Sisterssupperclub #3 - Granola

Granola
Mix in large bowl:
6 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 each: slivered almonds, coarsely chopped pecans, wheat germ
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
optional: 1/2 cup natural sunflower seeds

Mix in medium bowl:
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Microwave these together about 2-3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.

Pour syrup mixture over dry ingredients and stir until well coated.  Divide evenly between 2 large roasting pans lined with foil and sprayed with Pam.
Bake at 325 about 15 minutes, then stir.  Bake another 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool, then break granola into pieces and store in airtight containers.  You may add 1 cup raisins or craisins or both, at this point or add them when you are serving. 
Will keep in airtight container for up to a week.

This has been a family favorite for close to 30 years!

West End of Ranch

The west end of our ranch, also known as Patterson, has a windmill tower and large steel water storage tank that have been around over 50 years.  The old windmill is laying on the ground about 50' away.  We now use solar power to pump water from the well into the storage tank and up the hill to more storage tanks.   This well is one of the best on the ranch.  The corral at Patterson is used regularly for roundups.  The trek across the ranch to Patterson takes at least an hour and a half by ATV or up to three hours by Jeep or truck.   This part of our ranch is the lowest, at around 4600', and the vegetation is thick with prickly pear, mesquite trees, and various grasses.  We share a three mile boundary on the west end of the ranch with the Muleshoe Ranch, owned by the Nature Conservancy and well known for their nine hot springs that run year round.

Great Migrations on National Geographic TV

We have been watching the National Geographic special presentation titled Great Migrations.  We are enjoying every moment!  http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/great-migrations

Sisters Supper Club, recipe 2

Pecan Crusted Chicken with Honey-Mustard Dressing

Chicken - Prepare:  2 boneless chicken breasts by halving and pounding

Dipping Mixture:  Blend

2 egg whites

2 t. cornstarch

juice of 1/2 lemon

Crusting Mixture:  Combine                            

1 cup coarse dry bread crumbs                    
3/4 cups finely chopped pecans

1 T. chopped fresh parsley                           
1/2 t. dried oregano

1 t. kosher salt                                             
1/2 t. dried thyme

1/4 t. ground black pepper                           
1/2 t. paprika

1/4 t. cayenne
Zest of one lemon, minced                              

Saute Chicken in 3 T. olive oil.  Prepare oven to 450.  Dip and crust chicken - let rest - saute - and roast 8-10 minutes.  Can saute chicken only or roast only, instead of sauteing and roasting. 

Honey Mustard Dressing:  Combine                  

1/4 cup honey                                                  

3 T. Dijon mustard                                        

3 T. extra-virgin olive oil                                  

1 T. shallot, minced                                          

1 T. apple cider vinegar

juice of 1/2 lemon

salt and pepper to taste

Toss with:
8 cups mixed greens such as arugula, radicchio, romaine and leaf lettuces
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
4 oz. crumbled mild goat cheese, optional

Note:  Use only amount of dressing necessary - not necessarily the entire amount. 

Roses

While at the grocery last week, I noticed bunches of spray roses on sale.  I bought two bunches, cut the stems very short, and put them in a bowl I made at pottery class.  Love the deep color, especially with blue!  Voila!  Flowers for our table!

Katie and Neil at the Ranch

We had friends, Katie and Neil, at the ranch 

for three nights this week.  Katie and Claire were roommates in DC soon after college graduation.  They have remained good friends and Papa and I have gotten to know Katie over the years.  

She and Neil just finished a two year work assignment in Monrovia, Liberia and have been traveling in the western United States.  We hiked, took them across the ranch in the Jeep, 

had lots of good meals together, and plenty 

of spoiling time for Oscar and Pablo.

Jeep

Last week we bought a "new" used Jeep to use on the ranch when we have guests and for cold winter excursions across the ranch to make repairs or check on waters or cows.  Guests arrived yesterday afternoon, and we are planning to take the Jeep on a cross ranch adventure tomorrow.

Butterflies

Butterflies gather in the creekbed near the original Schilling homeplace on the ranch when there is moisture.  As we had a rather wet summer, I saw these butterflies on a ride across the ranch. 

Kids Next Door

I took this photo last week of Madilyn and Colter Lee with their horses and dog in this landscape we live in.  The fluffy clouds in the beautiful blue sky were a perfect brush stroke.  The kids were having a good time while I was clicking away with my camera.

Sisterssupperclub.com

A couple of weeks ago, Audrey had a really good idea to start a long distance Sisters Supper Club, including Mom.  The premise is that each of us will make a dish each week, taking turns choosing either the dish to make or an ingredient.  For this first week of Sisters Supper Club, Whitney chose butternut squash as the main ingredient and suggested two dishes as options.  I made the Roasted Butternut Squash Orzo Salad.  Yum!  This is such a good way for us to share a dish each week, as we live thousands of miles apart.