A Little Mexi-Can Food

HARD WORKING SHEPPIE

Things have been a little sketchy, but I do what I can, when I can. Heath has been doing a remarkable job as a Service Dog, particularly considering how seldom we go to town, when he has to perform around crowds and in strange places. But he’s been really consistent about being “on” when he has his vest on. He’s getting much more comfortable wearing “boots” which are required when it’s really hot out, as pavement will blister his feet, easily hitting 120 degrees or more on a warm day. He’s even been working for TheMan at home, opening doors for him (and myself, of course) picking up stuff we drop and slowly learning the names of things I need him to bring me when I am not well (blankets, pillow, tv changer, medications). He’s also very attentive and darn good company.

I’ve lately had a hankerin’ for Taco Salads and Burritos and we got a 1/2 beef in the freezer recently, so I canned 10 qts of “Mexi-meat”. I started having the roasts from the front quarter made into stew meat, as I can a lot of it and that way I don’t have to cut it up, or pre cook it. It’s made things a LOT easier. I raw can some of the stew plain, as we heat it up with BBQ sauce for great BBQ Beef Sandwiches. It’s a no-work no-mess meal that way and only takes minutes to prepare. The Mexi-meat, however, is a favorite, adapted from AR’s Charleys Slow Cooker Mexican Meat.

10 qts worth

For canning, I quintupled the recipe. It goes like this:


CANNED MEXI-MEAT

ingredients:

7 packages of stew meat
5 tsp salt
5 tsp pepper
2-3 diced onions
3 cans of diced chilis
5 tsp cayenne pepper
5 tsp chili powder
5 tsp garlic powder
20 oz of Chipotle Tabasco Sauce (purchased in 1/2 gal on Amazon)

Directions:
Dump meat in large roasting pan
sprinkle all ingredients on top, then mix well.
Heat in 250 degree oven until warm enough to put in hot jars.
Prepare canning jars, fill with mixture, splitting juice among the jars.
Place in pressure canner and process for 90 minutes per quart.

This is some great and yummy stuff!!

I’m selling half of the breeder rabbits and their cages to make life a little easier. We have a large grinder ordered to process chicken and rabbit to make food for the dogs and hope that will make things easier as well.

Welp, it's killing me to smell this and not partake, so, we're having burritos for dinner! Bon Appetit!

Family Reunion

 Heath had a family reunion. His mother and littermate brother came to visit. We were a bit concerned about how 2 intact 15 month old males were going to get along with each other (or not) but we were in luck, they remembered one another and got along fabulously. They tussled and wrestled and played constantly. It was great. These dogs are so gorgeous and their personalities so amazing. It was really neat to spend time with others of Heath's breed and see what they are like. Although, not all have the same qualities.

It was also awesome to get to know their people better. I was amazed at how much we all had in common! It turned out to be just a super weekend for everyone involved as all the things we all loved to do were at hand. I even went riding for the first time in 2 years! My horses even got tired for a change. We celebrated with homemade hot fudge sundaes as well (yes, homemade ice cream, homemade hot fudge, homemade whipped cream, only the nuts were purchases and we forgot to get cherries).


Trying to get a family picture of the 3 dogs was fun and amusing. Getting all 3 to sit still and look the same direction at the same time brought more than a few chuckles....

Mama Pixie spies something that needs to be run out of the yard...

Heath-"It's a bird!"  Leif-"It's a plane!" Pixie-"NO! It's a doggy treat!!!"

Much to their mama's dismay, the boys had a fine time being boys...

Look at those fierce expressions...

Leif meets "Cousin IT"

Leif accommodates Heath "There's a bug on me! Get it off! GET IT OFF!!!!"

More fierce doggy play

Heath lets his "derp" out...

the cavvy is in

 

 We had to take the 4 wheeler down into the pasture where the horses were and wrangle them up the lane and into the corral by the barn so we could grab Wimpy and saddle him. Mister was already up at the house.

The horses were playing around while we saddled

The Maremmas waited faithfully, watching the corral for our return to make sure I made it back safely. I love these big white dogs!!!


Anyway, it was a fabulous independence weekend. We are grateful for the sacrifice made on our behalf to birth this great nation and pray that it's greatness is soon restored. There is much more to be grateful for in this life and living here is one of them.

Hope you all had  a good weekend and look forward to the rest of your summer!