[Diana in Wisconsin]

Wednesday, July 17, 2019:

Finally getting some production here and there with Zukes and Cukes. Bush and Pole beans are finally flowering. Lots of tomatoes on, only a few cherry-types are ready to eat, though.

Supper tonight is pretty much all from the garden:

Chicken & Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Steamed New Potatoes with Butter and Chives
Cucumbers in Sour Cream and Dill Salad
Sweet Corn (bought, but LOCAL!)

I will cook all but the salad in the Microwave and will boil the corn on the stovetop. High heat and high humidity - waiting for a thunderstorm right now. Heat Advisory through the entire weekend, then cooler next week - back into the 70’s which will be HEAVEN!

I watered the garden for the FIRST TIME yesterday - had to ask Beau if he had seen the Owner’s Manual so I could re-learn how to use a hose, LOL! (He just rolled his eyes, as always!)

And then, we got 1 & 1/4 inches of unexpected rain last night! Figures!

I am still a long ways off from any major canning of anything. And, I can wait for a break in the heat, for sure!

[Califreak]

Yum yum!

Dinner sounds great!

Speaking of canning.... I made some zucchini relish out of a dozen or so baseball bats and dehydrated a few.

Went thrifting today and got a few dozen canning jars for dirt cheap so I can put up some frozen peas since I can’t grow enough to can and hate the metal taste of storebought canned food. Need some fresh corn and green beans too. I got to loathe canned veggies after growing my own but home canned veggies are pretty good. :)

I have green beans and cucumbers planted but they are still kind of tiny due to weather so if those don’t pan out maybe I’ll buy some from the produce market for pickling and canning.

[Liz]

Enough healthy greenery....time for decadence. Filled, frosted, fudgy brownies lavished with Chantilly Cream.

FRENCH SILK BROWNIES

Brownies 18.3 oz box Betty Crocker™ fudge brownie mix
Water, veg oil and eggs as per box 1/2 cup mini choc/chips
Spray 13x9-inch pan bottom. Make brownie batter as directed on box. Stir in 1/2 cup choc/chips.
Bake in sprayed pan 350 deg 22-25 min (pick 2" from sides is almost clean). Cool completely an hour.

Filling/Frosting 8 oz cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups conf 1/4cup unsweetened baking cocoa 3/4 cup h/cream tsp vanilla
Elec/mixer til smooth, scraping sides. Spread evenly over brownies. Chll/set about 2 hours.

When ready to serve, cut 6 rows by 4 rows. In chilled bowl, elec/mixer cup h/cream slightly thick.
Reduce speed; beat in 3 tb conf, 1/2 tsp vanilla. Increase speed; beat to stiff peaks.

Pipe each brownie w/ cream rosette. Garnish rosettes with 2 tbl mini choc/chips. Fridge loosely covered.

[MomwithHope]

Picked our first beans (Kitchen King). Probably a tad early but better than too late. No ripe tomatoes yet but lots of green ones. Lettuce all done. Been picking peppers and one cuke, also early but I was desperate. Been hot and steamy here in west Michigan.

[MomwithHope]

Local corn. Wow. Here in Michigan it’s nowhere near ready.