Posts Tagged ‘tomatoes

18
May
12

indoor/outdoor garden update/notes

no new recipes to post at this time so spending some time gardening

picture sheet from 04/12/2012, planted approximately 04/01/2012

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05/05/2012

thinned multiples to separate containers

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some planted in the garden 05/14/2012

flats outside in the warm weather (mid 60’s-70’s) during the day, some days in at night, rain fall, full sunshine, better growth.

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NOTES

  • original plantings, tomato, muskmelon, peppers, cauliflower, brussels sprouts.
  • planted muskmelons outdoors too early before soil was warm (start again)
  • sprouted over the stove, under counter fluorescent light and natural sunlight kitchen window sill
  • using fish emulsion (2-3-1) $12.85/pint and root developer (4-10-3) $7.85/pint sparingly , rainwater when possible, just a bit of 10-10-10, 4lbs@$9.95 granular in some (Miller Nurseries)
  • jiffy 7 peat pots for starter, moistened in enclosed container, no water.
    Burgess 8306     Jiffy-7 Quantity 24          $3.79
  • transplant mix , garden soil unsterilized, compost, sand, perlite
  • approximately 21 seedlings planted 05/14/2012, tomato, brussel  sprouts, cauliflower, two days light rain followed.
  • some failures  getting some onions and chives started

 

OUTDOOR GARDEN

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Cilantro, Sage,  Parsley (2), Dill, Oregano(2)

  • Oregano and  Parsley was split
  • Dill and Cilantro new this season

 

 

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Raspberries in full force growth

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Dwarf Flowering Cherry (Prunus besseyi)

yet to be transplanted

04
Dec
11

Tomato Sauce with pasta and veggies

I’ve come to the point where I’ve read way to many recipes and blogs, books, and watched countless cooking shows over the years………so………. My posts are going a more descriptive route rather than a standard measured ingredients and directions format…..  and most likely I’ll refer to them in the future for repeats of some of the dishes I love with variations. Reading other peoples blogs  and cookbooks have influenced me also to go the more narrative style, better a little story of the actual  meal preparation. Thanks to all the bloggers I follow, excellent work!

Blogging right after eating has it’s advantages….

Two sausages from the the freezer along with frozen peeled whole tomatoes,  frozen prepared garlic cubes, frozen vegetable stock. On the fridge side, some defrosted tomato juice, carrots and onions, a bit of bacon fat, 1/2 a can of tomato paste, prepared pasta dough. Frozen sausage goes in the fry pan with 2 cubes of  frozen stock and brought to a boil covered,and then simmered, till sausage is defrosted and stock evaporates, brown the sausage,  I now have a small black and Decker food chopper that was orphaned, now  a new addition to the kitchen, I f*** with it, as adding too much carrots at once  causes it to jam and the blade lift and stop rotating , so some of the carrot is removed till the little chopper does the job and I add the rest of the carrots incrementally ,no problem with it processing  the onions ,add the diced onions and carrots,  and garlic with a dab of bacon fat. More of a tomato vegetable sauce, as one of the Frug’s recipes I recalled. If i have veggies like this available ,celery, green pepper etc., they can be sautéed and added to bulk up the sauce, a good way to get veggies into the meal.

Now in the garden a large green plant that is either broccoli or most likely, looks like Brussels sprouts, when I started them from seeds I didn’t keep track exactly what they are and where they were planted, but one of them is forming a small cauliflower,  frost is forecasted towards the end of the week ,maybe they will survive . The one I picked from closely resembles Brussels sprouts as the stalk is covered with small leafy projections that tightly formed would be Brussels Sprouts only these are less dense but have the definite taste of sprouts. Crisp, green and earthy.

Out of the frying pan goes the sausage to a pot, add tomato paste to the fry pan with the semi defrosted whole tomatoes and than some more frozen stock and season to taste, some thyme purchased for thanksgiving , dried basil and dried oregano . Now it gets poured in the pot with the sausage, simmered and sweetened with a touch of simple syrup and a splash of apple cider vinegar for balance.

Boil water for the pasta and roll out with the machine to noodles, boil and plate them. With the greens in a small pan pour out the pasta water over  the greens  to blanch, drain and plate next to the pasta. Spoon tomato sauce over pasta and greens,(take a photo) top with one half of a sausage, grated cheese.

Eat…………………………E X C E L L E N T ……!……. OOPS, no wine for now.

Now I’m thinking of Brussels sprouts pasta or ravioli after I finished my plate, a good meal, but that will be another kitchen encounter. Christmas looms ahead….IMG_1681

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17
Sep
11

garden lasagna

        from the Garden Lasagnaaug28 228

aug28 236       peel, slice, salt and let drain the eggplant,

roast on a baking sheet till some what limp

set aside for assembly

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aug28 242

  • sauté an amount of  garlic in a saucepan with oil

season with salt & pepper, add flour and more oil if needed and  cook like a roux

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add milk, I guess about 1/2 cup

more  stock than milk,

several slices of American cheese

cook slightly to reach a boil,

temper in two eggs,

simmer, should be  pretty thick and rich to compliment the

vegetables and  enough for a 13×9 size lasagna

aug28 245

  • add about several tablespoons of tomato paste, heat through, remove from heat, set aside. Since the stock is rich, a slight salt and pepper is all I use, oops, and  a wicked small amount of smoked hot red pepper flakes, no more than a pinch, you want the flavors of the veggies up front.

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aug28 247

make wide pasta noodles, I like noodles between each vegetable so I go down to #2 setting.

I don’t fuss, mix about 1 cup flour and 1 egg in the kitchen aid with the beater, add a bit of water till it’s almost together.

no waiting either, right to the pasta machine. I made the pasta on demand, it ended up being 2 batches

aug28 248  boil, drain, trim as necessary, dry on kitchen towel                                           spread sauce on bottom of the pan

aug28 249

IMG_1501 start assembly

  •   noodles
  • fresh sliced tomato
  • noodles
  • roasted eggplant
  • noodles
  • raw sliced green peppers for crunch

repeat

use a small amount of sauce with each layer

top with fresh herbs

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last, cover with noodles

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and sauce

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mmmmmmmmmmmmm…. now were talking lasagna ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

off to a 325 oven, bring it up slowly till slightly bubbly

I don’t know about 1/2 hour or more

if you made the sauce at the right consistency, it won’t be really bubbly or bubble over

of course give it time to rest before serving

IMG_1510 IMG_1512 IMG_1511

I hit the mark with this one, I could cut a piece from the pan and pick it up with my hand without it falling apart.

the simplicity and freshness of the flavors are apparent.

Now, to food bloggers who post REAL pictures of their food and kitchen my salute !!!!

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11
Sep
11

Chicken Leg Vegetable bouillabaisse

 

At least two servings depending how it’s served.

Items on hand:

2 chicken legs (drum sticks only, no thighs)

stock

green pepper

onion

garlic

celery

diced tomatoes

mushrooms

frozen assorted fish (paella) mix *

herbs, as desired

proportions : you want to highlight the vegetables (garden fresh if possible) and mushrooms in this dish.

*this is a warehouse club item, frozen assorted pieces of fish, shrimp, crab etc.

 

With a sharp knife cut the thick lower portion of the chicken leg parallel to the bone and flatten somewhat (leave attached to the bone for flavor).

In a medium stock pot with oil, butter,etc, brown the chicken legs, season with salt and pepper if desired.

Now remove the legs from pan and sweat onions, celery, for several minutes. Season and add oil if needed.

Add tomatoes and cook for several minutes, then add green pepper, garlic and hot stock with about an inch to cover.

Simmer, covered, about ten minutes, taste and adjust per your taste.

Add fish and simmer a couple of minutes and add a good amount of sliced mushrooms to bulk out the mix.

Add additional stock if needed to immerse all the ingredients. Again, season to taste and simmer till all is completely heated through and melded.

Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes.

Now how you eat it is up to you, alone it’s similar to a bouillabaisse, you can slice the chicken and remove the bones or leave them as is and serve in a bowl and eat the meat from the bones a la caveman.

Other suggestions:

Additions:

  • cooked pasta,rice,diced potatoes,dumplings

Garnishes:

  • small diced green onion tops
  • cheese,grated
  • smoked,dried hot pepper flakes
  • dill seed, sesame seeds, etc.
  • fresh herbs

sides:

  • bread, biscuits, fries, clam cakes, flat bread

beverage pairing : your suggestion?

Adapted from an Avec Eric recipe

13
Aug
11

garden august 2011

04
Oct
10

soup’s on

sort of a minestrone soup, made the broth yesterday, finished it today. With some bread a complete meal. chicken,sauteed carrots, orzo, tomatoes,peas, mini meatballs, green onions, oregano, etc.

30
Sep
10

pizza

 

pizza… diced chicken,tomatoes,a bit of salami,ham, jalapeño cheese, on a white flour/white cornmeal crust, heavy but filling supper.

27
Mar
10

spinach salad

spinach, chopped tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, sliced and grated Romano, olive oil & balsamic vinegar. Sorta like a pizza without the crust




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