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I’m not very competitive by nature and when it comes to a competitive sport I’m usually quite happy to be the cheerleader on the side lines. But back in the Fall before this long, cold winter my daughter in law challenged me to run a half marathon. She and my son have run numerous marathons together and they recognize the power in the motivation behind it!
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Do you have a food that speaks to you? That tells you all is well and life is good? I’ve got several different foods that do that for me, but one of my very favorite is home-made, fluffy, right out of the oven biscuits!
Jennifer says: Thanks so much for this! I haven’t had decent biscuits since my grandmother went to the nursing home.
Dori Troutman says: Hi Jennifer,
Grandmothers do make the best biscuits don’t they? Try these and let me know what you think! – Dori –
Doris says: Hey Dori,
I always love your posts. I think your beautiful biscuits could bring me all the comfort I need 🙂 I make biscuits often and can never seem to fill up all those grandsons of mine. The grandgirls love them too but not with the passion the boys have. Hope your Easter is filled with joy and blessings.
Dori Troutman says: Hi Doris,
Thank you for reading! Oh, do boys ever love biscuits!!! I think you are the best Grandmother – creating memories those grand-kids will never forget. – Dori –
Joan says: Biscuits not just for breakfast, they go so well in a saddle bag/back pack/shoulder bag – all for taking care of the range, going for a slow n easy ride, taking a hike, a short walk down a new path – ahhh just good to have. I love them any way I can get them. Thanks for the reminder – haven’t done them in a while – will this week. God bless.
Dori Troutman says: Hi Joan,
Oh you are so right. They are perfect in a saddle bag. My mom always has a little enamelware tin on her counter with left over biscuits that she throws in for my Dad when he heads out to check the cows. With a piece of bologna! 🙂 Let me know if you try this recipe! – Dori –
Nancy Edwards says: Perfect timing, just what I need for Easter dinner!!
Dori Troutman says: Hi Nancy,
Did you make them for Easter Dinner? If so, I hope they were perfect. Let me know! – Dori –
Trish @ QUILTeakes says: OH MY! I have made biscuits for years sometimes tweaking the ingredients, but now I must try your method of rolling and folding the dough! Thanks for the tips! Always love your postings!
Dori Troutman says: Hi Trish,
Anxious to hear if you tried the biscuits! You’ll have to let me know! Thanks for reading! – Dori –
Wendy says: I’ll be over soon!!!
Dori Troutman says: Hi Wendy,
Come on over! And bring Cody! 🙂 – Dori –
Handstowork says: Thank you so much for the tip of the frozen butter and the folding four times. I have the same recipe, but I am sure they will be much better now!!!
Dori Troutman says: Using the frozen butter is so interesting, but it is amazing how awesome it works. And the folding and rolling really does give them those awesome layers. Let me know if you try them! – Dori –
Rowena Philbeck says: Looks great. Have to try it.
Dori Troutman says: Hi Rowena,
You’ll have to let me know if you try them! – Dori –
Yes to homemade Biscuits! They are the ultimate comfort food… My Dad’s side of the family are Texans.. I was raised on biscuits and gravy and while I don’t indulge in it too often I do enjoy biscuits and butter and jelly with fresh eggs, home fries and bacon… We love that breakfast! I’m trying your recipe.. better yet, move over and make room for me at your farm kitchen counter! I’m drooling over here! Thanks for the memories, Dori! Hugs and Happy Easter! Deb the Beach Farmgirl
Dori Troutman says: Hi Deb,
Oh I would love to have you at my kitchen counter! Better yet, on the porch! Hope your Easter was the best. Hugs to you – Dori –
Pat says: Dori, You take me back to my childhood with this recipe! And, yes, my mouth is watering. I will certainly make these. Gooood tutorial and great pictures!
Thanks for sharing but that’s a Farmgirl thing, isn’t it?!
I married such a city boy so I can’t put my feet up on the back porch and look at the back 40 in person but I can in my dreams. : )
Dori Troutman says: Hi Pat,
Isn’t it wonderful to have a childhood with biscuits as a big memory?!!! 🙂 And yes, sharing things is very much the Farmgirl spirit. I’m so thankful for that! – Dori –
I always enjoy your posts, and your biscuits look so, so good. I have to eat gluten free and have found great alternate flours for most things, but have not found anything that can compare with a good homemade biscuit. I can almost taste that biscuit and ham. If anyone has a good gluten free biscuit recipe, please share.
Dori Troutman says: Hi Janet,
I think gluten free would be so hard. I’ve experimented a little bit with some of the other flours and it is so hard to find any that work for me. I think the biscuit would be the hardest to make. I guess the gluten just gives it that light and airy texture. Thanks for writing! – Dori –
bonnie ellis says: Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Dori Troutman says: Hi Bonnie,
BIG smile at your Yummmmmmmmmmmmm!! – Dori –
Hi Dori,
It’s the middle of the afternoon but biscuits sound good! Biscuits are one of the “go-to” foods to add to any meal for us. I often think of the times clear back when I was learning to cook and biscuits were always a staple growing up. There were many batches that were utter failures before I got the hang of it. (pie crust was another one) My brother and I would take the biscuits down to the duck pond in our little town, and even the ducks/geese had to dunk them under the water several times before they could consume them! I’m thankful my mom let me keep trying and my dad and brother kept eating. Because now cooking/baking is one of my favorite things to do. As my girls take turns in the kitchen off and on it’s fun to see them finally mastering certain things…each one has a “type” of cooking they like better, so that makes it even more “interesting” for the rest of us. 🙂 I’m so glad your writing and its fun keeping in touch this way. Have a great weekend!
Dori Troutman says: Hello Colleen,
I love to think of your girls cooking! Isn’t it wonderful to have had Moms that let us make messes and mistakes in the kitchen? I agree that cooking/baking is one of my favorite things to do also. I really love feeding the ones I love.
Miss you all, Colleen. We talk of you often. – Dori –
Judy says: mmmmmmmmmmm……..biscuits ‘n honey are one of my comfort foods, right next to a BIG bowl of chicken dumpling soup… or mushroom soup…. or…..(you get the idea) *giggle*
Dori Troutman says: Hi Judy,
Oh I love chicken and dumplings too. And yeah… all that other good, rich stuff! – Dori –
Genius!! Thank you for sharing.
My favorite comfort food is Earl Grey tea with hot cream, sugar and a splash of vanilla, and warm, buttered, wheat toast. 🙂
Dori Troutman says: Hello Diane,
I’ve never been a tea drinker. I wish I was… I try! But your tea with hot cream, sugar and vanilla sounds WONDERFUL. I think I’m going to have to try it that way. – Dori –
Karen(old cowgirl) Montoya says: Hi Dori,
My Dad grew up on a ranch, one of 8, 7 boys and 1 girl. He was interested in cooking from an earl age so he got his Mother to show him how to make a lot of things. When his oldest Brother decided to shear sheep instead of breaking horses. Dad went with him and cooked for them. When my Mom and Dad married my Mom could not cook. So Dad did all the cooking until she learned how to do some basic things. But it was Dad’s biscuits and bacon gravy that was the best and when it was winter and he had killed a deer to get us through. Then it was Dad’s biscuits and deer meat with deer meat gravy that was the best. I remember the first time I had sausage gravy I turned up my nose. I had never had it before. I still favor bacon gravy over it. We did not have butter so much but Dad used lard or Crisco. I still remember when Margarine came out. It was white and they sent a packet of something yellow that, when mixed into the margarine would turn it that yellow. Mom would bake bread and send me across the street for some honey from the bee keeper and then when I got home she would spread the wonderful yellow stuff on a fresh, warm slice of bread and I got to spread the honey on it. How wondrous that was.
Happy Easter to you and your family,
Hugs from the Farm/Ranch girl,
Kay
Dori Troutman says: Hello Kay!
Don’t you love the stories of the old Ranch Cooks that went along with round-ups and cooked for the men? I love to see pictures of their “kitchen” set-up. I’d love to have one actually! I think it is cute that your Dad taught your Mom to cook. Oh, YES… biscuits with venison and gravy!! My Mom cooks that. Oh I can taste it now!
I love your stories! Thanks for sharing them with me! – Dori –
edee says: I will definitely give this recipe a try they are Ray’s favorite with gravy for breakfast. I cook mine close together so will have to try it with these!
Dori Troutman says: Hi Edee!!
Did you try the recipe out on Ray yet?! 🙂 Let me know!!! – Dori –
Marcie says: Hi Dori,
Love the recipe. Thanks for sharing it.
Self-rising flour has been the number one flour in our (deep southern roots) family for as long as I can remember. Goes back to when they first started making it, I guess … being southerners, that is all we ever knew. I do keep unbleached plain flour on hand for dumplings, when I make my Momma’s ‘chicken and dumplings’ recipe.
I reside in the Smokies now and continue my family cooking traditions with two exceptions that are made right here in Tennessee. I use White Lily self rising flour (it is a real soft flour). The other one – I use a cast iron biscuit pan made by Lodge. I roll out my biscuits so they’re thin and when they bake up, I get what my sister and I call ‘tops and bottoms’ with very little of the soft insides, because I love the top and bottom crust of biscuits, not so much the inside.
Happy Easter to you and your family, Dori.
Dori Troutman says: Hi Marcie,
You know something that is interesting is that I was raised out West and self rising flour was something we didn’t EVER buy. My mother made her own, adding baking soda, salt and baking powder, but we never bought it. I don’t think it was even in stores much. It was only about 12 years ago that I became aware there was such a thing to buy!! 🙂 I do love having both self rising and regular on hand always. But I do agree – I think it is certainly a common staple here in the South!
And YES, White Lily flour is THE BEST. And I had no idea it was made in Tennessee.
And cast iron pans. I do not have a cast iron biscuit pan but I would love one. My mother always, always makes her biscuits in a cast iron skillet.
Thanks for writing! – Dori –
susana says: Ya making he hungry! Love biscuits or my mothers freshly bake bread…..they were my comfort foods growing up, but I guess smelling and testing fresh baked goods draws me backward and I get depressed more than comforted., so I graduated to consuming ice cream or popsicles.,..I feel the Need for some thing cool to comfort my tense belly. I get belly aches from too much sweet stuff so sugar free popsicles is my downfall.I eat two a night, double/studied popsicles. Or Hello cups or whoppers if I’m drawn yo having something that doesn’t melt….the only sweets I can get away with because they have ..,..lecithin in it and don’t bother my stomach as much..,.I ave a thing about chocolate…. if I can eat it, I drink it…..Nestles in almond milk with a slice if fresh Italian bread with apricot jam on it….only one slice mind you, as I can’t tolerate too much sweetness….my husband says I’m sweet enough for both of
us…
Dori Troutman says: Hi Susana,
Oh yes, fresh bread right out of the oven. Ohhhhh I love it! – Dori –
Vivian Monroe says: So excited can’t wait to try these in the morning. I have never been a great biscuit maker, and I too grew up with homemade biscuits and gravy with fried chicken, or for breakfast. Thanks, be Blessed. Neta
Dori Troutman says: Hi Vivian,
So how did your biscuits come out? You’ll have to let me know! – Dori –
Must try your Mom’s biscuits, they look and sound delicious, Hope they freeze well. I’m often out of buttermilk, wonder how the vinegar buttermilk works with your recipe. Thanks for good eating.
Dori Troutman says: Hi Marian,
Not sure how the vinegar buttermilk mix would work… it would be worth a try I think! And yes, I’m sure these would freeze just fine.
Hope you’re doing well? Can’t wait to see all the kinfolk at Jake and Kristen’s wedding! Soon!!! – Dori –
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
Congratulations!!!! What a great encouragement you are to me!
My husband and I finished right behind you all!
I was just happy to finish. I didn’t train as well as I should have for this race but hoping to run another one in October in Winchester!
Hi Karen!
Congratulations to you and your husband too! I agree – I was just thrilled to finish it! 🙂 I saw the one in October in Winchester and thought about it. Decided to stick to one a year for now! However, April and October would be the perfect time in between!
Thanks for reading and writing!
– Dori –
I am sure all of us farmgirl’s are VERY proud of you too. Congratulations! Well done. My dil runs too and we are her biggest fans. Keep up the good work.
Dear Bonnie,
Honestly, I think more than anything my thoughts on the marathon were this: we can do anything we set our hearts to. Thanks for writing!
– Dori –
Congratulations! That’s quite an accomplishment. My latest is teaching a semi-monthly chair yoga class to the folks in my senior apartment building. On Saturday the 25th, I will be the keynote speaker at the Relay for Life (my 8th) and leading the Survivors Lap before staffing the survivors tent. The Relay begins at 2 on Saturday and ends at 2 on Sunday. Teams take turns on the track for the 24-hour event to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. And this year, I will be a two-time cancer survivor (liposarcoma and breast cancer). It will be such fun and I’m so very happy to help.
Dear Adrienne,
First off, congrats on being a TWO-TIME cancer survivor. Wow. I am a breast cancer survivor also! Ten years it has been for me now. I have participated in the Relay for Life and I loved it. I think the Survivors Lap was incredible. I don’t know about you, but I bawled the whole time around with everyone cheering and clapping. I wish I could come attend YOUR Relay for Life.
And that is awesome teaching chair yoga to the folks in the senior building. When we attend our grand-daughters’ dance/gymnastics recital every year, one of my favorite classes that perform are the senior citizens from their chairs. They are awesome and it is always inspiring.
Keep it up!!! And keep me posted. – Dori –
I love your post. I am the teacher that advises the students at the water stop 12. I was looking a little green that day. 🙂 They always enjoy working the water stop but adding the theme this year made them enjoy it even more. They’re constantly told they can accomplish anything and it is great for them to witness people accomplishing goals as well as cheer them on for the last leg! I can’t wait to share this with the students!
Hi Missy! Thank you for reading and commenting! All the water stops were fantastic, but that one was the motivation we needed to really “pick it up and finish”! 🙂 Your students were fantastic and yes… I do remember seeing someone that was rather “green”!!! Good job! We are looking forward to next year! – Dori –
P.S. Did you guys win the water stop competition? Seems like I saw that on Facebook. Congrats if so!
Dori, that’s incredible! Such an achievement! Good for you!
Jennifer,
Thanks for writing. It was a good lesson for me – we can do anything we set our hearts to!
– Dori –
I’ve been working for eleven months to get us through permitting our structures and to be able to build the house we wanted to build since we bought this place ten years ago. It feels like a marathon. A constant effort every day toward a goal.
I just pulled the septic permit and the other septic is finished off. Now in the next few days we will pick up the house permit. Yeah !
It’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Since my husband is a disabled Vietnam Vet. I’ve had to do all of it myself. The funny thing is that since my husband and I build a large farm on this property everyone loved it and it’s really helped get all the other details worked out.
Now just have to finish the permitting on an existing cabin that we remodeled… This will be a few more months.
Great story, love that you could do it with your husband. Go girl !
Dear Katie,
I think there are things in life that are SO MUCH more than a marathon. And definitely what you are going through is WAY more! I can sort of relate as we built our house ourselves from the ground up, doing every single bit just the two of us. It took 2 years, working 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. The best feeling ever, but by far the hardest thing I’d ever done. So I can sort of imagine what you’re going through… except for the part of doing it all by yourself. Wow. Keep me posted on your house building.
– Dori –
Tomorrow is my very first 5K, Dori! Thank you so much for your blog and encouragement- I am 48 years old and this is the first athletic activity I have trained for other than riding ( dressage horses)- fingers crossed I don’t get trampled! LOL!
Hi Meredith,
Good luck tomorrow!!! Let me know how it goes, but I bet you love it and you’ll be so excited to do another one! I’ll be thinking of you.
– Dori –
Dori – Congratulations! I have had medical problems and am just trying to get up to 10,000 steps a day again. Thanks for you blog and encouragement. I can do this!
Hi Dorothy,
Congratulations to YOU for working back up to 10,000 steps a day. You most definitely can do it. One step at a time. Isn’t that what life is all about? Sometimes it’s just little baby steps, but they all add up.
Hugs,
– Dori –
My husband and myself were near the 6 mile Mark standing beside the road cheering ya’ll on. I had a sign made for a family friend, Janice. Our Chickens were cheering yo on as our chicken house is near the Lois Ridge Rd. We cheer the runners and walkers on every year. Congrqts on your finish time.
Hi Dara! I know exactly the place!!! 🙂 We talked about your chickens cheering us on. What a neat place to live and how fun that you can do that every year. I loved how many homes we went by where the owners were out cheering us on! Thank you! – Dori –
Felicidades, look very easy, but they are stronger. This is my dream run the half m.
Marylou!
Follow your dream and run that half marathon! You’ll be so glad you did.
– Dori –
I have never done an official marathon, but have run-walk many K5`s, but have walked many a mikes and many times further. As a teenage I have walked from Niagara Falls, Ontario to St Catherine’s , Ontario..,.quite a walk and then swam at a Prudhomes swimming resort.I miss those days…had MORE energy in my younger years.
Haven’t run in a while as my running mate is no longer able to walk let alone run.hate doing anything alone.
As long as you can do the walking-running, do it! But don’t wear brand new sneakers the day of the/race.
Your sneakers look neat. What brand are they? They look comfortable. Congratulations on your time! Its about my time for a 13.5 walk….. I did that the last time I walked to Walmart. Now I just have to drive, they moved the store….its further away and I’m not walking another hour just to go to Walmart! But IRS a good incentive…. to walk. Keep up the good work….and I know what you mean about rolling hills. They give you a work out.,..used to go…cross country skiing, now that’s a great leg workout! If people walked more, we wouldn’t have so many obese people in America.
Hi Susana,
I’m convinced that walking is good not only for the body but the mind too! My husband and I used to call it our “marriage counseling” as we’d talk out every issue and problem while we walked! 🙂 Good for you on all your walking.
My shoes are Saucony. I bought them when we first started training – so I walked and ran in them most every day for about 3 months prior to the marathon. And not a blister or sore spot anywhere on my feet.
– Dori –
Dori!
I am so proud of you, farmsister! Oh my goodness…running is not my forte! I am impressed. Very inspiring blog, and I love your happy smiles! I could walk a marathon (may…beee…) but I am not sure I could do what you just did. Congratulations!
Tennessee looks so beautiful (and warm! Shorts at Easter? I can only dream…)
Well done, dear farmsister!
Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl)
Hi Nicole,
Thank you! Running is certainly not my forte either! I have to admit that I kind of enjoyed it though – I also think the challenge was good for me. We’re going to try to make it yearly goal. If nothing else, it was fun to get out and enjoy the day with all the other folks.
Hope you’re finally getting some spring weather? 🙂
– Dori –
Woot! Woot! Great job, Dori! I’m so proud of you and your husband. We ( my hubs and I ) are not runners but we love walking. Our weather is finally cooperating for more outside time… I need to grab my handsome Yankee and get going! Thanks for the inspiration! Deb ( Beach Farmgirl )
Hi Deb,
Welllll, I kind of think anybody could do it, but thanks! 🙂 We really aren’t runners either, but it sure was fun trying. We’re going to make it a yearly goal.
I’m glad you’re finally getting some warm weather! Planting time for you soon!!!!!
– Dori –