Maze Mania #3

Straight up - I gotta tell you that I'm a few weeks late in posting this. I do apologize. We cut the maze the evening before we left for vacation and then we returned to the county fair and next thing you know - it's been a few weeks. So, rewind a few weeks and here goes...

The time had come to CUT THE MAZE!!! This is always an exciting process! We have learned from our mistakes over the last few years and we can accomplish this task in much less time now and definitely with fewer people! We went from 8 people and something like 10 hours a few years ago to 3 people and 3 hours this year! Woot!!!

So, here's a photo of the maze paths just a couple of weeks after I had sprayed them. (You can check out Maze Mania #2 for this!)

So, with maps in hand - we set out to start cutting! We had one person on the mower and two people working ahead to pull up the flags and twine that had been set when we planted the field. Each person has a map to follow and the most important person is the one on the mower!!!! We use red ink to follow along the paths on our maps where we cut so we know when we have cut every path out there!

This is when the maze starts to come to life! It's fun to think about where you are standing when you are out there or 'what' you are standing in! You will understand this when we post our aerial photo!

Here are some other photos from the cutting day!

Last but not least, we should be left with 5' paths throughout the maze that "hopefully" will create a picture! Speaking of picture - stay tuned for the next Maze Mania for an aerial photo!!!! Yes - it's coming soon!!!!

Catch up on the precious maze posts! 

Maze Mania # 1 
Maze Mania # 2 

County Fair Baking Contest

Last week was our county fair and I decided to enter our extension homemaker baking contest. Every year they have a day that is dedicated to a specific ingredient that must be incorporated in the recipe. This year was all about cherries. At first I was bummed because I’m not the biggest fan of cherries but I found an interesting recipe that I tried and I was surprised on how they turned out! I must admit that entering this contest brought me back to the days of being in 4-H. I always took foods (baking) as a project and I loved spending the time with my mom and sister in the kitchen. I would be fooling myself if I let you believe it was all rainbows and sunshine because it wasn’t! There is always a certain amount of stress involved in finding the perfect recipe and baking it perfectly. There were a lot of late night runs to the grocery store for another round of ingredients because the first 4 batches just weren’t right. Equally as many early mornings making sure we had our recipe cards and paper work filled out completely. I giggle now thinking about this because this contest wasn’t any different.

I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed when I heard there were 86 entries in the cookie and bar category. At last, it was my turn and the judge babbles on about this and that all of which sounds positive and finally says that it defiantly deserves a blue ribbon! Woot!! 

Later that day the champions, reserve champions and honor groups were chosen. Woot! My bars were selected to be in the honor group!! While it would have been cool to win grand or reserve grand I was very excited to be 1 of the 6 honor group entries! Oh and I won $10!! Woot!

Below is the recipe! I will say that these aren’t your traditional sweet cookies but more like a granola bar. They are perfect for breakfast! Enjoy!

Walnut and Dried Cherry Bars

From Ellie Krieger, Food Network

Ingredients

·         1 cup quick-cooking oats

·         3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or regular whole-wheat flour

·         1/4 cup toasted wheat germ

·         1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         1/2 cup honey

·         1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

·         1/4 cup canola oil

·         1 egg, beaten to mix

·         1 egg white

·         3/4 cup chopped dried tart cherries

·         1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (I added pecans)

·         Cooking spray

·         1/4 cup "fruit only" apricot preserves (I used Cherry preserves because the contest theme was cherry)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, wheat germ, cinnamon and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the honey, applesauce, oil, egg and egg white until well combined. 

Stir in the oatmeal mixture until well combined. Add the dried cherries and walnuts.

Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Put the preserves in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. As soon as the bars come out of the oven, brush with the preserves.

Cool completely and cut into 12 bars, about 4 by1 1/2 inches each.

Per Serving

Calories 230; Total Fat 9 g; (Sat Fat 1 g, Mono Fat 3 g, Poly Fat 4 g) ; Protein 4 g; Carb 34 g; Fiber 2 g; Cholesterol 20 mg; Sodium 60 mg

20 questions

This post links to the 20 question link back contest with Laura at Under the Sheets-shh. Join the party! 


Happy Friday!! 


1) Dressing up or casual?
Casual - I heart my jeans!  

2) Most original Halloween costume?
Steve Urkel - Got any cheese??!! haha!

3) What would your talent be if you were participating in a beauty pageant?
I used to play the flute...

4) What do the words retro boutique design mean to you?
unique, polka dots, geometric shapes, bright and bold colors

5) What do you see as your greatest achievement?
I did pretty good at a couple of National Dairy Judging Contests!

6) What household chore pacifies you?
Folding laundry

7) Favorite type of weather?
Fall - hot days and cool nights! 

8) Do you sleep with the sheets tucked in or out?
Out - one of the first things I do when I go to a hotel! 

9) Do you have freckles?
yeppers

10) Favorite kind of sandwich?
A wrap of some kind

11) Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?
yes

12) What’s your name spelt backwards?
Zil

13) What message is on your voicemail machine?
This is Liz, leave a message! 

14) What was the name of your first pet?
Mittens the mean kitty!

15) Do you believe in karma?
Yes, actually I do! 

16) Do you believe in luck?
Yes 

17) Do you have a nickname?
Liz is a nickname, my full name is Elizabeth. 

18) Are you a shopping addict?
No I just need a lot of retail therapy!!

19) Favorite superhero?
Captain Planet, he's our hero!! 

20) Chocolate or vanilla?
Both please! 

Wordless Wednesday - Baby Calf Post Preview

If you are visiting for the first time via the Wednesday Blog Hops, welcome and thanks for visiting!

This post is linked to:

Wordless Wednesday 

Welcome Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Engagement card from Amy's daughter Miss Bug. I hope I will look half as beautiful on the big day!  

Award Time!

We are very excited to receive this award from Alex at Ma, What's For Dinner?. You have to check her out! She is all about cooking food that everyone will love including kids! I can't wait to try some of her recipes! Thank you Alex!!!

The Rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.
      

2. Share seven things about yourself.

Liz:

1. I love to show dairy cows

2. I once worked at a bakery, and loved it!

3. One of my favorite tv shows is Criminal Minds

4. Most of my clothes come from the Gap

5. I hate mice and they make me do the yucky dance! haha!

6. I think chocolate and wine make any day better!

7. I heart flip flops!

Amy:

1. I love 80 degree days

2. I choose country roads over interstate any day

3. I'm Vera Bradley lover

4. I think that holidays are all about food and family

5. I like my swagger wagon

6. I have had the same BFF since 1st grade

7. I love to see round bales out in the field

3. Pass this award along to fifteen bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason!

Our 15 Fab New Finds are as follows…

1. A Southern Belle
2. Stitches of life
3. Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker 
4. Four Leaf Clover Dairy
5. I'm Topsy Turvy
6. Baby Grace Photography
7. One Moms Corner of the World
8. Le Chateau des fleurs by Frenchy
9. The Two Savvy Sisters
10. Lamp Unto My Feet
11. The Cheap and Choosy
12. Sanity is Overrated
13. Live, Laugh, Love
14. Newlywed Adventures
15. Adventures in Vineyardland

4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

The next Award we received from Going Jane, The Craft Barn, Hoosier Farm Babe Tell Tails and Zibelknits. Be sure to check these blogs out, you won't be disappointed!! Thanks guys!

The Rules:
•Thank the blogger who awarded it to you.

•Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using five (5) words.
  
 Food, Fun, Family, Farming, Friends

•Pass it on to 10 other blogs which you feel have real substance.


The 10 blogs that we are passing on the award to are:

Drum roll please.....

1. The Wife of a Dairyman
2. Beyer Beware
3. Sugar and Spice Mommy
4. Goodeness Gracious
5. The Flowering Dogwood
6. The Mis-Adventures of a Modern Day Farmer's Wife
7. a Latta with Ott, A
8. The Country Chic Cottage
9. Gal in the Middle
10. attempting creative