Holidays on the Farm: Real Farmwives of America and Friends

Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post for the announcement of the winner of this week's giveaway.

Guest Post by Heather Hill of The Real Farmwives of America and Friends.  

The Real Farmwives of America and Friends -- I know you might be thinking what in the world or even who in the world is that.  Well, we are a group of farm girls and farm wives that offer a glimpse inside the world of growing up and living on the family farm through our blogs along with sharing other aspects of our hectic yet amazing lives.  We live in a world that is consumed with reality TV shows; although, we aren’t on TV, we’d love to you follow along with our blogs. 

In addition to our normal blogging adventures, once a month one of us is featured as the guest blogger on 3 kids and lots of pigs Farmer Fridays feature.  Additionally, the last Friday of each quarter all of the Farmwives and Friends blog about a common topic.  This Friday, we will be blogging about the holiday season on the farm.  We hope you enjoy it and continue to follow along for an amazing adventure. 

Life on the farm can be challenging, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Happy New Year!

Heather

The winner of the Amercia's Best BBQ Cookbook is Audrey Keating! Congrats! Please email us at indianafarmers@gmail.com and let us know where to mail your cookbook.

Wordless Wednesday: Oink

Psst... Have you entered our cookbook giveaway this week???

America's Best BBQ

By Indiana Pork's Sarah Ford

This book = AMAZING!

It’s no secret that every section of the country thinks they have claim on the greatest BBQ.  So these guys set out to find the best.  In America’s Best BBQ you’ll get 100 of the best BBQ recipes from across the country…with some fun folklore along the way.

So enter today to win this delicious book…and while you’re at it, visit your local grocery store to pick up some pork - Indiana’s family of pork farmers thank you for the support!

To enter please leave a separate comment below for each of the following entries:

1. Follow the Indiana Family of Farmers blog through Google Friend Connect (see right column)

2. Follow @familyoffarmers on twitter

3. Become a fan of Family of Farmers on Facebook

4. Tell us about your favorite BBQ.

Entries will be accepted until 9 pm EDT on Thursday. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday morning. 

’Tis the season to be merry!

Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post to see the winner of this week's giveaway.

Guest Post by Real Farmwives of America's Meggie who blogs over at Hoosier Farm Babe

It's that time of year
When the world falls in love
Every song you hear
Seems to say
Merry Christmas
May your New Year dreams come true
And this song of mine
In three quarter time
Wishes you and yours
The same thing too

Sometimes nothing says it better than a beautiful Christmas song and The Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra is certainly one of my favorites, although it's hard to pick just one!

This is an absolutely beautiful time of the year on our farm ... there's no doubt about it. Why is it so beautiful you may ask ...

Not just because of the snow that falls on the Sycamore trees that line the driveway to our farm or the icicles that fall from our barns or the smoke that reaches the sky from our chimney as we sit together as a family watching Christmas classics warm and cozy indoors,  but  because of the reason for the season - to celebrate the birth of the Son of God. Beautiful because it's the season for giving. And beautiful because it’s the time of year when no matter what you're doing you make the effort to be with your loved ones on Christmas Day.

This Christmas will be especially special on our farm because it's baby's first Christmas. And I know for a fact that her grandparents have already bought her entirely too much. But hey ... that's what grandparents are for ...  spoiling their grandkids of course!

Christmas is a bit different for our family than many others. You see - we don't get "off work" on Christmas Eve or even Christmas Day. Our daily chores go on as usual on the farm. The pigs still need fed and checked on at least twice daily to make sure the climate-controlled buildings are warm enough to keep them comfortable. And while I'm not sure ... there's a pretty good chance we'll have a few sows (momma pigs) having piglets on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And the horse needs her fresh water, hay and clean bedding. Ohh … there's plenty to do before we open presents Christmas morning.

But since both Big D and I grew up on a farm - it doesn't bother us too much. I can remember getting up early to go to the farm and help Dad with the morning milking so we could get home and open presents and have our Christmas dinner together. It's all part of making Christmas memories together as a family. Someday when our baby girl Reagan gets older - maybe she'll be in the truck with her daddy checking on the pigs before we open presents Christmas morning. Making Christmas memories on the farm together as a family ... it’s a beautiful thing!

Meggie

And now for the winner of our giveaway of two tickets to this summer's Vintage Indiana...

Congrats to Mandi444! Email us at indianafarmers@gmail.com to claim your tickets.

Merry Christmas!

Links We Love: Holiday Treats & Traditions

Gal in the Middle's White Chocolate Snack Mix

Two Maids A Milking's Real Christmas Tree

From My Front Porch's Tips for Gift Giving to Children

My Indiana Home's Oven Baked Apple Walnut Pancakes

3 Kids and Lots of Pigs Christmas Card Photo Shoot

Winners Drink Milk's Tips for Kids in the Kitchen 

 

Walking the Off-Beaten Path's Sledding & Cocoa

Psst... Don't forget to enter to win this week's giveaway--2 tickets to this summer's Vintage Indiana!

Some Christmas Cheer for Your Holiday Table

By The Indiana Wine Grape Council's Jeanette Merritt 

It’s no secret that I have the best job in Indiana Agriculture. Or at least I think I do. Promoting Indiana’s 52 wineries and 600 acres of grapes is truly a joy. And there is no better time of year to spread that joy than at Christmas!

Sitting in my office right now are 44 bottles of Indiana wine featuring all sorts of Christmas cheer.  I’ll be travelling the state in the next few weeks using these wines on television and radio station appearances.  Here’s a peek at the wine I’ll be promoting for your holiday tables!

These fun wines are from Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyard, Starlight and Chateau Thomas, Plainfield. These would make great centerpieces on your table! 

So my car thermometer said zero degrees when I was driving to work. And all I could think about was a nice glass of mulled wine, even if it was 7 AM.  These two from Easley Winery, Indianapolis and Lanthier Winery, Madison are meant to be served warm for these cold days.

Many of our wineries enjoy making festive bottles for the season. French Lick Winery, Lanthier Winery and Buck Creek Winery all feature fun names and faces for their seasonal offerings.

Let’s not forget New Year’s celebrations! Oliver Winery, Bloomington and Huber’s Orchard, Winery and Vineyard make incredible sparkling wines! They are perfect paired with any holiday meal or as a treat when the clock strikes midnight.

If you are looking to visit a few wineries, consider travelling the Indy Wine Trail. The Charm of the Season event continues through Christmas Eve and features a different ornament at every winery! Every traveler will receive a tree to display those ornaments. More details at www.indywinetrail.com.

However you plan to celebrate, be sure to enjoy an Indiana wine this season! 

The Indiana Wine Grape Council is giving away two tickets to this summer's Vintage Indiana! 

To enter please leave a separate comment below for each of the following entries:

1. Follow the Indiana Family of Farmers blog through Google Friend Connect (see right column)

2. Follow @familyoffarmers on twitter

3. Become a fan of Family of Farmers on Facebook

4. Tell us your favorite Indiana wine 

Entries will be accepted until 9 pm EDT on Thursday. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday morning. 

Hamin' It Up This Season

Note: Scroll to the bottom to see who won our giveaway this week.

Interested in learning how to perfectly carve the Christmas Ham or looking for a super easy Holiday Ham recipe this season? Our friends over at TheOtherWhiteMeat.com have the perfect way for you to Ham up your holiday!

Check out this quick video on how to carve a ham. Or, see the great simple recipe below.

Spiral-Sliced Ham with Pepper Jelly Glaze

Recipe from TheOtherWhiteMeat.com

Times:

10 minutes prep, 60 minutes cook

Ingredients:

5-6 pound fully-cooked bone-in ham, half ham, spiral sliced
1 8-oz. jar hot pepper jelly

Cooking Directions:

Place ham in shallow pan and heat in 350 degrees F. oven, uncovered, for 1 1/4 hours. (about 15-18 minutes per pound) until internal temperature on a thermometer reads 140 degrees F.


The last 15 minutes, pour the pepper jelly over ham, spreading evenly. Heat for 10-15 minutes more, basting occasionally.


Serves 8


The winner of our Grill Set Giveaway is...

Lesley Mitchell! Congrats!


Please contact us at indianafarmers@gmail.com and let us know where to ship your new grill set!


Stay tuned next week for a whole new giveaway.