Chive Butter

Chives are one of my summer favorites! 

They are a member of the onion family and even the flowers are edible!

I love serving chives fresh from the garden in a variety of dishes, but my favorite way to enjoy them is chopped up on top of a baked potato with butter and sour cream.

This week I've been experimenting with chives. I have printed off several new recipes that I plan to try and I made my first batch of chive butter. 

To make I simply harvested a handful of fresh chives from the garden, cut into thin slices, and mixed with a half-cup (one stick) of butter that had been laid out and brought to room temperature.

To mix I used a small spatula and spread the chopped chives and butter back and forth against the surface of a dinner plate until the two were well mixed.

Afterwards, I divided the mixture evenly between eight cavities of an old ice cube tray and popped it into the freezer until the butter was hard. 

Next, I quickly ran hot water over the back of the tray to loosen the cubes of frozen butter. I put the frozen cubes in a plastic bag and popped them back in the freezer where they are stored and ready for use. 

What about you? Do you like chives? What are your favorite ways to use them?

To learn more about planting, growing, and harvesting chives  visit THIS PAGE on the Old Farmer's Almanac. It is from this page that I learned the importance of dividing my chives and how to use them in companion gardening. Now I have a whole row of chives next to the tomatoes, plus the big clump that's still in the herb wheel. If all goes well, I should be able to freeze and dry a year's worth of chives before the season is over, plus have plenty to give away and share. 

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Bill

Gearing Up For Gardening

Good Afternoon, Ladies! 💗 

How is everyone on this beautiful, sunshiny, Thursday afternoon? Is it sunny where you are? 🌞

Yesterday John and I ran out to the Amish greenhouse to see what they had in the way of plants. 

Flowers and Hanging Baskets
Countryside Greenhouse - Lamar, MO

They are gearing up for Mother's Day so they had a LOT of flowers, hanging baskets, and bedding plants.

Flowers, Hanging Baskets, and Bedding Plants
Countryside Greenhouse - Lamar, MO

I had originally planned on getting a flat full of flowers (at least some marigolds to plant along the front edge of the porch) but they only had a couple of kinds of marigolds to choose from. It's early yet, so I decided to wait until I can find a little more variety. 

Flowers, Hanging Baskets, and Bedding Plants
Countryside Greenhouse - Lamar, MO

We did get some vegetable plants though...Roma tomatoes, green peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos, and zucchini.

Peppers and Tomatoes

I got a few herbs to add to my herb wheel, as well...sage, rosemary, and thyme.

Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme

I also got a free petunia just for making a $25.00 purchase, so I ended up with flowers after all! Yeah!!! 💗

A Wave Petunia

I can't wait to get out and visit a couple more of my favorite greenhouses. We will have to make a day of it soon!

How about you? Do you garden? Enjoy flowers? Plant vegetables? If so, what's happening in your world as you gear up for gardening? 

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Happy Earth Day!

31 Days of the Joys of Autumn - Preparing For Winter

Fresh Basil

With promised temperatures falling below freezing tomorrow night, we've moved the big pot of fresh basil in to the back porch/greenhouse, and the houseplants back to their place on the shelf next to the sunny, south-facing, livingroom window. I have two trays of fresh basil drying in the oven and my husband is out tiding up the yard and weatherizing the house before the cold front arrives. 

This week we've checked the percentage of gas in the propane tank and cleaned the heating stove. Summer clothes have been packed away and the winter garments are clean and ready to be worn whenever needed. We've stocked up on canned chili beans, tomatoes, and tomato paste, as well as a few other staple food stuffs. The only thing left to do in that department is to plan a trip to the Amish store to stock up on bulk goods and winter spices.

Chili Beans and Diced Tomatoes

Since our electricity is notorious for going out in winter storms we've laid in a fresh supply of lamp oil, candles, matches, flashlight batteries, and Sterno for the Sterno stove. In addition to the gas heating stove and four solar-powered lights, these items will provide additional heat, light, and a source of hot food (and water for hot tea!) in the event of a power outage.

Winter Supplies of Heat and Light

All this might seem a bit early or extreme to some, but I've always found that, in the event of an emergency, it is wiser to have a few supplies on hand than none at all.

I don't know that preparing for winter can really be classified as "one of the joys of autumn", but I do know that in the event of an ice storm, power outage, or some other winter weather-related emergency, it sure makes you a whole lot better off than if you hadn't prepared at all. I suppose the joy then would come in the middle of the emergency because of the preparations you had made in autumn, so, yes...it counts. 😄

How do you and your family prepare for winter where you live?

Until next time...

~Rebecca

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household is clothed with scarlet" (Proverbs 31:21)

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Mullein

Mullein Leaves

While out on a wildflower collecting expedition this afternoon I discovered some extraordinarily large mullein plants and brought home a few leaves to dry.

Mullein has been a popular medicinal plant for centuries and has been used to alleviate earaches, swollen glands, asthma, and chronic coughs. It's leaves can be made into an ointment, a tea, or a skin wash.

TO DRY-

1) Collect mullein leaves from either the rosette or the larger second-year plant.

2) Spread a single layer of paper towels on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. This could be a screened porch or open garage.

3) Place the mullein leaves in a single layer on the paper towels.

4) Turn the leaves on the paper towels at least twice daily or until the leaves are brittle and can be broken easily with your fingers.

5) Store dried mullein leaves in an airtight container.

Note:

- You can also dry mullein leaves in the microwave. Heat one cup of water to simmering inside the microwave and remove the water. Place mullein leaves between paper towels and microwave on high for three minutes. Test the leaves for brittleness and, if necessary, microwave for another minute or two until brittle.

- Mullein leaves will take 5 to 8 hours to dry in a dehydrator. Place the leaves in a single layer on dehydrator trays and turn on the machine.

- You can also dry mullein leaves in the oven by baking on the lowest temperature setting until brittle to the touch (about three hours).

Drying Herbs

Yesterday was spent collecting and drying herbs. The basil was in the oven to dry during church, then  the others...parsley, chives, sage, and oregano...followed throughout the afternoon and evening afterwards.

I've found the easiest way to do them is to collect the herbs (I just snip mine off with a pair of scissors...not too short, because I want them to keep producing...just kind of give them a haircut), wash them (I rinse each leaf or sprig under running water in the sink), give them a spin in my salad spinner to remove excess water, and lay them out on two large cookie sheets. Next, I put them into a preheated 170 degree oven, in which both shelves have been moved a few inches apart in the exact middle of the oven. Two hours later the herbs are dried, ready to be crushed, and put into glass jars and labeled for storage.

 

Seed Selection

This article is definitely worth reading and considering before ordering this year's garden seed...

http://mountaincommunitycoop.wetpaint.com/page/Seed+Selection

Photos Around The Yard - Herbs

I found the idea of using an old wagon wheel for an herb garden years ago in 'The Have-More Plan'. So far I have planted sage, oregano, chives, and rosemary. I have yet to plant thyme (as soon as I can find some) and basil.

Herbs In My Garden - Sage

Drying Basil

As soon as Tony's turkey pepperoni pizza comes out of the oven, I'm going to start drying basil. To do so, I just pinch off the top of each plant, wash, remove leaves from stem, place on a cookie sheet in a single layer, and dry until crumbly to the touch in a low (warm to 175 degrees) oven.