We have had our chicken for approx one year. And they were at point of lay when we recioeved them (so approx 4-5 months old). Anyway we were getting between 2-3 eggs per day from our 3 Isa Browns. Then without warning, no eggs or maybe a single egg. We notice some feathers around the place. What is it, a mite, lice, do I bath it or visit the vet?
No, chickens molt. They shed old feathers and grow new ones. During this time they stop producing eggs and put all their energy into feathers. Apparently we need to give them some more protein (bug patrol needed). Anyway we are still getting a single egg a day so one is still leaying.
Over the break we had two quick trips away, both involving water. The first was spent with friends for two days down at Currarong (near Nowra on Beecroft Peninsula surrounded by Navy land and National Parks), 1 block away from the beach. The time was spent in the water, drinking beer and eating seafood.
Lynsey basically spent time with her friends and Lee-Ann and I took Alyssa to the beach and for walks on the rocks.
Some of the wildlife - feathered variety
Some of the wildlife - crab (hidden in the rocks)
A week later we decided to venture down to Wee Jasper near Yass for an overnite camp. Wee Jasper is a small town approx 55kms from Yass. You have Carey Caves and Goodradigbee River. We camped right on the river at the Swing Bridge Reserve (one of approx 4 reserves).
Late last year, just prior to Christmas (2009) as I sank a glass of wine and had some cheese and crackers. I wondered much do we spend on crackers? So some back of the coaster numbers. If we have one box/packet per week and at least an extra packet at major holidays and when we have guests, we would roughly have 65 packets per year. At $3 per packet we are coming close to $200 per year.
So can I make them? Well we bake our own bread (bread machine) and bread rolls (oven) so I could just tag them on to that.
So here is my recipe
Ingredients
2 Cups of Flour
1tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup warm water
1/3 cup veg (I use olive) oil
Preheat ove – 200c. Combine flour, salt, baking powder, oil and water. Make dough. I now split the dough into 5 equal portions. With my hand I flatten the dough (keep a towel over the remaining dough so it does not dry out) and now using the pasta maker roll the dough out. I roll the dough till the number three setting on the pasta maker. If rolling by hand I guess get it as thin as possible, but really using a pasta maker is so much easier.
On the flat sheets now season. You can use whatever you like. Poppy seeds, cracked pepped, salt, chilli. Use a rolling pin lightly to push the seasoning on. Now cut the flat sheets out, I use a ravioli cutter, but a knife is fine. Place on a baking tray. Now do not forget to prick them with a fork. If you do not they will rise. Put them in the oven and bake for 3 minutes then remove and turn them over and bake for another 1 minute. Now these timings are based on a thickness from the pasta maker. So you may need to experiment. Also the batch above makes probably approx 3 packets worth of crackers.
From the first batch you can see the changes. The thickst were by hand (rolling pin and not pricked), the middle ones in the oven for approx 5-6 minutes and the last ones as I have described above.
Rowland S. Howard one of our greatest musicians died last week (wed 30th Dec 2009) aged 50. Rowland was probably best known for being the guitarist in the band Boys Next Door (which became The Birthday Party later on). He will be missed and Australia has lost a creative soul.
