Category Archives: Uncategorized

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”

I wasn’t expecting to get lettuce this late in the season, but I’m so happy that’s one thing I can cross off my shopping this this week after picking up our CSA share yesterday. I didn’t waste any time sauteing the lush beet greens either. I served those alongside some skillet chicken and, with aContinue reading “Heirlooms Galore, More Carrots, Beets, Lettuce & Melon”

I still get a lot of judgey looks and comments when people find out I’ve banished our pet guinea pig to the garage. But I know he’s happier out there. He’s a pretty happy-go-lucky little guy anyway. And he’s seemed even more laid back since we moved him from the constant contact of our house…whereContinue reading “Fluffy's New Crib”

Here’s what I learned today from the Irving Schoolyard Garden: Squash plants are prickly and sharp as knives. Or at least their leaves can be as sharp as razor thin paper. I know this because my fingers are have little slits all over them. I didn’t even know it was happening until I felt theContinue reading “Anyone Want Some Garden-Fresh Produce?”