Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Purple-hulled green beans from the Irving Garden. I got my first glimpse of purple-hulled green beans at tonight’s Irving Garden gathering. Wow those are beautiful. Although, from what I’ve read, they turn green when cooked. I can tell you, from experience tonight, that they are plenty delicious raw. I know this because several of usContinue reading “Purple Green Beans? One of Many Unexpected Delights from the Irving Garden”

My apprentice filling mini cupcake pan. I thanked my daughter for being my baking assistant this afternoon and she corrected me: “No momma. I’m your apprentice.” My apprentice indeed. She was all business with me while we whipped up a batch of zucchini muffins (cupcakes to the kids).  The recipe, complete with zesty orange, creamContinue reading “Meet My Apprentice”

Cooking with fresh sage is pretty new to me. It’s in my spice cabinet — dried — but the fuzzy fresh leaves that came in my Sandhill share had me surfing for recipes. I didn’t get to this recipe for Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread before the leaves started to brown. So I improvised andContinue reading “Sage-Infused Cornbread”

Lots of fantastic veggies in from Sandhill Organics this week. This is the first weekend in 7 weeks that I’m not driving to Indiana for a kid or teen shuttle. So I’m looking forward to doing some good, regular weekend cooking. I’m already starting to dream up some ways to use what’s in this week’sContinue reading “In the Box this Week”

Alexa Lemley. Photo by the iFarmer. Thanks to a Facebook status update from 240* Sweets – a delightful artisan marshmallow candy company run by the iFarmer’s cousin – I learned that Aug. 10 was National S’mores Day. In my perfect world we would have celebrated with some of the hand-made marshmallows from Alexa Lemley’s company.Continue reading “Gimme S'more!”

I couldn’t let one more day pass without writing about these over-the-top protests at Glenview’s Wagner Farm targeting a 4H group. The first time I read about this in the Chicago Tribune, I did a double take. Really, someone is protesting animal auctions as animal cruelty? For me, there is no clearer sign of howContinue reading “Protesters Target 4H, Really?”

I’m not big into buying new music for my iPod. I usually get an iTunes giftcard and take months to use up all the credits. But I’m having to load up the credits so I can get enough of the Dick Prall tunes I’m craving. This morning I bought his song “Cornflakes” from his albumContinue reading “'House Concert' Strums Mix of Best Neighbors Ever, Delicious Eats & Really Good Music”

I’ve said this before. Before I met my husband, I was not a fan of beets. You’d never find canned beets in my shopping cart, I wouldn’t order it off a menu and no way would you get me to grab the root veggies from the produce aisle. Fast forward to July 29, 2010, withContinue reading “Can't Beat Fresh-Roasted Beets”

So many goodies in this week’s Sandhill Organics share. Some of it even went right from the box into our supper. I used one of the Walla Walla onions for sloppy Joes. And I threw some gold beets (from a previous share) into the oven. Here’s what else we got this week: Fresh CilantroRed BeetsContinue reading “More Beets, Tiny Potatoes, Herbs & Wax Beans in This Week's Box”

On Saturday when I was doing my weekly grocery run, I noticed a new product, at least one that’s new to me: ginormous marshmallows. These Campfire Giant Roasters are a full ounce of marshmallow deliciousness.  The press release announcing the 2×2 treats suggests roasting and serving with a full-sized graham cracker and a whole chocolateContinue reading “Extra Gooey S'Mores w/Extra Large Marshmallows”