Posted on 02/01/2025 6:55:11 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
The MONTHLY Gardening 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 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/removed from our New & Improved Ping List.
NOTE: This is a once a MONTH Ping List, but we DO post to the thread all throughout the month. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest to Gardeners are welcomed any time.
I have the 1996 hardcover edition. It was a gift a long time ago, so I don’t know what she paid for it back then.
The recipes are in order by month, making the best use of the freshest vegetables and herbs. It’s really well done.
Thank you for the cookbook info, and how cute is Brother Whiskers!
Does it have a yellow cover with a monk on it, or a bowl of soup with bread on it? It probably doesn’t matter, but it hard to tell when you buy something online sometimes.
That’s cute - lucky dog & the way the monks are smiling, he’s bringing some happiness to their world.
Thank you, that’s very helpful!
I was cleaning out the fridge and making a grocery list for tomorrow. I came across a 2 pound bag of carrots that Mom gave me - ostensibly for Ithaca, but they were really NICE carrots. Sweet, too! So...
Eating for FREE: I kept 6 for Ithaca. I peeled the rest of them and am making three things:
Carrot Cake Muffins: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/242115/carrot-cake-muffins/
Herb Buttered Carrots: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/herb-buttered-baby-carrots/print/#
And the ‘skinny ends’ from grating those that are going into the Carrot Cake Muffins are in a bowl for veggie dipping snacks.
Winning! That’s a decent amount of food from $1.49 worth of carrots. :)
Japanese Udon Noodles in Spicy Peanut Sauce / 4 servings
A mix of Japanese, Thai and Taiwanese recipes.
Ing 1/4 cup rice vinegar 1 cup natural peanut butter 1 -inch chunk fresh ginger 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 clove garlic 1/4 tsp black pepper hot sauce to taste, 4 tbl sesame oil, divided 1 lge yellow onion, thin-sliced 2 lge red bells, cored/thin-sliced 8 oz pkg udon noodles 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
Heat on med-high 2 tbl sesame oil. Cook onion and peppers just tender 5 min. Hold on plate. Add udon noodles to boiling water and cook 2 min, just barely cooked---should be bit firm. While noodles cook, return skillet to med-high and add 2 tbl sesame oil. Add Drained noodles to hot skillet. Return onion and peppers to skillet; toss til heated. Remove skillet offheat, pour in liberal amount of peanut sauce (as you prefer), using tongs to coat well. Top with chp peanuts and serve.
Sauce Blender smooth p/butter, ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, water, garlic, black pepper; should be thick, but pourable. Can add bit water and reblend. Add hot sauce to taste, blending again.
Girl!! You must’ve been born and raised in your Wisconsin parts! I saw your temps are below zero now and won’t be much better tomorrow! Do you dress like an Eskimo when you go outside? Just asking.
I still am not used to single digits, much less sub-zero ones! I HATE going outside in these temps. The grocery store? Nawwww. I’ll work from my pantry and freezer supplies. No need to warm up the car. I’m not going anywhere.
Still, I *might* be convinced to go out in snow pants to go on our daily walk tomorrow. Maybe. Didn’t bundle up correctly today and only got 30 minutes in. Maybe the extra weight I gain during the winter is to protect me from freezing up here?
How much longer till Mother’s Day, when I can reliably go outside and plant?
Love all the recipes you post! Helps me think outside the box when I’m stuck.
I must’ve done something right. All of my kids are adventurous eaters. Even, and maybe especially my youngest, who had pretty bad gut issues as a kid. Once he got that under control, and then started working in the restaurant industry, he became very open to trying new things. All of them are accomplished cooks, and I’d like to think I had a hand in that somehow.
Nice to hear.
Bread Pizza
Quick and easy, made in five minutes without an oven.
Topping: cup ea mixed bells, mozzarella ½ cup chp onion tsp ea mixed herbs chilli flakes (option) Instant pizza Sauce: 1-2 tbsp tomato sauce 1 tsp ea chilli sauce mixed herbs chilli flakes (option) crushed garlic For base: 4 sandwich bread slices
Steps mix bell peppers, onions. Add salt, herbs and chilli flakes. Add mozzarella; set aside. Make sauce, mix it well. Heat pan on med w/ 2-3 tbl ol/oil. Saute both sides bread slices. Spread w/ pizza sauce then topping. Cover pan, cook til bread is crispy, cheese is melted. Serve hot and melty.
Can also use Italian bread loaf or toasted English muffins......other toppings.
Barn chores suck, but that's a given all year 'round, LOL!
I currently have 5 lbs of carrots in the fridge! The chicken soup (Jewish Penicillin) recipe calls for a pound of carrots. I have 2 broilers so that would be 2 lbs of carrots (freezing soup for future use). I have 3 lbs of split green peas & the soup recipe calls for carrots. I suspect I will have 2 lbs of carrots remaining. I’ll probably make carrot soup - looking at recipes now.
Soup book is in route to the mailbox- should arrive today.
Your picture is what I look like when I go outside in the winter once it hits 20. Today it will get to 14! I wish I could smile about that, but yeah, not happening. What will make me smile is if the sun decides to peek through all the gray clouds hovering. How fun running errands!
We spent more on Birding Supplies than we did on groceries - but that’s not unusual this time of year.
God’s eye is on the Sparrow - so he’s obviously feeding them through me! ;)
My book has arrived. This is what my book looks like & it is hardcover.
The book condition was ‘used - very good’ and it actually is ‘new’! The spine has not been cracked & I think I am the first person to look through the pages. There is one small ‘dink’ on the top edge of the front cover which is probably what took it out of the ‘new’ category - not a bother to me, especially at $6.88 & free delivery. I have had really good luck buying used books from Amazon - I rarely buy a new book any more.
Looking through the book, there are 7 carrot soup recipes & I think I am going to make the “Spicy Carrot and Orange Soup”. I have everything except 2 leeks, orange juice & an orange. Orange juice was on my grocery list anyway. The recipe takes 12 carrots so that would use up quite a few of 5 lb. bag.
The rest of the recipes I have seen look good - I will be working my way through the other recipes for sure :-)
Our “outdoor pets” are having a good time for the most part this winter. I’ve been staying on top of refilling the feeders (at least 10, all different types). The possums, raccoons, foxes, and deer all come to graze from time to time, and whatever falls to the ground is theirs.
Today I saw a squirrel with a nice gift, a peanut butter suet log plug that fell out of one of the feeders. Score! He took it up to a branch to nibble on it, then scurried back down and into the woods. I hope he shares it with his family. There was still at least 2” of it left!
Thanks for the update! How’s your cold?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.