One of those Days

Today I got home from work early enough to spend a few minutes in the garden. I wandered around only to find two new pests. It's one of those days where you wonder why you even bother. Why don't I just leave it to the professionals?

Here is where the cutworm laughed at my attempts to block him. I caught him in the act, stretching as far as possible to bite just above the straws I put in yesterday. I found a second one, but destroyed them both before taking pictures.

Here are the next culprits. I don't know what they are, but would appreciate any help. I couldn't find them in the Texas Bug Book. These little critters eat through the stems on the tomato plants. You can see the droopy end, completely cut off from nutrients. I may have to resort to some organic pesticides on these guys.

Why do I bother? Well ... I just finished eating some sauteed okra. Simple olive oil, salt, pepper and whole okra. I also mixed in some zucchini and mushrooms. Mmmm! I agree with a friend of mine that plain old sauteed okra is just as good as fried, as long as you can handle a little slime.

Recipes 8/16

My garden is at an in between phase right now, so I'm not producing much. I started going to the farmer's market again, until mine picks up. Here's a few recipes I made from farmer's market goodies.

Pineapple Zucchini Bread

(This one if from my mom. It is sooo good! I haven't ever put in the cherries, but I have tried

it with and without nuts. I've also never done muffins, just bread.)

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups zucchini -- grated

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup pineapple -- crushed

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1/2 cup maraschino cherries (optional)

Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla. Add zucchini, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pineapples, nuts, and cherries. Pour into two greased 5 x 9 inch loaf pans or 24 muffin cups.

Bake at 325 degrees for about 1 hour for loaves, or 20 minutes for muffins. (24 Servings)

Makes: 2 loaves or 24 muffins

Black-Eyed Peas over Pasta (serves 4)

5 slices bacon, chopped and cooked until crisp ( set aside)

1 yellow onion

1 bell pepper

1 jalapeno/serrano (optional)

1 italian sausage ( I use hot)

around 2 cups diced tomatoes

8 oz egg noodles

5-10 diced mushrooms

1-2 cups fresh black-eyed peas ( to your liking)

cook onion, peppers, sausage until sausage cooked through and veggies soft

add mushrooms/peas and cook for another minute or 2

add tomatoes and enough water to covPublish Poster peas

bring to a boil and cook until peas are soft (30 mins to an hour)

serve over egg noodles

put sprinkled bacon and basil on top

(Forgot to mention ... add salt and pepper as your cooking to taste)

Recipes Week Ending 6/21

I'm going to start keeping track of recipes I cook w/ the garden veggies. These are self creations, often inspired by ideas from cookbooks or the internet. I don't put amounts since I never measure. I just go on appearance and taste. I'll also start taking pictures next week.

Two Bean Salad

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Fresh veggies used - butter beans, green beans, cherry tomatoes, onion

Cook onion and bacon

Boil butter beans for 20-25 minutes (until tender)

During last five minutes throw in kitchen sliced green beans

Quarter cherry tomatoes

For dressing, mix together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, fresh cilantro

Pico de Gallo

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fresh veggies used - romas, cherry tomatoes, red onion, mexican lime, serrano pepper

Chop up tomatoes, pepper, onion, a few cloves of garlic, cilantro

Blend together using "stir" level

Add lime juice, salt

Layered Zucchini/Tomato Bake - My new Favorite Dish

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fresh veggies used - zucchini, romas

Cut zucchini and tomatoes in slices. Make tomatoes about 1 1/2 - 2 times as thick as the zucchini, since the tomatoes seem to cook faster.

Layer zucchini, drizzle with olive oil, add salt and pepper

Layer tomatoes

Repeat 

Sprinkle top w/ bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.

Bake in oven at 350. I can't remember how long, I think around 30 minutes.

Cajun Chicken Tacos

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fresh veggies used - okra, romas, onion, jalapeno or serrano pepper, corn

Shred a rotisserie purchased chicken

Cook onion, okra, pepper, garlic for a few minutes

Add tomatoes (crushed consistency) and cajun spices (cayenne, paprika, chili powder)

Cook for a while until okra is soft

Add corn and chicken to warm through

Put mixture in tortillas, yum!

Succotash

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fresh veggies used - butter beans, corn, onion, cherry tomatoes, can also use zucchini or squash 

Running out of time - will do quick version

Cook veggies

Make white sauce

Mix and serve over rice, sprinkle with cherry tomato halves and cris bacon pieces