Sweet Maple Green Beans - Yum!

We are HOPING to be gathering sap SOON.... albeit the weather isn't cooperating too well.  More cold AND snow in the forecast...What?  Really?  The good news is that hubby is still working on a "releaser" to help with the process and isn't quite done.  :)

That being said, I've been looking for some new recipes to utilize that natural, sweet goodness and ran across this SUPER easy one just the other day.  It involves some lovely green beans and a bit of maple syrup - sounds good, doesn't it?

Sweet Maple Green Beans

Ingredients:

2 cups green beans

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons maple syrup

Salt and pepper

How to Make It:

Steam green beans until softened. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the maple syrup and green beans saute for a few minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

How much easier can you get than that?  Bit o' butter, some syrup and viola!  What else do you put syrup on?

Have fun in the kitchen,
Carrie

They are HERE! AKA: "This too shall pass..."

We live in New Hampshire.  You might have heard of us - the snowy state BEHIND the weather person's head on the Weather Channel?

This is what we keep seeing.... and seeing... and seeing... but as I said in the post title: "This too shall pass."

While it was lovely in December and even once or twice in January, it's beginning to wear a bit thin.  Even to a lifelong New Englander.

So.... I prefer to think warmer thoughts and THANK GOODNESS for High Mowing Seeds!  I mentioned last week I won a contest (OMG... I know!!!!) for $50 worth of seeds.  I went crazy on their site - spending the $50 and a bit more on all sorts of seeds, many that I would not have tried, working with my regular seed budget.

For starters, let's just REALLY think sunny thoughts with a package of Mammoth Sunflower seeds!!  You read that right: MAMMOTH!  These are giants sometimes reaching 12 feet tall!  The boys are going to LOVE them!  Back in my childhood, my grandfather (Pepere) grew some of these next to the garage - can't wait to see how they grow!

I also ordered thyme and Greek Oregano (perennials I can't wait to get rolling with), Genovese and Sweet Basil (pesto here we come - and BTW, had to choose between 10 different varieties) and Bouquet dill, to round things out.  I saw a great idea from a friend, growing some of these in mason jars inside... so watch for that!!

I grabbed some Yellowstone Carrots (yes, they are yellow!!) and Detroit Dark Red Beets and Rudolf  Radishes. I am going for color this summer!

 

Speaking of color, I couldn't resist the Rainbow Mix Chard with "brilliant shade of red, orange, pink, yellow and white stalks..."  Seriously... who wouldn't be drawn to all this with the snow coming down outside, I mean REALLY!

One can't leave out the Alliums, so I snagged a package of chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and one of Bunching Onion (Allium cepa), both perennials we'll have some fun with!

We aren't done yet!  Let's chat about some greens - Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach, Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce and Lacinato "Dinosaur" Kale.  How can I NOT try something called "Dinosaur" Kale?  Seriously?

The nice part about all three?  They will be growing quickly: 28 days on the lettuce, 35 days (for baby) on the kale (but wait, if I want it to be GIANT it's 65 days till maturity...) and then 45 days on the spinach.  Granted, at our current depth of snow and continued winter weather, could still be AUGUST!!  Just kidding.... I hope.

I rounded out my order with Provider Bush Beans, Midnight Lightning Zucchini and Nutterbutter Winter Squash.

We tried growing a few things last year.  We were only marginally successful.  I use the word "successful" very loosely.  There were several reasons. 

1. In my excitement, I started things too early.  The green was lovely as winter was ending, but they all got too leggy before I could put them in the ground.
2. Weeding?  What's that?
3. We didn't see ONE SINGLE BEE all summer!  NOTHING seemed to get pollinated.  

So... here's the plan:

1. Don't start things too early, no matter HOW excited you are!  Without a hoop house, we have to wait.  
2. You'll notice there are no tomatoes - I will go for buying the plants already ready to plant.
3. We will DEDICATE a portion of each week to weeding... REALLY... I promise... maybe...
4. Hubby is going to be a beekeeper!  He's ordered two nucs (from VT) which we will be picking up in May - one for here and one for up in the field at my mom's.  We're going to try doing our part to help Mother Nature on this one!

With all of the above PLUS so many wonderful seeds, at least a few veggies should make it to the table this year!

How about you?  Planning your garden yet?  What do you have in mind?

Have a great day!

Carrie  
PS.  I didn't receive any compensation for this post - I am just REALLY excited about my seeds!  :)

I won High Mowing Organic Seeds!

I am one of those people that never wins a thing.  I enter all sorts of contests, but usually to no avail.  A couple weeks ago, while perusing Facebook, a posting from High Mowing Organic Seeds came across my feed.  You could win $50 worth of seeds if you just told them what your favorite was from last year and why. 

That was easy for me: the Organic Yellow Pear Tomatoes!  They are very cool looking and you can just pop them in your mouth... ahhh... the sweetness...  So, I entered and went about my business (a trip to Florida with our field hockey team - don't be jealous: we didn't see the sun till we were heading home as it was cloudy, drizzly and cold the whole time!)  While I was down there, I got a wonderful surprise: my name was drawn to win a $50 gift certificate!  How cool was that?

I completed my order today.  It was so much fun to pick and choose from their wonderful selection of organic seeds. 

Not just basil, but "Genovese Basil": Pesto lovers unanimously recommend Genovese as the best variety for pesto due to its distinctively sweet flavor. Plants are strong producers of dark-green, glossy leaves with a characteristic spoon shape. Average height is 10-12”. 18M seeds/oz (Ocimum basilicum var genovese ) Days to maturity: 68 days 

Or how about this kale: "Lacinato (Dinosaur) Kale"?  an HEIRLOOM Also known as Dinosaur Kale due to its bumpy leaf surface resembling dinosaur skin! This unique variety has the darkest blue-green color of any kale. Our strain has been improved by breeder Frank Morton and has superior vigor, yield and hardiness. (Brassica oleracea) Days to maturity: 30 days baby, 60 full size

How could I resist "Nutterbutter Butternut Squash"? 
A long time in the making, Nutterbutter was developed in our breeding program by Dr. Jodi-Lew Smith. It was selected for its uniform, medium-sized bell-shaped fruit, its early maturity, and most importantly for its consistently nutty, sweet flavor. This is a personal-sized butternut that will wow squash lovers with its flavors, and will mature in regions that have trouble ripening butternuts. We think this one will be a standout for everyone. Also has some tolerance to Powdery Mildew. (Cucurbita moschata) Days to maturity: 90 days 

I was able to cull down curb my urge to go crazy with seeds to 18 different packages.  From basil to oregano, some Mammoth Sunflowers to rainbow chard, I had as much fun making my choices as I will planting... well almost.   We are going to try some things we've never done in our "tomato, carrot, zucchini world" and it's pretty exciting.  

I am also interested to see what impact our new bees will have on the growing process.  Last year we didn't see a bee all summer and our plants showed it.  I'll be posting more about that soon - something hubby is trying.  Our nucs are on order from Singing Cedars Apiary ALSO in Vermont!  Keepin' it local, baby!

So, have you ordered seeds for this year?  What are you looking to plant?  I pretty much a newbie at this, so I'd love to hear ideas.

Have a great day,
Carrie