8/16/2020
(Above: Klip Dagga tea. Interesting smell, extremely bitter flavor, and a slight ‘relaxing’ effect. It made the soles of my feet and hands tingle for a brief time after drinking it. I’m not sure if it was a placebo effect, but I suppose it does not matter.)
Summary: Today began with calisthenics, a few housekeeping tasks, and a ride through the beef pasture with Padre. This was followed by my return to Jacobhouse where I commenced to write for 2.5 hours. The only interruptions during this time were cooking-related, and as such, were quite minor. At 11:30 AM, I commenced with the majority of lunchtime cooking which consisted of tending to some BBQ Pork Ribs for Madre and a large cubed steak for Padre and myself. The midday meal occurred at 12:10 PM.
(5:01 PM Update:) After lunch, I deemed it time to experiment with the apparatus I received in the mail yesterday. A Cuisinart 1.5q Ice-cream Maker. I had placed the central bowl in the freezer the prior evening, and I had already whisked together & refrigerated the mixture of 2.5 cups whole milk, 1.5 cups heavy cream, 1/3 cup sugar, and 2 tsp. vanilla extract, so all I had to do was start the machine and pour it all in.
While it spun, I put together the second portion of this evening’s dessert: Apple Crumb. As per usual, the crumble mixture was a simple mix of 1/3 cup coconut sugar, 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, and 4 tbsp. of melted butter. The apples, meanwhile, just had to be peeled, sliced, and sprinkled with a little bit of brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and coconut vinegar (no measuring, all to taste). I placed the crumb into the oven as soon as it was assembled, but the intention is to reheat it later on.
After cooking shenanigans and some leisure, I ventured outdoors and helped with farm-related activities, including: preparing / moving buckets of feed, catching a cow for embryo transfer, checking the beef pasture for ailing & active creatures, and spreading barley atop some fodder. This was ensued by my tending a couple Master Blend customers, collecting some Klip Dagga for tea, and returning to Jacobhouse. I made the tea as soon as I stepped indoors to make certain the leaves retained their smell / flavor, and on exiting the shower, I was able to experience the result. The smell is reminiscent of cooked lambsquarter / spinach with a citrus-like ‘afterscent’. As for flavor, it is probably one of the most bitter things I have ever tasted. I sipped the beverage nevertheless, and the bitterness actually grew as it cooled down. Soon, it was nothing but bitter with a faint taste of citrus. It would be far more drinkable with some form of sweetener.
Final Note: All that is left for the day is a beef pasture inspection, leisure, and dinner. As can likely be deduced, tonight’s repast will consist at least partly of warm apple crumb and freshly made vanilla ice cream.