My garden is growing...all by itself.

My garden

Nasturtiums for salads

Onions are almost fully grown.

Our favorite squash, Lakota, is doing well in the new patch.

Foxglove and State Fair Zinnias provide lots of color.

The Italians only grow one kale.

Lacinato Nero de Toscana.

There is a reason.  It is delicious, nutritious and easy to grow and handle.  

These peppers where planted by mistake.  They are quite large.  

Do you know what they are? And do you have a recipe?  Could one stuff them? 

My tuberous begonias never disappoint.  I can't remember how old they are.  

They go into a dark corner in my greenhouse and I don't see them until April of the following year.  

Everything is maturing all at once...there is not enough time in the day to get it all harvested. 

There will be lots of vegetables and fruits to share with friends and neighbors 

There will be lots of apples this year for the pig farmer.

This turned out to be the best mixed lettuce seed packet. 

I'm heading for Italy soon.  Will look for another.

This is one of the last hollyhocks, a reminder to gather their seeds. 

My old rose bushes surprise me with a few blooms now and then.  

Wishing you a great week ahead.

Gina 

https://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Beets are in the news these days.

BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO BE.

A real taste treat,  beet crisps (recipe follows).

This is how they grow in my garden.  
Did you notice something unusual about them?
They are cylindrical and not round in shape. 

How many children, would you say, would recognize the lowly beet and know how and where they grow? 

Perfect for slicing evenly sized beet thins. 

Which when baked make the most delicious treat, 
the new beet sensation, the beet crispy chip. 

Normally I like to bake my beets and many are still growing in my garden,  waiting to be preserved for winter meals. 

Beets provide health benefits not readily available from other food families. 

Scrub beets, thinly slice with mandolin (or sharp knife) leaving skin on.  Place on lightly sprayed, with olive oil, cookie sheet. 
Sprinkle with bits of Rosemary, Sage, or Thyme. and 
Real Salt (from the Redmond Salt Mine).
Lightly spray again with olive oil.

Bake in oven @375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.  

Isn't this the perfect time to harvest a garden you planted in April. 

Have a lovely weekend my dear friends. 

Gina 

Cold Press - First Press

First Press, Cold Press, Virgin Organic 

Interlaken Grape Juice.
Produced by Villa Vista, 2015. 

Ready to be washed.

All done by hand with my old sieve and wooden pestle. 

Now to the Freezer.  

The last Pickles and Beets canned the day before. 
Ready to go to the cellar.


Have a great week dear friends. 
Gina 

http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/

Don't peel the Beets

What's Summer without a Beet Salad? 

Instead of round beets grow cylindrical beets next year.  

They cook evenly and slice evenly and taste terrific. 

Bake them or boil them, but don't peel them. 

(Baking intensifies their flavor)

Also, leave the tops and roots intact, 
that way they won't bleed. 

When al dente let cool. While still warm twist beets in both directions.  Skin will come off in one piece.  

Season with coarse salt, add small amount of sugar and apple cider vinegar to taste. 

Chop medium sized onion and add to salad.

Have a lovely weekend my dear friends. 

Gina 

Help! Too many Turnips.

I've run out of ideas.

Can you help, please.

What are your favorite recipes for using turnips?  

I would love to know.  

I love growing turnips.  They make me look good as a gardener. Turnips never fail to grow well in any soil and under any weather conditions. 

They are the first vegetable I can harvest. (Radishes don't count)

I also like the cylindrical rather than round beet I am growing.  

When pickling, they are all the same size when sliced. 

You wouldn't also have a favorite family recipe for borscht would you? 

And if so, would you please be so kind and share.  

Your grateful blogging friend, 

Gina 



 

Joining  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Also joining  http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/