Pasta is a big deal in our family. Not only is it something that we enjoy eating, but it is something we enjoying cooking and sharing with others. And as much as I love pasta, in all honesty, I view it as a vehicle for the pasta sauce. Around here, sauce is red, luscious, and […]
Tomatoes
Can You Do That? Grafting Tomatoes!
Whether you start seeds yourself or buy seedlings from a greenhouse or CSA, tomatoes are a garden staple. They are an easy crop to grow, come in a wide variety of colors, and provide a taste of summer that just can be replicated in grocery store produce. Heirlooms have been the secret darling of the […]
Garden Seed Inventory: How to Get Organized
The hustle and bustle of the holidays are behind me. The tree has been taken down, the ornaments are put away, and all of the cookies have been eaten. Do I feel blue after the flurry of activity from the past few weeks? In all honesty, I can say no. Folks, I am looking forward […]
Crave-worthy Caponata
As someone of German heritage, I have a profound love of homemade Italian food that belies my upbringing. Perhaps it was due to my exposure to Italian cuisine that involved a box containing a tin of sauce, a bundle spaghetti, and cheese that was shaken out of a green canister? I grew up thinking that […]
Large Batch Processing: Tales of a Home Canner
A garden’s bounty is one of the true pleasures in life. With time and effort, seeds you sow in April and May become mature plants rewarding you with produce later in the season. And later in the season it is. As we draw near the end of September, we are still blessed with a wonderful […]
A New Delight: Tomato Basil Jam
Oh August, I have a love/hate relationship with you. You still throw out incredibly hot temperatures causing me to do outdoor projects only in the early morning and late afternoon. Yet on the other hand, you provide something that causes me to do my happy dance. Why am I happy? The simple answer is, the […]