How crazy are things? It's the first of July and the Blackeyed Susans are just now showing their pretty little faces !
And it's Monday, and time for Monday harvest at Daphne's Dandelions. Every Monday, pretty much. A day to show off what you're harvesting in your zone, or putting up or whatever. Eating, I suppose. lol Anyway, it's fun and you get to visit bloggers you might never have come across otherwise, so that's double fun !
Okay--the biggest producer in my gardens right now are the greens. We have had such crazy weather and sooooo much rain here we couldn't even get the gardens IN until Memorial Day. That makes for a late spring. It's been raining the past 3 days again, and although we did finally have a few days of nice hot weather, it went form 96 one day to 80 the next and is now hovering down in the low 70's and high 60's again. Last year we had blistering heat and not nearly enough rain. Things burned up. It's the Roulette Wheel of gardening, isn't it ?
Went out this morning and picked a nice large bowl of kale. Will probably saute it with EVOO and garlic.
Here are a few really young green beans and some small radishes. Stir fry ? Salad ?
I picked off quite a few large leaves from the sage plant. I have another plant that's much smaller, and probably still have some sage hanging in the back drying closet that I haven't put away yet. (oops).
A big bowl of the 2 lettuces--this will make a nice salad for supper. Bronze Mignonette and Red Romaine.
A nice little batch of spinach and chard. I am having more bug problems with these this year than I have EVER had. The bug problem in general out here is ghastly because of all the rain and flucuating weather, I think.
And finally, though this is not a harvest, I am excited because the flowers are starting to show on the edamame. WooHoo !!!!
Thanks for coming by and make sure to go visit Daphne if you get a chance, and all the other great bloggers that take part in this !
Bon Apetit !
This is a view of the bush beans, the bean trellises and the wild landscaping that is my back yard. (Ha. I say landscaping like it was planned like this) The beans have been flowering, and now have little tiny 1.5 inch beans growing on them. The weather has been so crazy this year, it's a miracle anything is growing period. 2 days ago, it was 95. Yesterday it was 86. Today might have gotten up to 74. And tonight it is about 65 right now. They're forecasting rain the next 3 days. But the hot days in between have been good for the garden, so we won't complain.
The cucumbers are growing like crazy, over in the salad bed. And the lettuces are amazing.
This is the edamame in the forefront, and the potatoes behind them. 2 separate garden beds, but so big and growing that they're starting to kinda melt together, lol. Looks like a sea of green. The edamame still have a ways to go, but the potatoes are flowering like crazy.
Isn't my bee balm delightful ? I love the bright colors.
Beautiful, fragrant elderflowers. I'm going to harvest some this week and make elderflower cordial, which you can make a soda type drink with. I may also make a few jars of elderflower and vanilla jam, if I can find the recipe.
I have a lot of lilies in my yard, and these are one of my favorites. They're big and thick and sunshine yellow. I have them planted i the front yard, around the bird bath and around the post of a bird feeder too.
Lots of joyful daylilies around. Beautiful colors...
And then this guy--all by its lonesome. An almost salmon colored lily.
Cheery pink geraniums on the back deck.
And Miss Junko Taibei, my right hand cat, resting after a hard morning of gardening.
I made a pan of cranberry almond granola bars today. I over cooked them a little. (Ok, a lot compared to the ones I made last week that were undercooked). I took them to the Solstice Celebration last Saturday and they were all gobbled up. I wanted to cook them a little more than that batch, but I went overboard. They are still very good, just crunchier and less chewy, so more crumbly. I'll come back tomorrow and post pictures and recipes for them--they are really good.
Bon Apetit and happy gardens...
Assuming of course, that you're a garlic lover too. If you're not, you might as well skip this post. lol
The first time I had this dish, at a little Italian restaurant in southern Oregon called...Mama's...I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was loaded with fresh garlic and EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and fresh parsley, which I love. Since then, I have made it for special occasions and for everyday fare. It is quick and easy and will leave you breathless. (Well...your friends might wish it did, anyway) lol Actually, one of the things I love about this recipe is that the garlic becomes very mild and sweet, but still definitely garlicky. We had a Valentine's Day/Irishman's Birthday party one year and I made a BIG batch of Spaghetti Marinara, with or without home made meatballs or Italian sausages, and a smaller batch of this. It's always hard to tell how people are going to react to dishes that are a little out of their comfort zones. They gobbled this up so fast, I had to make a second batch! Luckily it's great for that...
It's called Aglio y Olio. That's just Italian for Garlic and Oil. I like it best with a tender organic angel hair pasta. Here's the list of ingredients:
About 1/2 cup of good EVOO
At least one full head of garlic (I use more)
Red pepper flakes (to taste)
Cracked black pepper
Shredded Parmesan cheese
Finely chopped fresh parsley, at least a third of a cup
Half a pound of a good organic angel hair pasta
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Peel the garlic and slice each clove into thin slices.
Over low heat, put the EVOO in a large pan (big enough to hold the pasta too, once it's cooked). I just use my large cast iron skillet for this because it heats so evenly and I can. lol Throw in the garlic. I have a gas stove and I always use a diffuser on the burner for dishes like this, because you absolutely DO NOT want that garlic to burn. It needs to be softly sauteed in the oil until it turns a light golden brown around the edges. It will take about 10-15 minutes on low heat.
In a saucepan, cook the angel hair pasta and set it aside. If you start it after the garlic, it won't have to sit long. Angel hair pasta cooks quickly, so be sure to watch it and don't over cook.
Once the garlic is about done, sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and cook about 5 minutes more and then turn the heat off. Reserve about a cup of water out of the pasta pan when you drain that pasta, and slowly and carefully, add it to the skillet of garlic and oil. I have never had a problem burning myself while doing this, as long as you pour it in slowly (especially at first). Then turn the heat back on while you stir, and cook until it reduces by about 1/3.
**Note: I don't always do this step. But when I do, the oil is a little less oily and almost more creamy. You can do it or not. If I have time, I do it. But it's delicioso either way. **
OKAY. Once that is done, you're going to pour your drained (not rinsed) pasta into the big skillet of oil and garlic, and remove it from heat. Since I cook with gas, I just turn the fire off. I add the cracked black pepper, throw in a good sized handful of shredded Parm, and then the chopped parsley. Toss it all together and put it on a plate, with a little freshly shredded Parmesan on top. VOILA!
Add a nice salad of greens from your garden and a piece or two of garlic bread or breadsticks and you've got yourself a satisfying meal and a beautiful plate that you could proudly serve to anyone !!
Bon Apetit!
They're beautiful. They're easy. And once you start making your own, you won't be able to choke down those store bought things ever again. lol The last time I was at the store, the price of a brand name bag of buns (8) was almost 3 dollars ! (Another reason I make my own. The cost of making them is about a buck for 12.)
This is an older picture than the ones I made yesterday. I didn't get any pictures, because I was taking them to a bbq and the oven decided to be difficult and wouldn't light FOREVER...we wound up being late and I had a little trouble with the bottoms getting too browned. I'm afraid a new oven is on the horizon. OR--I will be really motivated to get my cob oven built this summer. Or both.
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Okay-- I use the bread machine to make these babies. That works best for me, because it does such a better job of kneading for a prolonged period of time than my old hands can manage. I use the dough setting, of course and it gets the job done. You can also shape this dough into hotdog buns if you need those too. It makes about a dozen really good sized buns or 16 smaller ones. I usually make 12.
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups milk, slightly warmed
1 beaten egg
2 tbsp. butter
1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 tsp salt
3 3/4 cups bread flour
1/4 cup raw wheat germ
1 1/4 tsp yeast
Directions:
Place your ingredients in the pan of your bread machine according to instructions. I always put the liquids in first, then the butter and then the rest. Select the dough setting on the machine. Go sip a pina colada on the patio. :)
When the cycle is complete (mine is about an hour and a half), turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Cut the dough in half, and roll each half out to 1 inch thick circle. Cut each circle into 3 1/2 inch rounds (I use a floured drinking glass). Place on a greased baking sheet (or parchment paper) , at least 3 inches apart, and brush with melted butter. Cover and let them rise until they are doubled in size...about an hour, maybe a little more.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown. They are delightful.
Let me know if you try them...everyone at the get together last night raved about them. I know we love them. And you can make them more whole grain-ey if you want. Just replace some of the white flour with whole wheat (not more than a cup), or add some Bob's Red Mill 7 grain cereal to the dough.
Bon Apetit !
I know I'll be singing a different tune soon. I'm trying to be patient. But it's now Monday and has rained here nonstop since THURSDAY. Enough already!
I wanted to post today about some of the beautiful salads we've been eating since spring [sort of] arrived. Even though we have nothing in the garden yet, there has been plenty of wild stuff everywhere.
(Now, I know I have a photo of a wild greens salad somewhere...not finding it right now). Here's one coupled with an omelet. One of my favorite meals. This one had a little arugula and another lettuce in it too, but basically they consist of what I can find. lol
Chickweed, dandelion greens and flowers, violet leaves and flowers. kale (if I happen to find some popping up from last year), wood sorrel, yarrow--if the leaves are young enough to not be too bitter. I usually have a patch of Egyptian walking onions to cut some tops, or even pull a whole onion (a young one) that has found it's way out of the onion patch. lol
And then there's this beauty...I posted this recipe on here. Minty peach and watermelon salad. OMGoodness ! If you make this when the peaches just come off the tree and the watermelon is cold, you'll never be sorry. It is magic in your mouth.
Here's a fresh picked batch of organic lettuce just in from the garden (last year) . We finally found 2 lettuces that will produce all summer without bolting, and are sturdy and they kept us in fresh greens from late April (last year) til October.
Salads teamed up with rice and beans, and cheeses and olives and salsa make a great supper. Veggie Taco Salad--all made with ingredients (except the olives) from right here on Honeysuckle Hill.
Then of course there's the pantry salad. Or, the Lunch Salad Extraordinaire, as we like to call it. This salad has the base salad, and then is topped like a Cobb salad. In this one I used tuna salad, hard boiled eggs, sliced radishes, Cannelini beans, pickled beets, pickled okra, and some sliced carrots and onions. It's a powerhouse of nutrition, packed with protein and you do NOT go away from the table hungry. The pickled items, courtesy of MOI, thank you very much--add just the right touch.
And finally --this. Not a salad, but an Asian slaw. Made with Savoy cabbage (because I love the texture) Daikon radish, carrot, onion and ginger. Dressed ion a lovely rice vinegar and sesame oil dressing. With some spices. Oh man. I have spring fever.
I want to eat salads and slaws and fresh fruits and veggies. We went to diner the other night and I devoured more than my share of a Caesar salad platter we ordered.
It's time. Winter--Be Gone ! Spring--Come ON !!!!
***Once again, I have forgotten to mention that this is a Harvest Monday--jet on over to Daphne's Dandelions and check out the goings on !!!!***
Bon Apetit!
Lordy...today is the first day of spring, but spring is hiding out somewhere, because it is 27 degrees with a wind chill of 13. I just went out to feed the chooks and let them out, and they looked at me like I was crazy. The wind is howling out there, and it is COLD. This is a picture of those persnickety hens around this time last year. They look so raggedy right now from moulting and being winter weary that you wouldn't recognize them. And of course, they're fully grown.
A few years back (maybe 3) I took pictures out back on the first day of spring. There was about 4 inches of snow covering everything. At least there's no snow today, lol.
Yesterday was a bit warmer and actually was sunny all day and the temps got up to 47. I spent most of it on a whirlwind cleaning tour. I can actually see the top of my desk. I still have some things left on my list from yesterday, and I may or may not get those done today. I need to go out for a bit and leave the comfort of my warm house, but I'll be quick and efficient about it and get myself right back here.
I need to bake bread today. I need to plan a supper that will give me some portable leftovers for tomorrow night, since I have PT and we have discussion group at 7. Not much wiggle room there. Last night we had leftovers for supper, so I freed up some space in the fridge. Tonight I'll fill it back up again. lol
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We don't waste much around here. Every now and then, something gets lost in the back corner of the fridge and turns into a mysterious science experiment, but not often. When that does happen, it just goes straight into the compost bin. We don't eat much meat, although consumption has been on the rise this winter. It just feels more...necessary in the winter time. (And believe me, I know that is not a fact. lol ) That will change as the weather gets warmer and the produce starts pouring in from the garden. It seems to be a part of our cycle. In the summer, although we will randomly have some bbq'd ribs on the grill, and eat a little more fish from our pond or the local park, mostly we will eat a plethora of veggies and veggie combinations, cold soups and mega salads. Cold soba noodle dishes fit right in there too. Any vegetable stuff that starts getting a little outdated I re purpose into soup or I feed it to the chickens or I just compost it. Nothing wasted.
It's starting to look like the beginning of a new canning season. My cupboards and pantries are starting to show bare spots where food jars USED to be, lol. This is good. I was just thinking too, I need to check the butternut squash in the back room. Maybe that will be supper tonight...a thick stew made with butternut, red onions, black beans, and kale. Served over fresh cooked quinoa (because I don't have any leftover) with a nice slab of warm buttered bread on the side, fresh out of the oven. That stew and quinoa will make a nice wrap for tomorrow's portable supper. Add a little peach salsa to it and maybe a drizzle of sour cream (not much though). Voila ! 2 meals in one.
Ah, garden time. I can't wait. Here are most of the things we'll be planting this year :
Kale, beets, spinach, chard, carrots, potatoes (3 kinds), tomatoes, edamame, cabbage, lettuces, radishes, onions, garlic, cucumbers, squash (3 kinds), green beans, sugar peas, sweet potatoes, lima beans, lemon grass, rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme, parsley, basil, purslane, anise hyssop, cilantro, jalapenos, bell peppers ... is that all ?? lol Maybe, maybe not. Will we put some melons in this year ?? How about strawberries ? We have a time with those and the rabbits and deer, who sneak in at night and help themselves. The Irishman says --where?? where will we possibly put them ??? LOL You know my answer to that question.
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Okay, I need to get busy. Plenty of stuff to do today, and plenty of time to do it. Make a little bread, cook up some dried black beans, polish a few household things, and whip up a little culinary magic. Oh..and don't forget to leave time for that new book I'm reading !! Afternoon tea and feet up time ! That's a winter / early spring luxury...before long there'll not be time for that.
Happy Spring Dreams, wherever you are.
Bon Apetit!
Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of this meal plated. We were rushing around and the Irishman needed to get going (a 2.5 hour trip to southern Illinois) and he dashed off with the plates before I could get the camera. lol So, this was the leftovers, which he took with him. With 2 slices of bread, saying he'd have a pork chop and salsa sandwich for his supper. Gotta love that man.
Remember this ? I canned about 8 jars (I think) of peach salsa, not knowing if we'd really like it for much. O.M.G. Was I mistaken ! It is incredible with meats, especially pork and chicken. It's almost like a chutney, but not really. It's really good with tortilla chips, as a dip. I think it would be good with cream cheese and crackers too. Our peaches were plentiful this past year and I have lots of them in the freezer still. I made a couple of dozen jars of jam and froze the rest. I will definitely can this salsa again. It's really tasty.
I hadn't eaten any of the canned, although I saved some back and ate it fresh and really liked it. It's even better canned, after the flavors have had a chance to meld and mellow. It was easy to make and is a great thing to have on hand to take to other peoples houses--it wows 'em.
I served these chops with a rice dish made with leftover Thai Jasmine rice, sauteed crimini mushrooms, sliced almonds, onion and baby edamame. It was delicious. Took maybe half an hour tops to fix. Definitely a meal I will make again.
It's that time of year to start thinking about the gardens of 2013. We spent a couple of hours last weekend going through our old seeds and looking over the garden journal. We're pretty set as far as seeds go, need just a couple of things and seed potatoes. Oh, and sweet potato slips. Trying to decide what to plant again and what to forego. I really would like to plant cabbage this year, because I need to make kraut again. We've planted it here a couple of times and not had much luck. Time to try again.
Time to get seeds started too. I know some people have been doing this already, but I don't. We have a nice long growing season here (last year, I didn't think it was EVER going to be over !!!!!) and I rarely put any garden in until the second week of May. Too much of a gamble for me. I'm like the tortoise...slow and steady. It wasn't always like that. lol
The Irishman finally got out yesterday and planted his Valentine's Day blueberries. I got him 4 pots and a bag of organic sulfur. :) He came in and said, "I don't see how I can plant them anywhere but the front yard" and I said--"So ?? Plant 'em in the front yard. Grow food, not lawns!!" He looked at me like I was crazy. I have always harbored a secret fantasy of having a whole front yard full of cabbages. We already have planted 5 fruit trees in our front yard. 1 garden bed in the side yard. And blackberries all around on the fence perimeters. More garden, less yard, I say.
It's beautiful out there right now, after a morning of rain. The sun came out and it's currently 59 degrees. I spent some time outside, and swept the front porch and cleaned the rocking chairs and the front door. Mud splatters and dog prints everywhere. Such is my life.
No real recipes for you today, just a lot of jibber-jabber about life on Honeysuckle Hill. I am lucky to have this life, to be blessed with a man who loves me, loyal and faithful canine companions, and sunshine. Just for today.
Bon Apetit, Baby.
