Confession #8 The Shrine

“Why carrots?” is a question most people will never be asked, especially by medical personnel.
It started when I was a kid. I never really liked my birthday. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the gifts well enough. I just didn’t like being the center of attention. Over the years it got worse, I basically did not look forward to my birthday at all.
It was on my 49th Birthday that my husband turned to me and asked: “So…what are you going to do about next year?”
Good question. (It is a big day, I didn’t want it to be a Big Bad Day.) I decided to have a good answer: “I’m going to make a few changes.” Five in fact. I will do five things for my 50th and on that day I will start to enjoy my birthdays.
One of the five was to do something I always wanted to do but never did. (No sky jumping for me though, scaring myself have to death isn’t high on my Things To Do list, fortunately.)
I had in fact always thought it would be fun to get a tattoo. At first I was too young, then I had no money, then I had no time…you know how it goes. Now I have the time and the money, God knows I’m old enough. Funny thing, though, they still made me wait two weeks to be sure I was certain.
The subject of the tattoo was never a question, just the particulars. I love homegrown everything, but which veggie to pick? Potatoes?…no, too drab. Tomatoes?...I’m sure it’s been done. Carrots…that’s it! Colorful, Crispy Carrots.
Now if you knew me you might never think that I would go get a tattoo. Apparently my family was a bit surprised as well. They expressed that by giving me Carrot Gifts.
Now in my kitchen, there is a lasting reminder of my 50th Birthday (which by the way was fantastic): The Carrot Shrine.

Indoor Garlic

Everything I've read on the internet tells me garlic can't be grown indoors except for the greens.
Ok, I don't need to reinvent the wheel. I planted a few garlic cloves in a planter and put it in a southeast window. I chose cloves that showed signs of sprouting, some cloves from the grocery store are treated to not sprout.
In a very short time the sprouts were up. I pinched off a little to try it. I really was shocked at how powerful the garlic taste was. Not less, like the green part of scallions, but more than a clove itself (a store bought one that is).
I used it like scallions to top off a twice-baked potato...so delicious and colorful.
My husband has been using them in cooking, he also commented that he was suprised at the strong taste.
Note that this is like pinching back a plant. The garlic that had some greens removed actually grew better than the ones we left alone, and has lived longer.
I think I'll need a new spot for my cactus. I want two planters of garlic so we never run out.

Plotting and Planning

First Time Vegetable Gardening – How Many Plants to Plant?

My husband claims that two zucchini plants are at least one too many, and perhaps he is right. Many’s the story I have heard of a kitchen filled with zucchini at the end of the growing season, or offers I have received for cucumbers in the fall. I won’t even talk about the year I threw a handful of cabbage seeds in an empty bed (that's another confession).
Knowing how many and what to plant in the vegetable garden may seem daunting to the new, or even to the more seasoned, gardener. There are many factors to consider: the type of vegetable, how much space you have, how much sun your garden receives, and more. When a first time gardener approaches me with this question, this is what I tell them.
The first decision to make is how each vegetable will be used, and of course you need to make adjustments for the size of your family. Generally 3-4 plants of most types of vegetables are good for a family of four if you do not plan on canning, drying or freezing. Some exceptions would include eggplant; the suggested guideline is one plant per eggplant-loving person (in our house that is one plant). One corn plant will usually produce two ears of corn, so plant six plants for a dozen ears. Adjust according to what your family likes and expect their tastes to change over time.
But the plants come six to a pack? Share. Find a friend that enjoys gardening and shop together. You can also plant from seeds, saving money as leftover seeds are still quite viable the next season.
Planting a small quantity of a variety of vegetables your first few years will help you to learn what you and your family needs. You may decide some vegetables are not worth the work they require and decide to give that space over to ones you prefer. Start small. If you cannot resist the temptation to plant all six cucumbers, learn to make refrigerator pickles. Use nice jars. You’ll be giving them away.

For information on companion planting: http://www.gardeningjones.com/companion_plants.htm

Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Gather your ingredients:
1 box Chocolate Cake Mix
Eggs, Oil, water as mix calls for
1) 12oz. bag Frozen Raspberries
24 oz. Cream Cheese icing (16 oz. for 1 layer cake)
2 Tbs. Raspberry Preserves
¼ cup flour
Chocolate Sundae Syrup

Defrost berries by placing in colander and running lukewarm water over them. Drain very well.
Preheat oven and prepare cake mix as package directs.
Prepare pans by spraying with vegetable spray (Pam). Place about 2 tbs. flour pan(s) and swirl to dust the bottom and sides. This makes removing the cake easier.
Pour batter into one 13x9” or two 8” round pans.
Using a teaspoon, put little drops of raspberries over the batter. Use the baking times from the box as a guideline, cake may take a little longer.
Let cool enough to handle.
For 13x9” cake let cool till just warm. Ice with cream cheese icing (it will melt in slightly) and serve warm.
For double layer cake:
Remove cake by inverting a plate over the cake and flipping the plate and cake over. You want the bottom of the cake to be on the cake serving plate, so do this again with the cake serving plate. Spread the cake top with some raspberry preserves. They should melt in.
Place second cake on top, both tops of the cake should be together. This gives you a flat cake surface (baker’s secret!)
I like to put some icing on while the cake is still warm so it melts in. Fill in the gaps between cake tops (middle of cake) with icing. Let cool then chill to make the icing firm.
Ice the sides then the top of the cake with the remaining icing until you no longer see the chocolate.
A nice presentation is to drizzle chocolate syrup on the plate. Warm the preserves in the microwave for a few seconds and drizzle that with the chocolate. Place slice of cake on plate and drizzle a little more preserves over the chocolate cake.
Enjoy!
Variations:
Ice with chocolate icing.
Use strawberries in place of raspberries.
Use white cake mix with chopped (canned or frozen/thawed/drained) apples and walnuts.
Use white cake mix with chopped (canned or frozen/thawed/drained) peaches and raspberries, top with vanilla cool whip.
Check out the YouTube Video for slides of the cake making process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWsp9dN9GgI

Confession #17 ~The Stash

While sorting through my collection of seed packets I realized I need to make another confession. I hoard seeds.
Ever since I found out that seeds only lose some viability each season (something the seed companies don’t want you to know) I have saved the leftover seeds each year.
Throwing out leftover seeds is about as difficult for me as thinning seedlings. After all, that’s a healthy growing plant, who am I to decide which ones live and which do not? I know it’s for the greater good, and I do it; but I really don’t like it.
I try to space the seeds far enough apart to reduce the need to thin, but it doesn’t always work that way. Doing that also leaves me with leftover seeds…really leftover. I found seeds packets tonight from 2002. More than one. (Talk about a confession.)
I know they are probably not viable anymore. I should just toss them out and get it over with…
I can’t do it.
I think instead I’ll mix up all the seeds that are prior to 2007. Come Spring I’ll just take one garden bed and toss them all in. I won’t be able to space them properly, not knowing what they are. I know, I’ll just thin the seedlings as needed.
Wait a minute...