Thursday, April 29, 2010
Beginning to plant...
We always mark the start of spring planning season by when DeBaggio's Herb Farm puts out their awesome heirloom tomato seedlings. Of course, you can put in your lettuce, spinach, and potatos before then, but on our farm, we worship at the leaves of the perfect tomato.
We plant ours in Straw Bales, and we feel it's the best way for lazy people like us to plant tomatos (because you don't have to till). We had read on the amazing internet that the very best way to start your straw bales rotting was with Ammonium Nitrate, which prompted Margie and I to run all around the DC Metro Area for Ammonium Nitrate. Which, um, they don't really sell here. In fact, in spite of the fact that it is a PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE FERTILIZER, all the clerks at the garden centers looked at us as if we'd grown two heads and as if us seedling-toting women were quite clearly terrorists.
"Well, I've NEVER heard of it and I DON'T recommend it," snarled the portly gentleman running the show at the garden center in Davidsonville, MD. We refrained from comment.
That was the year with, I believe, 8 tomato plants. The best year we had. This year, Margie went a little crazy in DeBaggio's and walked out with 32 plants. Hopefully they'll grow. Sometimes we screw up, and they don't.
I also harvested my lettuce tonight. It was starting to bolt.
Bolting means it is getting warm. We like warm.
We plant ours in Straw Bales, and we feel it's the best way for lazy people like us to plant tomatos (because you don't have to till). We had read on the amazing internet that the very best way to start your straw bales rotting was with Ammonium Nitrate, which prompted Margie and I to run all around the DC Metro Area for Ammonium Nitrate. Which, um, they don't really sell here. In fact, in spite of the fact that it is a PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE FERTILIZER, all the clerks at the garden centers looked at us as if we'd grown two heads and as if us seedling-toting women were quite clearly terrorists.
"Well, I've NEVER heard of it and I DON'T recommend it," snarled the portly gentleman running the show at the garden center in Davidsonville, MD. We refrained from comment.
That was the year with, I believe, 8 tomato plants. The best year we had. This year, Margie went a little crazy in DeBaggio's and walked out with 32 plants. Hopefully they'll grow. Sometimes we screw up, and they don't.
I also harvested my lettuce tonight. It was starting to bolt.
Bolting means it is getting warm. We like warm.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Pasta Alla Carbonara (good things for fresh eggs, part I)
My roommate made Spaghetti Alla Carbonara tonight due to some leftover proscuitto. I watched her make it and, being a vegetarian, immediately got jealous and decided to make my own. Jess's recipe is simple - pasta, proscuitto, egg, parmesan, peas. I'm sure you can add to it, but this is what we made. Some people like black pepper or salt or cream - I think the parmesan added enough bite.
I used Morningstar Farms fake bacon instead of proscuitto. Egg was contributed by Gertrude.
She makes some mighty fine green eggs, this one.
Pasta Alla Carbonara - simple version for one
- 1 Gertrude egg or other egg, preferably fresh, beaten
- Big ass handful of pasta, preferably in a pretty shape, however much you want to eat (If you're very hungry or serving more people, add more than one egg, but a whole egg was almost too much for my personal bowlful)
- 2 Strips of Morningstar Farms fake bacon, or fried up real bacon, or prosciutto
- Peas for prettiness
- Parmesan or sharp hard cheese
Cook the pasta and fry your facon. Toss some peas into into the pasta and let them cook up with it and strain when al dente-ish. Return to pasta pot and stir in egg, peas, cooked bacon, and parmesan, stir until it turns sauce-like and serve.
I used Morningstar Farms fake bacon instead of proscuitto. Egg was contributed by Gertrude.
She makes some mighty fine green eggs, this one.
Pasta Alla Carbonara - simple version for one
- 1 Gertrude egg or other egg, preferably fresh, beaten
- Big ass handful of pasta, preferably in a pretty shape, however much you want to eat (If you're very hungry or serving more people, add more than one egg, but a whole egg was almost too much for my personal bowlful)
- 2 Strips of Morningstar Farms fake bacon, or fried up real bacon, or prosciutto
- Peas for prettiness
- Parmesan or sharp hard cheese
Cook the pasta and fry your facon. Toss some peas into into the pasta and let them cook up with it and strain when al dente-ish. Return to pasta pot and stir in egg, peas, cooked bacon, and parmesan, stir until it turns sauce-like and serve.
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