Hot Pickled Peppers and What are Those Lines on Peppers

Did you ever wonder what those vertical lines are on hot peppers? They are usually brownish in color and develop as the peppers ripen. It’s called “corking”, which means there’s minor striations or scaring on the ripened pepper.  What has happened is that the pepper needs to stretch to accommodate the quick growth during a lot of rain and plenty of sun. That growth spurt … Continue reading Hot Pickled Peppers and What are Those Lines on Peppers

5 Good Container Herbs for Cooking

When Mother Nature offers her wild bounty, she doesn’t take into account we may be busy with other things, like harvesting spring produce or working to patch leaky gutters. That’s why I’m a bit late in getting this column to my editors. For the past week, along with regular chores, we’ve been outdoors, sometimes over hill and dale, foraging for wild edibles. Morels are in … Continue reading 5 Good Container Herbs for Cooking

Peter picked a Peck…and so did I: Pickles!!

You’ll never guess how I spent my afternoon yesterday. A hint: it has to do with chickens. Any guesses? If you said “harvesting chickens” you’d be right. But I’m willing to bet not one of you guessed that. But that’s just what I did. The first time ever. And they weren’t my “girls”. The chickensI helped pluck feathers from and get freezer ready were my … Continue reading Peter picked a Peck…and so did I: Pickles!!

Freezer Pesto and Pine Nuts

I enjoy talking with Matt Swaim each Thursday on the Sonrise Morning Show/Sacred Heart Radio. Do you grow basil? Sweet basil/Genovese basil are 2 common very delicious basils easy to grow. Today we talked about pine nuts – basil and pine nuts “go together” for sure. A beautiful passage from Hosea, the prophet, who lived in the 8th century BC in Israel. Hosea 14:8:  “I … Continue reading Freezer Pesto and Pine Nuts