Delish Country Dish

We don't have bacon much, but whenever we do, I always reserve the grease for such dishes as this morning's. Sometimes olive oil just doesn't cut it. Today is one of those days.

Small zucchini, mine was from our garden, was medium sized and I used about 3 inches, cut these into 1/2" strips. If your zucchini is fresh or a small one like what you get at the store, no need to peel it.
3 small new potatoes, cut into strips
1 Tbsp bacon grease (You can use olive oil or coconut oil)
4 large leaves fresh basil, diced
2 small basil leaves for garnish.

Heat grease over medium heat in a large skillet. I don't like the way eggs have a tendency to stick so I always use a nonstick pan when I cook eggs.

Add strips of potatoes and zucchini and cook for about 5 - 8 minutes stirring frequently.

Reduce temperature. Add eggs, and stir.

Cook until eggs are completely done. 

Season with Garlic Pepper, I used a grinder seasoning blend to make this simple.

Garnish with fresh Basil, serve immediately. 

Serves 2. 

Oh, seriously this is pretty and yummy!

If you enjoy this recipe, you should try my meal planning! You can get a whole month FREE here!

I am delighted to share such fun and nutritious recipes! 

In vibrant health and happiness,

Tammi Hoerner, CHHC

www.thenourishedlife.net

www.newbeginningshealthwellness.com

Birds of a Feather

This mornings visit with my chicks was fun and filled with a bit of surprise.

The chicks are learning to perch on the sides of the brooder. As I said before, we put window screens over the top of the brooders to prevent "flying the coop". When I went out with my coffee to sit by them and talk, I took the screens off. The immediately showed me their new trick. ( Since I'm using my Iphone to take photos, I don't have any but will soon, I hope)

The feathers are growing in nicely, and I'm making friends with them.

Hello Chicks!

Can you see the size difference?

They are growing and curious!

Pretty Feathers

My new found friend

She is really friendly. We aren't sure if these are the Cornish Game Hens or the Leghorns. Jim thinks these are the Cornish Game Hens, which means dinner. (ugh) But, for now, she's my little friend and she enjoys being held.

Check out those feathers!

The surprise? Well, it seems the pheasant are a week ahead of the chicks. I cleaned out the chick pen, fed and watered them. I stepped outside and came back in to a pheasant - about three inches in size, perched on the side of their brooder. Woah.
Wasn't expecting that!
So, they too now have screens on top of their brooder.

What fun this has been!

In vibrant health and happiness,
Tammi

GET YOUR FREE ONE MONTH OF MEAL PLANS

www.thenourishedlife.net

They Want to Fly the Coop!

Already, the chicks are trying to fly. I'm surprised. Jim is surprised. They actually look at the top of the brooder box, aim, flap, and next thing you know, there they are! Sitting on the edge, looking at you.
CRAP. 
You can tell we're new at this!
We decided to cover the brooders with window screens for now. It's working.

They are  beautiful and growing feathers. It's been since Saturday since we lost any, and I'm quite excited about that. I think it means we're learning and doing okay. The roosters are colorful and curious. The hens are quieter and friendly.

We have some white leghorns - they will be the egg layers, they are HUGE and already look like chickens. Some of them are actually bawking rather than peeping. Less than two weeks old.

Can you believe it? I thought my kids grew fast!

Happy July 4th!
In vibrant health,
Tammi

Aahhhh, Routine!

Finally, the chicks have reached stable. Which in English means; I didn't find any more dead this morning. I did however find that the fox can smell where I buried them. Never a dull moment. Never.

I'm exhausted from the week, but am looking forward to watching them grow and seeing how they benefit my family. Just today, I went out to pull weeds in my garden, and walked through a batch of a billion grasshoppers. He-he-he... enjoy it now awful grasshoppers, your day is coming!

As I type this, I am also putting on a batch of eggs to boil. I love boiled eggs and am going to enjoy a lovely Eggs and Greens Salad for my lunch. It's good to be getting back to regular routines, like making my lunch and not hovering over birds.

Wont you join me?

Greens & Egg Salad
Inspired by Vegetarian Times July/August 2012

½ head of lettuce
2 cups chopped rainbow swiss chard
1 cup chopped arugula
1 english cucumber, sliced
6 radishes, sliced
1 heirloom tomato (or beefsteak)
4 – 5 boiled eggs, peeled and cut into quarters

Assemble ingredients of salad first, then set aside. (lettuce, chard, arugula, cucumber, radish, tomato and eggs)

Dressing: ½ cup plain coconut yogurt; strain excess liquid through cheesecloth to thicken a bit. Add to yogurt: 4 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar and 1 cup fresh chopped dill. Blend in a blender on low speed.

Serve salad with dressing on the side. Top with sea salt or dulse and pepper.

This is a simple, hearty, healthy way to enjoy eggs. 


I'm sure I'll be sharing a lot more recipes for chicken and eggs in the years to come. 


In vibrant health,
Tammi


http://www.thenourishedlife.net

Wait!! There's MORE!!

This morning I slept in. All week I've been getting up at 5. Today it was 7:30.
Ack!
The birds!
Out I run, in jammies to check temperatures, feed, water, and oogle. They still are cute. Though I did lose another one. The little one I told you about yesterday? Well, she died last night. Then, so did the one sitting by her in the picture.
I don't think they are heartless creatures, and maybe, just maybe, losing her friend was too hard on her. so, they both died together. sigh....

Then, through the door comes Auriel. "Mom, I almost forgot, the post office called. The pheasant are here!"

Off I go - yup, jammies and all to the post office. Pheasant in car, back home, then doing my best to mimick my hubbies efforts in making a bird brooder. I think I did alright. Alright enough that we lost one today who drowned in the waterer. Yikes~ these birds are so small that they will drown in the bird waterer. ...

Jim added marbles and praised my brooder when he came home, so now we can sleep.

The chicks? Well, they have tons of feathers and tail feathers and are beginning to challenge each other to belly bumping contests. They chase each other over wood flakes, and come running when I put my hand in the brooder to offer mash.

So far...overall anyway... doing good...

In Vibrant Health,
Tammi
www.thenourishedlife.net

3 Day Old Chicks, The Saga Continues

There was never a dull moment in my home to begin with, but these little ones sure have brought a lot to talk about! Over all, we've lost 5. Of 52, that's not too terrible, given most we lost in the first day. I did lose one yesterday to an obstruction in her throat. I cried when I buried her this morning. (Uh-Oh, I'm already attached, not good for the prolonged intention.) It just didn't seem fair. I guess really, none of it is if you think about it. 

Most of them are growing quite well, full of spunk and are quite funny. There are a few cockrels who have HUGE attitudes already and when they see me they come running. I don't think because they like me, but rather to see what I'm doing and decide if I'm going to do anything of interest. 

There is one little one who seems to not be growing. I can't tell if she's eating at all, most of the time she's sleeping. I've decided to offer her food and water each time I go out. Sometimes, it's followed by interest but mostly not. I don't think that is a good sign for what is to come. So far, though, she peeps a lot and is hanging in there. She's the small one in the picture below. 

The tiny one in the bottom of this photo is about two inches in length - still the size of an egg.
Not much of an appetite, but lots of spirit if she's disturbed.

This is one of the cockrels. He's really pretty and you can see is developing feathers on his wings.
He's getting a few tail feathers as well, as are quite a few of them.

What an amazing opportunity to learn more about life and to grow as a person. I'm so grateful for these little ones and that I can be such an active part in caring for my self and family. In overseeing these chicks, I am able to control cleanliness, water quality, food quality, and the quality of life they live. In a farm to table type approach, I can't see a better way to provide! 

In vibrant health and happiness,

Tammi

http://www.thenourishedlife.net

2 Days Old...and holding my breath

Wow, it's a bit stressful actually. Having chickens. They are too cute, but now we've lost four to ... stress? Overhandling? The heat? Temperature fluctuation? I'm just not sure. It's very sad.

Today is a new day. The temperature when I went to bed at 11:00 was 92, perfect, finally.
This morning, the temperature was 80! Not so perfect!! Ack!
So, I moved the little heat lamps closer and now they are all sleeping and I'm crossing my fingers that I don't lose them.

Sleeping Chickies. They pretty much just pass out.
It 's kind of funny to watch!

As the temperature adjusts, they rush to eat.

Aren't they cute?

Finally, some stability around here lady!

This little boy is drinking water, they lift their heads back to
swallow it and you are looking at the underside of his face. 

Just like any corporate job, they huddle around the water cooler.

And back to naps...

I think we finally have some stability. Over all, I'm very excited. I'm grateful to have the space to free range them, and to have the opportunity to provide for my family. I think this will be a great experience and a way to provide healthy natural food for my family. 

The chicks that will be egg layers are pretty much in one brooder, while the little cockrels are in another. Mostly, anyway. 

An adventure it is! 

In Vibrant Health,

Tammi

http://www.thenourishedlife.net