A Visit to Applecheek Farm

I've learned a lot from my Daughter , I've learned to pay more attention to where our food comes from and what foods I am going to feed our family.  We've come to the decision that we are no longer buying any meat products from the grocery stores. For two good reasons, the mistreatment and mass production of the animals and what they feed them .  Since my daughter and son in law are "growing" chickens and pigs" which we will buy from them. We decided to find a local farm to buy good quality home grown beef from , not that we eat alot of beef these days but when we do we want to buy beef from a farm that takes good care of their animals.  We decided to go visit Applecheek Farm and see if they would "fit the bill".
Its a nice drive from Montgomery to Hyde Park, Vermont and there were lots of signs to lead our way to the Farm.  As we approached we could see right away how well taken care of the farm is.

too bad I took these through the dirty windshield of the Jeep ( yes I should of edited them!)

Love their sign...:)

A lovely store front greeted us when we got there and the inside was neat and clean and filled with all sorts of "goodies!" Vermont made, syrup, jam , jelly, cheese, RAW milk , eggs, you name it and a really friendly person in there to visit with too..:) We bought a farm raised chicken since ours were ready yet and a nice steak to eat in a few days. Then we went out to  check out the baby EMUS that they were raising there on the farm.

strange looking birds! I guess they are quite tasty when they grow up though!

That is one HUGE egg! I think she said the mother laid like 40 of them! OUCH!

Hello Mamma

Picnic area with a beautiful view of Mount Mansfield in the background!

With our purchases in hand we got under way to head back home again talking about what a nice clean place this farm was and how friendly the folk were and how well cared for the animals were. We decided we for sure would go back to buy any beef we buy from now on as well as stock for my Maple Syrup addiction....:o)

It is so very nice to see dairy cows on grass! They just look so peaceful and content and HAPPY!

Had a GREAT visit to Applecheek farm and we are looking forward to going again.:)

Honey Butter Wheat Bread - can you say MMMM???

ingredients:
1 cup water
2 Tbs butter
2 tbs honey
2 cups bread flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup dry milk powder
1 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp yeast ( or one package)

1.add yeast to warm water in a small bowl, let set for 5 minutes and stir to dissolve.
2. add flours, dry milk power and salt to large bowl stir to mix and then make a well in the center, add the water/yeast mixture to well and stir lightly pulling in some of the flour mixture to form a soft dough. Cover and let this set for 20 minutes.
3. add softened butter, honey, and mix, I use a kitchen aid mixer for this with a bread hook, you should have a nice soft dough that is slightly sticky but not TOO sticky. Add small amounts of water ( tbl at a time) or if its too sticky add small amounts of flour.

4. cover and let this rise for 90 minutes.
5. punch down and add to bread pan and let rise again for 60 minutes.
6. Bake at 400 for 35 minutes, I like to butter the top to make a nice soft crust.

this is a great sandwich bread with a sweet flavor, its slices beautifully.

Yummy English Muffins...mmmm mmmmm Good!

Ingredient List:
1 cup warm milk
2 tbls white sugar
2 1/4 tsps yeast ( or one package)
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup melted shortening
6 cups flour
1 tsp salt

Warm the milk in a saucepan til it bubbles around the edges. Mix in the sugar until it disolves then let it cool some.  In another small bowl dissolve the yeast in the water and let stand about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the milk mixture, yeast mixture, shortening, and 1/2 the flour, beat until smooth then add the salt and enough flour to make a soft dough. I use a Kitchen aid mixer but if you don't have one, knead the dough then place in a greased bowl , cover and let rise til doubled.

punch down the dough, I made the dough into a long cylinder and then cut slices but I think if you want them more uniform rolling it out and using a biscuit cutter is the way to go although they taste good even if they are perfectly round..:)

lay out some waxed paper and dust with cornmeal, lay the rounds on top then dust with cornmeal again, cover and let rise JUST 1/2 hour , you don't want them getting too puffy.

heat a greased griddle using medium heat , cook the muffins 10 minutes per side,
Oh my goodness these are so very tasty, you'll never want to buy the store bought version again!

I made about 18 using this recipe.