Autumn Colors

Trees are changing

Maple tree has begun to show color

Fruit has been harvested

Corners are full of surprises

Sky Blue Petunias are still my favorites

Flowers are going to seed. Time to collect them.

Who likes Nasturtiums. 

I move a few pots into the greenhouse for a steady supply of winter bouquets. 

Soon leaves will be bright red. 

Have a great week dear friends.

Gina

All of a sudden, there they are.

They have been hiding under the big leaves.

Two different recipes 

Peel and thinly slice cucumbers,

add salt to taste.

Place upturned plate on top of cucumbers and add heavy weight on top  and let stand for an hour.

Pour off liquid.

Add a dollop of sour cream and a small amount of sugar to taste.  

place in refrigerator until serving time.

Serve chilled 

 

These crystal bowls are more than 75 years old.  They belonged to my mother who always served this particular salad in these bowls. 

They are the only treasure I have from my home by the Baltic Sea.

  

This cucumber dish was Mr G 's favorite. 

Peel and slice cucumbers, pour light vinegar and water brine to cover.  Add salt and hot pepper flakes to taste.

Happy weekend to you and yours, 

Gina 

I didn't think that it existed

A tomato that actually tastes like a tomato. 

It's not very pretty, 

but oh, what a fabulous flavor.

It is an Heirloom Black Brandywine Tomato.

A friend gave me seedlings.   I didn't expect much 

and I was so wrong.  

I'm saving seeds.

Do you grow a special tomato?

Gina

So satisfying when they become more spectacular every year!

 All they need is lots of water and filtered sunshine

Tuberous Begonias

They will sleep in the greenhouse

They usually show new growth in March-April

Blooms appear where leaves point

Planned on picking my plums yesterday.  

Raccoons did the job for me AND they ate all of my grapes.  

I would love to join their midnight raids,

but I'm a coward, Raccoons are mean. 

Happy days to you, 

Gina 

 My very special Squash Bread Recipe

This is a Lakota Squash, any winter squash will do. 

Squash Bread Recipe

2 cups of cooked squash

3 eggs beaten

2 cups sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

3 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup light olive oil 

3/4 cup chopped nuts
1 cup of almond meal (optional)

1/2 cup golden raisins

Mix all ingredients

juice and grated zest from one lemon and one orange

Mix together

Add 3 cups of flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda. 

Mix by hand with wooden spoon until all ingredients are 

well incorporated. 

Grease 2 loaf pans 

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes and reduce heat to 300 and bake another 15 to 20 minutes. Test with toothpick.  

This is the bread to bake.  It is foolproof. 

This might be the year when you try fried squash blossoms.

Squash bread freezes well. 

Recipe also makes great tasting muffins. 


Bake something and have fun.

Gina

Growing in my garden

Rondes de Nice

 

What makes Rondes de Nice so perfect is that the entire vegetable can be eaten.

Also known as Rolly Polly Zucchini,

Ready to eat when golf ball size

The entire Zucchini is edible including skin and blossoms.

Dredge blossoms into beer batter and deep fry.

Save a few seeds for next year.

Happy gardening 

Gina