Stuffed cabbage rolls–ah, just the smell of them reminds me of church socials, college cafeterias, and diners with blue-plate specials from Kentucky to Virginia.
I’ve had several versions of this comfort food. They aren’t hard to make and they are oh so delicious. Give them a try.
Two towns long gone – Old Eddyville and Old Kuttawa. They live on in these old black and white photos. These photos cause my parents to start their “I remember when” stories. TVA and the Corps of Engineers created Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley by damming the Tennessee and Cumberland …
Not as good as fresh, but better than dried, freezing those flavorful herbs will give you several months of nearly full flavor before you resort to using the dried forms.
If you have an abundance of herbs and are trying to keep them as fresh as possible, consider freezing them. The flavor will be better than the dried form, and you can keep them for four or five months in your freezer. But freezing them won’t help you if you go to all that trouble only to forget they are in the back of the freezer. Mark them well, putting the type and date on a piece of masking tape and affixing to the bags–or better yet use a permanent marker and write on the bags themselves. It also helps to keep a written record on a piece of paper and affix it to the outside of the refrigerator/freezer. That way you won’t forget to use the herbs.
First method–Use whole leaves of verbena, mint, marjoram, parsley, sage, oregano, and tarragon. For dill, fennel, and thyme use sprigs. Whichever herbs you choose, make sure the leaves are dry, spread them out on a cookie sheet, and freeze for two hours. Once they freeze, double bag them in freezer bags–and don’t forget to mark the bags.
Second method–Process the herbs (one at a time) in a blender with water until finely chopped. Add two tablespoons of each herb (be consistent so you’ll know how much a cube holds) to each cell in an ice cube tray and add water to cover. Freeze until solid. Remove and follow the directions above for bagging, and don’t forget to mark the bags. Before the injection and use of glutathione, it should be viagra sale cheap robertrobb.com completely dissolved. Drugs which must not be used concomitantly include, but are not limited to, glyceryl trinitrate (injection, tablets, sprays or patches), isosorbide salts, sodium nitroprusside, amyl nitrite, nicorandil or organic nitrates in any form. cost low viagra This trend has contributed to the cheap viagra increasing damage it has done to the female gender. Other drugs like sildenafil canadian pharmacy, cialis, or on line cialis are some of the dangerous aftermaths of such a disruption: Low heart beat or high heart beat, beyond the normal- caused by damage to part of the heart leads to increased blood flow.
You can just plop a cube or two in your soup or stew and away we go!
Have you had success with either of these methods?
It’s easy to make this cranberry peach cobbler, especially with all those leftover goodies from Thanksgiving. Or did you not go a little crazy buying cranberries for Turkey Day? Here’s a tasty way to use up those extra cans. Crunchy, sweet, and a bit tart. And just keep telling yourself …
Paperwhite narcissus bulbs can be found just about everywhere during the holiday season, and this fragrant beauty couldn’t be easier to grow.
Paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) can be purchased in many forms. You can buy the bare bulbs (the most economical), or in a box with a cheap plastic pot and some potting medium (a bit more expensive), or already potted and growing (the most expensive). It doesn’t take a green thumb to grow them, so opt for the bare bulbs.Continue reading“Tips for Fragrant Paperwhite Narcissus”
Yes, this picture of Mom’s old-fashioned southern style cornbread dressing and giblet gravy says it all. It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it. This is how both my grandmas made their dressing–and how my mother makes it to this day.
When a dog attacks a child, it can leave more than just physical scars. “We have a new batch of puppies,” said my cousin. “You should come see them.” As he got off the bus I told him I would try to come by over the weekend to see the …
“Wade’s Spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread” post is in response to the many requests I get for my recipe. Since I’m a lazy person at heart, now I can just refer them to this post and be done with it. I am not Italian–far from it. My family …
Some things you need to know about which live tree to buy, how to light your live Christmas tree, how to recycle your live tree, or how to keep a live Christmas tree for planting.
What is the best live Christmas tree?
My honest opinion is that the best live Christmas tree is one that is planted firmly in your yard already. If it’s a tree that’s already established and well-watered, it stands a much better chance at survival than one brought indoors and subjected to heat and dry air. I say this because I have killed more than one live tree over the years, and I also killed a nice holly bush outdoors with too many hot lights. Now, having said that, if you persist in your desire to purchase a live Christmas tree and keep it for replanting, here are some things you should consider:
Keep your live Christmas tree alive until planting.
Put the live Christmas tree in a shaded spot out of the wind. You might consider buying an anti-dessicant (available at home supply or garden stores) to protect the needles and branches from drying out. Water the root ball well, and cover it with something heavy, like an old blanket or burlap, to further protect the tree from drying out. Drying is the biggest danger your live tree faces. When you bring it indoors, decorate it with cool lights (LED work well) and plan to only use the tree for a few days–preferably less than a week. Keep it in a large waterproof tub and keep the root ball wet. DO NOT place your tree near a heat vent or other source of warmth.
When you move your live Christmas tree back outdoors–and if the ground is frozen so that you cannot plant it right away–reverse the procedure and keep the tree in a protected area for a few days. As soon as the ground is workable, plant the tree so that the soil is even with the top of the root ball and water well. It may also be necessary to water the tree periodically throughout the winter if there isn’t enough precipitation. If the tree is planted in a windy spot, consider providing stakes as an anchor for the live Christmas tree until it takes root.
Lights on a live Christmas tree.
First, stay away from those large old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs–you know, the ones that get really hot. Heat is the enemy of your tree. The tiny mini-lights are probably OK, especially for a few hours a day. But the new LED lights are not only very economical, they practically give off no heat at all. For that reason, I give them a hearty green thumb up. (Now, for Heaven’s sake, keep your electrical cords away from the wet root ball and away from children and pets!)
Recycle your live Christmas tree.
Whether you bought a live Christmas tree with a root ball, or just a live tree that was chopped off, it’s still useful. We’ve talked about replanting the live Christmas tree that came with its roots tucked in the root ball. Now let’s look at ways of recycling that chopped off live Christmas tree:
Cut the branches and lay them in window boxes or planters outdoors. The branches will provide color and interest for weeks.
Use branches to protect your dormant plants, or to cover those spots where you planted spring bulbs. It’s important to protect the soil from that constant freeze/thaw cycle if possible.
Tie some branches around a bird feeder. Birds love natural foliage, which all too often is missing entirely in the winter.
Do you have a trellis that’s looking really bare this winter? Weave some of the branches in and out of the trellis for a splash of natural green that lasts for weeks. Don’t be surprised if you see redbirds playing among the needles.
To those of us old enough to remember the week of 11/22/1963, the videos and commemorative specials about the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy have freshened old memories and feelings. Of course I remember exactly where I was, as does anyone who was alive at that time. …
These excuses are actual quotes given me by people when discussing their weight and diet issues. “When I get ready to lose this fat I’m going to have my stomach stapled.” (Or lap banded, or liposucked, etc.) Because it’s perfectly natural to have a doctor perform an invasive surgery rather …
Hello, Wade. I am you. I am sending you this letter from far in the future; never mind how I did it. You probably found the envelope on your dresser with your name written in longhand on it. You may not recognize your handwriting because it has changed a bit …
Homemade granola tastes good and it’s good for you. Chock-full of nutritious goodies, probably the best thing about making granola at home is that you can pretty much tailor it to suit yourself. Granola with skim or almond milk makes a terrific and healthy breakfast. Or you can just eat …
It’s never too early to start thinking mulch. In fact, fall and winter are good times to begin saving those newspapers, shredding those leaves and grass clippings, continuing your composting, or setting aside a bale or two of straw. One less thing to do next spring, and your garden will thank you for it. The type of mulch you choose will depend on the plants, location, and your preference for how a particular mulch looks and behaves.
Here are ten types of mulch and their advantages and disadvantages:
BLACK PLASTIC
Advantages: Very good for controlling weeds, plus it heats up the soil quickly in spring. It is good about retaining moisture and it’s relatively cheap.
Disadvantages: It doesn’t have a long life. You’ll be lucky to get more than one growing season out of it. It tends to repel water, which plants need. It can kill beneficial worms and insects. It’s ugly, and it does nothing to replenish the soil. On top of that, it’s environmentally unfriendly (made from petroleum).
COMPOST
Advantages: Helps with weeds and holds some moisture. Provides a home for healthy organisms, which in turn help prevent diseases. A good source of plant food for the entire growing season.
Disadvantages: It feeds the weeds also! It not only won’t kill weeds, but they thrive in it. Compost is also expensive if you don’t “grow your own.”
GRASS CLIPPINGS
Advantages: Some weed control. Like plastic, it will also warm the soil and help retain moisture. Also, if you till it into your soil it will actually help feed your plantings.
Disadvantages: It can get very hot! Grass, as it decomposes, naturally creates heat and may be more than you need. Don’t put it up against the plant stems. It may also be full of weed seeds, so there’s that. Also, remember than any herbicides you spread on your lawn will be in your grass clippings, so if you’ve poisoned your lawn, don’t poison your garden with clippings.
HAY
Advantages: Cheap and good about keeping down weeds. It also helps retain moisture.
Disadvantages: May contain weed seeds and will not add nutrients to the soil. Also, do not add thick layers of hay around peppers or tomatoes until after the soil has warmed up. Hay can actually keep the soil too cool if piled thickly around plants in early spring.
NEWSPAPER
Advantages: Whether whole or shredded, newspaper is excellent at controlling weeds. It’s generally free and available, and it helps moderate soil temperatures (treat it like hay and don’t apply too early). If you use more than one layer it will last all season, and you can dress it up with a top layer of bark or chips. (or if you don’t care about the appearance, just wet it down good so it doesn’t blow away).
Disadvantages: It won’t feed your plants. In fact, it may even leach nitrogen from the soil if you uses shredded newspaper and till it into the soil.
POROUS LANDSCAPE FABRIC
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Disadvantages: Like black plastic, it is not earth-friendly. It’s made from petroleum and it may end up in the landfill. Provides absolutely no nutrients to the soil.
SHREDDED BARK
Advantages: It looks great, plus it lasts a long time. Holds moisture, moderates soil temperature (don’t apply too early).
Disadvantages: It can be expensive, and sometimes it has chemicals in it (you can smell them). It also won’t do much to fertilize your soil.
SHREDDED LEAVES
Advantages: Cheap, or even free, plus you are helping the earth by recycling. (burning your leaves just adds more carbon to the atmosphere). Moderates the soil temperature and does a good job at holding moisture. It improves the soil and earthworms love it. (earthworms are good)
Disadvantages: It doesn’t do the best job of controlling weeds.
STRAW
Advantages: Good at controlling weeds and moderating the soil temperature (don’t apply too early). Holds moisture and will improve the soil if you till it in. It looks good and feels good (especially to bare feet).
Disadvantages: Just like hay, it may contain weed seeds. It also won’t fertilize your plants.
WOOD CHIPS
Advantages: It won’t go anywhere when the thunderstorms begin to blow. It keeps the soil moist and keeps weeds at bay.
Disadvantages: Nutrient poor and slow to decompose. Also, if it has a strong smell it likely contains a lot of acid. Don’t use it if it does, or use sparingly.
There you have it. Most gardens and flower beds benefit from a good mulch. I’ve used all of these, sometimes all at once. Any mulch is better than no mulch.
What successes have you had with mulch, or which ones do you prefer? Let me know.
“Studies show”–two words you can’t quite believe any more. I don’t know about you, but I’ve about had it up to here with studies. You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones that come on the evening news, or show up in the Sunday paper. The ones that …
Got leftover mashed potatoes on hand? If not, you may want to make extra next time just so you can add these few ingredients for a delicious and creamy potato soup.
The frost has not yet melted from the windshields as I head out the door for my morning walk, but I leave the jacket on its rack anyway. On these strenuous hills I will be sweating soon enough. I live in Lone Oak–which is more or less a suburb of …
Dad had quadruple-bypass surgery about a year ago, and last month Mom had what we suspect was a small stroke. So, I know you will understand when I say it is such a joy to spend quality time with them now, given all that’s happened. I thank God every day …
There’s nothing better on a cold Kentucky morning than this traditional breakfast of country ham and red eye gravy. If you’ve got an active morning raking leaves ahead of you, try this breakfast on for extra taste and stamina.