“What is an
unsightly weed
to humans is
God’s masterpiece.”
Copyright © 2010 Dianne Marie Andre
Archive for the ‘Dianne's Blog’ Category
Zucchini, Zucchini, Zucchini
July 6, 2010
I’ve been in heaven consuming a superb fried-zucchini dish. I call it my Crisp n’ Tender Zucchini. The zucchini is from my garden and the eggs from the henhouse. The only store-bought ingredients are a little oil, breadcrumbs, and a pinch of whatever spices and herbs I feel like adding.
I’m eating alone these days. My husband doesn’t get home from work until eight in the evening. Depending on what I prepare for supper, sometimes I have to cook the same meal twice in one evening. I don’t even like to cook one meal. My friend, who loathes cooking, said her next house won’t have a kitchen. A good concept until one realizes that means no garden. Probably no spouse either!
There are a few dishes I enjoy preparing. The Crisp n’ Tender Zucchini is one of them. I suppose that’s because I love to eat it. Lots of it.
Part of the joy in preparing this dish is plucking zucchini a few feet from the kitchen, and then watching, as I cut into the green skin, droplets form on coaster-size slices. Harvesting produce from your backyard is an earthy experience. It connects you to your food’s origin. The seed, the starter plant, the nutritious soil, the water, the sun-touched photosynthesis. How refreshing it is to find yourself pleased with an ordinary kitchen task.
On warm summer evenings, all I need for super is a plate of Crisp n’ Tender Zucchini, shrimp and cucumber salad under Raspberry Vinaigrette, and a chilled glass of well water. I’m as happy as a rabbit in a zucchini patch. It’s all natural stuff. Good enough to eat.
Here’s my recipe for Crisp n’ Tender Zucchini
Serves 2-4
Ingredients:
-
1 large zucchini
-
1-cup breadcrumbs, prepared or homemade (or ½-cup breadcrumbs and ½-cup grated Parmesan cheese)
-
4 tablespoons oil
-
2 fresh egg
-
Seasoning to taste such as salt, fresh dill, parsley, paprika
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high.
- Cut ¼-inch thick zucchini slices.
- Beat eggs in a small bowl.
- Place breadcrumbs in a small bowl (blend your favorite spices in or leave plain.)
- When the oil is hot*, dip zucchini slices in beaten eggs, coat in breadcrumbs, and carefully place in hot skillet.
- Fry each side until the outside is a crispy, golden brown and the inside is tender.
- Garnish with desired herbs.
- Serve hot.
*To keep zucchini from soaking up the oil, make sure the oil is hot before frying. You can test it by placing a few water drops in the pan. (Stand back when doing this.) If the droplets sizzle, the oil is ready for frying.
Note: If you are on a no-fry diet, simply place coated zucchini slices on a non-stick cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes on each side at 350 degrees or until crispy, golden brown.
Book-Giveaway Contest!
July 5, 2010
A FIRST EVER, BOOK-GIVEAWAY CONTEST for In and Around the Garden FANS.
The whole idea is to boost my readership. It’s a tough web world out there, and I need your help. I can hardly wait to see what you’re going to do.
THE PRIZE: My mint-conditioned copy (autographed to me) of The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms by Amy Stewart. Amy Stewart is a regular contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle, Bird Watcher’s Digest, and Organic Gardening, and the author of From the Ground Up, Flower Confidential, and Wicked Plants.
Here’s how you can win:
- You must be a subscriber to play.
- Get 5 or more of your friends, family members, and co-workers to subscribe to inandaroundthegarden.net. To qualify, you must sign up a minimum of 5 new subscribers. Be sure to tell everyone that it’s FREE.
- Entries will close July 28, 2010 midnight.
- After all of your friends have subscribed, email a list to me at, inthegarden@softcom.net.
- After the deadline, I’ll verify that each person is, in fact, a new subscriber.
- The person who has signed up the most subscribers is the winner. In the event of a tie, I will draw one name.
- The winner will be notified by email. The winner’s name will be announced on inandaroundthegarden.net.
Now, share something good—In and Around the Garden—with others.
Thanks for your ongoing support! It’s truly appreciated. Best of luck!
4th, Thought for the Day
July 2, 2010
A special “thank you” to all of our servicemen and women,
and to their families,
who have ensured America’s independence
over the years!
Come see what I have!
July 1, 2010
Another harvest: Spinach. Protein.
Freshly picked, it’s the best!
Budding Garden Thoughts
June 27, 2010
“Harvest hope.
Love someone
you don’t like . .
give a bouquet.”
Copyright © 2010 Dianne Marie Andre
Rain in June
June 25, 2010It rained last night. Rare June weather in the valley. What a shock, after I woke to a driveway filled with puddles. I didn’t hear the downpour during the night which is unusual as well. The chickens, Miss Boo Boo (pet turkey), Charlie and Chocolate (horses), are going to love the mild weather today. Ralphie will be more comfortable in his thick coat. The forecast reads 101 degrees on Sunday (Now that’s normal where I live.), so I think I’ll work in the perennial garden much of the day.
A good Friday!
Protect your Dog from Harmful Fruits & Veggies
June 24, 2010One of my readers has kindly informed me of an article that states, “DO NOT FEED DOGS potato peels.” She also says there are a lot of “veggies and fruits” that dogs should not eat, and therefore, shouldn’t place them in their mouths when playing.”
I quickly did a little research. Below is a site that list toxic foods, including fruits and veggies, to dogs. PLEASE take the time to read this link as it could save your pet’s life.
http://gomestic.com/pets/be-a-good-dog-owner-fruits-and-veggies-that-are-bad-for-your-dog/
I will also be posting the link under Helpful Resources for future use, should you need to refer back to it.
Ralphie won’t be playing with any more potatoes or any of the other items on this list which does include tomatoes. As a new dog owner, I sure wish the veterinarian had included this in my “new puppy” packet. Thank you, Betty.
Gardening with Pets
June 24, 2010
Ralphie loves to be outdoors with me, in the perennial garden or near the barn by the vegetable bed. This morning we spent time in both areas. I trimmed the lavender plant, potato vines, the dusty miller hedge, and then deadheaded zinnias while Ralphie explored, and barked at the cat.
In the veggie garden, I plucked out a few weeds and pulled up the last of the potatoes. As I carried the potatoes in a crate to the house, Ralphie kept jumping up to see what was inside the wooden box. I lowered the crate and let him look. Ralphie was as excited as I was with the crop, and grabbed one with his teeth. Together, we brought our harvest into the house. I took mine to the kitchen. Ralphie played with his in bed. I’ve never fed Ralphie table food. When we’re in the vegetable garden, I’ll make an exception. Although I doubt he will eat a potato.
Ralphie is only a year old, so this is his first experience with a vegetable garden. It will be fun to see how Ralphie handles a tomato. For sure, I won’t let him bring one inside the house. I’m not into cleaning up tomato juice. Sharing fresh produce can sometimes get a little messy, especially with a canine companion.
Ralphie and I garden well together. I labor; Ralphie plays, gets a fresh treat from the garden to eat or to amuse himself with, and then takes a nap. It’s all great, especially when you’re with a special companion. Copyright © 2010 Dianne Marie Andre
PS: After posting this story, I was informed that potato skins are harmful to dogs. For a list of other fruits and veggies that are bad for dogs please read the following link:
http://gomestic.com/pets/be-a-good-dog-owner-fruits-and-veggies-that-are-bad-for-your-dog/
Trouble in the Garden
June 23, 2010
Gosh-darn-it! Loopers (Trichoplusia ni) ate most of my Mesculun lettuce crop. The Mesculm was beautiful, and almost ready to harvest. Darn insects!
Loopers are green caterpillars with several white stripes down their backs. When they crawl, Loopers arch their backs creating the appearance of a loop. My bug book didn’t explain how large Loopers grow. The ones munching on my Mesculun were only an inch, and smaller. Hard to believe these tiny insects could eat so much in an evening. One day I had a wonderful crop of leafy greens and then the next morning, skeletons and partly chewed lettuce. All infested with fecal pellets.
Unlike the red-skinned potatoes harvested a couple of weeks ago, there was no joy in pulling up the lettuce. No ceremonial gratitude for a blessed crop. Instead, I tossed the entire crop and as many Loopers as I could gather from the soil, into the incinerator. I will have to watch my other plants closely now. Loopers like a variety of cultivated plants.
I want to bag up all the soil in my raised bed, take it to the landfill, and start over. But that would be impossible, a ridiculous step to take. Instead, I’ll wade through the mourning period and plant lettuce again, perhaps in the fall. Horticulture isn’t all happiness and success. It’s also life and death, rewards and disappointments, a learning arena of seasonal challenges. Farmers face this every day on a larger scale. If they’re not fighting insects or disease, they’re facing unfavorable weather. Unlike the farmer, my loss is minimal.
For now, I’ll depend on the local farmers’ market for fresh lettuce.
In and Around the Garden 