What do you get when you cross ...

What do you get when you cross a polish rooster with a Isa brown hen?

After, two weeks, they look like the chicken version of Mr T!!! Let's hope they find their mojo soon and outgrow this awkward phase ...

A few facts about Chicken eggs

Quail eggs

Oscar, my 6 year old son begged us to buy quail so that he could sell the eggs. After 6 months, his dream has finally paid off! 

The only problem is ... He needs to stop eating the profits!!

I may try and find some interesting recipes for him to try. May as well cultivate that mini MasterChef now! 

DIY Alpaca Doona

Our alpaca, Kerry, had his first hair cut yesterday. It was amazing to see him with his cost off! Our lovely big, fat alpaca was reduced to looking like a thin deer or greyhound, but the amount of fleece we got off him was amazing!

With hopes and dreams of making our own king size Doona from his fleece, I was sure this would be a long term project, maybe four shearings would give us enough fleece ... But as you can see, we have ample! 

Now to decide where to start. I'll post pics of the finished product ... As long as it is not a complete disaster!! Wish me and my Janome luck! 

I can't believe I made butter!

I made this butter using the cream off one week old raw milk and it was delicious! It did have a strong almost blue flavour, but my 8 year old could not get enough of it. I know, there is not a lot, but I'm going for quality over quantity. This may become my daughters new job each week. 

Homemade butter is definitely worth a try. Just whip the cream until it separates, then beat some more, drain the butter milk and put aside. Remove the solid clumps of  butter and add a little salt, mixing well to form butter. Enjoy!

Avocado Chips and more!

I have just stumbled across a recipe for Avocado chips. Yep, that's right ... Chips! Simply take an avocado, slice it up, coat it in egg and seasoned breadcrumbs and then fry the slices into chips and serve them with a tangy mayonnaise.

I'll shelve this one away until my crop comes in!

Read the story at: http://www.treehugger.com/easy-vegetarian-recipes/baked-avocado-fries-vegetarian.html

Here are some other interesting recipes with Avocado from fellow bloggers: 

Avocado egg: http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2012/02/bake-an-egg-in-an-avocado-for-a-healthy-breakfast/

Avocado Truffles: http://g0lubka.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/avocado-truffles.html

Avocado Cheesecake: http://wendyinkk.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/avocado-chilled-cheesecake.html

 

Avocado Icypoles - http://www.ruchikrandhap.com/2012/10/october-avocado-coconut-popsicles.html

 

 

My First Cheese

It has been a couple of days but I have finally completed my first hard cheese - Parmesan.

It was actually quite easy and plenty of fun. Of course the proof is in the tasting ... but we will have to wait 10 months for that!

Here are a couple of snaps of my first cheese in the making:

I also made ricotta from the whey ... YUM!!

Pigs and Cheese

We have been so busy on the farm that I have had little time for anything else ... including updating my blog!

We have a new little pig ... Hugo. He will be the Sire of our future piglets and If I do say so myself, he is quite the charmer!

We have moved the girls to a new paddock where they can romp and play and furrow ... did I mention that they are furrowing!!

Last week I made my first cheese, well sort of cheese. It was made from my home-made yoghurt and it was easy and so delicious. I am definitely adding that one to my repertoire - Thanks again Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

But today is the really exciting day. Today is the day I make my first hard cheese.

The making of cheese has been grossly delayed in our home due to the somewhat complex issues of setting up a cheese cave. Honestly, it has all been just a bit too mystifying for me. However; after a great deal of research, I have found the solution - a wine fridge with a lower temperature rang ( 9 -16 degrees Celsius), just perfect for cheese!

Now I have a place to store and age my cheese, I can finally have a crack at making it. I was going to do a cheese course but they never seem to be on the right day or running the right course for me so I thought, in true Ellendale Farm tradition, that I would just have a crack at it.

Finger's Crossed!

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

As any zucchini grower knows, there is a time when you cannot eat another zucchini slice or preserve another jar of zucchini pickles.

This week I stumbled upon a recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Brownies at allrecipes.com.au.

I tried it last night and it was not only a hit with my children, but the adults too.

It only uses 2 cups of grated zucchini, but what a great way to use them!

To view the recipe, click on the link below:

http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/10910/print-friendly.aspx