Rememberance of Hawaii.....

I found this when going through my files and with all this warm summer we are having, I thought this would be fun to share. Getting the coconut meat separated from the shell was a bit of an opportunity for challenge, but in the end, I found a way to coax it from it's shell to make the best coconut pie I've ever had. I hope you enjoy.  Now to find the picture of the pie.  I was sure I took a picture, but now that I think of it it might not have lasted long enough to take a picture.....

Hawaii Fresh Coconut Cream Pie

January 2012 –Vacation recipe

 Ingredients

· 3/4 cup sugar

· 1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut milk

· 1 1/2 cups whole milk

· 1/3 cup cornstarch

· 5 egg yolks

· 1/4 teaspoon salt

· 1 cup grated, fresh coconut – 1.5 coconuts

· 1 teaspoons vanilla extract

· 1/2 tsp coconut extract

· 1 tablespoon butter

· 1 (9-inch) baked pie shell, recipe follows

· 1/3 cup toasted coconut

· Whipped cream, for garnish

Directions

Extracting the meat from the Coconut

Once getting to the inner coconut, break in quarters and microwave each piece for 30-45 seconds. Work one piece at a time. This loosens the meat from the coconut and makes it much easier to remove. Grate on a medium grater

In a nonstick 1-quart saucepan, combine 3/4 cup sugar, coconut milk, and 1 cup milk. Scald mixture.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup milk and cornstarch together to make a slurry. Whisk egg yolks with salt in medium bowl. Temper yolks by adding 1/2 cup scaled milk mixture to yolks and whisk well.

Add yolk mixture and slurry back into milk mixture and whisk vigorously over medium heat until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add coconut, vanilla, coconut extract, and butter. Whisk until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the baked pie shell. Cover the pie with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. Chill the pie completely, about 2 hours.

To serve, top with toasted coconut and a dollop of whipped cream.

Pie shell:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup solid vegetable shortening

• 6 to 7 tablespoons ice cold water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Mix well. Add the shortening and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the water and let sit 1 minute. Either using a fork or your hands, carefully press the mixture together to form a soft ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick. Gently fold the circle of dough in half and then in half again so that you can lift it without tearing it, and unfold into a 9-inch by 2-inch deep-dish pie pan. Crimp the edges and chill again for 30 minutes before baking.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake pie shell until golden, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely before using.

Yield: 1 deep-dish pie shell

The bond begins

Last night's visit to my sheep could not have made me smile bigger. I've been wondering how long it would take for my sheep to start bonding with our new guard llama, Talja. Last night I got my answer.

I was up the hill filling the water troughs from outside of the fences and had Zeke with me. He usually mills around doing dog stuff.  Sniffing bushes and making friends with whomever will pet him.  Since Zeke has a bit of "presence".  His just hanging out with me at the top of the hill occasionally gets my sheep to run down the hill. This time when they spotted him, they high tailed it right to Talja. She had already seen Zeke with me so I believe she is getting used to him being there with me and realizes he isn't a threat.  After seeing the sheep come hauling to her she looked around to see what the hub bub was all about. She looked back up the hill to see Zeke and I and looked back at the sheep trying to hide behind her.  It's kind of hard for 30 sheep to hide behind one llama, though they tried!  I swear I could see them telling her "See, that's the dog, yeah, that's him.  He tells what to do and where to go".  I'm sure she told them red headed lady with red dog is OK, really.  She has grain!  Talja went a few feet in front and cushed (that's laying down in llama speak).  What a wonderful sight to see. I'm so glad to see the sheep getting to know that Talja is their protector

I want my sheep to know Talja is the safest place to be.  I'm intentionally going very slow at introducing my dogs as I don't want to rush Talja and the sheep getting settled and bonded.  To get a sense of how sensitive the sheep are, at any point Zeke and I were at least 300 ft from them.

Here is Talja enjoying the pasture, before it got a "hair cut" a few days ago

Silver Lining

This is one of those stories with a silver lining.  About 2 weeks ago I had a coyote attack my flock .  We lost 5 ewe lambs and injured one yearling. Not the view you want to see when you are coming to check on your sheep in the morning before going to work.   It was absolutely devastating for me. We plan a whole year in advance which sheep we are going to breed.  We love and care for our sheep.  This year was especially important to me as I was there to see them give birth or just moments after. It was truly a wonderful moment in my life. So to see the hard work lay lifeless in the field, tore me to the core. 

Armed with my cell phone and numbers from a few girlfriends who have been down this road before I asked for their advice.  I got some great advice on my fencing solutions and then the options of a flock guardian came up.  Should I get a donkey, livestock guardian dog or a llama.  With my situation I felt truly only one option was feasible, I was tentative on this last option.   Time to get a llama.  I really must add one, important fact, I’ve had a fear of llamas since I was a child. I was spit at by neighborhood llamas and thought they were all cranky lot of woolly weirdness. This experience was burned into my brain so the thought of purchasing a llama would never happen.....or so I thought.   I have to admit though, now that I think about it, llamas have been inching their way into my life little by little over the past 5 or so years.  I've been invited to llama/fiber shows and other events show casing llamas and alpacas.  I also need to mention that I did have the wonderful opportunity to get to know a friends llama a couple of years ago.  She was quite different from the llamas I had met in my past.  She didn't try to spit on me nor did she seem cranky.  She appeared curious but cautious and I don't know whom was fascinated more, me or her.

 I took the advice from a girlfriend, and went to the same place she went to for her guard llama.  Rain Dance Llama Ranch.  Ken and Celia were wonderful and very accommodating.  I mentioned my hesitation of llamas and was assured that their llamas were very friendly and are used to being handled.  I entered the llama paddock at RDLR and found all the llamas to really not care that I was there, except for one.  She came right over to smell my outstretched hand and got close.  Whoa!!!! This could have been situation overload for me, but instead of being nervous, she had a calming way about her and allowed/invited me to be calm.  What a life changing experience for me.  They handed me a lead and I took this friendly llama for a walk.  It felt so natural to me.  Well maybe the picture doesn't quite show that I am calm, I was just a little taken back that Ratalja would be this friendly

 

As you can see she is very comfortable around me and we seem to have a connection.  I had found my llama.  Apparently this was not her normal behavior and I do believe this took all of us by surprise.  Charlotte met Ratalja, Ratalja met Charlotte.   

Ratalja met her new friends at my farm a week ago Sunday.  She seemed to be curious about the short legged, short necked new friends of hers.  Two of my sheep had been raised with a guard llama and they met her like a long lost friend, or maybe, they told her it was about she show up.  Who knows?!  What I do know, is that everyone is happy and getting along fabulously.  I am at ease that I now have a guardian 24/7 for my sheep.  She meets me every day at the gate to say good morning and to see if I have treats.  She is very food motivated.   She fits in well with this family!

BTW, I did get the halter off of her, but not before she decided she'd had enough of being in my very short sheep pen.  She left on her own volition.  I had to do some convincing & a little negotiating that I really did need to take that halter off.  All I can say is THANK YOU THANK YOU Rain Dance Llama Ranch for a friendly llama, named Ratalja!!  I love her dearly!!!!

All good things.....and a chuckle for today

This is for my jet setting, world traveling, LA living friend Lori L.  I better hear you laughing on this one, I know I won't live this list down  :)

My list of to do's

• Bake a birthday dessert from scratch.... Peach & Cherry Frangipane Tart
• Repair fencing on my sheep ranch
• Work my border collies on sheep
• Colored my hair, my stylist is outta town
• Do two loads of laundry
• Take pictures of Stu, the hottest rooster in Talbot (he made me add that)
• Knitted for an hour with my sheeps wool on a winter sweater

Stewey, Blue Copper Maran Rooster

He just loves to have his picture taken.  He actually stopped so that I could take these shots



 What a camera hog!

What a ham bone

I couldn't resist taking some shots of this little cutie either.  This is Sally, our latest family member.  She is my Shetland sheep herder extrodinare.  She has my sheep's number like no other.  Grace, smarts, clever and the cutest beauty marks on her sweet little face.  My sheep don't think she's so sweet, but that is their problem.  I encouraged them to make a complaint to farm management :)

Humor me a little as I imagine a conversation that Sally and I would have after sheep herding today



Sally:  [Sigh]....Are you taking pictures again?

Charlotte: Yes, Sally I am..you should get used to it

Sally: Did you at least get my cute side? 

Charlotte: Sally, all of your sides are cute!!!

Sally: Oh yeah, I forgot! Silly me!!! Hey, the sheep wanted to know where the complaint box was

Charlotte: What did you tell them? 

Sally:  I told them Tweed shredded it.   :)

Charlotte: Lovely, Sal

Does it get more adorable than this little sweetie????

And of course, here is the Peach Cherry Frangipane Tart....Just for your Lori L.

Finnoulla and her little baby, I always love her little babes

Life is not only good, it's darned fabulous.  Savoring all the good things that I am blessed with. 

Shiner for Charlotte?

Let's start with this..... I sure hope this doesn't turn into a shiner.  With an opening like that, who could walk away from this story?   

Well, I can't take 100% credit for this little stunt.  Here is how it started.

 I pull up to the farm today and see that I have a few escapees in the big field. I might add this is where the babies AREN'T supposed to be.  They are to be with their moms in a different field.  Try as I may, I am no sheepdog, and failed miserable at getting the 3 lambs back into the correct field.  Off the to the truck I go to fetch my red dog.  Ok Zeke, its time to work lambs.  I have to say he did a good job, mostly patient, he had a hard time undestanding why I didn't want the entire flock.  In hindsight that might have been easier, but I thought if I could just get the lambs close enough to the OPEN gate I was holding they would go in.  HA, HA HA.  What a freakin' joke that thought was. Not only do the lambs think Zeke is there friend, they are deathly afraid of me.   Who knew!!!  Great time to find that out!  So, plan B is put into place.  Corner said lambs in barn without getting trampled by the rest of the flock.  I was doing well until one little black lamb made a running jump and flew into my face.  Knocking me almost on my backside, but I caught the little stinker and put the attacker back in the appropriate pen.  Me holding my face, I could feel the swelling almost immediately.  GREAT!  My only thoughts were, tomorrow I have an important meeting to go to at work. I really don't want to have to explain how I got a shiner from a 15 lb lamb. So here's to hoping it won't turn into a black eye. Ohhhh, the things I do to myself. 

Sorry no pictures on this one  :)

Baby Lambs of 2012

 Midnight's Baby Girls

Ghosty Girl's Baby Girls - shetland x bfl

Here are just a few of the lambs from this year.  More to come as they sign up for their "photo shoot"

Working dog shots & thoughts of winter



Tweed waiting for his turn at the Kathy Knox clinic



 

"Lie down" this is NOT Zeke

My little Tweedy growing up, he is working in the field

Zeke waiting for the next command

Tweedy working my Shetlands and BFL

Zeke's not Tweed and Tweed's not Zeke.  No kiddin'......This past weekend that couldn't have been more clear to me than when I worked the boys at a Kathy Knox clinic.  Phew!  What a brainful!!!  Both boys showed what we needed work on and displayed improvement from last time.  For me, that is proof we are moving in the right direction.  I got homework to work on and am looking forward to putting it to work.  It gets more and more challenging for me to work/train and handle the two of them as I don't think they could be more different.  I look forward to the winter training season.  It's fascinating for me to watch how each of them handles new situations, while challenging  myself to see situations for what they are & what can I do to gain better understanding for the three of us.  Our short list of to do's is below

.

  Zeke and I will be practicing whistles close at hand so I can make sure we get understanding before stretching it out.  I am hoping to get to a few trials with Zeke this winter. 

Tweed and I will work on proper shape of our flanks and be a little more "spicy" as I like to call it on our fetches.