Friday, July 18, 2008

Makin Bakin.. or Bacon.....

Sorry for my absence the last couple of days - and no camera - please dont punish me by not coming over anymore! I have been busy with butchering our 2 pigs. I am hopeful that I will be getting a camera tommorow - dont hate me if I dont - so I can take PICTURES!!!! ya know those things I have been promising for the last week or more! So instead of giving you pictures, I am going to tell you about our pigs - Fred and Ethal..... they were good pigs..... They are going to be even better meals. Talk about beautiful pork, they are some of the nicest meat pigs we have ever had. They were a york/tamworth cross wich is very hard to find because Tamworth pigs are getting to be more rare all the time. They are a bacon pig because they have an extra rib, so I am told, and are VERY long in the belly were bacon comes from. I am curing 1/4 of a belly today, but without a camera I can't show you how it is done. I wont explain right now, because I am going to show you in steps how I do this, with PICTURES!!! HOORAY!!!

But first I want to ask if anyone is really interested in knowing this? Otherwise I will just show how to make hay for my first picture post? My goal here is to keep people interested and informed not bored so that they go looking else where and leave me like yesterdays stale bread ok!!! LOL If you would be so kind as to leave a comment about how you want/want not to hear about making bacon at home I would be more than happy to post either way!!

SO - in the mean time I am also rendering lard. I know it sounds gross, but it is gold for cooking and baking I swear it. I will show/explain how I do that if you want me too. I use it for making bread, popping popcorn, frying anything and everything - that is only if I am not on a butter binge... I like butter - I lust for butter almost as much as I do for the Milk Man.... ok, not that much but its a close one. I am a firm believer in natural fat is better than ANY OTHER SUBSTITUTE. God gave us butter and lard, so our body knows what to do with it. Margarine is 1 molocule away from being plastic, tell me how that is good for you? I love to cook and bake so I take the time to make lard because if its good lard you have a gold mine of flavor there. Have any of you ever used the 'store bought' lard? That is SO gross... sorry to all of you who may use it or like it. Most of it has a very 'piggy' smell/taste to it. What I mean by that is that most of your store lard comes from old, over fat pigs that are cull pigs, not raised for market but for breeding. They are usually old or crabby so they are culled out of a herd and sent to market. People really dont realize what they are eating at times. These pigs have bred or been breed so the hormones have went through the body and in a way 'tainted' the meat. If you have ever eaten a frozen pizza that had a funny smell to it, the peperoni on it was probably 'boary', thats my own word. It just tastes like a pig smells, ish.... Man, this is lengthy... sorry... but I have to keep going, I have a purpose to teach you not to eat boary meat!! LOL The pigs that we eat are NEVER bred nor do they breed. The boys are castraited, remember the word barrow and the girls are never bred, remember the word gilt - same thing as virgin - oops did I just say that, sorry cover your childrens eyes, or tell them I was refering to olive oil...... SO, do any of you fine friends of mine have hang-ups like I do about the food you eat, where it comes from, the processing of it, lack of flavor etc? I am curious to find out if I am the only food freak around these here parts? Ya'll got yer work cut out for you now dont you!

Baby update I have 10 days till the baby gets here - I dont count the day I am in or the day I deliver..... panic has started to set in... help me.......

20 comments:

Train Wreck said...

Ok Where's the story?? Did I miss something??...ARE YOU IN LABOR, and unable to finish the complete post!!?? Yikes do you have your bag, slippers, tooth brush, do I need to call the ambulance? What's goin on!! I can't see!! Talk to me!!

Train Wreck said...

Hey I was just visiting Spanki...

Heidi... seriously is that all you think about??? Stay out of the "Dinging Room" for petes sake! Are you going for your own discovery channel program?? Your kids are adorable but...If you keep playin in the "Dinging Room" When are we going to Cabo with Meg and the girls!!! And have Spanki take our pics!!?

Mrs. Mom said...

Nope, you arent alone Heidi. I like knowing where my food comes from. Dont use lard, but DO looove butter. (Only lust after chocolate though..lol... next to Dear Husband...lol) I have developed a "thing" lately, about really wanting to learn more how to cook and bake more, and REALLY know what is going into our bellies. I dont buy junk food, (aside from chocolate....lol) pre-packaged foods, yada yada yada... The way I see it, the more I can learn the healthier my family will be. Keep em coming girl! (When ya can that is!!) Rub your belly from Auntie Mrs Mom!!!!

Karen Deborah said...

Awhh everything will be fine with the baby, hunny. Your a pro now!
Wow your a real farmer, you don't get sentimental about your animals. I care a LOT about where my animal products come from. I buy organic butter and 1/2&1/2. I think contaminated animals is a major cause of disease and cancer, so how's that for an opinion? I'm not sure if I can really watch you "butchering," but i'm very curious about everything. You are totally right about store lard it is NASTY! I have never had "good" lard so i honestly don't know what I'm missing. But oh do I love butter, and I have the buns to prove it.

Nancy said...

Just tell us how that bacon is made in your post and also the lard. That's MY vote. That's something I know nothing about and would be interested in learning. Bacon, ham, and pork chops are all some of my favorite meats, and I want to learn at least how one of them is made, anyhow.

Now....butchering I couldn't do, so you can skip that part if you don't mind. LOL

Oh, and thanks for the lesson on "boary" smelling meat. That was interesting.

Gee, not long now til the new babby will be here! Check out this site...you could use this for the next baby on your blog. You can set it so it will tell how many more days before your due date. I thought it was kind of clever myself.

http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/baby-ticker

Anxious to see those pics of makin' bacon! And then maybe you will share pics of the new baby with all of older gals who can't have babies anymore. Bet you'll be glad when he's here and you're back home. Take care now...I'll be thinking of you!

(((HUGS)))

Take a Deep Breath said...

amen to the butter, that is all I ever cook with.
Itoo love butter.
I have never cooked with lard though.
cant wait till you get your camera

goatgirl said...

I am very interested where my food comes from. I loved the lesson in boary meat. I have a hard time with goat cheese because some of it tastes just like I walked over and licked my goat.
I just don't want to see any pictures of you Makin' Hay!

Farmchick said...

Hi~
I just came across your blog and I have to tell ya--I got quite a chuckle out of some of your posts! I am a farmer's wife and also a farmer's daughter too! Stop by my blog and visit me sometime! I love making new friends!!! Oh by the way...good luck with the new baby that is soon to arrive!!

Train Wreck said...

You just crack me up!! Ill fitted halter! LMAO!!
I use store bought lard! We don't have any means of "making" it here!! I use it for tortillas!! Yep homeade tortillas!! I hope you get a little quiet time with the Milk Man!! I love your page so nothing you write is ever unread!! I am counting down!! For little "Milk Dud!!" LOL I crack myself up!!

Chris said...

Hi Heidi!

I am blog hopping from Suzanne's "At Home With The Farmer's Wife". So nice to meet you! I have really enjoyed reading your blog and will love the lessons on bacon, on lard what ever you share.

I agree with you about butter, and my grandma used lard all the time. I just know that's why her pie crust was the best! I buy locally grown beef & pork. I am going to ask the rancher if they make lard...

I'll be back often. Chris

P.S. I hope the next few days are as easy as possible for you!

Debbie in CA : ) said...

Hello, I just popped over from ... somewhere (I lose my way so easily on this webby thing -- and it is WONDERFUL! I love an adventure). I have just a few swallows left in my teacup and then I must be off to vacuum and perform other dull, boring, and necessary cottagey duties. But I've left a trail of breadcrumbs to find my way back. (Oh dear, hope I don't vacuum them up accidentally!) I must be off ... but I'll be back. : )

Erin M said...

hmm i wonder if rats are a good source of lard??

~Nan said...

ummmmm... ok fidget....ugh!!!! LOL Hi Heidi! I for one would love to see how the bacon is made. i just love your posts. Funny and informative. Baby time is coming closer!! Congratulations.

Unknown said...

Yeah for you and baby!!!!
-JiLL

Karen Deborah said...

I'm bettin you have had the little guy and that is why you aren't here, or are you butchering something? Naw, it was rototilling the garden. Crazy! So is he cute and blond and ten fingers and ten toes? Do we get a picture?

Suzanne said...

I want to learn it all. I always laugh that most people don't know how the pork chop got on the plate! Bacon, bacon, bacon is one of the major food groups along with chocolate. My stepsister was visiting from Australia, and American bacon is very different than what they get over there. She ate bacon for EVERY MEAL while she was here.

I'm really excited to learn all these things you are teaching.....especially rendering lard. WOW, you are the bomb.

- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wiofe

Holly Tree Primitives said...

I am absolutely and completely interested in all of it! And would love to see pictures, but won't hate you if you don't got em!

Hope you are back soon, but will check back often if you aren't.

~Michele

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Butter, lard and chocolate.

That's all I focused on here, and may I say this about that:

HALLELUJAH.

The W.O.W. factor! said...

Oh how I love Lard! Awesome pie crusts come from its use! (& like TW..best tortilla's! I make my own too!)Didn't know anyone made/used it any more...ya know that "health" thing everyone is concerned about??
I know you are off having your new farmhand...so take care & will be anxious to hear you describe that part of life!
BArb

Freth Stifter said...

Dressing-out turkeys is a fowl job
(I'd much rather dress-out rabbits)

Where's the fotos and details of the bacon makin'???

- a scud-runnin' truck driver