A picture is worth a thousand words.....Elizabeth
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Dinner Is Now Being Served in the Main Dining Room
Now that the tomatoes are coming in, we make them the star of our meals...They are here for only a short time so we must make the most of them. Yesterday I made stacks of different tomato slices, layered with fresh mozzarella cheese and basil from the garden. I sprinkled layers with kosher salt, olive oil and sweet balsamic vinegar. Topped the whole thing with a sprinkling of Maldon Sea Salt for extra salty flavor and eye appeal as well as a generous portion of chiffonades of basil for one last punch of flavor. Makes my mouth water while writing this! We shared a large roll to sop up the vinegar, oil and tomato that settled in the plate after devouring this multi colored Caprese Salad...
This is a summer salad I could eat three times a day, seven days a week!!!!!
Elizabeth
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
FINALLY....They Are In....Phew!!!!!
A basket filled with jewels from the garden....it has been a struggle this year to get the garden to produce....but now she is delivering!!!!! Mother nature and a somewhat green thumb have really met head to head this growing season...both now seem to be in tandem and look what we now have...tomatoes in all shapes and sizes...WOW!!!!!
A garden trug filled to the brim with sweet, gorgeous, ripe tomatoes....
The day's harvest washed and sorted by variety...........
A nice example of San Marzano and Lemon Boy....
The little tomatoes....Black Cherry, Large red Cherry, Sweet 100's, Yellow Pear and Super Snow White
More Lemon Boy, San Marzano and Black from Tula....
A garden trug filled to the brim with sweet, gorgeous, ripe tomatoes.... The day's harvest washed and sorted by variety........... A nice example of San Marzano and Lemon Boy....The little tomatoes....Black Cherry, Large red Cherry, Sweet 100's, Yellow Pear and Super Snow WhiteMore Lemon Boy, San Marzano and Black from Tula....
I tried many different heirloom varieties this year...aren't they beautiful, I could just look at them for hours...
Elizabeth
A Morning on Narragansett Bay with Dad
Yesterday morning Dad and I packed up and went to spend some time on the bay...we picked the secluded beach on the other side of Allen's Harbor adjacent to Calf Pasture Point in our hometown of North Kingstown. It was a glorious day, bright sun, clear skies and EXTREMELY HOT!!!!! We set up our chairs and basked in the sun. This beach has a great view of the east bay and when the tide is low it is low! You can walk out sooooo far and the water is just to your thighs and this is being generous. The water is crystal clear and you can see old discarded shells of clams, quahogs, razor clams, crabs (some alive and just looking to take a nip of your toe), barnacle covered rocks, and many varieties of plant life. The beach is scattered with many shells which makes collecting fun for kids and adults alike. The water was refreshingly cool and I took many dips to get a reprieve from the heat....
Sun bathing is one draw to this strip of land but the real crowd shows up at low tide for quahog and clam digging. People of all ages show up with a bathing suit on, water shoes tied tight, clam rack in hand and a container to hold their booty securely held in place by some sort of inflatable invention...most use an inner tube, but some had those noodles you see in pools for exercise, salvaged Styrofoam and I saw one elaborate system set up using water barbells...if it floats and can hold a basket, cooler or pail it is considered part of the paraphernalia used to dig for a salty, briny treat from the bottom of the bay. Enjoy the photos...
Off these guys go...rakes in hand, a floating cooler and a canvas bag over one shoulder.
She's down.......
This lady tied a mesh bushel bag to her waist to hold her bounty from the bottom and dug with her foot to loosen her harvest...she would bob up and down as she moved from spot to spot
This woman held a rake in one hand the traditional clam basket in the other...she dug for a while and half filled her basket while her husband walked their dog up and down the beach....with the sun sparkling on the water, it looks like this lady is wading amongst diamonds!!!!!!
A family collecting shells....
Sun bathing is one draw to this strip of land but the real crowd shows up at low tide for quahog and clam digging. People of all ages show up with a bathing suit on, water shoes tied tight, clam rack in hand and a container to hold their booty securely held in place by some sort of inflatable invention...most use an inner tube, but some had those noodles you see in pools for exercise, salvaged Styrofoam and I saw one elaborate system set up using water barbells...if it floats and can hold a basket, cooler or pail it is considered part of the paraphernalia used to dig for a salty, briny treat from the bottom of the bay. Enjoy the photos...
Off these guys go...rakes in hand, a floating cooler and a canvas bag over one shoulder.
These guys with heads down have spotted something but notice the sea gull to the right...it appears he spotted the same thing...maybe a crab?
She's up.........
She's down.......
This lady tied a mesh bushel bag to her waist to hold her bounty from the bottom and dug with her foot to loosen her harvest...she would bob up and down as she moved from spot to spot
This woman held a rake in one hand the traditional clam basket in the other...she dug for a while and half filled her basket while her husband walked their dog up and down the beach....with the sun sparkling on the water, it looks like this lady is wading amongst diamonds!!!!!! A family collecting shells....
Sun bathers...there was lots of room on the beach today....
Dad and I had a wonderful day...lots of sun, sand and people watching!
Elizabeth
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Divine Treats from the Garden
Finally we are picking tomatoes...not many but those we get are sweet, sweet, sweet...Also picking cucumbers...the cukes are odd shaped and not long but do taste soooooo good...
Lots of cherry tomatoes in different colors and few San Marzano...
Made a delicious panzanella salad...yellow, orange, and red peppers, red onion, tomatoes, chunks of crusty ciabatta bread, feta and a lovely vinaigrette with homegrown garlic...served it on a bed chopped lettuce for an added crunch...sometimes I add kalamata olives also....this is a great summer salad...love the olive oil and vinegar soaking into the bread...
Also made a huge jug of cucumbers soaked in vinegar, salt and pepper. My sister Whitney adores these cukes...use about 1/3rd apple cider vinegar to 2/3 water mixture with lots of salt and a bit of fresh ground pepper...just thinking about these makes my mouth water...
One big jug of flavor.....
Lots of cherry tomatoes in different colors and few San Marzano...Made a delicious panzanella salad...yellow, orange, and red peppers, red onion, tomatoes, chunks of crusty ciabatta bread, feta and a lovely vinaigrette with homegrown garlic...served it on a bed chopped lettuce for an added crunch...sometimes I add kalamata olives also....this is a great summer salad...love the olive oil and vinegar soaking into the bread...
Also made a huge jug of cucumbers soaked in vinegar, salt and pepper. My sister Whitney adores these cukes...use about 1/3rd apple cider vinegar to 2/3 water mixture with lots of salt and a bit of fresh ground pepper...just thinking about these makes my mouth water... One big jug of flavor.....Gotta go...I need to raid the cucumber jar...YUM
Elizabeth
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Garlic Is Superb This Year
The garlic is superb...I dug and harvested the garlic a few of weeks ago. It lifted out of the soil with ease and it was so much fun to see what had been hidden away since last fall. The air filled with the fragrance of garlic...it was delightful. Look at this bounty!!!!!
Such wonderful garlic.........
I harvested about 300 bulbs. I took armloads to the gazebo and tied bunches together by variety. Then off to the shed to dry/cure...of course I had to take some to the house to use immediately...SIMPLY DELICIOUS
Well the garlic is now ready to clean...I cut off the leaves and rubbed the dirt covered outer paper like skin off to reveal the most wonderful bulbs....I placed each variety out just to admire it before taking some to bag up as gifts....Below you will see all the varieties in all their splendor...I tag each one with the name of the variety and also just a little description so the recipient knows what they are in for....enjoy the photos!!!!!
All labeled and bagged...now off to deliver.
Such wonderful garlic.........I harvested about 300 bulbs. I took armloads to the gazebo and tied bunches together by variety. Then off to the shed to dry/cure...of course I had to take some to the house to use immediately...SIMPLY DELICIOUSWell the garlic is now ready to clean...I cut off the leaves and rubbed the dirt covered outer paper like skin off to reveal the most wonderful bulbs....I placed each variety out just to admire it before taking some to bag up as gifts....Below you will see all the varieties in all their splendor...I tag each one with the name of the variety and also just a little description so the recipient knows what they are in for....enjoy the photos!!!!! All labeled and bagged...now off to deliver.Nothing like homegrown garlic...now if the tomatoes would just ripen!!!!!
Elizabeth
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