Taking Inventory

I decided today to inventory the fruits and vegetables that I canned this year, my most productive ever. Here is what I canned.

Spaghetti Sauce - 22.5 quarts - I've made and canned spaghetti sauce for the last several years and it is always excellent.

Strawberry Jam - 8 pints - The second year that I've made jam. It is so easy and good.

Cherry Jam - 4 pints - Used Door County tart cherries. Just as easy as the strawberry jam.

Peach Syrup - 4 pints - Just as easy as strawberry jam but learned that you must follow the instructions. That's why it is syrup and not jam.

Salsa - 11 quarts - Made two batches - the best ever.

Still to can this year.

Chili - going to try it for the first time - will have to use my new pressure cooker.
Apple Pie Filling - I've already bought the apples and will be going to a class next week.

Time to Plant Tulips

Each summer after the tulips have finished blooming and are starting to die back I dig up the bulbs that I planted 3 years prior so they can be divided. I started doing this 20 years ago with a total of 30 red and yellow tulips. I now have over 600 bulbs planted and I can't count the number I've shared with friends.

The picture is of the tulips ready to be covered. The yellow stuff that looks like grass seed is really rice hulls that is a great addition to help loosen the soil.

I also like tulips in a line vs planted in clumps. Almost all of the planting beds in the yard are lined with tulips and they make an awesome display in May.

Rosemary for the Winter

Each year I grow the herb rosemary in my garden. I just love fresh rosemary with potatoes. The plant produces so much rosemary that I also dry the limbs so I can use them throughout the winter. Each year around this time I dig up the plant, pot it, and bring it inside. I've had pretty good luck with the plant making it through the winter but I have lost some as well. I generally don't get any fresh rosemary during the winter - the plant goes dormant - and like me is just trying to make it until spring. That's when I'll put it out in the garden again.

My favorite potato recipe using rosemary. The ingredients are approximate since I've never measured the amounts - I just throw in what looks right.

2 TBS Olive Oil
2-3 Potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 onion, diced or sliced
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 tsp garlic powder (you can use fresh as well)
1-2 tsp dried rosemary (or 1-2 TBS fresh)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat the oil. Put the potatoes in oil making sure you don't burn yourself. Add the onions and green peppers and spices. Cook on medium heat until the potatoes are soft, turning frequently so they don't burn. Serve hot with ketchup.

Planted Garlic

I planted garlic that will be harvested late in July 2010. The garlic cloves that I used were some of the cloves that I harvested this year in July. I planted the variety of "Siberian Red". The cloves were big so I'm hopeful that they will produce big cloves again next year.

I use the garlic for homemade salsa and spaghetti sauce and, of course, any other dish that calls for garlic.

I love garlic.