Meat-Za pizza: Hunk of Meat Monday

Haven't posted for a week. Was out at a family funeral last week.

Back today with the Hunk of Meat Monday Meat-za pizza photos.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

I start with some good old-fashioned pork sausage and fry it up. It is here that I probably should admit that I buy slightly over a pound so I can "taste test" the pork sausage to make sure it is fried to the proper doneness...

Then, while that's cookin', I get out my trusty stone and roll some dough to fit the stone. Just use your favorite dough recipe. It's all good. I even used frozen bread dough, once, when I was out of yeast.

The best way to make sure you get a good, adequately baked crust is to bake it naked for about 8 minutes, until it's just starting to brown.

Then, add the sauce, some dried oregano and basil. Put the cheese on next, whatever your favorite. (I like to get the kind that has about six different cheeses mixed together.) And as much sausage, pepperoni and Canadian bacon as you think the crust can handle!

(The cheese section is for my daughter. She gets extra cheese because she REALLY likes cheese pizza!) Bake for another 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted....and ENJOY!

Dawn

Hunk of Meat Monday

I had a good hunk of meat recipe for today, but I forgot my camera, and to be honest, the best part of this hunk of meat recipe is the photos. Pizza photos. Over-the-top meatza-ized pizza!

So, I guess I will save it for next week. In the meantime, these looked pretty darn good!

Pinke Post: Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Walking with Bacon

Beyer Beware Beef Enchiladas

Gosh, I'm gettin' hungry!

Dawn

So God made a farmer...

This is a YouTube video link I got from a Twitter buddy.

The voice is Paul Harvey's. Powerful words. And they are all true. Judge for yourself...



I have always been proud to work for a farm organization and proud to be a farmer's daughter. But today, I'm walking just a little taller and feeling a little happier. Good place to be on a Friday afternoon, methinks!

Have a happy and safe weekend, and give a farmer an extra thank you this weekend!

Dawn

The things I've learned on Twitter today

When I signed North Dakota Farm Bureau for a Twitter account back in ought-nine, I never expected it to be such a huge part of my daily work routine. The reason I started a Twitter account for NDFB was because I was afraid someone else might snag the @ndfb name, (for instance, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, also known as NDFB. And no, I am not making this up!)
After I started the account, I promptly put it on the backburner. Then, for some reason, about a month later, I checked it and realized @ndfb had at least 20 followers. Well, I could not let that stand. When you have followers, you have to give them something to follow!

So I started tweeting. More than 1,400 tweets and 800+ followers later, I find that "Tweetdeck" helps me  keep track of NDFB tweets and mentions of NDFB tweets and particular trending topics that I want to follow on any given day.

It's all very handy.

But you know, I am amazed on a daily basis what I can learn on Twitter.

I learned a lot about Oprah's vegan challenge a few weeks back.

And just today, I learned that Michelin is making tires with sunflower oil. @jeffreypjacobs, a Michelin marketing guy, sent me a link that explains more.

Or that there is a website dedicated to saving words, in which you can adopt a word, and then must promise to use it frequently. It's called "Save the words" and so I have adopted two words: "blateration," which means to blabber or chatter, which is what I usually find I do on my blog, and "lambition," which is the act of licking or lapping. As a dog owner, I figured I would be able to find many times where I could use lambition, although he's not so much a licker as an attention-seeking shoe stealer.

And that's just the unusual stuff. I also learned a lot about what's happening in all over the country and the state. From icy road conditions in north central North Dakota to the 2010 value of crops grown in North Dakota, the amount of stuff you can learn is amazing.

So if you are into learning all kinds of stuff from all kinds of places, in 140 characters or less, Twitter is a pretty cool place to start.

Dawn

Wordless Wednesday: Can you tell I'm thinking about spring?

(My daughter designed them, I ironed them.)

Dawn

Navigating Quora

Wow! It seems like there is something new all the time when it comes to social media. I set up a Quora account right after I got back from the AFBF convention in Atlanta, then promptly got busy and didn't check in on it until today.

Turns out I couldn't "Quora" as NDFB, so I was blocked! It's kind of funy how, when you realize you are blocked, how much it bugs you that you are blocked, and how you will do whatever you can to get unblocked.

It took me a while to figure out what I needed to do, but now I'm back on track on "reading in" on all kinds of questions and answers. It's pretty cool and a real learning exerience.

One question that I did not see, so I asked, was "What is your definition of a small farm?" I am never sure what people really consider to be small. I mean, I grew up on a farm (back in the old days) that was less than 1,000 acres. So, really, I guess I consider "small" to be 1,000 acres or less. But I understand that everyone's experience is different. So I'm really curious to find out how many definitions of "small" there are.

If you have an opinion, weigh in here, or on Quora.

Dawn

Things I love

Since it's Valentine's Day, I thought it seemed like a good idea to share some of the things I love. Maybe love is too strong a word for some of them. Maybe "intensely like" is better. Here is an eclectic list of my "intense likes," as they randomly come to me.

Laughter. I like to laugh. I not ashamed to admit that at my advanced age, I STILL am a fan of America's Funniest Home Videos.

The precious little voice on the other end of the phone that says, "Hi, Mom. Our party starts at about 1, so I'll need the snacks before then." It sounds so very young and cute, it just makes me smile and feel all warm inside.

The way my daughter's little ponytail swishes back and forth when she walks.

The "You look like you could use a hug, Mom," statement (because I will NEVER turn down one of those) after a long day.

My son's impersonation of Jack Sparrow.

How my son gives his sister an impromptu hug for no other reason than he's a sweet kid.

The way the dog freezes and tries to look invisible when I catch him with a shoe or sock he should not have.

My hall tree bench that my husband spent hours staining because I didn't want to trip on shoes in the mud room anymore. And I don't. And the dog is getting desperate.

The "What should I cook you for supper?" question my husband asks periodically.

Recalling misspoken words my kids said when they were younger. Things like "brefix" (for breakfast) and "munch" (for mulch) and "couples" (for corn pops). We still say "bed night snack" instead of bed time snack. Anything else just seems wrong.

Technology. I love all the technology at my fingertips that I get to work with that I didn't have when I started my job in the stone age!

Social media is an awesome tool for an introvert who can express herself much better in the written word than in person. (Besides, I learn a lot from a diverse group of people.)

A good steak, a hunk of multi-grain bread from Bread Poets and a glass of wine!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dawn

Act your age!

"You know, you AREN'T 30 anymore!" That's Rational Me chastising Oblivious Me. For some reason, I had this thing in my head that made me think I haven't really aged in almost 20 years. I'm not sure what they call that (delusional is probably appropriate) but it wasn't until last year that Rational Me (RM) started pointing out some stuff to Oblivious Me (OM).

I first heard RM's determined little voice when I went to the doctor for a routine appointment and the nurse told me my pants had gotten longer. By almost half and inch. Actually, what she said was "5 feet 5 and a half inches." OM scoffed. No way! I have been 5 feet 6 inches since I was a freshman in high school. She's out of her mind. But RM kept working on me, and pretty soon, I realized that OM had moved to a new address and only visits once in a while.

Now, RM's voice is pretty strong. My knees ache. My stomach gurgles. I can't for the life of me open a jar of sauerkraut. I have to have my son reach stuff in the cupboards for me. And I forget stuff. A lot of stuff.

For instance. I lost a battery charger for my video camera approximately 24 hours after I purchased it. And that charger was a replacement for the one I apparently left in Atlanta, Georgia when I was there during the big freeze in early January.

I didn't realize I had lost the second charger until the battery that was on the camera started flashing that it was almost out of juice. I reached into the bag to get the charger and spare battery. (I should mention that this was almost two weeks AFTER I used the camera and the newly purchased charger at the NDFB YF&R Leadership Conference at the Seven Seas in Mandan.) After minor cursing and a frantic call to the motel, RM said, "If you would have remembered that you forgot, maybe you could have gotten that charger, that you only used one time, back. But after two weeks, you better just consider it toast and buy ANOTHER one."

And that's just the most expensive, recent, example of the stuff I have forgotten, because naturally, I don't remember what else I have forgotten.

Now, if I could only remember to act my age! : )

Dawn

Who IS this young man?

My son was standing next to me in the bathroom as I was performing my nightly herding-to-bed routine, and I caught our reflections in the mirror. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with one of those "where did the time go?" feelings.

Here was my first-born baby, standing a good four inches taller than me and handsome as the dickens.

How did this happen? How did the little kid who used to say, "Owbie!" (meaning "owie") when he didn't want to eat his peas.....

Bug, as I still affectionately call him, at just a year!

...turn into a 13-year-old who loves rock music from my era, helps his sister do her spelling words and constantly amazes me with what he can accomplish with a piece of cardboard and lots of duct tape?



And on his 13th birthday!























Someone once told me that whatever age your kids are, you think that is the best it could ever be. I agree completely. They are a joy at EVERY age.

I wouldn't have traded one minute of any of it. It just wish it wouldn't go so darn fast!!

Dawn

Bully

It's National Stop Bullying Day.

Last night on the local news, one of the reporters had several students -- girls -- talking about bullying and the things that happen to them in middle school. My ears perked up, because I have a middle school kid. You can read the story here. A comment one of the girls made particularly resonated with me..."A name calling might not be that bad to somebody but might really hurt somebody else`s feelings. It depends on who you are."

I thought that was a really insightful comment from someone so young. And something that a lot of us could try to remember when we are dealing with other people, no matter what our age.

We aren't all the same. Words and actions can hurt. And when we see that our words or actions are hurting someone, we should stop. It's simple respect.

Although I don't remember being bullied as a kid, I still remember what it was like seeing other kids taunted and bullied. I felt sorry for those kids, but I probably didn't do as much as I could for fear of being bullied as well. I do remember that feeling of being stuck, helpless, wanting to help but being afraid to help. It's not a fun place to be. Back then, there wasn't the awareness there is today. Or the Internet, and there are some really great resources on the Internet.

I found a great site that I think both parents and kids can learn from. It's called Stop Bullying Now, and is a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Health Resources and Services Administration. Kids can watch webisodes, take quizzes, ask experts even read blogs. The parents section has a wealth of information as well. I plan to share this with my family and hope you will too.

Dawn

The Old Gray Ghost

This morning, I stepped into -16 degree weather to start the old Jeep for my husband, who is perpetually running late because he's not a morning person. It protested, but by gosh, the old bomb started.

The windshield wipers were frozen to the windshield. I found a scraper and released them from their icy straight jacket, then scraped the rest of the windshield. It was then that I realized how much I love the old gray ghost.

Oh, I've complained about that old Jeep on several occasions -- usually when it left me stranded somewhere -- and even gone so far to call it names like "piece of crap" and "hunk of junk." But to be honest, the Old Gray Ghost still has a spot in my heart. Even though I tell my husband to get rid of it when it breaks down yet again, I hope he never listens to me (and I'm pretty sure he won't) because I would probably get all sad and sentimental, even though I put on a tough face.

Old Gray is a 1993 Wrangler 5-speed;  a teen boy's dream. (I know, because I had more than one teenage boy tell me what a cool Jeep I had). But it isn't the cool factor that really resonates with me.

My uncle, bless his heart, taught me how to drive. Old Gray taught me how to drive a stick shift. Several years ago, I burned  out Old Gray's clutch in downtown Fargo and had to leave it there to get a new clutch installed. That was kind of the last straw for me in the reliability department.

Shortly thereafter, I got a Jeep Liberty, which I have yet to name. I don't get teenage boys telling me how cool my ride is anymore, but I haven't been left by the side of the road. Yet.

And Old Gray will always hold a special place in my heart that I don't think the yet unamed Jeep will. So when Old Gray just won't drive another inch, it just may have to become part of some kind of back yard Jeephenge or something!

Dawn

Shoe-in (The wonder of a hall tree bench)

Before the hall tree bench. Those are all MY shoes, by the way!!!!

Hall tree bench placed and full of shoes.

The Springer's initial response.

Should I feel guilty? Am I mean for denying him my shoes? Nah!!! He got an extra rawhide bone out of the deal. (Not pictured here.) And he still manages to snag a shoe once in awhile if I don't get them put away quick enough! So don't feel sad for this Springer! He's spoiled rotten!

Dawn

The great moo-tivator

I am guilt-ridden.

I just posted an article on North Dakota Values in the Food IQ section about how people need to drink more milk and eat more dairy products. And now, I feel compelled to make a HUGE confession.

I don't drink milk.

I am not proud of this fact. I hate to even admit it. I wish I DID drink milk, but it's one of those foods that doesn't agree with me for some reason. I'm not even good at chocolate milk. It makes my stomach hurt worse than plain milk.

So I struggle with the whole calcium requirements that old ladies like me need to deal with. (Can you say, "Hello osteoporosis!!!") I take a multi-vitamin each day (when I remember, which, surprisingly, at my advanced age, is most of the time), and I love my yogurt, ice cream and cheese. I like cottage cheese a lot, but it turns out it has just slightly more calcium than a serving of collards, and to be honest, I had to do an Internet search to find out what collards are, because I don't think I've ever eaten the big, green, leafy things before. At least not knowingly.

The point is, keeping my calcium intake at the right level would be SO much easier if I just drank milk. Worse yet, I'm afraid my lack of milk drinking has negatively influenced my daughter. She drinks milk. It DOESN'T make her stomach hurt, but it isn't her beverage of choice. So I'm not asking anymore, at supper, "What do you want to drink?" I just pour milk in her glass and don't say anything.

But guilt is a great moo-tivator for me. Once I realized how little milk my daughter was drinking, I told myself I can't be one of those "Do as I say, not as I moo," types.

So I tried drinking soy milk. It doesn't make my stomach hurt, but I find that I don't think about drinking it, much less buying it, mostly out of habit. It's SO hard to change habits!


Now that my dairy guilt is top of mind again, at least today, I found myself actively searching out dairy products at lunch time. I managed to chow down 35 percent of my daily calcium requirement. Add that to the 10 percent I had for breakfast, and I'm almost half-way to my daily total!

What will the rest of the day bring? I won't be eating supper at home tonight, because we're going to be serving at a "banquet" at one of the churches in town, but if I take my vitamin with me, I am assured that I will have at least 35 percent MORE of my daily total, which has me right at the 80 percent mark.

Oofta! I'm worn out just trying doing the math on this calcium thing! And tomorrow, I start all over again.

I gotta tell you, this guilt stuff is an exhausting e-moo-tion! So just drink your milk!

Dawn

Wordless Wednesday: Field of dreams

Why I trust

I am lucky. I'm a farm girl. Well, I was for at least 18 years of my life.

I grew up on a farm. I lived around cattle. I saw the circle of life. Farmers and ranchers were part of my daily life. I got to grab a handfuls of wheat after harvest and chew it into my own chewing gum. I watched my father trying to save a cow after she had prolapsed. I saw a lot of respect and kindness for animals on the farm, even when the animals were ornery or downright mean. (A Charolais bull that broke my dad's ribs comes to mind.) I saw a lot of long hours and dedication to their jobs of providing food and fiber to people of this country and the world. I got to see and experience it.

That is probably why I have such a strong trust in American farmers and ranchers.

A lot of people are not so lucky. They have never been to a farm. They don't understand food production. They just buy stuff at the store. And sometimes, they distrust, because they do not know. And what they don't know, scares them. Or allows them to believe half-truths and outright fallacies.


I just found out that there is a movie coming out in May that purports to link most degenerative diseases to eating meat and processed foods. And there will be a bunch of people who nod their heads and say, "Yeah! Right on! We need to stop all people from eating meat!"

I won't be one of them. I don't trust this agenda. I trust farmers and ranchers.
Do I eat processed foods? Yes. Do I eat meat? Every day. Do I think I am unhealthy or that the possibility of dementia in my future will be because of eating either? Nope.

What ever happened to personal responsibility? To moderation? To free will? People are looking for quick fixes, looking for something (or someone) to blame, but they aren't thinking critically and they aren't taking personal responsibility. And there is a mob mentality to it all. "If I don't eat meat, you shouldn't either."

Why? I mean, I don't push beef or chicken on vegetarians. I respect their choice. Why is my choice not respected as well?

And if you say it's because I'm ill-informed, well, I could say the same to you. But then again, because I respect your choice, I probably won't.

I believe one size doesn't fit all. And I'm glad to have the abundant choices we have in this country whether its processed, processed organic, local, processed local, or whatever the food word of the week may be.

I don't think it's a big conspiracy. I don't think anyone is out to get me. I trust and respect American farmers and ranchers and our food production system.

But don't take my word for it! Spend time on a farm. Find out for yourself. You'll definitely get an education!

Dawn