Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Updated: Until a comment on my post about my CSA share – and the things I disliked in it – I had no idea that arugula could be made into pesto. I’m getting pretty good at whipping things into some form of pesto – cilantro, basil and whatever other herbs I can toss in, plusContinue reading “Arugula Pesto? Don't Mind if I Do”

I’m hoping that I’ve just been cooking all wrong with turnips and that there is some recipe out there that will make these bitter root veggies into something I can enjoy. That’s because I got a beautiful bunch of them in our CSA box this week. And even though I really don’t like turnips andContinue reading “Turnips Are Just Not My Thing, But I'm Still Trying”

It was just about bedtime, well past it actually, when we realized we were missing one important thing…the birthday girl’s blankie. It’s a bedtime crutch that we probably should have shelved long ago. It’s a rag of a thing, a torn and worn piece of old linen that used to dress my great grandmother’s sideContinue reading “Dumpster Diving for a Bit of Comfort”

Had a great time tonight celebrating Future Farmgirl’s 7th b-day. We had a nice mix of crazy wild kids and their cool parents. The highlight of the evening was sitting by the fire ring out back enjoying the company and sugaring up on the s’mores buffet…with every marshmallow & chocolate combo I could think of.Continue reading “You Only Turn 7 Once”

New Mexico mountain kitchen. Photo by Hoosier Outsider. This is an outdoor kitchen straight out of my childhood. And this photo just brings back a flood of memories of good food, good music and even better friends. It’s doubtful I was here for this picture. My visits to the New Mexico mountains, while regular, wereContinue reading “Outdoor Kitchen You Won't Find in the Style Magazines”

In the pot: Punjabi Curried Kidney Beans This is one post I wish I could share the aroma of what’s in my 5-quart slow cooker. Piled high on top of dried kidney beans are onions, hot green chilies, CSA tomatoes and a sensual mixture of red chili, turmeric, garam masala, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, cumin seedsContinue reading “Slow Cooker's Loaded w/ Fixins for North Indian Red Beans & Rice”

It’s a little out of strawberry season for most of the Midwest, except in our backyard. My Future Farmboy’s little hybrid-berry-plant-that-could is producing fruit like mad. We’ve been delighted with sweet, sun-ripened berries every few days. We can thank this bounty to a strategic move. Literally, we moved the berry pot to the balcony, outContinue reading “Balcony Berries Give My Morning a Fresh Start”

We’re off veggie share duty this week. But our partners in produce got this from Sandhill: Cabbage Sweet Onions Beefsteak Tomatoes Yellow “Taxi” Tomatoes Assorted Heirloom Tomatoes Sweet Peppers Italian Parsley Tomatillos Red and/or Green Bok Choy Potatoes I’ve managed to miss the bok choy this season, so I may have to track some downContinue reading “In the Veggie Box This Week”

Osage orange, aka, hedge apple. Hoosier Outsider recently posted an item on Facebook that, because I have more than a slight fear of spiders, immediately caught my attention. He says the Osage orange, aka hedge apple is a spider repellent. Even if there is a slight hint of truth to this old farmer’s tale, I’mContinue reading “A Natural Spider Repellent? That's Enough for Me to Give Osage Orange a Try”

I was invited recently to a party at a friend’s house. She’s a friend of a friend, who I almost feel like I’ve known longer because of her blog and because I see her from time to time on the Mommy Train, the after-the-bell train to the Loop from Oak Park. Her blog is MarketingContinue reading “What I Brought to the Table: Refreshing Tequila-Spiked Watermelon Soup”