TonTon and I fed the cows, sheep and the useless, non-egg laying, bad tempered, locked up forever in their own little minds chickens, this morning, in a lovely crisp 26F (-5C). One day I shall show you the particularly sexy quilted farm overalls that I don for the job. But not until I know you better.
I had to go and find my sharp garden hoe to bash through the ice in the water troughs. Of course the garden hose is now officially frozen solid and later today I shall put it away for the winter, and then my darlings we are CARRYING buckets of warm water to the animals each morning and evening. One day the barn will have its own water line, but not yet. However as I have told you before this is a tremendous workout for my arms. When I was little my dad used to say to me “And the muscles on her scrawny arms stood out like spiders knees!” It was not kind. He always said it is a Scottish accent. The ‘out’ was an ‘oot’. I have real muscles now Dad!
Also today I will scrub, fill, then plug in all the heated water buckets. Each pen in the barn has one, the chook house has one, even the dogs and cats have one. As an aside the pens in the barn all still have their exterior doors open, so the animals are wandering in and out from their home paddocks, at will.
Food first though I think. I bet that when you were little you thought a sand witch was at the beach. So did I. Every time I heard the word I SAW a Witch made of Sand. A SandWitch on the beach. I still see her with my little girl’s mind’ s eye. She is not pretty. And how does one Toast her?
What is that hunk of old junk doing sitting beside the ham, I hear you say. It is a very old castiron hand iron of course. It is part of my toasted sandwich arsenal. Though some time ago it lost its detachable handle. I know it is around here somewhere. But where?! You see, old irons are not only good as door stops (or toe stoppers as the case may be… ouch), they are useful in the kitchen too!
The fire is hot in the wood stove, the stove top is ready for cooking. So we will compile our ham and cheese toasted sandwich. Just a yellow rubber cheddar today – someone needs to go shopping! Often in NZ the sandwich is called a sammy, and the cheese will not be dyed yellow, just keep that in mind in case you visit.
And on with the hot iron. These came before panini machines you know! Where is that handle? (sigh) It would be very useful at this rather heated juncture.
There. Ham and cheese toasted sammie with onion. Crunchy and squashed. Just the way I like it!! It is not gourmet my darlings. It is lunch!
OK, interlude is over, it is warmer outside now. Beautiful sun today. Time to fill the buckets and get to work.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
93 responses to “Toasted Sand Witches”
Oh, yummcious. Grill cheese sandwiches have always been my favorite…when I was young, I pronounced them “girl cheese samiches” . They were one of the 3 things I liked; along with plain spaghetti, and fluff- a-nutter sandwiches.
Enjoy! Jessica
Oh jess, that made me laugh.. girl cheese sandwiches! .. cool.. c
Not gourmet?! Why I’d love that sammy!! You were a very bright girl with a fascinating imagination to come up with the Sand Witch!! That never crossed my mind!! but, girl, I just got the shivers thinking of your cold weather! I thought waking up to 60 degrees was cold today!!
This is just the beginning however it was a herald for a lovely lovely day! c
I wonder whatever happened to the iron that use to sit on my Gran’s hearth…probably in a box at Dad’s somewhere. If it should ever fall into my possession, I know what I’ll use it for!
Get over there and grab it.. well as soon as you are back! c
We had melted cheese sandwiches on Sunday. Something very satisfying about all that soft cheese dripping out the edges. We have a cast iron weight with a pig on it that we use. My antique irons are upstairs in my laundry room next to my wash boards. When I need additional weight, I’ll know right where to look.
Oh wow.. I love the idea of a cast iron weight with a pig on it! Where did you get that? Is it FOR making toasted sammies?.. c
My husband found it in an antique store for $2…he thought it was the best treasure. We keep it on the kitchen counter and use it so often. My husband thinks it was probably used for keeping bacon flat when cooking on a griddle.
You make even a simple sandwich look so appetizing. Dare I mention that I burned the grilled cheese sandwiches I made last night for supper?
As for carrying all of that water to the animals, ah, yes, I remember those days of lugging pails of frothy milk from the cows to the bulk tank. I had scrawny strong arms as a farm girl. No more. Not scrawny. Not strong.
Poor darling, you must have been very distracted to burn the sammies.. and yes in the spring you can commiserate with me as i carry the brimming pails of frothy milk! c
Well, girt with such a robust and warming griddled sammysarniesandwitchsarmiesan, I mean panino, I do believe even a weakling like me could go a round on the farmy with you. Ham and cheese, oh yes indeedy. I am fortunate to have two nice old cast-iron skillets, so all I need to do is heat up both and literally sandwich the sandwich between them when the mood strikes. As, erm, I think it just did when you posted this! 😀
WOW..I have more than one, what did you call it.. skillet?.. yes i can sandwich the sand witch too! Good thinking! c
I like them squashed too!
They really are best in a cast iron pan too. Mmm. I can tell I am feeling better because I have my appetite back!
Yes, start eating again! I cannot imagine not having an appetite! c
Your muscles will be bulging at winter’s end. But there is great pleasure in the accomplishment of such tasks. And then, to enjoy the pleasure of your sandwich.
This is true bella, farming is full of small achievable chores.. good solid work! c
Oh, that looks delish!! I admire your farm workout. I used to think I wanted to be a farmer myself. I wonder where that dream fled?
Probably on a beach somewhere!.. c
Love the use of the iron and I could use that sammie right now. Where do I place my order?
They actually sell them at take away bars in NZ.. perfect midnight snack! c
That orange cheese in America is weird.
Most unsettling! ha ha ha this is why i am making my own, but my cheddar has gone VERY hard this year, so i am still working on it! c
Great use of that old iron – the sand witch looks delicious! I can’t imagine how cold the mornings must feel for you at this time of year.
I move very fast in the early morning . c
My great grandmother had one of those hot irons. I remember it in her house when I was little. I believe my great aunt may have it but unsure. This is just a spectacular post, with an even better sandwich.
I love these old irons, they are so useful! take care kay.. c
Love the sandwich. May be doing something similar tonight.
comfort food.. c
Hi Cecilia. I have seen it all now! How inventive. Toasty looks delicious.
Regards Florence x