Most of my summer vegetable gardening was focused on my 3 rows of tomato plants this year. Pipedreams of canning enough to last through the winter were foiled by hungry neighborhood groundhogs, a pet tortoise with a fondness for the cherry variety, and other members of my household.
But the time has come to tear out dead roots to try yet again the distant spring. Though I am grateful for what fresh produce I was able to make from my vegetable garden each year I hope for it to be better than the last. Yet again weeds were a major challenge as I firmly refuse to add any chemical cocktails to my small plot.
So far this year I haven't experienced any bouts of unemployment. Though this year I couldn't afford to save any money I'm still wishing for a cold frame! My goal is to save up for one for winter 2013, so that I can grow greens all year round :)
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
Epic Summer Garden Fail
Mint and Spearmint plants have both respectively passed to the great beyond of dust from the heat. But my vegetable garden may be beyond the beyond. Grass overtook my lettuce in less than a week! I plan to battle weeds/grass this weekend in a faint attempt to revive my garden.
Will I win the battle? I hope so :) I'd like to update in July/August with pictures, recipes, and better planning for the next spring. Another venue I want to delve into is canning. Even if my garden is a bust this year I plan on hitting the local farmer's market to get fresh produce to can with. Hopefully I will be able to can veggies for fall soups, meals, and more!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Pre-Gaming!
With Daylight Savings rapidly approaching I've already been planning out my vegetable garden for this spring/summer. Though I'm working one (temp) job now I'm hoping to save up for seeds so later (actually pretty soon!) I will be able to get a head start.
Two warm days this week in the 60s is making me yearn to prep the yard. This will be my 3rd vegetable garden at my home and I hope to make it even better than before. Will be sharing pictures as what yummy vegetables I plant grow and/or wither this year.
And of course I shall be sharing my heroic tales of destroying weeds, picking up neighbor's trash that just happens to land in my yard, and other exciting adventures! (^.^)
Two warm days this week in the 60s is making me yearn to prep the yard. This will be my 3rd vegetable garden at my home and I hope to make it even better than before. Will be sharing pictures as what yummy vegetables I plant grow and/or wither this year.
And of course I shall be sharing my heroic tales of destroying weeds, picking up neighbor's trash that just happens to land in my yard, and other exciting adventures! (^.^)
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Gratitude Post
The end of 2011 was tough, see lack of posts, and 2012 is challenging from the start! But nonetheless here is a few things that I am grateful for this week.
1. Seasonal Work- My temp job is still temporary but so far I have avoided being laid off. My hours went from 30 to 12-15 a week. I am grateful that during the busy holiday season I pushed myself to be a reliable worker. Offering to cover shifts for sick co-workers, pressing to learn different departments and areas of the store, and never ever being late are what kept me on payroll into 2012. I'm glad that though it's tough work at times I haven't given up hope of finding a better job soon.
2. Interviews!-My first interview for the New Year is on Monday! I am grateful that despite 2012 starting with a flood of rejection letters that I was able to search everyday to find opportunities to purse. I had one phone interview and will have a face to face one Monday. It's a seasonal position til mid May but it would allow me to get back on my feet while looking for something more permanent.
3. Bread Machine- For Christmas this year I decided to take the plunge and use my charge with Amazon to get a bread machine. I've been making small loaves of fresh bread almost daily since I opened that huge box, that I still need to put in the garage. There are so many delicious looking recipes that I am stoked to try in the coming months. Though money is tight with hours being cut at my temp job I'm still able to budget in flour, and for what I save on not buying craptastic store bought bread it's worth it.
4. Beans- I think I've posted beans on lists before but they deserve another shoot out. I love adding beans to soups and stews to make them more filling and up the yum factor. These are one of the cheapest staples I have in my kitchen, usually $1 a bag or less with coupons or sales!
5. My Car- Though the gas tank seems to be forever dangerous close to empty I am grateful that I have a vehicle to take me to my part time job and interviews when I am lucky enough to snag one. I hope that soon I'll be taking my car everyday to a new job and will treat it to a full tank :)
1. Seasonal Work- My temp job is still temporary but so far I have avoided being laid off. My hours went from 30 to 12-15 a week. I am grateful that during the busy holiday season I pushed myself to be a reliable worker. Offering to cover shifts for sick co-workers, pressing to learn different departments and areas of the store, and never ever being late are what kept me on payroll into 2012. I'm glad that though it's tough work at times I haven't given up hope of finding a better job soon.
2. Interviews!-My first interview for the New Year is on Monday! I am grateful that despite 2012 starting with a flood of rejection letters that I was able to search everyday to find opportunities to purse. I had one phone interview and will have a face to face one Monday. It's a seasonal position til mid May but it would allow me to get back on my feet while looking for something more permanent.
3. Bread Machine- For Christmas this year I decided to take the plunge and use my charge with Amazon to get a bread machine. I've been making small loaves of fresh bread almost daily since I opened that huge box, that I still need to put in the garage. There are so many delicious looking recipes that I am stoked to try in the coming months. Though money is tight with hours being cut at my temp job I'm still able to budget in flour, and for what I save on not buying craptastic store bought bread it's worth it.
4. Beans- I think I've posted beans on lists before but they deserve another shoot out. I love adding beans to soups and stews to make them more filling and up the yum factor. These are one of the cheapest staples I have in my kitchen, usually $1 a bag or less with coupons or sales!
5. My Car- Though the gas tank seems to be forever dangerous close to empty I am grateful that I have a vehicle to take me to my part time job and interviews when I am lucky enough to snag one. I hope that soon I'll be taking my car everyday to a new job and will treat it to a full tank :)
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Uber Easy Potato Soup!
Ingredients:
Potatos (shock)- cubed
1/2 onion chopped
Water
Salt/Pepper to taste
Milk (optional)
Peel and cube potatoes and place in pot. Add chopped onion and fill with enough water to just barely cover the potatoes. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Blend with immersion blender or if you don't have a blender use a potato masher to make a chunky version of the soup.
Most potato soups call for heavy creams but I thinned mine out with a bit of organic milk since I always have at least a pint on hand. Also for different variations replace water with vegetable or chicken broth/stock to add more flavor.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Simple Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Alas there is no photographic evidence left since my familia polished off the pot of soup the night it was made! Some recipes I researched online called for heavy creams but I think the least amount of ingredients the more the butternut squash shines!
1-2 butternut squash (depends if you wish to make a small or larger pot)
Chicken broth/stock
Salt/Pepper (a dash)
Olive Oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut butternut squash in half length wise and scoop out seeds. Lightly oil flesh sides of butternut squash and season with salt/pepper as desired (just a dash will do for each.) Bake for 1 hour.
Allow to cool til safe to touch and scoop out flesh into pot. Slowly add chicken broth/stock and blend with immersion blender. May also use a blender in small batches. Depending on how thick or thin one desires the soup to be depends on the amount of chicken broth/stock added. I added two cups for one butternut squash.
Optional topping of a spoon of sour cream may be used. Is delicious either way!
1-2 butternut squash (depends if you wish to make a small or larger pot)
Chicken broth/stock
Salt/Pepper (a dash)
Olive Oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut butternut squash in half length wise and scoop out seeds. Lightly oil flesh sides of butternut squash and season with salt/pepper as desired (just a dash will do for each.) Bake for 1 hour.
Allow to cool til safe to touch and scoop out flesh into pot. Slowly add chicken broth/stock and blend with immersion blender. May also use a blender in small batches. Depending on how thick or thin one desires the soup to be depends on the amount of chicken broth/stock added. I added two cups for one butternut squash.
Optional topping of a spoon of sour cream may be used. Is delicious either way!
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