To decrease our carbon footprint, home cooks should consider home composting. Benefits to home composting include not only reducing your carbon footprint, but also growing a better home vegetable garden. Composting is the process of controlling the decomposition of organic matter by providing the proper environment for the process to take place. Devices can be purchased to start your composting project, such as this metal container with holes in the top to allow the material to breath during the decomposition process. These are relatively inexpensive, but not necessary. A good compose pit can be just a loose pile or old pallets stacked in a square. Just allow 1 cubic yard…
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Getting your spring plants ready…..
Planting season is almost here. Right now, you should be thinking about what food you may want to grow and where, in your landscape you will put them. First, determine which growing zone you live in…here is a chart to help you…. Determine your zone…… Once you have determined your zone, here are a few items you can consider growing…. I plan to grow a few herbs, once the chance of a frost has past. Usually this is around April 15th. If you decide to plant herbs, make sure the soil is slightly warm. I try to wait till at least five days of sunny weather…
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Berry Basics
This is the season for berries. Just wanted to write about a few basic tips when buying, storing and cooking with berries. Buying: Always buy berries that are plump, firm, dry and free of blemishes or mold. Follow your nose; the most fragrant berries will taste the best. Storing: Never wash the berries until you are ready to use or eat them. Moisture promotes mold. You do not want damp berries sitting in the fridge. I leave my berries in the container I purchased them in (you know the one with the air slits). Cooking: Large, heavy berries (blackberries) will always drop to the bottom in a thin cake batter.…
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Herb Garden Update
The 12 day heatwave of temperatures above 90º have not killed my herbs yet. Lightly watering every other day, I have been able to keep them growing and pungent in flavor. Two different Basil, two different sage, chives and oregano are all doing well. Make sure to pick off new white flowers on your basil plants as this will keep them growing by encouraging new growth.
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Growing Herbs at Home
The springtime brings new warmer weather, entertaining on the deck and fresh, light meals. April also brings the planting season for your culinary herbs. Home cooks do not need a vast, huge English herb garden that can become to large to maintain. Here are my six favorite varieties that I am growing this year and cannot wait to incorporate them into my dishes all summer long. Basil – this year I am growing sweet and Italian, but one is all you really need. Key in Mediterranean cooking, essential to Italian Pesto and very popular in American cuisine. It can lose much of its flavor in long-cooking dishes, add a fresh…
