It would really be frustrating to raise egg-laying chickens, and at the end of the day, you don’t even get at least one nutritious. So before you decide to go for roasted chicken as your second business option, there are actually some things you can do to help your hens lay more eggs and recoup the most from your investment.

Factors that Affect Production
Before we get to the different tips for better egg-laying, you need to understand there are several factors that affect your hens’ productivity. These include genetics, age, daylight hours, nutrition, and stress.

Genetics – Some hybrids are just great layers. These are the California White, Production Red, Production Grey, and others. As for heritage breeds, your best choice would be the Rhode Island Red or the White Leghorn.

Age – A hen is usually most productive between six and 18 months. At around one to two-years-old, the hen will go through molting, where it loses a lot of its feathers. And to grow new feathers, it will need more protein, which greatly affects her production. Thus, you have to expect very little numbers of eggs at that time. Once the hen is back in shape, she will start laying larger, but fewer eggs. And as she grows older, the number of eggs will again decrease.

Daylight Hours – Naturally, hens lay eggs during the summer and spring when days are longer. Their instincts say that these are the days to best raise their young. Nonetheless, you can still try to mimic the longer days on other seasons by setting up a timed light that turns on for 14 to 15 hours per day.

In addition, some breeds can produce well in cold seasons. So if you live in an area that has a generally cold climate, be mindful of the breed you choose. Also, make sure to collect eggs as often as possible because these might freeze and crack during winter.

Nutrition – Of course, your hens will not lay eggs if they are not healthy. Therefore, you need to feed them with the right food according to their life stage or age and make sure that the products you choose are of excellent quality.

Stress – Always keep in mind that happy hens lay more eggs. People tend to be less productive when they are under stress, unhappy, or depressed. Just like humans, hens will not be productive when they are always under stress. A concrete example of a stressful situation is when they are constantly being chased by your dog.

With all these factors in mind, we proceed with the tips that help your hens lay more eggs:
#1 – Quality Food
As a responsible poultry owner, it is your duty to give them the best you can afford. But this does not mean that you go all out and give them everything you can think of. As long as you make sure they are getting some quality feed and that they are fed on time, then it would be fine.

Good food is not only for vital to help them lay eggs. It also needed to keep them healthy and stress-free. When choosing a chicken feed, it should at least the essential elements, such as carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. If in doubt, you can give them a premium laying pellet or mash, supplemented with occasional vegetables, fruits and other treats.

But, take note that treats should be minimized for laying hens because it makes them gain fat tissues in their abdomen. Aside from being unhealthy for the hens, these will also significantly lower the number of eggs they produce.

Furthermore, make sure that your hens are supplemented with calcium. Egg-laying chickens require a lot of calcium intake. So, aside from providing them with high-quality feeds, you might also want to give them crushed oyster shells.

If your hens are receiving quality feeds and are supplemented with calcium, yet still produce thin-shelled eggs or low in number, you can add vitamin D3 in their diet. This is great for better calcium absorption.

#2 – Fresh and Clean Water
Water is as essential as their food. Provide your hens with a constant supply of water because this helps them stay productive and healthy. Also, make sure you provide them with a fresh, clean water every now and then. Hens will not consume dirty water, and if they could not find a clean source, they will go thirsty and possibly become dehydrated.

#3 – Clean and Secure Coop
Build your hens a nice coop and make sure it stays clean and dry. Avoid the formation of mud in the pens by regularly eliminating litters in the coop and raking up droppings. By doing this, you will not just minimize the possibility of chickens bringing mud and feces into their coop or nest boxes, you will also keep the coop clean and prevent it from smelling bad. This will help keep the eggs clean as well.

Also, make sure that your chickens are not overcrowded by providing adequate nesting boxes at a ratio of at least one box to four chickens. Finally, keep the coops safe from other animals. If hens are constantly in fear, they will not be very productive.

#4 – Regular Inspections
Inspect your chickens regularly for possible health problems, because any condition can greatly affect their productivity. Check every body part as much as possible – wings, feet, bills, head, body, womb, etc. Always be very observant. If a chicken has acquired a fracture, an infected wood, or seems to lack energy, then visit your avian veterinarian immediately. When you do regular inspections, you can identify problems earlier and the proper treatment will be rendered as soon as possible.

Another thing to inspect is parasites. One of the major nuisances is the mites. If you see tiny, reddish-brown crawling insects in your chicken’s head or body, better treat them and their coops. Ivermectin is one of the common remedies for body mites, while the food-grade Diatomaceous Earth is used for the coops.

#5 – Stress-Free Living
When your hens are happy, their productivity will boost. There are several ways to a stress-free living for your chickens. As mentioned earlier, one way is to keep other animals from their pens or coops. Another is to let them roam in your yard. However, if you are concerned with safety, then you can build a secure pen where they can at least stay loose and “graze” on your yard. You may also let them loose just before dark, but be sure to let them in at night.

If you are having trouble with the number of eggs your hens are producing, don’t give up right away. Try the simple tips above. Hopefully, these will help you rip the fruits of your labor. Good luck!

The post Help Hens Lay More Eggs appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

In this modern day and age where everything almost seems to be instant and within your reach, it is best to know that you can save money and have food straight from your own backyard. The big question is, “How is this possible?”

You can raise your own backyard flock and get to keep chickens with you with comfort. You would actually be surprised to know that chickens can adapt well in an urban setting.

Hens are easy to grow and even inexpensive to maintain. Chickens will also provide you fresh and nutritious eggs. If you have weeds or bugs at home, you will no longer have to worry about getting rid of them as the chickens will do it for you. They even provide nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and serve as great pets.

On the other hand, you would probably worry about a lot of things when it comes to raising chickens in your backyard. There isn’t really that much to worry about when it comes to doing this. It is possible for you to raise chickens. But it would be wise to know the important basics first on how to do it.

Know the local laws and city ordinances. Check for local laws and regulations in your city. Know whether it is legal for you to own chickens in your location. Contact your local municipality, homeowners’ association, or the local animal control department just to check what the laws are in your place. Some cities limit the number of chickens you can raise in your own land. There are other areas; however, that wouldn’t require permits in growing chickens in one’s backyard especially if these areas have a strong farming culture.

Figure out what breed and how many chickens you should buy. Before buying chickens, you should know first the role of the chickens you want to breed. Do you want the meat-producing or the egg-producing type, or both? Discover first what you want to help you determine which kind of breed you should buy, or what kind of coop you will need.

Build or buy a sturdy coop. In case you don’t know yet what a coop is, it is a cage or a pen where you can confine the chickens. When it comes to preparing an outside chicken coop, you must consider some important factors. Number one is the chickens’ safety. Set a 4 sq. ft. space inside the coop per chicken and 10 sq. ft. for the outdoor space. There should be no cracks or loose space where other animals could get in. To secure the chickens better, surround the coop with a wire cage. Just check if there are protruding wires or nails from the coop. Make sure that the coop has good air flow in it too.

Every once in a week or two, clean out the whole coop. This way, you get to keep your chickens from being sick and getting parasites. If you find your place a safe area for the chickens to roam, let them do it freely during the day. Just make sure that you can watch them and that they don’t go off too far.

Build a nest box for the chickens to lay their eggs on. You should also pay attention to your chickens’ nesting boxes because these are the special areas your chickens will lay eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein and eggs can be made into any kind of dish. When building a nest box, it should be large enough to hold a hen (around 12 inches) and with a small lip at the end of it to stop the egg from rolling out. The nest may consist of straw, pine needles, or wood shavings. Keep the nest box dark, and have 4 of these for every six chickens. You can set up dropping boards to catch the chicken litter and turn them into garden compost later.

Provide the right feed. Look out for a nearby feed supply store and buy a bag ahead so you won’t have any trouble of running out of stock. You should give your chickens a good amount of protein and carbohydrates into their diet. Corn, barley, and wheat are good sources of protein for your chickens. They also need calcium so feed them egg shells. Avoid giving them onions, garlic, chocolate, raw potatoes, avocados, or any damp feed because these might poison them. Keep the insecticides and other chemicals out of the chickens’ reach.

Now that you know the basics in raising chickens in the city, it’s about time you consider doing it and start the work. Count your chickens and check if they are eating and drinking well, if their food are clean and fresh, if they are having trouble breathing, if they are losing feathers, or have any other signs of disease. If they are sick and left unsupervised, your chickens will die. Hence, you should also keep a first aid kit for your chickens. You may have them dewormed and vaccinated too.

There are so many ways of growing chicken breeds and taking care of them. All it takes is that you don’t chicken out and you do your plan well.

Image Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Author: Jordan Walker

Jordan is the lead content curator for Coops And Cages as well as a couple of other pet related blogs. His passion for animals is only matched by his love for ‘attempting’ to play the guitar. If you would like to catch him, you can via Google+ or Twitter: @CoopsAndCages

The post How to Raise Chickens in an Urban Setting appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

If you would have asked me a few years ago if I would ever consider myself a homesteader, my answer would have been, “What’s a Homesteader”! HaHa

Isn’t it amazing how our perspective for our lives change!

But even though I am living the life as a homesteader, I guess most of the time I just don’t think about it that way.

Now when people ask me how I feel about homesteading, my reaction is, “Wait……I’m a Homesteader?”!

I think there is so many mis-conceptions about homesteading.

People think if you are a homesteader you must live in a shack in the boonies, with no running water, no electricity and bare-foot and pregnant all your life!

When in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

My family lives in a ranch style house, and even though we live in a rural area, we actually live right in town!

We have a  store 3 blocks down the road, and a post office 4 blocks away.

Our local Police and Fire Dept is a 10 minute walk from my house.

So we have clarified that I do not live in the boonies, I do have running water and electricity, and even though I do run around barefooted, I haven’t been pregnant in fourteen years!

And even though I don’t like fixing my hair and putting on make-up everyday (hey my chickens don’t care what I look like!), I do enjoy getting dressed up and going out.  I don’t sew my own clothes, even though I would if I could, my husband can’t live without his Hollister Clothes and hairspray, but we try to always buy them second hand!

We define Homesteading as this:  Living a self-sufficient life (meaning not relying on others to provide our needs).

Be satisfied with what we have, and taking value in learning to grow, raise and make our own food, and other necessities.  It’s so important that our children realize that our food doesn’t just appear at the grocery store.

And most important for me is, not being wasteful.  Trying to preserve what you have.

Some ways I define myself as a homesteader is, I enjoy raising chickens.  I love going out in the morning and gathering eggs.  It brings me such a sense of simplicity.

We also raise meat rabbits and turkeys.  You might say, don’t you feel bad?  Yes sometimes I do, but my son is the one who raises the rabbits and if he didn’t he would just take his gun up the road and come home with a couple he shot anyway.

I make my own laundry and bar soap.  I do enjoy girly smells, but my skin is very sensitive and it cannot always handle what is added to soaps.  Making it myself guarantees I know exactly what I is added.

I love the smell of line-dried laundry.  It makes me think of my momma and growing up!  Sometimes it’s the little things that make you a homesteader.

We try to buy most of our clothing, decor and furniture second-hand or at least on clearance.  I’m not one for wasting money on things that I can get at a discounted price!  That money can buy more chickens!

I also like growing our own fruits and vegetables when I can.  And I love to can my own jellies, syrups, pickles and more.

Being a homesteader doesn’t make me different, it just makes me more aware of how I live!

And of course everyone has to have a Homestead Hound, Right?

I believe the definition for a homesteader is different for everybody.

Don’t think your a homesteader?

Take a look around your life and home.  You might be surprised!

The post Wait…..I’m a Homesteader? appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Do you feel like your laundry is eating you alive?

I understand your pain, completely!

I get so envious of my pastor and his wife, for having an amazing lady from our church who comes once a week to keep their laundry under control.  Now don’t get me wrong, I think its amazing for them since they are so busy at the church day after day, but golly wally, sometimes I wish I had a laundry fairy myself!

I don’t mind the sorting, I don’t even mind the washing, but it’s the drying, folding and putting away I hate! Yuck!

And I was so tired of having a pile of clothes ready to be folded and put away in my living room every night.  Our living room is our relax zone.  The place we all hang out together in, watching movies or t.v. and playing games.  Not to be looking at the mountain of clothes staring me down!

That is why I come up with my laundry system and I wanted to share with you to help with Staying on Top of that Pile.

It’s super simple and I hope you can adopt at least the concept of the system to help your homestead run more smoothly with this day by day schedule of washing to keep a handle on your laundry.

I know, I know, not all families have the same clothes to wash.  But that’s what is so perfect about this system, you can adjust to meet your families needs.   Now there will be no rushing to catch up on laundry at the end of the week.  You can wash, dry, fold/hang all in the same day for “Staying on Top of that Pile”.

Doesn’t washing 1-2 loads a day seem less daunting than 7-8 on a Saturday?  It does to me for sure.  Who wants to be stuck inside all Saturday washing, drying, folding and hanging laundry!

Do you have a laundry system or schedule?  If so I would love to hear about it.

And if you missed my Homemade Laundry Soap Tutorial, you can catch it here.

*Did you enjoy this post?  If so please share on Facebook and/or Twitter!

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We all want our homesteads to be more organized, but what normally happens for me is I start thinking about the areas that I need to organize and I become overwhelmed and not very motivated to do any at all.

Since I am making a commitment to myself and my family this year, (you can read it here), I wanted a way to make sure I become more organized around the homestead, maybe not so much to have organization, but to make sure I have less stress and have everything done in a timely manner so I’m not rushing at the last minute.

And in reality, if we have a checklist of a project each week to complete, then we will feel more accomplished and willing to tackle the next one.

What I love about my “Homestead Organizing: 52 Weeks of Organization in 2015” checklist, is that I listed items that my whole family can tackle.

I might take weeks 1-7 and my hubby might tackle 13-15 but I know even my kiddos can tackle 24-25 and 30-36 without any problems.

That really takes pressure off of just me and gives everyone a responsibility around the homestead.

I hope you will take the time to download and print.

Happy Homesteading!

Homestead Organizing 52 Weeks of Organization in 2015 Printable

The post Homestead Organizing: 52 Weeks of Organization in 2015 appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Hi ya’ll! I have been nominated by Sarah Hauer at On The Way Home to be part of the Tour Through BlogLand.  I am so excited that Sarah chose me to participate.  So a Big Southern Thank You Sarah.

Sarah’s blog is dedicated to the adventures of an American family redefining what home is. Sarah says, “Home is where we are all together… Home is where the Military sends us… Home is… where Jesus is alive in our hearts.”  Her blog covers one Catholic Mom’s inspirations, discoveries, perseverance and laughter.

Make sure you drop by and say Hello to Sarah and  read her BlogTour Post from last week!

If you know anything about me at all, you know that I have a love for anything old.  Old Farmhouses, old furniture, old dishes, old quilts.  I find something so nostalgic about having pieces of the past in my home.  Maybe it is because I was raised in an “older” generation family or maybe I just love the memories and stories associated with the pieces I find.  No matter what the reason, the older and more distressed, (or as my friends say, falling apart), they are, the more I am in Love with them.

My husby and I am both have a dream of someday, hopefully sooner than later, of owning an old farmhouse and homestead.  My dream goes a little further though in the fact that after my children are grown, I would love to turn it into a Country B & B.  A place where people could come to rest and relax, with pastures and bright blue skies. Where you travel down an old dirt road and the only sounds you hear are the katydid’s.  Where you leave the noise and the chaos of the world behind and you enjoy a few days of slower pace and southern hospitality.

I love to play hostess.  I enjoy having friends and family over for dinner or just nights of fun.  And I love to decorate.  I think every time someone comes over, something is different.  I change for seasons, and holidays and actually I change decor depending on my mood, which by the way sometimes drives my husby crazy :).

Questions 1: What are you working on now?

I am a lover of Autumn, or in my parts we call it Fall.  I love the warmth and the colors, and the smells.  But I also want the decor to fit my style. So right now I am working on finishing up my Autumn Decor and coming up with new DIY’s to incorporate into my love for “primitive” style.  I’m also working on new recipes to share my family for the upcoming holidays.  That is really important to me.  I don’t like to use the same thing every year and I enjoy using holiday spices to add a little something extra to a dish.   And I’m getting ready to can green beans, dilly beans and peas.

Question 2: How does my work differ from those of my genre?

I love simplicity.  I don’t like “flashy” and “over the top”. Some may see that as boring, but I see it as beautiful.   I also say that I believe I was born in the wrong era lol.  Of course I’m country, so my work also goes back to my roots whether its cooking, hosting or decorating.  When party planning, I love to incorporate old barns, pieces of wood, hay, natural surroundings, old quilts and burlap.  I find it warm and inviting.  When cooking, it’s all southern,  Your not going to find anything fancy, just old school with a new twist.

Question 3: Why do I write/create what I do?

I love being creative.  I am a very detailed oriented person.  Some may find that as a flaw, but to me its who I am.  I also enjoy working alone.  I see a vision, put a plan into action and go from there.  I enjoy spending time alone or just with my family.  I guess you could say I’m an introvert, but as us country folk call it, homebody.  I get overwhelmed with the fast pace of life.  I enjoy my life slower and taking time to stop and smell the roses.  I hope that within my writing and creating it will help people realize that life flashes by so fast.  They need to remember to enjoy life, not be in such a hurry to the next big thing.  Take the extra time to cook your dinner from scratch.  Don’t rush out and spend a fortune on a piece of furniture when a piece from days gone by will work just the same.

Questions 4: How does your writing/creative process work?

Writing and creating allows me to express myself within my limits. I feel accomplished when I have created something beautiful out of something others would see as junk. I love to write based on my emotions. It helps me stay balanced.  Normally an idea will pop into my head and it takes several days to weeks for it to play out.  But any writing at all helps me to release built up frustrations and stress.

I’ve nominated Leanne of NotFromTheStore  to be featured next on our Blog Land Tour.

You can find her post next Monday at http://ljenkinsnfts.wordpress.com/ and Leanne is pretty new to blogging so make sure you check out her Facebook Page.  It is amazing.

Thank you for letting me share a piece of my home and heart with you!

The post Tour Through BlogLand appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

So what’s up with all the Fall goodies and crafts?

If my calculations are correct I still have 4 days of summer left.

Correct?

So as Summer winds down to an end, I wanted to share one more “Summertime” recipe.
But note can be eaten during any season
That is fast and easy for those rushed evenings or picnic in the park days.

What is it, you say?

Clearing my throat……Here it comes…….Hawaiian Chicken Salad.

Yes folks there are other ways to make chicken salad then just mayo, salt and pepper. (:

Not that there is anything wrong with the Classic, but sometimes you just need to shake things up a bit.

What you need:
2 chicken breasts
1 cup mayo
1/4cup of dried cherries
1/2 cup pineapple chunks (canned pineapples are just fine and dandy)
1/8 cup of sliced almonds (use coconut flavored almonds if you can find them)
1/4 cup shredded coconut

What you do:
1) Boil chicken til completely cooked.
2) Once chicken is cooked, place in fridge til cool.
3) After the chicken is cool, shred it up with a fork.
4) Mix your mayo, cherries, pineapples, almonds and coconut together in a bowl.
5) Add in your chicken and stir until the dressing mixture covers your chicken completely.
6) Serve with bread, or better yet with Hawaiian Sweet Rolls.

Yummy Delish and so simple to throw together when your in a pinch. If your short on time cook chicken ahead of time or use canned chicken.

Enjoy your last “4” days of Summer.

And before you ask, yes starting Monday I will officially start posting for Fall!

But be warned! Fall is my favorite season. You might be in Fall overload from me before Winter gets here (:

Happy Eating!

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As a child, anytime I wasn’t feeling well I remember my momma making Chicken Noodle Soup.

She would always say, “This will make you feel better”.

Now, I don’t know how much of that statement was true, but I do know that I always felt better. I’m pretty sure it had more to do with my momma’s love then the soup. But of course, I believe she made everything with love.

I love that Chicken Noodle Soup is still a classic for my family. A couple weeks ago my friend Tessa was sick with a cold.

Don’t you just hate summer colds?

Anyway, when I asked her what I could do to make her feel better she automatically asked me to make the classic, so I thought “why not”.

Perfect “get better” meal.

She absolutely loves me to make her this soup when she is sick. Believe me, I have no secret ingredient, it truly is a classic.

What you need:
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup of sliced carrots (or baby carrots)
1 medium yellow diced onion
1/4 cup diced celery
32 oz chicken stock
16 oz egg noodles
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1tsp chicken seasoning (for color and a pop if flavor)
1 tsp of cumin

What to do:
1) Boil chicken with celery, carrots and onion til cooked throughly in a stock pot with appx 6 cups of water.

2) Remove chicken from stock pot and shred or dice into cubes.

3) Add chicken back to pot and pour in chicken stock.

4) Stir in your chicken seasoning, st, pepper and cumin.

5) Add your egg noodles to your pot and cook til slightly tender.

6) Enjoy for yourself, or in my case for a sick friend!

I hope you enjoy this classic in your home as much as I did as a child and children still do!

Don’t you just love childhood memories?

The post Childhood Chicken Noodle Soup appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

One thing you have probably noticed about me by now is that I love to cook for family and friends.

When I start to cook my southern roots shine thru and thru.  I sometimes get envious of bloggers who cook Amazing French Dishes and Pastries or Delish Vegan Recipes (since I am crunchy), but then I have to remind myself that my readers and friends, come back for my Southern Comfort Food.

I have a group of friends, we call ourselves “The Three Musketeers”, who I say in a jokingly (is that even a word lol) manner that they use me only for my food.  Just kidding!  No actually I’m not haha!  I will casually mention a dish I am cooking or new recipe that I am testing for my blog, and they automatically ask what time dinner is.  I’m actually really okay with it.  See I am an introvert and I love being at home, alone, a lot. Problem is, the more time I am at home, the more I withdraw from the outside world.

This group of friends, “The Three Musketeers”, think they are being sneaky by coming to eat, all while intending to pull me back into the real world, but I have them all figured out. (:  But in all reality, I think they are pretty amazing for wanting to check on me without making it seem too obvious.

Back to my cooking.  I  mentioned a couple weeks ago to one of “The Three Musketeers”,  that I was trying a new fried recipe which included Petit Jean Bacon.  Well, it just so happens that “Fried” and “Bacon” are her two most favorite words ever so she was automatically on that like “Flies on a Sticky Trap”!  I’m not even for sure if she heard the rest of the ingredients or not.  Of course, that meant the third musketeer must be included as well so it turned out to be a full blown dinner party.

I call my recipe “Deep Fried Chicken Bombs”, cause, oh baby they are the BOMB!

Here is what you need to serve 4:

4 large chicken breasts

4 jalapeno’s

4 slices of bacon (I use Petit Jean, I’m from Arkansas, what can I say)

1 mozzarella string cheese

Sounding good so far?

My batter consists of:

2 cups of flour

2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp salt (I use kosher)

1 tsp of cayenne pepper (optional)

2 cups of milk or buttermilk

2 eggs

Here is what you do:

1)  I slit my chicken breasts down the sides, leaving them uncut at each end.

2)  I cut the ends off of Jalapeno’s and clean out he insides.

3)  Cut your string cheese into 4 pieces

4) Stuff your cheese into the jalapeno

5) Wrap a slice of bacon around your jalapeno

(if you like your bacon a little more cooked, I recommend frying slighty before wrapping)

6) Stuff your bacon wrapped jalapeno into the slit of your chicken breast.

7) Secure with toothpick to hold shut

8) Set aside

9) Whisk your eggs and milk together in one bowl and your dry ingredients together in another bowl

10) Dip your chicken in egg mixture, then roll in flour mixture and dip back into egg mixture.

11) Drop your chicken into a fryer or skillet of oil (Trick here is to heat your oil very hot and turn half way down before frying  the chicken to ensure it cooks on the inside as well as the outside.

*I use a cast iron dutch oven skillet.  Its deep enough to completely cover chicken

*You can also use a fry daddy

You seriously cannot go wrong with these bad boys!

And speaking of Petit Jean Bacon, September 13th is the 2014 BACON BOWL!

The  Bacon Bowl is the ultimate bacon cooking competition! They had an amazing inaugural event in 2013, and this one promises to be even better! This year’s competition will be in Bentonville, Arkansas on Saturday September 13. Among the special events this year is the Pig Out Bacon Eating Competition!  

Can you think of a better way to spend your Saturday?  I think not!

So in honor of everyone who loves BACON, one lucky reader, chosen at random thru , will win two tickets to The 2014 Bacon Bowl!

*Contest will run September 2, 2014 through September 9th 2014.

*Winner will be notified by email.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Deep Fried Chicken Bombs & Petit Jean Bacon Bowl Giveaway appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

You might remember a TBT I posted a while back titled “Children of the Okra”.  It was an old post that I re-shared about an awful experience in the Okra Jungle, helping my dad.  I get chills just thinking about that day.  I swore, Yes I swore, I would never eat okra again, but somewhere between then and now the thoughts from that day became less frightening and Fried Okra starting sounding appealing again!

A few weeks ago my dad brought over a few bags of okra that had finally decided to produce.  Well, I certainly couldn’t pass it up so I decided to conquer my fear of okra and fry up some for dinner.  My family was extremely pleased that my fear of okra was gone, because they had been missing my Southern Fried Okra for sometime now!

I got to work right away cutting it up, bagging most for the freezer and saving a bowl for dinner.

My okra batter is pretty basic.  But it sure is good ole southern amazing!

What you need:

1 cup corn meal

1/2 flour

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

1 cup buttermilk

(0r 1 cup milk and 1 tbsp on vinegar, let set for appx 3 mins)

2 eggs

2 cups of cut okra

What you do:

Get your pan of oil hot and ready.  (I use a cast iron Dutch Oven Skillet)

Slightly whisk your cornmeal, flour, salt, and peppers together in bowl.

In a separate bowl mix your milk and eggs together.

Add appx 10 pieces of okra into egg/milk.

Using a metal spoon with holes, scoop up okra and let mixture drain for a second before adding to the dry mixture.

Completely cover in the dry mixture and add to hot oil.

Fry until golden brown and crispy!

Continue until all okra is fried.

You will LOVE this okra!  And to make it extra amazing, dip it in some good ole ranch!  Yummo!

Don’t get much better than this here is the South!

This week it’s all been about Freshness, including Fresh Photos!

My daughter Lindy Photo taken by Carosello Fete Photography

So to go along with my Fresh, Fried Okra, I wanted to share with you some Fresh, Fun Photos taken by my friend and amazing photographer Erin Wilson.

Erin, from Carosello Blog is a handmade business owner, wife, mom and word mispronouncer.  She  blogs about her favorite things, cooking, business life, decor, DIY and personal style. She just moved from Oklahoma to Boston-ish and then back down to Arkansas. She has been a big city gal most of her life and now living in a quaint little small town. She just bought a new house and are deep into renovating madness. Erin always love a good cardigan, pink pedicures, liquid eyeliner, hot tea and exploring all things local.

This past week, Erin captured some amazing shoots of my daughter Lindy.

I think I will cry now.

She looks way to grown up in this pictures!

I can’t believe this shots!

My baby isn’t a baby anymore ):

You can also find Erin on Facebook.  Head over and show her some Bloggy Love!

Hope everyone enjoys the Freshness this week!

The post Fresh, Fried Okra & Fresh, Fun Photos appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.