Thanksgiving week with our family & friends 2011

                                          THANKSGIVING 2011

     We started off our Thanksgiving week with our best friends driving from Edwards AFB in California {900 miles} to our little small town of 37 to spend Thanksgiving with us.  We spent the first few days they were here touring around the farm, going to town and lucky us, Jesica took professional photos of Eric and I all over Central Oregon. On Monday we drove over the pass {HWY 26} and stopped at Timberline Lodge where the famous movie "The Shining" was filmed and took some amazing photos and warmed up by there Grand Lodge Fire Place. We then continued on to the Oregon Coast and stayed at my family's river cabin for a few days. We played fun games, ate fresh caught salmon and toured the Tillamook Cheese Factory. The wives thoroughly enjoyed themselves by snuggling up to a good book or two, while the men reminisced with a cold beer around the cozy wood stove. We joined my family in the Valley on Thanksgiving where I cooked all morning with my Grandmother and Mother and then proudly displayed our Thankgiving feast! Thanks to Eric and Josh we deep fried a turkey for the first time ever and it was amazing! yummy yummy. The two boys watched that bird with a close eye, making sure it was just right for the feast.  I did a tiny bit of Black Friday shopping and got a few good deals for Eric and his brother. We headed back to our little small town and said goodbye to our best friends shed a few tears and shared a few more laughs and  and snuggle down into our OWN bed. As much as I hated to leave my family and friends, it sure did feel good to be home.

Counterfeit Farm  Girl,
Samantha

Oh P.S. The fresh Cranberry sauce was yummy*

The Minor Family

Eric & I Timberline Lodge

Eric & Abigale <3

Eric, keeping a VERY close eye on the Bird

Abigale & Jonothan doing Christmas Countdown Chains

Eric & I at my parents House in The Valley

Homemade & Homegrown

    So with Christmas coming up, I have been pondering what to buy for our families and friends. Living 50 miles from a grocery store and gas station means there is no Target, no Macys, and no Walmart. I have had to really think "outside the box"  and get creative about my Christmas planning. I have decided that I am going to give our families and friends "everything from scratch" gift baskets. One thing that I am very excited to share is that here on McGreer Century Farms we grow Whole Wheat! Eric and his coworkers till the dirt, plant the seeds, care for it while it grows, and harvest it at the end of the season. I have been so fortunate to watch and help with this amazing process and have decided to start grinding my own  whole wheat. I have purchased a Kitchen Aid Wheat Grinder attachment to go onto to my kitchen Aid mixer. I'm simple enough to grind my own wheat, but not by hand. Eric has saved me a huge huge barrel of wheat where i take it and pour cup by cup into the grinder and grind it into whole wheat flour. To keep its oxidants and freshness I then immediately put it into the freezer until I use it. It is very healthy and all homegrown. You can't get any better than that.  I have attached a link to this amazing attachment and a picture of a semi final product.

Counterfeit Farm Girl,
Samantha

http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-GMA-Grain-Attachment-Mixers/dp/B00004SGFL

Holidays, counterfeit farm girl style.

    Hi family & friends, welcome to my new blog! I decided that it was about time for y'all to get a peek into my simple country gal lifestyle out here in Clarno, Oregon. Population.....about 20.  Happy reading! Samantha
   
    With the holidays quickly approaching I decided my first few blog posts would be about all the homemade goodies that I am working on. I am currently perfecting my holiday Cranberry sauce. I tend to twek the recipe every holiday season making it just right.

Holiday Honey Cranberry Sauce

*1 1/2 cups of fresh cranberries

*1 can (8 oz.) of pineapple chunks in their juice, undrained

*5 tablespoons of water, divided

*3 overflowing tablespoons of honey

*2 teaspoons of ground allspice

*1 teaspoon of cornstarch

Cooking Directions:

Combine cranberries, pineapple chunks with their juice, 2 tablespoons of water, honey, and allspice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 5 minuets or until cranberries begin to pop open. Stir remaining 3 tablespoons of water and cornstarch in a small bowl and mix until smooth. Stir into the cranberry mixture and cook another 4 minuets or until mixture boils and has thickened. Put in you favorite holiday serving dish and enjoy!