July started off hot, with a classic "heat dome" over the East Coast. Water deeply at night was the game. We had a bad hailstorm in the 3rd week of the month; I lost a few branches on my grapevines and flattened some tomato plants, but overall the garden came through it OK. Some of… Continue reading July In The Garden
Canning Dilly Beans
My favorite bush beans to grow are Provider Beans. They hold up to their name here in West Virginia, and they came through the heat dome in great shape, then got to putting on beans when the temp dropped back into the 80s. They are solid, thick beans that grow to the perfect length for… Continue reading Canning Dilly Beans
Maple Zucchini Bread
Is summer bringing on a lot of summer squash, in particular zucchini, for you to harvest? This is a great recipe for making a hefty loaf. I have made it a couple of times this month when I am harvesting and find... a baseball bat hiding in the garden, and double the recipe. The boys… Continue reading Maple Zucchini Bread
My Take On Beef Lo Mein
I don't pretend at all that this recipe is "traditional" Lo Mein; it is, however, one the boys love. Normally I would use diced steak for it, but with one teen in braces and the other in Invisalign, I try for easier-to-chew options now. It occurred to me that hamburger would work great, and I… Continue reading My Take On Beef Lo Mein
Corn and Pepper Casserole
Is this dish a casserole? Maybe. I didn't bake it; it is made on the stove. I came up with this recipe while cooking, and the result was delicious. I had picked up fresh corn grown by local Mennonites; it was so fresh I could eat it raw. There is something about that versus grocery… Continue reading Corn and Pepper Casserole