Fried Prairie Oysters

   Better know as Rocky Mountain Oysters...

Here is my very own recipe... It's pretty simple, really.....

     Find a bull. Talk to it nice and gentle. Gain it's trust. Do what you gotta do to the bull. Apologize and run like hell! Don't drop anything. Catch your breath.

    Remove the outer membrane covering the oysters. Cut each stone in two or three pieces, depending on the size.
    Do not laugh. You have already caused enough injury. Roll in flour. (Not you! The oysters)

    Heat olive oil or lard in skillet.
    Place oysters in skillet.

    Fry until meat is golden brown. Remove from skillet.
Drain off excess oil.
Feelin' Fancy? Garnish with bacon bits, chopped egg and parsley before serving.

   Eat fast. Keep a sharp eye out. Be ready to move at a moments notice.

Avoid using a red tablecloth.


Katy

Hands down the BEST place ever to get your RMO's is Bruces Bar in Severence CO!
www.brucesbar123.com

   

Hunting with Elmer (Fudd...that is)

    Once upon a time in a far away land.....

    Opening day of Deer Season is usually cause for great celebration and much rejoicing....A lot of patting each other on the back and swapping of tall tales...
 ~ Not so much on this particular opener!~ This was the year that hubby thought taking ME was a bright idea.
    "Hey babe...why don't you get dressed and we'll head over to dad's to hunt"... So...I put on my long johns, jeans, wool socks, shirt, sweater, bibs, jacket, bubushka... make it to the door and... I have to PEE!!!
   So back in the house I go...Then I get dressed again.
After we got to the Big Farm,  I had to negotiate the fence to the pasture... Mind you, it was some of the deepest snow in almost 50 years here.. and -20 outside!...I managed to get over the fence.. and I am following in Hubby's footprints in the snow.. A very exaggerated goose-stepping on my part as the he's so tall his stride is 2x longer than mine.
    He's about 20 yards ahead of me when WHOMP! Face down in the snow I go... and you know that when you're that bundled up there's no 'give' and you can't get your feet back under you.So now,  I am  rolling around  like a turtle that's been flipped over, trying to get enough 'umph' to get my knees under me....
   Hubby turns around and sees me ~obviously making waaaaaaay to much noise~ and makes a very exaggerated SHHHHHHHHHH at me!
   Over in the shrubs is Cisco the wild horse (aka: the hairy bas***d) rolling his eyes as well...
After I manage to get to my feet, hubby gives me the' I'm watching you' sign and gestures that I should go around to the other side of the pasture and flush the deer towards him...
    I gave him a universal gesture as well and hiked back to the truck.
We did NOT get a deer.

~Katy~

Down on the Farm

That would be THE FARM (with emphisis) as opposed to the Other Farm. We live on THE FARM, and the rest of our land is at the Other Farm.

        I have cows. They are trained. They all have names.
There's Barbie & Q, Rusty, Bubba, Wheezy, Teriyaki, You're next, ....

    We have a horse...Pricess Di. There were others over the years... Bambii the Amazing Albino Elk, Ebony (Black Irish-hahaha), Mini-Me...
Assorted other animals...Cats 'Faahhhsssaaaah' ( like Mufasa from the Lion King), Smokey, Wild Kitty and more.
The lone dog- Missy.  She is the only animal hubby named.

Rusty and crew

      Hubby says we have Catholic Cowz. I have a bunch of them trained to line up and stick their tounges out for Cheese It's. All in a row. He says it looks" COW-munion".
   My Girlz also know when Mama is in the garden and come running.. They are accustomed to hand outs over the fence when I weed.
   Bambii The Amazing Albino Elk was the favorite horse. We grew older together. When we moved back to ND, I brought her with. And what an ordeal that turned out to be! Up until that point Bambii and I had NEVER been anywhere that I couldn't ride her to.

Bambii the Amazing Albino Elk

  So, hubby bought a very used trailer AND hooked it to HIS pick-up. Now mind you, I had NEVER towed anything. Ever. (except for time we tried to tow the silver-bullet with duct tape and panyhose)
Bambii gets in. The lone goose gets in. The last chicken followed the goose. The dog tried to get in.
       A little bit like Noah's Ark
And we're off. Hubby got a CB radio for the truck. So he could yell at me every couple miles, I presume. In Nebraska it was WINDY & RAINY. And everytime a semi would pass the trailer would move. So I would slow down to a crawl. I was parinoid to say the least. Worried I would wreck and hurt my Bambii. And (a little less) worried I would do something to HIS truck. I was literally in tears on that ride. And when he tried to call me on the CB I was maybe blubbering a bit about my girl. In SD we stopped at a little Chinese joint for lunch. We parked towards the back of the parking lot. I let Bambii out and tied her up. In we go to eat. There was only one other customer the whole time we were there. In retrospect- I'm sure it must have looked pretty funny to have a horse tied up outside the backdoor!
   Eventually we made it here, to THE FARM. I could have kissed the ground. Bambii could have cared less.

That's it from here!
Katy
 
    

I could be a very happy girl!

THIS BARN

THIS KITCHEN

                  PLUS







                                          Would make me a very happy girl!
      I need a commercial kitchen here at the farm. We have some ideas. Of course there is the tug of war of  Mine vs His. Hubby needs Vision. To be able to think outside the box. ~ Or barn, as the case may be.
    In my wildest dreams, my space would have a full Atomic Kitchen from the 50's. It would be bright, cheery, wildly colorful and comfy at the same time.
     Many years ago I visited an old man who was remodeling his kitchen in Flagler, Colorado. It was a complete Pale Pink Atomic Kitchen. Rounded counters, under the counter refrigeration, pull outs, over-under matching double ovens....Ohhhhhh myyyyyy. I was in heaven!
    I also about cried when he just 'junked' it to the pile. Poor Kit couldn't even begin to understand why I was so distraught!
      When we needed a new stove and fridge for the house, I headed to my favorite Antique store in Sacramento. (I was on vacation) There I found THE kitchen for me! I tried to reason with hubby. I could buy this 'whole' kitchen...working even...for the price of a new fridge. He wouldn't budge an inch. I'm still kicking myself in the shorts over that!
       I spent many hours next to Grammy's massive old stove in the kitchen in San Francisco. I recall it had a warming drawer and a place where you could hook up tubing for hot water. Grammy used to make my favorite round grilled cheese on it. She also heated her metal curling iron on it. (for the rare occasions I would sit still long enough...)
    Around 2003 hip magazines started touting the "Joys of Housework"  calling it 'theraputic', 'self-esteem building',  yes....even 'thrilling'.  Fiesta Ware and metal tumblers started making a comeback. And Martha rocketed to stardom!
       Funny, ain't it?

Where is this NOW?

Fun fact***** In the '50's Ladies Home Journal Art of Homemaking suggested that a ladies (house)dress should be "Wide enough for action, but not so wide that it will get in your way or make you trip on stairs or a ladder...."
                             Can you just see me now? Stop laughing already!
   But I digress...
In a nut shell, I want to bring some nostalgia to my little space. To be comfy and cozy. And have you want to come by, have a cup of coffee and a chat. I want to share my recipes with you and gardening tips.
    And speaking of...How about this recipe for Cheese Straws... A friends mom used to make these.
                (the paper it's on says it came from a Kraft Cheese box)
                             1/3 cup grated American Cheese
                             1 Tbs Butter
                             1 1/2 Tbs milk
                             4 Tbs Flour
                             1/2 c Bread Crumbs (seasoned to taste)
               Cream together cheese and butter. Add milk. In a small bowl combine flour and seasonings. Add to mixture. Knead lightly until smooth. Roll to pastry thickness. (about 1/4 inch) Cut into strips 6" x 3/4". Bake on greased cookie sheets in oven until browned.
           * these are good with soups and salads*
                      
 I have the Vision. I WILL make it happen! (soon)
Katy

  

Potato, Pataaahhhhhtoe

Me and my huge Reds

      So here I am. A smidge after 5 a.m. The sun  is up, the birds are chirpping away and I am doing nothing. Just sipping my coffee and thinking that I should be out hilling my potatos before it gets hot today.

     Instead, I know I will end up eating some potatos first!
    We eat so many potatos, you would think we were Irish! - Mostly fried in the cast iron skillet with onions and peppers....YUM

potato field...100 hills

There are many ways to grow potatos. And just as many types of potatos. We generally grow Red's..Pontiac is fave. Though we occasionally have Yukons. But rarely standard Russets.

The =K guard 'Mingos (I like this shade of lipstick!)

  I hill ours. Not because I think it's the best way...But because my Holstein painted yard 'Mingos look cool out guarding the potato patch! :)
   My uncle puts in rows of Potatos out in the field and just leaves 'em to make it on their own. And they grow just fine.
  I have also has great success growing some in cardboard boxes with layers of newspaper and dirt alternated. This is great for patio gardeners!
  This gardener has always wanted to try the 'Tire' method, but hubby Vetos it...that's where you would use old tires in stackable rings. I know a lady in Denver that does this to save on garden space and conserve water. She starts with one tire on the ground filled with dirt. She usually puts about 4 potatos in it. as they grow, she adds more 'rings' and dirt. When they are 3 or so tires high, she stops stacking. And just waters for the rest of the season. After the first hard frost she takes off the rings. And presto...Many potatos without the back-breaking work of hilling!
   Storage- Most years we just dig, and store in the basement. We put ours in cardboard boxes (no lids) and don't pack them in. We pack loosely so they  can 'breath'. The reds seem to hold the best and we can eat ours all the way through April most years. Then we use whatever is left for Seed when we plant again.
  One year we had the Great Potato Fiasco. I personally planted and hilled 100 hills! -My cousins had just moved here from California and I said I would share my garden with them the first year... Fall came, hubby and boys dug the potatos. We were also still 'in the field' at this point. So hubby told the boyz to fill every barrel they could find with potatos and to drag them to the barn. He swore he'd have the boys sack 'em up and bring  'em in sooooooon. Well, soon turned out to be at Christmas when we were completely out in the house. He sent the boys out to the barn to grab a barrel and bring it in. Lo and behold... every single potato was FROZEN solid!!!....
   Did I mention that we like Potato Salad??? Every family has their own 'recipe'. Some like mustard, some put in jalapenos, some like it warm. I like it cold.
   Here's our 'family' recipe...

  Potatos & Hard Boiled Eggs  2:1 ratio  (we do 10 & 5)
  MAYO!!!! (not miracle whip)
  Onions - diced small (usually 1 good size onion does the trick)
  1 Stalk Celery - Minced
  1 can Sliced Black Olives
  Dill - lots
  Mustard - standard yellow. No fancy stuff
  Dill Relish - or a couple-three pickle spears diced up

        There is no exact recipe...You just kinda start putting it all in a big bowl and add until it tastes 'right'. ....You'll know.

( And yes... I know that the correct plural spelling is p-o-t-a-t-o-e-s)

   Have a favorite Potato recipe or story?
I'd like to know....

Katy
 

And a story about Leggs, brings us to Eggs!

  Eggs-
     They come in all sizes and colors.
                 Some are Brown
                 Some are Blue
                 Most eggs are good for you!

    Here at Buffalo Gals Bakery, we know a thing or two about eggs! We get ours from a nearby farmer that raises only real free range chickens. They feed on the grasses that grown naturally and are not given any hormones.
  *Did you know that truly fresh eggs are nearly impossible to peel? Their low Albumen PH level causes the albumen to adhere to the inner shell.
     If you let your farm fresh eggs 'age' for about a week and then boil them, the shells will come right off.
  * Most supermarket eggs are already 3-5 weeks old before they are even on the shelf. The expiration date on the carton is a 30 day expiration  from the time they were packaged!!!
  * Farm Fresh eggs have on average seven times more Beta Carotene, twice as many Omega 3's, 1/3 less cholesterol, 1/4  less saturated fat and three  times the vitamin E than 'store' bought eggs.
                  And they taste better!
 
    According to an old joke "the best way to keep an egg fresh, is to keep it in the chicken!"



Mike the Headless Chicken
www.miketheheadlesschicken.org
is an entirely different story!

   * You CAN keep fresh eggs for long periods of time. Stored UNWASHED in cool pace- whether it's the basement, fruit cellar, refrigerator- fresh eggs will keep for for a couple months and still be perfectly fresh.
   Why??? Because they are unwashed! Hen Fruit, right from the chicken, is coated with a natural sealant called "Bloom". While washed eggs are definitely prettier, leaving them unwashed protects them against bacteria and aging.                                                 

*NO! WE DO NOT KEEP EGGS THIS LONG IN THE BAKERY!*
        Uncle Sam & our local Health Department sez No Way!

     As a consumer YOU SHOULD KNOW  that chemicals are used to wash the eggs from factory chickens before they go to the grocery. Some of these chemicals are : Chlorine, Ozone, Hydrogen Peroxide, Potassium or Sodium Hydroxide (that means LYE) . Since egg shells are porous, a portion of the chemicals will be absorbed into the egg. That's the part to be concerned about.
         I'm not saying you Shouldn't  eat 'store' eggs, I just wanted to point out some facts.

  Julia Childs once said "The egg can be your best friend, if you just give it the right break."

 Manga! Manga!
      Katy

Can Do!!

It's an attitude!
   A way of life for some....

   There really is nothing you can't do if you're determined. Sometimes life gets in the way. Sometimes you may get thwarted. Or run into a brick all. But that's all it is. A wall. An object to go around.
  From the time I was a tot, I hated being thwarted in what ever it was I wanted to do. I was often called Margaret by my parents because my Grammy Margaret didn't know the meaning of the word 'NO'.
                                    NO is just a word.
  I have a little business selling Biscotti and Cookies and such. (www.buffalogalsbakery.com ) I also have a few accounts. I want to grow my business. However- money and a new commercial kitchen are my current issues thwarting me.
   I still work a day job. So, instead of going all out and spending money I don't have yet, I decided to  plug away at getting the word out. I am learning how to use Social Media effectively,  write about my Biscotti,  send out a few samples a week,(postage costs money)  and  I rely on friends to help spread the word of Buffalo Gals. In the meantime, I am putting away a little money at a time for a commercial kitchen here at the farm verses driving to a rented one.
   I butt heads with hubby over this one. (But I'll wear him down!) I have been doing my research. Have looked at countless buildings, talked to contractors about remodeling an existing farm building. We have debated the wisdom and practically and ultimate cost of each.
   Now, I am about ready to part with my hard earned money. After all, 'the only way to make money is to spend money'.
                                   Such a true statement!
   I have found my way around the wall. It's taking a little longer than what I would like. But I am moving forwards towards my goals. Each step brings me closer.

      So go for it!

Katy

       

Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch!

   Today we went on a two hour drive (think Gilligan's Island) to Makoti ND to get a 1963 Ford Stationwagon. Great little fins, teeeny tiny round tail lights.
   I just HAD to HAVE this car! My heart was set on it. I wanted it for little delivery wagon. I budgeted my money. Did some research...got all excited...and the big day comes. We're off on our journey...
  When we got there, this car was nothing like what I expected. Oh, it was cute. And it had little fins and round tail lights.. It also had a ton of RUST! As it turns out it had been sitting in WATER up to it's moter for almost 10 years! Literally.
                  So we didn't get it. And I sulked all the way home.
   The point here is that I had already made plans around a thing I didn't even have. Didn't even know for sure if I would have it.
   I suppose Life is a bit like that too. We often pin all of our hopes and dreams on something we haven't even achieved yet.
Katy

Welcome to Buffalo Gals News

Hello! 
   Welcome to Buffalo Gals-
       I am Katy and I will be your 'Host' for these posts... We will have News, Recipes, Events, Gardening tips, Stories, Updates on our Bakery & Country Store and more.
    A little about us- We (my hubby & I) live on a farn in Central North Dakota. We have both cattle and crops. And I write the Restuarant/Food reviews and sometimes local History pieces for the Pairie Independant.
     Considered a 'Poor Man's Martha' (Stuart) by my friends, I have a nack for being able to bake, cook, grow, sew and make about anything I turn my hand to.  I learned to sew from my Grammy, garden from my Grandpa, Make cool stuff from my Mother and Mom-in-law. Cooking and Baking were self taught. I have a couple friends that could tell some very funny stories on my (bad) cooking skills when I was younger!
  I hope you find somthing that strikes your fancy within these pages!

Katy