Garden Fuss

Some how my internal cold monitor went off in time for us to get the potatoes dug up. Wouldn't you know as I post this update the news is reporting that last night we finally reached official first frost temps at the Twin Cities International Airport. I guess I do have 6th sense when it comes to cold.... Well, I have been dreading this for some time now due to our unusually early cold weather. Yes we are in Minnesota the land of schizophrenic climates that can change in the blink of an eye. But it doesn't help to be achy and sniffly and just plain zapped from the dryness and lack of sunlight these days. What's a girl to do? I've tried first bribng then ultimately shaming the kids into digging them up. I even thought about teaching the hound to dig potatoes for a nice scooby snack. None of my drama and theatrics was successful so I had to get my big toosh up with my big girl panties on, wrap my neck, and bundle up to begin my last adventure in the garden this year.

Another reason to support the local markets? They love on our kids with more than delicious fresh produce. They fill little hearts by providing colorful gourds, multiple colors, glitter, and opportunities to be creative. I love that even though the dog days of summerare gone we can still find great things to eat and do @ our local farmers market.  As you can see from the pictures I was able to find beautiful parsnips, and the freshest Jerusalem artichoke I've ever seen. This is an ingredient I have seen in the past and stayed away from because I had no clue. However, I will be using these beauties in a couple different dishes that I hope please my finicky crew. I'll try them creamed into a soup, and a roasted recipe. If this goes over well then you know where I'll be next week.... My local farmers market or somewhere similar hoarding... I mean purchasing another clutch of them. Another honorable mention of the day are the salad greens. I found some amazing lettuce and g

Diced onion sauteed with fresh cabbage from the garden and topped with chunks of cheddar cheese has been stuffed into seasoned ground pork to make the ultimate burger. As you can see from the pic the burger sits on a bed of cute pear tomatoes and fresh romaine lettuce. For the base of the burger have used fres bread from "A Bakers Wife". Now that's what I call a weekend dinner with greens!

I love pickling and now my mom has caught the pickling bug too. Usually I stay away from consuming okra due to the slime factor when cooked. For my birthday the other day I gt a box from mom with some preserved items including, muscadine jelly and pickled okra. It takes a good cook to use okra in a way that doesn't have slime oozing down your throat. My mom can definitely fry up a good batch with crunch but she doesn't live close eough so I can enjoy them fried. Most people I know put it in gumbo or soup. If it's going into any kind of soup... I avoid it like the plague. This is my first time trying okra pickles and I will tell you now I am going to harvest the remaining pods in my garden and brine those bad babies before it is too late. 
I know it's strange to some for a person to grow a plant they would not eat themselves. I would say to you, have you never seen an okra blossom? It is one of the most beautiful flowers in the world. If I could collect a bloom and prese

Oh the soft **ping ting** of canning preserves is what I'm hearing this evening. After taking a trip to Trader Joes earlier in the week I found a fresh shipment of California figs. I know this is against my motto of buying local, but I just couldn't pass up this sweet succulent fruit. Nothing says christmas like a meal with figs. Though I've never had figgy pudding which I'm not sure contain actual figs... I do enjoy yogurt with a sweet and savory smelling fig, thyme, and lemon confiture. I can eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Last year I gave away and enjoyed lots of preserves. This year I'm already more than half way done with my canning, and looking forward to tucking into them when the white stuff (dare I say the "s" word outloud) actually hits the ground. Enjoy the pics and be sure to check back because I'll post my recipe for you. 

Later Peeps!!

The little man in the family has been asking me to make cinnamon rolls for months now. Due to his allergies we have not been able to buy commercial brand rolls. So again armed with the power of the internet I began a pastry excursion in a much needed warm kitchen. It turned out to be very blustery and wet today. Lord knows we needed the moisture but this cold stretch is irritating so soon in the year. With that said, it has been a perfect roll making day and here are the pictures of our results. I will add a recipe later, but had to show the lushness of these rolls. The smells of cinnamon and butter are still wafting through the house.

The makings of our Tomato Sauce started off with a large box of fresh Roma's we picked up from the St. Paul Farmers market . I think we have finally gotten a quick process down for removing the skins because we finished in under an hour. (minus the time for the water to actually boil) I have had a few people including my sister in-law ask how to make sauce so I thought I would outline a basic one here that can tweaked and toyed with until it tastes like you want it to.   So with that being said here is how I got organized to start making sauce. A large stock pot of boiling water A pot of ice water A clean bowl for the composting skins or to toss in trash later (I’m not judging) A paring knife to score tomatoes and then cut out their tasteless core A couple empty casserole pans or large bowls or pots to hold peeled and cored tomatoes Metal strainer or Something Similar to scoop tomatoes out of boiling water A food processor Last but most important to me,