A Day at the Smithfield Farmers Market in Smithfield Virginia

Hello all this Saturday was the kick off to a new season at the Smithfield Farmers Market in Smithfield Virginia. We were so excited that we were excepted into the market this year. We had our wonderful soaps Leaf Love Soaps. Baked goods, and of course Farm Fresh eggs from our farm It's All About #9 Farms. We had 24 dozen eggs to market this week. 

I had homemade maple glazed cinnamon buns which are amazing. I use organic flour, real butter, homemade organic Tahitian vanilla beans vanilla extract. All the best ingredients. They were quite a big hit.

Look at how beautiful they turned out before frosted. Colten had wished that I didn't sell anything so I could bring home what didn't sell. I told him I would be giving them away and that he really didn't need all those yummies. He has quite the sweet tooth.

A close up of the maple goodness.

I love hearing all the outstanding stories that the shoppers share with you, one that made me happy was telling me about how her mother used to make these same cinnamon rolls when she was a child. Memories really are the BEST!! Thank you everyone for the wonderful stories and keep them coming.

I also had homemade these amazing hot cross buns which I used cardamom. Lucky I had my sweet daughter in law Kim who picked up the spice for me which she was amazed at how expensive the spice was. I had it but apparently I used it up and didn't replace it. Thank you Kim!!

Everything was packaged and ready for market by Friday afternoon. Fresh for the market.

The eggs were ready and packed for the market early Saturday morning. We left the house at 6:30 am.

I had homemade pecan pies with homemade crust. Which they all sold out immediately.

I also had my blueberry cobbler, which if you would also like to make I have shared the recipe before. Go HERE. Which these also went fast. You never know what someone will want. I just made the goodies that are my specialties. This year I am hoping for a big blueberry crop. I will need these for the markets. 

Sinful Treats was beside us. Mmmmm those cupcakes are so beautiful and smell amazing!! Her whole design is beautiful. The coconut lime was calling my name!!! 

Shoppers arrived early despite the freezing temperatures. I am so ready for spring to begin! See everyone has on coats. I was frozen I had on four layers too. A scarf and a hat.

The clouds moved in my mid morning making it seem even colder. Sunshine is always warmer even if the temps are lower. The shoppers still came! Yay! I certainly enjoyed talking with everyone. On our way home it did snow a few flurries.....but that will tell you how cold it was.

There were many many furry friends too.

Wanted to share that my May peas are up despite those extremely low temps of as low as 3 degrees. I have four long rows the wire is there to keep my chickens from scratching at them.

I made this collage frame for the table so that everyone can see how amazing my chickens are!!! 

Of course we had lots of soap too! Check out my other blog too www.leaflovesoaps.blogspot.com
 

Until next time..... Meet me at the Farmers Market.

 

There will be 67 vendors this Saturday from 9am-1pm. This week is another Craft market too so a lot of the vendors have crafty goodness!!! 

Hope to see you there! 

Have a great week!!!!! 

Stay artful and buy local!

Cyber Hugs,

Dawn Gallop 

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Jewelry, Jewelry, Jewelry and more Jewelry to Share

Hello well its Tuesday and I am rolling thru some to do lists. One was get some of the spices I needed for my camper. Wash rugs, and finish painting some of the bags that I sell with the soap. This beautiful necklace I made awhile back but if you are like me and several projects well more like 10 or sooo if not more going on at once then you know what I mean. I made the bezel then it all started to come together. I get several pieces ready for the resin so when I do pour the rain I have plenty of projects to our the resin into. I love this one! I just love birds so yeah that's probably why I love it! A nest is a beautiful thing too! 

I think it turned out nicely. It is for sale too.

I made these earrings but they sold right away. I love how these turned out too. They are Sterling silver and copper. 

Now let me tell you this one is my favorite!! Of course you know how much I love the beach, well this says it all. The driftwood I found on the beach one morning early. I metal stamped the copper and used resin in the bezels. This is for sale at the Jester's Gallery in Suffolk Virginia.

Here is the necklace at Jester's along with some of the earrings.

The other necklace with the bullet casing.

Here is the bullet casing necklace.

I put it on to show Bruce a pic I sent him. 

Here are some more earrings and a ring too. The copper bracelets.

These are ones I made for myself.

Some more earrings.

Here is another bezel with the resin on an ATC. The card holds a charm.

I'm going to share these later but here is a sample to share.

Here is my jewelry at the Beach Bum note two shelves.

The jewelry looked like so nice.

I'm so happy to be selling my jewelry, usually what I get made sells and then I don't have enough to sell somewhere else. Now I do commit more time for making my jewelry.

Yep Crepes for dinner! Talk about yummy!

Isn't this the cutest!!! Love!!

Empty yourself and let the universe fill you! This was on my tea bag today. The yogi brand. The quote is so beautiful!

Remember to keep swimming believe in yourself and enjoy your journey!

Another watercolor while at the beach fishing. 

Have a great week!!!

Cyber Hugs, 

Dawn Gallop

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Blue Cornmeal Pancakes using Bob's Red Mill ® Blue Cornmeal

Yummy!!!! Oh my goodness! All I can tell you is amazing! I had seen a recipe on Allrecipes.com and it got me wanting to make them for my family. I have the app on my phone for the Allrecipes.com everyday they have new featured recipes and also it helps with meal planning and shopping needs.  My boys all love pancakes no matter what kind, well I take that back I make cornmeal pancakes with corn in them and my picky eaters will not eat them. Won't even try them! Uhhhmmm! I won't mention any names! 

I'm sure if you know my boys you know which ones they are, LOL!!! Well it all started from those pancakes I saw on Allrecipes.com  (recipe HERE)to me ordering off of Amazon. When it arrived I had bought the four pack so we will be making these quite often. Others had even said they used the recipe off of the package on Bob's so I used that too. 

This is the box I bought with the four packages. Bob's has the BEST in specialty products, I say specialty because you just can't go everywhere and find them. I looked several places for this after I ordered it to no avail. My pantry literally looks like a Bob's shelf in a grocer. Hahahaha!

I do have a lot! They are such wonderful products. Thanks Bob's. 

Of course as I said before I had quadruple the recipe. I had two plates of these wonderful pancakes. Now that I have made these I will be experimenting with some variations, I did however add homemade vanilla extract about two teaspoons. 

I also made scrambled eggs (which I have no shortage of eggs) topped with hand shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese. Scrambled in my favorite 12" Lodge pan. Which we all love! The boys love them because I clean them, which they are able to escape when it comes to kitchen duty after dinner every night.

This is the corn cob syrup I make every summer. Not corn cob jelly but syrup. The family loves it! I will have to share that recipe this summer. 

Like I said no shortage of eggs, LOL!

I had taken this while we had all that snow in February I was going out every hour to refill the waters and pick up eggs because the temps were so low the waters would freeze and I was afraid the eggs would too. We are not used to those brutal temps so don't judge! LOL!! 

 

 

 

 

Blue Cornmeal Pancakes

this recipe is from Bob's Blue Cornmeal bag on the package. You can also PRINT the recipe HERE

• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 3/4 cup Unbleached White All Purpose Flour
• 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1 Egg beaten
• 1 cup Water (boiling hot)
• 1 Tbsp Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 3/4 cup Blue Cornmeal

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix together the blue cornmeal, salt and sugar. Stir in the boiling water until all of the ingredients are wet. Cover, and let stand for a few minutes. In a measuring cup, combine the milk, egg and melted butter. Stir the milk mixture into the cornmeal mixture. Combine the flour and baking powder. Stir into the cornmeal mixture until just mixed. If the batter is stiff, add a little more milk until the batter flows off of the spoon thickly, but smoothly.

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, and grease it with a dab of oil or butter. Use about 2 Tbsp of batter for each pancake. When the entire surfaces of the pancakes are covered with bubbles, flip them over and cook until golden.

 

As I mentioned before I had to quadruple the recipe, which with the boiling water it was a bit too wet so I added about 1/2 cup of flour which was perfect, so incase that happens to you if you also need to make more than the recipe calls for. If you do happen to add too much flour just add more milk a tablespoon at a time.

 

Once again thank you Bob's you can order your Bob's Blue Cornmeal HERE

 

 

Remember to always GROW! Be artful! Be creative! Be a maker! Whatever........continue to GROW~!!

 

I always carry my watercolors with me, along with other stuff.....I made this in my journal back in the fall while at the beach on my deck. ~~~Sweet Memories~~~

 

Cyber Hugs, Dawn Gallop

 

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The Winning Zucchini Recipe at Farm Chicks Produce

 

Well here is the winning recipe from the Farm Chicks Produce, that I submitted last year during their competition. They had many entries and had to narrow it down to four that they then took to a local event and had members vote on the winning bread. Well you guessed it! Mine won! Of course I was thrilled out of my mind!!!! LOL! The rules are you had to submit your recipe for their website if you won. It can be found HERE  . I won a wonderful basket of peaches, and beautiful fresh grown veggies!! I was in heaven!

 

A close up of the wonderful Zucchini Bread.  

Here is beautiful Maddie with the basket I won. Look at all the goodies! Thanks FARM CHICK'S PRODUCE

 

Bruce and I were so thankful for the basket.

The Winning ZUCCHINI RECIPE

 

 

3 eggs 2 cups of sugar 1 cup oil 2 cups grated zucchini 1/2 cup applesauce 3 Tbsp cinnamon 3 cups of flour ( I always use King Arthur Flour) May use 4 of your choice. 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup nuts 1 cup raisins (I usually soak them for an hour before use)

( The nuts and raisins are an optional choice and may be omitted). You can also substitute walnuts and cranberries.

• Cream together sugar and eggs, gradually add other ingredients in order given.  
• Grease and flour two loaf pans.  I add a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon to the bottom and top of the loaf before cooking.  This is optional.  
• Bake for 1 hour at 325.  

Stores well in freezer.  It also bakes well in round cake pans.  It pairs well with cream cheese  too as a breakfast with tea.

 

 

 

Well you all know how many blueberries I have each year....and oh my this was what we picked the night before.

 

See the beautiful blueberries.

I have several blueberry recipes HERE

Here are Dusty and Cooper picking the blueberries, YES I put them to work too! They actually love it!

 

Don't forget about visiting my wonderful soap blog for info on some of my wonderful soaps.

I have 62 handmade recipes that I have created.

Go HERE

 

 

Have a great week!

 

Cyber Hugs,

Dawn Gallop

 

 

 

 

 

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