Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Once Upon a Farm

 Figured it was time for a farm update.  All is going well here.  The watermelons have grown even bigger since I took this picture!  We cut into one, but we were just a few days too early - it was nice and pink, but only in the very center.  We ate that part and gave the rest to the horses.  Horses just LOVE watermelon rind!

A word to the wise - watermelon takes over your rows, your plants, your garden, the world outside your garden....well, you get the point.  Selfish little vine. 

Tomatoes have been slow, but it does look like we are going to have some, finally!
I also tried a tomatillo, but it wasn't quite ripe yet either, so we're waiting a bit more on those.  Paul and I are have dreams of salsa verde.

Our teenagers are still thriving.  They have toned down the mohawks - just a tiny bit.

See.  Rebellious chicken pictured on the right brushed down his mohawk for the picture.  He didn't want ya'll to think badly of him (her?).

Canned pickles for the first time!
See that big jar in the middle?
Alas, it didn't make it.  But all the others did.

Letting the pickles cool on the deck outside.  I use the word "cool" lightly, as it was 97.5 degrees outside, so they weren't exactly doing much cooling.
I was worried the pickles would not taste right or would be too squishy, but they turned out crisp and tart and delicious!

And finally, my favorite veggie recipe of the week - zucchini casserole!  
This was a HUGE hit w/ the family - I found it on Amish Stories Blog.
I used ground turkey instead of beef and red pepper instead of green pepper, and I halved the amount of cheese suggested.  It has a wonderful taco flavor and I'll definitely make it again.
This post is linked to WV Treasures Tuesday Show and Tail. 
How does your garden grow this week?  Is it surviving the heat?

38 comments:

Unknown said...

You pickles sitting in the sun look wonderful!

Dianna said...

I love the picture of your pickle jars "cooling". Years ago, I canned and made pickles. Always loved to hear the "POP" of a canning jar!

Jill said...

Good job with the pickels! I also love the picture of them cooling.

trump said...

I liked your images Lisa, and from the sounds of it you know your way around the kitchen. Unlike myself who acts like a blind folded bull when inside the cooking area. Richard from Amish Stories.

TexWisGirl said...

loved the 'toned-down' rebel chickens. :)

Cami said...

What a gorgeous farm!!! Those watermelons are so cute :) Making me hungry over here :o)

<3-Cami from First Day of My Life Life

My Mad World said...

Love the pics of the pickles. Very pretty!

We didn't do a garden this year and we are glad we didn't. Nothing is surviving this heat and lack or rain.

I need to take a pic of the ponds at the parks, they are all dried up now. :(

Heading over to check out that recipe too. Love ground turkey! We use it instead of beef all the time!

Samantha said...

Loved the chicken pics, and the pickles!

And yes...watermelon will take over everything!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Looks like life on the farm is going well... Who could ask for more than delicious watermelon, yummy tomatoes and crunchy pickles..... YUM....

Love your little chickies also.
Hugs,
Betsy

Michelle said...

Those pickles look good and my zucchini is now crazy in production. I will need this casserole recipe.

Dawn said...

Love it...your garden is amazing.
I had to laugh at the "selfish little vines" of the watermelon. I lament those things every year and wonder WHY I let my son plant them;))

Blue Cotton Memory said...

I hadn't canned pickles in at least 2 decades - but I did this week! Wish I had some of your selfish watermelon vines. Hopefully, next year! I loved your teens! I bet they listen as much, too! Yesterday, we went blueberry picking. Now I want 5 blueberry bushes of my very own for my birthday!!! Keeping my fingers crossed!

That casserole looks delicous!! Yum!

Valerie Boersma said...

I made pickles once but they were mushy-I think I used the wrong kind of salt. I need to try making them again.

Your garden looks great! We've had cooler weather than normal so our garden is way behind. Hopefully we'll start getting tomatoes one of these days.

I'm going to try that casserole!

Keep an eye on those chickens! Once they start driving you'll really have your hands full ;)

Misty said...

though i do not have a farm AND am green with envy over yours, I do plan to pickle cucumbers next week...

LinRN said...

Seeing your photos I miss my Midwestern garden! Living in AZ means learning a new way to do something I have done all my life. The big beefsteak tomatoes I was trying to squeeze a few more days of ripeness into COOKED on the vine last week. LOL Now I have none. We do get 2 planting seasons so I have learned my lesson.
Your pickles look amazing. Looking forward to seeing and trying more of your recipes!

Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

Your veggies look great!

So, I'm definitely making that zucchini casserole this week! We have a plethora of zucchini right now.

We're also growing tomatillos again this year. They keep coming back. We love to make a yummy salad dressing with them. :)

Ginny Hartzler said...

Your chickens and garden all look so healthy! You are staying so busy even in this heat...love the pickles on the railing picture! Can you tell a difference between your eggs and ones from the supermarket? I have done several tests for my blog and have read a few articles on it.

Sonya @ Under the Desert Sky said...

Liv and I love the chickens!

Shell said...

In this crazy heat, I had to giggle at "cooling!"

Jen said...

Wow! I am so jealous of your awesome garden, your canning abilities, and your cooking!! You rock!

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

The watermelon looks amazing! I'm jealous!

LB @ Bullets And Biscuits said...

Your pickles look good! I'm a little disappointed that our zuchinni isn't doing much this year :(. But I will definitely save your recipe for when and IF we ever get some rolling off the vines around here

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

My pickles flopped. Would love your recipe!....

and I had no idea horses liked watermelon rind!.. have never even tried to offer it.

Jen's Farmily said...

Seeing your photos makes me miss our garden!! We just moved into a new house (well, 6 months ago!) so we decided to take a year off from the garden this year.

I'm in Japan so I've eaten Japanese food for 2 weeks now so that zucchini casserole is the best thing I've seen in 2 weeks!! YUMM!!

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

Beautiful garden! We have tomatoes, but the watermelon haven't done a thing. I think it has been too dry for them. Your pickles look so pretty sitting in a row.

w said...

i want to visit you. just for the experience of vines and chickens. i invite myself to wherever i want to go.

also. i'm impressed with your mad gardening skillz. for real.

Anonymous said...

I love the pic of the pickles all lined up. I can almost taste them!

Angela said...

You've been busy! All that canning and cooking home made foods! You are making me look bad! lol I've never made pickles but my kids don't really eat them that much. Mom used to can pickles and they were good.

camp and cottage living said...

Oh, I remember the days when we used to have a beautiful garden like yours and can pickles. I'm counting on being able to do that again next year. sigh
If you achieved crisp pickles-you did good. It's hard to do.
I love zuchinni casserole and chocolate zuchinni cake.yum
Have you ever done up zuchinni relish? We won't eat pickle as long as we have zuchinni relish!
Sure hope it cools down for you soon.

jennohara said...

Everything looks so good!! I'll be over for some pickles and watermelons! :)

Renegades said...

I want to try and can pickles this year. I'm just not sure if I'll have enough cucumbers to.

I have put up several jars of jelly this year.

Isn't canning fun?

Anonymous said...

I'm in awe of you growing watermelon--I have always tried and always FAILED! Yay for the tomatoes and success with the casserole and pickles.

Andrea said...

Oh yum, that looks SOOOO good. Can I have some, please? ;) Pretty please?

Nancy said...

I hope you refrigerated the non-popper. :) Great work, Lisa.

Robyn said...

Love the looks of your chickens. I am getting some pullets in another week or so.

Looks like your garden keeps you very busy. I am sure your family loves the fruits of your labor once winter sets in.

Neat post.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I love this time of the year for the reason that you showed us. Fresh veggies,etc

GardenOfDaisies said...

Your pickles look delicious!! And so beautiful all lined up with the light shining through the jars.

Grumpy Grateful Mom said...

I made that zucchini casserole last night. Actually I had my husband make it--hehe. It turned out good! My 1-year-old even ate some zucchini before he realized what he was doing. :)