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...

Projects a many!

I hope that most everyone had a Happy Memorial Day Weekend...
I realize that I am a bit behind...

I have been working on keeping my garden watered and plucked free of tomatoes and Zucchini..  I am doing a little replanting of my hanging baskets among other projects...

But, Hooray, The plans of extending the backyard has started to commence.. We have an amazing amount of projects... I can't wait to see the end result..  Photos will be endless, on all projects..

The soil is nothing to right home about!

The soil is so incredibly nasty. We can't do much with it..  I mean look at it! It is nothing but caliche mud!! ERRR!  But that's okay cuz' we are amending it! Maybe?
But instead of extending the wall, this area is going to be the secret garden, minus the secret. Hahaha!

We decided using these shrubs that the hummingbirds love so much as "our wall,"
called Orange Jubilee! It reminds me of the honeysuckle, of course it isn't!

It won't take long for them to fill in and grow tall! Hence the "secret" garden, know one will be able to tell that the garden  is there until they turn the corner!! (it will be more of an area for sitting and enjoying than  gardening!)

My cucumbers still haven't produced... ???

Everything else is so very happy.

I read that cutting back my tomatoes in mid July, to about a foot high should produce some new growth and blossoms in September... I certainly will be trying that...

Peanut and butter are up to their ol' antics...

Peanut being to curious!

Butter checkin out the harvest!

also being too cute!

Piglet just lounging!

More to come soon!

Seasons of Desert Change...

  


There are things I never realized in this type of environment, that which are so very subtle no one person would be able to pick it out, well, except an experienced desert gardener. Those subtle realizations would be the seasonal changes. One can make the same mistake, as I, thinking that the desert has only two seasons.

   Really! The thing is, I believed for the entire time living in the desert and felt the extreme heat and extreme cold. I must admit that is/was all that I knew...

    In fact, the desert  has many facets to it's life. There seems to be 6 small seasons, not just 2. Mr. Brookbank broke the facets down to a way of making total sense.  May I say, I'm very excited, because I have a chance to play around six times a year...  In the Garden that is...LOL...

    Now, here is the thing though, these seasons are short... I have something like 60, 90 days, in each of the seasons which makes it incredibly short and challenging... That means, I have to stay on top of things, like sowing seeds all the time, transplanting, constantly working in the organic matter, etc... most harvests happen after 60 days, I have to get these plants to produce within this time frame... it can be done, obviously because Mr. Brookbank made it happen... Right?

     I have learned quite a bit so far, I do know that I need to sow my melon seeds, to get them in the ground sometime in end of May beginning June...

First tomatoes of the season!!!

     Looking back at all of my notes, the warming summer season - Mid March - to Mid June (90)
this is the time to set out tomato plants- (sow corn) and squash seeds, set out pepper plants, eggplants and sow melon seeds, I'm not familiar with Chinese pole beans... but "them" and okra, black eyed peas which I don't care for, but really haven't given it a chance...

     So the challenge is to myself!, learn the six seasons, that was said to be here in the desert, and be successful at it!

     For mothers day, My extremely generous husband bought me a gift!  I have been in desire of a new smaller more simple to operate camera! You know a point and shoot, but with a little oomph! So I have been messing with it and took some pictures this morning! What do you think? Will it do?

     I have been wondering when my cucumbers were going to start to do something!  Finally, It is!

Finally, growing on the trellis!

     Will I actually get some cucumbers this time?  I think maybe! I just can't understand why it is taking forever!

     Look at this Zucchini I am so very happy! I finally found a variety that I can have luck with!

     So far I have harvested about 7 zukes! I can't believe it! After last years fiasco! I can now count on the a bountiful kind of zucchini!  Whats the song? "Rollin, Rollin Rollin, keep those "zukes" a Rollin"  lol!

RIP our garden friend!

    

Nice to see you this morning!

    I have very wretched, sad news to share tonight...  It all started Friday evening... Rylee went out to spend some time with Adolf and it was apparent.  You see, Adolf came into our lives sometime in Nov of 2011... I think there was a purpose... He was homeless, and hungry..  I watched from a distance and realized he needed some comfort and a bit of security.  I watched as he started to crawl up in to the engine of my car. Knowing that was not a smart thing to do... I called him over to my front yard... and struck a deal with him.. " I said, Now If you want, I will let you stay here at my door... But in return you have to keep an eye on things, like keep the scorpions away and other cats at bay... I will feed you and make sure you have water..

     Adolf agreed. He remained under the bushes in front to stay warm at night, When it got real cold, we put warm blankets out for him. He would curl up and be as happy as a snug bug  in a rug...  He kept other intruders away.
     He was very happy to stay where he was, until just recently... A group of huge dogs were rampaging the streets, and stumbled upon Adolf... He by the skin of his teeth got away, Thank goodness.. 

     So we decided to put him in the back yard.. He loved being back there. He, I don't think would ever have left, He had catnip at hand for whatever whim, food and water, bedding and a garden to dig in and make surprises for Rylee to clean up... Every day he would have his meal then waltz over to the sandy area, and well have a really wonderful, good feeling dirt bath...

    Friday night Rylee went out to feed him his insanely delicious meal as usual... But Adolf had no appetite.. Well, we thought that was odd... so the thought was it is hot out and he probably doesn't have much of an appetite.. that's okay...  Saturday morning he looked lazy and very sleepy, strange almost. Rylee mentioned that there seemed to something not right.. I told her, lets keep an eye on him and see what happens. Sunday comes around. He was a bit worse, and  not eating or drinking at all.  Now it's Monday and still nothing better... So Rylee and I talked about what the worse would be when we took him to the Vet.. We agreed if "it" had to be done, we needed to make sure that he wouldn't suffer.

Having a good stretch in the garden...

     But, the reality hit Rylee hard. The inevitable words were spoken.  "The kindest thing to do is not let him suffer any longer"...  Oh, my little girl, took it very hard, and there was not anything I could do to take her pain away...
    The Vet felt he went a wandering, Thursday night, and in his adventure got in to some trouble, possibly hit by a car, which seems entirely impossible because he never left the backyard.. Or that is what we were let to believe.  Oh Adolf, Why did you leave the back yard?
    The reality is he was an unneutered male cat, that roamed and did what all cats do.. If people keep thinking that having pets is the most wonderful thing, all I would ask is please be responsible and spay or neuter them so roaming would not be so important to them... Possibly keep them indoors where they belong... The senseless killing and hurting of animals as such, destroys compassion and love for anything that breathes. Maybe, some people look at it as that they are just animals, not people, but  people can say when "it" hurts, our furry friends have to endure when they hurt.. Is that the right thing? Not in my life time!

     Rylee, You are a brave responsible person, what furry friend wouldn't want you to be their heroin! I am very proud of you! We did the right thing, I promise that all will be okay!

     Adolf, I dedicate this post to you and all those precious furry friends that don't have the people that can give compassion for those unfortunate...

You will be missed my furry garden companion!

The sun feels so good this morning!

RIP Adolf   May 14, 20012