Thursday, July 19, 2012

Thursday's Kitchen Cupboard

Like the weather drought, we've had a posting drought too. But yesterday we had a massive thunderstorm, with hail and wind and buckets, no barrels of water! Something's telling me it's time to post again. I apologize ahead of time for the coming storm of pictures and random thoughts. I guess that's what happens after a drought. When it rains it pours. We've missed you!

Since the title is Thursday's Kitchen cupboard I should begin there! Be sure to visit Robin and link up with other great recipe and canning ideas for your garden.

Yesterday, Belle took us back to Southern California where we went to school, not actually of course (who would take care of the garden?) but for dinner! She made carne asada taqueria style tacos, with a delicious restaurant style red salsa! Click on the title for the recipe. She used garden fresh tomatoes, garlic and onions. The beef is from our stores.




Belle also canned garden fresh okra this week. She calls it spicy pickled okra. I've not been an okra fan in the past, but she says that's only because I've never had it from the garden. I'm sure it's going to be delicious!


Spicy Pickled Okra

4 -6 tepin peppers (we substituted 1 1/2 a half frozen habeneros from last year's store)
2 clusters of dill
2 -4 garlic cloves
okra
4 cups white vinegar (5% acidity)
5 cups water
1/2 cup canning salt

Sterilize jars, then put in red peppers, garlic cloves and dill. Pack okra into jar. In sauce pan combine vinegar, water and salt and bring to boil. Pour the brine into the jars leaving half inch head room in each jar. Wipe the rims of the jars, cover with lids and process in boiling water for 10 minutes. Walla... Belle's done!


Here are several random pictures of some of our garden harvests for last couple of weeks.

tomatillos, tomatoes and okra

The ripe tomatoes came early under cozy coats.

Our first onions. Borrettana Cipollini from Fedco. We won't use these again. Other varieties are doing much better.

Waltham 29 spaghetti squash. We harvested these too early, they'll have to sit in the window for a while.


11 comments:

  1. Those spaghetti squash look lovely. I used to love eating it with sauce. I could never grow it though as the borers always took it down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spaghetti squash was a strong staple last year. We're hoping we get twice as much this year. It doesn't seem likely though.

      Delete
  2. I've never tried the spaghetti squash--hope yours ripens up. It's hard trying to figure out when its ready.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'd love it. The flesh is like no other squash I know -stringy like spaghetti!

      Delete
  3. Belle is an excellent cook and canner! I'm sure you will like the okra. I've never been a fan either. I guess we will have to taste Belle's!

    Those tacos look absolutely yummy!

    Your onions look better then mine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robin, if there's any hope for liking okra, Belle can make it possible! Sorry to hear about your onions. They're such a staple.

      Delete
  4. looks great! I have never tried okra before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a southern thing and Belle's mom is from Flarida, if ya know what I mean.

      Delete
  5. The recipe for carne asada taqueria style tacos sounds wonderful and the pictures look yummy. Here in Maine we are so far removed from authentic Mexican food it is shameful. We love it though and will be trying this recipe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey! That's what garden blogging's for. Right?

      Delete
  6. Yum! Your spaghetti squash looks gorgeous. I never grow it as I am the only one that likes it in our household, but I do appreciate it and like it.

    ReplyDelete