Happy 1st Birthday Butternut

One year ago my parents took a trip to the States and I was in charge of the animals.  I knew Jenny was pregnant and due around November/December.  I went to the back and gave the horses some hay.  I saw a brown thing in the pen and didn't quite process what it was and kept feeding the animals.  I finally went back and looked really closely and saw a foal.  I was quite surprised, but could tell the foal was really healthy.  I phoned my parents, even though there were in the States, and gave them the news.  We had a contest to  name the foal and she was given the name Butternut.

Butternut.  Born July 15, 2012

 

 

Jenny and Spud.  Mom and Dad.

The 5 W's of Jelly and Jam.

I like making jelly, jams, and relishes and I'm constantly experimenting with new flavors.  I sell my jellies, jams, and relishes on the home yard and at the Pineridge Farmers' Market. Jelly is a clear, like jello consistency, sweet spread.  Jam has fruit in it and is thick.

 A common question I get is what can you do with jelly.  There are a lot of different ways to use jelly:

• Spread it on toast, buns, bagels, etc.
• Warm it up and pour it on cream cheese and than spread on crackers or bagels.
• Warm it up til it becomes runny and use it as  a syrup on pancakes.
• Use it as a glaze on meats. (Pineapple Mint Jelly on ham or Mint Jelly on lamb).
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• Make a fresh fruit pizza (spread jelly on crust and than spread some cream cheese and layer on fruit).

The jellies, jams, and relishes I make are:

Orange Mint Jelly: Tastes like Orange Soda.
Pineapple Mint Jelly: A taste of the Tropics.
Apple Cinnamon Jelly: Delicious.  Tastes like the red heart candies you get at Valentine's Day.
Apple Mint Jelly: Taste of apples in a spread.
Jalapeno Jelly: Hot, but not to hot.  Perfect for that next party.  Warm it up and pour it on some cream cheese.  Serve it with a variety of crackers.
Hot Cherry Bomb Jelly.  Is a really hot pepper jelly
A Mint of Everything Jelly: Apple, Pineapple, and Orange melded together.
Mint Jelly: A classic jelly.

Orange Rhubarb Jam: A milder version of Orange Marmalade.
Rhubarb Jam: A nice jam for your toast.

Sweet Zucchini Relish: My most popular relish.  When people try it, they usually buy it.
Sweet Cucumber Relish: All I can say is 100% better than the store version.

I hope to make the follow this summer:
-Chocolate Mint Jelly
-Strawberry Jam
-Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
-Grape Jelly

Stop by the Penner Pumpkin Veggie and Gift Shop or at the Pineridge Farmers' Market to pick some up.

Lorissa Penner

Penner Pumpkins Veggie and Gift Shop now open

Veggie and Gift Shop now open
Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 6 pm
Fridays 10 am to 9 pm
Saturdays at Pineridge Hollow's Farmers' Market from 9 am to 1 pm.

For sale:
-Lettuce
-Tomatoes
-Cucumbers
-Beets
-Make your own flower bouquet
-Herbs
-Zucchini
-Sweet Spanish onions
-and other vegetables as they the season progresses
-Jams, jellies, and relishes
-Playdough
-Handmade cards
-knick knacks

I would highly recommend you try the Orange Mint Jelly (tastes a bit like Orange Cream Soda), the Pineapple Mint Jelly, and the Apple Cinnamon Jelly (tastes like the red heart candies at Valentines).  The Orange Rhubarb Jam tastes amazing and has a slightly less orangy taste than Orange Marmalade.  People who try the Sweet Zucchini usually end up buying a jar or two.

In the Gift Shop we have a table filled with cow and corn knick knacks.  Also we have a surprise box.  You'll have to visit us to find out what the surprise is.

For large vegetable orders please phone Shirley at 204-371-5556

Directions: We are located near Steinbach. On Highway 311 EAST, towards Giroux, 2 3/4 mile and we are on the North side.



Lorissa Penner

June Review

I try to post every Wednesday and Saturday on this blog and that has not happened.  It has been quite the June.  First I blew the tire on my mom's van, than the engine on my car went, and than we thought the engine on the 1967 truck went, but thankfully it was just the water pump.

Next to go (bite the dust) was my cellphone and than my laptop. The last two things to go in June were the tent we use at the Farmers' Market and the battery pack.

Hopefully July will be a better month and nothing else breaks.  Also hopefully I will soon have a new laptop and than I can keep on writing posts every Wednesday and Saturday.

As they say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  Or in my world when life gives a ton of mint, make mint jelly.

Animals are a good stress relief.

Lorissa

Communal Cats

My dad once exclaimed "What kind of farm do you have? Is this the funny farm"? The name has stuck. Our cats fit really well in the Funny Farm. We use to have a cat that would steal other cats kittens. We would look down our driveway and there she would be a kitten swinging from her mouth. This cat also once nursed a bunny and she thought it was one of her kittens.

We also had two cats share kittens. These cats were best friends so they would lie together with each of their four kittens. It was a really strange sight.

Recently two of our cats each had a litter of kittens. One of the cats kittens died so she decided she was going to kittennap from the other mom. She would sneak in to where the kittens were playing, lie down, and start purring. The kittens would run up to her and she would lick them all and start walking away. She would call the kittens to follow her. I kept taking the kittens away from her so she finally decided she would just join the other mom. So the kittens have two moms raising them.

The two moms: Princess (white one), FleckHead, and the three kittens.

Lorissa

The Second Market of the Season June 22

The weather for Saturday doesn't look to promising: Periods of rain and a high of 21.  As a gardener and having groups coming down to the The Scarecrow Forest I tend to watch the forecast like a hawk and one thing I've noticed is that the forecast always changes.  It might be sunny on Saturday, you never know.  Penner Pumpkins tent bite the dust last market so if I can find another tent or have the old one fixed than Penner Pumpkins will be at the market.

I will be selling:

• Rhubarb
• Lettuce
• A couple of pounds of green tomatoes.  The tomatoes are starting to ripen, but the first few always get put to use as Toasted Tomato sandwiches at the Penner house.
• A few zucchini
• Jelly (orange mint, pineapple mint, apple mint, apple cinnamon, jalapeno, hot cherry bomb, a mint of everything, and mint).
• Sweet Zucchini Relish
• Sweet Cucumber Relish
• Handmade cards
• Play dough
• Potted herbs (Sweet Basil, Lemon Basil, Lime Basil, 8 varieties of mint, Cinnamon Basil, Lemon Thyme, etc.).  Check out this blog post for more varieties.
• Potted Tomato Plants (Cherry, Big Beef, Applause, and Early Girl).
• Potted Pepper Plants (Ace, Yellow, Red, and Purple).

Hope to see you Saturday!

Lorissa working in the garden.  This is our small 0.3 acre garden.  We have another two gardens for a total of about 5.3 acres.

This was used in the Steinbach Parade a few years ago.

Lorissa Penner

Minty mint

My favorite herb is mint and I grow 9 varieties of mint and am always looking for new varieties.  There are over 600 hundred varieties of mint.  I love making tea with mint using a tea infuser and my favorite combo is chocolate mint and orange mint, delicious.  If you like a sweeter tea trying adding a fresh Stevia leaf.
I also love making jelly with mint and experimenting with different flavors.  Mint can be used in so many different ways and that is why I love this herb.  Mint is invasive and hence should be grown in pots so you won't have a garden of mint.  Instead of secretly leaving zucchini on your neighbor's doorstep, you will be leaving mint leaves.  My mint plants are $3.25 a pot and my jellies are $3.50/125 ml and $6.50/250 ml.

The varieties of mint I grow are:

Apple Mint – Tall sturdy stems with large, fuzzy, grey-green leaves that smell slightly of apple and has white flowers in summer.

Chocolate Mint – This herb has a dark, green foliage. It tolerates hot, dry conditions and is not as invasive as most mints. A nice desert mint! 

Ginger Mint – Is an ornamental and aromatic mint, with lightly variegated leaves and a delicate hint of ginger. Performs best with protection from hot, afternoon sun.

Peppermint – The most famous of all mints, it requires little care and makes excellent teas and candy. This spreading plant has a sharp, penetrating yet pleasant, mint aroma. It grows 1 to 2 feet high,

Pineapple Mint – Is a very pretty mint and has variegated foliage and a light pineapple scent. Pineapple mint can be used with lamb, fruit salads, and teas. Works well in mixed pots with other herbs.

Spearmint – One of the most intensely fresh mints, milder than peppermint, it is used in sauces, jellies, salads, dips, and teas. This is considered one of the most popular and versatile garden Mint. Spearmint has a fruity aroma and flavor and blends well in many foods.

Orange Mint-  Has a citrusy aroma and flavor, and is slightly spicier than other mints. It makes a wonderful addition to iced tea, fruit desserts, and potpourris. 

English Mint- Has a mild mint taste.  Is really good with meat dishes. 

Mint Mojito

Lorissa