Indian lemon pickles are typically made with lemons, salt, spices and oil, and are used as a spicy condiment to accompany everything from rice to vegetables to chapatis and tortillas, to have with fish, chicken, and even to use as spreads in sandwiches. Lemon pickles are a great way to use not just the juice of the lemon but the entire lemon, skin and all.
Continue reading When Life Gives You Lemons … Spicy Indian Lemon PicklesCategory Archives: Vegetable Gardening
There’s Farmers Markets and There’s Farmers Markets
Oh how I love going to the Farmer’s Market. We are so fortunate in our area to have so many farmer’s markets to choose from all over town and throughout the year. Lately I’ve been going to a farmer’s market that recently popped up in one of our local Oakridge mall parking lots. I found out about this farmer’s market from my friend Padmini. She and many of our friends used to frequent a farmer’s market every Sunday years ago at an old Mervyns department store parking lot, way before farmer’s markets became so trendy as they are now. Then a day came when this old farmer’s market got kicked out by developers who converted the Mervyns parking lot into a strip mall, and we all started looking for alternative farmer’s markets. We found other farmer’s markets around town to shop at, but we sure missed our old one 😞. Continue reading There’s Farmers Markets and There’s Farmers Markets
Heirloom Tomato Harvest Festival in Los Gatos, California
As if we weren’t swimming in tomatoes already from the bounty we had received from our neighbor, Hitesh informs me that there is an Heirloom Tomato Harvest Festival going on in town on Sunday the 17th. How could I resist? I couldn’t. I dragged the girls with me and headed to downtown to check out their Heirloom Tomato Festival.
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Our Neighbor Jim’s Late Summer Bounty of Tomatoes, Eggplants, Peppers & Squash
Over the last month we have received so many deliveries of organic heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and squash from our neighbor Jim that I’ve had to consider freezing a few.
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Veena & Mani’s South Bay Garden Gem
Our friends Veena and Mani have a gorgeous home right here in the South Bay. They moved into their new home a few years ago, and though their home went through a major renovation right before they moved in, the previous owners left the backyard untouched until now. Continue reading Veena & Mani’s South Bay Garden Gem
Zucchini Curry with Mushrooms & Paneer
Looking for creative way to use up summer zucchini? Here is an Indian curry dish made with lots of zucchini and paneer.
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Giant Zucchini – Year Two!
Received another giant zucchini from our friends Karen and Aaron’s garden this year. Somehow in their garden they consistently grow GIANT zucchinis. Seriously what is their secret? Unbelievable!
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The Joy of Herb Gardening
Growing herbs at home is one of the most satisfying gardening tasks there is, and it’s extremely easy too. As beneficial as herbs are for all of us, what is many times overlooked is the joy that herb gardening brings even before we harvest these herbs for all their healthful uses. Within the large realm of gardening, herb gardening has its own therapeutic effects.
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A Farmer’s Market Friendship & A Giant Delivery of Farm Fresh Greens
I recently received a huge box of all sorts of greens from the farmer’s market from my friend Rita and her husband Chris. You see Rita has become friends with one of the farm stand owners at her local Farmer’s Market. Over time as she developed her friendship with this one farm stand vendor she started sharing a few of her homemade foods with him every time she stopped by the market. On the occasions when Rita happened to stop by the market before it closed, her Farmer’s Market friend would give Rita all of whatever vegetables were leftover that morning. It could be any variety of vegetables depending on the season. This time in early spring Rita came home with a bounty of all sorts of greens. She had enough greens for herself, for a couple of friends, and a giant box of greens for me as well! I’m talking over 20 bags of greens! And so began a Farmer’s Market friendship. Continue reading A Farmer’s Market Friendship & A Giant Delivery of Farm Fresh Greens
Homegrown Potatoes
Growing potatoes at home is so easy, that I have to admit I was surprised at how a novice vegetable gardener like myself could grow potatoes from sprouts that had formed on my potatoes in my potato basket. Continue reading Homegrown Potatoes