Lazy Days

Oh I have been soooo lazy with the garden lately! It rained enough this past week that I didn't need to go out and do any watering. That was kinda nice. I have had 2 nice snow pea harvests. Both I lightly sauteed with a little olive oil some garlic and then a couple of twists of sea salt and ground peppers. Mmmmm....We took 1 of the harvests to Dave's parents' house last night for dinner. Had that with some fresh fried fish that his father caught. Nothing like living off the land! :) The peas are also developing more quickly now. I think I have enough, along with the 4 carrots that I pulled out of the ground today, to make some fresh carrots and peas for dinner this week as a small side. But first we must eat the leftover Indian cabbage I made (did I tell you about that? If not let me know. It was sooo delicious. I'll have to post the recipe).

Other than a little harvesting of peas and snow peas I haven't done much else. Which is a shame because my tomato plants are HUGE and in need of the 2nd tier of their cages. It's going to be harder to get those on now. I might still have enough daylight to get them done tonight. I did pull the broccoli plant out of the garden. Its flowers were spent - not very good to look at any longer. I need to fill in the empty spots with some flowers. I'm thinking begonias and petunias to brighten everything up!

Oh - before I go. Dave confirmed a sighting of a rabbit in my garden with the corn and green bean sprouts. I knew it!! Grrrrrr...wascally wabbits! So, I whipped the Bob-Ex out and sprayed around the base of each raised bed. The stuff is stinky but it's supposed to smell like bobcat pee and keep the bunnies away. So far it seems to be working. :)

What is Eating My Corn?

I got home from work today to find many of the plants in dire need of water. While we had a nice, cool day yesterday, today was an 80-something degree, hot sun "scorcher" for the plants. The Black-Eyed Susans in the pot were the saddest looking with their leaves all curled up and flower stalks drooped over. Hopefully she'll perk up by the time the sun goes down.

I'm disappointed by the sprouting performance of the corn, sunflower and green bean seeds I bought. Granted, the green bean seeds are from last year but I never opened the packet and I've had seeds 3 seasons old sprout. But the corn and sunflowers are new this year. Maybe 1/2 sprouted. Even more maddening is the mystery of what is eating my corn plants! At least 3 have been chewed off to the top of the straw. Can't be cutworms because the plant is gone. I fear that my concern over the height of the last planter has turned out to be valid. One corner of the planter is completely buried in order to bring everything level. That means that the planter in that spot is only 18" off the ground. Methinks I have a bunny getting in there are eating my corn sprouts.

Damn you you wascally wabbits!! You may be all cute and furry and innocent looking but I know that each and every one of you harbors an evil appetite for the things I love best. Like the mums I planted in back. How come you leave them alone in the front yard but you've eaten them all in the backyard? Curse you all! I hope that owl is still hunting around here.

Time to break out the Bob-ex.

Curried Cauliflower & Peas

Today I harvested the cauliflower. The heads were nice except that my lazy gardening habits showed up in the form of deformed side shoots and lots of brown on the one head either from sun scorch or maybe too much moisture. See, to keep your cauliflower heads white you need to tie the leaves from the plant around the head. However, apparently you need to LOOSEN the twine periodically to allow for growth and air circulation (imagine that!). It was still a decent harvest just not as nice as last year - and not as much. Next year I resolve to do better by my cauliflower!

I used my cauliflower to make some yummy curried cauliflower. This recipe is courtesy of a former co-worker, Donna Thouvenin. Donna and I were talking about our love of Indian food one day and she mentioned how she likes to make this recipe because it is quick and easy. Enjoy!

Curried Cauliflower
Serves 4-6
20 minutes

2 Tablespoon oil
1 medium head of cauliflower (about 2 pounds cut into 3/4 inch pieces)
2 medium shallots, minced
1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar (I often omit since I usually don't have brown sugar on hand)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk (I get the "lite")
1 Tablespoon fresh basil or cilantro, minced
Salt
Black pepper

Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium high heat until almost smoking. Add cauliflower and saute until golden brown, about 5-6 minutes. Stir in shallots, garlic and curry. Cook until fragrant about 30 seconds. Stir in brown sugar, peas and coconut milk. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until tender about 2-4 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in basil or cilantro and season with salt and pepper.

I usually use cilantro as I'm a cilantro freak. Can't get enough of that stuff! But I have fresh basil growing in my garden so next time I will have to try that (I forgot for tonight's batch - even forgetting the cilantro!!). I have also made this with frozen cauliflower. Takes longer to cook but still good.

Tonight's batch wasn't as good as I've made in the past. The coconut milk didn't thicken like I expected. And I forgot the cilantro. Still yummy but I've made better. Anyway, enjoy the recipe! I think it's super tasty...and it will make your house smell so yummy (when done with dinner, walk outside and then walk back in - tasty!).

Homegrown Lettuce + Ginger Salad Dressing = YUM!

On Saturday I was able to make a salad out of all 3 kinds of lettuce in my garden - Romaine, Red Leaf and Bibb. This salad was large enough to feed 13 people at a birthday party with PLENTY of harvest remaining to share. I have to say the salad turned out especially tasty because I had Jong's homemade ginger salad dressing to add to the flavor. Jong is the sushi chef at Little Tokyo, our favorite sushi bar that just reopened after a too long hiatus. I love ginger dressing in the summertime because it is so light and refreshing and Jong's is especially tasty. I bought a large container from him on Friday night and have been using it on salad and as a marinade for tonight's salmon. Yum! I'll have to sweet talk him into sharing his recipe so I can make my own.

I gave a head of Romaine to my mom and dad for their dinner table. Mom and Dad love Romaine so they were thrilled. Too bad the first salad Mom made with it Dad dropped it on the floor. Oy! I'm able to share some of the lettuce harvest with our friends Jim and Sarah and tomorrow I take in a salad for my boss. Yeah...I know...sucking up to the boss. Hey, he's on business travel for the next 12 days. I know what it's like to eat out at restaurants for that long. It is not fun. He said he would relish the fresh greenery.

Anyway, all of the lettuce is now harvested, washed and in the fridge. Only a few days worth left and then we'll be out for the season. :( Yesterday I noticed I have corn, sunflower and green bean sprouts. Yippee!! I don't have as many as I planted, not even 1/2 of each crop, so I hope more pop up soon. I've lost more cucumber plants waiting to be planted. I don't know why I'm doomed to not have cukes!

Today was the first scorcher we've had for the season. Hate to see it this early but I'm sure there are more around the corner. It was 91 degrees today and the sun was I-N-T-E-N-S-E. Lugged the watering can around quite a bit tonight. I'll be doing more of the same tomorrow as the weather is forecast to repeat itself. Sounds like we'll get a breather on Wednesday with cooler temps and maybe some rain.