Weekly Garden thread - December 18-24, 2021 [Let Heaven and Nature Sing Edition]

December 18, 2021 | Diana in Wisconsin/Greeneyes

[Diana in Wisconsin]

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly 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 Weekly Gardening 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 our New & Improved Ping List.

NOTE: This is a once a week Ping List. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

My sister in in labor in hospital with her 1st child at this moment.

This kid has been a long time coming and the result of a 2nd Invitro procedure. Mom to be is 45 years old....and....she just popped positive at the hospital for covid after being sick as a dog for thr last 8 days or so.

Baby Massimo will he totally worth all.yhr pain when he makes his appearance however.

Accepting prayers and well wishes from fellow freepers.

[Liz]

Yummy vegetable dishes.. pretty enough for company—easy last minute—and healthy.

Use fresh sweet grape tomatoes. Sweet offsets savory Chevre for a succulent dish. Tip: If no grape tomatoes—try drained sun-dried;no pre-roasting. Serves 5-8 depending on portion.

Warm Asparagus with Balsamic Tomatoes and Chevre

Ingredients: lb trimmed asparagus 3 t olive oil 1 1/2 C halved grape tomatoes 1/2 t minced fresh garlic 2 T balsamic vinegar 1/4 t salt 3 T crumbled goat cheese 1/2 t black pepper Directions: Heat oven to 375 degree. Rub or spray a foil-covered cookie sheet with 1 t olive oil and roast halved grape tomatoes until they are wizened like old men. In a hurry?Skip this step and use the tomatoes un-roasted. Cook asparagus in boiling water 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain. Heat remaining 2 t oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes and garlic; cook 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar; cook three minutes. Stir in salt. Arrange asparagus on platter; top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and pepper.

Carmelized Brussels Sprouts and Bacon

If you like Brussels Sprouts heavenly version CARMELIZES them. Wolfgang Puck puts a little brown sugar in the saute pan to help carmelize them.

Ingredients: 4 lbs. Brussels sprouts—washed and trimmed and sliced in half 4 slices uncured Bacon—diced Juice of 1 lemon 1 t sea salt (or any salt is fine) 1/4 t black pepper 3 T olive oil Optional: 2 T Palm sugar or brown sugar

Directions: Instead of baking sprouts—fry bacon piecespppppppp ,,,,,,,, ahead o til almost crisp. Meanwhile toss Brussels sprouts in a large bowl with lemon salt pepper and oil. After it’s done—set bacon aside on a paper towel to drain. Wipe out pan or pot with a paper towel to remove any small bacon pieces that will burn. Then dump the lemon and oil covered sprouts into the pan and saute until browned on at least one side.

You will most likely have to do this in two batches unless your pans are VERY large.

Try to have only one layer of sprouts on the bottom of the pan instead of stacking them on top of each other. Optional: throw in Palm sugar at this point if you want them a little sweet. After browning (they should be al dente—still a bit crunchy)—return all sprouts to the same pan and toss in bacon. Serve warm!

[Qiviut]

Fresher than store bought, you know exactly how the greens were raised, and you don’t have to worry about this:

CDC: Deadly listeria outbreaks associated with packaged salad bags in U.S.
https://sharylattkisson.com/2021/12/read-cdc-deadly-listeria-outbreaks-associated-with-packaged-salad-bags-in-u-s/

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

TEFKaB. OK!

On the wikipedia Texas map its somewhere near the last couple of towns whose names are big enough to show up on the map. (After that it shows a lot of empty all the way to the Mexican border.) This may interest you: On another thread:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4023761/posts

To: Nathan _in_Arkansas

I suspect there might be a solid wall of Texans who would declare, “Come and take it!”

Planning on pulling up stakes and moving to Texas myself as soon as we can.

32 posted on 12/23/2021, 9:26:48 AM by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Thank you Liz....I like it and it is healthy and fresh!

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

If you are a real Sweet potato person or need additional potassium in your diet: This might also work well with a bed of diced and almost completely cooked Sweet Potatoes! (Cooked in olive oil, w garlic and onion, salt and pepper and a splash of coconut amino acids or maybe soy sauce till firm but not squashy.)

Put the carmalized brussel sprouts on top and layer on the remaining items!

Enjoy a glass of wine while you dine!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

That may explain why a full 1/3 of the chilled greens aisle at my Walmart was 100% EMPTY.

Makes more sense than there NOT being any spinach available in the entire USA!

(Spinach I’m growing inside isn’t quite big enough to clip, yet; poor planning on my part.)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Ern; God we Pray for Ern’s sister her baby, and her situation. Not old, but not young either and sick on top of it!

For good physicians, for wisdom, and healing!

(Amen!)

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Good night and merry Christmas!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Baby Massino arrived safely last night (12-23) at 1153 pm. Baby and mom are safe and healthy.

Thanks to all who prayed and sent well wishes.

The should be able to come home on the 26th to finish recuperating and begin a happy life with dad

[tob2]

Praying for Greeneyes.

[tob2]

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year too!