tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:29:33 +0000What's a little dirt between friends?http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/noreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)Blogger152125http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/DownDirtyhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-3495711400774359619Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:52:00 +00002010-03-07T10:37:06.321-05:00in the beginning:Day # 1When you're as food obsessed as we are, it's hard to say goodbye to a kitchen, even when you know something better is on the way.Day # 2We actually bought micro-waveable food when we went grocery shopping today. It felt very very wrong, but with no stove, no counter, no sink...our options are limited. Still, we haven't eaten them yet. Not quite desperate enough, I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/QuvFR5qGhp4/counting-down-to-new-kitchen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/QuvFR5qGhp4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2010/03/counting-down-to-new-kitchen.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-4501746473304259141Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:06:00 +00002010-02-28T11:44:08.415-05:00Thursday a large box arrived from Cayce in California. The contents? A belated birthday present well worth waiting for: Meyer lemons!I first met the Meyer lemon last March on a visit to the Bay Area. This winter, as our supplies of blueberry lemon jam and lemon marmalade dwindled and I opened the last jar of preserved lemons, I began to panic. How could I replenish my supply?Cayce to the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/XX-qCbxFYcY/that-is-good-friend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/XX-qCbxFYcY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2010/02/that-is-good-friend.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-4775237084569478351Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:35:00 +00002010-02-19T09:36:15.849-05:00I realize a sunny day may not seem like news, but this gardener's heart is counting the minutes of increasing daylight and enjoing every minute of sunshine she can get! Maybe because I'm teaching a gardening class right now, I'm chomping at the bit to start working outside again.So even though it's cold and even though digging into the soil is months away (well maybe 6 weeks for pansies), I foundhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/ylOJa7rZFD4/then-sun-came-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/ylOJa7rZFD4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2010/02/then-sun-came-out.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-6568775992582739170Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:17:00 +00002010-02-12T13:48:23.657-05:00I was supposed to be in Lake Tahoe this weekend with Cayce. We had reservations up the wazoo: x-country ski lessons, deep tissue massage, snow shoeing, facials, salt scrubs with shea butter treatments. Instead, a little snow (didn't even qualify for blizzard status in NYC) caused American Airlines to cancel my flight. I tried to be understanding, and even managed a few moments of enjoyment as http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/JpuM9KMjjT4/i-am-not-in-lake-tahoe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/JpuM9KMjjT4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2010/02/i-am-not-in-lake-tahoe.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-3138652105495951143Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:40:00 +00002010-02-07T21:03:24.494-05:00Last week we were in Santa Fe, NM. We go twice a year for Michael's board meeting at St. John's College...at least that's the excuse. Truth is, it's one of our favorite places, for the mountains, the air, the plants, and not least of all, the food. We have a long list of favorite restaurants we hit every visit.This year, when we arrived at the Cloud Cliff Bakery for breakfast on Thursday http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/TjoTdh4LOHE/jalapenos-mexican-grill.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/TjoTdh4LOHE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2010/02/jalapenos-mexican-grill.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-8461192301914099525Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:50:00 +00002010-01-24T11:20:24.438-05:00No excuses. We all know the holidays are busy.Then a big birthday comes along and you just have to go somewhere and celebrate. I apologize for the lapse in posting.Life is pretty much back to normal now. Is that a good thing?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/Bdv5vZQ403U/where-have-i-been.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/Bdv5vZQ403U" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2010/01/where-have-i-been.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-7442530817215627125Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:16:00 +00002009-12-25T09:18:15.010-05:00from Sisko, Seven, Michael, and Ellenhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/TaJuXdKEqIc/happy-holidays.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/TaJuXdKEqIc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/12/happy-holidays.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-695740682869525428Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:26:00 +00002009-12-13T15:28:07.923-05:00We've been working on our bedroom and the end is in sight.Stripping the wallpaper was oh so tedious. Pulling up the carpet somewhat less so. Installing the wood floor was a piece of cake (for me, because Michael and Ed did it).Yesterday, while Michael mitre-cut the floor mouldings, I put up the first curtain.I'd had the idea for months and couldn't wait to see if it would look as good as I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/E54dMzZntdc/craft-y-curtains.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/E54dMzZntdc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/12/craft-y-curtains.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-3419276454741667001Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:43:00 +00002009-12-11T21:04:40.465-05:00We don't put up a Christmas tree. Not that we have anything against Christmas trees, but we don't have kids and we're never here for the actual day so it seems like a lot of trouble for nothing.Imagine my delight when O.E. (aka Other Ellen, aka Wreath Goddess, aka Ellen Spector Platt, aka my partner @ Garden Bytes) asked me if I'd like a wreath. Yes, I said, yes, yes, yes!She brought it to my http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/XBkoKI4aYIw/look-what-my-friend-gave-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/XBkoKI4aYIw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/12/look-what-my-friend-gave-me.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-7713150801840914058Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:04:00 +00002009-12-09T21:14:23.208-05:00http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/51LnFwAGrc8/dawn-in-shohola.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/51LnFwAGrc8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/12/dawn-in-shohola.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-8234875218027350519Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:51:00 +00002009-11-28T17:29:04.399-05:00transplantingAfrican violetskids gardeningFive or six (we're not sure) years ago, Solon and I went to the local garden center to buy him a plant. He was five (or four, we're not sure) and he chose an African violet. The African violet thrived. It thrived a lot. We moved it into a bigger pot, and maybe we even divided it once (we can't remember that, either). This year, home for Thanksgiving, I was asked to please help divide it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/O_9SpCJC2no/marking-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/O_9SpCJC2no" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/marking-time.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-1173837063007020797Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:02:00 +00002009-11-21T19:31:50.320-05:00Kyra3 years ago today Kyra died. We still miss her.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/S8PMwrXvyvs/remembering-kyra.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/S8PMwrXvyvs" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/remembering-kyra.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-6168288062662956891Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:18:00 +00002009-11-20T22:08:31.163-05:00Greek foodoyster mushroomslettucefetaWent back to the oyster mushroom tree first thing this morning. Picked several luscious clumps of soft, baby oysters and came home to try a new recipe from a new cookbook. My idea of a lovely afternoon.I should back up a little...this year I'm responsible for the vegetable at Thanksgiving. My family isn't big on vegetables. They think corn, potatoes, and carrots count, and while I like all http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/gTNxu6jTPCo/delicious-greek-ness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/gTNxu6jTPCo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/delicious-greek-ness.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-1271317557589147469Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:34:00 +00002009-11-16T22:01:49.710-05:00oyster mushroomsCan anyone help me?I THINK these are oyster mushrooms, but as anyone who hunts for wild mushrooms knows...thinking isn't good enough! Plus, I WANT them to be oysters so much that I could quite possibly talk myself into believing it. I'd appreciate your input asap, so I have a chance to actually do something with these beauties if they turn out to be oysters.Pros: (why I think they may be http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/s3VtNCXH5tg/oyster-mushrooms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)10<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/s3VtNCXH5tg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/oyster-mushrooms.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-9074600924812986931Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:07:00 +00002009-12-04T19:21:41.782-05:00home brewwineWe have, from left to right:-turnip-lilac-cabbage-carrot-knotweed-mixed fruitI expect two to be vile, three to be tasty, and one to be ok.As a pre-Thanksgiving taste test I'm opening several half bottles to see which, if any, I might contribute to the Thanksgiving table. Well, one of the Thanksgiving tables. We have two Thanksgivings: one for each family. No alcohol permitted at one house...http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/22OQYQJz7Ck/taste-test.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/22OQYQJz7Ck" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/taste-test.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-4919945528988727421Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:50:00 +00002009-11-14T09:30:08.038-05:00Last night, when Michael went out to start a fire for the lamb, he called in that I should look at the sky.Shohola is far enough inland that we didn't feel much effect from the nor'easter (the storm formerly known as Ida), some high winds and a little mist. But there was no denying the preternatural pink tint to the sky.Not normal.But beautiful.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/egdLa_Q6_yA/last-night-when-michael-went-out-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/egdLa_Q6_yA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/last-night-when-michael-went-out-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-6414115970451853714Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +00002009-12-04T19:31:05.488-05:00I bought a painting.I never buy art, but this painting called to me in a voice I couldn't resist. Its name is Lynx Lynx and from the moment I saw it I knew I wanted to own it. (Somehow the word "own" seems petty and impossible. Can anyone really OWN art?) Anyway, I knew I wanted to be able to look at it every day because it fills me with happiness and an irrepressible smile every time I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/ENtFrPVP2Vc/art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/ENtFrPVP2Vc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/art.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-7871182707955426112Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:07:00 +00002009-11-08T10:29:15.348-05:00home brewapple wineI may have passed a milestone.As anyone knows who bakes (or makes jelly, or brews wine), you start out by following the recipe. Plain old regular cooking allows more flexibility and free-styling, but with baking (and jelly making and home brewing) the quantities must be precisely right or the cake won't rise, the jelly won't jell, the brew won't ferment.It took a little time and a lot of successhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/MXXyFmtFh0E/apple-wine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/MXXyFmtFh0E" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/apple-wine.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-2530923717383460599Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:17:00 +00002009-11-07T09:21:36.270-05:00Novemberclematisfall gardenIt's November in NE PA.We've had several frosts.Most of the leaves have fallen.And yet...(I promise I didn't place that oak leaf there!)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/wEMqbzvnFjA/and-yet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/wEMqbzvnFjA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/11/and-yet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-3778694229220683959Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:44:00 +00002009-12-04T14:01:29.226-05:00jellyquinceCydonia oblongaI don't like to be thwarted.A few years ago my friend Elspeth mailed me a box of quinces from Santa Fe. I'd been fascinated by the fruit, its weirdness and its mythological significance, for years. Greek mythology says a quince was the golden apple that started the Trojan War when Paris gave it to Aphrodite, the fairest of them all.I'd never cooked with quinces before; they aren't a common http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/ik3tRKpSNX8/oh-lovely-quince-oh-golden-apple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)11<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/ik3tRKpSNX8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/10/oh-lovely-quince-oh-golden-apple.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-1775288283574699282Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:51:00 +00002009-10-22T21:17:17.084-04:00spicebushpawpawchicken of the woodschestnutshen of the woodswatercressAnd now the moment you've all been waiting for: the menu produced from our excellent fall foraging adventure:1. watercress salad with roasted chestnuts and local brabander cheese from Fallsdale FarmsI confess, I forgot to photograph this course. Anyone who's eaten with me knows I get excited when anticipating deliciousness. In my excitement I tend to pick up a fork instead of a camera. We're http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/ZXsNlVBcfmQ/feast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/ZXsNlVBcfmQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/10/feast.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-402137174737390201Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:20:00 +00002009-10-22T20:55:59.371-04:00foraginghopnisschestnutsmushroomswatercressspice bushMark comes back to PA for fall break every October. Weather permitting (and sometimes weather NOT permitting) we forage, with varying degrees of success. This year we rocked the world of wild foods with more good luck and delicious edibles than I dreamed of.First stop is always the chestnut tree. The past few years have been bleak: four-legged fauna has beaten us to the nuts. But this year wehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/FMt6auI8P0M/fabulous-fall-foraging.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/FMt6auI8P0M" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/10/fabulous-fall-foraging.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-3632946859262335804Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:41:00 +00002009-10-12T07:36:54.667-04:00wild mushroomsShaggy ManeCoprinus comatusI was packing the car to come back into the city when I paused to toss an acorn for the little cat. As I scanned the ground for more nuts, I saw something that made me thrill: a Shaggy Mane! I've always heard about the shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus)...its distinctive form, its unique method of scattering spores, and its rapid descent from primo edible to squishy mess.There's no mistaking the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/rIpS2KWWFYM/shaggy-mane-story.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/rIpS2KWWFYM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/10/shaggy-mane-story.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-2893839910920931642Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:38:00 +00002009-10-10T12:42:05.852-04:00food preservation rainy day activitiesWhat do you do in Shohola when it's raining and your husband stayed in the city for a convention? Besides throw mushrooms for the little cat?You make pickled beets.You bottle blueberry wine.You move the carrot wine from the primary to the secondary fermentation vessel.You start a beef, barley, & mushroom stew in the crockpot.You make drunken jelly from last weekend's vodka soaked fruit.So what http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/LDE0R5Z8J1g/rainy-day-in-shohola.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/LDE0R5Z8J1g" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/10/rainy-day-in-shohola.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2613900352373458842.post-3500244538959229474Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:14:00 +00002009-10-08T21:20:25.107-04:00bad gardeningFoley SquareSo I'm downtown, walking to lunch at the Peking Duck House when I pass this:Incomprehensible. I stopped in my tracks and looked around for whomever left these poor hostas plopped on the ground, roots exposed, drying in the October sun. I saw no one. I called out, "Where's the gardener?" Nothing.And so I ask you: WTF?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DownDirty/~3/RoAj_Ci-yyI/wtf.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ellen Zachos)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DownDirty/~4/RoAj_Ci-yyI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.downanddirtygardening.com/2009/10/wtf.html