I gave up on trying to get anything on my chore list done today. The sun did peek out from behind the rain clouds a few times, so I carried all of my remaining seedlings out to the kennel garden and put them on the bench where they can fend for themselves until someone picks them up (I'm talking to you, son-in-law Bryan). Then I took the little hand cultivator and dug up the area in the former strawberry bed where a row of spinach had sprouted and disappeared. Just like the other side of the bed, where I replanted the spinach, I saw nothing that would explain why the seedlings disappeared. No cut worms, no wire worms. I did see one small centipede and one pill bug. Yes, they could eat the tiny seedlings, but I'd expect to see them in greater numbers. I ended up planting a row of parsnips there. The seeds were from the same packet I tried to start in soil blocks in February, and had only one of 18 germinate. I also tried the damp paper towel pre-sprouting method with 0% germination. Needless to say, if anything grows in the row I planted today I will be very surprised.
That ended my time in the yard and garden for the day, but I felt the need to get something done, so I baked. It made Mr. Granny a very happy man.
hehe, your description of arugula made me chuckle. and nice-looking buns!=)
ReplyDeleteLOL, Kelli, I've always been told I have nice buns ;-)
DeleteI do believe arugula takes a bit to decide if you like it or not...I've tried several types. I grew some from a company that gets seed from Italy-"Seeds from Italy." It actually tastes pretty darn good. So I figure it might be the type you grow...those rolls look pretty darn yummy-robbie :-)p.s. I never posted about your dirty jean knees, you always make me laugh when I stop by---I do the same thing but sometimes it is my dirty feet! lol
ReplyDeleteRobbie, I do think I've grown it before, in a mesclun mix for the rabbit. I have a vague memory of the aroma! I'll probably be posting pictures of my dirty feet once the weather warms enough to kick off my shoes! Now I usually wear my slippers into the garden so I can slip in and out of them at the door.
DeleteSince you've got early tomatoes, you might like this recipe. We love it. The arugula tastes completely different. You can also cook it and toss it with pasta.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/pork-with-arugula-prosciutto-and-tomatoes
LOL, Liz. I only get 2-3 tiny cherry tomatoes at a time, and I only have three plants of arugula. I don't think my ingredients would go far in the recipe, but it does sound good ;-) Robin had one on her blog this week that sounded good too, tossed with pasta. I'll try it one way or another before I make a decision on whether it stays or goes.
Delete3 arugula plants won't get you much arugula :)
DeleteWe really like arugula. Maybe it is an acquired taste. We like it in place of lettuce on hamburgers. I mix it in with pastas after sauteing a bit. We also like it under a grilled steak.
ReplyDeletethose cinnamon buns look very tempting!
Patricia, I think it must be an acquired taste. I will try sauteing a few leaves before I make a final decision on whether it stays or goes. Just enough for one bite ;-)
DeleteSprayed by a skunk,eh? I guess that's what makes my greens extra special! I'm sorry that you did not like the taste. I grew up eating arugula and just last night my dinner was an enormous bowl of it. Only three plants of arugula?, LOL! I must have over 300!
ReplyDeleteJust a teensy-tiny skunk, Ed! You know how taste and smell go together....it tastes a bit like a faint skunk smell to me. You think that's bad? You should hear why Parmesan cheese will never be found in my kitchen!
DeleteMust be the Sicilian blood in me. Growing the motto was the "the more bitter the better". Of course being Sicilian I can't eat dairy either...
DeleteThe one green I do detest is radicchio. I'll eat anykind of endve or chicory but that! Now pass me another serving of arugula please!!! LOL!
Ed, I'll send you the seeds, I'm going to plant more lettuce....LOL!
DeleteYUCK! I so hate arugula. I grew it once and ripped it out after the first taste. I wouldn't even grow it for other people like I've done for eggplant and beets.
ReplyDeleteDaphne, I really thought the leaf I tasted in the garden had a bit of a nutty flavor and would compliment the baby greens in the salad, but the few leaves I put in completely overpowered the taste of everything else, including the balsamic vinegar/oil dressing! Mr. Granny didn't seem to notice, so maybe it's only some palates that detect the off flavor.
DeleteIt could be. Some people can't stand brassicas, and cilantro (one of my favorite herbs) tastes like soap to a significant number of people. I think every person's taste buds are different. But I do take a lot of joy in what I can eat. I'll just avoid those things I can't stand.
DeleteYa, I don't like cilantro either, but I do use some in my salsa. I am one of those people who think Parmesan cheese smells like barf!
DeleteI am for sure not an arugula fan. Hubby often makes fun of me because I will NOT order a dish at a restaurant if it has arugula in it. I detest it actually... But it seems that it is the "IT" green for salads and pastas and sandwiches... Ick. No thanks!
ReplyDeleteHowever... That loaf of bread and those rolls look amazing! I am looking for a great sandwich bread... What is your recipe for that loaf????
Tiny, at least I'm not alone, LOL!
DeleteThe bread recipe is on its way via email.
Baking is always a good thing to do on a rainy day :)
ReplyDeleteI am not a huge fan of arugula in salads either. I find the flavor a bit bold. If I do add it to a salad, I think of it more like a herb than a salad green. I break it up into small pieces so you only get a little bit in a bite. But I do love arugula cooked in pasta or as a pizza topping. It holds up well to cooking and takes on a different flavor.
Rachel, I promise to try a bit of sauteed arugula before ripping it out by the roots...all three plants ;-)
DeleteI found that arugula comes in many varieties and many taste. There is one that i can't eat because it's so strong, and one that I love because it's just tiny bit peppery but not smelly. Can you post your recipe for buns?
ReplyDeleteJenny, I expected "peppery", but it wasn't at all, not a bit.
DeleteBuns are in your email :-)
MMMM- sweet buns! ;-) Hope your seeds germinate after all.
ReplyDeleteBarbie, so do I! I just love parsnips, and had a terrible time finding them on any of the seed racks this year. I checked all of the feed stores and nurseries, and finally found one single variety at Lowe's.
DeleteI am not an arugula fan - so it is not grown in my garden. Always good to try new things though. Those cinnamon rolls look divine!
ReplyDeleteKitsap, so far I'm not a fan either, but I promised to give it one more try....cooked!
DeleteI've never tried Arugula either... but your description doesn't make me want to try it ever LOL!
ReplyDeleteSuburban Gardeness, from the comments here, I'd say one either loves it or hates it. I'm just glad I didn't plant an entire row or bed of the stuff!
DeleteI'm not thrilled with arugula. Of course, there's the backlash thing about it being so popular. . . on pizza it can be okay. Could birds be swiping your seedlings?
ReplyDeleteStefaneener, our tastes are so 1965!
DeleteNo, birds aren't getting the seedlings...they are covered with netting. So odd that there is no evidence of any part of a seedling left, other than those two (I thought there was only one...maybe by today there are none) very healthy spinach seedlings and about half of the original beets and radishes. Still no sign of the carrots planted on 4/9, so I'll give them just one more week to appear before I give up on them.
Your bread looks amazing! I love making homemade cinnamon rolls, they are so much better than any store bought ones. When I was a teenager I worked for a brief time at Cinnabon and learned how to make them there. Meaning my cinnamon rolls are HUGE and full of fat and sugar, probably bordering on 1000 calories each. Lol. Luckily I don't make them often.
ReplyDeleteAnywhereEden, I have a feeling the TWO rolls I just ate (with extra butter of course) easily took care of all my allowed calories for the entire day! I hope I can get outside to work it off.
DeleteHi Granny! I'm still reading and loving your posts. :) I'm just kind of a lurker so I don't usually comment. I'm going to join the, "try it cooked" crowd. I'm not a huge fan of it raw, but then I feel that way about a lot of off-the-beaten-path-greens. My favorite way to eat arugula is baked onto pizza. I probably don't love it enough to grow it, but then you know I only have 3 pots to grow things in and so my space is very precious to me. :D
ReplyDeleteEcho of Eve....you always show up when I show my buns!!! LOL!
DeleteI suppose I'll have to make a pizza to see if I like it that way. On the other hand, I've lived without arugula for 73 years now, I doubt I'd miss it if I never grew it again ;-)
You're the best granny! Such honest commentary about trying arugula for the first time. From a veteran gardener like you, it's priceless.
ReplyDeleteJody, Granny tells it like it is! None of us lives in a perfect world ;-)
DeleteMy favorite way to eat raw arugula is mixed with Romanine lettuce with a sharp lemon parmesan dressing, mmmm. The very lemon dressing tames it nicely. And as others have said, try using it wilted or sauteed slightly. And I like to tossed with a little of the above dressing and served on a very hot pizza. YUM!
ReplyDeleteBut hey, if you decided you don't like it, there are carloads of other things to grow!
Ali, there is where we differ...I like sweet salad dressings and hate most (cold) cheese! Yes, three arugula plants don't take up much room, and there is a "nursery" full of baby lettuce seedlings waiting for a permanent spot in the garden :-)
DeleteLOL, I love it. I have never heard arugula being described as skunk-like. LOL. I also tried growing wild arugula since I love baby arugula I buy from the store. But the arugula I grew is just too spicy, so just like others a suggesting, I cooked it. Anyway, you are too funny. baby skunk!
ReplyDeleteTosh, just a wee baby skunk! It's not spicy at all, like I thought it would be. Must be the variety.
DeleteDon't be posting pictures of fresh baked cinnamon rolls unless you plan on shipping a few down here to me. :)
ReplyDeleteAwww, Kris, you're too late. Daughter stopped in for coffee this morning, and the three of us downed 6 rolls! I think there are only two left now, and Mr. Granny is eyeing them for an afternoon snack. They are best eaten in the first 24 hours you know ;-)
DeleteHi Annie, Your cinnamon rolls look like mine. I try not to eat too many of them! I tried arugula before and am trying it once again but not sure if I will next year. Will cut a little up fine in a salad this year to try but I don't like the smell either. Is there somewhere that tells how to put peoples blogs on the side of ones blog? Also do you need to get the bloggers permission before putting their blog on the side of your blog? I put thyme around my cabbage today!!! Nancy at Cozy Thyme Cottage
ReplyDeleteNancy, to get a blog list on your side bar do the following:
DeleteAt the top right of your blog you will see: Design
Click on that and then on: Layout
Then, about 3" down on the right side you will see: Add gadget
Click on that and then scroll down and chose: Blog list
You will have options on how to add blogs to your list and how you want them to appear. Just play around with it, and be sure to "save". If you don't like how it looks, you can go back and change it. I don't ask anyone, I just add all the blogs that I follow.
Back on the "layout", you can just click on and drag the new "gadget" to position it below your profile.
I'm late reading blogs, but I agree - I've grown it for 4 years, kept thinking a skunk was in there LOL, I did NOT grow it this year :)
ReplyDeleteThank heavens I'm not the only one! I thought maybe I was going crazy, smelling skunk there. But then, you and I are the only ones that double tie our shoelaces, aren't we? Do you suppose there's a connection there? LOL!
DeleteIs that homemade pasta in the canisters behind those delicious cinnamon rolls?
ReplyDeleteLoretta, it's not. One of our local grocery stores had a demo on this brand of pasta last week, and I thought they tasted quite good. I bought a bag of spinach fettuccine and one of garlic parsley fettuccine. It cooks in three minutes. It's pretty as a kitchen decoration, LOL! The brand is al dente http://aldentepasta.com/product-categories/fettuccines/
DeleteLOL! Sometimes I make fresh pasta and cook it that day; I was going to ask about its shelf life... Both of those sound yummy, thanks!
ReplyDeleteLoretta, I think if it's thoroughly dried it should keep quite a while. If I make home made noodles, they never last long enough to have to worry about storing them! These aren't nearly as good as home made, but better than store bought bargain brands....somewhere in the middle.
DeleteArugula does have a particular flavor to it. We like it. :)
ReplyDeleteStay @ Home, it must have been the variety I grew. Most say it's peppery, and this wasn't at all. Not even a hint of "peppery". No, it just tasted a bit like a skunk smells. I was happy when I read Erin's comment, as she had skunky arugula too! It's not just me :-)
Delete