Thursday, July 9, 2009
Friday Recipes: Cherries
Thrifty Thursday: Make Your Own Applesauce
I guess the most frugal way to make applesauce is if you have apple trees growing on your property. However, if you don't, and you happen to have some apples that are getting past their prime, this is a great way to make use of them. If you are using a sweet variety, like Red or Yellow Delicious, then you won't even need to add sugar!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Reader's Questions: Garden Help
Plants are like people: they're all different and a little bit strange. ~John KehoeToday I have more great gardening questions from reader's.
Will Snapdragons really reseed themselves? I live in California where the winters are incredibly mild so many annuals do reseed themselves. Should I just let the plant go or should I pull off those little pods that you say are full of seeds and then plant those? ~Jacqui near Monterey
Snapdragons really do reseed, and should where you are too if you let the seedpods form--which are the little pods--or you can collect the pods when they start turning brown and dry them in a basket, then plant them. Don't put the green pods in anything sealed or plastic because they will mold. What I do is snip off the pods til at least the end of August and then I leave them alone to dry on the plant and reseed. I do this because each plant will basically stop blooming if you don't cut off the seedpods, and snapdragons will bloom right up until cold weather, so I deadhead them until the end of summer. The only thing negative I can say about letting them reseed is that they pop up all over and the colors are always a surprise. I don't mind though because they are so easy to thin out where I don't want them.
Could you tell me why my Hydrangea bush never seems to make flowers. It flowered the first year and that was it. ~Rosie
There are a few things that could be causing this. One thing that could have happened was that you had a late frost and it damaged the buds development. The growth should come from the old wood--if your bush has bare branches, and the growth is coming up from the roots only--there has most likely been winter damage.
Pruning at the wrong time can hinder blossoms too. Only prune your hydrangea BEFORE the end of July. No later or you may be cutting off the next springs buds.
Make sure your hydrangea has 4-6 hours of sun--not too much shade. Do not give it fertilizer high in nitrogen either.
I must mention that sometimes we are given, or buy, a plant from the florist section of a store, and it MAY not be appropriate for your zone. When buying plants it's better to buy from where they can tell you the zone requirements. Try the things I mentioned and hopefully your hydrangea will bloom next year!
I bought monkshood, but have since learned just how toxic it is and want to remove it from my garden--safely. Do you have any ideas? ~Rebecca M.
It is highly toxic, but removing it really shouldn't be a problem. Wear gloves and dig it out, then dispose of it in the garbage. All parts of the plant contain the poison Aconitine, which is toxic to humans and animals. The root is especially poisonous. Oddly, when dried, some animals can eat it safely, and it's been used in herbal medicine as well. Wearing gloves when digging it out should be all you need to do.
On OFL we have tomato harvest tips and recipes:
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/tomato3.html
~Brenda
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tuesday Tips: Tea Time Etiquette
Ellen Easton is a contributing writer for Old Fashioned Living. She is the author of Tea Travels™One drinks tea. During the Victorian era, the term to take tea was used by the lower classes and considered a vulgar expression by the upper classes.
2. Why is the shape of a teapot different from a coffee or chocolate pot?
The teapot is designed with a lower rounded body to insure the tea leaves have the proper room for expansion during the infusion process. The lower placement of the spout on the vessel allows for the tea to be poured without interfering with the leaves.
3. What is the correct placement of the teapot on the table?
The spout of the teapot and the tea kettle faces the hostess or pourer.
4. Are tea urns used for brewing or infusing tea?
No. Tea urns were designed to heat and hold hot water for larger quantities of water. Their function was the same as a tea kettle.Ideally, one would dispense the hot water from the urn into the teapot. "Bring the pot to the Kettle, not the kettle to the pot."
5. How does a teacup differ from a coffee or chocolate cup?
Traditionally a cup equals four ounces. However, the time of day and the beverage served will dictate the proper size of the service piece. Except for demitasse cups, which are served half full, all other cups are served three quarters full. A teacup is 3 1/4" to 3 3/4" in diameter and 2" to 2 1/2" in height. the companion saucer ranges from 5 1/4" to 5 5/8" across. A teacup is shallow and wider than a coffee or chocolate cup, giving the beverage a chance to temper before drinking.
6. What is a moustache cup?
A moustache cup is a nineteenth century variation of the teacup created in England by Harvey Adams. It is designed with a slit ledge projecting from the front side of the rim, allowing the tea to flow through while a gentleman's moustache remains dry resting on the top lip.
7. Why in older pictures of tea settings are spoons placed across the top of a teacup?
Tea was very expensive during the early years of its popularity. As such,the actual tea wares were small in size. There was no room for a teaspoon to rest on the saucer. A guest rested their teaspoon on top of their teacup as an indication they had had sufficient tea. This was a signal to the hostess to stop pouring tea. Today, to indicate the same signal, due to the larger size of the teacup and saucer, the proper placement of the spoon would be across the top of your saucer, not the cup.
8. What is a tea plate?
Native to England and Europe, tea plates were customized to hold a teacup without a saucer.The plate was embedded with a shallow well to secure the teacup. The foods and tea were served together on one plate. When one is using separate tea service pieces the customary size today is either a salad/dessert plate of seven to eight inches or a bread and butter plate of six to seven inches.
9. Where does the expression "not my cup of tea" come from?
To refer to one as "not my cup of tea" derives from the fifteenth century Japanese Teaism. "No tea to him." As one "insusceptible to the seriocomic interests of the personal drama." It is used to describe those one does not care for.
10. How is a traditional English trifle made?
Ruth Darley's advice, whether made from scratch or not, for an easy and quick English trifle recipe. Preferably set in a large footed bowl, alternate layers of the following ingredients: sponge or pound cake moistened with Sherry, egg custard or pudding, sliced strawberries, whipped cream and slivered almonds, repeat layers until bowl is filled. Fruit juice may be substituted for Sherry. Custard and pudding flavors may be changed to taste as well as seasonal berries.
11. When drinking tea does one lift the teacup and saucer or just the teacup?
If one is seated at a table, the proper manner to drink tea is to raise the teacup only,placing it back into the saucer in between sips.
If you are at a buffet tea, hold the tea saucer in your lap with your left hand and hold the tea cup in your right hand. When not in use, place the tea cup back in the tea saucer and hold in your lap.
In either event, never wave or hold your tea cup in the air.
12. What are the proper protocols for wearing gloves at an afternoon tea?
The protocols for wearing gloves are the same, whether one is attending an afternoon tea or any other event where foods and beverages are served.
While gloves are often highly designed with decorations and adornments, their sole purpose is to cover and protect ones hands from the elements.
When greeting another, remove the glove from the right hand, place the removed glove in your left hand and shake hands skin to skin.
It is improper to dine with ones gloves on. Remove your gloves before sitting down to dine. The exception is for long, formal gloves with buttons at the wrist. It is acceptable to unbutton, remove ones fingers and hands and fold back, to the wrist ,the lower portion of the glove without removing the upper portion from your arm. If the gloves have no wrist buttons, the gloves should be removed in their entirety before dining.
Wishing you happy Tea Travels! (TM)
More of Ellen's Articles:
Planning a Tea Menu
A Spring Tea Menu
Tea and Silver
Tea at the Holidays
Understanding Tea Time Service
The Afternoon Tea Gown
The History of Chocolate
A Summer Rose Tea
Etiquette Faux Pas
Sunday, July 5, 2009
July Garden Tidbits: Veggies and More
Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar. ~Bradley MillerI don't know about where you live but our weather has been crazy! We had several days of high humidity last week where it was close to 100 F., then it cooled off and barely made it into the 60's. I had to watch my beds carefully where I'd sowed seeds because even with some rain, they dried out quickly. If you have areas of your landscape that are in full sun and in wide open spaces they made need to be watered more often in windy, dry weather, but more sheltered areas, especially in partial shade, can often be left alone.
Even in the north you can still sow seeds of vegetables that will have time to grow, such as beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots, radishes, and greens. You'll want to look for vegetables, herbs, flowers etc that will mature in 60 days or less. Keep the seeds watered well as per the instructions on the seed packets. It's especially important when the days are hot and windy.
From the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension office: *Cutting flowers is best done with sharp shears or a knife which will help avoid injury to the growing plant. A slanting cut will expose a larger absorbing surface to water and will prevent the base of the stem from resting on the bottom of the vase. It is best to carry a bucket of water to the garden for collecting flowers, rather than a cutting basket.
This time of year we mainly stay concerned about our plants in the garden, but shrubs also need care. If you receive less than an inch of rain in a two week period and the temperatures have passed 85 degrees, then they probably need a drink. It's better to water deeply, which will encourage roots to grow deep. It's healthier for the shrub. Using a sprinkler you can set out a rain gauge or a tin can and water until you have 2-3 inches of water collected.
OFL has tips on controlling those pesky Japanese Beetles:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/beetles.html
Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday Recipes: Fourth of July
I apologize for my absence this week. Brenda has been taking up the slack posting her Monday Gardening Tips and Wednesday Reader's Questions. I on the other hand have been working feverishly on a different project that has consumed all of my time.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Reader's Questions: Herbs and Composting
You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear as young as your hope, as old as your despair. ~Douglas MacArthurToday I have more readers' questions today.
I have one cilantro plant and by reading your article, once it flowers it becomes bitter and should not use anymore. So, do I just cut everything away? Will it grow back? or do I need to replant another cilantro plant? ~Sue
The article Sue referred to is on OFL here: http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/cilantro.html
You have a couple of choices. You can pull up the plant and sow seeds again or you can let the plant flower and form seeds. The seeds can be used to grow more plants or they can be ground and used as a spice. The seeds are actually known as coriander.
Many people sow cilantro seeds every 2-3 weeks so they have a steady supply. Once cilantro "bolts" or shoots up flower stalks, the plant is done. No matter what you do-- cut it back etc.-- it won't grow more of the foliage needed for cilantro. The herb basically changes. The foliage still has flavor and some people use it though its flavor is different and it has a ferny, thin appearance. Also, the hotter it is, the faster cilantro will bolt.
I have a question for you that I have not been able to resolve myself. My son laughs at me because I won't put rhubarb leaves in the compost pile - but we know rhubarb leaves are poisonous! It may sound silly to you too, but we are so carefully organic, and conservative with everything we use in the house and garden, it just seems wrong to put something poisonous back in to our garden. Can you tell me the real story? I would really be grateful. ~Fran
I don't think it's a silly question at all! I had a gut feeling about this, but did research to be sure, and according to good sources it's okay to put rhubarb in your compost. Remember, when we talk about "poisonous" plants, it's much different than toxic chemicals, which are man made and often don't even break down. The Colorado State University Extension website had this explanation:
"What actually occurs when rhubarb is added to a compost pile is that the oxalic acid is decomposed and pH balanced rather quickly. Thus, rhubarb leaves tend to break down to non-toxic components quickly in the average composting situation."
~Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
I really think you are safe in adding the rhubarb. One thought is that oxalic acid is also in potato plants and a few others, but we add those-- I wouldn't go so far as to put in poison ivy, oak or sumac though:)
Some of our lilac bushes or trees did not bloom this year. This is a new house to us and we discovered the trees behind some very large pine trees so the lilacs do not get any light. We plan to cut the trees down. But is there something else to do for the lilacs to help them for next year? ~Mary
Lilacs need full sun, so cutting down the pine trees would help a lot. Lilacs form next springs blooms soon after they are done flowering. Do not prune during the summer. In early spring you can prune off any dead wood--but leave the other branches alone.If you need to "shape" your bush, just be aware that any branches you prune will not have blooms the next spring. There are a few other things you can do to give your lilacs a little boost.
In the fall and spring sprinkle 1-2 cups of Epsom salt around the bush. Make sure if you are using lawn fertilizers that they don't get on or near the lilacs--it's meant for encouraging grass/foliage not blooms. You can also work wood ashes and/or bone meal into the soil around the lilacs in the spring and fall.
How do you harvest your seeds?
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/seedharvest.html
~Brenda



