Penny Pennington Weeks

All Things Country Home and Garden

Home & Garden

How to Make a Strawberry Galette with Honey and Mascarpone

Home & Garden, Recipes

Today I’m sharing how to make a strawberry galette with honey and mascarpone. The galette is one of my favorite baked treats to make with summer berries. I have been making galettes for the past year and every single one has turned out amazing. If you follow me on Instagram then you’ve seen me share lots of galettes in my stories.

The galette is so versatile, quick, and simple to make. I also think they’re very beautiful. Before I show you how to make my strawberry galette with honey and mascarpone, let me explain what a galette is…just in case you’re new to the term.

Strawberry Galette-Let's Eat!
Learn How to Make a Strawberry Galette

What is a Galette?

Galette is a French term that refers to a flat round cake or pastry. The galette is baked on a baking sheet without a cake, pie or tart pan. It is often filled with fruit but can also be filled with potatoes or other vegetables. Tomato galettes are one of my favorites.

Today the term Galette is most often used by bakers and home cooks to refer to a rustic pastry filled with fruit. Although the pastry is traditionally round, you will find many versions of the Galette that are free form and include rectangular and other shapes.

Getting Started

To begin, let’s get organized. Below you will find an overview of what is needed to make my Strawberry Galette with Honey and Mascarpone: Ingredients, Kitchen Tools and Basic Steps.

Ingredients for Strawberry Galette

  • 2 cups Strawberries
  • 3 T. Sugar + extra for dusting
  • 1 T. Flour
  • 4 ou. Mascarpone
  • 2 T Honey
  • 1/4 t. Rosemary (optional)
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 2 T Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Pie Crust-store bought

Kitchen Tools You May Need

  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Kitchen utensils-knife, spoon, pastry brush
  • Parchment paper baking sheets
  • Cookie/Baking Sheet

Basic Steps

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
  2. Roll pie crust out onto a lined baking sheet
  3. Chop strawberries and mix with sugar and flour
  4. In a separate bowl, combine mascarpone, honey, rosemary and salt
  5. Spread cheese mixture in center of pie crust
  6. Top with strawberry mixture and butter pats
  7. Fold up sides of galette
  8. Add egg wash and sugar dusting to crust
  9. Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes until crust is a light golden brown
  10. Cool, slice and top with ice cream or whipped cream

The Recipe Card

Strawberry Galette with Honey and Mascarpone

Strawberry Galette-Let's Eat!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Strawberries
  • 3 T. Sugar + extra for dusting
  • 1 T. Flour
  • 4 ou. Mascarpone
  • 2 T Honey
  • 1/4 t. Rosemary (optional)
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 2 T Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Pie Crust-store bought

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Roll pie crust out onto a lined baking sheet

Chop strawberries and mix with sugar and flour

In a separate bowl, combine mascarpone, honey, rosemary and salt

Spread cheese mixture in center of pie crust

Top with strawberry mixture and butter pats

Fold up sides of galette

Add egg wash and sugar dusting to crust

Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes until crust is a light golden brown

Cool, slice and top with ice cream or whipped cream

© ppweeks

Let’s Make a Strawberry Galette with Honey and Mascarpone

To get started baking there are two things that I always do first: 1. preheat the oven and 2. pull out all of my ingredients.

The galette cooks quickly at a high temperature, set your oven at 425 degrees and be sure to give it plenty of time to preheat. Your pie crust will also need time to come to room temperature before rolling out.

Place your parchment paper on your baking sheet. Next, roll out the pie crust directly onto the parchment paper. This is much easier than trying to move the galette to the baking pan.

Chopped Strawberries
Prepping to Make a Strawberry Galette-Chopped Strawberries

Prepare the fruit mixture by first chopping the strawberries. Place the berries into a mixing bowl and add your flour and sugar. Combine.

Flour, sugar and strawberry mixture
Strawberry Galette-flour, sugar and strawberry mixture

In a separate mixing bowl, combine your mascarpone cheese, honey, salt and rosemary (optional)

Mascarpone and Honey
Making a Strawberry Galette with Mascarpone and Honey

Place the mascarpone mixture in the center of your pie crust. Spread the mixture evenly allowing 2-3 inches around the sides of the pie crust.

Top the cheese mixture with your strawberry mixture. Divide your butter into small pats and place the pats of butter on top of the strawberries.

Making a Strawberry Galette-Adding the Butter Pats
Making a Strawberry Galette-Adding the Butter Pats

Fold up the sides of the pie crust toward the center to create a folded edge. Press folds together as needed.

Strawberry Galette-Preparing the Egg Wash
Strawberry Galette-Preparing the Egg Wash

Beat your egg with a fork in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to brush the egg onto the outside of your crust. Sprinkle a dusting of sugar on the crust, as well.

Bake in your preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until slightly golden brown.

Strawberry Galette Hot from the Oven
Time to Cool

Tips and Other Ideas

So you’ve decided to make a galette…you are going to be so happy about your decision! Here are a few tips and ideas.

  • Be sure to let your store bought pie crust come to room temperature before rolling out. BTW-feel free to make your favorite homemade crust if you prefer.
  • Get creative, and substitute the strawberries for your favorite berries. Love raspberries and strawberries together? Then mix the two. Rather make a blueberry galette, go for it. I’ve tried all kinds of fruits in a galette, each is amazing.
  • Have picky eaters in the house? Then definitely leave out the rosemary.
  • Want to make the galette dairy-free? Skip the marscarpone mixture.
  • Use an oven thermometer to test that your oven temperature is correct.
  • Use pre-cut parchment baking sheets. So convenient and just the right size.
  • Have someone in the family that isn’t a fan of cake? Try a birthday galette with lots of ice cream!
Birthday Celebrations blowing out candles
Galettes are great for birthday celebrations especially when topped with lots of ice cream.

Fun Facts

The origin of the Galette is believe to date back to 1311. The first known version of the galette is the galette des rois or king cake. It was baked in celebration of the epiphany, a Christian celebration of the three wise men (Magi) visiting the Christ child.

The king cake looks much different than the rustic version of the galette shared here. Check out this photo and recipe by the NYTimes. Their version is made with puff pastry.

Enjoy your Strawberry Galette!

Drop me a comment below and let me know if you make my berry galette. What berries did you use? Did you try the mascarpone or decide to add a few scoops of ice cream or both?

In the Mood to Bake another Recipe? Try one of these…

Sugar Cookies Perfect for Teatime

Homemade Cheddar and Parmesan Biscuits

Happy Baking!

X Penny Pennington Weeks

A Home and Garden Tour at P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm: 6 Reasons You’ll Love It

Garden, Home & Garden

Looking for home and garden inspiration?!? You should definitely tour P. Allen Smith’s Home and Garden, you’ll love it! Bill and I just returned from Arkansas where we had the privilege of touring the home and gardens of P. Allen Smith at Moss Mountain Farm. Today I’m sharing six reasons you’ll love the home and garden tour at Moss Mountain Farm.

P. Allen Smith’s estate is located in Roland, Arkansas along the Arkansas River and is about 30 minutes outside Little Rock, Arkansas.

I came home with so many ideas for not only my garden, but also my home. The home and garden tour was spectacular and I’m sharing six reasons you’ll love it. Enjoy!

Hydrangeas at Moss Mountain Farm
Hydrangeas at Moss Mountain Farm

Six Reasons You’ll Love the Home and Garden Tour

Reason 1. The Sister Oak Tree

The home and garden tour started at the Sister Oak Tree in front of the home of P. Allen Smith. Our tour guide stood on the steps of P. Allen Smith’s home and told us a bit about the home’s history, the architectural style that guided the design and how this big beautiful oak tree influenced P. Allen Smith’s decision to purchase the 650-acre estate.

As the tour guide was diving into the history of the estate, I began wandering around the 300+ year old oak tree trying to capture the tree in one single photo.

The Sister Oak Tree at Moss Mountain Farm, out home and garden tour started here
The Sister Oak Tree at Moss Mountain Farm

The Garden Tour

Reason 2. Inspirational Gardens & Hardscaping

The group (about 80 in size) broke up into 3 smaller groups each with their own tour guide. Our group began the walking tour and headed over to the vegetable garden followed by a tour of the rose garden. It was everything I expected and more. The garden was in full summer swing and filled with variety of offerings.

The Gardens are Beautiful
The Gardens are Beautiful

I was most impressed with the hardscaping found in the gardens throughout Moss Mountain Farm. The inspiration was endless, I came home with a list of ideas to add trellis, brick walls, garden paths and other structures to the garden.

You'll Love the Hardscaping on the Tour
You’ll Love the Hardscaping on the Tour
The Rose Garden
The Rose Garden

Reason 3. The Hydrangeas are Incredible

A few weeks before heading to Arkansas for the tour, I watched a YouTube video linked here in which P. Allen Smith charismatically shared his love for hydrangeas. It is filled with his best tips and growing advice.

So, I was anticipating a beautiful show from the hydrangeas.

Oh my goodness! They hydrangeas were incredible and more than surpassed my expectations.

Bill and I are still scheming, trying to figure out how we can come close to replicating the hydrangea beauty on our property.

Vibrant Hydrangeas at Moss Mountain Farm
Vibrant Hydrangeas at Moss Mountain Farm
Beautiful Hydrangeas outside the home of P Allen Smith
Beautiful Hydrangeas outside the home of P Allen Smith

Reason 4. Unexpected Drying Rooms

Talk about blowing me away!!! I had never heard of a drying room. Yes, I have dried herbs before, but a whole room?!?

Wait, there are two drying rooms. They were beautiful. Dreamy, actually. Bill thinks I’m crazy, but I want a drying room.

One will do. LOL!

P Allen Smith Tour-The Drying Room, the most unexpected stop on the home and garden tour
P Allen Smith Tour-The Drying Room
One of Two Drying Rooms at Moss Mountain Farm
One of Two Drying Rooms at Moss Mountain Farm

The Home Tour

Reason 5. P. Allen Smith’s Home is Perfect

The house was spectacular. I love the pale yellow on the exterior, the decor was incredible, the books and art made my heart sing, and the sleeping porch was so inviting.

The kitchen though…it made Bill’s heart sing. We loved the marble counters, farmhouse sinks and the professional oven reminded us of our own kitchen.

Bill and I both spend a lot of time in our kitchen and we have thrown around the idea of updating our kitchen for years. Well, the kitchen at Moss Mountain Farm was the final push that we needed. We’re remodeling. I’ll share more soon. Thanks for the push, Mr. Smith.

You'll Love the Home of P Allen Smith
You’ll Love the Home of P Allen Smith
White Marble Counters and Kitchen Tour at the Home of P Allen Smith
Kitchen Tour at the Home of P Allen Smith
Vintage Chest and Glass Storage, one of the many beautiful details discovered during the home and garden tour.
Vintage Chest and Glass Storage

Lunch under the Tent

Reason 6. P. Allen’s Smith’s Homemade Pie

Our tour included lunch and lunch included homemade Buttermilk Pecan Pie. I caught a glimpse of the freshly baked pies waiting for us in P. Allen Smith’s cooking cottage.

I’d like to have a piece right now! You have to try this pie!

And, if you want to enjoy a little bit of the tour before you’re able to schedule a trip to Arkansas, then make this pie. I’ve linked the recipe from P. Allen Smith himself here.

I found the pies! During our home and garden tour I caught a peek of the pies that would be served during lunch.
I found the pies!
P Allen Smith Buttermilk Pecan Pie, a yummy ending to the home and garden tour
P Allen Smith Buttermilk Pecan Pie

Tour Tips and Basic Information

Home and Garden Tour Tickets

You can purchase tour tickets for Moss Mountain Farm online here. Also, if you’re looking for discount codes, Bill found one in an email he had received from Gilbert H .Wild.

Checking-In & Other Basics

Our tour started at 10am and ended at 2pm. Gates opened 30 minutes before start time. There is plenty of field parking, check-in was quick and there are bathrooms available at the check-in location. There was also a gift shop.

The Weather

We were expecting rain and were told that the tour would not be cancelled in case of rain. So we came prepared with umbrellas and appropriate wet weather shoes.

It didn’t rain. Instead, it was hot and muggy. The good news is buckets of cold bottled water were provided at check-in. Each of us grabbed water as needed throughout the day.

I did notice that by the end of the day, the buckets of bottled water were empty. But, there was plenty of water and cups available in the tent where we had lunch.

The Home & Garden Tour is a Walking Tour

Keep in mind that this is a walking tour. I noticed several people seemed to struggle with the walking very early in the tour. Others were having a tough time due to the heat. I found myself searching for shade throughout the tour and was very happy to step inside P. Allen Smith’s home for the air conditioned portion of the tour. Several of my friends that toured with us were wearing step trackers and tracked 2.5+ miles during the tour.

I was also very happy that I wore my gardening hat!

Lunch, the Perfect Mid-Tour Stop

Lunch was perfect. The set-up was beautiful and the food was excellent. We arrived at the lunch tent a little after noon. The tables were already set with iced tea, a niçoise salad and buttermilk pecan pie. One of my friends who has toured the gardens THREE times said that lunch is always the same. This works for me.

P. Allen Smith’s Fall Home & Garden Tour

Guess what…we’re going back in September for the Fall Farm Lunch and Tour. We had so much fun that we’ve decided to repeat our trip in September. I’m looking forward to repeating this fabulous home and garden tour.

We will be staying three nights, renting one of the cabins at Petit Jean State Park AND touring the gardens at Moss Mountain Farm AGAIN. I can’t wait to see what it looks like in a few months.

BTW-If you’ve never seen photos of our home, I’ve linked a home and garden tour of the Weeks Farm here.

Happy Gardening

X Penny Pennington Weeks

7 Simple Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July

Home, Home & Garden

Let’s celebrate the 4th of July! Today I’m sharing 7 simple ways to celebrate the 4th of July. If you’re anything like me, you love all of the beautiful images of 4th of July decor and menus popping up all over Instagram and Pinterest. Homes are decked out in flags, porches have been decorated for the 4th and the menus are abundant and beautiful.

All of these images make me think I need to buy more flags, bunting for all my porches and everything else red, white and blue. And to be honest, the beautiful food photos make me wonder if burgers on the grill and a bowl of ice cream and berries are fancy enough for the 4th.

Back to reality…the real me…

I like to keep the 4th of July simple. I don’t feel the need to decorate my home for the 4th (like I do for Christmas). And, I don’t feel the need to create a fancy menu good enough to be shared on Instagram.

Around here the menu is simple and the day is relaxed.

So, if you’re looking to create a simple day to celebrate the 4th, then take a look at the 7 simple ways we celebrate the 4th of July around the farm.

American Flag at Sunset
American Flag at Sunset

1. Bring out the American Flag

To celebrate the 4th of July, start with an American flag! All you need is one. I know, I know…that’s not what you typically see in the picture perfect photos around the internet. But seriously, one beautiful American flag is all you need.

We hang ours out at the barn off of the porch. I love how it looks surrounded by all of the summer blooms.

Also, remember to take your flag down each evening and store it properly.

American Flag in the Garden
American Flag in the Garden

2. Celebrate with a Summer Bouquet

Ok, so you know there had to be flowers! To finish decorating for the celebration, add flowers. That’s it. We’re keeping it simple.

Grab a bucket, fill it with water and then head out to the garden and clip away. It’s time to shop your yard for a summertime bouquet.

To create the bouquet, cut all of your stems approximately the same length and place the flowers back in the bucket of water. I don’t worry about creating a formal bouquet. I love the natural look of a simple bouquet of fresh flowers straight from the farm.

A simple Bouquet of Summer Flowers created to celebrate the 4th of July.
Summer Flowers

3. Go Fishing on the 4th of July

Bill loves to go fishing. And I do too…sometimes. My favorite thing about fishing is that it’s on the water. My happy place.

Since it’s July and most likely hot, I recommend that you wake up early, make your coffee and head to your favorite fishing hole. You don’t have to stay all day, just for an hour or so and then head back home and grab a yummy breakfast.

Not interested in fishing? Grab a book and folding chair and enjoy a simple morning by the water.

Bill and his Catch
Bill and his Catch

4. Keep it Simple with Sweet Corn

So it’s time to think about the menu. Whether you’re grilling hamburgers or steaks or whipping up something else, sweet corn is always a great side. It’s amazing with butter and a little salt and pepper. So simple and so good!

We’re serious around here about sweet corn. Bill and I typically bring feed sacks full of summer sweet corn back from his family’s farm in Illinois each year. Then we eat as much as we can and freeze the rest.

Don’t have a family farm to run home to? No worries! Stop by one of the local vendors selling corn on the side of the road. You can search Facebook Marketplace and typically find a local student organization doing a summer fundraiser. And if all else fails, pick up a few ears of corn from your local grocery store.

Summer Sweet Corn is the perfect simple way to celebrate the 4th of July.
Summer Sweet Corn

5. Play a Game on the 4th of July

As a kid I remember large gatherings around the 4th of July and lots of games…egg toss, horseshoes, 3 legged bag races. But games aren’t just for kids.

Now that we’re empty nesters, it’s typically just Bill and me celebrating the 4th together. So the 4th is definitely a bit quieter but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end.

If you’re looking for a game for two, try corn hole (aka bag toss). Bill built a couple of boards for us a few years ago and we like to play on the front porch.

And our newest favorite game for two is a good ole’ fashioned game of dominos. You can find the instructions here. Bill and I like to sip on martinis while we’re playing dominoes. I’m a fan of chocolate and he likes pepperoncini. You can find the recipes here.

And for you vintage collectors out there, keep your eyes open for a set of vintage dominos. The quality is amazing and you might even run across a colorful set like the red set below.

Vintage dominos and candles
Dominos, anyone?

6. Don’t Forget a Simple Sweet Treat

Before the day is over, be sure to plan a sweet treat. I think the 4th of July calls for two very simple treats…ice cream and watermelon. Neither requires you to turn an oven on and both are perfectly simple.

Top your ice cream with fresh berries or chocolate syrup or both. My favorite ice cream is anything made by Blue Bell. Of course, I’m from Texas so I might be a bit biased.

As for the watermelon, find the sweetest watermelon you can. Bring it home, chill it overnight and cut yourself a slice or two!

We sometimes save the watermelon for fireworks. We throw it in an ice chest, take a good knife with us and lots of napkins. Nothing like watching the fireworks and eating a thick slice of sweet watermelon.

Watermelon for two sliced and ready to celebrate the 4th of July
Summer Watermelon for Two

7. Enjoy the 4th of July Fireworks

Finally, it’s time for the quintessential 4th of July activity, the fireworks. Fireworks are the perfect way to celebrate the 4th of July.

Grab a quilt, take a drive and find a local fireworks show. Keep it simple and let the professionals take care of the work and the expense.

Also, set your phone down and enjoy the moment. Trust me, unless you’re a professional…you’ll never truly capture the fireworks in a photo. Plus we all need to disconnect sometimes.

Holidays are the perfect occasion to be fully present. Happy 4th of July, friends!

Quilts and Kitties
Quilts and Kitties

July on the Blog

A look ahead…now that I’ve officially taught my last class (not just for the semester, but of my career), I plan to share here on the blog on a more regular basis.

In July, I will be sharing simple summer travel ideas, garden updates, and lots of flock facts. You’ll also find a few junking tips, cute coop inspiration from a few of my friends, and several summer berry recipes.

Happy 4th of July

X Penny Pennington Weeks

His and Her Martinis: Think Pepperoncini (His) and Chocolate (Hers)

Home & Garden, Recipes

Do you have a favorite martini? Do you love to throw a picnic? I love both AND the crimson clover is in full bloom, so I decided it was time to plan a spring picnic right smack dab in the middle of the clover field. I thought I would make a beautiful three-layer cake…a gorgeous sponge similar to what you might find on the Great British Baking Show. But, Bill suggested martinis. So his and her martinis, think Pepperoncini (His) and Chocolate (Hers), and a spring picnic coming up. Let me tell you more!

His and Her Martinis
His and Her Martinis-Think Pepperoncini (His) and Chocolate (Hers)

So, if you’ve followed me for a while on Instagram then you know that I love throwing a picnic. You also know that my picnics are typically picnics for two. The two being Bill and me. What you may not know is that I have a thing for chocolate martinis.

There’s a bit of a story behind my love for chocolate martinis (as explained below). It has to do with my love for Bill. Any romantics out there?

First Picnic of Spring 2021

Let’s get back to the picnic. I love planning picnics at home on our property. It’s something all of us can do. Whether you live on a farm or in a neighborhood or in the city, each of us can find a spot to dine outdoors. I always find something special about moving a meal (or dessert or drinks) outside.

For my first picnic of spring 2021, I decided to keep it simple. Our menu would be cake. Bill decided simple was good, but that our menu should be switched to martinis (in lieu of cake). Done! I also thought I’d throw in a basket of dominoes just in case the competitive spirit hit.

Vintage dominos and candles
Dominos, anyone?

So Bill agreed to mix up some martinis for us. When it comes to martinis, there are definitely His and Her Martinis in our household. Think Pepperoncini (His) and Chocolate (Hers). Bill loves martinis created with pickled pepperoncinis that he cans himself. I love very basic chocolate martinis without any garnish.

With the martinis in Bill’s trusty hands, I headed to the Crimson Clover field to set up our picnic. I grabbed Pippi (our trusty Kabota), a table, a few chairs and got to work.

Ready for a Picnic
Ready and Waiting

Penny’s Chocolate Martini (Hers)

Let’s start with my chocolate martini and a little back story. The first time I had a chocolate martini, I was with Bill and a group of our colleagues. We were having dinner at a local restaurant in New Hampshire and I was in the mood to try something new. One of my colleagues recommended the chocolate martini, so I gave it a try and another try just to be sure. The chocolate martini has since been my absolute favorite martini. After all, it’s like having a drink and dessert all in one. Who needs cake when you can have a martini?!?

You may wonder why I remember this day so clearly. This day and the days preceding it are part of our story. The story of when Bill and I went from being colleagues to more than colleagues.

Bill had held my hand for the first time just a few days earlier. We were walking down the streets of Kennebunkport, Maine in October 2006. I was 40 at the time and he was 45. I felt like a school girl but knew this was a bit more than a school girl crush.

Bill and I dated a few short months in late 2006 before getting engaged and were married in March 2007. A few years later we moved out to the country and have never looked back. I love the quiet, and the pond and the wildlife. Plus there is plenty of room to garden, tend to our flock and throw whimsical picnics.

Our trip to the east coast will always be such a fun memory!

Picnic in the crimson clover
Waiting for Bill

Bill’s Pickled Pepperoncini Martini (His)

Bill’s martini is a newer discovery. Last summer Bill canned pepperoncinis from his garden. Yes, Bill cans! And, Bill gardens and Bill cooks. I do all of these things too, but not nearly as often as Bill.

If you do any gardening, then you know that each crop always seems to be ready to harvest all at once. As soon as the harvest begins, the search for creative ways to take advantage of fresh produce ensues and then we eventually resort to canning and freezing (when our taste buds can no longer keep up with a certain seasonal crop).

Last summer, Bill canned A LOT of pepperoncinis and we began searching for pepperoncini recipes to try. I love adding the pickled pepperoncinis to salads and I have a Italian Roast recipe from my mother in law that is amazing. (It uses pickled pepperoncinis and is served on homemade rolls. I definitely need to share it with you.) But, two options were not doing the trick. We needed more pickled pepperoncini recipes.

Bill discovered the perfect solution–Pickled Pepperoncini Martinis. He loves this pickled pepperoncini martini. I do not. It reminds me of my great grandmother, Maud–who I love and miss dearly, making us drink pickle juice if we swallowed a fish bone on vacation. Yuk!

But, if your palette loves brine, then this martini recipe is for you!

Let’s Make His and Her Martinis

Yield: 2 Servings

His and Her Martinis: Think Pepperoncini (His) and Chocolate (Hers)

His and Her Martinis

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • CHOCOLATE MARTINI (Hers)
  • 2 1/2 ounces Vodka
  • 1 1/2 ounces Creme de Cacao
  • Optional Garnish-Chocolate Shavings
  • PICKLED PEPPERONCINI MARTINI (His)
  • 2 1/2 ounces Vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Dry Vermouth
  • 1 ounce Pepperoncini Brine
  • Opt. Garnish-Whole Pepperoncinis

Instructions

  1. For each martini recipe, fill a cocktail shaker 1/2 with ice.
  2. Add the vodka and other ingredients.
  3. Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
  4. Use a strainer to pour into cocktail glass.
  5. Garnish and repeat.
  6. Serve immediately.
© ppweeks

Getting Started

Martinis are fairly simple to make and there are so many different options to try. My best tip is use the best ingredients, which means start with your favorite vodka. Below you will find an overview of each: Ingredients, Kitchen Tools and Basic Steps.

Ingredients

Chocolate Martini (Hers)

  • 2 1/2 ounces Vodka
  • 1 1/2 ounces Creme de Cacao
  • Optional Garnish-Chocolate Shaving
  • Ice


Pickled Pepperoncini Martini (His)

  • 2 1/2 ounces Vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Dry Vermouth
  • 1 ounce Pepperoncini Brine
  • Optional Garnish-Whole Pepperoncinis
  • Ice
His and Her Martinis
HIs and Her Martinis

Kitchen Tools You May Need

  • Cocktail Shaker and Strainer
  • Martini Glasses

Basic Steps

  • For each martini recipe, fill a cocktail shaker 1/2 with ice.
  • Add the vodka and other ingredients.
  • Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
  • Use a strainer to pour into cocktail glass.
  • Garnish and repeat.
  • Serve immediately.
Chocolate Martini and Pepperoncini Martini
Martinis by Bill

Next Time

Some day I’ll have to tell you more about our first trip together and “our story”…a story that goes from 5 years of being colleagues to quickly becoming a blended family of five. It includes fostering seven girls after our kiddos went off to college, retiring early and living the sweet country life tending to our gardens and flock. Maybe you’ll want to make yourself a chocolate martini and do a little light reading. Or maybe a pickled pepperoncini martini is more your style.

And, if you have any specific questions about “our story” that you’d like me to share, please be sure to drop me a note in the comments section.

In the meantime, choose joy and picnic often!

Cheers!
Cheers!

Introducing Ducklings to Water: The First Farmhouse Sink Photo

Farm, Home & Garden

As a new duckling owner, you might be thinking about introducing ducklings to water. You might also be thinking about capturing that first farmhouse sink photo of your ducklings splashing around in the water.

I know I was!

my farmhouse sink
Our farmhouse sink–ready and waiting for the ducklings

I love watching ducklings swim and I have seen the most adorable photos of ducklings swimming in farmhouse sinks. So, I have to admit that I was hoping to introduce my new ducklings to water in our farmhouse sink.

Bill was not so sure that this was a good idea. (I can always count on him to throw a few practical questions my way.)

So, I began researching the topic…

Let’s Talk about Ducklings and Swimming

This is what I learned about introducing ducklings to water.

First of all, your ducklings can drown resulting in death. Secondly, your ducklings can get chilled resulting in death.

Scary stuff.

So, our job as new duckling owners is to make sure that neither of these things happen. So here are a few tips and recommendations that I gathered from the experts.

Introducing Ducklings to Water in a Farmhouse Sink
Follow the safety tips below when introducing ducklings to water

Preventing Drowning

Let’s first talk about preventing drowning. Although your ducklings instinctively can swim, they can get fatigued very quickly and drown. This means that not only do you have to think about drowning when swimming, but you also need to take precautions in the brooder.

The water in their brooder should be no deeper than a 1/4 inch. That sounds really shallow, but think about how easy it is for a child to drown in a bathtub with just a little water in it. The same thing can happen to ducklings.

Mallard ducklings drinking from their waterer
The ducklings spend a lot of time at the waterer

You can avoid this issue all together by using a waterer with nipple stations rather than a trough. If you use a trough waterer, be sure you use one designed for chicks and ducklings. They are much smaller than waterers intended for adult members of your flock, so the water remains shallow.

Second, practice patience and wait until ducklings are at least one week of age before introducing ducklings to water. Their first swim should be brief regardless of if it’s in your farmhouse sink or anywhere else.

You will need to keep a close eye on the ducklings and the swimming session should be short (I know I repeated myself, but this is very important). Keep in mind that their mom is not there to teach them the ropes. So be cautious.

Keeping Ducklings Warm

You also need to keep your ducklings warm so they don’t get chilled. Before letting them swim in your sink, the room needs to be a comfortable temperature and the water needs to be at least 75 degrees. The water will cool down quickly, so again, keep the swimming session very brief.

Also, towel dry your ducklings after their swimming session. Keep in mind that if a momma duck isn’t around, the ducklings haven’t been waterproofed with protective oils. You will notice your ducklings beginning to preen fairly early.

After about four weeks they will have created their own waterproofing and can protect themselves more easily from being chilled.

Follow these tips, and you can keep your ducklings safe when you first introduce them to water.

Towel drying duckling after swimming
Warming our ducklings up after their first swim

Our Ducklings’ Arrival

So with this new information, I was ready for my ducklings to arrive and prepared to wait a bit before introducing my new flock to water.

Our ducklings arrived last week, Mallard ducklings to be exact. Such an exciting day!

mallard duckling
One of our Mallard ducklings, so cute!

We ordered them from an out-of-state hatchery and had them shipped to us via the USPS. Did you know that ducklings and chicks and bees and other live animals can be shipped in the mail?

We ordered 15 ducklings. Two did not survive the trip and another two died within a few hours of their arrival. Our money was refunded, but it wasn’t exactly the way I was hoping to start my duckling ownership.

Let’s backtrack a bit…

Picking Up our Ducklings

The week of the ducklings planned arrival, I stopped by our post office and chatted with them about the ducks arriving. We have had chicks shipped to us before, so I knew the drill and I also knew that they would need our phone number.

The post office called us bright and early Thursday morning, 6 am to be exact. At 6:06am, we were out the door. I don’t t think I’ve ever popped out of bed so quickly, or at least not since I was a child on Christmas morning.

Bill and I headed to the post office and went around the side to the loading dock. I thought I could hear them as soon as I walked in to the warehouse area. But, I was wrong, it was chicks that I was hearing.

Next to my box of ducklings were two other ventilated cardboard boxes. Both of those were filled with chicks. And to my surprise, chicks are so much louder than ducks.

I don’t know why I thought my ducks would be louder. Maybe I was expecting them to be quacking. Lol!

Picking up our ducklings from the post office
Our ducklings have arrived!

Bringing our Ducklings Home

We arrived back home where I had already set up the brooder (aka the duckling nursery) inside our home. My plan is to keep them inside where I can keep a close eye on them for the first 7-10 days.

Even though taking photos was high on my priority list, as a new owner of ducklings or any animals, my first priority is always their health and safety. So first up, lots of water (to drink not swim in), food and warmth.

Everyone filled up on water and food and some more water and then took a long nap underneath their Brinsea brooder. It mimics their mom as they lay underneath it for heat.

This is how the first couple of days went. Water, food, more water, sleep, repeat. I was completely amazed by how much water they go through and spill all over the place.

So messy (I had been warned by some of my fellow duck owners).

Swimming in our Farmhouse Sink

The ducklings were hatched on a Monday, so at their one week birthday it was time to take a few swimming. I decided 11 would be too many to keep my eye on so started with about 1/2 of the flock.

It was a beautiful day, the mudroom was warm and I placed the ducklings in an empty sink. I decided I was more comfortable adding just enough warm water so that it was deep enough to swim and shallow enough that they could still stand.

introducing ducklings to water
Introducing our ducklings to water

Oh my goodness! They were in heaven!

My ducklings began paddling around and diving!!! So adorable.

I took a few dozen photos and 3 minutes of video and then called it a day.

ducklings in farmhouse sink
Shallow enough to stand and deep enough to swim AND dive!

I knew if they could talk, they would be like I was as a child, begging my mom to stay just a few more minutes at the pool.

I placed the ducklings in a bucket that I had lined with a towel, we headed back to the brooder and dried each one off.

Too much fun!

ducklings in a bucket

Strong Swimmers

The ducklings have been swimming in our sink daily. They are so active and literally splash the water out of the sink. If you’d like to see my ducklings in action, check out my Instagram reels and stories @pennypenningtonweeks.

Introducing my ducklings to water has been so entertaining. I now know where the phrase, like a duck to water originates.

I love watching them dive and preen. So adorable.

introducing ducklings to water
Already preening

I am still cautious, I keep the water level low and the water temperature warm. I also keep the sessions at around 10 minutes, towel the ducklings off and return them to the brooder.

A Final Note

The ducklings’ brooder will be moved out to the barn this week. After seeing how much they love the water, it is tempting to provide a place for them to splash around on their own. But it’s too soon.

Ducklings become strong swimmers at around 5 weeks of age. So, I will be on lifeguard duty a bit longer.

And they won’t be fully feathered until 8 weeks. So it’s important to make sure they can warm up after swimming.

To be continued…

More coming soon as the duckling adventures continue.

How to Start your Garden with Cool Season Vegetables

Garden, Home & Garden

Today I’m sharing some tips for how to start your garden with cool season vegetables. If you’re like me and you’re eager to get your garden going, cool season vegetables are the perfect solution.

Cool Season Vegetables and Eggs
A cool season vegetable harvest and farm fresh eggs

As a gardener, winter can seem so long. And sometimes, the eagerness for planting season leads to planting too soon. It goes something like this…we’re tired of winter, we miss gardening and then all of sudden there is a gorgeous sunny day. And then maybe a whole weekend of warmer temperatures. So we head out to our local gardening center and sure enough they are ready for us. We are surrounded by plants, fill up our cart and head home to begin planting.

We start our garden filled with excitement.

But it’s too soon.

A frost hits, we lose our plants and we have to start all over again.

Cool season vegetables are the perfect solution.

Cool Season Vegetables

One of the basic concepts that all gardeners should have as part of their arsenal is an understanding of cool season vs. warm season plants.

A few years ago, Bill and I served as volunteer 4-H leaders for a campus based club we created to serve children of students living on campus. Our 4-H club was named Eat, Grow, Lead. The Grow part of our club focused on gardening and included each of our participants sharing a portion of the campus community garden.

One of the first Grow lessons we shared with our 4-Hers was one about cool season vs. warm season plants.

It was important for us to begin gardening as soon as possible, meaning we didn’t want to wait until summer to begin gardening. So we taught our 4-Hers how to start their gardens with cool season vegetables. It was a great way to get started in the spring before our students (and their children-our 4-Hers) took a summer break.

Some of our 4-Hers learning how to garden with cool season vegetables
Some of our 4-Hers learning how to garden with cool season vegetables

What is a Cool Season Vegetable?

Cool season vegetables have either a hardy or semi-hardy frost tolerance. This means that the gardening fun can begin before your average last frost date and you won’t risk losing your plants, if you plant cool season vegetables.

Hardy plants can tolerate cold weather and can be planted before your last frost date. Some can even handle a freeze. Semi-hardy plants can also be planted before your last frost date and can handle a light frost. However, a hard frost can damage semi-hardy plants.

In our zone (7a), our average last frost date is April 15 and we begin planting our cool season vegetables around March 1.

Warm season plants are considered tender or very tender. They cannot handle cooler temperatures and grow better during warm temperatures.

Carrots and other vegetables
Carrots at a farmer’s market in Washington, our carrots cannot compete!

Our Cool Season Favorites

I love when Bill and I head to our local feed store to pick up potato tubers and onion sets. It means the gardening season is about to begin and we will have homegrown vegetables in our kitchen in the near future.

Potatoes ready to plant
Not so pretty, but these potato tubers will produce gorgeous Yukon Gold potatoes

Earlier this week, we planted potatoes, peas, kale and broccoli. Bill also planted onions, spinach, beets, and rhubarb. (I, also, snuck a row of sweet peas on the trellis in the back of the raised bed where the potatoes are planted. I think the leafy greens of the potato plants will pair perfectly with the multi-colored sweet pea flowers.)

Newly planted potato tuber
Planting the Yukon Gold potatoes, my sweet peas will be in the back on the trellis

As someone who did not grow up gardening, I find it so interesting how the different plants are started. We start some from seed and some from plants. And others from crowns, tubers, and sets. There is always so much to learn.

Cool Season Plants to Start from Seed

The following is a list of our favorite cool season vegetables that we start from seed. We always end up planting more leafy greens then we can keep up with, but the chickens don’t mind helping us out. Not included on our list is carrots, we have tried them but they carrots always end up tasting something like pencil wood. It’s just too hot in Stillwater.

  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Peas
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard
  • Turnips
A hand full of garden peas ready to plant, a great cool season vegetable
Garden peas ready to plant, a great cool season vegetable

Cool Season Vegetables to Start from Plants

My favorite cool season plant by far is cabbage. It isn’t necessarily my favorite one to eat. But it is definitely my favorite one to watch grow. It is truly a miracle that what looks like a few leaves turns into such an amazing and huge plant. And if you have the space, try both red and green cabbage plants. They are both so gorgeous.

  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
Bill planting broccoli, a great cool season vegetable
Bill planting broccoli
Cabbage plants
Cabbage plants, my favorite cool season vegetable!

Cool Season Vegetables to Start from Crowns, Tubers and Sets

I loving growing Yukon Gold potatoes! They are so good, you don’t even need butter. We, also, planted a new crop of asparagus this year, Jersey Knight Asparagus to be exact. It is a predominantly male variety, the stalks are thicker and more tender. We will not harvest it for a few seasons. The plant is a perennial and can last as much as 20 years. So amazing!

  • Asparagus-Crowns
  • Onions-Sets
  • Potatoes-Tubers
  • Rhubarb-Crowns
Bill planting asparagus
The asparagus crowns have been soaked and are ready to plant
Bill modeling my favorite cool season vegetable, cabbage
Bill modeling my favorite cool season vegetable–cabbage

Our Vegetable Garden

Our vegetable garden is mostly contained in the raised beds surrounding our barn. Each bed has water directly to it and we use soaker hoses to water the beds. In addition to our cool season vegetables, we grow lots of warm season vegetables.

When planning your garden, keep in mind that after you harvest the majority of your cool season vegetables, you may be able to follow-up with planting some of your warm season vegetables in the same location.

vegetable garden and barn
Our barn surrounded by some of our warm season vegetables and a few cosmos flowers

The exception to that are perennial vegetables like asparagus–they will need their own permanent space. For us that means our asparagus has a separate area. We keep the asparagus along a fence so that the area is out of the way and not disturbed year round. For northern climates (not ours), rhubarb is also a perennial.

I’ll share more with you soon. You can also check out my Instagram stories and posts, where I have been sharing our garden for a few years now.

A Few More Tips and Ideas

  • Save your leftover seeds and use them in your fall garden. Store the seeds in the refrigerator or a cool location.
  • When planting from seeds, remember that your seeds need seed to soil contact. So be sure to press the seed into the soil.
  • Your local county Cooperative Extension Service provides fact sheets on gardening for your climate. Be sure to check out available online resources for more ideas.
  • You can also find information on local 4-H Clubs through your county Cooperative Extension Service. You could serve as a volunteer and/or enroll your child in a club.

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