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I haven't posted much about my garden this year, partly because of time constraints and partly because it's been underwhelming; in part because of the drought and in part because of (again) time constraints. Dealing with the chickens and quail and their supporting infrastructure took up much of the time I'd have otherwise put into my garden during the crucial weeks of late spring/early summer. So ordinarily, for example, I'd have many pounds of blanched and frozen greens tucked away for winter, while this year I've only been able to harvest sparingly for a couple of meals. Consider this bed, for example. See those itty-bitty chard plants in between the established ones? That was my second planting, from late June/early July (I don't quite remember which). We did get a half-inch or so of rain a few weeks ago, and promptly got a nice flush from our bucket of chestnut mushrooms (Pholiota adiposa). ...and of course, there were the usual joys of growing in stony soil... On the upside, we now have a vine of wild grapes growing along our fence line, probably because a helpful bird perched there at a crucial moment and provided us with viable seeds. This pic was taken a couple of months ago, before they ripened, but we did get a solid cup or so of tiny, tasty mature grapes. Lots of them were lost to a fungus before they ripened, but I discovered the vine in the course of clearing away the undergrowth from our fence line so hopefully the improved air circulation will help with that, next year. Of course, being situated right at my fence means I"ll also be able to conveniently train it along that established bit of structure. Gotta read up on vine pruning! Had my first, eagerly-awaited Black Krim a couple of weeks ago, too, this "conjoined twin" (photographed about 7 days before it was actually harvested). That on toast was two days' lunches. My other tomatoes are coming on nicely as well. Ironically the Scotians (an early variety that's popular locally) were slower to ripen than my Black Krim or the Romas, which are coming on nicely now. Also getting some from the yellow heirloom variety (its name escapes me just now) and my yellow and red cherry tomatoes. The "Plourde" (a regional heirloom variety) is getting close as well. Daytime highs are supposed to stay pretty decent (mid-teens C, so low-mid 60s F) through October, so barring a hard frost there's still some time for ripening. Got my fingers crossed (and my row covers ready).

Lovely evening at friends' last night. They served a delicious Roman Cacciatore with Potatoes (link to recipe follows), some sliced tomato I harvested at my sister's last week and nice Bourgogne Blanc to go with. One Pot Roman Cacciatore And my friend Dave also sent me home with a container of chili he made yesterday. Yum!

One of our supermarkets had half-bushel (25lb) boxes of Roma tomatoes for cheap a couple of weeks ago, so I bought two. Peeled and seeded them, cooked down half as plain tomato puree and half as basic tomato sauce (very neutral, so it can be taken in different directions as desired). Froze everything in those flat Rubbermaid "Take away" reusable containers, then popped out the resulting bricks of tomato and vacuum-bagged them. Had intended to can some, but time constraints didn't allow for it. Gonna wind up with another freezer soon, at this rate.

I said few days ago that that the trend in 2025 is for mixed nut mooncakes. Now I’m re-considering. It seems it may be being evasive about what kind of mooncakes you are actually selling! These are described as 奶酥皮紫薯雪媚娘 (nǎi sū pí zǐ shǔ xuě mèi niáng), which translate as ’creamy crusted purple potato and snowy bride’, whatever the hell that means. No further information available.

Every German school kid gets a Pausenbrot for second breakfast (around 11.00h), that is prepared by the parents between 6.00h and 7.00h. Bread, butter, cold cuts and/or cheeses, sometimes (fresh) cucumber or tomato. All in a Tupperware box, the Brotdose. If they don’t eat it for second breakfast, they‘ll eat it for lunch. If they don’t eat it then, they‘ll have it for afternoon snack. If they bring it home, it‘ll be their dinner.

How about some bacon fat in the peanut duja?

They still do here, at least. And yes nitrogen; not CO2. Did anyone else experience the cans that came with a syringe to inject the nitrogen? I think they were only sold in Ireland.

I'm struggling to understand why an undoubtedly deplorable scandal 17/18 years ago is suddenly being resurrected now. In fact, the company, Sanliu mainly involved was a joint Chinese-New Zealand joint venture. Two executives on the Chinese side were executed, three were given life sentences and two more lesser but still long sentences. Several government officials with supervisory roles were dismissed. Since then, the testing of food products has been massively increased, albeit far too late. But back to chicken. Chinese shoppers, especially the older generations, shun supermarket chickens. They buy live organic chickens in the market and do the nasty at home, ensuring freshness. I'd say, the best chicken I've eaten is here. They aren't inbred for larger breasts for example and certainly not chlorine washed!

I thought the whole purpose of gossip was to make it again and again, changing it a little bit each time. Ultimately I suppose it isn't very nourishing, or as good as you had hoped.

And the older I get and the more of this thread I read the more I am creeped out by chicken. My mother was famous for the first meal she ever cooked for my dad. It should be mitigated by the fact that she never learned to cook before that growing up, or after that either.. She bought a chicken that wasn't fully plucked and that still had the gizzard, liver, etc. inside the cavity. She roasted it just like that.

My memory is that the real scandal was that melamine was found in infant formula and several babies died of it.

Don’t mean to bust anyone’s bubble, but Smart Chicken is Tyson Foods. Possibly not the greatest for quality, but very good for low prices.

Nitrogen.

I feel the same. My favourite and historical market in town has been completely overtaken by post-covid 'tourists' intent on taking their next social media video and buying nothing. Fortunately, there are many other markets around town, one in particular I frequent. All of them sell great chickens.

In case that's a serous question, given your location, here's the company: Smart Chicken. Air chilled, humanely raised, etc. They've been around longer than AI, I Believe, although they don't predate HAL (2001 Space Odyssey) so who knows?

I don't know anything about this dish, but surely it's not a treasured cut. Obviously, it's something that needs a *lot* of help. I'd tend towards bottom round.

Didn't Guinness used to have some sort of CO2 generator in its cans that fizzed it up upon opening?

Lush, healthy plant. Gorgeous!

Guinnness Pub Draught. 4 pint (well, maybe 14 oz. ) cans for $11.99 at Trader Joe’s. re: the price of Chimay…imagine what that costs when out at a bar in NYC!

This type of jerky is called bak kwa... it's loved all over Singapore and Malaysia - totally different than the dendeng.... but differently very tasty!

Definitely no mayo -- I don't use it on its own in sandwiches anyway. I'd consider a little bit of Dijon mustard or, even better, some fig jam.

Here's the plant

Freeze.... and waiting to be bagged... This is all in addition to the ones above.

In that case, use mustard. Who puts mayo on a sandwich with jamon or salumi?

Welcome home meal for Mrs. 😄 Pollo en ajillo: Chicken thighs simmered with a sauce of pureed garlic (lots), pureed chile ancho, fried guajillo chile rings, and chicken stock. Arroz verde con rajas: Jasmine rice with pureed spinach, garlic, parsley, and onion. Topping was roasted chile Poblano strips sauteed with sliced onion and garlic, finished with half and half.