...when raising guppies sounds like the pinnacle of my ability. I was not able to overcome the head cold/flu/plague so had to cancel all fun activities for the weekend. Ratz. After a sleepless night of coughing and hacking, tossing and turning, I did shuffle out to get some OTC relief, along with a prescription for Pepper. Thank you, NyQuil. I also am very glad I had the foresight to can up a heap of turkey rice soup, as that is what I have been living on. Once again, preparation comes in handy.
I darted out (at 1 mph) on Sunday to pick up my chicks from Farmer Nina - warding her off and feeling like Typhoid Mary. Her husband was home and as he stuck out his hand to shake mine, he caught the labored breathing and loud wheezing and quickly drew it back. I was not offended.
I managed to get the 9 chicklets - straight run, so it will be interesting to see the M/F ratio. I have noticed that the LLF Female Mojo is wearing a bit thin. But she did not charge me for all of them, using a general ratio of male to female. She will also take the males back. We will see how it goes. The rooster/dad is a lavender Orpington, although I am not sure what the hens/moms are. I am liking the idea of chicken mutts.
All my big plans of barn cleaning went out the door without looking back. I missed the birthday party and had to hear about it by phone. Double Ratz. I cannot believe that next weekend is Easter already - I have lots to do! I am the official egg-dyer and need to make the potatoes and wrestle with the Last Ham. I am not sure what to do with it - it's 16+ lbs and very salty. Unfortunately, the owner of the pigs has a high tolerance (nay, LOVE) for anything salty, but this is over the limit of most taste buds. I am thinking about soaking it in water rinses - what do you all think? Will I have to heat it while soaking? If so, I doubt if I would have time to a) work full time and b) bring this behemoth to a boil once, let alone three times. If I had Saturday to mess with it, I might be able to do it, but that is the day we're celebrating. Nertz. All you culinary wizards out there - any ideas???
14 comments:
Sorry to hear you are still poorly. Nothing like a cold to bring you down....ratz indeed. As for the ham, I wonder if counteracting the salt and bringing it out with acidy types of foods - like a vinegar soak? I am just scrambling for guesses (can you tell?) but apart from that, I wonder if Google would be more helpful than I. Can't wait to see the chick pictures!
is it a country ham? the kind from the south? i think soaking it would be good if it is, just soak it in cold water. if it is a regular ham, i have a great ham recipe on my blog. hope you feel better soon!
Susan,
I would soak my ham in water or coca cola for a couple of hours and then prep it with brown sugar packed all over, then poor a can or two (depending on the size of your ham)crushed pineapple directly over the top, wrap in foil, and bake. The soaking will help reduce the salt, and the brown sugar, pineapple will help flavor (reduce the taste of any left over salt).
Congrats on your new baby chicks! Feel better soon :-)
You, m'dear, need a wife to come take care of you so you can get over your cold/flu post haste! (Well, a husband/partner/good friend/mother/bona fide nurse would work, too, but a wife who would cook and clean at the same time sounds best to me.)
I, too, would soak that salty ham butt in several batches of water. I also wondered (as suggested) if a bit o' vinegar added to the water would help pull out the salt.
I know you won't do it, but the wisest thing might be to let everyone know right here and now that you are down in the depths with this bad bug and need until next week to make sure you recover . . . and don't infect anyone else. Then STAY HOME and don't participate in the Easter festivities at all because I know that will be a big stress for you all week thinking about it. Believe it or not, everyone will survive without you engineering and participating in the whole hoopla. You've got to take care of yourself. (Just pretend you're seven years old, I'm your concerned [strict, mean] mother, and do as I say.)
Ditto the wise and wonderful Mama Pea's advise. Stop trying to be Wonder Woman.
It t'aint worth it!
Hope you feel better soon!
Hand over that ham to someone else immediately. Who wants to eat something sneezed and hacked over anyway. Pass it through a crack in the door and make sure chocolate comes back in return. I've heard raw potato soaks up salt so if it is really bad the other person (not you!) could put a few in with the soaking water.
I hope you continue to improve. Being sick just sucks when you have a lot of things to do. But, the harder you press yourself the longer it will take you to get well. I'd soak the ham in cold water 2 or 3 times, completely covered & it should take most of the salt out. Down here in the south people absolutely love their country ham. We fry up slices. I wash first, then add water when I'm cooking & the water evaporates taking most of the salt with it. I still drink many many glasses of water afterwards though.
Get better soon!
1. Give the ham away.
2. Hot Toddy. Whiskey (Bourbon) , honey, lemon juice, water (boiling hot). Heavy on the whiskey...light on the water. Sip. It's hot ,remember? Dosage - oh gosh, let's see. One per hour until you don't give a shit anymore? Then go to bed and put tons of blankets on you. You will wake up the next day soaking wet, maybe hungover, but hopefully, symptom free or at least a little better. If not.....repeat! To your health..Cheers!
Mrs DM - I love hearing about fixes first hand - but I also did some digging online. Chik pix coming up!
I knew I could count on y'all for great advice! Firstly, although it is tempting to send the ham north as is, without me, that is not an option. I should be feeling better by then, my DS who is usually my major support has been dealt a physical blow far worse than mine, I cannot disappoint my mother, I am going to soak the ham in gingerale then baste it with beer, molasses and dry mustard (it is supposedly the "Canadian" way - good enough for me!), then I am going to come home and dose myself with a Hot Toddy, ala Spiderjohn. Amen.
I have been thinking about your dilemma.....what about a good old fashioned pot luck? Not a traditional approach to Easter dinner but a good way to spend more time with family!?
Fiona - Bless your heart. It would be a bit of a pickle this year as I am the most able-bodied one in attendance (scary thought). My parents are in their 90s and my sis suffered a brain injury in a fall, so she is having to be very careful and has a long haul ahead. With all my whining, it will still work out fine. If not, it will be...interesting!
yeeick's...my prayers to all of you!
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