Friday, July 21, 2023

Teriyaki Beef Jerky Recipe

 

Teriyaki Beef Jerky 



London Broil sliced thin, soaked overnight in a scrumptious Teriyake marinade then dried in a dehydrator or oven are the makings of the best jerky I ever ate. It is hard not to eat up the slices of meat before it is dried. Here is the recipe.


2 lbs of lean red meat ( I used London Broil )

Marinade Ingredients

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup of soy sauce

1 Tablespoon of minced fresh ginger

2 cloves of garlic crushed

1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper

1 Tablespoon of salt 


 1. Mix the marinade ingredients


2. Slice the meat 

Cut the meat into 1/4 slices



Teriyaki Beef Jerky- Slice the meat



3.  Add the meat slices to the marinade a few slices at a time and coat Put into a container with a lid and pour any remaining marinade  over the meat. Cover and refrigerate overnight or 8 hours. 




Teriyaki Beef Jerky in dehydrator. 



4. After it has marinated for 8 hours drain and dry in a 140 degree oven for 6-8 hours. You can also lay on racks of a dehydrator at 140 for 6-8 hours. I use an Excaliber dehydrator. 


Store Teriyaki Beef Jerky in Mason Jars 


I stored the jerky in the refrigerator inside covered Mason jars.


Deborah Moen
Little Utah Farm


Thank you for visiting Little Utah Farm,

Until next time,

May you be blessed with happiness, good health, and prosperity. 


I had rather be on my farm that be emperor of the world.

~ George Washington


Here is an encouraging greeting card I made today. For those who would be uplifted by the message "You can do it one day at a time. "

You Can Do it Encouraging Greeting Card

Artist colorful drawing of a determined character climbing a hill, one day at a time, making progress till she reaches the top. At each stage of the climb she is wearing a different outfit. It shows her reaching the top of the hill. An encouraging message. This card can be customized and personalized to suit your occasion.



Friday, July 7, 2023

When The Thunderstorm Comes

 



Thunderheads are the tallest clouds on the planet. Little Utah Farm
When The Thunderstorms Come



Summer the monsoon season is here. The clouds rise up over the surrounding mountains and grow into giant clouds that reach thousands of feet into the sky.  Thunderclouds are the tallest clouds on the planet reaching upwards to 75,00 ft. The higher the top the more severe the storm.

I went out and took photographs of the big clouds rising high in the sky. I have the slide show with soft music for you to watch below. 

 We love the monsoon season as it cools us down on a hot days.  Almost everyday these past two weeks we have had rain with lightening and thunder.  Here is a video I put together to share the beauty of the thunderclouds that formed. 

Watch Video
Thunderclouds by Deborah Moen-Little Utah Farm



These clouds are mighty and beautiful. By afternoon they merge into a grand thunderstorm. 

When it rains the ducks are happy. They love the water.
Here is a little clip of them playing and enjoying the rain.


 





The rain got more intense.  We could hear the thunder pounding like tribal drums across the valley.  Closer and closer it came and the winds began to blow.




We rushed to get the young chicks back into the coop. It took several trips across the big yard to bring in the water and food. The cold rain fell in big drops on my face. Lightening flashed and thunder crashed above me. The rain fell harder. I could barely see for the water running down my hood.  I got this image of a scene from the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy and Auntie Em are frantically getting those baby chicks in a safe place before the storm. 

 
We had finished getting everything inside the coop where it was dry. The hard rain sounded like bullets on the tin roof and the thunder exploding above us. Paul and I were moving as fast as we could and it was so loud we had to yell to hear each other. Exhilarated, breathless and dripping wet we smiled and laughed. It felt like a scene with Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in the movie African Queen.


The thunderstorm continued traveling south. I ran to the back door and watched it go.. It sounded like a giant stomping the ground as it moved on into the distance.


 Paul and I talked about it throughout the evening how fun it was to be in that storm. We hadn't had a rain like that for a long time.



Thank you for visiting Little Utah Farm

Deborah Moen
 of Little Utah Farm


Until next time,

“Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain.”

― Vivian Greene


Tuesday, July 4, 2023

The Glorious Sun Ritual of Birds


The Glorious Sun Ritual of Birds


I have seen crows perched with their mate way up high on the poles in California from my backyard. They faced the rising sun, beaks parted, standing there still and reverent as the sun rose in the morning.  I can not help but feel the desire to stand with them with my hand over my heart and a smile of appreciation for another day.


In August of 1997 my Grandson was about to be born. My Daughter called and asked if I would come to help her. I quickly packed my bags and took a plane to Phoenix, Arizona where she lived. When I arrived I walked out the doors of the airport and into a furnace ! I had never been in such hot temperatures. The air felt heavy and thick like hot molasses.   It was 117 degrees. I was glad to get into the car and crank up the air conditioner. I arrived at the apartments and was greeted by my Daughter and my Son-in-Law. 


As I entered their home, I placed my hand on the double pane glass storm door and it burnt my hand like a frying pan. "Ouch !"  Spending time inside caring for my daughter was a gift not only for her but for me. I had missed her since she moved to Phoenix. In the evening when it cooled down to the mid 90's I would go out and walk up the road to the park. It was hot but my mind sirred with  thoughts of being a Grandmother. It was my first Grandchild. 



One morning Rebecca and I went for a walk to the market for groceries. We crossed the road made of sticky black asphalt. The smell of tortillas filled the air as we got closer to the market. Old worn barrels turned 'round and 'round as men turned the crank to roast the chiles. They smelled wonderful. Inside the market was was a little tortilla factory. A long silver conveyor shelf snaked through the little area. Busy hands patted the masa dough into round flattened tortillas.They were packaged and placed on the conveyor shelf and the packages rolled in by the dozen.  A hundred packages were stacked up front for customers to buy fresh. 


We walked home with the groceries with the smell freshly made tortillas and roasting chiles in our memories. We talked how the baby was about to be born soon with lot's of giggling and excited anticipation. It was a happy time when I let go of work and just became present for her. Along the way we walked past homes where water gurgled out through hoses and sprinklers and onto the lawns for any thirsty wildlife. I had never seen such kindness towards denizens of the city. Little pools of coolness lie waiting and ready for the birds and animals to quench their thrist and cool their feet and bodies. 



 I noticed it had cooled down to 86 degrees during the night. That enabled me to take a walk to the park and wander about before temperatures rose to 117 degrees. I quickly got my shoes on, grabbed my sunglasses and a hat. I was ready to go. I placed my hand on the double glass door to check the temperature.  It had cooled down since yesterday's blistering heat. I pushed the door open and stepped out onto the road for my walk. I was unaware of the blessings that lie ahead. The thought of my new grandson and the special time I was having with my Daughter, Rebecca, uplifted me. 



I  approached the edge of the edge of the park. The green lawn was soft under my feet. Children played tag on the grass. The air was filled with happy voices and laughter.  As the sun rose up from the horizon over the mountains, I could feel the heat burn my shoulders. I felt a tinge of worry came over me. I shook it off took a deep breathe and made up my mind to acclimate. I looked around and felt all the sensations as the glorious bright sun rose into the sky.


Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a flock of black birds standing in a disappearing shadow under a tree. There were about 5 or more. They held their little faces up to the sun with beaks parted, breathing in the last cool breaths of morning. They stood very still as if they were giving praise to the sun with such reverence. My heart still swells as I remember this moment.  It was just like the crows did back in California facing the rising sun, again, I can not help but feel the desire to stand with them with my hand over my heart and a smile of appreciation for another day.


The Glorious Sun ritual of Birds - Art by Deborah Moen





As I stood still with these birds, I felt myself completely adjust to the heat. Not kidding. By the grace of God, I was acclimated. No longer was the air thick and dry and inhospitable. It was now a part of me. I was reborn into this hot land of Phoenix. I will never forget that feeling of relaxing into heat and accepting it. Such a rich lesson arose out of that experience. It was quite magical caused by a change in perception while aligning with grace and love and appreciation. 


Since that day I have seen my Grandson grow taller than me. Time and circumstances have taken me and him to this Little Utah Farm . These days on my way to town along the country road, I see the mated ravens facing the rising sun on top of the power poles, their beaks parted, bodies held still and reverent. Then the beauty of life passes through me as I turn at the stop sign towards town. I remember the time with my Daughter and the changes that make us twist and turn inside and out. I am so grateful for the time we had together, for the time I had raising my Grandson, and for this farm where I now live. Life is so good 


That is all for now, Hope you enjoyed the post

Thank you for visiting Little Utah Farm
Come back and if you like, Follow my Blog

Until then take good care,

Deborah Moen
of Little Utah Farm