Readers' Questions and Answers

I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness. ~Adeline Knapp

Sorry for my lateness today. It was my daughter's 3rd grade field day and picnic. The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast!

I have in my back yard purple nightshade and have been unable to get rid of it---have tried digging it out but the rootsare very long and strong, don't like to use poison stuff so I was wondering if there is anything else some one could recommend. ~Helen

What's happening is that little pieces of the root, or rhizome is getting left underground and they sprout. Nightshade roots break very easily. Try again to get every bit of the roots-and then remove EVERY part of the plant as well, to a waste bin where nothing will be left behind. Then the area where you dug them up can be covered by black plastic, which may kill anything that is left. Once you've done this, then next season or in the fall, plant hardy native plants that will take over where the nightshade had been. I've had it too so I know what you mean about those roots! As a last resort, Round Up used in the early spring may do the trick too. As I was doing some research, I found a great page with pictures of toxic plants:
http://www.yardscaping.com/poisonpt.html

How can I keep squirrels from eating oranges on my trees? ~Pat

Living in the Midwest, I've never grown orange trees, and I did some looking but couldn't find anything specifically on keeping the squirrels from the oranges, but I did find a good repellent spray you can make on your own. I'd try spraying it on the branches. Does anyone else have an idea?

Squirrel Repellant Spray

Ingredients:
1 oz. Murphy's Oil Soap
1 oz. any brand hot sauce (cayenne type sauce)
1/2 Tbs. cayenne pepper

Mix this together carefully (watch your eyes and wash your hands well afterwards). Place it in a 22 ounce spray bottle and fill half way with water--shake to mix, then fill it the rest of the way with more water. Spray around area where the squirrels are doing damage.

I live in Indiana on a dirt road. The city was kind enough to grade our ditches leaving a steep grade that is hard to mow. Is there an ivy or something that grows low to the ground that will keep out the grass and weeds and still live through the dust generated by cars going down the road? ~Melissa

There are a lot of choices for slopes, depending on your climate and if it's full sun or shade. Some of the ones that are favorites and have a reputation for being tough are ivy varieties like Hedera Helix 'Glacier', which is variegated and will eventually cover the slope. Sedum is another tough ground cover with many different varieties.It should also do well. Daylilies, Hemerocallis, will also do fine on a slope because they are deep rooted and they will actually help the soil against some erosion. I would ask around to friends and family to see if they need some divided. The tough, classic orange variety is perfect for this and multiplies rapidly. The slope is going to get dusty, but using these types of ground covers you should be able to make it look nice and the lilies will add color.

We have tips on growing old fashioned morning glories:
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/morning-glory.html

~Brenda

The How To of Peeling Hard Boiled Eggs

Just when I thought I had heard all the different ways to cool and peel perfect hard boiled eggs, I find yet another way in a cookbook I was perusing. There's even that wacky "blow the egg out of the shell method" and it actually does work! I've done it several times, though I don't know how your guests would feel about it. I'll share that here too.

Shake the Shells Off

So okay, I am pretty impressed with this one. There's a video on You Tube that shows how it's done, but basically you cook the eggs, then run them under cold water. Keep the eggs in about an inch of cold water in a container that has a lid. Place the lid on the container and shake the container vigorously. Shake it to the left, the right, and up and down. Remove the lid, and like magic, the shells are off of the eggs!

Roll, Dip & Slip

Cook eggs and cool in cold water. Crack the egg shell at each end by tapping the egg onto the counter. be sure to crush the air bubble at the large end of the egg. Place the egg on its side on the counter and roll forward for one full turn keeping the palm of your hand firmly down on the top of the egg. Place the egg into a bowl of warm water. The entire shell will slip right off.

Blowing the Egg from the Shell

When I first saw this I watched it over and over, and then of course I had to try it myself! Though I must not be as big a blowhard as this guy, so it took me 2-3 times before my egg came out, but it did! However, not sure if your guests would appreciate this method. ;) Here's the video for this method.

Teaspoon

Peel off a little of the shell and membrane, just enough to gently insert a teaspoon, with the bowl facing the egg. Run the spoon around the curve of the egg, and it will pop right out.

What's your method?

Join me for Kitchen Tip Tuesday over at Tammy's blog. Read the other kitchen tips there as well!

June Garden Tidbits

Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than Emperor's. ~Mary Cantwell

Gardening is in full swing for everyone, though we have still had some chilly nights here in Michigan. My tomato seedlings are doing well, and I'll be moving them outside this week or next. I have more June garden tidbits today:

-Even if you don't normally place your houseplants outside during the summer, watch the weather reports and place them outside during a warm, gentle rain. It will wash off the dust and give them a nice shower.

-Once your bearded iris has stopped blooming remove the flower stock/seed pods so the plants energy can focus on the roots instead of seed production. If your irises are 3 years old or older you may want to consider dividing them. I have instructions on planting and dividing here: http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/iris.html

-Blossom end rot isn't uncommon in tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. Prevention involves watering your plants evenly and on a regular basis. If you let them dry out too much, then soak them, they may get it. Plan a watering schedule and try to stick to it.

-Believe it or not, you really should be planning for your spring garden, if you want less work that is, and a good soil to plant in next season. There is a technique known as "soil solarization" that works really well during the hot months of June and July. The area must receive full sun for it to work the best. Determine where you want to place a new bed, or extend one you already have. Pull up the larger weeds that you can grab--and rototill the area so it works it up about 8 inches deep. Water the area VERY well, and place clear plastic over the entire area--tack it down with stakes (tent stakes work great) or large rocks. You can leave this on and remove it next spring OR to really get it going, remove it in a month, and rototill again. Place the plastic on again and keep it there till spring.

~Brenda

Sunday Special: Reader's Questions

May and June. Soft syllables, gentle names for the two best months in the garden year: cool, misty mornings gently burned away with a warming spring sun, followed by breezy afternoons and chilly nights. ~Peter Loewer

I missed last Monday's blog but had some questions and answers to share, so I thought I would make up for it today when I had a little quiet time to myself.

Kammi needs tips for growing in sandy soil and she also found an ant colony next to her strawberries and needs advice on getting rid of them.

Sandy soil can be amended pretty easily, and everything I came across said once this was done you can grow just about anything. So what can you add to sandy soil? The best things are well-rotted compost or manure (not fresh), pine park humus, composted leaf mold or peat moss. If you think your soil is too acidic add some lime with those things too. A few weeks ago I was reading an article about a couple who moved into a dry, infertile desert area, and by bringing in top soil, adding compost and using raised beds they were able to grow anything they wanted to! Oh, and you should also mulch well when the soil is sandy because the soil dries out faster.

I think ants are harder to get rid of then the sandy soil is to fix! Next time try planting mint with the strawberries--they work well together and the mint is suppose to repel ants. Also, doing some research it seems that strawberries might attract aphids, which in turn attract ants. You might try a soap spray as mentioned last week and see if the ants go away. Also, if you see the ant nest itself try pouring boiling water slowly into the nest. You'll have to dig up the one strawberry plant that is over the nest, but the boiling water should help. These are some of organic methods to try, since it seems like chemicals wouldn't be a good idea on edible plants.

My husband just brought home a coleus and gardenia plant for the yard, do you know how much watering and sunlight they may use? ~Robin

Gardenias should be planted in good, fertile soil in a partially shady area. They are fairly picky about temperatures. For the plant to form buds they need night temperatures of 60 degrees or so, and about 10 degrees higher during the day.

Coleus plants are grown for the foliage and it's much brighter and more colorful if they are planted in partial shade. They need to be kept watered, but not soggy. Also it's very important that you pinch off any flowers that start to form.

I have African Violet plants, they grow and bloom nice, but 2 of the plants look like they are growing up and not out like the other ones. I have them in a long pot with another violet and it's growing flat or out. It also looks like you can see the root on top of the soil. What can I do about this, is it normal? ~Ruth

Violets, like a lot of other flowering plants, need to be repotted once or twice a year with fresh soil and a pot that is just slightly bigger. Violets don't like too much space around them or under the roots. Make sure you cover the bare part of the stem-the part that looks almost woody-with soil. That may be Ruth is talking about when she says it's root is on top of the soil. I have an article with pictures on how to repot violets here: http://oldfashionedliving.com/violets.html

~Brenda

Friday Recipes: Rhubarb

'Tis the season for rhubarb! Those less than attractive giant leaves that yield edible stalks of the tasty vegetable, rhubarb. 

That's right: rhubarb is a vegetable. 

You would think it was a fruit the way it's used in jams, cakes, pies, cobblers and other sweet desserts.

We've gone through our collection of rhubarb recipes and chosen a handful for you to enjoy. If you make any let us know!

~ Amanda


Rhubarb Cake

Cake:
3/4 cup margarine
2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups rhubarb, chopped

Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cream together all cake ingredients and pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan. Before baking combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over the top of the batter. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.


Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Unbaked pastry for 2 pie crusts (For the top and bottom)
1/3 cup flour
2 cups chopped rhubarb
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 cups fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced.

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Stir together sugar and flour. Place one of the pie crusts pastries in a pie plate for the bottom crust, and place the rhubarb in the bottom. Sprinkle with half the sugar mixture. Repeat with strawberries and remaining sugar mixture. Dot with butter. Place on top crust and crimp edges. Cut slits in the top of the crust. Bake for 40-50 minutes.


Rhubarb Sponge Pie

1 unbaked pie shell
3 cups rhubarb, chopped
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. tapioca
2 tsp. grated orange rind
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
2 tablespoons orange juice

Mix rhubarb, 1 cup sugar, tapioca and orange rind. Pour into the pie shell. In a small bowl, beat together eggs and sugar for 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and beat one more minute. Pour over rhubarb mixture in pie crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until rhubarb is tender and the batter is cooked.


Easy Rhubarb Jam

5 1/2 cups rhubarb, finely diced
3 1/2 cups sugar
1 (3 ounce) package strawberry Jell-o

Mix rhubarb and sugar, allow to sit overnight. The next morning, boil the mixture for 15 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add Jell-o and mix until it's dissolved. Pour into sterilized jars. Cool, and keep in refrigerator.


Rhubarb Bread

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2/3 cup oil
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups finely diced rhubarb
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Stir together in order given. Pour into greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 to 60 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Makes 2 loafs.


Rhubarb Cobbler

1 cup flour
2 tablespoon margarine
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tablespoons milk
3 cups rhubarb, chopped
3 ounce package strawberry gelatin
1/2 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 stick margarine

Cut the 2 tablespoons margarine into the flour until crumbly. Add eggs, milk, baking powder and salt. Make a soft dough and press into an 8x8 inch pan. Press the dough up the sides of the pan. Place the rhubarb evenly in the bottom of the pan . Sprinkle with the strawberry gelatin(dry). In a bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and margarine to make a topping. Sprinkle over the gelatin. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until rhubarb is tender.


Caramel Rhubarb 'n' Dumplings
serves 8

( I have converted this to low fat and it is still mighty tasty)
1 1/4 cups water
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 packet of (liquid) butter buds...used without adding the liquid (or 3 Tbsp. butter)
4 cups sliced rhubarb
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup plus Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 packet of (liquid) butter buds...used without adding the liquid (or 1/4 cup butter melted)
1/3 cup milk
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

In a 2 quart microwave safe casserole combine water, brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, cornstarch & packet of butter buds . Add the sliced rhubarb. Cook, uncovered on 100% power for 7-9 min. or until thickened & bubbly, stirring after every minute. Cover to keep warm. In medium mixing bowl combine flour, 1/4 cup sugar % 2B 2 Tbsp.sugar, baking powder, salt & butter buds (or melted 1/4 cup butter). If using melted butter add it along with the milk to the dry ingredients. Mix until blended. Drop batter by rounded tablespoons into hot rhubarb mixture. Cover with waxed paper; cook for 5-6 min. or until dumplings are done, giving the dish a half-turn once. Stir together the 2 tsp. sugar & cinnamon; sprinkle over dumplings. Serve warm.


Rhubarb Cookies

3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup oil
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup rhubarb sauce (unsweetened)
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/3 cups flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups oatmeal (not instant)
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix sugar and oil together. Add beaten egg, vanilla, rhubarb sauce and oatmeal. Sift dry ingredients together and add to first mixture. Stir in walnuts. Drop from teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 min. or until golden brown.

Cindy from northern Michigan sent us some rhubarb recipes.


Springtime Rhubarb Salad

2 1/2 cups rhubarb (cut into 1-inch pieces)
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
6-oz. package raspberry flavored gelatin
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups celery (chopped)
1 cup chopped walnuts

In a medium saucepan, boil rhubarb in 1/2 cup water until tender. Add sugar to dissolve. Add lemon juice and chill. In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin with boiling water and cool. Blend all ingredients together and chill.


Rhubarb Drink

1 cup rhubarb, cut up
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 6-oz can frozen pink lemonade

Cook all ingredients. Strain. Chill. Just before serving add 16 oz lemon-lime soda. Need to triple recipe for large crowd. Strained rhubarb can be used cup for cup like applesauce in a cake or cookie recipe.


Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch

2 cups sliced strawberries
3 cups chopped rhubarb
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats

Preheat oven to 400 F. In a large bowl, combine strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and 1/4-cup flour; mix well. Pour into 9x9-inch baking pan. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar; cut in flour and oats. Sprinkle evenly over fruit. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool slightly before cutting into serving squares. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Bette sent this in to us!


Rhubarb Cake Dessert
Submitted by Marsha from Colorado

This is such an easy & delicious rhubarb cake. 8 cups cut up rhubarb, spread evenly in a 9x13" pan.

1 1/2 cups sugar sprinkled evenly over the rhubarb.

1 6oz. package of dry strawberry jello, sprinkled over the rhubarb (after the sugar has been sprinkled)

1 package dry yellow or white cake mix, sprinkled over the jello.

Drizzle 2/3 cups of melted butter over the top.
Bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve warm (or cold is ok, too) with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Sharon sent this in-thanks Sharon!


Rhubarb Muffins

1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. oil
1 egg
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. diced rhubarb
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Fill 2/3 full, paper-lined muffin tins or pour batter into 9x13 cake pan.Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

Topping

1/2 c chopped nuts
1/3 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. flour
1 Tbsp. melted butter

Mix together; sprinkle over unbaked muffins.

This is a Favorite Recipe of mine.


Iced Rhubarb Cake
From Barbara Fassbind

Barbara, who resides in Switzerland, was kind enough to share this recipe with us. Barbara confessed: "When I read the recipe, it sounded awful, but a friend made it, I tried it and have been making it ever since!" We think this makes it a keeper of a recipe!

Ingredients for the cake:

a little more than a pound of rhubarb, peeled if necessary and cut into small cubes
3 1/2 ounces of butter or margarine, softened
3 eggs
a pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour minus a rounded teaspoon
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Beat the butter, eggs, salt, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of your mixer until it looks like mayonnaise about 3 - 5 minutes. The sugar should be dissolved by this time. Fold in the flour and baking powder. Add the rhubarb cubes, fold well, and put everything into a greased, floured and parchment lined 10" springform pan or a flower pan as in the photo. I think Williams-Sonoma sells something very similar. Bake for about 60 minutes on the lowest rack of a preheated 350° oven. When done, let the cake cool. When completely cool, turn it over onto a rack so you can pour over the icing.

Ingredients for icing :

- 1 1/2 bars of semisweet chocolate (this is about 5 1/2 ounces). I like the Lindt in the gray wrapper with blue writing, but any good chocolate will do.

- 1/2 cup cream

Melt the chocolate and cream over low heat and pour this over the cake. It shouldn't cover the sides of the cake completely. Just let it sort of drip down by tilting the cake. It does look really pretty with the decorations.

This cake is really moist and stays wonderfully fresh for several days. Make sure people taste before you tell them what it is! The recipe comes from Betty Bossi which is sort of the Swiss equivalent of Betty Crocker! I've been making this cake since 1988 and still love it as does everyone who's ever eaten it. The combination of sour rhubarb and sweet chocolate is delightful. You may have to fool around a little bit with the flour since I use a weight measure, but I think I got it pretty accurate. Anyway, this takes no time to do - it's easy as pie. Easier actually!

Thrifty Thursday: Efficient Refrigerators

Now that it's summer, most of us start thinking about keeping our electric bill in check. One way to do that is to keep your refrigerator and freezer, if you have one, running efficiently.

Here are a few tips to help get you started:

Be sure to vacuum the condenser coils on your refrigerator at least once a year. You may have to pull your appliance out from the wall to do this, but when the coils are dusty, it keeps the fridge from cooling efficiently.

If you have an older fridge, check the door gaskets to make sure you have a tight seal and aren't losing cold air around the doors.

Another "small" thing you can do: when you are putting away your groceries after a trip to the store, gather all your items for the fridge in one place. Then you can open the refrigerator one time and put everything inside.

If you don't have a frost-free freezer and there's more than 1/2 inch of frost built up, it's time to defrost. You can speed up the process by setting pans of hot water inside. Never use a knife to try to dislodge the frost and never use a hair dryer to melt it. Water and electricity do not mix!

Now that it's clean and defrosted, keep your freezer efficient by filling empty spaces with old milk jugs filled 3/4 way with water. These jugs also make good ice blocks for your picnic cooler!

Another good use for these jugs of ice: set one on the kitchen counter in the morning. As the ice melts, your children can have ice water to drink without opening the refrigerator door.

One last thing to remember, when there's lightning around, it might be safer to just unplug your fridge and freezer. Food in the freezer will stay frozen for up to 48 hours if the door is kept closed. Food in the refrigerator will keep up to 24 hours.

See other Thrifty Thursday ideas!

Old Fashioned Garden Tidbits

I've never been without a garden, It's a lifetime challenge: a thing of beauty and a 3-D puzzle. ~Beatrice J. Elye

I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day. We visited with my parents, and my brother and his family who came to visit from out of state. Today I wanted to share a variety of tips I found fascinating and useful! These are from old gardening magazines that I've collected.

-The soil used to plant sweet potatoes should be prepared with some compost and wood ashes or other potassium rich materials, but not manure, cottonseed meal or blood meal, which have too much nitrogen.

-Birds will sometimes pull up sweet corn as it germinates (plus I've had starlings nip off new plant growth on some flowers too). If you have this problem sprinkle lime lightly on the rows and on each side just as the corn is popping through the ground. This will keep the birds away.

-I've always crushed up my egg shells after rinsing and allowing them to dry to keep slugs away from my hostas and other plants, but here is another option. Poultry graded oyster shell is available from most feed stores very cheaply, and if you use it to cover the soil around the stem of plants, it will keep away the slugs. They hate it! It's also good for your soil...unless you have a very alkaline soil already then you may want to opt for another method.

-If you trouble with your carrots splitting your soil may be too dry. Try mixing in completely rotted manure or compost into the soil when you plant, then mulch the plants and water them regularly and even more during drought periods.

-a reader had read that flax would keep beetles away from potatoes and decided to try it. She planted 3 seeds in each hill, just covering them with a big of dirt. All the hills with flax had no insect damage at all! Plus the flax is a pretty blue flower that will add a cheerful look to your potato hills!

-Damping off can be a real problem when growing plants from seeds inside. Take 3 tsp. of dried chamomile and steep it in 6 cups of boiling water. Allow it to steep while it completely cools off. Water the seedlings the next 2 or 3 times with this tea until they look healthy again!

-Wormwood makes a foul smell tea that repels pests! Add a couple of handfuls of chopped wormwood to a bucket and cover it with boiling water. Stir it occasionally until it starts to ferment. At this point you can sprinkle it on the plants to repel insects on potatoes, eggplant and okra. It has a sticky residue so it "sticks" to the plants!

-The plastic lids on coffee cans or other products can be painted with honey or a commercial sticky solution, and they can be hung in greenhouses to catch aphids. If the lids are washed regularly they will last a long time and can be reused over and over.

-A gardener from Wisconsin had trouble with rabbits eating their vegetable crops and had tried every solution they read about but none worked until they tried plain ground black pepper. They sprinkled it around all the plants and on the plant itself and it did the trick! Buy the cheapest variety of pepper(dollar stores are a good place to look) and reapply when it's washed away by rains.

-The mesh bags that onions are sold in work great for hanging herbs to dry! Place the herbs inside the bag and hand somewhere dry with good air circulation until they dry. Crush while still in the bag and they will fall out onto the counter or plate if you hold it over one. Store in a covered container and you are set!

-Spreading diatomaceous earth or finely crushed eggshells to deter slugs is a lot easier if you save your Parmesan Cheese containers. The holes are large enough to just"sprinkle" the shells or powder and you can close it up and store it in the shed until you need to reapply.

I've always loved collecting sweet gum balls (they are small perfectly round spiky balls that come from the sweet gum tree) for crafts. The kids love them too! But you can also use them around your plants to deter the slugs. Ask around, and if you don't have them on your property, someone who does would probably be glad to have you pick them up.

Ant wars? A very interesting tip on taking ants and soil from one ant hill and placing it in a second hill, and then doing the same to a third hill with ants/dirt from the second hill.Those ants move to the first hill and they all start fighting. Within a week all three hills were empty (or dead) and the tip writer didn't see them again!

Make your own soap spray for pests:
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/spray.html