A view of the past

Last weekend (yes, I am running a week behind) Charlie and I visited an "encampment" in Frankenmuth.  I have loved these kinds of things since I was a kid -- when I went to one and learned how to make dipped candles.  I understand these people.  They enjoy the simpler times -- when you could learn a craft and support yourself with it.  I know they all have day-jobs that they have to go back to on Monday -- but for the weekend they get to imagine a different life.

The woodworker

Hot dog

Weaving a pouch

Authentic details

The blacksmith

Pewter maker and his wife

Sassafras --mighty hunter

The other day, Sassy battled with a turkey feather.  She spotted the feather in the yard -- stalked it -- pounced -- and then the glorious battle ensued.  The feather gave a good fight, but in the end, Sassy was victorious!  She brought the kill to the door to show off to her humans.  What a brave kitty!

Garlic scape pesto

I bought some garlic scapes at the farmers market this weekend.  I did some searching on-line to figure out what to do with them (I've never used them before).  Most of the sites recommended making a pesto with them.  Now I know why.  This stuff is amazing!

Cut off the flower part (don't use this part for the pesto) and cut the long green part into little pieces.  Throw them in the food processor (or blender if you are like me and haven't read the manual to your food processor yet) and chop it up into even smaller pieces.  I didn't have pine nuts on hand, but you would also chop them with the scapes at this point.  I only ended up with about 1/2 cup of scapes so I added some basil from the garden as well.  Slowly add in olive oil (about 3/4 cup oil for 1 cup of scapes) and blend some more.  Grate in some parmesan cheese.

Serve with pasta and fresh cherry tomatoes from the garden.  I think it would be really good on a pesto-based pizza too.  

I'm really happy I tried garlic scapes.  I've found a new seasonal favorite while supporting a local farmer and putting my garden to good use.  It doesn't get any better than that.

Spicy pickled carrots

Back when I was in college, I had the chance to experience some carrots that had been pickled with jalepenos.  The professor in the photography department held his office hours on Thursday nights at a local bar/restaurant called "Chico's".  They would serve you homemade tortilla chips and salsa and a small bowl of carrots.  These carrots have just the right amount of "kick".  I pulled a handful of jalepenos out of my garden the other day and decided to give this a try.  There are plenty of recipes for mexican pickled carrots on-line so I am not posting a technical recipe -- I just want to give you a general idea...

Use approximately 2 cups of carrots, cut 1/4 inch or less.  I also diced up 4 jalepenos, 1/4 of an onion and a few cloves of garlic.  In a sauce pan, dissolve 1/4 cup sugar in about a cup and a half of white vinegar.  I also added a splash of water (1/2 cup?) because some of the liquid is going to evaporate while heating.  After the sugar is dissolved, add the veggies to the pan.  No need to boil anything here, just let the veggies heat a bit in the vinegar to get the flavors combined.  I left mine on the stove about a half hour on very low heat.  Carefully fill a clean jar -- I re-used an old pickle jar.  These should be fine in the fridge for about 2 months.  There are recipes out there that will give you more exact directions if you would like to can preserve them.
Give these a try -- they are very refreshing and because they aren't really "cooked", the carrots stay slightly crisp.  They are delicious and pair nicely with a cold beer on a summer day.

State of the Garden

Things are progressing along quite nicely in the garden -- considering how late I was in getting the plants/seeds in the dirt.  I've finally begun harvesting a few things here and there.  

Jalepeno

Roma tomato

Pickles

Zucchini

Dill

Radish

Cherry tomato

Vacation with Mom

My wonderful 2 week vacation is almost over.  It went so quickly!  Here are some photos I shot while my mother and I went out together on Monday and Tuesday.  On Monday, we went to the Lake Michigan shore and into Saugatuck, MI.  We also went to a large winery in Fennville.  

On Tuesday we went to Shipshewana in Indiana.  If you are not familiar with it, there is a large amish community there.  We drove through the countryside and also went to several stores.  Oh, and we even went to an amish garage sale.  

On Wednesday, Mom had set up a surprise for me in the AM for my birthday.  Then we spent some time with my grandma at the craft store and getting coffee.  We had my favorite pizza for dinner.  It was a nice birthday.  I spent an extra night so that I could go out for coffee with my dad the next day.
Thursday I spent the day in the garden planting all of the perennials that Mom had sent home with me from her own garden.  The sun coaxed some freckles out.  Friday I ran some errands and yesterday I spent most of the day making strawberry freezer jam.  So far, today, nothing is going on.  I'm going to persuade Charlie to take me to a movie and celebrate my birthday (belated) today.  Then back to work tomorrow.  This vacation has me dreaming more and more about how to become self-employed... any ideas for me?

Homemade elephant ears

I'm at my family's home tonight for Father's day because my Mom and I are going on a couple of day trips this week.  They decided to make some homemade elephant ears tonight so I thought I would learn how to do it and share the info with you.  Dad learned from a friend of his that makes them professionally (at fairs, etc).  

Start out with frozen white bread dough...

Let it thaw and rise...

Dad spread it thin -- very thin.  He says holes are OK...

Heat up oil to around 375 degrees -- you can test it with a little piece of dough.

Meanwhile, Mom was in charge of the cinnamon sugar.  There aren't any specific measurements -- just guess. 

Carefully drop the dough in...

Turn it over when it is golden brown...

Coat them in sugar when they come out and enjoy...

Yum!!!