Let’s preserve something

Very simply – I love to can.  For some reason I find it therapeutic.  I make a total disaster of the kitchen, but there’s nothing better than opening a fresh jar of tomatoes in the dead of winter.  Although somewhat time consuming, canning is relatively easy.  So hop on the canning band wagon and go…

How to freeze and preserve basil in olive oil

There is nothing quite like fresh basil.  Each year, I grow enough to cover Rhode Island.  To help preserve that fresh from the garden taste, I preserve the basil by freezing it in olive oil and packing it into ice cube trays. DIRECTIONS Pick your basil leaves and submerge them in a large bowl filled…

My roots are starting to show…

Growing up, I only had the privilege of knowing my grandparents.  My great-grandparents were lost to the ages well before I was born.  So was all their history – their parents’ names, the towns they were born in, the stories of their journeys to America. Not knowing who these people were has always haunted me.…

Canned stewed tomatoes recipe

Tomato season is upon us and it’s putting up time. Wheee! The key ingredient in this recipe is FRESH, RIPE tomatoes, whether from your garden or farmer’s market.  Six months from now, when the snow is piling up outside, you can have a taste of summer by using the stewed tomatoes to make spaghetti sauce,…

Chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe

I had a couple zucchinis go rouge and I can now anchor a battleship with them.  It’s time to bust out the zucchini bread recipe! Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread INGREDIENTS 3 eggs 2 c white sugar 1 c vegetable oil 2 c grated zucchini 2 tsp vanilla 3 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt 1 tsp…

Zucchini has its own holiday!

Unfortunately, I missed National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day which was celebrated on August 8th.  Yes, we have such a love/hate relationship with the zucchini that it now has its own holiday.  HOWEVER, I will be celebrating National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch MONTH because I gone ‘n dun it……

Devil, thy name is Bacterial Wilt!

Bacterial wilt is caused by both the striped and spotted cucumber beetle, which carries a bacteria called Erwinia tracheiphila.  First the leaves will wilt and shrivel, then it will spread to the branches and vines.  Eventually the whole plant will kick the bucket.  And it all seemingly happens overnight! This year, I planted three types of…

Have you ever eaten a cupcake in the bathroom?

Have you ever eaten a cupcake in the bathroom?  I have.  After a long week of absolute disasters, total calamities and countless near-misses, I decided to give into my inner Tastykake demon.  I wheeled into the convenience store and made my way right to the Tastykake display.  There it was, in all its glory –…

Pink Lemonade Petunias

While my garden grows like gangbusters, I’ve always had a little bit of a not-so-green thumb when it comes to summer flowers. I’ve spent years amending my garden soil so my plants flourish – my window boxes, umm, not so much. If I get around to it, I’ll dump in a fresh bag of potting…

In the garden

There are several old standbys that I plant in my garden every year.  One of my favorites is the Sugar Snap Pea – it’s a great producer throughout the entire gardening season. The Sugar Snap Pea is easy to grow and produces sweet, tender pods that are great to eat right out of the garden.…