Food, Feathers and Fur: Cooking and Critters from the Farm at Cricket Meadow

By Julianne J. Johnson

This collection of essays is a heartwarming look at country living with a variety of birds and animals and savoring the bounty of the annual harvest from the garden, field and forest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jun 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665744249

Julianne J. Johnson

A fifth generation daughter of the land, Juli looks back at the early days on her parents’ farm. Though it’s just a distant memory now, the life she lived there and those she shared it with have grounded her with deep roots in the soil of her childhood home.

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 Julianne J. Johnson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

844-669-3957

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-4423-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-4422-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-4424-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023909126

Archway Publishing rev. date: 06/07/2023

Contents

Introduction

March Remedy

– Spring Fever Blueberry Muffins

Manic March

– Aunt Selma’s Spring Garden Molded Salad

A Sunny Birthday

– Cakewalk Mock Angel Food

Elusive Spring

– Vegetable Beef Soup with Dumplings

March in the Meadow

– Herb Garden Dill Bread

Chicken-House Politics

– The Coop Egg Salad

Whitey’s Nine Lives

– Ice-Breaker Polka-Dot Cookies

Hunting Morels

– Woodland Morels on Toast

Pond Watchers

– Spring Green Avo Pesto Pasta

Spring Comes to the Meadow

– Rhubarb Custard Dessert

Ruger Makes Six

– People Puppy Chow

Kitty Litter

– Cat’s Meow Banana Bread

Cat’s in the Cradle

– Kitty Kibble

Mother Hens

– Cricket Meadow Oven French Toast

Spring Checkup

– White Mountain Banana Cake

Special Delivery

– Cricket Meadow Custard Rice

Ramp It Up

– Ramps and Morels with Linguine

A Guinea Goodbye

– Blackberry Burst Bundt Cake

Losing Lily

– Ruger’s Treats (for dogs)

Rooney’s Road Trip

– Breakfast-on-the-Road Granola

Apache’s Arrival

– Yeehaw Cowboy Cookies

Caprine Therapy

– Rule-the-Roost Mud Hen Bars

Butchering Chickens

– Homestyle Chicken Pot Pie

Perennial Heirlooms

– Garden Mint Peach Iced Tea

Missoula Misery

– Sick-as-a-Dog Chicken Soup

June in the Meadow

– Rhubarb Crumb Coffeecake

The Disappearance of Jeremy

– Cat Tracks

Woodland Woodpeckers

– Herb Garden Dip

Free-Falling

– Be-Flexible Green Drink

The Garden of the Goose

– Herb Garden Bouquet

Pet Cemetery

– Dead Spread

In a Jam

– Million-Dollar Strawberry Jam

Wild-Berry Picking

– Wild Black Raspberry Cobbler

Farmyard Overhaul

– Farmhouse Butterhorn Rolls

In a Pickle

– Blue-Ribbon Garlic Dills

The Joy of Geraniums

– Candied Flowers

The Benefits of Barter

– Cricket Meadow Grilled Red-Onion Burgers

Going Batty

– Bump-in-the-Night Irish Coffee

Rabid Raccoon

– Remembering Rocky Rhubarb Pie

Herb Garden Harvest

– Fresh Tomato-Basil Sauce

Piccalilli Process

– Piccalilli

Puppy Love

– Cinnamon Peanut Butter Puppy Chow

A Fatty Coon Moon

– Harvest Moon Pumpkin Bars

Black Walnut Blues

– Black Walnut Raisin Cookies

Herbal Heaven

– Herb Garden Pesto

Crickets

– Autumn Haze

Tenth Month

– Walnut-Raisin Pie

Fall-iday Feelings

– Fall-iday Caramel French Toast

Autumn Ride

– Harvest Time Apple Dumplings

Fall Cleanup

– Fall Garden Root-Vegetable Soup

Uncle Joe’s Crows

– Garden Harvest Stuffed Pumpkin

Smokey Sightings

– Black Bear-y Muffins

Skunked!

– Black-and-White Cookies

Millions of Mice

– Chocolate Mice

Pheasant Frenzy

– Ditch Chicken Casserole

Autumnal Ambience

– Root-Cellar Soup

Harvest Harmony

– Farm-Style Corn Pudding

Farm-Ease

– Windfall Apple Crisp

Beekeeper’s Bounty

– Meadow Clover Power Bar

Trigger-Happy

– Butterfinger Angel Food Cake

Free-Range Thanksgiving

– Cricket Meadow Turkey Soup

– Farmer’s Croutons

The Smell of Winter

– Snow Mountain Cinnamon Buns

Treasures in the Attic

– Gingerbread Men

Christmas Trees I Have Known

– Scandinavian Rice Pudding

Running with the Big Dogs

– Winter-White Chili

Tucker the Rescue Goat

– Friendship (for Life) Bars

Winter Wildlife

– Winter Warm-Up Beef Stew

Winter Wonderland

– Chill-Chasin’ Chili

Snow Scene Bird-Watching

– Cornbread for the Birds

– Cornbread for Us

A Frosty Moonlight Trek

– Cocoa-Java Warmer

Backyard Snow Show

– Real Cocoa

Winter Workout

– Woodland Meadow Caramel Rolls

Searching for Owls

– Prairie Farm Sausage Sauerkraut Soup

Coyote Crazy

– Meat-Eater Pot Roast

Opossum Occupation

– Rise-and-Shine Oatmeal Scones

Residency of the Rats

– Henhouse Club Sandwich

Good Riddance, Gus

– Blue-Moon White-Cloud Dessert

Winter Workout

– Pioneer Kitchen Cookies

Cycles on the Farm

– Morning Wake-Up Coddled Eggs

Book Club Bonding

– The Sisterhood Angel Pie

Loss in the Barnyard

– Life-Is-Loss Bread Pudding

The Incomparable Ruger

– Pawprint Bars

Introduction

Spring is here and in full swing at Cricket Meadow; my grandkids are here too. There is no better place than wide-open spaces for little ones to romp and play, and I savor each minute of their visit. They love the animals, and Lucia, almost five, lately has been learning the rules of horsemanship. Next up, eager to learn, Oliver and Esmé. The days are packed with activity, and when night falls, they fall asleep standing up. From flying kites to mushroom-hunting; picking eggs and herbs, rhubarb and wildflowers; feeding the birds; and feeding ourselves with hot dogs roasted in the firepit, the possibilities for entertainment are endless, if you love the out- of-doors. It seemed the appropriate time to give the downside of outdoor life a bit of exposure. This past weekend, we discussed the possibility of picking up a wood tick or two (or ten) as we explored the tall grasses near the woods. This led us to the plants that could cause a problem, like the stinging nettle and poison ivy. With all of the wildflower-picking that went on, we covered the bushes and pointed out all the berries we can eat and those we cannot. Bugs are fine to examine but best to stay away from the hives to avoid bee stings. While we enjoy picking dandelions, we decided to leave those golden beauties near the hives so the bees can enjoy them. Honeysuckle is delicious to sniff but encounters with prickly ash nearby can be traumatic. Wild violets are abundant on the paths through the woods, but it takes an armload to make a bouquet.

Trails sometimes are underwater in early spring, so a trip around the woods looking for ramps or wild onions can be difficult with a small utility vehicle. Best to don rubber boots and splash while we walk. Mr. and Mrs. Goose are fiercely protecting their nest by the edge of the field. They really don’t want to be petted.

I’m a child again with mud on my clothes and sugar on my nose. There is time to bake a cake, eat the dough, squeeze a mountain of lemons to make lemonade, stir up a fluffy batch of waffles for breakfast, and eat popcorn while watching a movie. We have an attic full of toys for when rain comes our way and bedtime storybooks from the good old days. All the things I loved as a child and did with my own children—but forgot in the blur—are here at my fingertips or in my arms, when the grandkids come. And I’m savoring every minute.

Lucia%20in%20a%20twirl.jpg

Lucia in a twirl

Oliver%20in%20the%20Gator%20looking%20at%20Apache%20and%20her%20mother%2c%20Cherokee.jpg

Oliver in the Gator looking at Apache and her mother, Cherokee

63181.png57804.png

March Remedy

After all these years, you’d think I’d know better. But flip the calendar to March, and I’m thinking spring. However, we can count on at least a few more weeks of our longest season in these parts. Another huge heating bill, more icy sidewalks, more snow to shovel. As my father-in-law used to say, I wouldn’t give you a nickel for March! Does complaining help? Not enough. What does help is replacing winter greens and pinecones with vibrant yellow daffodils, leafing through seed catalogs, heaping the coffee table with stacks of gardening books, brewing a pot of iced tea, removing dark woven tablecloths, and draping lacey pastel prints everywhere.

Lighten up to brighten up. For me, reading a treasured old book, Garden Adventures in Winter by Clara Ingram Judson, is a favorite way to survive winter. Long ago out of print, this little book was a gift to my mother from her aunt Ruth in 1923. The binding is worn out, clearly indicating that it has been a favorite for many years, a delightful children’s story for kids of all ages.

There are lovely drawings, some black-and-white, some in color, but my favorite one is on the cover. Here, a beautiful blue jay swoops over a stone wall where a cozy cottage is nestled among tall trees. Knowing the story as I do, I know that this bird is a friend of Foxy Squirrel, Tommy Tittlemouse, and Chickadee. When Billy Robin is back after a long winter, there is great joy among the little creatures, since that is a sure sign that spring has arrived. And then, there came a time when the sun shone brightly for several days in a row. The cold north wind hid away somewhere, and the gentle south wind blew up to make a call on the garden. As there was now food enough for all, everyone had a beautiful time. My sentiments exactly.

Spring Fever Blueberry Muffins

Makes 1 dozen

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1 egg

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1 1/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups blueberries

coarse raw sugar

In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

Beat in egg. Stir in melted butter and sour cream.

Gently fold in berries.

Drop batter by spoonfuls into greased muffin cups. Sprinkle coarse raw sugar over tops of each.

Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Manic March

I have always hated March, despite the fact that I was born in this month of wild mood swings. I remember my birthday, the twenty-ninth, being a random mix of snowstorms, rain showers, freezing drizzle, and, once maybe, sunshine and green grass. I have always felt that I had a winter birthday, and it makes me chuckle when I think of my California cousin, who thought her February birthday was a spring birthday. That was before she moved to Minnesota. I realize that spring is slow in coming to these parts and that snow has to melt, resulting in mud season. It is so hard to be patient after a long winter. I want to snap my fingers and be out in shorts and sandals. But this morning, the first day of spring, according to my calendar, as I did my outdoor chores, I witnessed all kinds of spring signs. The birds chirping optimistically, chickens pecking in the dirt, water running off the barn roof in a steady stream, the smell in the air—it all reminded me that in a few weeks, I will have forgotten that there were no buds on the trees or daffodils in bloom or green grass to stretch out on. Every day we are a step closer to the most glorious time, when we can scratch in the dirt ourselves and plant those tender seedlings. Spring is definitely worth waiting for.

Aunt Selma’s Spring Garden Molded Salad

Makes 6 to 8 servings

1 (3-ounce) package lemon gelatin

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 cup diced cucumbers

1 cup diced celery

1/2 cup chopped green onion

1 cup sliced radishes

1 cup diced green pepper

fresh greens and parsley sprigs

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water, stirring till syrupy.

In a separate bowl, blend sour cream and mayonnaise together, then add the gelatin to that. Chill till slightly thickened. Stir in vegetables.

Pour into a 5-cup mold. Refrigerate to set.

Unmold and serve over fresh greens and parsley sprigs.

A Sunny Birthday

In my world, growing up and heretofore, we don’t just celebrate birthdays but birth-weeks—at least. Sometimes it’s more like birth-months. The celebration just simply goes on and on. A birthday breakfast stretches to a lunch, then dinner, with parties thrown by both sides of the family flanking the week and then stretching to the next week. Or two. It’s great fun to see how many miles you can get out of a simple birthday. My mom started it. She, no doubt, learned the art from my grandma. At any rate, it makes one feel