Wisconsin Barns and Summer Squash Recipe

 August 15, evening light

Hay field along the Poor Farm Road
Barron County

Our shortcut to Barron is to turn right at the chiropractor's office onto the Poor Farm Road, which is a straight shot to Salem Lutheran Church, to Highway 8, or to the Barron Hospital, depending. The Barron County Poor Farm is, or rather was, located just before you get to Barron.

From Chippepedia.org:

"It was 1884 when the County decides they should look after the poor, they bought land and built buildings on the southeast edge of Barron, it was called the poor farm. In 1885 $2000 was appropriated to build the buildings; The Barron County History of 1922 stated that, “Improvements have since been made from time to time until the County now has a pretty modern alms house, adequate barns and sheds, and a well cultivated farm, excellently stocked and admirably equipped.”  - The rest of the brief article can be found HERE.

Tractor and Rake

Same hay field

Different angle, missing out on that golden light

I took the barn photos on the way home from Eau Claire, when we took a slight detour into the lovely, hilly countryside west of Bloomer. It's full of picturesque old barns, beautiful hillsides, and sand mines.

The collage is of produce from our garden. I picked the lavender and dried it in the dehydrator. I had forgotten what a mistake that was. Next time, and I do have another small 'crop' to pick after it blooms, I will pull out the plants and hang them upside down in the corner of the kitchen. I think that will dry them just as well and better preserve the beauty of the blossoms.

Quick and Easy Summer Produce Dinner

Of course, the summer squash and zucchini that we've been waiting for months to taste, come on incredibly suddenly, and in a matter of a few days there's way too much of both. But they do make a tasty, light summer evening meal when combined with peppers and tomatoes fresh from the garden, onion (not from the garden because I have no success with raising onions), garlic, black olives, and a red potato.

Just in case anyone is interested, this is what I tossed together:

Summer Squash, Zucchini, & Tomato Stirfry Recipe:

Smallish yellow crookneck squash (2), cut into chunks
Smallish zucchini (2), cut into chunks
One large onion, cut into chunks
1 fresh green pepper, seeded, cut into chunks
optional: part of a jalapeno, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small red potato, skin on, julienned
1 or two fresh tomatoes, skin on
1 can black olives, drained
Parmesan cheese
Salt, Pepper
McCormick Mediterranean seasoning 
Dash of cayenne (if the jalapeno isn't used)

Actually, I had some leftover beef roast, so I had cut that into thin strips and sauteed them, along with the onion and garlic and pepper(s), in a couple T. olive oil.  When the vegetables were somewhat translucent, I added the other ingredients, except for the seasonings, and stirfried it all together just until the zucchini and squash were hot, slightly cooked, but certainly still having some serious and crucial crunch to them.

Once everything is hot, I sprinkled it with salt and pepper, some Perfect Pinch by McCormick, a wee bit of heat from cayenne, and Parmesan cheese.  I loved it. I don't think that Mr. C. was a huge fan, however. Oh well. I ate the leftovers for lunch the next day. Even better. 

Hog Panel Fencing

for

Theresa's

GOOD FENCES

(on Thursdays)

Also linking to

Judith's

MOSAIC MONDAY 

Sneeze Art
Ah CHOO! 
I wonder if this is how Jackson Pollock got started.

Jazzie, doing her bit toward kitchen clean-up



This post is also linked to

AMAZE ME MONDAY

and

SATURDAY'S  CRITTERS

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