with your family...because in the end that is what is really important!

Love,

Michelle and Family