What was I thinking when I planted eight parsley plants? I had started two seeds while we were still in AZ, but they were puny little things that didn't look like they were going to survive, so I planted six more seeds after we got home. Of course, every one of them lived, and I couldn't just throw them away. So, what does one do with eight parsley plants in her garden?
Well, one picks a whole pound of parsley.
And one spend half the night snipping and trimming and drying in the microwave, and one still has her largest colander filled with parsley. So she will put it in the refrigerator, and tomorrow she will snip and dry some more. And when she is finished snipping and drying, she will have enough dried parsley to last her a lifetime. And then it will be time to harvest another pound of parsley!
I don't know....but, I must have been thinking the same thing! I harvested a pound this week as well and there is still more out there! It takes a lot of time to dry all that parsley...doesn't it??
ReplyDeleteLOL! You dear dear woman. It's funny how like-minded people find each other. Just two days ago-I finally decided to throw out my extra tomato and pepper plants. I asked everyone and no one needed them. But I JUST COULDN'T DO IT. So , I "arranged" them in the compost pile. They might end up being my best tomatoes and peppers.
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Or, I could be "full of myself" like I was with the strawberries and get myself ANOTHER disaster....
For the same reason that one plants 4 plants if Italian parsley that one only uses in stuffing that one only makes at Thanksgving.
ReplyDeleteYour parsley does look great though. I'll be looking for "Grannie's Homegrown Parsley" in the stores this fall :)
I could ship you some of my parsley eating caterpillars that I keep finding...
ReplyDeleteDoes Cookie like parsley? I never started any this year so I have not tried it with my Buns....but Cilantro is a hit!
ReplyDeleteEight plants?! Wowzers...I have been getting a ton of it off of one plant even. Well you could cross that off next years plant list most likey since you have enough to last forever and ever, huh?
ReplyDeleteLOL! I did the same thing. I was only planning on a few plants. I had germination issues with the seeds (so I thought) and seeded more.
ReplyDeleteLots of beautiful parsley! I'm wondering if there is a way to make some sort of sauce that you can freeze or something. Maybe something like chimichurri (spelling?) sauce. Having a lifetime of dried parsley sounds great too though!
ReplyDeleteIt was just a moment of insanity. :D
ReplyDeleteI find that happens with all herbs for us. I just don't need huge amounts and yet one plant can leave us swimming in produce. I think that is why I have never gotten into herb growing with any real zeal.
Happy snipping and drying!
Parsley pesto?
ReplyDeleteHere's a link: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art41463.asp
I have four parsley plants and that is too many. I know because last year I planted four and couldn't keep up with the harvest. But that is what fit across the row with the peas in the back. And it looked prettier in a row. You know I love my rows. Maybe next year I'll just do a couple in the corners somewhere. I haven't been drying mine yet. I'm still letting it get bigger, but I pick for fresh eating all the time.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so beautiful. Granny do you dry it in Microwave?
ReplyDeleteMake chimichuri. A great parsley recipe used in Argentina and great over chicken and steak. http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chimichurri/
ReplyDeleteYou can can it also.
Now I'm scared...I have about 30 parsley plants growing :) I always have spotty germination when direct sowing in the garden but this year, it is coming up like crazy! Good think we like to eat tabouleh here!
ReplyDelete(love your blog by the way).
I second the chimichurri and tabouleh recipes! Great way to use masses of parsley. I toss lots of fresh parsley into my pasta when I make it. No matter what kind of pasta parsley goes well with it!
ReplyDeleteRobin, it doesn't take long in the microwave, but I decided to just start mine that way and finish it off outside on a screen.
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Sue, I do the same, but gosh, if you only started 1 tomato seed you know it wouldn't grow. I usually plant 3-4 for insurance, even when I only want one. Of course, that's when you have 100% germination.
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Ed. I was just commenting to Mr. Granny that I could make a fortune on dried parsley. We were in Costco at the time and it was $3.98 for about as much as I can dry in one batch in the microwave. I do use it a lot, in soups, new potatoes, noodles, etc., but I still have half of a pint jar left from last year's garden!
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Ribbit, the only thing I find on mine are earwigs. Lots and lots of earwigs.
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Kelly, Cookie does like it. He's being inundated with lettuce, parsley and carrot tops right now. He's a happy bun!
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Rachel, maybe we could go into the parsley business together, LOL!
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Charmcity and Johanna, you two think alike! You don't really think Mr. Granny would even taste it, do you? Remember he's the guy that will only eat the stuff his mother used to cook! Like meatloaf cooked with tomato soup on it, yuk.
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Kitsap, same here. You don't want to know how many basil plants I planted this year :-0
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David, see my comment to Kitsap, above. LOL, Mr. Granny will eat basil pesto in small amounts.
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Daphne, two plants at the ends of the four 8' beds, interplanted with marigolds, just had to happen to balance them out. You understand :-)
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Sarada, I usually do, but I decided to just start this in the microwave, about two minutes per batch, and finish it of outside on a screen.
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Ann, thank you! Oh, my. Thirty? That's a lot of parsley!
APG, I almost missed your comment!
ReplyDeleteNo, I'll still plant it next year. I have half a pint of dried parsley from last year's garden but I still grew more this year. I never plant more than one or two, and that's about 1/2 to 1 1/2 too many! I'm a slow learner ;-)
I won't even mention my sorry little parsley:o( or maybe I can say " I don't like parsley that much anyway!
ReplyDelete(Fox and sour grapes :o)
Ginny, I'll stuff a box full and send it to ya! LOL
ReplyDeleteSomeone has mentioned tabouleh, and I second it. A wonderfull accompaniment to kibbeh and humous for a Lebanese feast. You need to bump up the parsley content you find in western recipes. It's a parsley salad with some grain, not the other way around. (I've got about 30 parsley plants) Any soup is improved by a parsley garnish. Use the stems when you make stock.
ReplyDeleteMal's Allotment, I always use parsley in soups, stews and many other dishes. However, with only two of us old people in the house, we don't eat enough to take care of 8 parsley plants! Mr. Granny is 76 years old, set in his ways, and there is no way he's going to eat anything that's new to him. He won't even eat whole grain breads, let alone any salad with grain. Remember, this is the man who hates broccoli. I just have to deal with it.
ReplyDeleteWell, I was also going to say tabouli but others already beat me to it. I can see how it may not appeal to Mr. G's old school taste buds. :) Can you sneak a bit in salads? I like the flavor of different kinds of chopped herbs (parsley, cilantro, dill, etc.) in small doses mixed into salad. Or toss with some olive oil, garlic, s/p for a simple side pasta dish?
ReplyDeleteThyme, I'll be sneaking all I can, but I think he might notice an entire pound of it in his salad. Ya think?
ReplyDeleteI have a better idea. I'll send my 20 pounds of parsley to you and you can make tabouleh with your 400 pounds of tomatoes! ;-)
you could make a parsley pesto.alot actually..maybe freeze some? or can as gifts?
ReplyDelete400 pounds of tomatoes! Ha, I wish. On the second thought, ugh, maybe I don't.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your predicament! Your parsley is lovely though. I've never planted them myself, as we don't use them in any dishes. Cilantro on the other hand, can't have enough of it, but it always bolts at an inch height, sigh....
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