Playing in the Dirt

Can't wait to start gardening!!

2012-01-21T12:41:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I caved and my husband bought me a Keurig coffee maker for my birthday in October. I love it, but, being that I am big on recycling and not to mention... the Environmental Committee Chairperson for the school district PTA, I don't like the fact that the k-cups are one time use. Between the kids having iced tea, hot chocolate, and hot cider, and my husband and I using 3-4 k-cups a day, we have created alot of waste. NOT ANYMORE!! The K-cups are the perfect size for starting seeds for my garden!! I thought about it, Googled it, and found that I am not alone in my thinking. Gardeners everywhere are doing it. So I figured I might as well blog about it.

What you need are used K-cups, a pair of scissors, and pellet tray refills. The Keurig already punches a hole in the bottom of the k-cup so you have drainage. Use the scissor, or your fingers, to pull the foil off of the k-cup. Scoop out the coffee grounds, being careful not to tear the paper filter inside, and add them to your compost pile.

Place the peat pellet into the k-cup with the opening or depression side up. If you have many k-cups to use, open and clean them all out first for a more streamlined process.

Once you have all of your k-cups filled, place them into a container to hold them and add water. Let them set for about 20 minutes while the peat moss re hydrates.

Using a pencil, make a hole in the center of the pellet and place the seeds, I usually put 2 or 3 as not every seed germinates. You can also use a sharpie to write on the k-cup so that you know what is planted in it. Place the k-cups in a sunny area and be sure not to let them dry out. When the weather permits, and your seedlings are ready, transplant into your garden!!

2012-01-07T15:36:00.000-06:00

We added a pond to the back yard.

2012-01-07T15:24:00.001-06:00

We keep going through phaces of murky water, but the fish are happy.

Got Peppers??

2011-10-10T17:19:00.004-05:00

I have an abundance of jalapeno peppers so... I am planning to make bread and butter jalapeno slices.

4 lbs jalapeno peppers 
2 lbs onions 
3 cups vinegar 
2 cups sugar 
2 Tbs mustard seed 
2 tsp turmeric 
2 tsp celery seed 
1 tsp ginger

I would definitely recommend wearing a pair of rubber gloves for handling jalapenos, the oils within the peppers are easily absorbed into the skin, eyes, nose, and mouth. Speaking from personal experience!

Wash and cut jalapenos and onions into thin slices and cold pack into jars.

Place remaining ingredients in large sauce pot and bring to a boil. Pour hot mixture into jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Remove air bubbles. Adjust caps. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath. Yield: about 7 Pints.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-08-23T13:24:00.002-05:00

3/4 c packed brown sugar
3/4 c granulated sugar
1 c butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 bag chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375. Combine first 5 ingredients until well blended. Add flour, baking soda and salt; stir until mixed (the dough will be stiff). Add chocolate chips.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet (I use parchment paper) space 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes. (8 minutes for gooey cookies, 10 minutes for a firmer cookie)

Stevia Sweetener

2011-06-21T17:31:00.000-05:00

I am not sure if I made the batch properly. The sweetener has an apple juice color to it, and it smells funny. I have to admit though, it is awfully sweet. I am going to try to remake another batch to see if it turns out any different, since I am truly wanting to cut down my cane sugar intake.

Here is my worm composting presentation

2011-06-20T12:40:00.001-05:00

The internet is a great source for information in doing just about anything. With the help of numerous sites and blogs, I was bale to create my own worm bin, harvest castings, and fertilize my gardens with worm compost tea.

Worms, Worms, Worms

2011-06-09T12:40:00.001-05:00

On June 20th, I will be presenting a worm composting seminar at the New Braunfels Library. I am putting together my first ever powerpoint presentation. I cannot believe that I have never had to do one of these before. The funny thing is that my kids are teaching me how to use it. I will get it posted on here if I can figure out how to do it.

Homemade Sweetener

2011-06-08T14:57:00.002-05:00

I am experimenting this year with the stevia plant. It is supposed to be 100 times stronger than sugar, without all of the negative side effects. I figured since we go through 4-5 25 pound bags of sugar a year, that we needed something different in our diet.

I started with 1 4 inch stevia plant that I bought at one of the big box stores. Luckily, it had 3 separate stems growing in it, and I was able to divide it into 3 plants. I now have 2 foot tall plants, and I have begun harvesting the leaves in an attempt to make my own sweetener.

If this works, I may try making stevia mojitos!!

Homemade Stevia Extract

Mix together 1 cup very hot distilled water with 1 cup bruised fresh Stevia leaves or 1/2 cup dried crushed Stevia leaves. Put in a jar with a cover. Let it stand for a day, then filter through a coffee filter. Refrigerate, covered, up to a month or freeze up to 6 months. You can dilute it with water if you want.

I am working on this recipe, so I will let you know how it turns out.

How to Make a Mojito

1 - 2 limes, cut into wedges
1/4 to 1/3 cup sugar or equivalent Stevia
1/2 cup mint leaves, packed
crushed ice
2 - 4 ounces of rum, depending on your taste
6 - 8 ounces club soda
Lime & mint for garnish

Place 2 lime wedges in a tall glass with sugar and mint leaves. Using a mudder or a wooden spoon, mash the ingredients together. Add 1-2 more lime wedges and ice. Pour club soda to fill class, stir. Add mint and lime for garnish and enjoy.

Well, it is taking alot longer than I expected to harvest the stevia leaves. I began to do so when I wrote the initial post above, but, the plants don't seem to like being harvested just yet. I almost have 1/4 of a cup of dried leaves, and just picked some more this evening. It may be Friday before I get to make the sweetener.

Garden Invaders

2011-06-02T11:39:00.000-05:00

It seems that no matter how hard you try to keep pests out of the garden, they always manage to get the upper hand. I had moved my birdbath into the backyard, and the birds have been coming in droves and keeping down the bug population. They completely got rid of the aphids on my tomato, cucumber, and potato plants. However, in payment for their services, the mockingbirds have decided to help themselves to a couple of my bright red tomatoes.

All in all, it is a small price to pay to have naturally organic vegetables growing. I have 12 tomato plants which are already giving us tons of tomatoes, so I can spare a few for the mockingbirds.

2011-05-31T10:45:00.000-05:00

Making Butter At Home (Fun activity for all ages!)

Whipping Cream
Mason Jar (any size will work, smaller jars mean less butter)
Salt (optional)

Fill jar 1/2 to 3/4 full with cream. Place lid on tightly. Shake for ten to thirty minutes, or until you hear solids shaking around and can see through the glass that the solids have separated from liquid. Pour into colander to separate liquid from butter. Place butter in a ramekin or bowl and stir in salt, if desired. Refrigerate until hardened. Enjoy!

I am going to try making this later this week. I will post pictures, even if it fails.

It's been a long time.

2011-05-31T10:42:00.000-05:00

Well, I hate to admit it, but I think I have a severe case of ADD. Or as I like to call it... Adult Driven to Distraction. I wanted to start this blog to post about my family, gardening, cooking, and everyday what~nots. With my daughter and I both having had major surgery last year, and other medical complications, you can tell that my blog fell by the wayside.

Needless to say, I am back in the saddle, and ready to go. I have not sat idly over the last year. My gardens are growing and quite fruitful. I am preparing to make a peach moscato jam with help of Linsey sending me the recipe. And I am going to make a long to~do list of projects that I want to complete over the summer.

The first on that list is to post a recipe for homemade butter.

Watch for it.

2010-05-12T01:30:00.003-05:00

Garden Magic

This is the garden's magic,
That through the sunny hours
The gardener who tends it,
Himself outgrows his flowers.

He grows by gift of patience,
Since he who sows must know
That only in the Lord's good time
Does any seedling grow.

He learns from buds unfolding,
From each tight leaf unfurled,
That his own heart, expanding,
Is one with all the world.

He bares his head to sunshine,
His bending back a sign
Of grace, and every shower becomes
His sacramental wine.

And when at last his labors
Bring forth the very stuff
And substance of all beauty
This is reward enough.

-MARIE NETTLETON CARROLL

My Green Thumb

2010-05-10T21:23:00.000-05:00

After only 3 days, I have cucumber sprouting in my garden beds. I am just tickled that they are coming up so quickly. Now if I could only get the kids to keep the beagles in the dog run, my gardens may survive.

I resorted to putting some of my tomato plants into hanging baskets. At least I didn't use the Topsy Turvy that my mother gave me last year. I am experimenting with organic pest control by using scented geraniums and marigolds with my tomaotes, and planting sage with my peppers. Hopefully, this will keep some of the pests away.

Now, if I could find something to keep the worms off of my red cabbage, I would be happier.

THE Perfect Margarita

2010-05-07T18:44:00.000-05:00

INGREDIENTS

* Salt, for rimming the glass (optional)
* Ice
* 1 1/2 ounces tequila (blanco, 100 percent agave)
* 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
* 1/2 ounce Cointreau (not Triple Sec)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. If using salt, place in a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of a rocks glass with a dampened paper towel, then dip in salt.
2. Fill the glass with ice; add tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau; and stir a few times until chilled. Serve immediately.

WooHoo!! Finally Made It!

2010-05-07T12:55:00.000-05:00

I haven't been able to do much as far as blogging since I was taking the Master Gardener's Course, but now that the classes have finished, I will be a certified Master Gardener On Wednesday, May 12th, with monogrammed clothing and name tag. I am thrilled about completing the course, and I made a bunch of new friends who understand my gardening compulsion. Maybe my next adventure will be the Master Naturalists course....

My current course of action is running tomato trials for Texas A&M, I have 22 tomato plants, of which there are 20 varieties, and I have two sets of standards for comparison. Honestly, I don't know where I am going to put them all. I did add a new planting bed which gives me an additional 32 square feet to plant in, but I really don't want to fill it up with tomatoes. I guess I will re-pot the smaller ones into larger pots, and put the larger ones in the ground.

Since my potatoes are just about ready, I can replace those plants with the tomatoes and just keep adding more and more as other things become harvest ready.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2010-01-28T16:31:00.001-06:00

Prep: 5 minutes
Bake: 20 minutes
Makes: About 4 cups

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 ounces)
1/2 cup blue cheese salad dressing or ranch salad dressing
2 cans (12.5 ounces each) Swanson® Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained
1/2 cup any flavor FRANK'S® RedHot® sauce
Assorted fresh vegetables or crackers

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350° F.
Stir the cream cheese in a 9-inch deep dish pie plate with a fork or whisk until it's smooth.
Stir in the dressing, pepper sauce and blue cheese. Stir in the chicken.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the chicken mixture is hot and bubbling.
Stir before serving.
Serve with the vegetables and crackers for dipping.

2010-01-28T16:29:00.000-06:00

I am new to the world of blogging, so here goes!!

I plan on posting info about my experiences taking the Master Gardeners class; how well (hopefully) my garden grows; recipes; and general what-nots.

Hope you enjoy it!!
Alba