I must apologize for these long delays between updates. Our weekend was eventful, and then, over the past couple of days, I managed to completely hose my computer by allowing some updates to run that I shouldn’t have. I’m back up and running now, getting used to the KDE environment (I’ve been a Gnomeaholic for some years now) and dealing with what I can only assume is a new feature in this Linux kernel – short interval epilepsy testing. Oh, you wacky on-board video card! Struggling to keep up the refresh rate! My eyes aren’t nearly twitchy enough, so please, by all means, continue causing my screen to flash every 15 seconds or so!
Phew. Had to talk myself down there. Needless to say, I’ve been keeping busy with other pursuits – away from the keyboard – over the past couple of days. One of those fun items was rendering lard for the first time. Earlier this year, we purchased some delicious freezer pork from Melo Farms, and included amongst that was some fat to render into lard. I finally got around to doing that on Monday, using these instructions. It was really nifty to watch the process, and the end results are two exciting additions to our chill chest: some beautiful lard for cooking, and some crispy, scrumptious cracklin’s. They say you will die from eating them, but you’ll be happy when you’re dead because of them. I concur. So decadently delectable!
The fat started out looking like this:
And after about a half hour, it looked like this:
And after it was done and strained:
And finally, let’s not forget these little crispy treasures!
The lard has since turned into an opaque white in the fridge. The cracklin’s are storing there, as well. Or rather, what’s left of them. What do you mean, I have something on my chin?
Later today, I’m going to be trying my hand at making some flour tortillas, using some of the lard. Hopefully my eyes will be able to focus on the recipe. I’m becoming convinced that The Cheat is holding a rave nearby, with all of this flashing.
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