Monday, November 10, 2008

Tulips

Peony-like Tulip "Mount Tacoma" - A fully double, glistening white, this 1924 award-winner has subtle green markings on its petals. Fragrant. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Late April. 20". HZ: 3-7.


Tulip "Swinging World" - New! With similar coloration as Aristocrat, a beloved old variety, this Konijnenburg & Mark hybrid is violet-pink with pale pink to ivory-white petal edges. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time: April/May. 24”. HZ: 3-7.


Photo and descriptions by Van Engelen

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Dao Miew

"Dao Miew" in Cantonese are snow pea leaf tips. The top part of the plant is harvested and used in cuisine. Often, it's more costly than other Chinese green vegetables because the plants are harvested young and then won't bare any peas. They are also only in season during the early summer and fall when conditions are cool.

I couldn't help myself and started some in a pot indoors. This way we have some tender greens to eat over the winter. My grandmother cooks dao miew sauteed with garlic and oil which is so simply, yet so delicious.

Today...


4 days ago...


Less than 58 more days to go and it's yummy in my tummy.

Pollinating Bell Peppers

This bell pepper plant had lots of little flower buds on it. Since there was the danger of frost last week, I couldn't bare to see it die and potted it. I brought it inside, but since they like the cold I kept it on my porch. When the flowers open, I took my finger and swooshed the pollen around hoping to pollinate them. Without the help of Bees to naturally pollinate them, I had to take matters into my own hands.

Bell pepper flowers


The flower to the left is beginning to swell already, so I hope that's a sign that I was successful. If we're successful, we'll have peppers for the winter!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Apple Dumplings

Simply DIVINE! My friends Mary and Steve are from the Central Pennsylvania area and were talking about how their grandmothers make the best apple dumplings. What's an apple dumplings I asked? They looked at me like I had 10, no 50 heads! And began describing something that sounded so utterly amazing that I had to try it.



Ingredients:
  • 5-10 medium apples
  • 2 packages (4 pieces) of pie dough
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 3 cups of water
  • 2 cups of white sugar
  • 3/4 cup of brown sugar
  • Cinnamon
First, I started by coring and peeling the apples. I cut them in half again because I actually didn't have enough apples. For me, that was the perfect size dumpling. I think 1 whole apple is too big. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, 1 cup of white sugar and cinnamon.


Roll the dough out to 1/8" thick. Lay an apple in the middle with a sliver of butter on top or in the center of the apple.


Then fold the dough over the apple and pinch it with a little bit of water to wet your fingers.


Place them in a baking pan. Give them a little room, but if you don't have room, it's ok. They don't puff up that much. In a sauce pan, heat 1/2 stick of butter, water, and the remaining sugar together. Pour over the dumplings any which way. Sprinkle extra cinnamon on top of the dumplings.


Bake for 1 hour. Notice the syrup is brown and bubbly. Mmm


When they are nearly done, ladle the syrup over the dumplings and put them back into the oven. The dumplings will get all brown and crispy.


Remove from oven and eat while warm. My friend Steve told me to put one in a bowl and pour milk over it and eat it like cereal. I loved it this way!!! It was the perfect amount of sweetness! I can't wait to get more apples to do this again.

Have you ever had apple dumplings? Do you eat them with ice cream or milk?

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Eggplant Ragu

We had some eggplant leftover from the harvest, so I diced them up and added them to my homemade tomato sauce.



Ingredients:
  • 1 large or 3 small eggplants
  • 1 onion
  • 3+ tomatoes or canned crushed tomato
  • 1lb of chuck beef
  • basil, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic cloves, olive oil
  1. Slowly brown the onions and garlic in some olive oil allowing them to release their flavor and sweeten.
  2. Add your eggplant and cook until translucent, stirring often.
  3. Add the beef and tomatoes.
  4. Simmer for 45 minutes.

That's All Folks

With the threat of frost tonight, I brought in the rest of my basil. I plan to make jars of pesto and give them as gifts to friends and family this year.


The proud gardener!


Above photo taken by this little munchkin - didn't she do a great job?!