Current Concoctions from Tangent

      Plucking as many veggies as I did on Saturday, I could never be more thrilled. I had an over flowing box of tomatoes, more zucchini than I can count, and cucumbers aplenty... But I need to say this about the trellis for the cucumbers...  Now, I know I raved and raved on how I wanted this for them. I thought it would be the all to end all...

      Well, once again I have to work at perfecting a great concept to benefit my needs... "Why?" you ask...  Well, here is why,  I didn't really think that the cucumber would grow through the little holes in the mesh... I thought that the cucumbers would do the dutiful thing and just climb like good little vining plants should do...

Yes, that's right! The mesh that the very cucumber climbs, lets the cucumber grow inside the hole!! Yep! That's right!
Then the cucumber turns out like this...

     I know it's aggravating to no ends.. but, thank goodness this is an easy fix... I will just have to find something to put on the mesh and staple it, so the cucumbers can't be trapped in the holes... But I have to say I can still rave about the trellis... it was and still is a huge wonderful idea.....

     I have been very busy in the kitchen... I have been baking and canning and freezing... I have to with everything that tangent has been giving me!!!

     The first thing I did was actually use some of the Bell Peppers, for stuffed bell peppers...Boy, they were tasty...

      Then this zucchini overload is being put in check,

    I made zucchini bread last time, but then I found a recipe to make zucchini cookies.. The thing with this recipe though, I really didn't realize, they stayed soft, soft,  in the cookie jar...  I'm not so sure I like that, so I need to find another recipe for the cookies. I certainly do not have a worry about running out of zucchini, Now do I?

     Zucchini Jelly was made also, I like to make jelly with the unusual things like carrots, peppers, and zucchini. so I did make Zucchini Jelly...

(Oh, in case you were wondering, "What makes the Jelly red?", It is strawberry Jello~~ )

Boiling

 

Getting ready to process

Finished!

     With the tomatoes.... 
         I am planning on making a bunch of Spaghetti Sauce to freeze... I can just think, when the winter blahs come around, I will be able to taste the wonderful summer that past by...

    But that is going to be a bit of a process... I do need to peel and d-seed them... Then make the Homemade Sauce... Can't wait though!  I'm pretty sure this will be a couple hours in the kitchen... (Gee, what daunting torture... LOL! right (no way!!!) ;)

the most yummiest!

The Banana Pepper Dilemma!!!

Dilemma Solved!!!

     I have been racking my brain on what to do with these chili peppers (banana Peppers)... I couldn't come up with anything...  UNTIL...

Guess! 


Hot Pepper Mustard...

      Doesn't it sound deliciously tangy mouthwateringly spicy!

          So off to the store to get the things I need to get for Hot Pepper Mustard!

     I will be processing this new concoction, so more jars and ingredients...

Excited... YES!!!

As the picture shows, I will be busy as a bee!! hahaha!... I love being beeesy!

What one finds!

     What one finds, the heavy leaf that covers the glory... What one finds, the hidden friends... What one finds, the outcome to a story intriguing... Well, hopefully...

     I have been in great anticipation for these cucumbers to actually produce, but golly it did..

This is the runner up!

First in place

Prized pick of the day!!!

 I have no worries for it now. It proved that it could.  Now I have great hopes that I will get more than two cucumbers..

     Is that selfish of me?  Maybe...


Kitchen Magick!!!

     I have had a glorious day in the kitchen yesterday! 

     Let me start by saying, the Carrot Confiture is superb...

     I did change it up a bit... instead of adding almonds, I added pistachios. and instead of cooking for only the ten or fifteen minutes, I went a full 25 min...  I also did not puree it, I made it chunky... 

     This made all the difference in the world...

Carrots are stewing

almost ready to chunk up!

I got two and a half jars...

Smeared on zucchini bread...

That isn't all of my deeds in the kitchen.. 

     I made Zucchini Bread...

This is no ordinary Zucchini Bread...

   This recipe is amazing...

I stumbled across this recipe when I wanted to bake banana bread one year, I didn't have bananas, but I had Zucchini, and I had tomato soup.... LOL...

You're probably thinking, What? Tomato soup?  I thought the same thing, but it goes to show you that the intrigue is there huh?

So this recipe is from a Campbell's soup recipe card... I did verify it on-line as well...

TOMATO ZUCCHINI BREAD

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
10 3/4 ounces Campbell's Healthy Request condensed tomato soup
6 egg whites
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups zucchini, shredded (2 small)
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pans with cooking spray.

Mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

Mix sugar, soup, egg whites, oil and vanilla. Add to flour mixture, stirring just to moisten. Fold in zucchini and raisins. Pour into prepared pans.

Bake in center of oven 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on rack.

Makes 2 loaves
Source: Campbell's

The recipe seems long, but it isn't... 

Not only I created these delicious morsels, but since I had so many tomatoes, I made my home made salsa, 

and I made bruschetta... 

Which that online recipe/website or is it a ring, well, any how, it is amazing

http://foodgawker.com/ 

Then last but not the least... 

Just when the thought of those little friends, the ones that I thought I driven away at the time I had to be so drastic with pesticides back in January, 

Hello My Friend! Glad to see you back!

Look,....

Hanging out in the compost pile...

 A pretty pic to leave you with...

Nicotinia or Tobacco flower...

amazing is??

      Updates on these silly cucumbers...

What is up Cucumbers? Huh?

I have given the soil good food, and you guys a lot of water, and I am still not with cucumbers....

     Oh wait a minute!  Look! I see One!  Yay! 

     Oh, Look Another One! Wow! That makes two! hahaha!     Finally....

     It took some time didn't it!

     I can't believe that I have a few this go around... I certainly hope that their taste is not bitter this season!

     But they do make lovely plants though...

 COMPOST!!!

     The Compost was so.... um...












      How does one describe Dirt?
      Lets' see..... DIRTY....

     I used Four bucketfuls.  It was a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!!   I can't wait to dig in it again!

     Okay the nerd self stepped out... But, it is a wonderful feeling when you have labored to get something made with quality  and quantity....

     I also have a bonus..... Look I have an Eggplant, growing out of the bin itself... Doesn't this mean that the compost is nutrient and successful... Oh, man! The joy of success in something made with bare hands...

     Even if those silly cucumbers don't want to do anything!!! HA! in your face... cucumbers...!

      I have plucked some carrots and they are amazing!! Yes! Yet, again, I am singing "the AMAZING song!!!"

     Next to these incredible carrots, I have the chili peppers. They were supposed to be yellow bell peppers... Well, they're yellow alright!

     I haven't the foggiest on what to do with them... So I will be thinkin' about it again!



     But in the mean time,  I am going to make Carrot Confiture.   There is a recipe that I made awhile back, I also posted what I did...  I have the recipe and steps in that post...  Carrots and a New Recipe

     Oh emge... It was sooo good. I made about three jars of this stuff and I couldn't get enough... so that is on the menu...

      I have been getting the most delicious Zucchini... I am most happy with this seasons harvest.... I will be making Zucchini bread and Jelly along with above recipes... I have fried zucchini and also stuffed zucchini so far... and so far there has been no displeasure... How could there be? With such yumminess, Right?

      I have been getting ALOT of tomatoes...
 YAY!!! Can you feel the excitement!!

      It pays to do research doesn't it?

     I mean of all the times I have been trying out tomatoes and failed attempts prevailed...  I have found the right ones for the desert environment...  Thank YOU.... George...




Project Update!!!

     So Project Update!!

     Here is the start!

     We have the Orange Jubilee in the ground...

     It have been A WEEK already can you believe it!!!   We will be working on getting them to a GiNORMOUS  Size ....  Then the next thing will be a Gate behind that big bush pictured to the top right... I can't wait to get that in for sure....

The gate to be...

The Celebrities of the Garden!!

     So Some of my favorite flowers are showing off! I wanted to share...  Sunflowers are to me... so happy and proud... They worship the sun... so elegantly!!!!























     These colors are so uplifting...They sing, "party time!!!"

Party Time!!... Or  Fiesta!!!

     Then of course the Four O' Clocks, well they are early risers and do not want to be bothered during the day... they work so hard to be this pretty so they do need their beauty sleep do they not?

      So, as I make my bread and jam, I will be sharing along... I can't wait to get started. Enjoy the day...
Happy Gardening...