Seeds And Seedlings

I started some flower and herb seeds several weeks ago.

I sprinkled the seeds between moist paper towels and put them in a plastic bag.

I put the plastic bag in a warm place and waited for the seeds to sprout.

When they sprouted I bought some seed starting soil mix.

I saw a neat idea on Pinterest for biodegradable seedling containers.

Several years ago I had tried to use paper egg cartons for this purpose, but the cartons molded before it was even close to transplanting into the garden time.

When I saw the idea of using the egg shells in the paper cartons I thought that might work. The egg shells should provide enough of a moisture barrier to keep the cartons from molding.

I am sad to report that my seedlings this year are not doing very well. I have not been caring for them enough and they have suffered. :(

The seeds that I planted directly in the soil are thriving. I plan on planting some more varieties of seed straight in the ground later this spring.

With God doing the watering and climate control the plants seem to do better than when I am in control of the watering, temperature, and lighting. :)

Fast Method For Mincing Garlic Cloves

Sometimes I use a food grater to mince garlic cloves. If you have a micro-plane it would be perfect for this.

A grater works great for garlic cloves because,...
1. It is faster than a garlic press.
2. It is much easier to clean than a garlic press.
And,
3. If you have already dirtied your food grater by shredding carrots or cheese don't dirty another dish (the garlic press), just use the grater for your garlic cloves!

Let me know if you have any tips for mincing garlic or using your grater.  :)

First Cut Flowers For 2017 : Tulips And Bleeding Hearts

I was so excited to be able to bring some flowers inside, a couple days ago. They don't last long, but they sure add some cheer to my day. :)

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; not yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?

Matthew 6:25

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

Dandelions: Free, Highly Nutritious, Abundant Food!

Dandelions are plentiful throughout most of the United States.

Dandelions are some of the first fresh greens available in the spring.

Collecting dandelions is usually very easy.

I love foraging for wild greens, especially, in the spring while I wait for my lettuce and spinach to grow.

My lettuce sprouts.

This spring I have been eating a lot of dandelions.

A bowlful of dandelion greens, while not pretty, very appetizing.

We have them all over our yard.

Dandelions all-over our yard.

I use a spade and dig up the whole plant.

Preparing the whole plant for cooking.

It is really easy. I push the spade into the dirt right at the base of the dandelion with my foot, then tilt it back. You can feel the root go, "Pop!" Then I pull the plant out, brush off the dirt and remove any bad leaves.

Discarding the less than vibrant leaves.

I like to get as much root as possible because they are so nutrient dense. I wash and pare them before cooking. I hope to learn how to prepare them for medicinal teas in the future.

Preparing dandelion roots for cooking.

When I have  harvested dandelions I throw them in a sink full of water. I add a splash of white vinegar and soak them for 20+ minutes.

Washing dandelion greens.

I swish them around to loosen up any dirt. Once washed, I cut off the root ends and chop the greens. I discard any opened up flowers. They are to fuzzy for my liking. But, I keep the closed buds. They are pretty tasty.

Chopped dandelion greens.

I bring a large pot of water to a boil. When it comes to a boil I throw the prepared dandelions in the water. I boil them for about 5 minutes.

Boiling dandelion greens to remove the bitter compounds.

Then I pour out the water and drain the greens. This step gets rid of the bitter chemicals in the leaves. I know that it must also be diminishing the vitamins and minerals somewhat, but I can hardly tolerate the bitterness in non-boiled dandelions.

Draining the boiled dandelion greens.

After this point I like to eat the dandelion greens a number of ways. I fix them like I would spinach or other greens, sauteing them with some onions, garlic, and salt.

They make a good wilted salad with bacon grease, apple cider vinegar, and a little sugar (I have used chicken fat, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, and molasses).
They are great in soup, also.

Dandelion soup.

Especially when combined with spring onions and some type of fish.

I made a large batch of dandelion soup with beef bone broth.

When I eat dandelion greens raw I put them into a salad with lettuce and other greens to help dilute the bitterness.

Salad with dandelion greens, narrowleaf plantain, garlic mustard greens, violet blossoms, shredded carrot, cucumber, and lettuce.

Dandelions are high in vitamin A and vitamin K. 1 cup of chopped, raw dandelion greens contains over 200% of the daily recommended value of vitamin A and over 500% of the daily recommended value of vitamin K.

Dandelion greens are also high in vitamin C, Potassium, and Iron.

Dandelions are, also, said to be very good for kidney and liver health.

If you follow this link you can read a comprehensive analysis of the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals contained in dandelions. The chart also compares dandelions side by side with kale and collard greens.

A word of caution: dandelions are a diuretic and a laxitve, so be careful about eating them in huge quantities. :)

How Many Potatoes Can Mr. In The Mid-west Eat??

This challenge for Mr. In The Mid-west came about because I found that the 10 pound bag of potatoes we have in our stairwell was starting to sprout eyes, besides the bag of potatoes that was already open.

 And, since I am on an Autoimmune Protocol Diet and I cannot have any vegetables from the night shade family it would be up to Mr. In The Mid-west to keep the potatoes from going to waste! Could he do it?

Ready, Set, "Go!"

~Day 1~

4/6/17

2 Potatoes For Breakfast

Pictured above: Hashbrowns, Eggs, and Banana Cake.

3 Potatoes For Lunch

Pictured above: French Fries, Fried Filet of Tilapia Sandwich, and Lame Chocolate Pudding.

4 Potatoes For Dinner

Pictured above: Home Fries, Canned Pork And Beans, and Sausage Patties.

~Day 2~

4/7/17

2 Potatoes For Breakfast

Pictured above: Hashbrowns, Eggs, and Banana Cake.


2 Potatoes For Lunch

Pictured above: French Fries, Fried Filet of Tilapia Sandwich, and Canned Pork And Beans.

1 1/3 Potatoes For Dinner

Pictured above: Fried Chicken Legs, Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Gravy, and Roasted Butternut Squash.

~Day 3~

4/8/17

1 Potato For Brunch

Pictured above: Sausage, Egg, Potato, Cheese, and Onion Breakfast Burritos on Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas.

1 1/3 Potatoes For Dinner

Pictured above: Fried Chicken Legs, Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Gravy, and Canned Pork And Beans.

~Day 4~

4/9/17

2 Potatoes For Breakfast

Pictured above: Hashbrowns and Pancakes.

1 1/3 Potatoes For Lunch

Pictured above: Cheesy Potato Cakes and Peas.


0 Potatoes For Dinner

No picture available. We ate out.

~Day 5~

4/10/17

2 Potatoes For Breakfast

Pictured above: Pancakes and Home Fries.

1 Potato For Lunch

Pictured above: Individual Shepherd's Pie.

3 Potatoes For Dinner

Pictured above: Pork Ribs, Steak Fries, and Peas.

~Day 6~

4/11/17

2 Potatoes For Breakfast

Pictured above: Hashbrowns, Pancake, and Sausage Links.

1 Potato For Lunch

Pictured above: Potato And Onion Bake, Pork Rib, and Corn.

1 Potato For Dinner

Pictured above: Tumeric Cabbage And Chicken Stir-fry, Potato And Onion Bake, and Peas.

~Day 7~

4/12/17

1 Potato For Breakfast

Pictured above: Egg, Potato, Sausage, and Cheese Scramble.

4 Potatoes For Lunch

Pictured above: Four Small Loaded Baked Potatoes.

0 Potatoes For Dinner

No picture available. We were traveling at dinner time.

~Day 8~

4/13/17

1 Potato For Breakfast

Pictured above: Egg, Sausage, Potato, and Cheese Scramble.

1 1/2 Potatoes For Lunch

Pictured above: Potatoes Au Gratin, and Lettuce, Bean, and Egg Salad.

1 Potato For Dinner

Pictured above: Hashbrowns Casserole, Wilted Dandelion Greens, Hard Boiled Egg, and Crispy Chicken Skin.

~Day 9~

4/14/17

1 1/2 Potatoes For Lunch

Pictured above: Lettuce, Egg, and Bean Salad, Leftover Hashbrowns Casserole, and Leftover Au Gratin Potatoes.

0 Potatoes Left!!!!!!

Pictured above, Empty Potato Sack

Hip-Hip Hooray!!

Guess what Mr. In The Mid-west bought when we were grocery shopping last week?

Another 10 pound bag of potatoes! No joke!

He is still not sick of eating potatoes, in fact, he said he could handle eating Hashbrowns and French Fries almost every day. :)