Posted on 09/01/2026 5:40:17 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
The MONTHLY Victory Garden Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.
If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located.
This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.
It is impossible to hijack the Victory Garden Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table Recipes, Preserving, Good Living - there is no telling where it will go - and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us! Send a Private Message to Diana in Wisconsin if you'd like to be added to/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.
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Re: Pasty. Yeah, they can be bland without proper seasoning, but when you’re a Miner, food is FOOD, LOL!
Beau likes his with ketchup. Yuck.
Those two suggestions you made for add-ons for the new Lodge pan are great! I think both of those and then some new kitchen towels and maybe a ‘scrubbing’ dishcloth as well. I can crochet that out of the Sugar and Cream ‘Scrub Off’ cotton yarn I already have on hand.
That was easy! :)
Those look amazing! Enjoy them!
Do you use any sauce with them or have them with butter or anything?
A must-try.
ING: 1 tbl ol/oil 4 c chp kale 11/2 c marinara 4 lge eggs s/p ¼ c Parm.
METHOD: Heat ol/oil on med. Add kale, s/p; sauté/wilt 2 min. Stir in tomato sauce; cook to a gentle simmer. Create 4 small wells w/ back of spoon--one egg into each well. S/p. Bake 375 deg 10-15 min (whites are set, yolks are soft. Top w/ Parm; serve warm w/ crusty bread.
That’s my new skillet and Mom’s FUTURE new skillet. I’ll add that recipe to the mix for her.
I have all of those ingredients on hand right now, too.
But my hens aren’t laying worth a whit these days; 1 egg a day from 10 hens? Come on, Ladies! I may have to wait a few days to use this recipe. I think Beau mixed up the wrong food for them. Not enough layer mash in the mix.
I was about to look for more 12” cast iron skilled recipes. Found quite a few links...
https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/cast-iron-skillet-recipes/
https://www.marthastewart.com/8060278/cast-iron-skillet-recipes
https://saltyskitchen.com/12-inch-cast-iron-skillet-recipes/
I am REALLY looking forward to the Fall when I’ll be back to cooking every day. I’m going to develop a ‘rotation,’
Skillet Meal
Crock Pot Meal
Insta Pot Meal
Sheet Pan Meal
Fish Tacos (LOL!)
Soup & Bread Meal
As well as continuing to streamline my gardening efforts, I want to do the same in the kitchen.
ANSWER: Experts believe that 16th century Dutch growers, through breeding, gave this vegetable it's color to honor their ruling House.
I got the answer wrong, but it made total sense after I knew the answer, LOL! FYI, it's NOT the Blue Potato.
Diana and fish tacos-----forever together.
Life Is Good! I’ve got some tasty, tasty Bass in the freezer just begging to be made into Fish Tacos. :)
In case you’re still not sick of processing tomatoes, or suddenly find a bushel of them on your front porch...
H/T to Red Badger. ‘The Organic Prepper’ is a very useful site!
10 Delicious Ways to Preserve Tomatoes
https://www.theorganicprepper.com/how-to-preserve-tomatoes/
Guy Clark - Homegrown Tomatoes
Ain’t nothin’ in the world that I like better
Than bacon & lettuce & homegrown tomatoes
Up in the mornin’ out in the garden
Get you a ripe one don’t get a hard one
Plant `em in the spring eat `em in the summer
All winter with out `em’s a culinary bummer
I forget all about the sweatin’ & diggin’
Every time I go out & pick me a big’n
Homegrown tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes
What’d life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can’t buy
That’s true love & homegrown tomatoes
You can go out to eat & that’s for sure
But it’s nothin’ a homegrown tomato won’t cure
Put `em in a salad, put `em in a stew
You can make your very own tomato juice
Eat `em with eggs, eat `em with gravy
Eat `em with beans, pinto or navy
Put `em on the side put `em in the middle
Put a homegrown tomato on a hotcake griddle
If I’s to change this life I lead
I’d be Johnny Tomato Seed
`Cause I know what this country needs
Homegrown tomatoes in every yard you see
When I die don’t bury me
In a box in a cemetary
Out in the garden would be much better
I could be pushin’ up homegrown tomatoes
Thats a great way to plan meals.
Do you bread the fish for use in the tacos?
I do not. I’ve had them served that way and why they do it I do not know. You’ve already GOT the ‘bread’ in the Tortilla!
I bake the (any white fish) fillets on a foil or parchment lined cookie sheet brushed with EVOO, Smoked Paprika, a little Salt, a little Cumin and a little Chili Powder.
400 degrees, about 10 minutes.
The ‘sauce’ that I like is Mayo, Sour Cream, Hot Sauce (Frank’s) and a little Onion Powder.
I can talk about Fish Tacos for days. You’ve been warned, LOL!
Recipe is a winner.
For MANY years I fed SIX of us at most meals - DAILY - while working full time, plus running a few side-hustles!
Why does it seem more COMPLICATED to feed just the two of us only 2x a day? Am I getting *GASP* OLD? LOL!
It probably involves MATH. I’m gonna blame it on Math. ;)
This is my favorite tomato-themed poem.
Post Humus
by Patti Tana
Scatter my ashes in my garden
so I can be near my loves.
Say a few honest words,
sing a gentle song,
join hands in a circle of flesh.
Please tell some stories
about me making you laugh.
I love to make you laugh.
When I’ve had time to settle
and green gathers into buds,
remember I love blossoms
bursting in spring.
As the season ripens
remember my persistent passion.
And if you come in my garden
on an August afternoon,
pluck a bright red globe,
let juice run down your chin
and the seeds stick to your cheek.
When I’m dead I want folks to smile
and say, “That Patti, she sure is
some tomato!”
‘Ryan Hall, Y’all’ says the southern heat IS going to break, but we Yankees better get ready for a COLD Fall into Winter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L54XprvEjI4
It was 44 degrees in SW Wisconsin this morning. I had all functional windows OPEN. (1906 Farm House - not everything works!)
Loving it after WEEKS of 90’s and high humidity.
Hello Fall, Y’all! :)
*** I am REALLY looking forward to the Fall when I’ll be back to cooking every day. I’m going to develop a ‘rotation,’
Skillet Meal
Crock Pot Meal
Insta Pot Meal
Sheet Pan Meal
Fish Tacos (LOL!)
Soup & Bread Meal***
I am looking for INSTA POT recipes if anyone is willing to share. We received one as a gift recently, but I haven’t used it yet. I’m guessing that with the Fall fast approaching, I’ll be able to be good use of it.
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