sparrowgrass

My corn is so sad. Way too hot and dry, I guess. Tomatoes are doing well, not quite enough to force me to do something with them, just enough to eat and to share. That is going to change shortly, and I will have to break out the canning jars. (I have 40 some plants, and I think they are about to inundate me.) I have had a few cukes and zukes, and I tried some Italian cucuzzi squash this year--I like them better than zucchinis. Firmer, and more flavor. No green beans yet--the first ones I planted turned out to be pole beans instead of bush, and I never got around to putting poles up. They are crawling all over the asparagus, but no beans yet. The Japanese beetles have been chowing down on them as well. I planted some purple string beans, but they only have flowers so far. I have started some fall broccoli--I hope they get big enough to plant by mid-August. I planted 6 Mucho Nacho jalapenos--whatever possessed me to do that--I have giant jalapenos by the ton. Very productive, very HOT.

I am with andie--I use that little serrated bowl thingie. I have seen them sold as 'tomato sharks' and they work well for tomatoes, too. Mine were much less expensive--under a dollar each, from a Kitchen Collections at an outlet mall.

The only reason I can see for this belief is that drinking something hot might make you sweat--if you sweat and happen to find a breeze, the sweat cools you as it evaporates. I don't think there has been a breeze here for a week. I am sticking with cold drinks.

My exFIL would boil them in very salty water til just done, cut them half, and then deepfry them. Crispy and good. Hard to do right unless you have your own garden--grocery store 'new potatoes' aren't really, in my experience--they are just little potatoes.

I don't use pesticides in my garden, so my corn almost always has earworms. They rarely go farther than the top inch of the cob, and I just break or cut off that part. If they happen to wander lower, I use a sharp knife to cut out the damaged kernels. The chickens love the husks, ends, and particularly, the worms!! I am doing low-carb (high blood sugars) but I think fresh corn is worth the carbs.

Sam's Club also has inexpensive white napkins, which is what I use for straining my yogurt. I will be on the lookout for diapers, since my napkins are getting a little grimy looking.

I made this Peruvian Quinoa stew this weekend--very, very good. The quinoa is optional--it would be good with pasta or other grain. Peruvian Stew

I did mine in the oven--cooked til the bacon was crisp, gone before the pan cooled.

That reminds me--I have a bag of frozen jalapenos from last years garden--time for ABT's. I use chileheadmike's recipe. I bought 'Mucho Nacho' jalapenos for the garden this year--they are supposed to be giant jalapenos, and I think they will make great ABTs.

I tried the method shown in the video--it just made my ears pop.

I string them on dental floss--don't use the mint kind! (Floss is really strong, I use it for sewing on buttons or making repairs where I need the strength.) I just hang them up in a dry spot--outdoors or in the attic. Or, park your car in the shade on a hot day, crack the windows, and either string the peppers or lay them out on a cookie sheet or old window screen. Warning--wear gloves while stringing--you wouldn't think it, but that string picks up a lot of heat while it is running thru the peppers, and it will transfer to your fingers.

I have been making my own Greek yogurt, and thinking about putting it into ice cream. I am off sugar--doctor's orders--and wonder about making frozen yogurt with splenda or some other sweetener.

Found something else--I am not familiar with these bugs, but they are a problem in California. Tomato psyllids

Pierogi, bT is not a good control for aphids/gnats. It works on worms/caterpillars. Try an insecticidal soap (Safer is one brand name), or mix up your own in a spray bottle. Use a spoonful of dishwashing liquid in water. Be sure to get all surfaces--bugs like to hide under the leaves--and drench the plant thoroughly. Leave the soapy solution on for half an hour or so, then spray it off with plain water. Making sure your plants are well fed and watered does a lot to limit damage from insects. Don't fertilize tomatoes until they have fruit on them, or you will have all foliage and no tomatoes.

I usually use a big bowl or the salad spinner. If I am canning and need to wash an immense quantity of veggies, I do use the sink, but I clean it, and the stopper, quite thoroughly first. I would not, however, toss a veggie just because it hit the sink bottom, especially if it was going to be cooked later. I would rinse it off and call it good, as long as the sink was reasonably clean, which it is most of the time.

I bought a small (4 cup) coffee maker for tea--I use about a third of a cup of Earl Grey and mix the hot tea about half and half with cold water as soon as it is done. It is still a little warm when I put it in the fridge, but it remains clear, never cloudy.

I once attended a program given by an entomologist from Purdue--amazing, funny, wonderful speaker (Tom Something, I think), and at the very beginning of the program, he tossed a handful of mealworms into an electric skillet with some butter. They smelled wonderful, the kids in the audience were entranced, but when he started to serve them up, I just. couldn't. do. it. I was told they tasted like sunflower seeds. I love shrimp--I know they are just ocean bugs--but insects will never cross my lips if I can help it.

Back when I had a couple rhubarb plants, I used the leaves to mulch around the plants. I wouldn't worry a bit about putting them in the compost, but I wouldn't eat them.

I have been sorting stuff into big reusable canvas bags. I got some that are large and that stand up by themselves. They fit better than hard sided boxes or crates, and the handles make them easy to lift out to check underneath. If your bags don't stand up well, try cutting a piece or cardboard or wood to fit the bottom.

Day lily buds are good too--stir fry quickly or steam and add butter and salt.

Chickens work. I rarely have smelly trash--the girls and the dogs take care of most everything. My uncle always called the disposal the 'electric pig'.

Pasta. Good bread. Chicken and dumplings. Corn on the cob. Ice cream. Oreos. Baked potatoes. Risotto. Can you tell that I have been low-carbing for months? (Princess--my birthday is the 22. I am going to celebrate both days, just to cover my bases. Happy birthday!)

You can buy Tupperware on line (Amazon is one place). I think it is overpriced, but, at least in the past, it had a lifetime guarantee.

Noodle--I have the same model, and the same problems. I don't think there is much to do about the plastic stuff, except carry it to the sink and let it air dry. Your cloudy glasses may be due to hard water--try setting a custard cup of white vinegar on the top rack before starting the machine. Works great for me. If your water is not hard, it can be because of too much soap. The extra soap actually etches the glass, and is not fixable. My mom has a water softener, and all of her glasses were etched. We finally convinced her to use let soap (and buy new glasses) and they are fine now.

I use a wide mouth half pint mason jar, and leave it out on the counter, and have done that for years. The jar has a lid, to keep dust (and cats!) out of it. The wide mouth means it is easy to scoop the butter out, with a measuring spoon or a knife. I leave a stick out on the counter until it is soft enough to mash into the jar--it will hold 2 sticks, if you use butter that quickly.