Voles for Cat Breakfast

A dead vole

Our winter has been gloomy but relative mild, unlike a lot of the northern part of the country. One morning this past week while sipping my coffee and enjoying the view out the back porch French door, I notice a cat cavorting on the back porch.  It was Little Joe tossing something in the air which landed with a thump. Jasper, Harmon and Zeke were still in the house and begged to be let out to see what was going on.

Woodland Vole

Joe had captured and killed a vole.  I knew it was a vole because it was so much bigger and fatter than the little field mice - which are still resident in the barns. Satisfied that the other cats had seen his prize, Joe carried the vole off and promptly ate it.  A couple of days later Jasper brought another dead vole to the porch door, proudly displaying it for his brothers' admiration, then devoured it in front of them.  The amazing thing to me is that the cats ate the voles.  I feed these cats twice a day with a good quality dry cat food, which they seem to like very much.  Most of them do not like any kind of cooked chicken, though Jasper will eat bit of raw beef trimmings. Most of them like canned tuna fish but neither Zeke or Pippi touch the stuff. But they will happily eat a mouse or a vole, bones, hair and all, leaving just the intestines behind. No accounting for taste.

Voles can do a lot of damage to the roots of plants. I've lost a lot of perennial flowers to voles who I suspect live under the back porch all winter feasting on my expensive bounty.  

Chicken with Tomato Basil Sauce

Here's a different version of a recipe I posted about a year ago. I serve this recipe over pasta and like it much better than the original.  Sorry, we ate it all before I thought to take a picture.

Chicken Breasts with Tomato Basil Sauce

Serves 2

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees

2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1 large shallot, diced

2 cloves garlic, smashed

All-purpose flour

Salt and paper

1 can diced tomatoes

Balsamic vinegar

Olive oil

Butter

2 teaspoons dried or 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves

Cooked linguine, angel hair pasta or spaghetti

Dredge the chicken breasts lightly in all purpose flour that you have seasoned with salt and pepper.  Brown the breasts on both sides in a deep skillet with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, about 3 minutes a side.  When nicely browned remove the chicken breasts and keep them warm.  In the same skillet sauté the shallot and garlic until soft.  Add the can of diced tomatoes, juice and all, a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, the basil and a tablespoon of butter and cook over medium heat five minutes to start reducing the sauces.  Return the chicken breasts to the skillet and spoon the sauce over the breast.  Place in a 400 degree oven for 15 or 20 minutes to finish the dish.  The sauce should be thick and the chicken breasts golden. 

While the chicken is roasting, cook your pasta of choice and put together a green salad or for a healthier choice sauté some spinach, kale or Swiss chard for a green side.  Serve the chicken and sauce over the pasta. This makes a very pretty presentation. 

You can eliminate the butter but the dish will be less rich.  I’d recommend olive oil rather than vegetable oil – again for flavor.   This is a simple dish for a week night but also very showy and delicious for a dinner party. Serve without the pasta for a buffet, it is perfectly delicious on its own, just add lots of crusty bread.

Hobby Farm for Sale

Locust Grove Farm is just eight acres carved out of our family farm, purchased by my parents back in 1955. They gifted each of their children a building lot on the farm so happily we all live her together on one of the most beautiful properties you will find anywhere.

For the last 16 years I've been renting 72 acres of that farm from my parents for my cattle's pasture. My house is surrounded by those rented acres.  My father died in April 2013 and now my mother lives alone.  Since my husband left in 2009, I've also lived alone.  This summer my mother fell and broke her hip. She is doing well, but it just makes sense that we combine households, so my house and its barns and 8 acres is now for sale.  Check it out at www.oldhouses.com.