Mozzarella Cheese

I learned how to make mozzarella cheese today! What fun is that! No, it was not made from goat's milk, but store bought milk. I've tried making mozzeralla cheese a couple of years ago without much success. Now, I have a good recipe in hand and I ordered the necessary ingredients from New England Cheesemaking (www.cheesemaking.com). So I should be set! Once the goat babies come, I should have more than enough milk to try goat's milk mozzeralla. For the time being, we will have to settle for store-bought milk mozzeralla cheese.

Duck eggs!

After taking a 3 month "vacation", my ducks have decided it is time to get back to work. We are currently getting 3 eggs a day (yes, I know that is not huge!) but, 3 duck eggs is better than no duck eggs. We have about a dozen ducks, so we should have more duck eggs to offer in the near future. We are planning on expanding our duck flock this year.

Duck eggs are wonderful in baking! People who cannot eat chicken eggs, usually can eat duck eggs with no problem. I have also heard that duck eggs are good for people going through chemo-therapy.

2010 Farmer's Markets

Just got done filling out the paperwork for the Hyde Park Farmer's Market and I just realized this will be my fifth year at the market. Time really does fly when you are having fun! Hyde Park is such a great market - all the vendors are the nicest people! And what great customers I have. I have meet so many nice people through this market and many of the customers are now steady egg customers! Looking out my office window and seeing more snow flurries, makes me wish that market season would hurry up with its warm air!

The Anderson Farmer's Market is sending out their paperwork this weekend. This will be my third year at Anderson. I remember when I read the annoucement about Anderson opening the market and debating whether I should quit Milford and join Anderson. I haven't been back to Milford since. Anderson is also a great market. Nancy Downs and her group of volunteers do such an exceptional job at running the market. It is still going through some growing pains, but every market goes through that. Look for great things happening at Anderson this year!

We are still debating on whether or not to do a third market. We have talked to the people at the Mt. Washington Market and, now I hear of a market developing in Montgomery. I've also had some interest from the Earth Mother's Market in Kentucky. Decisions, decisions!

Snow and more snow!

The latest snow storm dropped about 7 inches of new snow. Here is a picture of our backyard with a total of 12 inches of snow! It is so funny watching Choo and Ella (our two shih tzu puppies) try to navigate through the snow. Ella loves it, Choo doesn't. Of course, all the schools are closed again. I thought for sure my goats would kid (give birth) today, but so far, my luck is holding out. For some reason, they always decide to give birth on the worst possible day.

Goat's Milk

It seems like goat's milk is gaining popularity FINALLY! Today on Martha Stewart she had a "candy historian" demonstrating how to make caramels using goat's milk butter, honey, etc. They looked really good - guaranteed to pull out any loose fillings (unfortunately!). Also, in a lot of the magazines, I am seeing recipes calling either for goat's milk or goat's milk cheese. Maybe people are beginning to realize how good this is for you. Unfortunately, the government isn't. In order for us to sell our milk and cheese, we need to be a Grade A Licensed dairy, have a commercial kitchen, a $17,000 pastuerizer, and comply with about 30 pages of regulations. We looked into it but the start-up costs are astronomical! It would take forever for us to recoup our initial investment. In the state of Ohio, there are only 3 licensed Goat dairies - one near Oxford and the other two are up in the Cleveland area. Now, how sad is that!

I believe the only way goat farmers can sell their milk is through herd shares. BUT, here you are walking a very fine line. Ohio has been trying to outlaw herd shares, but hasn't had much success - so far the courts are ruling in the farmer's favor. I have to investigate herd shares further, it might be worthwhile doing.

Anyway, I saw the sun today!!! YEAH!

Spring?

It is hard to think of Spring when you have 5 to 7 inches of snow on the ground. Yesterday was a snowy day, my son had our truck, so I was pretty much stuck in the house. So I baked some cupcakes and started some seeds in the garage. Getting out those seed packets lifted my spirits! I love watching the seeds sprout into little plants.Yes, someday soon I will be able to plant these in my garden.