Last week was an exciting week as our first blueberries and our first tomatoes were ready to be picked. We also found a mystery melon plant in the midst of our beets! In the spring of 2008, we transplanted two blueberry bushes. At the time, they looked like sticks with roots. We were hesitant toContinue reading “Gardening Updates”
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Chorizo, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Avocados…Oh My!
Well, it is officially tomato and new potato season! Every day, we’re bringing a bag, half-full with tomatoes and new potatoes up from The Backyard Market to our kitchen to be used for immediate eating. Soon, both will be overwhelming and we’ll be living in the kitchen, canning and drying. Can’t wait! Two evenings ago,Continue reading “Chorizo, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Avocados…Oh My!”
Art in the Form of Food!
Six years ago, we signed up for a vegetable Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share with Harmony Valley Farm in Viroqua, WI. We get a box of fresh, in-season, local produce each week, May through February. Veteran CSA-ers often say it takes about three years to really get into the rhythm of the vegetable box. ThroughContinue reading “Art in the Form of Food!”
New Potatotes!
Yippee! The potato plants are browning and withering, which means they are ready to be harvested. Today, Andy shoveled up a handful of potatoes to be used within in the day as “new potatoes.” What are new potatoes you might ask? Well, new potatoes are basically fresh, out-of-the-dirt potatoes. The skins are super delicate, soContinue reading “New Potatotes!”
Too Much Parsley?
A few years ago, we were served a delicious and mysterious green sauce along with our bread at a local tapas restaurant. Our waiter told us that it was chimichurri, a popular Argentinian sauce which is typically used for marinating and topping meats. We hadn’t given this yummy sauce much thought again until our mostContinue reading “Too Much Parsley?”
A Summer Berry Delight!
Our backyard is a berry haven! Black raspberries, mulberries, and red raspberries (the only berry we actually planted) are producing fruit at an astounding rate. Tonight, we were asked to bring dessert to a barbecue at Andy’s parents’ house. The berry tart found in July/August’s (2009) issue of Vegetarian Times seemed the perfect fit forContinue reading “A Summer Berry Delight!”
Herbs and Berries! Oh my!
Last week, we harvested several herbs from our herb garden, including lavender, chamomile, basil, oregano, curly parsley, and flat-leaf parsley. My mom (Darcy’s) surprised us by buying us a much-needed dehydrator, which we tried out for the first time on our herbs. Additionally, we dehydrated several cups of mulberries from our second harvest. Before weContinue reading “Herbs and Berries! Oh my!”
A Serious Black Raspberry Patch!
We recently mowed a bit more of our weeded jungle down, only to discover a modest amount of black raspberry vines, speedily producing! As I battled mosquitoes and unruly, prickly vines, I found more and more areas covered with black raspberry vines. Spots of black and red seemed to be everywhere! Because no one hadContinue reading “A Serious Black Raspberry Patch!”
Garlic
Our first attempt at planting garlic was a successful one! In mid-October of 2008, we planted German Stiffneck garlic, which we obtained from our local garlic guy at the Dane County Farmer’s Market. We chose this variety for its reputation of strong flavor. Additionally, we searched for a large head of garlic because we hadContinue reading “Garlic”
Tiny Discoveries (Mulberries)
When we moved into our farmhouse, the backyard was a disaster. Most of it was overgrown. Since we’ve been occupants here, we’ve cleared a bit out each summer. Behind our garden remains a large overgrown patch. Trees grow into one another, tangled in vines. We haven’t mowed this section, mostly because of our resident woodchuck,Continue reading “Tiny Discoveries (Mulberries)”
The Poquette Zoo and Kitchen 