Sunday, November 28, 2010

Winter garden update

We've had frost for a few days.  I went to the garden yesterday to do a little work.  Since the ground was frozen, I could not continue in my quest to rid the garden of all rocks - soil too hard to sift.  So I spent the morning putting wood chips on various paths and raking leaves from the garden entryway into the street (for the leaf collectors).  Picked greens for salad.

Last week, Sean put up some wire hoops and fabric row covers over the greens.  We'll see how long the greens will last.  The first snow and it's all over but it's almost Dec 1 and the greens look great.

Freshly dug parsnips and the last of the radishes.  I was going to cook the parsnips for Thanksgiving but then didn't.  I will make soup.

hoops and fabric


Sean and greens

worm bin.  I cleaned it out last week and have found a place in the basement.  I need to make bedding and then get worms.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

The Deal goes down

Yesterday was the day.  The day the deal was done

Pork (91 lbs).  Chicken (5 whole).  Jerky (3 packages).

The pork was from a heritage hog, Tamworth, that my farmer Allan raised. 


The chicken came from an Amish farmer in PA and this batch included some heritage ones, called Barred Silver Cockerel.





The Jerky came from somewhere!  I didn't order it, Sean wanted to try it.

Kathryn and Sean, waiting for the dealer to show up

The dealer (Farmer Allan) and his son, Logan

The goods!

Brats

Link sausage

Bacon

Shoulder

Fresh ham steaks - how do I cook these?
 The girls

The Jerky

The storage unit

The user and her stash

Sunday, November 14, 2010

What's blooming Nov 14

My life has been crazy busy.  Traveling last week and an out of town guest this week.  By the time I get home from work, I'm too tired to even look at the computer (and I spend all day on it anyway).  The Dark Days Challenge will begin soon and I would like to go back and review what I planted in the spring and comment on how successful it was (thank you Nyack Backyard for the idea).   A colleague on campus gave me his worm composter and one of my garden neighbors has extra red wiggler worms, so that is going to be a weekend project - maybe next week.  Another friend recently sent a link to an article about women with gray hair and I keep meaning to write something about that topic (love gray hair, obviously since I have a head of it)

Foliage is in full swing here in DC.  My yard has been a bit neglected since it's time to clean it up.  I did some raking and a little pruning today and then noticed there were still some random flowers.

Kousa Dogwood


Roses still going strong


Strawflower

Black-eyed Susan next to faded Asters

Ornamental grass

Beautyberry

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Cooking from the empty pantry

I've been away for a few days to Charleston, SC.  There is a conference there every year and this is the third time I've attended.  It's a librarian conference, focused on collection development, acquisitions, electronic resources, technology among other topics.  Sean came with me this year and let me tell you, we ate like kings.  Sean's birthday was Wed night so our three friends joined us for dinner at Fig.    Thursday night, several of us were treated to dinner at Poogan's Porch by one of our vendors.  The last night there, we went to Jestine's  I ate mac and cheese, collards and butter beans with a slice of coconut cream pie to end the evening.  Needless to say, it's water and stale bread for me for awhile.

I got home this afternoon and decided to make something for the next few days.  On the way home, I stopped at my garden and picked greens (mustard, lettuce, arugula, mizuna).  I opened my fridge and realized there wasn't much there and there was no way I was going anywhere out of the house.


I dug out a lentil stew recipe and miracles of miracles, had all the ingredients (well, I made substitutions)

Shallots, garlic, potatoes and tomatoes, all from my garden

Mustard Greens picked earlier

Spices (coriander, curry and cumin) and brown lentils

Vegetable base for broth and cilantro lime sauce to add at the end

Lentil Vegetable Stew

2 tblsp olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 tblsp minced garlic and ginger
1 tblsp curry powder
1 tsp each cumin, coriander, salt
1/2 tsp cayenne
1 cup brown lentils
3/4 lb red potatoes diced
29 oz veg or chicken broth
1 10 oz bag of spinach
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tomato diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Heat oil, saute onion and cook 4 min,  Add spices and garlic and ginger and cook another minute.  Stir in lentils, potatoes, broth.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 min.  Add rest of the ingredients and cook for a few minutes.


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Dark Day Challenge #4 is here

The challenge was been posted!  I've signed up and it starts Dec 1.  I need buy my flour and dry goods this month.



http://urbanhennery.com/2010/11/4th-annual-dark-days-challenge/

Monday, November 1, 2010

Sunday in the vegetable garden

It was time to plant the garlic.  I spent the morning in the vegetable garden planting, weeding and sifting.

This is a Brandywine tomato - my colleague gave me some plants that she had started and I planted them late.  This one will ripen.

Lots and lots of greens

more greens!

Lettuce and radishes

There are so many rocks in my soil.  This is a sifter I borrowed from my gardening neighbor.  Sean claims he is going to make me one but I don't think he's serious about it.  Honey, if you are reading this blog, I'm serious.  I can use it now.

Garlic!

Random sweet potatoes, found