Squash, squash everywhere....July 27

The yellow crookneck and straight squashes are still producing as are the dark green and Fordhook zucchinis.... this is why you should check your zucchini plants every day! The zucchini was shredded and frozen for winter bread, the dog was given a treat to make up for his humiliation at being compared to a vegetable :-)......

But the garden is producing and we are eating fresh vegetables every day - is there anything better than a fresh heirloom tomato on soft bread with Duke's mayo? Or eggplant parmesan with fresh marinara sauce?

Eggplants Galore!...July 17, 2009

Which is a good thing around my house because we love eggplant parmesan with homemade chunky marinara sauce. I use both the heirloom Black Beauty eggplants and the tiny but delicious Fairy Tale eggplants in them. As long as the black beauties are picked young they are not bitter - no need to sweat in salt first.

Summer dinners...July 7, 2009

are the best... this week we have had zucchini & tomato casserole and last night Eggplant Parmesan. Wonderful! Used 2 Black Beauties from the garden, sliced thin, dipped in beaten egg and homemade Italian bread crumbs, baked for 8 minutes on each side on a greased baking sheet at 400. Layered in a casserole dish with homemade tomato sauce (homegrown tomatoes, peppers, onions, carrots, spices, simmered for four hours), parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Sliced fresh mozzarella on top, baked at 375 for 30 minutes and served with cold cucumber salad (from our garden of course - cucumber & onion slices with a tsp. of sugar and covered in balsamic vinegar - chill for several hours) and homemade sourdough rolls. YUM!

Newstead Philosophy of the Day...July 1, 2009

No pics for today - it is too peaceful out on the deck to even think about moving. There is a young squirrel gorging on sunflower seeds from one of the bird feeders, crows yelling in the next yard, sun on the ripening tomatoes and dogs sleeping in the shade. I don't know that it gets much better than this - forget the TYLCV on some of the tomatoes and the blight? on the bush beans... sitting out here with the fountain gurgling, birds singing in the trees and all quiet elsewhere is panacea to the soul.I dream of my perfect small country home on many acres with orchards, free range chickens, a large paddock for the dogs with a pond - but sometimes we have to just revel in the moment and enjoy what we have today.