Ashland County in Ohio has Beautiful Country Scenery

Image © Kandice Thompson ~ 2010

 One of my favorite things about Ashland, Ohio is the simplicity of driving around the county to view the scenery.  Many of us take for granted the beauty of the quiet country roads and their inhabitants. I'm one of those inhabitants and this is a picture from our side yard.  Amish folk are a regular around here and we love it.  As fellow homesteaders, we have some common ground with them and enjoy sharing stories and tips from our cultures and lifestyle.

Next time your family is looking for some good old fashioned fun, pack a picnic and hit the roads.  Remember to be cautions of buggies and crossing animals.  You'll find lots of Amish homes that offer fresh produce, baked goods and canned items from dawn til dusk.  Please keep in mind that the Amish do not offer Sunday sales.  

Make a fun afternoon with your family.  Take bags with moist towels in the event you find some pick-able flowers or a bucket for berries.  You'll find many creatures throughout the fields and road side.  From pheasants and quail to white tailed dear and wild turkeys, you just never know what amazing beauty you might see.  Soon the trees will begin to change their color and the beauty will be abound.  Enjoy this simplicity and make memories with your children and grandchildren.  Make a day free from cell phones and mp3's and of car dvd's and personal game pads.  Enjoy the sounds of nature, the songs of the birds and the rustling of the leaves in the trees.  

Be respectful to nature and only take what you can and give thanks for what is offered.  While you are out in about please do no harm to the environment.  Tread lightly and respect the boundaries and privacy of others.  Take a camera and scrapbook your day.  Consider reading up on certain wild animals, flowers and bugs and then see if you can have a scavenger hunt with your family.  It's fun and best of all... it's free! 

Take our Survey & Enter the Give-A-Way!

Your opinion is very important to us at From Scratch ~ Old World Baked Goods!  In fact, it's so important that we need your help!  We've created a simple and short survey, a mere 10 questions.  The questions are regarding new and seasonal items and other interesting features that we may be bringing to the kitchen table and our website! 

We are very excited and we hope that you will help us decide what new items and tastes to bring out this Fall & Winter!  All you have to do to help is visit the link below and fill out the survey.  Here is the really cool part of all of this...  Those that fill out the survey and leave a comment on our blog about an idea or item on the survey, will be entered in a Give-A-Way to receive $10. worth of FREE fresh baked goodies!  **as an Ohio Cottage Farm Industry, our items can only be sold in the state of Ohio.

Click Here:  Take the From Scratch ~ Old World Baked Goods Survey

Thank you and good luck to everyone!

Kandice

Issue #1: Quick & Easy Recipes

*Cheesy Bread*
Use our Pizza Bread and cut into slices.  Butter one side and place cheese on the bread.  Provolone works best, but you can use your own blend of all sorts of cheeses.  Once one side of the bread has been buttered and topped with cheese, place under the broiler in your oven for 3 to 5 minutes (or until edges are golden brown with a bit of a crisp).  Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing.  This is a perfect addition to Pizza or Spaghetti!  Works well when done over a wood grill too!

*Tim's French Toast*
My brother-in-law Tim told me about this one!  It's a favorite in their household!  Take day or two old Pinwheel Bread (if a loaf lasts that long) and slice it thick.  In a small bowl combine one egg and a approx. a tablespoon of milk.  Preheat frying pan to med, med-high.  Coat both sides of bread and cook like you would French Toast.  Serve with or without syrup.

*French Bread Pizza*
Take a loaf of our Old World Italian bread and slice down the center to open the bread.  Use your own favorite sauce recipe or try an alfredo sauce for your base.  Top with cheese and your choice of pizza toppings.  Place under the broiler for 5 to 7 minutes.  The edges should get nice and dark.  Try this with all sorts of hot subs for your family!

*Kandice's Bruchetta*
You'll need approx. 3 to 4 decent sized tomatoes.  Core and squeeze out any excess juice (save your juice for chili or tomato soup).  Dice the tomatoes into tiny chunks.  Mince approx. 3 tablespoons worth of sweet onion and mix with the tomatoes.    Add 1 teaspoon of sea salt, 1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive oil and a pinch of good quality black pepper.  Use only fresh Parmesan cheese and either chunk it in small pieces or use a cheese nice and have long thin pieces that curl.   Do this with a little over 1/4 cup and gently add it to the remaining mixture.  Let mixture sit in the fridge for a few hours for best results.  Top this over our Herbed Focaccia Bread for the perfect appetizer!  It's a favorite of all my family & friends!

*Herbed Croutons*
Take a loaf of our Focaccia Bread that is a couple days old.  Slice it into chunks and place on a drying/cooling rack for a few hours.  In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil with a pinch of salt, black pepper and garlic powder.  Cook it till it begins to lightly bubble and then remove from heat.  Place dried croutons on a bakingstone or cookie sheet.  Using a baster brush, coat the croutons with the oil mixture on one side.  Place under broiler for 5-7 minutes.  Remove from the oven, baste the other side and repeat the process.  Allow to bake until you reach your own desired crispness.

Visit our website at http://www.GivingEarth.com/

You can order at anytime.  All orders require up to 24 hours from the time they are placed, until they are ready for pick up or delivery.

~ Join us every Saturday morning (through mid October) from 7am-11am at the Ashland Farmers Market.  Located in the parking lot of the Christ United Methodist Church (across from Movie Gallery).  Any orders placed online or via phone can opt to be picked up at the Saturday Market.  Don't forget to bring your Customer Appreciation Card! ~