In 2009 we published “The Holm Family Cookbook” with our mother, an aunt, and a cousin. We started this blog at that time and maintained it for a few years, so many of the posts are a bit dated, but the recipes are still good!
I have a very simple recipe for shredded picante chicken that my family loves. Last Sunday my youngest daughter turned down a dinner invitation with her boyfriend because she was so looking forward to the picante chicken I was making for dinner. I love it because it...
Every Tuesday I receive a box of fresh fruit and veggies from FarmBox California. They actually delivered on the 4th of July and my box that day included green beans. So, I took a green bean salad to our family's annual 4th of July get together and a few family...
Yesterday Nancy and Merry competed in the Alameda County CattleWomen's Dutch Oven Cooking Contest at the Alameda County Fair. There were three classes: Beef Dish, Side Dish, and Dessert. They entered all three classes and their entries were Granny's Cowboy Beans...
Our great grandmother was born Ida Jessen in 1861 in San Lorenzo, California. Her parents, James and Anna Jessen, immigrated from Denmark. They bore three daughters in the new land: Anna, Dora, and Ida. The East Bay of the San Francisco area attracted many Danes...
Maple Bacon Cupcakes! I started baking just for fun and family get-togethers about a year ago. My mother in law asked me to bake some cupcakes and cake pops for a church group event she was hosting and I jumped at the chance. She kept telling me to make up some kind...
For several years Fenestra Winery in Livermore has kicked off the new year with their soup and wine "Souperbowl" where they pair soups with wine. Last weekend the Calhoun Sisters were at the Souperbowl serving Country Pea Soup from our Holm Family...
Tomato basil sauce in the pot and Merry* serving the sauce with meatballs over spaghetti We recently held a self-guided ranch tour and open barn at the ranch to give people an opportunity to see some of the projects we have completed and that are in the process. I...
Our first winter garden has been producing well, and with two varieties of kale and temperatures in the 30’s, I decided to make some Caldo Verde, Green Portuguese Soup! I also had some cilantro and Italian parsley growing, to make up the three basic “greens” to get...
There have been some positives being sheltered in place during a pandemic in 2020, like learning to cook and bake new things. There was sourdough bread, pizza dough, refrigerator pickles, roasted cherry tomato sauce, chili verde from home grown tomatillos, and more....
I follow several family owned ranches on Instagram. Before the COVID pandemic, a few of the ranchers were selling beef directly to consumers. Some, like our sister Nancy, were selling beef to local customers, others were shipping regionally, while others were shipping...