The weather is finally conducive to gardening! I am out in the garden in full force. Picked the new growth off the catnip and washed it up real good. I'm in the process of drying it for my herbal medicine stash. It makes a great stomach relaxer and helps sleep when it is drank as a tea.
I also found oxalis in the yard while cleaning up a wild area. I will be making some of that into skin ointment tomorrow. I have eczema on my right leg and the dandelion root won't be pickable until the fall for my ointment. Apparently, oxalis leaves will make a nice ointment for it too. I will be trying it.
Another thing I learned about oxalis is that the flowers will make a nice yellow dye. I will try some of that tomorrow and then I will dry some flowers and see how well they make a yellow dye. If the dried flowers make as nice a dye as the fresh ones I will dry a whole SLEW of them! My yard is Full of oxalis.
I also will be drying dandelion leaves and flowers and picking miners lettuce in the next few days. I have read that miners lettuce makes the BEST salad but alas, i have never tasted it. I have tons of that growing in the backyard also. I will post pictures tomorrow.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Potato Leek Soup
The leeks have finally made it to the farmers market here in Northern California. I didn't get to go to the market on Saturday due to a severely sprained ankle but hubby went and one of the things he brought home was 2 leeks. Here is my recipe for the potato leek soup that I made Saturday night.
Scrub 4 red potatoes really well and cut up into bite sized pieces leaving the skin on (any potato can be used but if you use a thick skinned Idaho potato you should peel it) put into water to cover and boil until pieces are tender.
While potatoes are boiling, cut 2 leeks in half the long way and soak in a cold water bath to help any dirt and sand to settle. While leeks are soaking mince 3 cloves of garlic and chop 1/2 of a white or yellow onion. Set aside. Wash leeks carefully being sure to get all sand and dirt out from between the pieces. Thinly slice the whites and the greens. Get out a large frying pan and heat with a couple tablespoons of cooking oil. Saute the leeks, onions and garlic together, stirring continuously until they are just cooked through.
Drain the potatoes and add the leek, onion, garlic mixture to the soup pot. Add I box chicken (or if you are vegetarian, vegetable) broth and heat. When warm add 1 cup milk to the mixture. Season with a pinch of cumin, a tsp or more of white pepper and salt to taste. I always add 1/2 cup cream to the pot at this point and heat just until hot. Serve with hot homemade bread.
Scrub 4 red potatoes really well and cut up into bite sized pieces leaving the skin on (any potato can be used but if you use a thick skinned Idaho potato you should peel it) put into water to cover and boil until pieces are tender.
While potatoes are boiling, cut 2 leeks in half the long way and soak in a cold water bath to help any dirt and sand to settle. While leeks are soaking mince 3 cloves of garlic and chop 1/2 of a white or yellow onion. Set aside. Wash leeks carefully being sure to get all sand and dirt out from between the pieces. Thinly slice the whites and the greens. Get out a large frying pan and heat with a couple tablespoons of cooking oil. Saute the leeks, onions and garlic together, stirring continuously until they are just cooked through.
Drain the potatoes and add the leek, onion, garlic mixture to the soup pot. Add I box chicken (or if you are vegetarian, vegetable) broth and heat. When warm add 1 cup milk to the mixture. Season with a pinch of cumin, a tsp or more of white pepper and salt to taste. I always add 1/2 cup cream to the pot at this point and heat just until hot. Serve with hot homemade bread.
Another setback
Yes! I've had another setback. Last Wednesday, while rehearsing for the show I'm in, I rolled my ankle and sprained it really bad. It's been 5 days and I am finally up and walking with a brace. But, no major work has been done since it happened.
I have to say that my dear, darling husband is now talking self-sufficiency and emergency prepardness. I'm not sure how that happened but I'm really happy we are slowing getting to be on the same page.
I have been planting seeds in the windowsill and hubby brought home leeks from the farmers market for the first time this week. I made potato leek soup with them and red potatoes. Along with some homemade bread, we were in heaven. Looking forward to next weeks market just so I can do it again.
We are still using the grocery store for a few things. I keep having to remind myself to take baby steps. I haven't learned to make pasta yet. I haven't figured out the flour, sugar, baking powder things yet either. So, off to the supermarket we go for staples.
It looks like the incessent rain has finally stopped and I will be able to line-dry my clothes again. I have been waiting for that.
I will be out in the garden today to see what has happened in the last 5 days and to transplant a few sunflowers that have finally grown tall enough to be set out. I'll update later.
I have to say that my dear, darling husband is now talking self-sufficiency and emergency prepardness. I'm not sure how that happened but I'm really happy we are slowing getting to be on the same page.
I have been planting seeds in the windowsill and hubby brought home leeks from the farmers market for the first time this week. I made potato leek soup with them and red potatoes. Along with some homemade bread, we were in heaven. Looking forward to next weeks market just so I can do it again.
We are still using the grocery store for a few things. I keep having to remind myself to take baby steps. I haven't learned to make pasta yet. I haven't figured out the flour, sugar, baking powder things yet either. So, off to the supermarket we go for staples.
It looks like the incessent rain has finally stopped and I will be able to line-dry my clothes again. I have been waiting for that.
I will be out in the garden today to see what has happened in the last 5 days and to transplant a few sunflowers that have finally grown tall enough to be set out. I'll update later.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Daily bread
I haven't written in a week because it's been raining cats and dogs here and I have had nothing new to write about. Basically, I am working, rehearsing (I got a part in our local production of "Jesus Christ Superstar") and watching the news. Not good writing material.
But, during this "I don' wanna' go outside" whine, I started making my own bread. I was surfing the web and ended up at the King Arthur Flour site and they have recipes for EVERYTHING! that can be construed as baking. I was in heaven.
They have a recipe for Daily Bread that literally takes only a few minutes a day of work. I'm not gonna reproduce the recipe here because it is a proprietary recipe owned by King Arthur Flour but you can go to the website and get it (and a ton of other recipes) free.
I love it! I get up in the morning and put the yeast, sugar and warm water in the mixer bowl. I then add 1 cup of the flour and stir. I then go and make breakfast for myself and hubby. When I am done with that i come back and turn on the mixer, add the rest of the flour and let it mix until it makes a nice dough. I take it out put it in a greased bowl, cover it and leave it in the livingroom (cuz that's where the fire is) all day.
When I come home from work I take it out and shape it on my pizza peal (with lots of corn meal underneath so it will slide into the oven and not stick) I teach my first piano lesson (1/2 hour) and then go and turn on the oven. I teach my second piano lesson, then go and put the bread into the oven, by the time the 3rd lesson is over, the bread is done! I can do this every day and have fresh bread every day, and I know what ingredients are in the bread!
But, during this "I don' wanna' go outside" whine, I started making my own bread. I was surfing the web and ended up at the King Arthur Flour site and they have recipes for EVERYTHING! that can be construed as baking. I was in heaven.
They have a recipe for Daily Bread that literally takes only a few minutes a day of work. I'm not gonna reproduce the recipe here because it is a proprietary recipe owned by King Arthur Flour but you can go to the website and get it (and a ton of other recipes) free.
I love it! I get up in the morning and put the yeast, sugar and warm water in the mixer bowl. I then add 1 cup of the flour and stir. I then go and make breakfast for myself and hubby. When I am done with that i come back and turn on the mixer, add the rest of the flour and let it mix until it makes a nice dough. I take it out put it in a greased bowl, cover it and leave it in the livingroom (cuz that's where the fire is) all day.
When I come home from work I take it out and shape it on my pizza peal (with lots of corn meal underneath so it will slide into the oven and not stick) I teach my first piano lesson (1/2 hour) and then go and turn on the oven. I teach my second piano lesson, then go and put the bread into the oven, by the time the 3rd lesson is over, the bread is done! I can do this every day and have fresh bread every day, and I know what ingredients are in the bread!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Raining Again!
It's raining here again. Thwarting all my urges to get outside and work. I have to remind myself that my seeds and baby plants must be rejoicing in their new homes. There really is plenty to do here in the house.
The basil in the windowsill is finally sprouting. I'm looking forward to transplanting them into their permanant homes in pots right next to the front door. There are 12 plants this year. 2 massive plants last year just weren't enough. I'm hoping to make lots of pesto before they peter out in the fall.
I'm cleaning out my cupboards. I realize that there is a lot of food in there that isn't being used in it's present state and I sure HATE to throw away perfectly good food. I found dried cayenne peppers that I grew last year so I ground them into cayenne powder (which I use all the time while cooking) and I baked the chocolate chips and rolled oats into cookies (we use steel cut oats now for breakfast) I'm making space to store stuff that I will use.
I had to go back on my not spending any money at the grocery store this month. My job had a potluck on Friday that I was expected to participate in. I had planned on making something on Thursday night but the pictures of the tsunami just kept me enthralled until late. When I woke up in the morning and realized that I had not done what I needed to do, I had to break down and go to the store. I have to say that I bought just what I needed and added a bag of local rice to put in my emergency food storage. Total cost $16.
The basil in the windowsill is finally sprouting. I'm looking forward to transplanting them into their permanant homes in pots right next to the front door. There are 12 plants this year. 2 massive plants last year just weren't enough. I'm hoping to make lots of pesto before they peter out in the fall.
I'm cleaning out my cupboards. I realize that there is a lot of food in there that isn't being used in it's present state and I sure HATE to throw away perfectly good food. I found dried cayenne peppers that I grew last year so I ground them into cayenne powder (which I use all the time while cooking) and I baked the chocolate chips and rolled oats into cookies (we use steel cut oats now for breakfast) I'm making space to store stuff that I will use.
I had to go back on my not spending any money at the grocery store this month. My job had a potluck on Friday that I was expected to participate in. I had planned on making something on Thursday night but the pictures of the tsunami just kept me enthralled until late. When I woke up in the morning and realized that I had not done what I needed to do, I had to break down and go to the store. I have to say that I bought just what I needed and added a bag of local rice to put in my emergency food storage. Total cost $16.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
New Beds
My husband went yesterday and got the last yard of dirt for the new planting beds. They are now full of topsoil and compost.
Went out this morning and planted cucumbers, lettuce (yeah, I know it's late) zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and sunflowers. There is more coming but I'm still deciding on some stuff.
Back in the root bed, we now have a great showing in radishes and the carrots are coming up also. I planted another successon of radishes, carrots, parsnips and beets today. I have space for one more planting in a few weeks.
In the legume bed, the peas are happily climbing their chickenwire fence and I planted the rest of the bed in blue lake green beans and black beans. The green beans will be great for eating as they ripen and they also freeze well for winter stews. The black beans will dry on the vine and be put away for longer term storage (with a few for replanting)
The dill is all over the garden and I am happily drying it in the microwave to save for the future, leaving enough out there to make fresh dill sauces and dill pickles later in the year.
Went out this morning and planted cucumbers, lettuce (yeah, I know it's late) zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and sunflowers. There is more coming but I'm still deciding on some stuff.
Back in the root bed, we now have a great showing in radishes and the carrots are coming up also. I planted another successon of radishes, carrots, parsnips and beets today. I have space for one more planting in a few weeks.
In the legume bed, the peas are happily climbing their chickenwire fence and I planted the rest of the bed in blue lake green beans and black beans. The green beans will be great for eating as they ripen and they also freeze well for winter stews. The black beans will dry on the vine and be put away for longer term storage (with a few for replanting)
The dill is all over the garden and I am happily drying it in the microwave to save for the future, leaving enough out there to make fresh dill sauces and dill pickles later in the year.
Preparedness
The recent massive earthquake in Japan has reminded me about being prepared. I came home from my audition on Thursday night and decided to check the news before I went to bed. I was speechless as I watched the tsunami wash over town after town destroying everything in it's wake.
Of course, we cannot adequately prepare for an initial disaster...no matter how hard we try. Mother Nature has to run her course and we have to ride it out. But, if we survive the initial disaster, chances are that we will NOT be the people most in need of rescuing. Chances are that we will not be a priority. But, chances are that there will not be water or electricity or gas to cook on. Chances are that travel to the store will be difficult at best and when we get there (if we get there) chances are that the shelves will be close to empty because others will have reached there before use. Chances are that we will have to hole up and survive on our own until things get up and running again.
I have always known this and I have always had the "I'll do it tomorrow" mentality. I've been too busy living my life to spend so much time on stuff like that. I'm learning my lesson. This is part of self-sufficiency. Stocking up is as important as having enough. Having a plan for the essentials if the grid should go down if essential. Hopefully, we will be lucky enough to never have to put the plan into action.
Of course, we cannot adequately prepare for an initial disaster...no matter how hard we try. Mother Nature has to run her course and we have to ride it out. But, if we survive the initial disaster, chances are that we will NOT be the people most in need of rescuing. Chances are that we will not be a priority. But, chances are that there will not be water or electricity or gas to cook on. Chances are that travel to the store will be difficult at best and when we get there (if we get there) chances are that the shelves will be close to empty because others will have reached there before use. Chances are that we will have to hole up and survive on our own until things get up and running again.
I have always known this and I have always had the "I'll do it tomorrow" mentality. I've been too busy living my life to spend so much time on stuff like that. I'm learning my lesson. This is part of self-sufficiency. Stocking up is as important as having enough. Having a plan for the essentials if the grid should go down if essential. Hopefully, we will be lucky enough to never have to put the plan into action.
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