Party

Last week was the Mountain Mans birthday. 

Last week I made cheesecake.

You should try it.

Last week we also hauled top soil.

Lots of top soil.

11 or 12 hours worth of top soil.

The boy thoroughly enjoyed it.

The boy is still thoroughly enjoying it.

He made it into pie.

In his boot.

Dirt and Rogan are best friends.

Some Sort of Cheesecake: 

 Disclaimer: I combined a couple of recipes and came up with this concoction. I in no way take credit for this recipe.

Crust

about 1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp butter, melted

zest of 1 lemon

Mix crust ingredients and smash into springform pan (just the bottom) (first wrap the outside of the pan in a couple layers of foil)

Bake the crust on 350*until beginning to brown, 10-12 minutes. Lower oven to 325*.

Filling

3 (8oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup sugar

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 egg yolk

1/4 cup milk

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Mix in sugar, flour, and salt; mix well. Add eggs and yolk, beating until just combined. Stir in milk. Pour into crust. Place pan in a larger pan (like a roasting pan, or I used a dutch oven) put an inch or to of water in the pan (don't get it on the cheesecake!). 

This is where it gets tricky. I cooked mine on 375* for about 35 min before I found a website that said NEVER COOK IT THAT HIGH!  so I then turned the oven down to 325 for about 10-15 minutes more. The idea is that when you gently jiggle the pan, the center of the cake will still move, but not be "sloshy" if that makes sense. Another way to check is to put a knife in the center just a little bit and see if it comes out clean.

SO you could try my weird way of making it, or put it on 325* from the beginning and cook it probably 50 min to 1 hour. 

Good luck and good eating.

PS top how you like. The man chose blueberries.

to the man

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

  ps we love you.
pss your getting old.

the boys dream come true

little boy

we've been....

(warning: blog overload. its been too long and I have sooo much to tell you)

First of all, congrats to my manly mountain man husband on his recent kill!

We've spent most of this month in hunting mode. While the man was away a few night camping in the back county, all by himself, with no cell service, and only the bears to hear his cries for help, he also let us tag along quite a few night to "spot" for deer. While it makes things a little less practical for him, we are so glad he happily lets us join in the fun of the season.   This mule deer happens to be one of those deer we spotted with him. And the second time he showed his face around my manly man was his last. Fun for us (and I think a little sad-but that's why I don't hunt...) we were with him for the kill. Very pleasing to the mom (that would be me) the boy was asleep before we butchered him. For those of you who have never taken part in this (I'm assuming that's most) I don't recommend it. its not pretty. Especially if you are the one who is expected to eat it.

Up to this point, Tyson had been practicing (and ruining many a good arrow) to prepare for such a shot that would allow the poor innocent woodland creature to die a quick, humane death. Let me just brag on my husband a minute more....he really and truly is an amazingly talented archer....I just though you should know that.

We've also been:

playing some Jenga

Kind of.

Enjoying the last bit of summer as much as we can

Inspecting Grandpa's company tractors

And last, but not least (okay-least. obviously its a rare occasion we do this)

mowing our pasture lawn

Oh yeah-and throw in hours of cutting and canning deer meat (hey, cheap, organic, free range deer meat...)

and some jerky making.

Now its time to go find some elk....