Mud and Crock Pot Season

 It seems this year winter has shown up all at once on the farm first rain, then snow then warm temps and more snow and rain........That is the perfect recipe for MUD!!!​ Stinky soupy yucky mud. This is my least favorite time of year on the farm . Living  south of my little town means we have a little warmer temps than most farms in the area.  Those who live north are beautiful picturesque, snow covered pastures and barns. Down here we get Brown! Brown grass, brown mud, brown trees. Just brown. But I won't complain much because we do get green much sooner. 

The problem with half thawed mud is it makes chores take  forever. Slipping and sliding trying to  push the wheel barrow, trying not to get stuck in the truck putting out hay for the cows. Not to mention bushing muddy milk cows before  they can be milked! Running late for trims and muddy horses and slipping and sliding and freezing in the cold all day. 

This time of year after I am an done with everything I do the last thing I want to do is stand in the kitchen for hours making a meal from scratch. This time of year, convenience foods and  take out look pretty appealing even though I know my body will hate me if I eat them. 

This is where I love my Crock Pot!  With my busy Days I may not know what I want for dinner but  I can assure I have many choices if I start some meat in the Crock pot.  So here is how I start! It may seem pretty simple but it is a life saver for the busy family!

Rocky Ridge I don't Know what I want for Dinner Stewed Meat

Ingredients​:

•   2-4lbs of Rocky Ridge meat of your choice
• 2-4 Tbs Rocky Ridge Lard
• 1-2 Cups of  Stock, beef or chicken
• 1 Onion
• 4-6 Cloves of Garlic
• 2-4 Bay leaves.
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Choose your meat for them the night before so it can thaw overnight.
2.  Heat up the lard in a cast Iron Skillet until hot,  use just enough to coat the bottom of the pan   while it is heating. season your meat generously with salt and pepper.
3.  Place your meat in the pan and sear on each side until browned, when it is browned  place it in the crock pot.
4. Take 1 1/2 cups of broth, chicken or beef,  or beer or wine and deglaze the pan  scraping up all the little browned bits then pour over the meat in the crock pot.
5. Add  one Onion quartered 
6. Add Garlic cloves and Bay leaves. 
7. Set  crock pot to low and allow to cook all day. I haven't ever had a crock pot run out of liquid but I still check during the day. 
8. When you get done with your long day, your Meat will be fall apart tender !

I usually pull it out of the crock pot and then  shred in a bowl  and keep warm while I decide what super fast recipe I am going to use it in.  Meat can also be frozen and saved to thaw out and use at a different time.