Hot Pepper Relish

This really was not to hard to make. The time was in the chopping, but I suppose if you have one of those fancy food processors that chop, it would have made quick work of it. I didn't even try to remove the seeds unless it was a good ball of them. What I was worried about while making the relish was making it to hot. I love hot, but not uneatable hot. I also didn't want them to be to sweet, just enough to take the edge off. Part of the trick for me was the type of peppers and how many I used. I made 12 one half pints. This was really about 3 good quarts of peppers and a couple of onions chopped up. I used about 5 different types of peppers. I used about 1/2 sweet bananas, the other half were green chiles and such, but I only used a dozen jalepeno's in the red stage. You can see the bits of red in the jars.

Ingredients

3 quarts of chopped peppers
2 large chopped onions
3 cups vinegar
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp. salt

Cover peppers and onions`with water and bring to a boil. As soon as it starts to boil pull it off the burner and let it set for 5 minutes. Drain off the water and add the vinegar, sugar and salt. Bring to a gentle boil for 5 minutes. Spoon into hot sterilized jars and seal. Put them back into the canner and process for 10 minutes for 1/2 pint jars. 15 minutes for pint size. Cool on a rack in a place with no draft. You will begin to hear the lids pop as they suck onto the jar.


Happy Gardening!!
Pammy

Natural Honey and Oats Bread

Delicious bread made with Pure Raw Honey and Whole Oats!! Soft and light with a light crunchy crust. One of my favorites for toast and sandwiches.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 cup Organic Sunflower Oil
1/2 cup raw organic honey

Place in a small bowl and heat in microwave just until warm.

In your mixer put in 5 cups of unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup whole oats
4 1/2 tsp. dry active yeast
1 tsp. salt

whisk with wire whisk, then replace whisk with dough hook. Slowly add your warm liquid with mixer on low speed for a few minutes.

add two eggs (farm fresh) mix for another couple of minutes. You may need to add an additional 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups of flour. The dough will begin to pull away from the bowl when its ready.

Place the dough ball in an oiled bowl and cover with a towel in a warm place to rise double in bulk. This takes about an hour. When it's ready punch it down and turn on to a lightly floured surface and divide the dough in half. Roll out, roll up and place both rolls in bread pans. Cover in a warm place for another hour or until double in bulk.

Bake in oven for about 1/2 hour on 375 degrees. Take out and brush with egg whites and sprinkle some whole oats on top. Bake for another 5 minutes.

You can always test your bread to see if it is done by turning it upside down out of the pan and tapping on the bottom. If it sounds hollow it is done. Cool your loaves on a wire rack

Enjoy and Happy Gardening!
Pammy

Garden Herb French Bread

This is a really easy bread to make using your garden herbs. It has a light crust and soft middle. Use whatever herbs you have available in your garden. The aroma will fill the kitchen. I used Cinnamon Basil, Oregano, Thyme and Garlic. The recipe makes two loaves. This was my first project using my new mixer and dough hook. It mixed so quickly I felt I didn't get a chance to break it in properly. Guess I better get busy with some more things.

Ingredients

4 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
7 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 tbsp. salt
As many garden herbs as you like
finely minced garlic or garlic powder to taste
a little cornmeal for dusting pan and rolling the dough in
1 egg white (farm fresh) whipped with about a tsp. of water for brushing on the loaf

I first warmed my mixing bowl and then added the warm water and the yeast to dissolve. Then in another bowl I whisked together all the dry ingredients. Then add the dry ingredients to the yeast mixture. Use your dough hook and mix everything for about 5 minutes.

Place it in another bowl that you have greased with a little olive oil. I kind of roll the ball around in the bowl and then place a towel over it. Place it in a fairly warm area to rise to almost double in size. It takes about 45 minutes.

Next punch it down in the bowl and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a nice rectangle shape and then roll it up to make a nice long loaf. Place them on a lightly oiled cooking sheet dusted with the cornmeal. I kind of carefully roll each loaf in the cornmeal. Tuck in the ends a bit and make sure the seam is on the bottom. Place a towel over the whole thing and let them rise again to double in size. Carefully slit the tops 4 to 6 times with a very sharp knife making diagonal very shallow cuts.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes. Take them out of the oven and brush with your egg white mixture and then place back in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Take out and cool your bread on wire racks.

Enjoy and Happy Gardening!!
Pammy

Pammy's Cocoa Yogurt Mini Cakes with Honey Yogurt Whipped Cream

My question has been, how can I have my chocolate and it be healthy? This is a recipe that will satisfy a true chocolate lover's cravings. I've been on a quest to create a chocolate cake chocked full of the healthiest and purest ingredients possible. In this recipe I used a supreme dark French 90% cocoa bar made by Lindt & Sprungli. Cocoa is a rich source of flavonoids that help reduce many chronic illnesses such as cancer, stroke and coronary heart disease.

I also wanted to find some delicious ways of including my favorite Greek Yogurt to some recipes. I use whole milk yogurt instead of low-fat. You can use what fits best into your own health needs. I've eliminated all other dairy out of my diet except for yogurt so I really don't feel guilty not eating the low-fat. I've also included yogurt as a whipped topping for this recipe with some natural raw honey added to it. This is where I break my rule of no other dairy by mixing it with a little heavy cream for texture. So I shall not eat gobs of topping, but just a tiny spoonful and still feel blissfully happy and healthy.

 Ingredients For Cocoa Mini Cakes

7 ounces of the richest dark cocoa, grated or chopped.
1/2 cup pure organic sunflower oil
1/2 cup OrganicYogurt (Plain whole milk Greek is my favorite)
1/2 cup organic cane raw sugar
3 eggs (Room Temperature, Farm Raised)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup fresh organic blueberries (optional)
Crushed Walnuts (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350. Line muffin pans with cupcake liners. In a heat proof bowl set over simmering water, melt the chocolate with 1/4 cup of the oil. Stir until smooth and remove from heat. In another bowl, mix together the remaining 1/4 cup of oil with the yogurt, sugar, eggs, and vanilla and almond extracts. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the yogurt mixture. Stir lightly a couple of times, then add the melted chocolate and stir until smooth.

Bake for 25 minutes or until they barely set in the middle.

-Cake Based on a recipe by David Lebovitz

Ingredients For Yogurt Whipped Cream Topping

1 cups Whole Milk Plain Greek Yogurt
1/3 cups chilled whipping cream (made from heavy cream) 
1 tsp. Orange Liqueur or fresh grated orange peel
2 tsp. Raw Honey
A good dash of Cinnamon to taste

Line sieve or colander with cheesecloth or coffee filters and set over medium bowl, leaving at least 1/2 inch of clearance from bottom. Spoon in yogurt, cover and let drain in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours. Discard the liquid.
Whip heavy cream in a chilled small bowl until soft peaks form, Fold into drained yogurt with liqueur and honey and cinnamon.
Serve immediately or can be stored chilled for up to 2 days.

Topping Based on Recipe from The Vegetarian Times 
 

The Fall Garden Prepares For Spring

Supplies to begin Lasagna method

In Southeast Texas we begin planning the fall garden in June. The main reason I love gardening in the south is because we get two growing seasons. Everything we do in our fall garden prepares us for a better spring garden. Improving the soil is number one on the list. Everything has become exhausted by the end of a long summer growing season. At the moment I'm working on what was our summer corn field. Corn is a heavy feeder and will deplete the soil of its valuable nutrients. Our corn for spring will not go in this same field. It is ever so important to rotate your crops when growing organically. Instead for fall we have planted Black-Eyed-Peas for canning and for helping put nutrients back in the soil. Plants like Beans and Peas put nitrogen in the soil, thus improving it.

Lay down wet newspaper

Nutrients are not my only concern however in replenishing a field. There are beneficial organisms that grow in the soil that I need to make sure grow back. One of the main concerns for me would be beneficial nematodes. If by chance we had any corn root worms, that would mean trouble in spring for cucumber beetles. Corn root worms are one type of larvae from six different species of cucumber beetle. The larvae feeds on the roots of corn. It was a great surprise to me when I learned that cucumber beetles come from the soil. The beneficial nematodes will actually kill the corn root worms and any other bad nematodes.Basically your crops will only be as good as your soil. I compare it to an artists paint brush. You can be the most wonderful painter, but your painting will be horrible if your brush is no good.

Cover wet newspaper with organic matter

After the field was cleaned out of all debris and weeds, the rows were turned by hand with compost added to them. The peas were then planted and mulched after they sprouted. What you are seeing me do now is a form of Lasagna Gardening. It is a simple method of layering all sorts of organic matter. I simply lay down newspaper and wet it to keep it from blowing away. On a breezy day that can take a little skill. This will aid in choking out weeds and troublesome Bermuda Grass as well as create the best mulch for your money. I then simply begin to rake in some more organic matter on top of the newspapers, which for me this time is composted leaves, pine needles and even a few pine cones.It's organic and natural. Just like what you might find on a forest floor. As a little time passes you can add another layer. In my case it will most likely be more compost made from kitchen scrapes and harvested left overs pulled from the garden chopped and turned in to make the sweetest most perfect soil.

Get a cute helper

If you are as lucky as me to have a day laborer such as my 3 year old grandson to help, you will find you have days with a few challenges to over come. But all in all it's a great blessing to behold by growing and teaching our future generations the organic and healthy way.

Happy Gardening!!
Pammy

Simple Tricks For A Healthy Garden

I would have never thought myself to be a bug girl. It was when I began my organic gardening did I find out that the creepy stuff is what makes all those beautiful flowers, vegetables and fruit grow so well. I never understood that all the years and time I spent working in commercial greenhouses. There I learned when you spot a bug kill it. I was shocked one day when my supervisor was in a panic killing butterflies.I think that was the trigger for me that something is not quite right with this picture.She noticed the look of horror on my face and so explained to me that butterflies produce caterpillars that eat the plants. I thought to myself, yes that would not be a good thing in all these greenhouses full of spectacular color ready for market. I also had a heartache over the dead butterflies. As like most little girls, I grew up loving them. To me they are majestic winged ladies flying about my flowers pollinating. I guess I never thought about the caterpillars doing damage. Non the less I was very naive about all the chemicals and pesticides we were pouring and spraying everyday to keep everything sterile. In the greenhouse in those days for me I learned all bugs were bad bugs.

In this photo of some Zinnias growing in my garden, I was lucky enough that the picture included a ragmop on top of the flower. You can see the little white hairy creature busy about its business. This ragmop is actually one of the several species of Ladybug in its larvae stage. Yes, I was surprised to learn one day that there are more than one kind of ladybug. Most of them are very creepy looking in there larvae stage. They look like disgusting miniature alligators with lots of legs and pointy things on them. However they all turn into sweet looking Ladybugs that we all know and love, only some in reverse that are black with red spots, some are kind of orange, the spots can be a little different. It's amazing to me the bug world. If I had been using chemicals in my garden I would have been killing the butterflies and the ladybugs. I depend greatly on ladybugs for consuming aphids on my plants. I also depend on the beautiful butterflies to pollinate my flowers and bring me joy. I just plant a little extra for the caterpillars and all is well within my garden.

Have a beautiful and blessed Organic Garden Day!!

Pammy

Roselle (Jamaica Sorrel)

Roselle is an Old World Native tropical plant and has many nicknames. You may know it by Florida Cranberry or Hibiscus Tea. Its botanical name is Hibiscus Sabdariffa. This is the first year for me to grow this exciting new crop. It has now just begun to bloom this September and I am loving the color. It is suppose to be ready to harvest by October or at some time before first frost.

There are so many uses for this food crop. The main one that caught my attention first was its comparison to cranberries. All women know that cranberries are essential to a healthy urinary tract. It aids in water retention and is very high in vitamin C. At one time long ago I was able to buy the juice in the store when it wasn't only a cocktail mixture. Now to get the real 100 percent juice it costs quite a bit of money and is totally loaded down with water. So I decided to give Roselle a try and take a chance on how well it might grow here in Southeast Texas. I have plans on making jelly and jam and found a yummy looking recipe for making Roselle Lemonade. I'm hoping on being able to put plenty of pure concentrated juice up in my freezer.

I've been doing a lot of study and research on the species. The trick for me will be in the harvesting. Unlike cranberries that you harvest for berries, for Roselle you harvest the calyxes. These are the actual brackets so to speak that embrace the flower and seed pod to hold it together. In the picture you can see them in the dark burgundy color at the base of the stem and flower. You can dry them, cook them fresh, boil in water or eat them raw. They are also bitter like cranberries so sugar will be a must.

I will be blogging some recipes soon after harvest and give you an update of my progress. I'm hoping for success, but if anything else, I'm surely enjoying their beauty.

The Gardener's Morning

The robin's song at daybreak
Is a clarion call to me, Get up and get out in the garden,
For the morning hours flee.

I cannot resist the summons.
What earnest gardener could?
For the golden hours of morning
Get into the gardener's blood.

The magic spell is upon me,
I'm glad that I did not wait;
For life's at its best in the morning,
As you pass through the garden gate.

-Howard Dolf-

Happy Gardening!
Pammy

Blue Means Sweet

This French cantelope called Prescott Fond Blanc was documented and dated before 1850. I have high hopes for growing this heirloom successfully!! It is open pollinated and I will be able to save the seed from it and it will grow true to it's variety next year as long as I can keep any cross pollination from rogues wanting to come up. It is still in its blue stage until it turns straw color with many warts when it becomes ripe. Blue means exceptionally sweet in melon language. The flesh is deep orange with the sweetest perfumed scents filling the air upon walking into the melon patch.


God's Garden

The Lord God planted a garden
In the first white days of the world,
And He set there an angel warden
In a garment of light enfurled.

So near to the peace of Heaven,
That the hawk might nest with the wren,
For there in the cool of the even
God walked with the first of men.

And I dream that these garden-closes
With their shade and their sun-flecked sod
And their lilies and bowers of roses,
Were laid by the hand of God.

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

For He broke it for us in a garden
Under the olive-trees
Where the angel of strength was the warden
And the soul of the world found ease.

-Dorothy Frances Gurney-

Happy Gardening!!
Pammy

Crazy For Green Clean

I've been going crazy cleaning everything since I've learned how to make my own cleaning products from simple things like lemon juice and Tea Tree Oil. I had read an article about making your own laundry detergent that costs you 5 cents a load. Everything is safe for your family and the environment.

Wow, this is super fun and I know you will love it! It cleans laundry, windows, showers etc. It kills ants and roaches etc. Remarkable and with no chemicals or pesticides. I feel so good now knowing I'm totally organic inside and outside.

The first thing I made was the All-Purpose Cleaner. It's very simple to make. I have to say I've had a constant trail of fire ants coming in the house in three different places. Since I started using this cleaner they are gone gone gone!!

I cleaned my tables, counter tops, cabinets, stove-top and oven doors, windows, faucets and yes the refrigerator. Everything smells fresh and clean. The 20 mule team Borax is said to get rid of fleas and roaches. The Tea Tree Oil not only smells wonderful but is also an antiseptic.

All-Purpose Cleaner

2 tbsp. Borax
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cups hot water
10 to 20 drops Tea Tree Oil

The next task was to make the laundry detergent. It really works!! The clothes are softer, smell fresh and clean. The borax works as a water softner. Since I have hard water with loads of minerals due to our well water this is a charm. It's not only good for the laundry but also my washing machine. This recipe makes 2 gallons.

Laundry Detergent

Ingredients
1/3 bar Zote, Fels Naptha or Ivory bar soap
1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
1/2 cup 20 mule team Borax
I added in about 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil
you will need buckets to accommodate 2 gallons.

Grate the bar soap and put it in a sauce pan with 6 cups of water. Heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove it from the heat. At this point I mixed everything in my mop bucket until it was finished. Pour your dissolved ingredients into the mop bucket with 4 more cups of hot water and stir. Now add an additional 1 gallon and 6 more cups of water and stir. At this point I poured into two separate buckets with lids. It needs to sit for about 24 hours. It turns into a gel. You use 1/2 cup per load. For extra grungy clothes I sprinkle an extra 1/4 cup of just the borax over the wash.

Next I made a Bleach/Brightener Substitute. This can be used on whites and darks. I also have enamel sinks in the kitchen and this works great on them also.

Bleach/Brightener Substitute

1 cup hydrogen peroxide
1 1/4 cups lemon or grapefruit juice
12 cups of water

You can use any essential oil. I'm thinking Lavender would be great. I'm also thinking I may start making my own essential oils from my herbs!!! Stay clean, stay safe and help the environment.

 Happy Gardening 

Pammy!!