http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/washing-chicken--do-i-really-have-to-do-that--162045546.html
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Things Your Mama Didn't know!
http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/washing-chicken--do-i-really-have-to-do-that--162045546.html
Saturday, May 30, 2015
To Lift or Not to Lift, That Was the Question
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| Brown Turkey Fig Tree Babies |
Last weekend I had potted up a flat of Brown Turkey Tree plugs. I was so excited to find them and couldn't wait to put them in 2 gallon pots to grow bigger for next year's sales. I wanted one for myself too. I was feeling pretty froggy (it's a southern thing) so I picked up two of those wet two gallon pots in each hand (four all together) and headed around to the front of the greenhouse. "Ouch!" A muscle in my back yelled, "Slow down! Put some of these down!" Did I pay attention to that pain? No... lived to regret that one. I carried all 18 of those babies, four at a time, to the front space. This was Friday afternoon, by 6 PM that night I couldn't find a comfortable position to sit or stand. Spent the weekend hobbling around like the old lady I am. Usually these sprains go away in a day or two with a little rest and a few Naproxen. Well, it's Wednesday, I've been walking the green-way every morning and I'm getting a little better but am still aware of not being back to the old me - pun intended.
The good thing about all this is (there is always a good thing) I've spent much time on my swing reading a really great book, making lists for when I feel better and enjoying the garden sights and sounds. Speaking of books, I highly recommend
Walking with God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really by John Eldredge. If you are a "get it done" person, A list maker, someone who can't sit still, you will totally identify with John. You may even learn a few helpful things too.
So next time you start to get in a hurry and think you might be superwoman or man, slow down or you may not have a choice later.
Check out John's website Ransomed Heart
Mosquitoes and Ticks and Spiders, Oh No!
It has been an unusually wet spring here in Middle Tennessee. Everything is flourishing including the mosquitoes and ticks. I want to pass on to you some suggestions for deterring these pesky little critters and something I found years ago to help with tick and spider bites as well.
Let’s start with mosquitoes; my son told me about this little trick last week, he said it worked for him. He has a small yard, lots of shade and it is low so in tends to stay damp – perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. He could hardly stay on his back deck without getting bitten. Last week he bought a bottle of Listerine, added it to a gallon hand sprayer, topped it off with water and sprayed his yard. He said he had no mosquitoes until a hard rain washed it off. He also said, “I have no bugs and my yard smells minty fresh”. Ha!
I found a wonderful gadget at my local Dollar General Store. It is called a “Halo” and is made by Black & Decker. It comes with a container of Citronella oil and four batteries. You install the batteries, add the container of oil and when you turn it on, a little fan inside comes on and disperses the fragrance, a red light on the top glows softly to let you know it’s on and the device emits a high pitched sound that drives away the mosquitoes but is inaudible to humans. It will cover a 100 square foot area. We sat out on our porch in the dark with no bites! I bought two of them and they were well worth the $10 each that I paid.
Other than spraying a DEET based repellent on my shoes and clothes or using one of the granulated flea and tick repellents that are available commercially for your yard, I don’t have too many ideas for getting rid of ticks. I did read somewhere that garlic will keep them out of the grass but I honestly haven’t tried that one. I can tell you what to do if you get a bite that looks like it might be Lyme disease or a spider bite. Years ago, I got a spider bite while camping in the fall. Our camp site was surrounded by deep fallen leaves, a perfect habitat for Brown Recluse Spiders. A day after we got home, I noticed a nasty looking bite on my ankle. I went to our family doctor and he said it did indeed look like a spider bite. He was the type of doctor who would try a natural cure before using a dangerous steroid or antibiotic – here’s what he told me to do first. He said get some activated charcoal powder, add a little water to it to m
ake a thick paste and apply that to my bite. He also said to cover all that with plastic wrap (like you cover a dish in the refrig) to keep the paste moist and also to keep the messy - I do mean MESSY black powder off your clothes and everything else you come near. He said to change it a couple of times a day. If the bite didn’t look better in 48 hours, to come back and we would do antibiotics. Within 24 hours the redness was almost gone!
Recently, I had a tick bite that after a day started to look like a bull’s eye ring and was stinging and itchy. I did my charcoal paste. By the way, I mix this up
on a piece of aluminum foil so I can fold it up and dispose of the leftovers without making a mess. I tape the plastic wrap over the bite with adhesive tape to keep it in place. The next day, the ring was gone and only a small red place was left. By the third day no spot remained. Charcoal powder comes in capsules too and will absorb lots of kinds of poison. They are a good addition to your medicine cabinet. Give them orally if you think someone has ingested poison and then call your local poison control center or get to an emergency room.
Let’s start with mosquitoes; my son told me about this little trick last week, he said it worked for him. He has a small yard, lots of shade and it is low so in tends to stay damp – perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. He could hardly stay on his back deck without getting bitten. Last week he bought a bottle of Listerine, added it to a gallon hand sprayer, topped it off with water and sprayed his yard. He said he had no mosquitoes until a hard rain washed it off. He also said, “I have no bugs and my yard smells minty fresh”. Ha!
I found a wonderful gadget at my local Dollar General Store. It is called a “Halo” and is made by Black & Decker. It comes with a container of Citronella oil and four batteries. You install the batteries, add the container of oil and when you turn it on, a little fan inside comes on and disperses the fragrance, a red light on the top glows softly to let you know it’s on and the device emits a high pitched sound that drives away the mosquitoes but is inaudible to humans. It will cover a 100 square foot area. We sat out on our porch in the dark with no bites! I bought two of them and they were well worth the $10 each that I paid.
Other than spraying a DEET based repellent on my shoes and clothes or using one of the granulated flea and tick repellents that are available commercially for your yard, I don’t have too many ideas for getting rid of ticks. I did read somewhere that garlic will keep them out of the grass but I honestly haven’t tried that one. I can tell you what to do if you get a bite that looks like it might be Lyme disease or a spider bite. Years ago, I got a spider bite while camping in the fall. Our camp site was surrounded by deep fallen leaves, a perfect habitat for Brown Recluse Spiders. A day after we got home, I noticed a nasty looking bite on my ankle. I went to our family doctor and he said it did indeed look like a spider bite. He was the type of doctor who would try a natural cure before using a dangerous steroid or antibiotic – here’s what he told me to do first. He said get some activated charcoal powder, add a little water to it to m
ake a thick paste and apply that to my bite. He also said to cover all that with plastic wrap (like you cover a dish in the refrig) to keep the paste moist and also to keep the messy - I do mean MESSY black powder off your clothes and everything else you come near. He said to change it a couple of times a day. If the bite didn’t look better in 48 hours, to come back and we would do antibiotics. Within 24 hours the redness was almost gone!Recently, I had a tick bite that after a day started to look like a bull’s eye ring and was stinging and itchy. I did my charcoal paste. By the way, I mix this up
on a piece of aluminum foil so I can fold it up and dispose of the leftovers without making a mess. I tape the plastic wrap over the bite with adhesive tape to keep it in place. The next day, the ring was gone and only a small red place was left. By the third day no spot remained. Charcoal powder comes in capsules too and will absorb lots of kinds of poison. They are a good addition to your medicine cabinet. Give them orally if you think someone has ingested poison and then call your local poison control center or get to an emergency room.
In order to keep the mosquito population down, don’t allow water to collect in containers in your yard. Goldfish will eat mosquito larvae in your ponds and moving water is not as attractive to adult mosquitoes as still water is. I have a stream of water circulating in my little water feature along with koi and goldfish. There are safe additives called “Mosquito Dunks” that you can add to bird baths and ponds that kill the larvae too. Don’t forget to give your pets a flea and tick repellent and be sure they have their heartworm meds on time.
If you have any good tips for ridding our yards of fleas, ticks, or mosquitoes add them to my blog comment section.
If you have any good tips for ridding our yards of fleas, ticks, or mosquitoes add them to my blog comment section.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
A peachy choice for bees and hummingbirds.
In the British Isles, foxglove is also called folk's-glove, elf-cap or fairy-cap. The "wee-folk" wear the flowers as hats and gloves and sometimes petticoats. It is said that the spots found within the flowers mark the places the elves and fairies have touched. Foxglove has low-growing foliage topped by tall spikes of tubular flowers. Dalmatian Peach is a soft apricot-peach with pale, delicate spotting, flowering mainly in the summer months. Because of their height, they are suitable for the back row of your perennial bed. They will flourish in full sun to light shade. Prepare the bed by amending the soil with peat and compost. Mulch the soil well after the plants emerge. Foxglove will attract bees and hummingbirds. They are deer resistant and make excellent cut flowers. Foxglove plants do best over the long term if they can be left undisturbed.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Growing Great Pumpkins, Part 2
Pumpkins are heavy feeders and nutrient requirements change, as your pumpkin grows. For the first few weeks, your pumpkin will require a fertilizer with more Phosphate, such as Fox Farm’s Fruit and Flower to help establish roots.
For the next 3 weeks or so, switch to a higher Nitrogen fertilizer such as Fox Farm Tomato and Vegetable Food to encourage your pumpkin to produce vine and leaf growth. 
About week 6 or 7, switch back to 5-10-5, 
until first fruit set, then stop feeding until you can see the pumpkin has started.
At this point switch to a fertilizer with high Potash to encourage fruit growth and that’s what you’ll feed your pumpkin until harvest. 
Pumpkins can draw nutrients through their leaves, so another way to feed your plant is to spray the leaves with liquid seaweed or fish and seaweed. 
The value of fish and seaweed fertilizers is they are loaded with amino acids, enzymes and micro-nutrients, great for supplementing your regular fertilizers, especially during the Nitrogen phase. 
Pumpkins need a lot of water. It’s best to water in the morning and to water at the base of the plant, not the leaves. An easy way to gather water at the base is to build a moat around the plant and water in the moat. Another trick is to pick out the biggest two or three pumpkins and remove the rest. This will help your big pumpkins grow even larger. Pumpkin plants like a lot of sun. The pumpkins themselves like shade, so consider covering your fruit with shade cloth or Seed Guard. Start your pumpkins now and plan to enter our Giant Pumpkin Contest, which will be held Saturday October 11th, 2014.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Tips for using Lavender
2 or 3 Tablespoons of Lavender Buds
1 cup sugar
Combine in a jar, shake to blend and put it in a cabinet for a couple of weeks. Shake it everyday. The sugar will absorb the lavender flavor. Now all you need to do is strain the lavender buds out with a sieve and enjoy.
Look for recipies using Lavender on the internet, lots will come up in a search. You might be surprised at how good they are.
For a good chemical free soft scrub try this one using Lavender
3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup powdered Milk
5 or 6 drops lavender esscential oil
1/4 cup liquid castile soap or liquid ivory soap
water to make a paste
Combine soda, powdered milk, and lavender oil in a container with a tight fitting lid, shake and set asside until ready to use. When using add a small amount of the liquid soap and enough water to make a paste. Safe on nonporus surfaces - rince with fresh water.
My favorite lavender is Lavandula angustifolia. it is hardy in my zone 6 area and stays green all winter. Beautiful tall spikes of purple flowers and wonderful frangrance!
Next post will feature another of my favorites - Rosemary.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Back to my Color Scheme
That's what happened in my garden today. Beautiful yellow and red striped tulips and even some plain yellow and some soft orange ones had to go.
I couldn't quite bring myself to remove all the yellows though. They do add a touch of sunshine to the overall scene.
I haven't tackled this part yet, so tell me, what would you do?
Propagation Chamber
This will be a short post because I want to redirect you to a really good idea I found on the GardenWeb Propagation forum. It is a simple way to start cuttings in a homemade propagation chamber. I know it will work because it will create the same method I used in my greenhouse with my intermittent mist system. This one is small scale and inexpensive but will get almost the same results.
I'll be posting soon about my Peggy Martin Roses and how I propagate them but until then, check out this great idea - Easy Propagation Chamber Complete instructions are in the post.
Peggy Martin Rose
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Make your own Croutons
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| Home made croutons |
Why spend two or three dollars a box for dry tasteless croutons when you can make your own from left over bread. I save the end pieces and any left over bread and make croutons with my dried herbs (or Italian spice mix) and olive oil spray - real simple and quick!
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| Seasoning ingredients |
Start with the bread and use kitchen scissors to cut it into small squares,
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| bread ready to cube |
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| cubed and ready to bake |
Now spray the pieces with olive oil spray. Spray is cheaper and easier than pouring messy olive oil all over the place. I use my fresh dried oregano and basil plus garlic salt but Italian spice mix will work too. I use it generously! Toss to coat well and pop into a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Stir the croutons about half way through.They should be golden brown and crispy when done. Let cool before storing in a baggie or tin. Enjoy!
Chelsea Flower Show 2013
The Daily Telegraph Garden
Exhibitor: The Daily Telegraph
Designer: Christoper Bradley-Hole
Christopher Bradley-Hole's garden is an abstract design inspired by the English landscape, with Japanese overtones. His Latin garden for the Daily Telegraph in 1997 won Best in Show. He says: "The garden is a representation of England as a wooded landscape from which openings were cleared to allow settlement, civilisation and cultivation. English native trees and shrubs are used in a graphic way to create an understorey which expresses the way a field pattern has been superimposed on the land."
Picture: Martin Pope
B&Q Sentebale 'Forget Me Not' Garden
Exhibitor: B&Q Sentebale
Designer: Jinny Blom
This garden was inspired by Prince Harry's charity Sentebale, which supports vulnerable children in the African country of Lesotho. The garden is intended to evoke the landscape and culture of Lesotho, featuring round houses, muted colours and mountainous plants. Its designer, Jinny Blom, says it is also intended however to evoke the Prince's experience of losing his mother. A pattern of “heart and crowns” is engraved on the circular central terrace, based on a Lesotho blanket design which was loved by the Princess of Wales.
Picture: Martin Pope
East Village Garden
Exhibitor: Delancey
Designer: Michael Balston and Marie-Louise Agius
Inspired by the Olympic East Village, this garden is intended to represent the sustainable regeneration of an urban area. It combines urban-feeling materials such as steel and glass with vibrant planting. Co-designer Michael Balston said: "When I visited East Village for the first time I was struck by the amount of public and private green space. It was... fundamental to the inspiration behind the East Village Garden."
Picture: Martin Pope
The Brewin Dolphin Garden
Exhibitor: Brewin Dolphin
Designer: Robert Myers
A relaxing space with its plants drawn heavily from UK native species. Telegraph writer Bunny Guinness says: "Robert Myers restricted his plant palette to predominantly British native plants. This was a good twist, hopefully making more gardeners realise what a great range of excellent native garden plants there are, and Robert has used them in a contemporary setting."
Trailfinders Australian Garden presented by Flemings
Exhibitor: Fleming's Nurseries
Designer: Phillip Johnson
A quirky "off the grid" garden which demonstrates its designer's environmental passions. It uses solar panels and recycled water, while all the building materials are also locally-sourced, or reclaimed.
The Homebase Garden
Exhibitor: Homebase
Designer: Adam Frost
A "modern family garden", designed to allow a small family to garden, entertain and enjoy themselves, but also encouraging wildlife to thrive.
Picture: Martin Pope
The Wasteland
Exhibitor: Kate Gould Gardens
Designer: Kate Gould
The story behind Kate Gould's garden is that it was once a derelict urban space, transformed into a garden using recycled items, such as the insides of an old mattress reworked into a trellis screen and shopping trolleys turned into frames. It is intended to demonstrate that beautiful gardens can be built without sourcing new materials.
Picture: Martin Pope
The Laurent-Perrier Garden
Exhibitor: Laurent-Perrier
Designer: Ulf Nordfjell
Ulf Nordfjell’s garden for Laurent-Perrier has been described by Telegraph columnist Val Bourne as "an evocation of a vineyard involving lots of Mediterranean plants that evoke the French landscape".
Picture: Martin Pope
M&G Centenary Garden
Exhibitor: M&G investments
Designer: Roger Platts
Designed to mark the Chelsea Flower Show's centenary, this garden evokes trends and themes from Chelsea gardens past and present. Shrubs popular when the show began in 1913 and classic British design elements are mixed with modern plant varieties.
Picture: Martin Pope
RBC Blue Water Roof Garden
Exhibitor: Royal Bank of Canada
Designer: Professor Nigel Dunnett and the Landscape Agency
In keeping with the bank's Blue Water Project, which aims to help protect fresh water, the RBC's urban rooftop garden focuses on how city dwellers can create a garden which supports biodiversity and protects natural resources. Features include "living walls" that do not require irrigation and a wetland area which captures rain.
Picture: Martin Pope
The SeeAbility Garden
Exhibitor: SeeAbility and Coutts
Designer: Darren Hawkes
This garden is the first RHS Chelsea show garden from designer Darren Hawkes, and is a garden for the blind and partially-sighted. it features bright, clearly contrasting plants that can be distinguished more easily by partially-sighted people, and an installation of stainless steel balls cascading with water.
Picture: Martin Pope
Stockton Drilling as Nature Intended Garden
Exhibitor: Stockton Drilling Ltd
Designer: Jamie Dunstan
Designed to promote the use of natural materials and traditional craft, this garden features a number of plants with important uses - such as a field of winter barley (used within the brewing industry) and taxus (used in the treatment of cancer). Telegraph writer Tim Richardson says "This is one of the most conceptually interesting gardens this year."
The Fera Garden: Stop the Spread
Exhibitor: the Food and Environment Research Agency
Designer: Jo Thompson
Disease and death pervade this garden, which is themed around the threat that diseases, pests and invasive species pose to British trees and plants. Features include a grove of dead trees in one corner, and a striking lonely ash sapling on its own island.
The Arthritis Research UK Garden
Exhibitor: Arthritis Research
Designer: Chris Beardshaw
This lush garden is divided into three parts; a woodland garden, a brightly planted section and a pool garden with a modern sculpture. They are designed to reflect the three stages of a person's journey after being diagnosed with arthritis.
Transformation
Exhibitor: Stoke-on-Trent Garden Partnership
Designer: The Landscape Team, Stoke-on-Trent City Council
A bright and busy garden dedicated to Stoke-on-Trent past and present, which also celebrates the city's links with Lidice, a Czech village nearly destroyed during the Second World War.
Technorati Tags: Chelsea Flower Show 2013
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Our Baobab Tree
Not really but it's what I call the wild Paulownia tree that came up in our yard 2 years ago. my non- gardening hubby, Bill loved it's big fuzzy leaves. I warned him that if we let it grow there it would get huge and if it ever fell (which they are prone to do) it would take out our studio. He really wanted that plant! At the time it looked more like a big green garden plant but I knew how big and fast it would grow. We compromised. I would let it stay if I could keep it small. I am not lying - I prune that tree every other week! It grows so fast you can almost see it happening!
I must admit, I have grown to love that silly tree myself. When left to grow to their mature height, it would be
I'm just hoping it never blows over. I bet it's root system would take out the bank that supports the foundation to our art studio.
Friday, May 22, 2015
How Much Should I Charge per Hour? Calculate your hourly rate based on facts not fiction
It always amazes me that at this time of year students coming to the end of their design courses have little or no idea how much to charge
Sure, there are fee scales out there, but even these are not explained in sufficient detail.
The whole question of how much to charge per hour is actually quite simple to calculate, and even if you have been in business for years, it is still an interesting exercise to calculate an hourly rated based on an end figure for gross profit, for example:
Aspirational salary =£/$30,000.00
Estimated Overheads:
Secretarial £1,000.00
Training £750.00
Insurances £730.00
Repairs/maintenance £450.00
Printing, postage, stationary £2,290.00
Advertising £631.00
Telephone £1,080.00
Motor running expenses £2,400.00
Travelling expenses £57.00
Entertaining £354.00
Legal fees £400.00
Accountant fees £1,200.00
Bank charges £750.00
Subscriptions £335.00
Required Turnover £/$42,427.00
Working 8 hours per day, 5 days a week, 45 weeks a year, there are 1800 hours a year. Chargeable % of hours is likely to be between 30 and 60%, say 40%.
£42,000 ÷ (1800 x 40%) = £58.33/hr
This assumes a constant workload. It is very difficult to achieve a constant work ethic and a chargeable % at 40%. Inevitably weekends, late nights supplement the equation.
The hourly rate charged depends entirely on personal choice. It may be necessary to “buy work” initially, however when you become internationally sought after you can charge accordingly.
You may well find that you have to charge at least £/$60.00/hr to be profitable.
But what ever happens don’t undersell yourself.
Technorati Tags: Fee scales,Hourly rates,design,fees,costs,students,garden design,landscape,architecture
More about Jeruselm Artichokes
WOW! I looked these up on Dave's Garden and this is just about the perfect plant except for the invasive part. Here is the link so you can read it yourself. Dave's Garden
I found a couple of recipies and here they are: from Darius Van d'Rhys
ROASTED JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES
Cooked this way, Jerusalem artichokes taste like a cross between turnips and potatoes.
* 4 cloves garlic, smashed, then chopped
* 2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 1 1/2 pounds Jerusalem artichokes
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
* 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Put garlic and oil in microwave-safe dish. Cover with a paper towel and cook at half power for 2 minutes (3 if a low-wattage oven). Set aside.
2. Peel Jerusalem artichokes and cut into the size of golf balls. Put in a shallow roasting pan large enough to hold all in one layer comfortably. Strain out garlic from oil over the chokes. Add salt and pepper and toss.
3. Cook about 20 minutes (tossing once or twice) or until tender.
CREAM OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE SOUP (for 4 as a man or 6 as a starter)
1 lb (about 500g) Jerusalem artichokes
2 medium or 1 large onion, minced
1 small clove garlic, crushed
1/4 cup of butter (I used half butter, half olive oil]
2 potatoes
1Tbsp brandy
1Tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream [I probably used about half of this]
Salt and pepper to taste
chopped parsley and crispy bacon bits to garnish
Peel (if you like) the Jerusalem artichokes and chop roughly. Peel and dice the potatoes, mince the onions and crush the garlic. Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until frothing, then add the onions, garlic, potatoes and artichokes. Cook covered on low heat for about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Stir in the brandy anf dlour and cook for about a minute. Gradually stir in two cups of stock, stirring continuously until the soup boils. Simmer until all the 'chokes and potatoes are soft enough to mash (probably about 10 minutes).
Transfer to a food processor (or whip out your trusty Braun wand mixer!) and puree until smooth. Add the last cup of stock if needed (I certainly needed it - the consistency was really thick!)
Return to pan, add cream and season well. Reheat, spoon into bowls and garnish with a blob of thick cream, a handful of chopped parsley and a few crispy bacon bits. Serve with crusty bread to mop up the last delicious drop.
Came from this site: http://www.cooksister.com/2006/01/index.html
I found a couple of recipies and here they are: from Darius Van d'Rhys
ROASTED JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES
Cooked this way, Jerusalem artichokes taste like a cross between turnips and potatoes.
* 4 cloves garlic, smashed, then chopped
* 2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 1 1/2 pounds Jerusalem artichokes
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
* 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Put garlic and oil in microwave-safe dish. Cover with a paper towel and cook at half power for 2 minutes (3 if a low-wattage oven). Set aside.
2. Peel Jerusalem artichokes and cut into the size of golf balls. Put in a shallow roasting pan large enough to hold all in one layer comfortably. Strain out garlic from oil over the chokes. Add salt and pepper and toss.
3. Cook about 20 minutes (tossing once or twice) or until tender.
CREAM OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE SOUP (for 4 as a man or 6 as a starter)
1 lb (about 500g) Jerusalem artichokes
2 medium or 1 large onion, minced
1 small clove garlic, crushed
1/4 cup of butter (I used half butter, half olive oil]
2 potatoes
1Tbsp brandy
1Tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream [I probably used about half of this]
Salt and pepper to taste
chopped parsley and crispy bacon bits to garnish
Peel (if you like) the Jerusalem artichokes and chop roughly. Peel and dice the potatoes, mince the onions and crush the garlic. Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until frothing, then add the onions, garlic, potatoes and artichokes. Cook covered on low heat for about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Stir in the brandy anf dlour and cook for about a minute. Gradually stir in two cups of stock, stirring continuously until the soup boils. Simmer until all the 'chokes and potatoes are soft enough to mash (probably about 10 minutes).
Transfer to a food processor (or whip out your trusty Braun wand mixer!) and puree until smooth. Add the last cup of stock if needed (I certainly needed it - the consistency was really thick!)
Return to pan, add cream and season well. Reheat, spoon into bowls and garnish with a blob of thick cream, a handful of chopped parsley and a few crispy bacon bits. Serve with crusty bread to mop up the last delicious drop.
Came from this site: http://www.cooksister.com/2006/01/index.html
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Breaking News RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2014 Medal Winners Announced
Chelsea Flower Show Medals Announced!
Congratulations to the Laurent-Perrier Garden, Best Show Garden, and all the award winners at the 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower Show! I am of course delighted that I called the best in show winner in my MyGardenSchool predictions blog from seeing the show gardens yesterday!
Congratulations to Luciano Giubbilei - well deserved.
Chelsea Flower Show Gardens - Winners
Best Show Garden
The Laurent-Perrier Garden
Designed by Luciano Giubbilei
Best Fresh Garden
The Mind's Eye
Designed by LDC Design
Best Artisan Garden
Togenkyo – A Paradise on Earth
Designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara
Gold Medallists.
- The Homebase Garden – Time to Reflect, in association with Alzheimer’s Society
- The Laurent-Perrier Garden
- The M&G Paradise Garden
- No Man’s Land: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Garden to mark the centenary of World War One
- RBC Waterscape Garden
- The Telegraph Garden
- All Show Garden awards download (82kB pdf)
- All Fresh Garden awards download (15kB pdf)
- All Artisan Garden awards download (11kB pdf)
Great Pavilion
RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2014
Hydrangea macrophylla Miss Saori (‘H20-2’)
Ryoji Irie
Diamond Jubilee Award
South West in Bloom
President’s Award
Birmingham City Council
Best RHS Discovery exhibit
Sparsholt College
All Great Pavilion awards download (114kB pdf)
Technorati Tags: Artisan Garden awards download,Best Artisan Garden,Best Fresh Garden,best in show at chelsea flower show,Best RHS Discovery exhibit,Bronze medalists,Chelsea Flower Show Gardens,Chelsea Flower Show Medal winners,Designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara,Designed by LDC Design,Designed by Luciano Giubbilei,Fresh Garden awards,Gold medalists,Great Pavilion awards download,Great Pavilion RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year 2014,Hydrangea macrophylla Miss Saori,President’s Award Birmingham City Council,RHS Discovery awards,Ryoji Irie Diamond Jubilee Award,Show Garden awards,Silver medalists,Silver-gilt medalists,South West in Bloom,Sparsholt College,The Laurent-Perrier Garden,The Mind's Eye,Togenkyo – A Paradise on Earth,who won gold medals at chelsea,Winners Best Show Garden
May lawn care advice
May is often the time when lawn diseases show up. At first, the lawn looks dry and brown and you may think needs water. But increasing the watering doesn’t seem to help. The grass stays brown or in some cases, patterns begin to show up often in the form of rings. In these cases, you’re probably dealing with a fungus, rather than a watering or sprinkler system problem. Begin by having the lawn aerated, using a core aerator. Core aeration involves remove a plug, which helps open the soil up allowing air, water and fertilizer into the soil. Products like Revive®will help break up the surface tension and allow water to penetrate better. 
Adding Soil Activator, which is humic acid will improve soil structure and increase root size, which will have a dramatic effect on your lawn. 
This is a section of lawn before Soil Activator. 
This is the same section after Soil Activator. Bigger roots mean the lawn is under less stress and capable of handling summer heat better. In the case of Necrotic Ring Spot, lowering the ph of the soil will also help. 
You can add Soil Sulfur, in addition to Soil Activator to make the soil more acidic.
More irregular patterns are probably not fungus-based, but could be the result of herbicide or fertilizer spill, gasoline from the mower or even small creatures called voles. Know, don’t guess. If your lawn is not looking healthy, bring a sample of the problem to our Diagnostic Center. We’ll figure it out and help you decide on the right solution for your lawn.
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