Funky Monkey Peanut Butter Cookies

*NOTE- all my recipes are written with my sons in mind, who may or may not have the basics in their own kitchen or the general principles of cooking (anything!) 

YES. These Funky Monkey Peanut Butter Cookies are the very same that Mama made on the farm in Buffalo Gals Mercantile  and sold to coffeeshops.

You will need:

1/2 cup Butter & 1/2 cup lard * 1tsp Vanilla * 1 cup sugar & 1 cup Brown sugar * 2 eggs * 1 cup Peanut butter         *3 cups flour * 1/4 tsp salt * 2 tsp baking SODA                                                                          Oven 350.   In a large mixing bowl beat until creamy  butter/lard and sugars. Add in eggs and vanilla and beat well.  Add in peanut butter and mix well.  Sprinkle salt and BS on top and mix in well. Mix in the flour.

I like softer cookies..  8 min is perfect.

Make balls about the size of a cereal spoonful and put on greased or lined baking sheets . Use a fork to push down a little and make a criss-cross pattern.

Bake 8 Minutes. Remove to rack to cool.  They will be a little puffy and soft. They will settle and be firm (not hard) when cool.

EAT.

 

**NOTES**

*You do NOT have to use lard (or Crisco) all Butter will be fine.  * YES– You can use all margarine. It makes a crisper cookie, so check them sooner. *  You do NOT need a mixer.  Do it  by hand- old school. * Doesn’t matter what kind of peanut butter- creamy or chunky. DO NOT USE alternative peanutbutters (like Sunbutter etc). They cook differently and require extra care.  *1 cup perfect size is the Dollar Tree peanut butter. No measuring. Just use it all. **Baking SODA is the orange box people use I their refridgerator for odor control  (Arm & Hammer- the guy flexing his muscle) *Vanilla is great, but they will taste ok without it if have none.  *I prefer lined baking pans. PARCHMENT paper… NOT foil, or butcher or waxed paper    **You know moms number.. she will make them for you if you ask**

**every thing you need can be found at the Dollar Tree. Right down to disposable cookie sheets.** (even Tupperware to replace the stuff you swipe from mom!)

~Katy~

What do a seamtress and a coffee roaster have in common?

Community.

That’s what a seamstress/creative and a world class coffee roaster have in common.

“When people talk, community happens” –Becky McCray

Me and Jo

(And let me tell you…. Jo and I can TALK!!)

We are a community. A community of entrepreneurs. A community of women. A community of small town advocates. A community of creatives . A community of givers and do-ers~It only takes two to be part of a ‘community’

~The funny thing about our “community” is that we don’t even live in the same town. Not even the same part of the state!~

I met Jo Kahlifa , at a local Pride of Dakota event a number of years ago. We instantly became friends and have since done a number of exciting things jointly both personally and with our businesses. ( check out MoJo Roast and read about her and the coffees)

The fact that we are a “community”  was driven home this past week when we attended an OTA conference. (NorthDakOTA,MinnesOTA,SouthDakOTA)  Part of the purpose was to bring together creatives from towns across a tri-state area to help transform where we live into great , re-envisioned communities. Places where people once again gather and talk to each other instead of about each other. Communities where roots are put down and dreams are realized.

Community matters. In so many ways. And Community is not always where you live. Often it is what you do.

~Katy~

 

 

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The Fashionably Fabulous SakHat™ ~

SakHat™ ~ What is it???

Nicole modeling her hat

The fashionably fabulous SakHat is just what the name implies. A hat made from a sack! Mainly they are made from repurposed burlap and linen coffee/feed/seed bags.

Get one now!

Many of the bags I use are vintage.

Sustainable Couture.

Buffalo Style.

I love being able to make design fashionable, useable items! These are my way of merging America’s agricultural history with fabulous vintage graphics into something new and exciting. Each one is fully lined.

You can wear your SakHat™  while on the river or on your yacht.

Nicole on the River

On your horse, in the garden, at work, the beach, the football game, camping, glamping, bicycling… anywhere!

Nora in KY loves hers!

Wear it to shade or eyes or just to show off a unique fashion accessory! Either way- you’ll look fabulous!

Order yours at http://www.buffalogalsmercantile.comcom or click here SakHat

~**Custom orders and special requests are always welcome**~ and latest creations can be seen on our Buffalo Gals Mercantile FB page.

~Katy~

 

What happens when YOU choose NOT to pay

Plenty happens when YOU don’t pay up.

It has such far reaching consequences. It doesn’t matter if you purchased an item on credit, or a custom made item from a small independent business.

#1… It is tantamount to STEALING ~ So SHAME on you.

Odds are good that while you are enjoying your stolen goods, you are still also enjoying plenty of other things that you chose to pay for. (Cigarettes, booze, expensive dancing lessons , a new pair of shoes… etc)

** The difference being is that you walked into an establishment and paid on the spot**  How is that different from ordering from independent businesses? IT’S NOT! …. I would bet that said person probably took advantage of a friendship, or presumed upon acquaintance.

Again… SHAME on you.

So- aside from Stealing, other ramifications of you choosing to pay up include;

possible closure of a small business~ after all, a business would have to spend many man hours (that’s money) , stamps and ink (more money!) paper (bingo- money) and telephone calls (yep- more time and money!)  trying to track you down. For a very small business, just a couple of non payng customers can break them when they are starting out.

stagnant growth of a business- getting burned by a customer can make a business fearful of growth.. What if it happens again?

** Closure or slow growth can cripple a rural business district or even make the difference between whether the owner has to go get a second job to keep a roof over their kids heads because you are enjoying your stolen goods without the benefit of payment.

YOUR bad reputation– Especially if the offender lives in an area when many know them.. word gets around fast. And then nobody will trust you again.  Word gets around… Thanks Social Media!

It trickles down to other businesses the one you stole from uses… By not paying you bill, you in turn may make the business unable to bay their suppliers, thus perpetuating the cycle.

These are just some of the ways Not paying for goods received can hurt.

Not to mention the added strain put on families when there’s no extra money for the same treats you expect to enjoy with yours. Not enough money to pay their own bills. ~ The bickering, bitter disappointment, disillusionment and so on.. These things pull families apart.

YOU expect your paychecks to appear on time and in full. So do we.

~Katy~

These are just a few of the things..

I am “Country Woman” ~ hear me roar!

Every year Farm and Ranch Guide puts on a Country Woman of the Year contest.

People are supposed to write in why they think their woman should win…. But there are guidelines… Community involvement, Special deeds, Involvement with the daily operations etc.  ~  This implies all manner of things.

Most of the women nominated log long hours in real production in crops and livestock, they are active in church and volunteer for nearly everything, blah- blah- blah. All without a hair out of place. You know the types.

Don’t get me wrong~I am not disparaging them in any way. Many of the nominated women are my neighbors. Some of them have won. I admire these women.

I asked Hubby once WHY he didn’t nominate me. He said because I am none of those things, but am Everything to him. (and that he sucks at writing)

That being said- I AM a Country Woman of the Year… Day in and day out. Year after year.

I don’t need a contest to tell me so.

“I can bring home the Bacon…. Fry it up in a pan…….”  Remember that commercial? That about sums it up.

In my little world, I am the one who raises the kids and attends school functions, nurses the bottle babies (Calves and Kitties alike), bakes fresh bread every couple days, Cooks from scratch every meal, minds the garden, cans more goods than a grocery store, gate girl when it’s blizzarding and -30 out, sews and mends, shuffles hubby and vehicles from field to field, watches the markets, tracks the weather, brings him lunch in the field, never ever calls him when he’s out with the guys, works from home, goes to church, does the parts running, beer fairy,  handles correspondence and the usual round of maid chores too. I  put a good spin on things when they go awry and make hubby feel better about it.  I  am constantly championing small business in rural communities, attend Downtowners Conferences on my own dime and time so I can better myself and my community, make a quilt every year to donate for raffle at charity, finds the humor in the dark times, mend broken hearts and bruised egos, teach the kids to dream, keeper of the memories and family stories, teaches others how to bake and sew, butchers chickens with the best of them, run a small business of my own, don’t complain when our plans are cancelled yet again because ‘We have to go to the field, NOW’, I know that  boots DO go with everything, and more. ~ I know that there are 3 big social functions (4 in a good year!) … Two farm shows and a Pheasants  4ever banquet (you can sub- cattlemans, DU or whatever)  If it’s a good year- a trip the fair gets tossed in. Otherwise my social engagements are solo.

Things I won’t or don’t do? I refuse to ever again “Hold that panel, damnit!” when the BULL is making a break for it nor do I drive his big boy toys.

I am proud to support my Hubby- an American Farmer-  behind the scenes in all these little ways.

~Katy~

Cottage Food Laws in North Dakota need a serious update!

Cottage food laws in North Dakota need to be updated. – Oh wait… ND doesn’t have a bonafide Cottage Food Law~

Ours are not the most restrictive, but they don’t help much in a predominately rural state.

~Currently we can sell baked goods, jams and jellies, lefse, candies and similar items at Farmers Markets, Country Fairs and Non-profit or charitable events. ~

Jams from Mare’s Creations

We cannot (not supposed to) sell at Craft shows, at for profit events, food festivals, online or out of our homes. (interesting- we make it at home, but can’t sell it from our home!)

~I propose the following changes:  Allow us to sell from home, sell at shows, sell to retail establishments- as long as they are labeled as such, allow in-state online sales (not to exceed 50,000$ a year) ~

Also I would suggest mandatory insurance of some amount, and have to register as a business (can be done online for a very nominal fee that way you can at least be tracked down if need be)

Why? you ask….

#1 Because North Dakota is a predominately rural state.  In spite of big oil and big money, the rest of the state is still the same. It is still mainly small towns and sparse population. Not every one can drive to ‘town’ (meaning the big 8) for a job,  and not every small town can employ everybody.  And not everybody even lives near a town! (we’re 17 to the nearest village)

#2 It will make a difference. It would bring in  more tax money to rural,small and outlying  communities. A much needed income stream!  It will help us, help ourselves. It can get people off assistance. It can make a difference between keeping a roof over your head, or not. It can help an entrepreneur take those first steps. It can spark hope in a town that may think it’s days are done. It can promote tourism and Agri-tourism. It can do many things for us.

Buffalo Baking Co. -Morada, CA

** I can actually give a hundred good reasons, but for sake of space, I won’t**

I also don’t think we need an inspection either. Standard food service rules should be applied and followed along with common sense.  Most people who sell at farmers markets, bazaar’s etc have cleaner homes than most restaurants you eat in. Really. 

~What about the Nay Sayers? and the “It’s not Fair!” people?…. What about them?  No is just a word. And Life isn’t fair.  I totally understand where the lady who busted her chops to open a traditional bakery,and spent tons of time and money to do so may be miffed. But realistically it’s apples and oranges. Cookies and Jams are not Kuchen, Cream Puffs or other premium egg or custard based delicacies.  The home baker is not a threat to commercial businesses. We are an option.

Arizona allows resale of Home Baked Goods to coffee shops, cafe’s etc as long as they are properly labeled.  They also allow for in state internet sales.

Texas has created over ONE THOUSAND NEW JOBS this year through cottage food laws! Think about the tax revenue that brings in! And… in all 25 counties, Not 1 complaint has been filed against any home baker!

California and Utah have very generous CFL’s.

So- start shouting it from your roof tops! Tell your friends, pester your local legislators and city governments to get on the band wagon.

~Katy~

Helpful links: http://www.ndhealth.gov/foodlodging/PDF/PROOF_farmers_market_ruling.pdf

http://forrager.com/2014/09/texas-law-created-thousand-local-businesses/#comment-69561

A quick photo stop

On my way home today I took a quick detour. The frost was amazing in places.  

I spied the huge tree covered in it and swerved onto the dirt road, slammed on the brakes and promptly slid 20 feet  on the ice.. 

Sub zero temps, and no gloves and just my little phone to do the trick. Oh, and some hopping through the pillow drifts in gale force winds.

BrrrrBrrrrrBrrrrr.   

But worth it!  These were at the Saints Peter & Paul cemetery outside of Wilton, ND.

~Katy~   

Why Burlap??

 Why not?
It’s versatile, biodegradable, recyclable and more.
Hessian or Burlap as it is called in the US, is made from a tall, grass like plant called Jute. It is cut and woven.

  I use burlap in many of the projects I make at Buffalo Gals Mercantile. I love the rustic-ness of it. The graphics on the vintage bags are fabulous and truly speak of our Agricultural roots and early advertising.

Burlap is biodegradable- we actually use the scraps on the garden. It’s a natural soil enhancer and weed barrier. We just till it in at the end of the season.  “Post consumer burlap compost creates a constantly renewable product that increases soil fertility, rather than depleting it” -The Green Building Handbook

Burlap is recyclable. –  Use old bags to make purses, chair covers, window treatments, accessories, table runners, stuffed animals, lamp shades … the ideas are limitless really.  Here’s a link to Pintrest  with fabulous ideas!

Did you know…. Statistics show that Burlap is quickly gaining  in popularity and  may surpass Cotton as the most used natural fiber?

Burlap is Eco-Friendly & Eco- Chic .   A great way to use it is as a market tote. No more plastic bags! And it’s quite the fashion statement as well.

~Katy~