It’s Dry Outside. Water! Especially “Newbies”

From friend and colleague Ron Wilson, Natorp. Get that hose out!Importance of Watering It’s Dry! Be sure to water all your plants including your new trees and shrubs. HOW TO WATER NEW TREES AND PLANTSThe most common way to water new trees and plants is by letting a garden hose trickle at the base of the plant, soaking the root ball.  Also, you can use stationary sprinklers … Continue reading It’s Dry Outside. Water! Especially “Newbies”

Roasted Spicy Tomato Jam (Not preserves!) Anyone?

Well, this is the first year that I’ve almost run out of ways to use tomatoes. Are you in the same boat? Regardless of the way the plants/leaves look, most of us have had a bumper crop.  I’ve preserved more tomatoes this year than I ever have in the past.  From freezing tomatoes (I have a vacuum sealer now and just love it), both cherry … Continue reading Roasted Spicy Tomato Jam (Not preserves!) Anyone?

Rosh Hashanah Honey Cake

Today when. Annie Mitchell Egan and I chatted on the Sonrise Morning Show, Sacred Heart Radio, the subject was Rosh Hashanah which will be celebrated tomorrow through Sunday. It’s traditional to eat the head of a fish during the Rosh Hashana holiday meal. The wish there is that  they hope everyone at the table will be at the head and not at the tail of whatever … Continue reading Rosh Hashanah Honey Cake

German Potato Salad and Cucumber Salads for Oktoberfest

This weekend we celebrate Oktoberfest. My German mother-in-law, Clara, made the best German potato salad. I remember it warm, with a bit of a bite from the vinegar. Problem is, like so many heirloom recipes, Clara’s wasn’t written down. So after a few tries, I came up with something yummy and similar. I’ve shared this recipe in the past but tweaked it a bit again. Maybe … Continue reading German Potato Salad and Cucumber Salads for Oktoberfest

MS. NELLIE WILSON’S BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Here’s the recipe everyone’s been asking for. And if I do say so, my dear friend, Nell Wilson is becoming an icon here in our cooking community. Between her delish pickles, peppers and now this blue cheese dressing that she’s shared over the years, I think she should have her own cooking show. Got a cool name for it? The recipe is written by Nell. … Continue reading MS. NELLIE WILSON’S BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Hornets, Wasps and Yellow Jackets, Oh My!

Yesterday in the chicken coop were some unwelcome visitors: yellow jackets feasting on what was left of some watermelon I had given the “girls”. Now a few months ago (May 2020), colleague and entomologist Joe Boggs of Ohio State Extension shared a bunch of good information on all kinds of hornets, starting with the Asian giant hornet.  Then he shared wisdom on wasps and, yes, … Continue reading Hornets, Wasps and Yellow Jackets, Oh My!

Two Delish No Recipe Chicken Dishes

First of all, I’m having trouble figuring out this new WordPress blog setup. So you’ll see no categories listed, and the photo of this chicken dish is at the bottom of this article. Hopefully I’ll figure it out soon….. It’s funny how things work out. Like many of you, during this pandemic I’m not shopping as much as I usually do. So the testing of … Continue reading Two Delish No Recipe Chicken Dishes

Bark Beetles and Ambrosia Beetles: the Big Picture

AuthorsJoe BoggsPublished onAugust 15, 2020 Last year my fig tree got infested with ambrosia beetles. I had no idea what they were since the tree had what looked like little white toothpicks in the form of real delicate“sawdust”. Joe Bogs, OSU Extension, identified the culprits. Yes, I lost the tree (had to burn it) but sure learned a lot. Joe revisited this problem along with … Continue reading Bark Beetles and Ambrosia Beetles: the Big Picture

Upside Down Peach Cobbler, Anyone?

Each Thursday I chat with Matt Swaim of the Sonrise Morning Show, Sacred Heart Radio. Peaches are in season so that’s what we talked about. PEACHES 2 Samuel 16:1: “ A hundred bunches of summer fruits” won David’s gracious approval for the servant Ziba.  Some Biblical scholars think that those summer fruits included peaches because peach kernels have been found in Egyptian tombs, and peaches, pears, … Continue reading Upside Down Peach Cobbler, Anyone?

Just Had to give you more Zucchini Recipes!

When I went out to pick more zucchini and yellow squash, it got me wondering how many of you are growing zucchini. Or being gifted from somebody’s garden. I’m pretty sure I’m right when I say most of you.  That’s why requests to use this seasonal veggie are coming in.  A west side reader asked: “Will you share your zucchini ribbon recipe with ricotta?” Another … Continue reading Just Had to give you more Zucchini Recipes!