Garden Update

Summer's rain has our gardens growing with little restraint! The tomatoes are rocking, the herbs are growing as fast we can use them and the corn is well above "knee high by the 4th of July!" I am looking forward to getting this first zucchini on the grill and hoping that I will be "suffering" from the abundance of squash that helped my grandmother perfect her muffin recipe when I was a little kid.

It appears that the birds enjoy hanging out in the garden - I don't think they are really doing any damage as they are probably just keeping the plants bug-free, but I am thinking of putting up a fence as there was some sort of creature that ran through and tore up the weed material. My guess is a deer as the tracks were pretty crisp - damn deer.

Heat Wave

Raspberry Smash • Bon Appetit • July 2008

Strip leave from one stem of fresh Thyme.
Muddle with 6 Raspberries in bottom of shaker.
Add juice from one Lime.
Add third cup Hendricks Gin with 2 Tbsp Simple Syrup.
Add ice and shake vigorously.
Strain over ice into glass and garnish with another Thyme sprig and Raspberry.

Monday Dins

CPE came over to supper much to my wife's chagrin - not that she doesn't love him. The ulterior motive was my need of help with the garden. We put down the weed cloth and spread the mulch and are now ready to plant, baby.

On to supper - teriyaki london broil and sesame asparagus cooked over mesquite chunks.

Teriyaki Marinade

low sodium soy sauce
2 cloves minced garlic
1 cup sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
juice of 1 lemon

Mix over medium heat and cool. Marinate london broil for at least 2 hours. Grill over mesquite chunks until desired doneness.

Sesame Asparagus

2 cloves minced garlic
Toasted sesame oil
asparagus

Mix and let set for 20 minutes - grilled to desired doneness - I prefer the crisped quicky!



Collin has been working on the wine for his wedding in August. The Flying Cloud has been one of his choices - anyone have any experience with this vino? I really enjoyed it - full, fruit-forward and completely enjoyable with the teriyaki steak. They are doing a surf/turf type deal so I might need to try it again...



Off to bed I go - satiated and content!

The Vegetable Garden

I did bit. I made it out of the house and found enough time to start the garden for my family! As of now we are going to try not to kill tomatoes, squash, broccoli, brussel sprouts, melons, pumpkins, corn and lima beans. We will up our herb planters and do a few planters with lettuce and spinach until it gets too hot.



8am: Off to Home Depot to rent the rototiller.
9am: Layout the plot and gather my tools.
9:30: Fire up the tiller and rock on!
10am: Realize how out of shape I truly am...



At any rate - the ground has been turned and supplemented with some compost, manure and peet moss. I was able to get it done by 1pm, just as the rain clouds came in. This week after work I plan to put down some weed suppressing material as the ground was previously home to some really awful grasses. If the weather cooperates we'll get it all planted by next weekend!

OK - Here goes nothing...

I wish I had a better first entry planned than this! At least I have it up and running so that I can add goodies as I think about or come across them.