Summer Bounty

Thanks to some meetings we had through an off-shoot of our 4-H club, we learned about foraging plants found growing on the property. I was inspired to make pasta with purslane. It was delicious.

I used this recipe but substituted Fromage Blanc instead of the sfait cheese: http://food.lizsteinberg.com/2011/07/13/summer-pasta-with-purslane-and-sfatit-cheese/.

I also made a dish with plantain, rice, garlic, onion and carrots. While good, the plantain was challenging, and requires a little more work on cooking it until the texture is a little less chewy.

Gathering greens for a salad: lamb's quarters, red and green deer's tongue lettuce (heirloom varieties), sour sorrel and blackberries.

Cheese and Crackers

Such a good combination. Especially if you make them yourself...

Jacket Potatoes

One of the meals we had was jacket potatoes. I found the recipe from Kathy Bannister's Cook & Tell. The recipe was called "Curried Cauliflower Jacket Potatoes". Because I wanted some color, I used broccoli instead, and the result was tasty.

First, red onions and garlic (added more than was called for).

Next, some tomatoes from the garden.

Then, began combining the ingredients in the pan.

Combining the two.

Yum.

You can find the recipe here: http://blog.mainefoodandlifestyle.com/2011/04/curried-cauliflower-jacket-potatoes.html#more-10743.

...How Do Your Gardens Grow?

This post is overdue--especially since the gardens are winding down.

Here is how they began:

And here they are in the large garden.

Seeing these pictures makes me look forward to planning the next one...

Tomatoes

I went a bit overboard with tomatoes this year.

I planted over a hundred--quite by accident. I started the plants all from seed, making sure to plant a few extra in case the seeds did not come up. Well, they all did, and I planted all the seedlings because I couldn't bear not to.

They were wonderful--all heirloom varieties with names like Mark Twain, Gardeners Delight, Orange Paste Tomato... They were prolific as well, and continue to be so as the frost nears. I fear I will have a lot of green tomatoes to deal with and will need to find recipes for pickles, relishes and more.

Cleaning Tomatoes

In the sink

and in the tub.

Making Sun Dried Tomatoes

This is a simple and delicious way to take care of cherry tomatoes when they split on the vine before you can catch them.

Simply cut them in half, and place them on the trays of the dehydrator. After about 12 hours, you will have delicious tomatoes that can be frozen then used at a moment's notice.


Green Tomato Pickles

I used the recipe from Favorite Pickles and Relishes by Andrea Chesman.


As to the rest (so far), Tim and I made batches of tomato sauce, and I froze a bunch.

Catching Up

When I look at the blog, I've realized I have neglected it quite a lot.

The mission of the blog has not changed. We are still eating naturally, and making the bulk of our food. When we go food shopping, we are still both spending less and buying mostly ingredients instead of pre-made food.

My bread is getting better, the cheese is improving, and the gardens are winding down while the freezer is filling with beans, tomatoes, and more while the drawers in the cellar are filling with turnips. Every year the gardens are improving and growing more fruitful.

I will attempt to bring the blog up to date as well as add to it to finish out the year. Who knows--I may continue this another year, as I don't think we'll be returning to pre-packaged food...