Lots of changes in the garden since I last posted! I now have green tomatoes, beans, tons of spinach, and my sunflowers and sweet peas are about to bloom! I also finagled a way to hook up a hose to my kitchen faucet--it was getting exhausting hauling gallons of water out there in a watering can! Watering is so relaxing now.
Check out the newest pictures...
Monday, June 2, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
MOROCCO--here I come!
As of late, I am obsessed with Morocco and am just dying to go there. So, because we are heading to Ireland in August, we're thinking of one other place we could cheaply fly to within Europe. I've spent hours and hours researching it, and I'd really rather go to Marrakech than anywhere in Europe.
Now I just need to talk Artie into it! He's open to ideas but is more inclined to travel within Europe. As of now, my passport bares one stamp; that of the Cayman Islands. I can't wait to add Ireland, England, and MOROCCO--AFRICA!!!
Now I just need to talk Artie into it! He's open to ideas but is more inclined to travel within Europe. As of now, my passport bares one stamp; that of the Cayman Islands. I can't wait to add Ireland, England, and MOROCCO--AFRICA!!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
So, I recently had one of Ricki the Cheese Queen's Cheesemaking kits sent to my Mom as and early Mother's Day present. Mom made some mozzarella for the first time yesterday and my parents loved it! Dad says they paired it with some basil and tomato for the perfect appetizer last night. I'm telling you, you've got to start making cheese at home--it is uber-satisfying and also really easy and fun. Not to mention delicious!
Last week I had my first spinach salad from my garden, and it tasted lovely, fresh, and earthy just as spinach should. My cucumber plants are pretty big now; no squash flowers as of yet but the plants themselves are about the size of a small hydrangea. The strawberries are deep red and just waiting to be picked for part of tomorrow's lunch, and today I picked lots of cilantro to compliment my lunch of cold cucumber, tofu, red beans and red onion. Yummm!
On another note, Artie and I have some fun things coming up--Mother's Day at my brother's place, of course, and I'll be bringing Strawberry Shortcake, with at least some of the strawberries coming from my garden. Then we'll be seeing REM at the Greek Theater 6/1, and my family reunion in mid-June. Then in July our 4th anniversery will be celebrated in Vegas, the scene of the crime! We're also planning a trip to Ireland in August to visit Artie's family. Happy Summer!
Last week I had my first spinach salad from my garden, and it tasted lovely, fresh, and earthy just as spinach should. My cucumber plants are pretty big now; no squash flowers as of yet but the plants themselves are about the size of a small hydrangea. The strawberries are deep red and just waiting to be picked for part of tomorrow's lunch, and today I picked lots of cilantro to compliment my lunch of cold cucumber, tofu, red beans and red onion. Yummm!
On another note, Artie and I have some fun things coming up--Mother's Day at my brother's place, of course, and I'll be bringing Strawberry Shortcake, with at least some of the strawberries coming from my garden. Then we'll be seeing REM at the Greek Theater 6/1, and my family reunion in mid-June. Then in July our 4th anniversery will be celebrated in Vegas, the scene of the crime! We're also planning a trip to Ireland in August to visit Artie's family. Happy Summer!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Having spent the hot Saturday past moving Artie's weight bench to storage, my garden is complete, for now at least. If we don't count watering nearly every day, that is! My sunflowers are really growing like crazy and their stems are as thick as straws. The beans are paling a bit though, and I hope they do okay--I'm really looking forward to the vining bean trees (yes, that's a reference to the amazing Ms. Barbara Kingsolver).
I finally bit the bullet and made the decision to order plans for a cheese press instead of paying $300 for a new fancy one. Our friend Pix calls himself a miracle woodworker, so maybe he can make my cheese press in exchange for some cheese...good deal, right? Once I have the press I'll be able to make all the hard cheeses--cheddar, swiss, gouda, as well as molded cheeses like blue, roquefort, stilton, and edible-rind cheese such as brie and camembert.
I finally bit the bullet and made the decision to order plans for a cheese press instead of paying $300 for a new fancy one. Our friend Pix calls himself a miracle woodworker, so maybe he can make my cheese press in exchange for some cheese...good deal, right? Once I have the press I'll be able to make all the hard cheeses--cheddar, swiss, gouda, as well as molded cheeses like blue, roquefort, stilton, and edible-rind cheese such as brie and camembert.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
My baby spinach is growing up!
Just thought I'd give you an update on my garden--it's been a while! Everything is looking really great. I transplanted my large tomato plant to its own planter, and it seems very happy there. Two of the tomato plants are now sporting little yellow flowers. The cucumbers are definitely holding their own now as well, and each plant has 4-6 leaves now. Check out the pictures of the garden this morning! (As you can see, it's a little crowded. This is due to Artie's weight bench taking up a large portion of the deck! If you are in need of a weight bench, PLEASE let me know! I need more room for the garden!)
Monday, April 21, 2008
Homemade ricotta with edible flowers!
I just whipped up a batch of homemade ricotta--I continue to be surprised when my homemade cheese tastes exactly like store-bought! I then put it into plastic-lined cupcake tins (the big one was made in a cereal bowl) with edible flowers from my garden. I used nasturtiums, basil and dill. Check out the pictures! Next I'm going to try chevre, I just need to find out where to get goat milk around here:)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
A visit to Harley Goat Farm...
So in the course of my cheesemaking, I was looking online for more information about local cheeses. I stumbled upon a website for a goat dairy called Harley Farms, and found that it's located here in San Mateo County, about an hour away in Pescadero. The website was fantastic and I noticed that they give tours every weekend. Voila! My Mom and I went today and we could not have had a better time or been more impressed!
So. Harley Farms is run by Dee Harley, who lives on the premises with her husband and son. It's a small operation and the tour was so incredible! For those of you reading this who live in driving distance of Pescadero, you simply must go. My Mom and I (and the other 15 or so people on the tour) got to play with the goats in the fields, including the 148 baby goats born on the farm so far this Spring. Every single person on the tour got to milk a goat (!!!), tour the goat cheese making facility, and of course, sample lots and lots of beautiful, scrumptious goat cheese.
I recommend a visit to this place strongly, enthusiastically, and with the knowledge that I'll be back again, soon. Over the summer there are nearby U-Pick strawberry and olallieberry farms, and the small town of Pescadero is authenticly small and charming, as is the dairy itself. It's $20 for the 2-hour tour, and it's completely worth your time and money. Tours sell out quickly, so book yours soon to see the baby goats while it's still Springtime! The drive on Highway 1 is gorgeous and it makes for a spectacular day all around. Go see for yourself!
PS The tour guide told us goats are the third smartest animal, after pigs and then dogs, I'm guessing (I'm not counting primates of course). I cannot convey how adorable, soft, sweet and non-smelly they were. My goat-coveting in the previous post is now amplified by about ten and I can't wait to buy some property where I can realize this dream! I think Ty will really like to have some goaty sisters.
So. Harley Farms is run by Dee Harley, who lives on the premises with her husband and son. It's a small operation and the tour was so incredible! For those of you reading this who live in driving distance of Pescadero, you simply must go. My Mom and I (and the other 15 or so people on the tour) got to play with the goats in the fields, including the 148 baby goats born on the farm so far this Spring. Every single person on the tour got to milk a goat (!!!), tour the goat cheese making facility, and of course, sample lots and lots of beautiful, scrumptious goat cheese.
I recommend a visit to this place strongly, enthusiastically, and with the knowledge that I'll be back again, soon. Over the summer there are nearby U-Pick strawberry and olallieberry farms, and the small town of Pescadero is authenticly small and charming, as is the dairy itself. It's $20 for the 2-hour tour, and it's completely worth your time and money. Tours sell out quickly, so book yours soon to see the baby goats while it's still Springtime! The drive on Highway 1 is gorgeous and it makes for a spectacular day all around. Go see for yourself!
PS The tour guide told us goats are the third smartest animal, after pigs and then dogs, I'm guessing (I'm not counting primates of course). I cannot convey how adorable, soft, sweet and non-smelly they were. My goat-coveting in the previous post is now amplified by about ten and I can't wait to buy some property where I can realize this dream! I think Ty will really like to have some goaty sisters.
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