Dear All,
two weekends ago I spent Saturday and Sunday morning picking lots of red, orange and green tomatoes and spraying the tomatoes with compost tea before the rains because "Late Blight " has been in the neighborhood for a few weeks. I did the same pick down this Sunday after a 1 1/2 day camping vacation on lake Lila. Lake Lila was so beautiful, it was quiet and we heard a loon and saw a bald eagle and I had three naps, my favorite part of vacationing. We cut the camping trip short, because Steve still had a lot to do to get ready for school and we had so much canning and freezing to do at Birdsfoot and it was supposed to rain on Sunday. So after picking zucchini, summmer squash and cucumbers ( they need picking every or at least every other day. So it is worth giving a hour on Saturdays or Sundays to avoid giants on Mondays) I started picking cherry tomatoes, because they split in rain. ( It is better to give another hour on Sunday than having split ones on Monday) And there it was, could not be ignored or forgotten, yes we have late blight in tomatoes. So I spent yet another two hours picking tomatoes before the rain would spread the fungus spores more onto the fruits and put them into the tractor shed , away from the six greenhouse tomatoes. This morning I checked and saw Late Blight on potatoes as well. I guess the party is over and we should enjoy the tomatoes we get.
For us it means the unpleasant job of cutting all the tomato plants down and potatoes and put them on the tractor trailer and stuff them in the big hole by the gardens that was going to be a greenhouse in the ground 20years ago, and cover them with hay, to avoid spreading the disease.
I was sad and crabby all Sunday and lovingly canned 90 quarts of tomato juice and sauce till 2am. Then I was over the shock and just tired from a long day and went home in the poring rain, falling into fresh sheets.
I want to share one of our Birdsfoot favorites for a recopies.
Zucchini or summer squash gliders:
cut zucchini or squash into 1/4' round slices and lay on an oiled cookie sheet.
add a slice of tomato on top, salt and pepper it,
add of cheese on top
add a basil leaf on top
bake in the oven until cheese is melted an squash is soft.
They glide of the cookie sheet and they glide down your throat and makes you want more. You can move a lot of zucchini this tasty way.
Kathy Gilio has a tomato recopy to share, that she likes:
This is easy and to die for. I didn't even add the cream or butter. I added some chopped zucs and veggies, another day with leftover chicken. so goooooood Ingredients
Wash, core and cut the tomatoes into halves. Spread the tomatoes, garlic cloves and onions onto a baking tray. If using vine cherry tomatoes for garnish, add them as well, leaving them whole and on the vine. Drizzle with 1/2 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, or until caramelized.
Remove roasted tomatoes, garlic and onion from the oven and transfer to a large stock pot (set aside the roasted vine tomatoes for later). Add 3/4 of the chicken stock, bay leaves, and butter. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid has reduced by a third.
Wash and dry basil leaves, if using, and add to the pot. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Return soup to low heat, add cream and adjust consistency with remaining chicken stock, if necessary. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish in bowl with 3 or 4 roasted vine cherry tomatoes and a splash of heavy cream.
I personally like anything with cream, that reminds me of German cooking, so we have to try this here at the farm.
Well it is 10.20pm and Kira is trying to be a good girl going to bed early 8.30pm for school tomorrow , but two hours later she still can't fall asleep. So I will see if I can lay down with her and we will see who is asleep first.
peace, Dulli
two weekends ago I spent Saturday and Sunday morning picking lots of red, orange and green tomatoes and spraying the tomatoes with compost tea before the rains because "Late Blight " has been in the neighborhood for a few weeks. I did the same pick down this Sunday after a 1 1/2 day camping vacation on lake Lila. Lake Lila was so beautiful, it was quiet and we heard a loon and saw a bald eagle and I had three naps, my favorite part of vacationing. We cut the camping trip short, because Steve still had a lot to do to get ready for school and we had so much canning and freezing to do at Birdsfoot and it was supposed to rain on Sunday. So after picking zucchini, summmer squash and cucumbers ( they need picking every or at least every other day. So it is worth giving a hour on Saturdays or Sundays to avoid giants on Mondays) I started picking cherry tomatoes, because they split in rain. ( It is better to give another hour on Sunday than having split ones on Monday) And there it was, could not be ignored or forgotten, yes we have late blight in tomatoes. So I spent yet another two hours picking tomatoes before the rain would spread the fungus spores more onto the fruits and put them into the tractor shed , away from the six greenhouse tomatoes. This morning I checked and saw Late Blight on potatoes as well. I guess the party is over and we should enjoy the tomatoes we get.
For us it means the unpleasant job of cutting all the tomato plants down and potatoes and put them on the tractor trailer and stuff them in the big hole by the gardens that was going to be a greenhouse in the ground 20years ago, and cover them with hay, to avoid spreading the disease.
I was sad and crabby all Sunday and lovingly canned 90 quarts of tomato juice and sauce till 2am. Then I was over the shock and just tired from a long day and went home in the poring rain, falling into fresh sheets.
I want to share one of our Birdsfoot favorites for a recopies.
Zucchini or summer squash gliders:
cut zucchini or squash into 1/4' round slices and lay on an oiled cookie sheet.
add a slice of tomato on top, salt and pepper it,
add of cheese on top
add a basil leaf on top
bake in the oven until cheese is melted an squash is soft.
They glide of the cookie sheet and they glide down your throat and makes you want more. You can move a lot of zucchini this tasty way.
Kathy Gilio has a tomato recopy to share, that she likes:
This is easy and to die for. I didn't even add the cream or butter. I added some chopped zucs and veggies, another day with leftover chicken. so goooooood Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds fresh tomatoes (mix of fresh heirlooms, cherry, vine and plum tomatoes)
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 small yellow onions, sliced
- Vine cherry tomatoes for garnish, optional
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 quart chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, optional
- 3/4 cup heavy cream, optional
Wash, core and cut the tomatoes into halves. Spread the tomatoes, garlic cloves and onions onto a baking tray. If using vine cherry tomatoes for garnish, add them as well, leaving them whole and on the vine. Drizzle with 1/2 cup of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, or until caramelized.
Remove roasted tomatoes, garlic and onion from the oven and transfer to a large stock pot (set aside the roasted vine tomatoes for later). Add 3/4 of the chicken stock, bay leaves, and butter. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid has reduced by a third.
Wash and dry basil leaves, if using, and add to the pot. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Return soup to low heat, add cream and adjust consistency with remaining chicken stock, if necessary. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish in bowl with 3 or 4 roasted vine cherry tomatoes and a splash of heavy cream.
I personally like anything with cream, that reminds me of German cooking, so we have to try this here at the farm.
Well it is 10.20pm and Kira is trying to be a good girl going to bed early 8.30pm for school tomorrow , but two hours later she still can't fall asleep. So I will see if I can lay down with her and we will see who is asleep first.
peace, Dulli
