Pesto! Pesto! Pesto!

Jeremy and I have never been fans of pesto.  Even when we traveled around Italy, we never ate it the entire time.  We just didn't like pesto - until recently, with a meal that we had with our neighbor Matt.  We literally call it the most legendary lunch of all time!  First, let me describe the lunch.  We had homemade pumpkin ravioli that Jeremy made with a brown butter sage and manchego pesto (pesto made by my neighbor Matt) and left over Flank Steak marinated overnight in a homemade chimchurri sauce.  Now...take a moment to picture the deliciousness. That was the beginning of a new love affair with pesto.

The key for me with pesto is using Manchego instead of Parmesean. For those non cheese enthusiasts, Manchego is a Spanish cheese from the La Mancha region of Spain from the milk of sheep. I prefer to use the 6 month aged cheese.  Here is neighbor Matt's Pesto recipe:

Everything (per Matt) should be equal parts:

• Fresh basil
• Pine Nuts or to save a little bit of money...walnuts
• Manchego
• 2 or 3 cloves of garlic

Matt told us to not use oil when you blend everything, and instead add it when you pull it out of the freezer. I freeze in separate parts.

Tonight, Jeremy and I snacked on the yummiest treat!  I toasted bread with a little olive oil, spread pesto and topped with a tomato. I also sauted up some sliced Japanese eggplant to add to the bread too.  Here is a picture to get your mouth watering!

This is made with everything grown in our garden, locally made (the bread) or homemade!!!  Picture perfect of summer plenty!

I am back!

Sorry it has been awhile I was absent for the past week and a half. I was on vacation in beautiful Southern Minnesota. I seriously LOVE southern Minnesota. Picture it...rolling green hills, country side seasoned with red barns, silos and beautiful old farm houses, cows roaming freely around the pasture fading into the skyline,... I could go on and on... I love everything about it! I apologize I have no pictures to show you but I just couldn't take my eyes off the scenery...it is literally my peace and it only took me 35 years to find it!

Especially my in-laws farm, Timber Creek farm. Being out there on the farm made me feel so relaxed and at peace. I battle inside with what I would want to do...live in a small city or live in the country. All I could do was dream!!!!  Continuing to raise llamas like my in-laws, raising sheep to make cheese, pigs, chickens and a HUGE garden!!!!  Loving every bit of it.  Here is a glimpse of the beauty I got to see every morning waking up at the farm.  Marg and Jim...I love your place!!!  Here are a few pictures of heaven.

Now for the scary part....mice, bugs, spiders, mosquito's, etc...  Being a country girl with all the things that scare me, however my mother-in-law tells me you get use to it.  Such big dreams and big eyes I can only dream at this time. As for now I am continuing to live the dream in Fort Collins.  Jeremy and I will push away at our house and become an urban farm and someday who knows what might happen.

Travel Tip: If you are interested in going to Minnesota I highly recommend Southern Minnesota. 

Until next time!

The Beginning...

Welcome to our lives! I hope this blog brings you laughter, knowledge, and enjoyment as you follow my and my family's everyday journey. I had a blog awhile back that was just focused on food, however I realized I had so much more to talk about and needed to expand my content. Our family keeps growing and learning and I realized that some people out there might be interested in this journey.

My husband and I recently became chicken owners! We are the proud parents of 6 adopted Rhode Island Reds! I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to get them! I do not live on a farm or out of city limits. I live right here in suburban Fort Collins. About a year ago Fort Collins passed an ordinance that allowed everyday people like myself, living in suburbia, to have backyard chickens. I honestly think I could do a daily blog on chickens alone they are just so much fun and interesting. You will hear a lot of stories and information about the chickens as we move along this journey.

Aside from the chickens I love to eat, cook and garden. I believe in whole foods as much as possible. My goal for my family in my last blog was to make us as limited as possible on processed food and we were successful. I would say only 20 to 30% of our food is processed. Don't get me wrong though, I LOVE going out to eat and I can wait to share with you some fun and interesting places in and around Colorado. The main way to eat healthy (and cheap) is to learn how to grow your own stuff. Whether you live in an apartment or house, there are ways that you can eat healthy year round and I hope to share those with you.

I am by no means a vegetarian, vegan or anything such! What I am is a locavore and a foodie! What is a locavore you ask? "Someone who seeks out locally grown and produced foods", New Oxford American Dictionary. I try my hardest to eat grass fed beef, chicken from places where I know the bird has lived a happy life, like Jodar Farms (http://www.jodarfarms.com/pages/farm), black raspberry jam from my mother-in-laws wild bushes, honey from Copocos Honey (http://www.copocoshoney.com/), veggies from my garden and yummy breads (http://www.facebook.com/goodseedbakery) and so on and so on. I believe what grows together goes together, however I am not perfect and you will see I do use food weekly from the grocery store, packaged, etc...because let's face it...I live in Colorado. Our growing season is short and I seriously love avocados!

Another big part of this blog is Jeremy's and my journey to get our son Cy. We are adopting from South Korea and couldn't be happier!! I hope you join me in the journey to bring Cy home and and once he is home. Adoption can be a very long and arduous rode with an outcome so wonderful it changes your life forever. There are so many products, information, books and just regular baby information I can't wait to share with you. I am sure this blog is more for me, but I hope you enjoy!

Peace and Love,
Sarah