by Noel | Apr 17, 2013 | CobraHead, Gardening
Compost solves everything! Well, not quite, but one can garden in compost alone and you cannot have too much. This year I’m way ahead. I’ve got a pile of ready to apply material (the smaller pile in the picture). And even though it’s still too wet in the garden beds to do much work, I took advantage of two unexpected warm and dry days to turn the pile I had created throughout last year. This is what I started with. The picture was taken in...
by Noel | Apr 13, 2013 | CobraHead, Recipes
Here’s a quick salmon meal using leeks and corn frozen from last year’s harvest. It’s a great way to use up chopped and frozen leeks, but of course fresh leeks will work just as well. Start the rice first and it will be cooked and ready to go by the time everything else is done. Start warming the corn on low heat if it’s frozen, then prepare the salmon. Rice with Leeks 1 cup brown rice (I used Lotus brand Volcano Rice) 1 cup chopped leeks 2...
by Noel | Apr 9, 2013 | CobraHead, Gardening
Were I growing vegetables for money, I’d make sure I got my seeds started on a very specific schedule. But as a casual home gardener, I don’t have to worry much about getting everything exactly right. I’m just getting most of my seeds started now, and by the rules, some are a little late. That doesn’t bother me a lot. I’ve learned that you have a lot of latitude in growing your own food, and most of the “rules” are...
by Noel | Mar 19, 2013 | CobraHead, Gardening
I’ve wanted an orchard ladder for a long time and I finally got one. They are also called fruit picking ladders or tripod ladders, but there are other tripod ladders out there that are not designed specifically as orchard ladders. The better orchard ladders are lightweight aircraft aluminum and the good manufacturers are just about all on the west coast. That makes it a problem if you are not located near a major fruit growing industry. These ladders are...
by Judy | Mar 16, 2013 | CobraHead
I first tried canned, or shall I say jarred, ajvar many years ago at a potluck. Since then our friend Michael Ball has developed his own recipe and it is his potluck specialty. This Turkish dish has many versions and can also include roasted eggplant. Served with a Neufchâtel/Feta cheese spread on a sourdough baguette it makes a wonderful appetizer or midday snack. Here is my version: Ajvar 4 red sweet bell peppers (I have also used ripe red Anaheims for a...
by Judy | Jan 16, 2013 | CobraHead, Recipes
We still have about 4 or 5 pounds of garden carrots in the refrigerator. Noel started a late crop the end of August and harvested what was left of them mid December. We scrubbed and bagged them in clear plastic bags and found a spot in the refrigerator (barely). We munch on a few raw ones just about every day – they’re so sweet and tasty. The other day I was in the mood for roasted carrots but since my oven was zapped in the last ice storm (we’re...
