Chit Chat

 

In May of 2024, I ordered a brand new, USA made stainless steel tomato strainer.  In the fall of 2024, I called to check on the order, because it did not arrive in 6 months as I was told.

I was then told, the new sauce maker would arrive in May of 2025.  Keep in mind, you have to remember this over all this time too.  Well, May of 2025 has passed. 

It's now June and I called again.  I'm told (and before she even asks for my order number) the production won't produce any until "May of 2026" (seriously). 

I asked for a refund.  I'll let you know what happens, as I do expect that refund one way or another.  Once that is back in my bank account, I need to find a better source for a stainless steel tomato strainer.  I thought I would share, if case anyone has thought about ordering from them.  I'm not "bad" mouthing the company.  I'm just sharing my experience in attempting to order a tomato strainer.

Who knows what I'll be doing in a year from now?  My instincts told me that next year would arrive, and this company would tell me the same story  - not ready for another year, blah, blah, blah.

I may have a secret summer home by next year, sold the house, and started traveling the world in an RV by next year.  I could be sailing the oceans too.  You never know.

Either way, I was not going to wait another entire year to find out if the tomato strainer would be shipped or not.  So....if you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them (for a stainless steel one).

I have been taking advantage of the hot water the garden hose has in the first use in this heat wave.  I can clean chicken feed pans, my lounge chair, and the chicken watering units, not wasting that hot water.

No rain yet, and the heat continues, but very slightly lower than the 100's.  Rain was due last night, but nothing.  

We have been very thankful to once again get garlic scapes from our garlic.  These can sometimes be found at Farmer's Markets as well.  Garlic scapes form on mature garlic plants, and you need to cut them off before they bloom. 

I have once again made our favorite spread - radish garlic scape spread. The spread is cream cheese, garlic scape, radishes, fresh spinach and a bit of real lemon juice.  It's delicious!  The only thing missing is freshly made cream cheese from goat's milk (we really miss that).  I also use 2 garlic scapes in this recipe.  I do cut off the flower end.  It really has a good flavor, and the cut scapes are not wasted.  I plan to freeze the remainder for future recipes.  I may even freeze some garlic scape pesto.

We were gifted a lot of fresh dill from a co-worker of my husband's.  I put much of it in the dehydrator, but saved some for salads and other recipes.  It got me thinking.  Has anyone ever made a dill tincture?  I'm looking into it, only because of the large amount of dill we were given.  

It's a small start this year, but this is my husband's attempt to start back at the new chicken coop project.  The ladies deserve a chicken castle picnic table, ha ha ha!  We have much to do on the coop, and are now looking into solar exhaust fans for the new coop.  I can say, I am thrilled we picked the location for it now.  They will have more shade when their new run is built and installed.

Homemade peach crumble.  The only thing I've done with peaches this year.  So far anyway.  Georgia peaches from a local produce stand (we planted another peach tree this year).

Back in May, I visited a locally owned coffee shop/book store.  I walked by this book enough, and finally opened it. 

I did a check at Goodreads to see what the rating on it was.  I am still reading a book, so it is now on the list to read.  We shall see if it's any good.  My first "blind" date with a book.

Chit Chat  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

 I've been using a sample size of horsetail salve, to see if it will help with the very dry cracked skin on my hands (joys of gardening).  I did a bit of reading (like a tiny bit), and it apparently is good to help brittle fingernails too.  I do not make the salve.  I, honestly, never heard of it, until we bought some earlier this year.  So far, it's helping restore my hands and heal the very dry cracks.  

Garden planting is still on-going.  The rain has now moved later into the week, so watering newly planted seeds and plants is happening.  I obtained a few packets of organic collard seeds, and have a new plan for them this year.  I read that if they are planted next to thyme, they thrive better (we'll soon find out).

Our garlic is starting to grow scapes, and the radish plants have not even sprouted due to late planting.  The two together, make the most delicious dip.  I don't need to cut the scapes just yet, but I read they will store in the refrigerator for a good long time, so there is hope for making the dip this season. 

I recently listened to a video, where the garden grower stated that once you cut those scapes off, your garlic is done for the season.  I read that you cut them off, so your bulb grows larger, but now I'm hearing that is not the case.  Any thoughts on that?

It's that time of year I call "dip" season.  Easy dinners that require no cooking, and are also light lunches or even simply a quick, nutritious snack.  The photo above is a dip that uses 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar in the dressing and it is delicious.  I split this batch in half, and added a fresh chopped jalapeno to one half of the dip this time.

Black bean and corn dip.

Our comfrey is now blooming.  I grow it in a plant pot, and it comes back every year.  If I had a "weed" garden somewhere, it would be grown there, as it spreads quickly (medicinal plant).

I am glad I make my own comfrey salve, as we have used that this year too.  Along with plantain salve and yarrow salve.

Something I learned, but have to check resources to make sure it's correct - borage blooms (another green I would like to start growing) look almost identical to comfrey blooms, and the plant looks very similar.  You can eat the blossoms of borage and they taste like blueberries.  Hm.  I have yet to plant any borage, but it's sounds interesting.  It is one plant I am not familiar with.

Something else I learned - the roots of cleavers can be used to make a red dye.  Very interesting (Learning Herbs).  I decided to go ahead and start a tincture with cleavers, but in a smaller jar.  We love ginger root for swollen lymph nodes, but I think the tincture would be nice to have on hand this coming winter. 

I started an apple cider vinegar tincture with chickweed.  My first tincture made with vinegar.  My research recommended filling the jar 1/4 to 1/3 of dried herb.  As you can see a little herb goes a long way (using dried herb) in this type of tincture.  It will sit for 4 weeks before I strain it.

I do need to make an inventory on tinctures. I like to get those all re-stocked when the plants are growing.  I'm considering making more tinctures.  Possibly more with vinegar this year, but tinctures with apple cider vinegar will only last 1 year.  However, you can use them to cook with too.  I'm considering maybe Thai basil.  Garlic would be a good one too.  

I have a packet of Sorrel seeds, and have yet to decide where to plant them.  I really need a "weed" garden somewhere.  I have never eaten sorrel, nor planted it, nor harvested it for any reason.  I did read a bit about it, and it is invasive and a perennial plant.  Has anyone eaten sorrel?  Worth the time to plant possibly in pots for a trial run?  Benefits?  Does it freeze well when blanched?  Best way to eat it?  I'll have to do more research on this plant.  Adding it to my "rainy day" activities.

Deer are on the move lately.  They are the reason gardens are fenced around here, but deer can jump high too.   

This and That  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Garlic Scape Powder ~ Spiced Peanuts

Woke up to a brisk 49°F (feels like 47°F).  Brrr!  Not good for the garden.  Sheesh.  Yesterday the wind was blowing so hard I chose not to use the clothesline in fear my bloomers would end up in the next county.

Garlic scapes are part of the garlic plant that gets cut off to help the plant continue to grow.  By the way, if you do not grow garlic, check your local Farmer's Markets for garlic scapes.  Many gardeners sell them this time of year.  

They are edible and we love to make garlic scape dip with radishes we grow as well.

They also last a long time in the refrigerator, but this year I tried something new with the remaining scapes.  I dehydrated them into garlic scape powder.

Dice scapes and use the temperature on your dehydrator you use to dehydrate vegetables. Once they are dried, grind to a powder using a coffee mill and store as you would garlic powder.  It's a milder flavor, but I'm excited to have it in my pantry this year.  I've never dehydrated garlic scapes before.

I had a jar of dry roasted (unsalted) peanuts that needed dealt with before expiration, so I made spiced peanuts. 

So good!  It's just a 16 oz. container of peanuts, 2 Tbsp. organic canola oil, 2 Tbsp. of sugar (I used monk fruit), 1 1/2 tsp. organic cumin, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. organic cayenne, 1/2 tsp. homemade garlic powder.  Mix in a bowl, spread onto a rimmed baking sheet, and bake for 20-25 minutes at 300°F.  Cool on waxed paper.  I bake mine on my pampered chef stoneware pan.

Garlic Scapes ~ Tidbits

Guess what is ready already?  My garlic scapes.  First time it's ever been ready before the radishes were ready to harvest.

Dinner last night - apples, cranberries, pecans and chicken were added when we ate.  There is blue cheese in there.   So good for a hot day.  We hit a heat index of 101°F yesterday.  Then the temperature started to go down.

Does anyone know what this flower is called?  It's not bluebells.  The flowers are upward.  I moved them from the last home and they are still blooming.  My blue daisy plant died sadly.  

We got some rain last night and we hope to get some today, but it may come with storms.  I'm thankful, as I do not have to water again.  

New carnation for the flower bed.  I'll plant it this morning.

We now have spotted 2 kittens, but Romeo scared them and poof, they went under the house so that will be watched today.  I see Momma is hanging around, so hopefully she'll call them back out.  It will definitely be hot under there.

Garden Work Day!

Tuesday it was dry, sunny and hot.  I spent as much time as I could in the garden.  Hoe in hand, and a lot of weeding.  I noticed once again, some of my zinnias didn't come up, and they were purchased seeds.  Darn birds.

The to-do list is off the charts right now.  I feel like I'm going in circles right now.

It's been a HUGE struggle to plant the little bit we planted this year, but my heart sang after seeing the radishes make it through the flood.  Not sure on the potatoes, but I got enough garlic scapes to make garlic scape and radish spread.  My scapes are not that big this year, and garlic doesn't look that great, but they are alive for the most part.

This my friends however, is the herb garden.  Weeds are growing faster than the herbs and it's on the to-do list.  

Here is what I tackled first though  - tomato patch.  Ain't it purty (with a sarcastic sing-song voice)?  I planted them different this year, so I have to hand weed or hoe between plants, and till in the rows.  The plants are closer together with a wide row in between, using up less space for more plants and an easier tie up method.  We'll see how it goes.

I got about 15-16 plants weeded, stakes secured again, and tied up.  By then it was too stinkin' hot.  I'll resume today and the next day until it's ready to till.  Just a hot mess.

I dug up two roses from the north of the property - pain in the bum to keep weeded/watered and to mow around.  Moved them to the flower beds.

Tackled the tall weeds in the rose bed until something hissed at me.   Nope.  Nope.  Nope.  Most likely a snake, and if I can't see it, nope, nope, nope.  Hubby's job now.

After showering and moisturizing for a second time, I sprayed myself down with homemade bug repellent and grabbed a wine slushy.  It was truly "island" time for me at that point.

Had a brief revival break, and was back inside to do dishes and start laundry.  In the midst of doing dishes had to go out to the driveway, where a man was approaching my daughter as she was leaving to go swimming.  Nosey people need to stay off my property and stop worrying about when and how and who I give barn wood too.

Laundry was done much later than normal, but I had expected our friend to come and mow.  

Till Man

The rain finally gave us a break and a chance for my "Till Man" to till.  I got more planting done too.  The earliest seeds we planted in May are already producing.  My hot banana pepper plants have pretty good size peppers on them now.

Check it out!  We finally have apples on one of our apple trees.  Our cherry tree died last winter, so I'll replant one next spring.  The plum looks terrible, so I'll whip up some neem spray and give that a try.  It still has fungus.  No peaches this year.  I'll have to be prudent with pruning this fall.

Garlic Scape and Radish Spread ~ Roasted Spring Vegetables with Brussels Sprouts

I am still getting a few more garlic scapes, although most have been cut of.  

If you happen to have one garlic scape, this recipe is wonderful.  I have to buy the organic cream cheese.  I don't have a source for raw goat's milk or cow milk right now.