I found this at www.popcorn.org. I thought I would share it.

10 cups freshly popped popcorn
2 cups whole almonds
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

* Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Spray 15 x 10 baking sheet with non-stick spray. Mix popcorn and almonds in large bowl.
* Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in medium saucepan. Over low heat, stir mixture until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, almond extract and baking soda.
* Pour over popcorn and almonds, immediately stirring gently to coat. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet, spreading evenly.
* Bake for 1 hour in preheated oven. Cool completely. Break into pieces and store in airtight container.

Yield: 20 pieces

Nutritional Information:
(Based on a 1 piece serving)
Total calories: 210 Fat: 14 g Carbohydrate: 19 g Sugar: 14 g Fiber: 1 g Protein: 3 g
Sodium 120 mg: Cholesterol 10 mg

I hope you enjoy it.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

This is the final installment of root cellar options. We will be discussing two more types of storage options.

Tile, barrel or garbage can pit, buried in the ground:

The only major differences in these types of storage is whether they are directly buried into the ground or are positioned on a slant and are partially above ground. The barrel pit is also a good way to store fruit.

A barrel is buried sideways in the ground, about two feet deep. Gravel should be placed under the barrel to aid drainage. The barrel is then mounded heavily with soil and straw or hay is added thick enough to be used as insulation. Large sheets of wood ( or possibly a heavy tarp ) are then placed over top to keep the straw in place and protect it from the elements.

The tile pit and garbage can pits are very similar. The only real difference is that the tile does not have a bottom. The garbage can does, and makes it quicker to build/use. The location should be out of direct sun and be well drained. Dig a large hole to accept a large piece of tile or garbage can. Gravel should be placed on the bottom of the tile and bricks should be placed on the gravel. Your crops can be placed in appropriate containers and placed on top of the bricks. Add a top and a layer of insulation. A secondary top over the insulation material is a good idea.

Storage pit built of lumber, buried in the ground:

Dig a large pit and build a 2×4 frame to fit it. 3′x6′x2′ seems to be a nice size. The sides should be tightly stretched hardware cloth. If the pit is larger than the frame, a layer of insulating material can be placed around the frame. It Should have a wooden bottom and hinged wooden top. A layer of builders sand should cover the floor. Add a mixed layer of vegetables and another layer of sand. This can be continued until the pit is filled. The top can be covered with bales of straw for insulation. A tarp over the straw protects it from the elements.

I will be adding information regarding storage of your crops very soon. Items such as what can be stored, for how long and what to store the crops in.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I found a helpful tool for figuring out seed starting dates.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedFiles/articles/issues/2006-12-01/Seed-Starting-chart.pdf

This should be an asset to new and seasoned gardeners alike. It is time to start thinking spring!

I’ll see you in the backyard!

January is nearly over. The days are getting longer and the sun is higher in the sky. I should have so many things running through my mind with spring getting closer every day. I can only think about one thing, however. When is it going to warm up?

I’m not even looking for truly warm weather. I would be happy with readings closer to freezing. It will not be long and seeds will be started in preparation for the upcoming season.

I just can not seem to think about anything but the cold. Most years it seems as if a few outdoor projects are able to be completed through the winter. This winter has just seemed so cold.

How many days until spring?

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I found this at www.choosecherries.com. I thought I would share it.

A refreshing change of pace for lunch or dinner

Ingredients:
Dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon (or 1 tablespoon dried tarragon)
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste (used 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper)

Salad:
8 cups mixed salad greens
3 cups chopped cooked smoked turkey
1 cup dried tart cherries
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup toasted silvered almonds

Directions:
For dressing, combine olive oil, lime juice, tarragon, balsamic vinegar and sugar in a medium bowl; mix well. Season with salt and pepper. For salad, divide greens between 6 dinner plates. Arrange turkey, dried cherries, green onions and almonds equally over each serving of greens. Drizzle with dressing just before serving.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition Info:
Nutrition Facts per serving: 439 cal., 27 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 23 g carbo., 57 mg chol., 27 g pro., 4 g fiber, 872 mg sodium. Daily RDA values: 60% vit. A, 30% vit. C, 10% calcium, 20% iron.

I hope you enjoy it.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I made a quick fix to a snow shovel today.

I was clearing off the end of the driveway after the road scraper came through. The plastic collar that held the shovel to the handle cracked. It was noticeable when I had weight on the shovel. The shovel was breaking away from the handle.

I simply drove three screws through the collar and into the handle. This secured the two pieces tightly together again.

The shovel seems to be working fine now. How long will the repair last? I can not be certain, but it will certainly give me more use out of the shovel than if it had not been repaired.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

We will now be looking at hay bale and mound storage options. These are described below.

Hay bale storage is quite simple. Build a rectangle out of the bales of hay. Add some loose hay in the bottom of the bale framework. Place bales of hay over top as a lid. Rocks can be used under the lid bales as ventilation when the weather is above freezing. The area can be lined with wire mesh to keep out rodents. This works well for most root crops.

Mound storage is an above ground option also. The first step is to pile hay or straw on the ground. The vegetables can then be added to the top of the pile. More mulch is then added, followed by soil. The soil should be mounded to encourage water to run off the pile. This is then topped with a waterproof cover, such as a tarp. Be certain to keep the edges of the tarp secured. A trench can be dug to keep the water draining away. This extra soil works well to hold the tarp in place. This type of storage is best for climates where the ground does not freeze severely.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I found this at www.choosecherries.com. I thought I would share it.

Lean ground turkey simmered with fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, garlic, Bell pepper, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, mustard powder and chopped dried cherries

Ingredients:
4 ounces dried tart cherries, chopped (3/4 cup)
2 cups fat free low sodium chicken broth, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon fresh chopped garlic
1 pound lean ground turkey (7% fat Jennie O)
1 roasted red Bell pepper, cut into 1/4″ cubes
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon dried mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
4 cups chopped fire-roasted* tomatoes
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans (or 1 16-ounce can, rinsed and drained)
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Directions:
Heat one cup of the broth. Place cherries in small mixing bowl. Add hot broth and set aside.

Heat olive oil in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and saute for about five minutes or until onion is soft. Add garlic and cook one minute longer. Do not brown garlic. Add turkey and cook until it is no longer pink.

Add roasted Bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, coriander, mustard and oregano. Cook mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occassionally for about two minutes. Add tomatoes and remaining cup of broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes.

Stir in beans, cherries and cilantro. Continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes or until mixture is just heated through. Season with additional salt if desired.

*Used Muir Glen canned fire-roasted tomatoes for optimal flavor; may used regular canned chopped tomatoes

Yield: about 2 quarts or 8 servings

Nutrition Info:
Calories 223, Total Fat g 6, Sat Fat g 2, Chol mg 41, Sodium mg 448, Total Carb g 28, Fiber g 5, Sugars g 14, Protein g 17

I hope you enjoy it.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

That is the question my son asked me the other day while we were out on the road. The tree in question appeared to have blown over. From what I could see it appeared to have been planted with a tree spade directly, not balled and burlapped. I assumed this from the exposed roots I saw. It did not appear to have been staked.

I then began to wonder how many people would not know what to do if such a situation occurred in their yards. The biggest problem is that roots are exposed. The ground is frozen in our area so the tree cannot be righted until spring. The best course of action would be to protect the exposed roots. A heavy layer of mulch needs to be placed over them. Straw would be a good choice this time of the year. Leaves or grass clippings would also work if they are available. The point is to insulate the exposed roots from constant freeze and thaw cycles.

The tree should be straightened in the spring as soon as weather permits. The sooner it is straightened, the better the chances for survival are. There is a chance it still may not survive the disruptions. Your chances are much improved by following this advice.

I’ll see you in the backyard!

I am starting off with two storage options. Basement and in ground storage. These two options have brief descriptions below.

A basement can be used as a cellar. The best location is one away from the furnace, preferably in the northeast corner. Nearby windows are a plus for adding ventilation. The windows should be shaded to block sunlight. This area can be insulated from the rest of the basement to keep the temperature down. Water can be added occasionally, whether sprinkled on the floor or in a small container to increase humidity.

A basement with a walk out can be a great place to store a harvest. Simply insulate the rest of the basement from the stairway with a temporary door. This will give quite a bit of storage right on the steps. Adding temporary walls can expand the storage inward for even more space. Just be sure to insulate the walls. The same tips from above can be used to add humidity as needed.

A real simple short term storage solution is in ground storage. The length of storage time just depends on the climate. Root crops can be left right in the ground and heavily mulched. Straw, leaves and grass clippings are just a few options for mulching material. The crop can be dug out as needed. This will give some storage options even in our colder climate before the weather becomes too cold retrieve the harvest.

More options will be coming soon. Please post any questions or comments you may have.

I’ll see you in the backyard!