Ozark Vinaigrette, Tomatoes

Yesterday was the day to plant tomatoes come what may! I was partly successful before stopping for lunch and the drizzle that began.

I planted 28 total, Heinz Classic, Granny Cantrell and OTV Brandyvine. I still have Ananas Noire (Black Pineapple and Druzba to go plus egg plant and peppers (starting to bloom in pots). I may end up planting them in mud if the rain keeps up for a week like predicted.

The rains began seriously around 3 AM this morning but at least the temperature has warmed to 61°. Actually my garden needed a good soaking.

I am happy to report we harvested our first salad of the 2011 Gardening Season!




This was a simple salad of Asian Red lettuce, sliced green onions (Super Star), sliced red and white radishes served with what I decided to call Ozark Vinaigrette.
Any Ozark cook worth her salt saves bacon drippings (I call it grease)in a container by the stove.....like Mom, I use a canning jar and lid. Melt the grease in a small pan, add vinegar and a little water to cut the tartness, a bit of sugar and salt and bring to boil. Pour over the salad and toss. If you want it very wilted add more and keep tossing.

I think I finally spied a few dwarf blue kale coming up! I just wanted enough for a test so I am happy.

The sweet corn and cucumbers are up.

I have a new garden plan.......I am going to try to cram everything into the Kitchen Garden and then get it all under mulch so I don't have to hoe and there won't be enough room to till. I will still till the new space and turn under the growth but won't be under pressure to get it done now.

Random Picture


Last year I had one single lavender poppy in the Dining Room Bed; this year I will have several and this is the first.....not even close to the one last year. They cross more than any garden plant that I have.

From gardening Spring 2011

Rhubarb Pie and Yogurt

Yesterday was another very cool and dreary day.

I got all my ingredients together to make yogurt. This was a first time for me. The only thing I had to buy was the Dannon yogurt for a starter. I think I could have used my cultured buttermilk. There is a difference between just clabbered milk, aka buttermilk made at home and cultured buttermilk which uses a culture which I believe is the same as the Dannon yogurt....need to research that one more. I followed the directions on the following website.
http://www.makeyourownyogurt.com/make-yogurt/stir-and-enjoy

I was surprised by how easy and how fast it went, not counting the 7-hour culturing period.

Here is how it looked when I removed the cover after 7 hours:

The texture isn't like the little cups you buy with fruit; it isn't smooth and silky but it is exactly like the Dannon plain I bought. I actually like the taste of mine better than Dannon. Of course we are completely in love with Willow's milk.
This photo will show the texture:

and here is how I enjoyed a dish this morning:


I made a cherry pie filling from my frozen cherries and let it cool completely. Cherries are supposed to be very good for various bone and joint disorders so here is a better way for me to get them than eating cherry pie daily!

Of course I did have a pie of pie! I made a rhubarb pie from my stash of rhubarb that my sis brings me. I have two bags left. I sure hope my rhubarb plant made it through our awful winter!

I make mine without eggs....just rhubarb, sugar and flour. It made a pretty thin pie; I need to buy a smaller pie dish.



I am giving up on my broccoli seeds germinating...it was last year's seed so should have been good. I might not have put any seeds in the container? I have done that before..........will do another today. May just have to buy some plants since I am getting close on time.

Note: I am adding another label for just cooking where no recipes are listed.