Category Archives: food

Zucchini relish

Chickens, food, fun, work

I was given two extra-large zucchini to give to our chickens, but I only gave the chickens the inside seeds and scraps. I took the rest and ground it up today with onion and salt. It will sit overnight and tomorrow I will continue with the recipe when I will drain and rinse and drain this mixture and continue making my relish.

Today was enough work with washing up my food processor after using it to grind up the zucchini and onion.

I don’t can much these days. I only do a few things I like that I can’t get anywhere else. Zucchini relish is one of these things.

Now doesn’t that look tasty?

Of course, there’s cleanup. I have to admit some dishes were from our lunch.

The scrap cleanup will be done by the chickens.

When I blog next, I’ll include the complete recipe. Today is just a tease.

Copyright © 2019 Susan Manzke, All rights reserved.

Seymour Glows Tonight!

food, Memories, Odds and ends, Wisconsin

It’s the 31st Annual Burger Fest in Seymour Wisconsin this weekend.

Tonight there will be a hot air balloon glow by Rockledge Park. This will also happen Saturday night. Here are a few photos I’ve taken of past events.

My effort at being creative as the balloons take shape.
Photographer Steve Kemp was in the fire truck basket taking photos from a different angle.
Come be part of the crowd.

Tomorrow is the 8 am Bun run and World’s largest Hamburger Parade at 11. And don’t forget the Ketchup slide at 4.

I’ll be helping in the museum in the afternoon on Saturday. Stop on in.

Copyright © 2019 Susan Manzke, All rights reserved.

Growing flock

Chickens, Farming, food, pets

Our chicks were hatched six weeks ago and have been growing fast ever since.

6 chicks among the rest of the flock
Feathers are still coming in. They are no longer those cute balls of fluff.

These birds are on their own now. Mother isn’t needed. As ‘teenagers’ they think they know everything and are often the last to go in to roost. We just hope that doesn’t make them dinner for local preditors.

Copyright 2019 Susan Manzke — all rights reserved.

Preparations begin

Family, food, Memories, Weather

The coming weekend is our annual Camp Manzke on Sunnybook Farm. All our children and grandchildren will be here at one time or another.

Last year we had cool wet weather. This year we hope for better days and nights.

Camp Manzke 2018

We hope to have a good turnout again in 2019, but will be missing one or two relatives from Illinois. Hoping to see them later this summer.

Now food and needed stuff are being parceled out so we don’t have tons of one thing and not enough of another–a friend went to a potluck picnic once where everyone brought baked beans.

I can’t wait for everyone to arrive. It will be a wild and crazy weekend. I will let you know how it all turns out, eventually.

A weighty topic

food, Odds and ends, review

Most of my adult life I’ve battled my weight. I’ve tried all kinds of diets. Some worked a little, but I couldn’t stick to any. Now I found something that works for me. It’s called intermittent fasting or the 5/2 diet.

Here’s what I do (other people may do it a little different). Two days a week, usually Monday and Thursday, I only eat 500 calories. The other five days I eat a normal diet.

Today I’m fasting. I had a cup of tea and 1/2 a serving of oatmeal for breakfast with a couple of raspberries. At lunch, I made an egg with some green pepper. Supper will be a can of tuna with lettuce–no special sauce. Tomorrow I’ll have toast for breakfast and who knows the rest of the day. I won’t be fasting then.

The Fast Diet book by Dr. Michael Mosley

Yes, fasting can be a pain, but I always figure I can get through one day. It’s like fasting before a medical test. Survivable.

I don’t fuss with my meals when fasting. Why bother for 500 calories. Bob eats leftovers those days, so I just microwave his food and he’s fine.

One great thing about the 5/2 diet is that if I have lunch out with friends, I can always switch my fasting day. Like instead of Thursday, I do Friday.

Yes, I have failed. When my husband was sick and didn’t feel like eating, we tempted him with all kinds of goodies. I did not stick to fasting then. Now I’m trying to lose the pounds I gained over those winter months.

Right now I’m going to go to the kitchen for some ice water. There’s no limit on calorie-free drinks when fasting. Of course, that means more trips to the bathroom.