tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53949665820415341332024-03-13T11:56:48.526-04:00Eating from the EarthA family of three's culinary adventures centered on the food we grow ourselves and receive from our CSA.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-4426367805983166082013-02-15T12:16:00.002-05:002013-02-15T12:16:51.502-05:00More hops!As I mentioned <a href="http://eatingfromtheearth.blogspot.com/2012/03/yeah-i-have-time-for-another-hobby.html">previously</a>, Peter and I have been brewing beer for just about a year now. We've had some failures, but made a lot more drinkable beer than we thought we would. It's a great hobby, especially because it brings with it a great community. Overall, homebrewers tend to be pretty cool people, and very supportive of each other, expert or beginner.<br />
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To that end, let's get some support out there for a new corner of the homebrewing universe (yeah, now I create universes). Peter's way more active on Twitter than I am (if you follow him, you know what I mean) and he's been following @fermentedtees for awhile. Recently, they announced that their new website was just about ready to go live, and would anyone like to review one of their shirts. You know I was all over that!<br />
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Although they don't have a ton of designs to choose from, it still took me a while to decide. I do like the simple announcement of the homebrewer shirt.<br />
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<a href="http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server5000/xagiat/products/34/images/121/3__76721.1359120664.1280.1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server5000/xagiat/products/34/images/121/3__76721.1359120664.1280.1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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An easy way to warn people that if they start talking to you about beer, they're going to be stuck for awhile, and probably going home with a six-pack (please tell me my husband isn't the only one that does that to unsuspecting water testers and HVAC guys) <br />
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In the end, I settled on Add More Hops. Good advice and a "cuter" shirt, IMO. Hey, I may make beer, but I'm still a girl, cute wins me over.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDZ3Gf1Edu4/UR5ligJFa5I/AAAAAAAAANc/QpYlRx95lzo/s1600/P1090603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDZ3Gf1Edu4/UR5ligJFa5I/AAAAAAAAANc/QpYlRx95lzo/s400/P1090603.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ignore the red polka dot on my middle, my shirt was a victim of Valentine's Day red velvet cupcake making</td></tr>
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Fermented tees shirts are screen printed on 100% cotton ultra Glidan t-shirts, and they are a really nice quality. The shirts are a nice thick fabric, which I've already washed a couple of times without any shrinking or pilling. I do wish they offered "women's" shirts, because the cut tends to be more flattering than men's, but I'm just going to hem some length off this shirt so I can stop folding the bottom off my hips. <br />
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Since I received my shirt, <a href="http://www.fermentedtees.com/">Fermented Tees</a> has gone live, so head over there and check out the shirts they have for your favorite homebrewer. Don't see anything you like? They accept designs and ideas for designs, so put your creative mind to work!<br />
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What do you think? Are you dying for that retro "Yes, dear" shirt? Got a great new idea to send to Brian? Haven't gotten bitten by the homebrew bug yet?<br />
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<i>Disclaimer: I received a t-shirt from FermentedTees free for review, the opinions expressed are my own.</i><br />
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<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-79328961786135313952013-01-24T23:01:00.002-05:002013-01-24T23:44:31.019-05:00New YearI know it's cliched to start out the new year with lofty goals about being a better, thinner, healthier, richer, person, but, well I'm going to do it anyway. Except for the thinner thing.<br />
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I had a conversation with my cousins last year in which it came out that apparently everyone thinks I'm a put together, organized adult or something. Which is kind of hilarious to me, because most of the time, I feel like my life is a runaway train, and I'm barely keeping my fingertips on the caboose. Or, something that makes sense.<br />
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What it comes down to is I'm going to focus some of my energy into getting my life together so I can be at least a little like this persona I apparently present to the world.<br />
Let's call it project get my sh*t together. <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The house</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Our house is ove<span style="font-size: small;">r a hundred years ol<span style="font-size: small;">d, and whi<span style="font-size: small;">le that m<span style="font-size: small;">eans it<span style="font-size: small;">s got some <span style="font-size: small;">a<span style="font-size: small;">w<span style="font-size: small;">esome feat<span style="font-size: small;">ures, it also has a ton of problems. For an old house, <span style="font-size: small;">we have a good amount of sto<span style="font-size: small;">rag<span style="font-size: small;">e, ye<span style="font-size: small;">t I al<span style="font-size: small;">ways feel li<span style="font-size: small;">ke I<span style="font-size: small;">'m searching for places to put s<span style="font-size: small;">tuff<span style="font-size: small;">. Part of that pro<span style="font-size: small;">b<span style="font-size: small;">lem is the amount of stuff we have, and I plan on tack<span style="font-size: small;">ling that, but I like <span style="font-size: small;">my stuff, I'm not going to part with all of it.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">On the heels of <span style="font-size: small;">the <span style="font-size: small;">stuff issue, <span style="font-size: small;">is the mess issue. I have a 3 year old, I know my house isn't going to <span style="font-size: small;">be up <span style="font-size: small;">to Martha <span style="font-size: small;">standards, but I also don't think I need to<span style="font-size: small;"> have a<span style="font-size: small;"> deep down fear that so<span style="font-size: small;">meone may stop by<span style="font-size: small;"> before I<span style="font-size: small;">'ve had a chance to take a couple of days to clean<span style="font-size: small;">. Right now, my cle<span style="font-size: small;">aning schedule is haphazard and consists of looking <span style="font-size: small;">at<span style="font-size: small;"> something grody<span style="font-size: small;">, rea<span style="font-size: small;">lizing that <span style="font-size: small;">I can<span style="font-size: small;">'t remember the last time I scrubbed said area, getting disgusted<span style="font-size: small;">, then <span style="font-size: small;">cleaning said area.<span style="font-size: small;"> For my own sanity, this must change. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <span style="font-size: large;">garden</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">My mother had not just a green th<span style="font-size: small;">umb, <span style="font-size: small;">but a couple of g<span style="font-size: small;">reens hands. <span style="font-size: small;">The house I gre<span style="font-size: small;">w up in had amazing gardens, and I never realized just how much went into making them that way<span style="font-size: small;">. Now, I have almost an acre of land, and every <span style="font-size: small;">spring I a<span style="font-size: small;">m so excited to get my hands in the dirt. That excitement lasts un<span style="font-size: small;">til about June,<span style="font-size: small;"> when the reality of weeds and heat set in and I get over the whole thing<span style="font-size: small;">. I<span style="font-size: small;">'m going to try to improve on that this year. <a href="http://displacedgeek.wordpress.com/">Peter's</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;">already thinking about what vegetables we're going to grow<span style="font-size: small;">, and we're going to try to solve our groundhog problem (hopefully without ammunition), but since it's currently 22 degrees outside, this one is<span style="font-size: small;"> heading to the back burner for a while.</span></span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Work</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Ugh. <span style="font-size: small;">I don't think I can actually improve on the technical aspects of my <span style="font-size: small;">job. I do the best I can every day I'm there<span style="font-size: small;">,<span style="font-size: small;"> and I AM only one person. </span></span></span></span></span>What I can try to improve on is my attitude about my job. I really do like pharmacy in general, and retail in particular. I do not love the company I work for and the non-pharmacy crap that they pile on us to no end. However, the burn out inducing stress is not the patient's fault. I need to remember that.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hobbies</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Until recently<span style="font-size: small;">, I wa<span style="font-size: small;">s a prolific knitter. Hats, gloves, sweaters, I made them a<span style="font-size: small;">ll. My guest room is f<span style="font-size: small;">illed with bins of yarn. </span>I have a spi<span style="font-size: small;">nning wheel and literal sheep worth of fleece. And short of the sweaters I've <span style="font-size: small;">ma<span style="font-size: small;">de for 2 babies<span style="font-size: small;">, I<span style="font-size: small;">'v<span style="font-size: small;">e done nothing <span style="font-size: small;">with it for 2 years. This needs to ch<span style="font-size: small;">ange. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I've been doing better with sewing than knitting, at least <span style="font-size: small;">as far as actually doing it. I would like to improve on my actua<span style="font-size: small;">l skills though. I've been sewing for a really long time, but I<span style="font-size: small;"> was only "taught" the basics of how to run a machine, read a pattern, etc. I can make <span style="font-size: small;">stuff that looks good, and fits ok, but I'd really like to know how to do those thi<span style="font-size: small;">ngs well<span style="font-size: small;"> and correctly. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, there you go. <span style="font-size: small;">Some areas of focus for getting my sh*t together. </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<br />Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-1896191891808573572012-03-12T00:49:00.000-04:002012-03-12T00:49:23.860-04:00Yeah, I have time for another hobbySo for his birthday last year, my lovely in-laws got Peter a complete set of homebrewing equipment. We were quite excited to try making both beer and wine at home, and demonstrated our excitement but putting the kit in our closet and letting it rest for a year. Seriously, why does time move so quickly when I'm not at work? A couple of weeks ago, we finally got it together to visit a brew store and get a couple of <a href="http://www.brewersbestkits.com/">ingredient kits</a>. Since my first choice (Pumpkin Spice Porter) is a seasonal beer, not available until the summer, we decided to start with <a href="http://www.brewersbestkits.com/pdf/1048_Imperial_Nut_Brown.pdf">Imperial Nut Brown Ale</a> and <a href="http://www.brewersbestkits.com/pdf/1010_Red_Ale.pdf">Red Ale.</a> Less than a month later, and we've got the nut brown ale conditioning in a secondary fermenter, red ale beginning to ferment in a primary bucket, and a growing list of recipes we can't wait to try. As Peter says, "we're beer people now"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4NgJFqUtK1s/T1163lShfqI/AAAAAAAAAL4/-boML4Ziu_c/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4NgJFqUtK1s/T1163lShfqI/AAAAAAAAAL4/-boML4Ziu_c/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>According to the owners of more than 1 brew store, the most important part of the process is sanitation. Accordingly, my kitchen got a good scrub down with bleach before we started. I will let Peter brew anything legal if it means I get to live in this environment. Look, you can see counter space!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4bSykzGAKY/T117ukCA2dI/AAAAAAAAAMA/EPcQMogacRQ/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D4bSykzGAKY/T117ukCA2dI/AAAAAAAAAMA/EPcQMogacRQ/s320/011.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, that's more what I'm used to</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9aaHhOeqk6I/T117wRLf8kI/AAAAAAAAAMI/gaNUhJIKS-k/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9aaHhOeqk6I/T117wRLf8kI/AAAAAAAAAMI/gaNUhJIKS-k/s320/012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Preparing the grains to go into the water to steep for 20 minutes. See my monster new brewing pot? 24 quarts, that thing is HEAVY when full.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7g6kJ5uW78/T117yeFVCyI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/cfvOaYwihLk/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7g6kJ5uW78/T117yeFVCyI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/cfvOaYwihLk/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Making sure the temperature doesn't get too high. Over 170 and tannins can start to come out. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SE010Z3zSQ/T1171hT98xI/AAAAAAAAAMg/7I3J-fWOgpw/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3SE010Z3zSQ/T1171hT98xI/AAAAAAAAAMg/7I3J-fWOgpw/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Even though it looks like she's giving her daddy a rather rude gesture, Gabriella was actually being such a good girl, keeping herself occupied while we worked. Side note, know which game she's playing? OREGON TRAIL!!! Love the Nook! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itc8AY3O3TY/T1173bWyvgI/AAAAAAAAAMo/yYQfCPniiCg/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itc8AY3O3TY/T1173bWyvgI/AAAAAAAAAMo/yYQfCPniiCg/s320/024.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Also, she's a good helper.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibxn2ZHQblg/T1174opwF0I/AAAAAAAAAMw/EiyGAqRuGHY/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ibxn2ZHQblg/T1174opwF0I/AAAAAAAAAMw/EiyGAqRuGHY/s320/026.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>MMmm hop pellets!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQNzNaPErCs/T1176TTNxwI/AAAAAAAAAM4/XL2AlOtrszU/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQNzNaPErCs/T1176TTNxwI/AAAAAAAAAM4/XL2AlOtrszU/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>After boiling for an hour, you've got to get the wort cooled down quickly so that bacteria don't have a chance to establish. Filling our sink with ice water did it in about 20 minutes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpPjHmpql8A/T1177956gHI/AAAAAAAAANA/0rGbmErjCe8/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpPjHmpql8A/T1177956gHI/AAAAAAAAANA/0rGbmErjCe8/s320/031.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The only time in the process that you want to aerate the mixture. Gotta get some oxygen in there for the yeasties!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LbbRgSpAN8/T1179Rj4reI/AAAAAAAAANI/i9KklRHh5Qg/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LbbRgSpAN8/T1179Rj4reI/AAAAAAAAANI/i9KklRHh5Qg/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Yeast ready for pitching. Ladies, I married the man who takes these pictures of me. I know you're jealous<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Udd-jwFyls/T117-8DU9bI/AAAAAAAAANQ/RbXraaYt1kk/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Udd-jwFyls/T117-8DU9bI/AAAAAAAAANQ/RbXraaYt1kk/s320/035.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Time to leave the yeast alone to enjoy their feast!Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-73258961991787614162012-02-14T22:22:00.000-05:002012-02-14T22:22:49.121-05:00Valentine's dinnerSo I kind of dropped off the face of the earth there. Sorry about that. I'm back now.<br />
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So, it's February, which may seem like the absolute worst time for a blog that is supposed to be about our adventures in local farm wares, but our CSA is actually STILL going on. Technically, it's not the same share that we paid for last winter, but the farm that we use decided to attempt a winter share this year, and we were lucky enough to catch the email in time to sign up. The terms changed slightly, we know have pick up only twice a month instead of every week, but the cost was adjusted accordingly, and the veggies are just as yummy. We've been getting a great variety of winter hardy vegetables, such as kale, spinach, winter squash, turnips and carrots. I'm still supplementing somewhat with things from the grocery store, but that's just because we eat so healthily, right? Well, a girl can try to fool herself at least.<br />
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Tonight, I wanted to make something somewhat special for my valentines. I mean, how else would they know how much I love them, if i didn't show it on this particular day??<br />
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Hallmark guilt aside, we did have a pretty yummy meal, while managing to be at least marginally good for us. My parents had given us some ham (no, they're not now raising swine, they had just found a good sale) and my go to for leftover ham is good old-fashioned homemade macaroni and cheese. Unfortunately, my mommy guilt kicks in when I start to plan meals without vegetation, no matter how delicious, so I decided to add in some greens (and oranges and whites) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeD9WkBdtC8/TzsVeLe1rDI/AAAAAAAAALM/JmWWk_TpANU/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeD9WkBdtC8/TzsVeLe1rDI/AAAAAAAAALM/JmWWk_TpANU/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mac and cheese with ham,broccoli, cauliflower, kale and butternut squash</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And you know what? It was DELICIOUS! It's not that you can't taste the veggies in there. I'm not really into the idea of hiding veggies so that kids don't know that they're eating them. Of course, I'm lucky enough to have a kid who will eat just about anything, my stance on hiding them may change.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-btucenVlOXo/TzsVjajTlsI/AAAAAAAAALU/eVPDuFJX4RA/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-btucenVlOXo/TzsVjajTlsI/AAAAAAAAALU/eVPDuFJX4RA/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of two servings</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Of course, it IS a holiday, and I'm not a health tyrant. Gabriella has been wanting to make cupcakes for WEEKS, and we finally got it together today.<br />
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<tr> <td><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LZzGiTMz9Cw/TzsVY-PUUOI/AAAAAAAAAK8/eUSBg9rNN0I/s200/048.JPG" width="200" /></td> <td><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pc7O9wYuXb8/TzsVcSG6FZI/AAAAAAAAALE/OGVn6kq5ig4/s200/049.JPG" width="200" /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>I've had some heart shaped cupcake cups for ages, and never broke them out of the packaging until today. This is one of those simple little things that I just love doing with the little Miss. She can definitely be a nudge, and scares the beejezus out of me with sticking her fingers near the mixer while it's running, but it's worth it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OZpDdNpvtSI/TzsVnlGsX7I/AAAAAAAAALc/CUVVRQfRmHI/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OZpDdNpvtSI/TzsVnlGsX7I/AAAAAAAAALc/CUVVRQfRmHI/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I mean, how can you resist that "cheese" face?<br />
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And you may think that the cupcake that is super duper covered in sprinkles was Bella's doing, but you'd be wrong. The massive sugar overload was Peter's doing.<br />
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<tr> <td><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dWNJER3VCJA/TzsVqDm4k2I/AAAAAAAAALk/_mX7T46owVA/s200/064.JPG" width="200" /></td><td><br />
<img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mOMT-lKOV6s/TzsVsgEwBDI/AAAAAAAAALs/nBWuFIA0DUk/s200/066.JPG" width="200" /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-63845122669229086562011-08-26T00:07:00.000-04:002011-08-26T00:07:55.854-04:00In which I reveal just how impressionable I can beI work in a retail setting, and although my current store is far to busy to allow me to keep up with celebrity gossip the way some of my former stores did, I do have a clear view of the magazine display at our checkout counter. For the last month, the cover of Martha Stewart Living has been teasing me, especially on the days that I don't get a chance to eat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b9P10mIjFyY/TlcLxzg93pI/AAAAAAAAAK0/Zt-oAs2JC_Y/s1600/ms82011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b9P10mIjFyY/TlcLxzg93pI/AAAAAAAAAK0/Zt-oAs2JC_Y/s1600/ms82011.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
That deliciousness is marinated heirloom tomatoes with pasta, and it is damn near perfection for a summer dinner. <br />
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We threw this dinner together Tuesday night after I got home from work, so it's a good thing it's a quick and easy meal. It wasn't as garlicky as I thought it would be after reading the recipe, but it had a really great flavor, and it's just so pretty!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIwmZLDRmsg/Tlca-YLhQoI/AAAAAAAAAK4/I6lUtwJNTA0/s1600/P1050851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kIwmZLDRmsg/Tlca-YLhQoI/AAAAAAAAAK4/I6lUtwJNTA0/s320/P1050851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We used a mix of heirloom tomatoes from the CSA and our garden. Definitely going into the arsenal of recipes to use up tomatoes without making the typical pasta sauce. Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-5868447888400163002011-08-12T11:53:00.001-04:002011-08-12T12:19:17.266-04:00CSA Week 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So apparently I've skipped a couple of weeks of the CSA. There hasn't been much variety in the pick ups, so while delicious, things have not been overly interesting. Gabriella is fingerpainting at the moment though, so we can chat a bit about yesterday's pick-up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPRyCwIjl7g/TkVGEouHdHI/AAAAAAAAAKg/1aMPhiS27LE/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPRyCwIjl7g/TkVGEouHdHI/AAAAAAAAAKg/1aMPhiS27LE/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Lettuce, two huge sweet onions, green beans, potatoes from North Star's potato breeding project, tomatillos, and a couple zucchini and eggplant.<br />
Think it looks a little light for a farm share in the height of the growing season? You're right, it is.<br />
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Well, it's August, which means ...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7DpEIT3lGE/TkVFsUSdlHI/AAAAAAAAAKY/qdMLYY6nmbI/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7DpEIT3lGE/TkVFsUSdlHI/AAAAAAAAAKY/qdMLYY6nmbI/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">TOMATOES!!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Seven pounds of tomatoes in fact. Did I mention that we have 7 purposely planted and a few volunteer plants of our own and we're swimming in tomatoes. Yeah, there will be some sauce making in the near future.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's the actual bounty picture from yesterday</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELNq5R5U0IY/TkVF5_7JaRI/AAAAAAAAAKc/bOIWFolhENQ/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELNq5R5U0IY/TkVF5_7JaRI/AAAAAAAAAKc/bOIWFolhENQ/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Since last night was the official return of football, even if it was just preseason, we needed an easy to eat in front of the TV meal. Add in 7 pounds of tomatoes, and we opted for pizza again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my favorite things about pizza is just how versatile it is. Start with the same simple dough and you can end up with a ton of different meals. Of course, Peter is a traditionalist, so we made another margherita for him. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fqtRq45xD4/TkVGbnzUz1I/AAAAAAAAAKs/IXrLtbFqdIY/s1600/P1050677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4fqtRq45xD4/TkVGbnzUz1I/AAAAAAAAAKs/IXrLtbFqdIY/s320/P1050677.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basil pesto, fresh tomato slices and mozzarella</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
We piled quite a few things on "my" pizza. Yes, it was a more labor intensive preparation, but I think it was worth it<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YB2j7CoD678/TkVGXFKQvAI/AAAAAAAAAKk/24ve3fXJ3tw/s1600/P1050672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YB2j7CoD678/TkVGXFKQvAI/AAAAAAAAAKk/24ve3fXJ3tw/s320/P1050672.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoa, scary hand there. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKCgGEf4fxQ/TkVGZWcIo3I/AAAAAAAAAKo/b-IwdYPkdfk/s1600/P1050675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKCgGEf4fxQ/TkVGZWcIo3I/AAAAAAAAAKo/b-IwdYPkdfk/s320/P1050675.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasted eggplant and cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions, green peppers with ricotta and mozzarella</td></tr>
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Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-64166164168253143402011-07-26T12:35:00.000-04:002011-07-26T12:35:39.549-04:00It can't be good to crave time off so muchI actually have a pretty decent schedule as far as retail pharmacy is concerned. Because I work the one 14 hour day, I'm off two full days during the week. I look forward to Monday and Thursday like nobody's business. Since this past weekend was my turn to work, I didn't get a ton of fun time with the munchkin, so yesterday, we decided to ignore the chores that should get done and have a fun family day.<br />
We started the morning<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IG6oRsi3lZk/Ti7dE1jK54I/AAAAAAAAAJo/bACcZaQkk9U/s1600/P1050511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IG6oRsi3lZk/Ti7dE1jK54I/AAAAAAAAAJo/bACcZaQkk9U/s320/P1050511.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
at a local supermarket/restaurant, <a href="http://www.dutchwayfarmmarket.com/">Dutchway</a>. They have an awesome breakfast buffet which is normally a good deal (I think it's $6.99 for adults & $0.50/year of age for children), but had a special through July that it was only $4.99 on Mondays. I'm not sure the three of us could go to even McDonald's for breakfast for less than 15 dollars, and we definitely wouldn't have eaten nearly as much or as well. <br />
I'm really bad at showing restraint at buffets, so since we all consumed approximately 80 million calories at breakfast, we then headed to <a href="http://www.chesco.org/ccparks/cwp/view.asp?a=1550&q=650653">Wolf's Hollow county park</a> for some exercise. We did a combination of the blue and yellow trails, so we're approximating that we did about 2 miles of hiking.<br />
Overall, the terrain isn't too difficult (says the one who didn't carry the toddler), but there are some steep hills<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOJhRsobs3k/Ti7doOHfq8I/AAAAAAAAAJw/5Uo0FcyGSr8/s1600/P1050518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOJhRsobs3k/Ti7doOHfq8I/AAAAAAAAAJw/5Uo0FcyGSr8/s320/P1050518.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture really does not give that hill justice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We saw some wildlife<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VcpDFAnc9k/Ti7ds7_OtCI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/zMO1VfdfQ4E/s1600/P1050522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VcpDFAnc9k/Ti7ds7_OtCI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/zMO1VfdfQ4E/s320/P1050522.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big ass spider</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0V9RCnJuB-k/Ti7dxucouZI/AAAAAAAAAKA/d4jOF_Osies/s1600/P1050528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0V9RCnJuB-k/Ti7dxucouZI/AAAAAAAAAKA/d4jOF_Osies/s320/P1050528.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bullfrog</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qF6DJKeAybM/Ti7dzvidvcI/AAAAAAAAAKE/EyCAaNMXV8o/s1600/P1050529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qF6DJKeAybM/Ti7dzvidvcI/AAAAAAAAAKE/EyCAaNMXV8o/s320/P1050529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy grasshopper hanging out on my leg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>and some beautiful sights<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H5M2J30ONiU/Ti7dlmsuKPI/AAAAAAAAAJs/lHFVQq9NKYQ/s1600/P1050516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H5M2J30ONiU/Ti7dlmsuKPI/AAAAAAAAAJs/lHFVQq9NKYQ/s320/P1050516.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken at Lover's Leap, although there isn't much of a leap this far into the summer. Maybe in the winter when all the plants are dead. Yesterday, it was so dense that we could hear the creek, but couldn't see even a glimpse of it</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ZxW3J5sh74/Ti7dvkHUqUI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/gYO9v1OXkTo/s1600/P1050526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ZxW3J5sh74/Ti7dvkHUqUI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/gYO9v1OXkTo/s320/P1050526.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bullfrog was in those reeds next to the little semi island</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erPNdkc2zsc/Ti7d1j1LZxI/AAAAAAAAAKI/ayeXz9XfUhc/s1600/P1050530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erPNdkc2zsc/Ti7d1j1LZxI/AAAAAAAAAKI/ayeXz9XfUhc/s320/P1050530.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter was worried about my getting over the fords with dry feet since I only had sneakers and no boots. I reminded him that it's been in the high nineties for a week. The creek was quite low</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VKSOZl3JjgM/Ti7d4BPeKKI/AAAAAAAAAKM/SETDhUeuzXU/s1600/P1050532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VKSOZl3JjgM/Ti7d4BPeKKI/AAAAAAAAAKM/SETDhUeuzXU/s320/P1050532.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love standing on fallen trees over water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The best thing about the hiking trails in this park is that they are all in fairly heavily wooded areas. I didn't even bother with sunscreen, and it was relatively cool. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--kGyLFWkiH8/Ti7dqa4UHHI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/vTx4a8ZHZUI/s1600/P1050520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--kGyLFWkiH8/Ti7dqa4UHHI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/vTx4a8ZHZUI/s320/P1050520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's not in pain, she's saying cheese</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Plus, even though Peter carried her for a lot of the hike, Gabriella did walk and run a lot. There is nothing like a tuckered out child for having an easy bedtime.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YYsXeNiGIf4/Ti7ebUKc9eI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/iEDcl19w87c/s1600/P1050533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YYsXeNiGIf4/Ti7ebUKc9eI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/iEDcl19w87c/s320/P1050533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-31538081369757631612011-07-22T23:59:00.000-04:002011-07-22T23:59:25.016-04:00A taco theoryI have a theory on taco meat. I'm very nearly convinced that as long as you use taco seasoning, you can put it on almost anything and you're going to think it's tacos. This is not an <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/02/28/taco-bell-meat-88-percent-beef-12-percent-signature-recipe/">exclusive theory</a>. Anyhow, we've often thrown some strange things into our taco meat, and it tastes just fine. Last week, I really pushed the envelope.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XitVHWRVmwY/TijtDUTTynI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/9kHGPbPOFLE/s1600/P1050470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XitVHWRVmwY/TijtDUTTynI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/9kHGPbPOFLE/s320/P1050470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
That is shredded kohlrabi and patty pan squash, along with some ground turkey, because I cook for Peter, and he does not share my theory. The vegetables still far outweighed the turkey in that concoction and honestly, I think we could get away with dropping the meat completely. Maybe I couldn't in good conscience call the results tacos, but they would still taste good and fill us up. Of course, I'd have to try it without telling Peter.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4khd0f4OU_E/Tijt-eSNXpI/AAAAAAAAAJU/NfM6V8A1OMc/s1600/P1050471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4khd0f4OU_E/Tijt-eSNXpI/AAAAAAAAAJU/NfM6V8A1OMc/s320/P1050471.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This could easily be a vegetarian meal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-55249633591177541362011-07-22T00:03:00.000-04:002011-07-22T00:03:33.099-04:00CSA Week 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Slzk17fuBg0/Tijp-lllfcI/AAAAAAAAAI4/3zC1c23BNPw/s1600/P1050453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Slzk17fuBg0/Tijp-lllfcI/AAAAAAAAAI4/3zC1c23BNPw/s320/P1050453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Now we're settling into the summer crops and there isn't as much variation in our shares from week to week. I'm still a week behind, so this bounty is actually from last Thursday. We got beans, patty pan squash, lots of beets, eggplant, carrots and a head of lettuce. The big zucchini is not technically from the share, it was on the "seconds" quality table which is take whatever you can use. I grabbed that one planning for a batch of zucchini bread.<br />
<br />
Since it was an odd number week, we also got our cheese share, which was tailor made for Peter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2Y0b5929b4/Tijsd0J8xeI/AAAAAAAAAJI/UXTFW2Nvx9k/s1600/P1050463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2Y0b5929b4/Tijsd0J8xeI/AAAAAAAAAJI/UXTFW2Nvx9k/s320/P1050463.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Habanero cheddar and and fresh mozzarella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>One of the things we're kind of struggling with when it comes to the cheese CSA is using the goods. Not that they don't get eaten, but we've both kind of got a mental block against eating them in anything but their pure form. For instance, I suggested we use the mozzarella to make pizza since it doesn't have the shelf life to keep around like the aged cheeses have. However, we both kind of hesitated - is it a waste of the "special" cheese to mix it with other ingredients, even if the end result is delicious? On the other hand, isn't it pretty silly to buy crap mozzarella from the grocery store when we've already got good stuff in the fridge?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UwLw7chu3ww/Tijsn-2fi0I/AAAAAAAAAJM/dR4m4LtVSj4/s1600/P1050465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UwLw7chu3ww/Tijsn-2fi0I/AAAAAAAAAJM/dR4m4LtVSj4/s320/P1050465.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got past the hangup about cooking with our cheese</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Technically, we compromised with the hangup. We had a few tastes of the pure mozzarella and put the rest of it on a pizza. We made two pizzas actually (in the regular oven, not the woodburning one. That thing is awesome, but a ton of work for just 2 1/2 people). The mozzarella went on one with a basil pesto base and fresh tomatoes for a slight twist on a classic margherita, and the other was spinach and onions with some of the garlic and chive chedder from week 5. The spinach one was good, but the margherita was terrific. I always forget how much I like fresh tomato on pizza until I have it, and then I'm sad that I had forgotten and deprived myself of fresh tomato pizzas for any period of time.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-61086790397310576312011-07-14T23:02:00.000-04:002011-07-14T23:02:41.552-04:00I wasn't kidding when I said I was born 200 years after my timeAs I mentioned <a href="http://eatingfromtheearth.blogspot.com/2011/06/csa-potluck-and-farm.html">previously</a>, SuperFresh had a great sale going on blueberries a couple of weeks ago. Between baking and eating, we went through most of our first 6 pints before the week was out, so I stopped by on my way home from work and got more. It was a crazy amount of blueberries for 3 people, but there aren't many things that Gabriella likes more than blueberries and peanut butter and jelly, so I wanted to make some blueberry jam.<br />
I love making canned goods, it's really not THAT hard, but people don't do it, so when you do the general public seems to think you're amazing. I look for any opportunity to stoke my ego, trust me.<br />
Anyhow, to make this jam you need<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktPEQu21izs/ThZ0fsAK5jI/AAAAAAAAAH8/BtRXZcGTPVM/s1600/P1050318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ktPEQu21izs/ThZ0fsAK5jI/AAAAAAAAAH8/BtRXZcGTPVM/s320/P1050318.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68eL72rR1oY/ThZ0hoxXENI/AAAAAAAAAIA/fICKg2VWiDY/s1600/P1050319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68eL72rR1oY/ThZ0hoxXENI/AAAAAAAAAIA/fICKg2VWiDY/s320/P1050319.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32hIfJRH5sc/ThZ0jcpV51I/AAAAAAAAAIE/2Aa9NrW212A/s1600/P1050320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-32hIfJRH5sc/ThZ0jcpV51I/AAAAAAAAAIE/2Aa9NrW212A/s320/P1050320.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acid (either lemon or lime juice)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QFlnxoyCGjA/ThZ0PaKA10I/AAAAAAAAAH4/EqooRqsrT4A/s1600/P1050317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QFlnxoyCGjA/ThZ0PaKA10I/AAAAAAAAAH4/EqooRqsrT4A/s320/P1050317.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jars. Maybe. More on that in a minute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I decided to make one batch of blueberry jam and one batch of mixed blueberry and strawberry jam. For each one you need 6 cups of berries (the mixed I did in a 1:1 ratio, so 3 cups of each), 3 cups of sugar and 1/4 cup of the acid. Easy peasy recipe, just like I told Peter when he was concerned that I be able to remember and duplicate the results in the future.<br />
For the actual jam making, you combine the fruit and sugar and cook over medium heat until it reaches the <a href="http://www.portlandpreserve.com/TestingTheJellyPoint.pdf">gelling point</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oEJ63QvMMU/ThZ0qZku0NI/AAAAAAAAAII/hC6hLXMvduM/s1600/P1050321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oEJ63QvMMU/ThZ0qZku0NI/AAAAAAAAAII/hC6hLXMvduM/s320/P1050321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You then add the acid and cook for a few minutes. If you're afraid of canning, you could just refrigerate it and use it quickly, but since it makes a decent amount, it would make more sense to suck it up and learn how to can things safely.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Obviously, the big enemy with preserving food is bacteria. No one wants <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulism">botulism</a>. There are tons of resources out there which detail the correct methods to follow, so I'll sum up with clean equipment and a proper processing time at a full rolling boil if using a hot water bath method.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m6XdzL0Rk6U/ThZ0sXjhhBI/AAAAAAAAAIM/ezBF67jYdzk/s1600/P1050322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m6XdzL0Rk6U/ThZ0sXjhhBI/AAAAAAAAAIM/ezBF67jYdzk/s320/P1050322.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After boiling to sterilize, you keep the jars in hot water until the jam is ready to fill them</td></tr>
</tbody></table> After filling the jars, I boiled them for 15 minutes, then let them cool for before taking them out of the bath. I'm pretty sure that every jar sealed as I lifted them out of the water. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6SjB76phv4/ThZ0t8qKo2I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/bLBDPio7GCE/s1600/P1050325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6SjB76phv4/ThZ0t8qKo2I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/bLBDPio7GCE/s320/P1050325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The strawberry-blueberry mix set up a little better than the straight blueberry, but they are both definitely firm enough to use as jelly. I ended up with 5 half pint jars of mixed berry and 4 half pints of blueberry. We've enjoyed the mixed with peanut butter and on some delicious crepes stuffed with nutella and banana.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-39785935387436436162011-07-14T00:32:00.000-04:002011-07-14T00:32:36.098-04:00CSA Week 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Since it has come to my attention that someone other than Peter and Jen is reading this (Hi Gigi!!) I am going to ignore the fact that I stood in one spot for 14 hours today with only 2 quick pee breaks and update on last week's pick up. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sef5iffRxus/ThZ1FIIk_MI/AAAAAAAAAIw/LAdZF2Pf_Y8/s1600/P1050376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sef5iffRxus/ThZ1FIIk_MI/AAAAAAAAAIw/LAdZF2Pf_Y8/s320/P1050376.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Eggplant, red cabbage, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, patty pan squash, a crapload of cucumbers and carrots.<br />
<br />
The day of this pick up, Peter suggested I take Lil G out so that he could do some much needed straightening around the house. I am not really one to suggest otherwise when someone else is offering to clean, so we hightailed it out on a Mommy and Me adventure. We hit the Indian Market, the super big branch of the library, and my mecca - Joann's. We also stopped for lunch at my most favorite fast food establishment, Chik-fil-a. One of the side effects of only rarely eating fast food, is that when you do indulge, it kind of sits in your stomach like a rock for a day. Even after a nice visit with my parents after we got our veggies, I still wasn't really hungry, so it became a fend for yourself evening.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLtEvFzqZvM/ThZ1IE5ghdI/AAAAAAAAAI0/GknONRFMWkU/s1600/P1050377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLtEvFzqZvM/ThZ1IE5ghdI/AAAAAAAAAI0/GknONRFMWkU/s320/P1050377.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have no clue what Peter ate (probably cereal), but I made myself a hummus and cucumber sandwich and ate it with a handful of peas and nice thick slices of tomato. Light, delicious and just what my spicy chicken filled tummy could handle. Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-60867637726747944172011-07-07T23:36:00.000-04:002011-07-07T23:36:55.768-04:00CSA Week 5Yes, I realize that today was the pick up for week 6. I never was a) a prolific writer or b) good with deadlines.<br />
<br />
So, last week here's what we got at our pick up<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aFesicGp78M/ThZ00Aw6bjI/AAAAAAAAAIU/tEXFHtbRnzM/s1600/P1050326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aFesicGp78M/ThZ00Aw6bjI/AAAAAAAAAIU/tEXFHtbRnzM/s320/P1050326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It's huge, right? I actually asked Lisa if the signs meant we got one head of lettuce or one head of each kind because holy crap that is a lot of produce. Luckily she confirmed, it was one head of each type. Plus a monster bunch of swiss chard, eggplant, sugar snap peas, carrots, potatoes, beets, summer squash and dill. <br />
This is perhaps a perfect opportunity to mention the costs associated with the CSA. Previously, North Star had offered two different size shares, but this year they simplified things and just made every share the same size and cost. The share cost 500 dollars for 22 weeks of veggies. That works out to just under 23 dollars a week. Now look at that pile above and realize that this farm grows using organic practices, although they are not certified as organic. Anyone want to venture a guess as to what that would have cost at a regular grocery store? Actually, that might be a fun thing for me to do one week. <br />
Peter also pointed out that I have neglected to talk about our cheese CSA. This is merely a consequence of it being a million and five degrees outside and things like cheese going into the refrigerator the second I walk in the door and therefore not being photographed in the moment. We did get a pick up in week 3 and 5.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PO_gvvefw0/ThZ038pgKWI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Fq_cOvplEuA/s1600/P1050331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PO_gvvefw0/ThZ038pgKWI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Fq_cOvplEuA/s320/P1050331.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Week 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>2 weeks out from pick up, so quite a bit has been enjoyed, but here is Citrus Sunrise fresh cheese (my favorite, it tasted like a danish and was amazing on toasted baked goods like blueberry bread), fresh cheese with peppercorn, and a block of colby.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc9hx44kI2k/ThZ05goOCHI/AAAAAAAAAIg/5D4cSqM4yxM/s1600/P1050332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc9hx44kI2k/ThZ05goOCHI/AAAAAAAAAIg/5D4cSqM4yxM/s320/P1050332.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Week 5</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A block of garlic and chive chedder and a wedge of Westbrook, which I don't think is a "real" cheese name (at least google doesn't seem to think it is). It's pretty mild, but has a tangy aftertaste, kind of like a not sharp provolone. <br />
<br />
Ok there's week 5, will it take me a week to get up week 6?Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-69673063719876338162011-06-28T13:17:00.000-04:002011-06-28T13:17:25.690-04:00CSA potluck and the farmOne of the really great things about our CSA (and maybe all, but I only have experience with North Star), is how they try to make the CSA a community instead of just a place you show up to once a week to get vegetables. A prime example was this last weekend.<br />
Every year at the start of the CSA season, they host a potluck dinner for CSA members. Everyone brings a dish and a blanket to sit on and Lisa and Ike provide the drinks, entertainment and a place to put that blanket. It's a lot of fun, and there are always a ton of delicious dishes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5GOjX6tL3QA/TgnVi59ZCgI/AAAAAAAAAGM/n2OgdqovKe0/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5GOjX6tL3QA/TgnVi59ZCgI/AAAAAAAAAGM/n2OgdqovKe0/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our contribution - Blueberry cake with lemon glaze</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Ooh, and in case you didn't know, Superfresh has blueberries on sale this week 6 pints for only $6.99. It's a lot, but you can freeze them!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lf_alffiauQ/TgnVkH4E8dI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/FgmWlF5KfSQ/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lf_alffiauQ/TgnVkH4E8dI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/FgmWlF5KfSQ/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter gets artsy with the camera</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VhyNK2cQXo/TgnVl8tKjUI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Cq1HvCzBuew/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6VhyNK2cQXo/TgnVl8tKjUI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Cq1HvCzBuew/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A father daughter team provide music</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-90BwMjg99Q0/TgnVtCZ23fI/AAAAAAAAAGk/7_zxF1mUxiU/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-90BwMjg99Q0/TgnVtCZ23fI/AAAAAAAAAGk/7_zxF1mUxiU/s320/046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy food</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After we ate, Lisa convinced Ike to give one last garden tour. We've toured the farm a couple of times already, but this time we had the camera!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8n4geXt4eRU/TgnVnvb6MEI/AAAAAAAAAGY/KBHRbB-xVUQ/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8n4geXt4eRU/TgnVnvb6MEI/AAAAAAAAAGY/KBHRbB-xVUQ/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peas</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P41tD4vAYxk/TgnVptO63yI/AAAAAAAAAGc/5W6MiyOs-zg/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P41tD4vAYxk/TgnVptO63yI/AAAAAAAAAGc/5W6MiyOs-zg/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeI8pHP4lY0/TgnVrQ03xHI/AAAAAAAAAGg/rzT9_8dlz-w/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeI8pHP4lY0/TgnVrQ03xHI/AAAAAAAAAGg/rzT9_8dlz-w/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parsley being provided with dappled sunlight</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxAbfkh04Ig/TgnVuisl6-I/AAAAAAAAAGo/26TH7pki_j0/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxAbfkh04Ig/TgnVuisl6-I/AAAAAAAAAGo/26TH7pki_j0/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The greenhouse where they start plants before setting them out into the real beds. They also have a row of tomatoes and cucumbers going so we got them way before they're usually available in this region</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ncAEY5vScrk/TgnVws2M0_I/AAAAAAAAAGs/ir_Y1sb4ZJo/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ncAEY5vScrk/TgnVws2M0_I/AAAAAAAAAGs/ir_Y1sb4ZJo/s320/050.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter is obsessed with these seed starting blocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiS6b9OLeBo/TgnVx2C_XTI/AAAAAAAAAGw/sfmm4DxLpD8/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PiS6b9OLeBo/TgnVx2C_XTI/AAAAAAAAAGw/sfmm4DxLpD8/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enough so that he took a picture of the block maker</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xygi3Ncv3Gk/TgnV0yV9M0I/AAAAAAAAAG4/6DZY1Y5oV5w/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xygi3Ncv3Gk/TgnV0yV9M0I/AAAAAAAAAG4/6DZY1Y5oV5w/s320/058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squash</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KDxACRPUb2E/TgnV2YS258I/AAAAAAAAAG8/o3uo5VVV50Q/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KDxACRPUb2E/TgnV2YS258I/AAAAAAAAAG8/o3uo5VVV50Q/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onions</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEbmV2Sn_9c/TgnV4OtYeBI/AAAAAAAAAHA/1TkE5aLp7Is/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iEbmV2Sn_9c/TgnV4OtYeBI/AAAAAAAAAHA/1TkE5aLp7Is/s320/068.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic being allowed to go to flower so they can save the seeds for next year</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FEO05tm54E8/TgnV59nTARI/AAAAAAAAAHE/TFYMp6hh4Co/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FEO05tm54E8/TgnV59nTARI/AAAAAAAAAHE/TFYMp6hh4Co/s320/070.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onions being saved for seed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZLCB2PoURI/TgnV8GLPcII/AAAAAAAAAHI/K6fTP3n9mXc/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZLCB2PoURI/TgnV8GLPcII/AAAAAAAAAHI/K6fTP3n9mXc/s320/072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss chard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksAS9zN_Oh8/TgnV-DX_EXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/qSoU9dCT1lA/s1600/073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksAS9zN_Oh8/TgnV-DX_EXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/qSoU9dCT1lA/s320/073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolted broccoli</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XlkkU3pZFLw/TgnV_9XF3eI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/sksiY7-2Nbk/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XlkkU3pZFLw/TgnV_9XF3eI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/sksiY7-2Nbk/s320/075.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peaches</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ian02Ej1uOA/TgnWB4VxSyI/AAAAAAAAAHU/efYEOeTZHOE/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ian02Ej1uOA/TgnWB4VxSyI/AAAAAAAAAHU/efYEOeTZHOE/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apples</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5WziFd0PtOU/TgnWDNsWEaI/AAAAAAAAAHY/tjvXXWjdAZo/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5WziFd0PtOU/TgnWDNsWEaI/AAAAAAAAAHY/tjvXXWjdAZo/s320/079.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hug!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-63828126253750332602011-06-28T10:24:00.001-04:002011-06-28T12:43:52.804-04:00CSA Week 4This week I didn't get to go to the vegetable pickup because I'm a wonderful person who switched shifts with my partner at work so that he could start his Puerto Rican vacation a day early. I have no problem doing this, even though it meant my schedule this weekend was quite draining. I'm starting to feel normal again now though.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, Peter and Gabriella got to do our pick-up on their own. Here's what they came home with:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nWzjR2zYZs/TgnePvomI5I/AAAAAAAAAHo/q0FtGQfkcqU/s1600/192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nWzjR2zYZs/TgnePvomI5I/AAAAAAAAAHo/q0FtGQfkcqU/s320/192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nWzjR2zYZs/TgnePvomI5I/AAAAAAAAAHo/q0FtGQfkcqU/s1600/192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
Spicy salad greens, a head of lettuc, basil, summer squash, fresh garlic, kohlrabi, carrots and peas.<br />
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I don't get home until nearly 11pm when I work the night shift, so we rarely have an interesting meal before I collapse. Luckily I found never mentioned our dinner from my last day off<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aWuehFELV4/TgneOAQlpbI/AAAAAAAAAHk/hQqcGKfcZ1A/s1600/180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aWuehFELV4/TgneOAQlpbI/AAAAAAAAAHk/hQqcGKfcZ1A/s320/180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>.<br />
Grilled steak, roasted kohlrabi and carrots, peas and braised greens.<br />
Did you know that even though they not the main attraction, you can eat the leaves from both broccoli and kohlrabi? We have massively huge broccoli plants in our garden (only 1 tiny little head so far) and they were starting to shade my brussels sprouts, so we cut some of the biggest ones off. They're pretty bitter, but cook them up like kale, and they are quite yummy. To make these, I sauted some garlic in olive oil, then threw in the stems until they started to get soft. Then I added the leaves and let them wilt. Finally, I added a cup of chicken broth (I wanted to use beef to go with the steak, but we were out of <a href="http://www.superiortouch.com/retail/products/better-than-bouillon">my favorite</a>) and simmered the whole thing covered for like 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-60845864787150093622011-06-21T23:49:00.001-04:002011-06-21T23:50:31.846-04:00Big weekendOne of the problems of working every other weekend, is that I end up trying to cram so much stuff into my weekends off. This weekend was JAM PACKED. As I mentioned before, we had a full house for dinner on Friday. My parents, Julia, Nick and Molly, plus my mom's friends Lainey, Dave and Claudia. We made it simple with hamburgers and hotdogs, pasta salad and more shredded beet salad. Good food and good company.<br />
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Saturday was something I've been looking forward to so much. We took Gabriella to the <a href="http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/">Philadelphia Zoo</a> for the first time. There was a puppet workshop going on in the Treehouse, so we headed there first.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Klbh4LGAYQ/TgFdaoMLBQI/AAAAAAAAAF0/gqDJ6G-MjLA/s1600/P1050036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Klbh4LGAYQ/TgFdaoMLBQI/AAAAAAAAAF0/gqDJ6G-MjLA/s320/P1050036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Bella got to make a paper snake puppet, which was really the only part of the puppet talk she was interested in. Not a big deal, we just played in the treehouse while Peter's parents and sister listened to the discussion. I did get to see Elmo naked though.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l4gzg6Erl7w/TgFXslBSHJI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Dm4Jhi9ZKPY/s1600/P1050038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l4gzg6Erl7w/TgFXslBSHJI/AAAAAAAAAEo/Dm4Jhi9ZKPY/s320/P1050038.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
While those who are capable of sitting still were listening we:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QcAhhNA-HT0/TgFXhddsb8I/AAAAAAAAAEg/WWoy9PWkWvI/s1600/P1050034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QcAhhNA-HT0/TgFXhddsb8I/AAAAAAAAAEg/WWoy9PWkWvI/s320/P1050034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat in a flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yh1xC2qHcBc/TgFXzEqsMLI/AAAAAAAAAEs/3ncsHE7AfB4/s1600/P1050046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yh1xC2qHcBc/TgFXzEqsMLI/AAAAAAAAAEs/3ncsHE7AfB4/s320/P1050046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went down a slide</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FcA9nbk1rsU/TgFX42tArHI/AAAAAAAAAEw/7awnd0IazAk/s1600/P1050050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FcA9nbk1rsU/TgFX42tArHI/AAAAAAAAAEw/7awnd0IazAk/s320/P1050050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat on a caterpillar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EColRP6kmYA/TgFexdQP-UI/AAAAAAAAAF4/gf0LoiIee7s/s1600/P1050051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EColRP6kmYA/TgFexdQP-UI/AAAAAAAAAF4/gf0LoiIee7s/s320/P1050051.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found daddy hiding in a frog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After the discussion, we got our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/10-Minute-Puppets-Noel-MacNeal/dp/076115714X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308712738&sr=8-1">puppet book</a> signed by the author (I love getting books signed!) then it was off to see the animals!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHaRbntr4VI/TgFY6CUHhsI/AAAAAAAAAFA/4hFn8B0Of58/s1600/P1050080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHaRbntr4VI/TgFY6CUHhsI/AAAAAAAAAFA/4hFn8B0Of58/s320/P1050080.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw real hippos</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XSGpfEPEwo/TgFX-4af0OI/AAAAAAAAAE0/wIximk8lw2M/s1600/P1050059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XSGpfEPEwo/TgFX-4af0OI/AAAAAAAAAE0/wIximk8lw2M/s320/P1050059.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And sat on a fake one</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yaXAu1P57nI/TgFYEdMNQ8I/AAAAAAAAAE4/XqEV3drrDBE/s1600/P1050062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yaXAu1P57nI/TgFYEdMNQ8I/AAAAAAAAAE4/XqEV3drrDBE/s320/P1050062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got excited to see goats, and then petrified when they got close</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GTHreYV9ST4/TgFY0lhPFbI/AAAAAAAAAE8/r8m7I4-ilio/s1600/P1050073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GTHreYV9ST4/TgFY0lhPFbI/AAAAAAAAAE8/r8m7I4-ilio/s320/P1050073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wandered the bird house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-klyhL7UqjMY/TgFZAasWAnI/AAAAAAAAAFE/LGenStoN4fA/s1600/P1050085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-klyhL7UqjMY/TgFZAasWAnI/AAAAAAAAAFE/LGenStoN4fA/s320/P1050085.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And saw a momma and baby giraffe</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3V39IyG1A8/TgFZFLOT4SI/AAAAAAAAAFI/-vmG2uejRrA/s1600/P1050086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3V39IyG1A8/TgFZFLOT4SI/AAAAAAAAAFI/-vmG2uejRrA/s320/P1050086.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She wasn't overly interested in the zebra</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xlM1p7sl0RU/TgFZKFkIuxI/AAAAAAAAAFM/zSsh_-Sa_qk/s1600/P1050088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xlM1p7sl0RU/TgFZKFkIuxI/AAAAAAAAAFM/zSsh_-Sa_qk/s320/P1050088.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But for some reason knew what a rhinoceros was</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VkxJRKer570/TgFZQesTrgI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/tgYLanbtlsg/s1600/P1050094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VkxJRKer570/TgFZQesTrgI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/tgYLanbtlsg/s320/P1050094.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a polar bear playing with a stick</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yhl1BZ5tVAA/TgFZWN62_VI/AAAAAAAAAFU/rUqd0dkmppo/s1600/P1050096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yhl1BZ5tVAA/TgFZWN62_VI/AAAAAAAAAFU/rUqd0dkmppo/s320/P1050096.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a golden lion tamarind</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJf4cLN_cJM/TgFZcQnQolI/AAAAAAAAAFY/g_GPZj18bpw/s1600/P1050099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJf4cLN_cJM/TgFZcQnQolI/AAAAAAAAAFY/g_GPZj18bpw/s320/P1050099.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More sitting on fake animals</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xY4tS06DhyA/TgFZh_A8sOI/AAAAAAAAAFc/85C84XQucUw/s1600/P1050104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xY4tS06DhyA/TgFZh_A8sOI/AAAAAAAAAFc/85C84XQucUw/s320/P1050104.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock just chilling out</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was a very long day, but little miss was a trouper until the ride back to Collingswood.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUChRbQFuhk/TgFZl2GE92I/AAAAAAAAAFg/_jxmM_lVZes/s1600/P1050108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUChRbQFuhk/TgFZl2GE92I/AAAAAAAAAFg/_jxmM_lVZes/s320/P1050108.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then she gave in to her exhaustion</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sunday was of course Father's day, which since it's summer means party at Aunt Claire's house!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7-bfxY_Mb2U/TgFZrfltXLI/AAAAAAAAAFk/UnI5_cMhNio/s1600/P1050112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7-bfxY_Mb2U/TgFZrfltXLI/AAAAAAAAAFk/UnI5_cMhNio/s320/P1050112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ35BNcum6U/TgFZvuxGZaI/AAAAAAAAAFo/XZ7UA4CnhuE/s1600/P1050113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ35BNcum6U/TgFZvuxGZaI/AAAAAAAAAFo/XZ7UA4CnhuE/s320/P1050113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQGd-XfNRco/TgFZ1ZdE4YI/AAAAAAAAAFs/NxEAImtAwEk/s1600/P1050116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQGd-XfNRco/TgFZ1ZdE4YI/AAAAAAAAAFs/NxEAImtAwEk/s320/P1050116.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Gabriella liked the pool well enough last year, and absolutely LOVES her baby pool, so this was a big treat. She's going to be trouble because she did not want to get out, even once her poor little lips and arms were turning blue. Hopefully the water will be a little warmer when we head in for the Fourth. I got in, and it did feel good, but it would be even better if it were warmer, that's all.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Monday we mostly laid low, although we did get the new mailbox installed and the mountain of cardboard removed from the basement and bound for the recycling men. We went to dinner at my parent's house, since we had to return a yard tools that Julia and Nick had borrowed. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aFlVQUKCwk/TgFZ7NRxXdI/AAAAAAAAAFw/_0ppj0QVrWU/s1600/P1050126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9aFlVQUKCwk/TgFZ7NRxXdI/AAAAAAAAAFw/_0ppj0QVrWU/s320/P1050126.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bella goes to see the neighbor horses with her Pop pop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-34759526868151064232011-06-21T22:06:00.001-04:002011-06-21T22:43:59.325-04:00CSA Week 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yeah, I'm late updating again. Get used to it, I kind of suck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Onto this week's pick up ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZJvlxT4FN4/TgFDCE8L4aI/AAAAAAAAAEM/RdeShngY7gw/s1600/P1050013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZJvlxT4FN4/TgFDCE8L4aI/AAAAAAAAAEM/RdeShngY7gw/s320/P1050013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're getting out of the spring greens and into the good stuff. A huge head of green leaf lettuce, more shelling peas, kohlrabi, beets, dill, a cucumber, new potatoes and tomatoes!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We went a little crazy after our pick up on Thursday. We needed to go to Home Depot for the supplies to finally replace our mailbox which hasn't stood up straight for 2 years. Naturally, it's impossible for the two of us to go to Home Depot and only get what we came for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know what the occasion was for the sale (Father's day, I guess) but patio furniture was on sale, and I've been wanting to replace our hand me down table so ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wzjiBNnMYeA/TgFDOIk9CAI/AAAAAAAAAEY/DfUO0zMbjcE/s1600/P1050020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wzjiBNnMYeA/TgFDOIk9CAI/AAAAAAAAAEY/DfUO0zMbjcE/s320/P1050020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n3WIrzjOz94/TgFDKmwtlnI/AAAAAAAAAEU/kFA2JHi5XVA/s1600/P1050019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n3WIrzjOz94/TgFDKmwtlnI/AAAAAAAAAEU/kFA2JHi5XVA/s320/P1050019.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since we had people coming over for dinner on Friday, we just had to put it together when we got home, so dinner was just a little bit late.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOVR8jk14Ac/TgFDSmdVmzI/AAAAAAAAAEc/4TQSrhpgEYU/s1600/P1050023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOVR8jk14Ac/TgFDSmdVmzI/AAAAAAAAAEc/4TQSrhpgEYU/s320/P1050023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still yummy though</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here we have pan fried pork chops, peas with butter and herbs, shredded beet salad, and the remainder of last weeks butter crunch lettuce. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, I just need to show off how stinkin' cute our little helper is</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzVea8tHx-MrqjI5vYIddaTKlWBh3x86SGajdoG7DREay4kYReMI2lMtnt0KrXbM393iYLyASJNkJE46E2lwA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That would be Chuck the Truck hauling some freshly shelled peas around the island. That little girl gives me more joy than I can describe.</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-62325770756590787552011-06-14T11:00:00.000-04:002011-06-14T11:00:35.125-04:00Food catch upBetween babysitting on Thursday and the closing shift on Friday, we didn't get to eat any of our CSA goodies until after work on Saturday.<br />
One of my favorite flavors is fresh ginger, and these recipes took full advantage of it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3bojqXINTM/TfdjJ2LppkI/AAAAAAAAAD0/6Mh9DD-HK-I/s1600/P1050003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s3bojqXINTM/TfdjJ2LppkI/AAAAAAAAAD0/6Mh9DD-HK-I/s320/P1050003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/soy-and-ginger-glazed-tofu-172518">Soy and ginger glazed tofu</a>,<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robin-miller/stir-fried-bok-choy-with-ginger-and-garlic-recipe/index.html"> stir-fried bok choy with ginger and garlic</a> and plain old white rice. It was yummy, although I can not figure out how to get a nice crispy crust on tofu without it sticking to the pan. I think I'm not getting enough of the water out before I throw it in.<br />
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On Sunday, Peter brought the baby to me at work, because he went in to Collingswood so he and his dad could get an early start on tearing out the Rossi's front porch floor. After a longer than expected shopping trip to the time sucking stores of Target and Home Goods we got home right before Bella should have been in bed. Bad mommy moment, but we whipped up a very quick dinner anyhow.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaP4QdXeXMw/TfdjOc24cvI/AAAAAAAAAD8/ti3E31acSwY/s1600/P1050005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaP4QdXeXMw/TfdjOc24cvI/AAAAAAAAAD8/ti3E31acSwY/s320/P1050005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Oven roasted potatoes (yes, in the toaster oven) and scrambled eggs with swiss chard and feta. OMG these eggs were absolutely delicious, and the entire meal came together in like 20 minutes. I cubed a couple of scrubbed potatoes and roasted them <a href="http://eatingfromtheearth.blogspot.com/2011/06/wed-probably-eat-better-if-we-spent.html">my usual way</a> with the addition of garlic powder to the salt and pepper. While they were in the oven, I sauteed the chard stems in olive oil with minced garlic until they were mostly done, then added the leaves and stirred until wilted. Then I added a little bit of butter and poured some eggs over the entire thing. I was planning on cooking it like a frittata, but it was sticking more than I thought it should, so I just kept stirring it around until the eggs were cooked. Finally, I crumbled some feta over it, turned on the heat and covered it while I got our plates ready. Yum yum yum.<br />
<br />
Monday, I decided that since Peter didn't think we should even get them, he wouldn't mind if Bella and I ate the garlic scapes. Last year, I used the scapes in a wine sauce with capers, and while I thought it was good, I didn't really get the excitement that the internets have for scapes. Most of the bloggers extolling their virtues use them in pesto, so I decided to follow the herd this year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_eqVJxbiFgE/TfdjQuZoytI/AAAAAAAAAEA/CCSwZ98rvnw/s1600/P1050006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_eqVJxbiFgE/TfdjQuZoytI/AAAAAAAAAEA/CCSwZ98rvnw/s320/P1050006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Garlic scape pesto with scallops and tomatoes, and green salad.<br />
Yeah, the scapes are kind of incredible used this way. It's really funny, because they don't have an overwhelming garlic smell, but grind them up and whoa. Suffice it to say, I told Bella that we wouldn't be able to give Daddy any kisses when he got home. It is strong stuff, it was hard not to gobble down all the leftovers, but as much as I talk big, I really did want Peter to have the chance to taste the pesto.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-90467084486838550932011-06-12T23:43:00.000-04:002011-06-12T23:43:29.707-04:00CSA Week 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How did it get to be Sunday (and hell, by the time this publishes, it may well be Monday) already? Sometimes I think I've got a pretty good schedule and then once again it's my weekend to work and three days disappear in a blink. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhow, we picked up our veggies as schedule on Thursday, then promptly drove to my sister's house to watch the cutest little niece for the night. Julia is a nurse who works the night shift, and my brother in law had a very early come to it, or don't bother coming in Monday type meeting in North Jersey on Friday, so we took on the arduous task of snuggling Miss Molly. Makes me want another little one (hmm, we can see if Peter is really reading this thing)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lucky for us, Nick loves to cook and had dinner waiting for us when we got to their house, so we just smooshed our veggies into their refrigerator for the night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's our haul from week #2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNPF_HRVWqw/TfV_CHcci1I/AAAAAAAAADg/Iz2uAG6jbSg/s1600/P1040970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNPF_HRVWqw/TfV_CHcci1I/AAAAAAAAADg/Iz2uAG6jbSg/s320/P1040970.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week's pick up was a prime example of the differences between Peter and myself. The oddball table (things that they don't have enough to give everyone some, so you get to choose which you want) had the choice of cucumbers, beets, and garlic scapes. We each thought the choice was obvious, but had differing thoughts as to which was that obvious choice. As you can see from the picture above, I won. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seriously, I love beets, but garlic scapes are available for one week out of the CSA season. We'll be getting plenty of beets, even if the ones in our garden never take off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mvTkvDOAfhA/TfV_D4EHOpI/AAAAAAAAADk/2WmzspxkCA8/s1600/P1040971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mvTkvDOAfhA/TfV_D4EHOpI/AAAAAAAAADk/2WmzspxkCA8/s320/P1040971.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A scape</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So what are these rare things? The scape is the flower head that the garlic bulb send up. However, if you let garlic go to flower, the bulb concentrates on becoming a flower instead of becoming a bulb. Maybe that's a good thing for the garlic, but not so much for the farmer hoping to harvest some garlic this summer. To get that bulb back to work making us garlic, the farmer cuts the scape just when it starts to curl and then the lucky CSA members get to eat them. They have a mild garlic flavor, and I'm planning on making pesto out of them this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Moving on, we also got: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--zfq6UWEnR4/TfV_F4WkHHI/AAAAAAAAADo/kUsfUHgO6JQ/s1600/P1040972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--zfq6UWEnR4/TfV_F4WkHHI/AAAAAAAAADo/kUsfUHgO6JQ/s320/P1040972.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelling peas</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx0ZhhBSw-w/TfV_HgIHDJI/AAAAAAAAADs/RM68prZxOQE/s1600/P1040973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx0ZhhBSw-w/TfV_HgIHDJI/AAAAAAAAADs/RM68prZxOQE/s320/P1040973.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrots</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zBUByqGwvws/TfV_JSJMDTI/AAAAAAAAADw/6TaTildlj8Y/s1600/P1040974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zBUByqGwvws/TfV_JSJMDTI/AAAAAAAAADw/6TaTildlj8Y/s320/P1040974.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bok choy</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">plus some repeats of last week - broccoli, butter crunch lettuce, swiss chard and scallions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do actually have two more meals worth of posts to write, but it's almost tomorrow and I'm sleepy. Big food post coming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-50951855678504504472011-06-09T14:23:00.000-04:002011-06-09T14:23:06.600-04:00We'd probably eat better if we spent more time at homeYeah, so this week was not so great for the home cooked meal thing, although the only stuff I still have from last week's CSA is some arugula (we used some on our <a href="http://eatingfromtheearth.blogspot.com/2011/06/csa-week-1.html">sandwiches</a>) and the bunch of scallions, which haven't gone bad, so no guilt that they haven't been eaten yet.<br />
Tuesday I worked the early shift, which means I get home by 4 and have time to create a delicious meal like this one<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4HSW6JaSgFQ/Te7kXbRsvyI/AAAAAAAAADQ/HzPFbjqi958/s1600/P1040953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4HSW6JaSgFQ/Te7kXbRsvyI/AAAAAAAAADQ/HzPFbjqi958/s320/P1040953.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greek salad, chicken with white wine & lemon thyme sauce, roasted kohlrabi and braised kale in rice</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I seared boneless skinless chicken breasts in olive oil and butter, then removed the chicken and deglazed the pan with white wine, added a few sprigs of lemon thyme (probably my favorite herb) and some milk and put the chicken back in to simmer until it was cooked through.<br />
For the rice, I sauted a couple of cloves of garlic in olive oil, then added chicken broth and the kale covered, and let it cook for ~10 minutes then added a cup of basmati rice and simmered until the rice was done. This was my favorite dish of the night, so much better than plain rice and a more exciting way of cooking greens than my usual saute with garlic until wilted. Plus, I think the longer cooking time helped the flavor because kale can be really bitter.<br />
I love roasting vegetables, but HATE turning on the oven when it's a million and a half degrees (spring? what spring?). Enter the love of my life, if I had a thing for kitchen appliances - the toaster oven. Seriously, I got it for Peter for Christmas and I think we've used it every single day since then. It's big enough for my 11 cup Pyrex baking dish and I used that to roast both of the kohlrabi from last week. I use the same basic method for roasting almost any vegetable. Cut, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and into the oven @ 400 until done, stirring half way through. Simple and absolutely delicious.<br />
Speaking of my 11 cup Pyrex baking dish - if I had a thing for baking dishes <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Storage-11-Cup-Rectangular-Plastic/dp/B0000CFTPI"><i>this</i></a> would be the love of my life. I have 3 or 4 of them, and they are seriously the greatest thing ever. It won't last much longer, because the baby's portion is quickly approaching real person size, but for right now it is the perfect size to make a dinner in for the three of us. I can split a regular recipe, like for lasagna, into two of these babies, pop the lid on one and throw it in the freezer, and bam! Two dinners for the amount of work of one. Love it, and the fact that they fit perfectly into the toaster oven.<br />
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CSA pickup is again today. This is a no cheese week, but we're expecting garlic<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scape_%28botany%29"> scapes</a>, broccoli, lettuce, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bok_choy">bok choy</a>, scallions, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohlrabi">kohlrabi</a>, and hopefully <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrots">carrots</a> and<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peas"> peas</a>.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-90510511866261341032011-06-07T23:49:00.001-04:002011-06-09T14:25:20.087-04:00If it's Tuesday before I can recap, there's a good chance I need a weekend to recover from my weekendNot a great weekend for the blog, but man did we have a great time!<br />
<br />
Friday night, we went to the <a href="http://www.brandywinestrawberryfestival.com/">Brandywine Strawberry Festival</a>, which has little to do with strawberries, other than it takes place during strawberry season and they sell strawberry shortcake. Really, it's just a carnival, but a certain little girl got to meet and hug Elmo, so we can count it as a success.<br />
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Saturday, we had the first pizza night of the season with my parents, sister, brother in law and niece. It was a great (and yummy) night, but since I'm a lazy ass, I forgot to take pictures of our masterpieces. Usually when we make pizza in groups, we each design a pie and then share slices. I know we had a red pie with sausage, peppers and onions, another with CSA broccoli, spinach and black olives, a basil pesto with spinach and black olives, and a pesto with sausage, broccoli and spinach. It's taken a couple of years, but Peter has become a pizza making pro out there. Plus he's pretty cute while doing it.<br />
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Sunday was a super long day. We started out heading to my aunt and uncle's house in Baltimore. My cousin Adam recently finished Army training and this was a chance for everyone to see him before he has to report to his new base in Colorado. It was a gorgeous day, and really great to see our family that we do not get to see often enough. From there we drove up to Collingswood to spend the night with Peter's parents in anticipation of him helping his parents get some work done around their house on Monday. Of course Little Miss fell asleep in the car on the ride up from Baltimore and then had no interest in going to sleep at her normal time. It wouldn't have been a big deal, except she and I had big plans to avoid having to do manual labor on Monday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZF4nNmAqltI/Te7kVnCOn7I/AAAAAAAAADM/NxBmaveV7c4/s1600/P1040952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZF4nNmAqltI/Te7kVnCOn7I/AAAAAAAAADM/NxBmaveV7c4/s320/P1040952.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Our Arizona cousins were in town and we got to meet up to go to the aquarium! We had such a good time, and with practically no indication that Lil G got quite a bit less sleep than normal. It was wonderful to see Michaela and Zach too, although kids sure do grow a lot when you only see them every year or so.<br />
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Unfortunately, it was back to the grind today, although I did make a rather nice meal to use up almost everything left over from last week's CSA share. The only thing we have left in the crisper is a bag of arugula, and it still looks great, so it will not be going to waste. A full recap will have to wait, 14 hour shifts are not fun on a full night's rest, they're really not fun when you start out tired.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-75422016169118065492011-06-03T00:32:00.002-04:002011-06-09T14:27:13.601-04:00CSA Week 1CSA season is here! I'm a little surprised just how much I've been looking forward to this day. It's a little hard to explain why it's so enjoyable, but it is. I love that we have only a vague idea of what we're going to be getting. I love that both the owners and their son are at every pick-up and are not only willing, but eager to talk to everyone about what's happening on the farm. I love that they took anyone who wanted one on a half hour long tour of the farm, and explained how Farmer Ike is working to preserve heirloom varieties. I absolutely love that everyone who works on the farm clearly has a passion and love for their job.<br />
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On to the pick-up<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xuTB5pHRwOs/TehRh9WGEGI/AAAAAAAAACQ/z7XayE-2jGE/s1600/P1040849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xuTB5pHRwOs/TehRh9WGEGI/AAAAAAAAACQ/z7XayE-2jGE/s320/P1040849.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--vVkV6Wt3mI/TehRjukcrsI/AAAAAAAAACU/ihJ-Fk4fih8/s1600/P1040851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--vVkV6Wt3mI/TehRjukcrsI/AAAAAAAAACU/ihJ-Fk4fih8/s1600/P1040851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div> We get an email a couple of days before the pickup telling us what the farmers expect to have ready for pickup day, but as it's up to Mother Nature, there are always some surprises. Today we came home with - <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PWz9YY1aKtM/TehRlq848OI/AAAAAAAAACY/5rn8OVePGFo/s1600/P1040852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PWz9YY1aKtM/TehRlq848OI/AAAAAAAAACY/5rn8OVePGFo/s320/P1040852.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Peacock Kale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--vVkV6Wt3mI/TehRjukcrsI/AAAAAAAAACU/ihJ-Fk4fih8/s1600/P1040851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--vVkV6Wt3mI/TehRjukcrsI/AAAAAAAAACU/ihJ-Fk4fih8/s320/P1040851.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kohlrabi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dEzPCLNGSro/TehRnqV5CkI/AAAAAAAAACc/zCUDxXe33z8/s1600/P1040853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dEzPCLNGSro/TehRnqV5CkI/AAAAAAAAACc/zCUDxXe33z8/s320/P1040853.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broccoli</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eb27A6KDQPI/TehRpn0BmRI/AAAAAAAAACg/Jf36UB1Z7d8/s1600/P1040854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Eb27A6KDQPI/TehRpn0BmRI/AAAAAAAAACg/Jf36UB1Z7d8/s320/P1040854.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We already had the cutie patootie, but I added her for scale</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kOunRtHejY0/TehRra7ycdI/AAAAAAAAACk/_3Ag618E-f8/s1600/P1040856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kOunRtHejY0/TehRra7ycdI/AAAAAAAAACk/_3Ag618E-f8/s320/P1040856.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arugula</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--tjqH__lpY4/TehRtKVCS3I/AAAAAAAAACo/o7WgK4n1274/s1600/P1040857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--tjqH__lpY4/TehRtKVCS3I/AAAAAAAAACo/o7WgK4n1274/s320/P1040857.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swiss Chard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdu75zCrpSs/TehRuw5Wb2I/AAAAAAAAACs/_BIPeUtdpKg/s1600/P1040859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdu75zCrpSs/TehRuw5Wb2I/AAAAAAAAACs/_BIPeUtdpKg/s320/P1040859.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttercruch lettuce</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5f8OHAFbx0k/TehRwzVsp_I/AAAAAAAAACw/VXB5R2hwbAM/s1600/P1040860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5f8OHAFbx0k/TehRwzVsp_I/AAAAAAAAACw/VXB5R2hwbAM/s320/P1040860.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scallions</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In addition to running their fruit and veggie CSA, North Star also sponsers a couple of other local companies for CSA pickup at the farm. Since today was the first day, they were all there to talk about what they offer. I'm a sucker for free samples (I have an unhealthy guilty conscience) and a daughter who loves cheese, so we left as new members of the <a href="http://www.hillacrespride.com/index.html">Hillacres Pride</a> Cheese CSA.<br />
The cheese CSA is a pick up every 2 weeks, instead of every week, but they had this week's share available, even if you hadn't signed up ahead of time, so we got to bring home these yummies<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8rim-J2i_c/TehRygRWFqI/AAAAAAAAAC0/nNunRrKNB5k/s1600/P1040861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8rim-J2i_c/TehRygRWFqI/AAAAAAAAAC0/nNunRrKNB5k/s320/P1040861.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Savory Herb chedder and fresh Feta. </td></tr>
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One of the most fun things about the CSA is that for the most part, we don't get a say in what veggies we bring home. They do have a swap box, so if there's something you really don't want, you can exchange it for something else, but we have enjoyed trying new things.<br />
Our dinner tonight consisted of <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/05/make-this-today/">Adorned Marlboro Man</a> sandwiches, courtesy of The Pioneer Woman, (minus half of the butter she calls for) with CSA arugula, potato salad that my mom brought by, and baked swiss chard, loosely based on <a href="http://www.beyondsalmon.com/2006/07/technique-of-week-how-to-cook-swiss.html">this recipe</a>, although I added garlic when roasting the stems, used only a sprinkle of Parmesan and used ricotta cheese (whatever was leftover in the fridge, probably around 1/2 cup) instead of the cream. Truth be told, I think it had too much cheese, but I can pretty much guarantee that I was the ONLY person in this household that thought that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ws197LcRKvw/TehR3uVfZ_I/AAAAAAAAADA/V2B5uUEht3Q/s320/P1040864.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ws197LcRKvw/TehR3uVfZ_I/AAAAAAAAADA/V2B5uUEht3Q/s1600/P1040864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And finally, just because she's too stinkin cute for words<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XaTyV4Wu80/TehR1iHZ96I/AAAAAAAAAC8/_KuhlDIccWA/s1600/P1040863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_XaTyV4Wu80/TehR1iHZ96I/AAAAAAAAAC8/_KuhlDIccWA/s320/P1040863.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span id="goog_131787345"></span><span id="goog_131787346"></span>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-34266817358764481472011-06-02T11:06:00.001-04:002011-06-02T12:59:29.857-04:00CSAWhat is a CSA, and why did we join up? <br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Supported_Agriculture">CSA</a> stand for community supported agriculture, and the basic idea is that people buy shares in a farm's proceeds before they're actually available. It works for the farmer because they get an influx of cash in the dead of winter when the farm is producing nothing, conveniently just in time for them to buy the seeds and supplies they need for the upcoming harvest, and it works for the consumer because by the time you're picking up your weekly share, you've forgotten about the check you wrote in February, and it feels like you're getting veggies for free. Although, that may just be me.<br />
Anyhow, there are quite a few options in our area, but we decided on<a href="http://www.northstarorchard.com/"> North Star Orchard</a>. One of their farms is less than 15 minutes from our house, they grow using organic methods, and they're devoted to more unusual varieties. <br />
The veggie CSA runs for 22 weeks, which means we're very nearly covered for vegetables until October (they don't grow corn, and we're from Jersey, we can't go the entire summer without corn!) The first few weeks tend to be a little lighter than once we really get into summer, but we've been told that we should be getting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arugula">arugula</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinach">spinach</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broccoli">broccoli</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatsoi">Tatsoi</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lettuce">lettuce</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scallions">scallions</a>, and a broccoli/kale cross breed called purple peacock.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-55332389272171191702011-05-31T00:16:00.001-04:002011-05-31T00:25:20.950-04:00Asparagus & squash - or proof that Peter really meant his wedding vowsSo we've grown zucchini and yellow squash every year that we've had a garden. It's kind of the hobby farmer's bread and butter you know? Practically a weed, you're almost guaranteed to get some food out of your plants. And did we ever. Unfortunately, we also got really honking big plants that overtook our beds and crowded out other veggies. So I got the idea in my head that we should clear out the <strike>massive</strike> brush pile that we inherited with the house, and create a bed where we could let the crazy plants go crazy and grow as big as they want.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/emujane/DSCF0121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/emujane/DSCF0121.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upon further reflection, the pile was not massive when we bought the house. But we've lived here 4 years, and there are a lot of trees that like to drop sticks during rain storms. It was massive by the time we decided to clear it.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Since we're talking about a rather large area, I also decided that we should bite the bullet and put in the asparagus patch that I've wanted for a couple of years.<br />
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Now, there's no better kick in the pants to perform physical labor that to have no choice, so back in February, we pre-ordered 25 one year old <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-6719-purple-passion-f1.aspx">purple passion crowns</a> from Johnny's seeds. They were scheduled to start shipping to our area in the middle of April, so that gave us almost two months to discuss how we were going to prepare the plot and get rid of the sticks. We discussed buying and/or renting a wood chipper, burning, moving, but suddenly I noticed a box on the porch when I left for work and we still had a big ol' pile of sticks. So we improvised and marked out the asparagus patch the next day, leaving the rest to be dealt with later. Then we started digging. And digging. And digging. <b><i>By hand</i></b>.<br />
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See, asparagus is planted in <a href="http://www.asparagusgardener.com/howtoplantasp1.html">nice deep trenches</a>. And the nice long one year old roots need plenty of space to spread out. And I like to complain about my back. Anyhow, my sister came down to visit, and thankfully took Gabriella to visit at our parent's house, so the planting process, went much faster than it would have if she had been here to "help". <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7B5bROWKas/TeRkUIg2BOI/AAAAAAAAAAs/0VcT4e9R8Bo/s1600/299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7B5bROWKas/TeRkUIg2BOI/AAAAAAAAAAs/0VcT4e9R8Bo/s320/299.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the pile of removed dirt is bigger than me! Ok, maybe I was in the trench but still - this is why Aleve was invented</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34xj31qd9pI/TeRke6334lI/AAAAAAAAAAw/BXgxjIhJObY/s1600/300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34xj31qd9pI/TeRke6334lI/AAAAAAAAAAw/BXgxjIhJObY/s320/300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I told you it was a massive pile of sticks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowns</td></tr>
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After the crowns are spread out over their little hills, you cover the roots with a couple of inches of soil, then gradually fill in the trenches when you start to see growth. Technically, a few places say the gradual fill method is unnecessary, but I found more websites saying to do it than not, so that was the approach we took. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dj0kQWFEtTc/TeRkn2vTimI/AAAAAAAAABE/5HvehbELVgQ/s1600/305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dj0kQWFEtTc/TeRkn2vTimI/AAAAAAAAABE/5HvehbELVgQ/s320/305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0f0n8zTcWvE/TeRkpf_QhvI/AAAAAAAAABI/zCqptY4yHLI/s1600/306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0f0n8zTcWvE/TeRkpf_QhvI/AAAAAAAAABI/zCqptY4yHLI/s320/306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Also, while I fully intend to let the squash grow as wild as it wants, I did not want to risk it hurting my beautiful little asparagus, so I used some of those handy stick to build a primitive little fence to separate the two areas.<br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhow, we must have done something right because exactly one week later, we had ... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mz6APMR4sHw/TeRntTjAVAI/AAAAAAAAABQ/HLAkbk0c7hA/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mz6APMR4sHw/TeRntTjAVAI/AAAAAAAAABQ/HLAkbk0c7hA/s320/075.JPG" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The same pile of dirt?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No! Look closer ... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QhqSUYNbvr0/TeRn344tW2I/AAAAAAAAABY/G-SBVZLD-Ok/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QhqSUYNbvr0/TeRn344tW2I/AAAAAAAAABY/G-SBVZLD-Ok/s320/077.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KxfkoFDJJdc/TeRn1tVQqYI/AAAAAAAAABU/WSZwYhMR8Zs/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KxfkoFDJJdc/TeRn1tVQqYI/AAAAAAAAABU/WSZwYhMR8Zs/s320/076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Asparagus!<br />
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And, as you can see in the first picture, an untouched pile of sticks. However, I am lucky to have incredible inlaws who apparently love physical labor with no reward but sincere thanks, and a job that requires me to work every other weekend. Now, I never thought of my work schedule as a plus, but while I was counting by fives, Peter and his parents moved that pile of crap (literally, it seems the previous homeowners preferred to bury construction debris, rather than put it out on the curb for the garbage men), and we went from<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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to<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5394966582041534133.post-27989879913967648352011-05-30T22:56:00.000-04:002011-05-31T00:20:18.168-04:00How did we get hereBy way of introduction, let's flashback a few years to May 2007. Peter and I had spent the last four years living in a funky little house (technically two <i>very</i> little houses connected by a door on each floor) in downtown Baltimore city while I attended pharmacy school at the University of Maryland.<br />
According to my mother (and one should always follow their mother's advice, right?) I simply had to live in a city at least once in my life. Well we did it, hookers on the corner, friends getting mugged, and a corpse discovered around the block and all.<br />
Finally, graduation had come and gone, the house was sold, our stuff was packed and we (and by we, I mean I - Peter would happily live in the concrete jungle until the end of time) escaped to West Chester, Pennsylvania to search for our next home.<br />
I knew I wanted an older home and space for a garden. Plenty of hours spent searching online later and I had found my house.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/emujane/front-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/emujane/front-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
It would have been the only house we looked at, but we had another showing already scheduled, so we kept the appointment. But, honestly, my mind was made up the minute we pulled up the driveway. Why?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood-burning pizza oven, that's why!</td></tr>
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So we got my dream house, and it has been a work in progress ever since. We've painted, and fixed, and have only scratched the surface of things we want to do here.<br />
Our second summer, we built two raised beds, added another in the third year, and this year we put in an asparagus patch and cleared a tremendously huge pile of crap to have an area to let squash go crazy. Thankfully, Peter has gotten bitten by the gardening bug (let's be honest, the more veggie patches we have, the less lawn he has to mow), and Gabriella loves to get her hands dirty, so the edible garden is a family affair.Emmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18258109716938543234noreply@blogger.com0