Life on a little urban homestead in the making, with ideas for self-sufficiency, Permaculture, DIYing, organic gardening, food preservation, Chicken keeping, cookery, crafts, thrifting and more...

Dec 16, 2012

Christmas Is Coming, The Goose is Getting Fat!


Christmas Is Coming, The Goose is Getting Fat!-
With the Solstice and Christmas coming soon, I'm finally getting in the holiday mood. I haven't been sleeping well lately and have been just really tired everyday. I'm doing better now! I deep cleaned the house yesterday to get ready to put up our (fake) tree today. We both have some allergies, and it's more sustainable too, so why not? We got a nice big tree thrifting a couple of years ago, for $3.00, yes $3.00! It has 3 parts, goes together fast and it's re-useable. Stores in the garage in it's btree bag we got 2 weeks ago nicely. I bought some fresh piney greens this afternoon for that fresh smell. I like to stash those here and there around the house. I will, in fact, (don't tell the hubby) be making a roasted goose for Christmas. I made one years ago, and it's so easy! With all the goose grease involved, there's 0 basting, just roast it up! Add some fruit and veggies and bring it on!

                                                                        Michelle

Birthday Dinner For My Daughter-
It was my daughter Michelle's 26th birthday yesterday, how time flies! She asked me to make Coq au Vin for dinner. It's basically chicken cooked in dark red wine and other yummies. Since I worked Friday I didn't do the overnight soak. I subbed with bacon, and dried herbs. We could find any fresh pearl onions at the store, so I used frozen with peas. The fresh mushrooms were wonderful. It came out spectacular!!! I used a 3 year- old bottle of a good Cabernet I had stashed. The meat fell off the bone, and just melted in your mouth. I served with crusty, hot french bread. Michelle's boyfriend raved about it :)  Meal well done. I'll take pictures of the next batch soon.


Afternoon Snack-
My fave tea, Darjeeling, with a touch of milk and sugar, and a biscotti. Nice afternoon snack on a cold, gray day. Darjeeling has a wonderful, slightly nutty flavor. An ex-employer (British) introduced me to it. Thanks Monica!

Winter coop tonite, the snow just started!

14 comments:

Akannie said...

Lovely! I've never roasted a goose, but it's on my culinary bucket list.

And now you've made me think about making biscotti tomorrow. I so love it !

We still haven't had any snow, and the weather this past few days has been in the crazy 60's. I'm near St Louis, so we should have winter weather by now. sigh...

Unknown said...

We've had a little snow off and on the last fews days. Goose is easy!

Carolyn said...

Well, it's a little too late for us to have a Christmas Goose this year, but I'd really like to raise one for next year's Holiday dinner. Do you buy one from the store or do you raise your own? And what breed of goose is best for roasting?

And you've got another person thinking about biscotti!!

Tami said...

Love the lights around the hen house!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

I love the lights on the chicken coop! I thought about putting some up on the barn, but our electric already went up $50.00/month. Maybe next year....

Candy C. said...

I like the lights on the hen house too! Cute baby picture of your daughter, her birthday dinner sounded awesome! :)

Susan said...

I love that you decorate your chicken coop (which is adorable even without lights!) That birthday dinner sounds fabulous - she has good taste!

Unknown said...

Carolyn, no I just but store bought.

Krtisitna, we only use the led, pretty low useage. No barn here. We figured it about .50 cents a day on the high side...

Running In Boise said...

I have roasted a duck before but never a goose. I am going to have to give one a go!

Unknown said...

Go for it, it's easy!

Katmom said...

Nancy, I sooo agree with you when it comes to an afternoon snack.... Tea and any cookies works for me...and occasionally I make a small batch of scones.... to have with some jam...
In fact... tho it's almost 8pm, I am thinking I need to go make myself a pot of Earl Grey...and hit my cookie stash.
Merry Christmas....

Unknown said...

You too Kat!

Robyn said...

Ive never roasted a goose before but you said it's got so much grease there's no basting so I guess it's pretty much just letting it roast until it's done? I'm going to have to try this.. Sounds like a good Christmas day dinner.. I LOVE the lights on the hen house.. How do you keep them warm when it gets this cold?
Robyn

Unknown said...

Hi Robyn, We used to use a red heat lamp, but they don't last long and are expensive. We switched to a ceramic retile heating disk. Nice and simple and they last forever. Most pet stores sell them. Nice radiant heat!

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