Delishytown

Cooking is fun. Eating is funner. I cook, photograph and write these recipes.
Everything I post on this blog I make from scratch using fresh wholesome ingredients.. I've been cooking since I was a little kid.

My recipes are based on trial and error, along with studying cookbooks, family recipes, blogs and cooking shows.

Some of the veggies and herbs I use are grown in my garden. Yay sustainability!
I'm working on making my yard into an edible landscape. It's really fun to go out in the garden and pick your veggies for dinner!

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Terriers Repel Rodents and 9 other Organic Gardening Tips and Tricks Here are a few organic solutions to control pests in your garden. I have used all of these methods with great success. 1) Leave saucers of water near plants. Since I started doing this, the squirrels no longer bite into my tomatoes on a hot day. A lot of people think the squirrels are being total assholes for biting into their tomatoes and leaving the rest of it on the vine to rot. They’re just thirsty and they want the juice. OK, they are sorta being total assholes, but it’s not personal. If you leave water in clay saucers in several spots in your yard, they won’t mess with your crops as much, unless they are really hungry. The dishes of water will also give the lizards and snakes a drink, and these guys help control pests. Birds need water too and eat a lot of bugs. If you add dishes of water on the ground, and get a birdbath and keep it filled, you will see a vast improvement in pest control. 2) We used to have a rodent problem, but now we have Terriers. Terriers like to chase critters. It’s their favorite hobby. Get a lovely Terrier from the Animal Rescue, and encourage him or her to chase away rodents.  I have several solutions for killing bugs on plants.  3) Soapy water in a spray bottle. Squirt about 1 tsp dish soap into a spray bottle, fill the rest of the way with water, shake it up and spray it on the undersides of the leaves where the bugs like to congregate. This kills whiteflies, aphids and bugs like that.  4) Another way to get rid of bugs is to sprinkle worm castings on the soil. They sell it in bags at the Nursery. This is a repellant and not a bug killer. It also helps to fertilize the plants, so I like to use this as much as possible. Good for repelling whitefly. 5) If it’s a slug / snail problem, you can make beer traps to kill them. Bury a small container like a yogurt cup up to soil level in any area of the garden where you see plant damage from Slugs and Snails, usually indicated by massive holes chewed in your Chard or greens. Pour some beer into the cup. They will go in and drown. They like beer more than they like to eat plants. So does everybody. You will find a lot of dead slugs and snails in the cup the next day. Dump it out and repeat until you get rid of those bastards.  Warning: A container full of dead slugs and snails is completely disgusting. Not for the squeamish. 6) Another way to get rid of the slugs and snails is with Beneficial Snails, called decollate snails, sold in the refrigerator case at the nursery or home improvement store. The good snails eat the baby destructive snails, but don’t eat your crops, because they would rather eat the meaty other slug and snails. This way is good because you pit creature against creature and let them duke it out amongst themselves, thereby eliminating the feeling that you are a bug murderer.  7) Praying Mantis’ and Ladybugs eat bad bugs too, and won’t damage your garden. They sell these guys at the nursery too, in the refrigerator case. Release them at night after a thorough watering of the area where you will release them. They are more likely to stick around if they have a cool drink of water once they get released from their container. I like this method a lot because it’s fun to see the Ladybugs and to be surprised by the occasional freaky-as-hell-looking Praying mantis. Don’t spray any soapy water on your beneficial bugs.  8) Another solution for slugs and snails is Iron Phosphate, which is organic, (it’s just Iron & Phosphorous), they sell it in canisters, usually called Sluggo. But this product will also kill your Decollate snails, so don’t use it if you’re trying to establish beneficials in your garden. 9) Garlic repels most bugs, but doesn’t really kill them unless it’s a strong enough solution. But a very strong garlic solution will also burn your plants. 10) Marigolds repel bugs. Plant them with tomatoes, peppers, squash.   Happy Gardening!

Terriers Repel Rodents and 9 other Organic Gardening Tips and Tricks

Here are a few organic solutions to control pests in your garden. I have used all of these methods with great success.

1) Leave saucers of water near plants. Since I started doing this, the squirrels no longer bite into my tomatoes on a hot day. A lot of people think the squirrels are being total assholes for biting into their tomatoes and leaving the rest of it on the vine to rot. They’re just thirsty and they want the juice. OK, they are sorta being total assholes, but it’s not personal. If you leave water in clay saucers in several spots in your yard, they won’t mess with your crops as much, unless they are really hungry. The dishes of water will also give the lizards and snakes a drink, and these guys help control pests. Birds need water too and eat a lot of bugs. If you add dishes of water on the ground, and get a birdbath and keep it filled, you will see a vast improvement in pest control.

2) We used to have a rodent problem, but now we have Terriers. Terriers like to chase critters. It’s their favorite hobby. Get a lovely Terrier from the Animal Rescue, and encourage him or her to chase away rodents. 

I have several solutions for killing bugs on plants. 

3) Soapy water in a spray bottle. Squirt about 1 tsp dish soap into a spray bottle, fill the rest of the way with water, shake it up and spray it on the undersides of the leaves where the bugs like to congregate. This kills whiteflies, aphids and bugs like that. 
4) Another way to get rid of bugs is to sprinkle worm castings on the soil. They sell it in bags at the Nursery. This is a repellant and not a bug killer. It also helps to fertilize the plants, so I like to use this as much as possible. Good for repelling whitefly.
5) If it’s a slug / snail problem, you can make beer traps to kill them. Bury a small container like a yogurt cup up to soil level in any area of the garden where you see plant damage from Slugs and Snails, usually indicated by massive holes chewed in your Chard or greens. Pour some beer into the cup. They will go in and drown. They like beer more than they like to eat plants. So does everybody. You will find a lot of dead slugs and snails in the cup the next day. Dump it out and repeat until you get rid of those bastards.  Warning: A container full of dead slugs and snails is completely disgusting. Not for the squeamish.
6) Another way to get rid of the slugs and snails is with Beneficial Snails, called decollate snails, sold in the refrigerator case at the nursery or home improvement store. The good snails eat the baby destructive snails, but don’t eat your crops, because they would rather eat the meaty other slug and snails. This way is good because you pit creature against creature and let them duke it out amongst themselves, thereby eliminating the feeling that you are a bug murderer. 
7) Praying Mantis’ and Ladybugs eat bad bugs too, and won’t damage your garden. They sell these guys at the nursery too, in the refrigerator case. Release them at night after a thorough watering of the area where you will release them. They are more likely to stick around if they have a cool drink of water once they get released from their container. I like this method a lot because it’s fun to see the Ladybugs and to be surprised by the occasional freaky-as-hell-looking Praying mantis. Don’t spray any soapy water on your beneficial bugs. 
8) Another solution for slugs and snails is Iron Phosphate, which is organic, (it’s just Iron & Phosphorous), they sell it in canisters, usually called Sluggo. But this product will also kill your Decollate snails, so don’t use it if you’re trying to establish beneficials in your garden.
9) Garlic repels most bugs, but doesn’t really kill them unless it’s a strong enough solution. But a very strong garlic solution will also burn your plants.
10) Marigolds repel bugs. Plant them with tomatoes, peppers, squash.
 
Happy Gardening!

March Against Monsanto: Events

Official website for the March Against Monsanto. On May 25, activists around the world will unite to take back our food.

Hey Kids! Don’t forget to go out on May 25th and March against Monsanto! This link shows the location of thousands of events worldwide. See you there! 

Vegetable Research & Extension Center

“Culinary Poppy” Info from Washington State University 

Please don’t grow these poppies to make drugs, because you might get arrested and go to jail. Then you will be crying.

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Lemon Poppyseed Muffins  We made these Delicious Lemon Poppy Seed muffins for breakfast. Yum they’re so good, I can’t stop! I harvested the poppy seeds this a.m. from the breadseed poppies growing in the front yard. I woke up thinking about food, and about my garden. I was wondering if it’s ok to eat the poppy seeds from the poppies in the garden, because the front garden is full of ripe poppy seed heads. they are beautiful! When you turn them over and shake them into your hand, the seeds look just like the poppy seeds in the spice jars aisle at the store. I had to know! So I did a search and found out that, yes, you can eat them. The ones I have are culinary poppies. They are the big breadseed  type of poppies, not the California poppies. I’m not sure about the Icelandic type of poppies, but I’ll find out. Bread Seed poppy seeds are edible, all other parts of the plant are not edible.  I think the organic spice companies who sell Poppy Seeds for 8-12 dollars a jar will be very sad that I’m telling you this. I hope they don’t cry so hard that they have to wipe their tears with thousand dollar bills. The lemons were from the tree on the corner. If you live in an area where lemons grow, you’re lucky like me! Free lemons! Mix 2 cups whole wheat flour, 3/4 cup turbinado sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, lemon zest, 1 tsp salt, 3 tblsp poppy seeds, (lightly toasted) In another bowl mix 2 eggs, 1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil, 1 tblsp olive oil, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tsp vanilla, the juice of 1 lemon Heat oven to 400. Line a muffin tin with paper iiners.  Mix the wet, sift together the dry, combine them just until combined. Spoon into the muffin cups. Top each one with a few frozen raspberries and a little more turbinado sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or so Mix 3 tblsp organic powdered sugar with a little lemon juice and drizzle it on as a glaze. Yummmm! 

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins 

We made these Delicious Lemon Poppy Seed muffins for breakfast. Yum they’re so good, I can’t stop!

I harvested the poppy seeds this a.m. from the breadseed poppies growing in the front yard. I woke up thinking about food, and about my garden. I was wondering if it’s ok to eat the poppy seeds from the poppies in the garden, because the front garden is full of ripe poppy seed heads. they are beautiful! When you turn them over and shake them into your hand, the seeds look just like the poppy seeds in the spice jars aisle at the store. I had to know! So I did a search and found out that, yes, you can eat them. The ones I have are culinary poppies. They are the big breadseed  type of poppies, not the California poppies. I’m not sure about the Icelandic type of poppies, but I’ll find out. Bread Seed poppy seeds are edible, all other parts of the plant are not edible. 

I think the organic spice companies who sell Poppy Seeds for 8-12 dollars a jar will be very sad that I’m telling you this. I hope they don’t cry so hard that they have to wipe their tears with thousand dollar bills.

The lemons were from the tree on the corner. If you live in an area where lemons grow, you’re lucky like me! Free lemons!

Mix 2 cups whole wheat flour, 3/4 cup turbinado sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp baking soda, lemon zest, 1 tsp salt, 3 tblsp poppy seeds, (lightly toasted)

In another bowl mix 2 eggs, 1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil, 1 tblsp olive oil, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tsp vanilla, the juice of 1 lemon

Heat oven to 400. Line a muffin tin with paper iiners. 

Mix the wet, sift together the dry, combine them just until combined. Spoon into the muffin cups. Top each one with a few frozen raspberries and a little more turbinado sugar.

Bake for 15 minutes or so

Mix 3 tblsp organic powdered sugar with a little lemon juice and drizzle it on as a glaze. Yummmm! 

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Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Sweet Avocado Cream Happy Taco Tuesday Tumblrs! This was our delicious lunch today. The greens and herbs in this dish came from our back garden. It’s getting hot here so I’m trying to use up the salad greens before they bolt. Salad greens like cool weather, and it was 100 here yesterday. I’m still going to try to grow some in the shade this summer. I bet it will work. I love our home grown garden salads. I especially love the Arugula! It’s spicy and delicious and tastes so amazing fresh out of the garden. Here’s how to make these yummy shrimp tacos: For the Avocado Cream dressing, blend 1 or 2 avocados with 1 cup plain yogurt, the juice of 1/2 lemon, 2 tblsp Cider vinegar, a small smashed garlic clove, a small handful of chopped cilantro, handful of chopped parsley, a drizzle of honey, and salt and pepper. (This dressing keeps in the fridge for about 5 days.)  Heat a grill pan to high. Heat a few organic corn tortillas on the hot grill pan and set aside.  Marinate the shrimp with 2 tsp coconut oil, the lemon juice from the other half of the lemon, a sprinkle each of ancho chili powder, chipotle chili powder, ground coriander, freshly smashed garlic or garlic powder, salt and pepper. Sear the shrimp on both sides until cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes.  Serve your tacos with salad greens and chopped tomatoes and the creamy dressing. Yum! 

Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Sweet Avocado Cream

Happy Taco Tuesday Tumblrs! This was our delicious lunch today. The greens and herbs in this dish came from our back garden. It’s getting hot here so I’m trying to use up the salad greens before they bolt. Salad greens like cool weather, and it was 100 here yesterday. I’m still going to try to grow some in the shade this summer. I bet it will work. I love our home grown garden salads. I especially love the Arugula! It’s spicy and delicious and tastes so amazing fresh out of the garden.

Here’s how to make these yummy shrimp tacos:

For the Avocado Cream dressing, blend 1 or 2 avocados with 1 cup plain yogurt, the juice of 1/2 lemon, 2 tblsp Cider vinegar, a small smashed garlic clove, a small handful of chopped cilantro, handful of chopped parsley, a drizzle of honey, and salt and pepper. (This dressing keeps in the fridge for about 5 days.) 

Heat a grill pan to high. Heat a few organic corn tortillas on the hot grill pan and set aside. 

Marinate the shrimp with 2 tsp coconut oil, the lemon juice from the other half of the lemon, a sprinkle each of ancho chili powder, chipotle chili powder, ground coriander, freshly smashed garlic or garlic powder, salt and pepper. Sear the shrimp on both sides until cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes. 

Serve your tacos with salad greens and chopped tomatoes and the creamy dressing. Yum! 

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Seared Tuna with Mango Avocado Relish and Frizzled Onions This was our delicious lunch the other day. Yum! Slice 1 sweet onion and reserve 1 or 2 tblsp for the mango relish.  Season the rest of the sliced onions with salt and pepper and dust with flour. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a cast iron skillet. Cook the onions in the hot oil until caramelized and frizzled. I used coconut oil and sunflower oil to cook the onions in this photo. Chop the reserved onions into fine dice and toss with chopped mango and avocado. You can use tomato too, but I didn’t have any. Season with red chili flakes, salt and pepper and dress with lemon or lime juice and olive oil.  Discard the oil and wipe the cast iron skillet clean with paper towels. Add a little coconut oil and heat until hot. Season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper and sear on both sides for about 1-2 minutes per side. You don’t want to overcook the tuna, it should still be pink in the middle. Once the tuna is cooked, serve it with the mango relish, salad greens,  and garnish with the frizzled onions. I also added a little drizzle of sesame oil and organic soy sauce.

Seared Tuna with Mango Avocado Relish and Frizzled Onions

This was our delicious lunch the other day. Yum!

Slice 1 sweet onion and reserve 1 or 2 tblsp for the mango relish.  Season the rest of the sliced onions with salt and pepper and dust with flour. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a cast iron skillet. Cook the onions in the hot oil until caramelized and frizzled. I used coconut oil and sunflower oil to cook the onions in this photo.

Chop the reserved onions into fine dice and toss with chopped mango and avocado. You can use tomato too, but I didn’t have any. Season with red chili flakes, salt and pepper and dress with lemon or lime juice and olive oil. 

Discard the oil and wipe the cast iron skillet clean with paper towels. Add a little coconut oil and heat until hot. Season the tuna steaks with salt and pepper and sear on both sides for about 1-2 minutes per side. You don’t want to overcook the tuna, it should still be pink in the middle.

Once the tuna is cooked, serve it with the mango relish, salad greens,  and garnish with the frizzled onions. I also added a little drizzle of sesame oil and organic soy sauce.

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Baby Artichokes from our garden. We cooked these last night for dinner and they were delicious!

Baby Artichokes from our garden. We cooked these last night for dinner and they were delicious!

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Home made veggie stock for carrot soup. This sauce pot contains water, onions including the peels, garlic and garlic peels, garden shallots, carrots, celery from the front garden, chard stems also from the front yard garden, parsley and cilantro, salt and pepper. Simmer for 45 minutes to an an hour, then strain and use for sauces and soups. Yum this is going to be delicious!  Here is an Organic gardening tip: Use the spent veggies for spot composting; Dig a semi deep hole where ever the soil needs improving, and bury the spent vegetables. (No meat scraps or cooking oils should be used in this gardening technique.) Cover them with about 7 inches of soil and straw mulch. The worms and bugs will come and work on this area and help improve the soil. 

Home made veggie stock for carrot soup. This sauce pot contains water, onions including the peels, garlic and garlic peels, garden shallots, carrots, celery from the front garden, chard stems also from the front yard garden, parsley and cilantro, salt and pepper. Simmer for 45 minutes to an an hour, then strain and use for sauces and soups. Yum this is going to be delicious! 

Here is an Organic gardening tip: Use the spent veggies for spot composting; Dig a semi deep hole where ever the soil needs improving, and bury the spent vegetables. (No meat scraps or cooking oils should be used in this gardening technique.) Cover them with about 7 inches of soil and straw mulch. The worms and bugs will come and work on this area and help improve the soil. 

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Delicious Veggie Fried Rice This is a delicious way to use leftover rice, yum! It’s easy to make, just chop up whatever vegetables you have on hand. I start with chopped onions in a hot skillet with a little coconut oil, chop and add the densest vegetables first. I used a bunch of fresh veggies from my spring garden including shallots, rainbow carrots, peas, and cilantro. I also used store bought sweet onion, garlic and asparagus. Season with 1 tblsp organic soy sauce, a little sesame oil, and some Chinese Five Spice, a little red chili flake or cayenne, and coriander powder. Add the rice along with a little stock once the veggies are most of the way cooked. Yum! 

Delicious Veggie Fried Rice

This is a delicious way to use leftover rice, yum! It’s easy to make, just chop up whatever vegetables you have on hand. I start with chopped onions in a hot skillet with a little coconut oil, chop and add the densest vegetables first. I used a bunch of fresh veggies from my spring garden including shallots, rainbow carrots, peas, and cilantro. I also used store bought sweet onion, garlic and asparagus. Season with 1 tblsp organic soy sauce, a little sesame oil, and some Chinese Five Spice, a little red chili flake or cayenne, and coriander powder. Add the rice along with a little stock once the veggies are most of the way cooked. Yum! 

Seed saving is very important, especially since the Big Ag / Big Food creeps are trying to own patents on all the seeds in the world by genetically modifying them. Diabolical! 

These are seeds I saved from a Broccoli Raab plant that bolted in my garden last month. Bolting means sending up a flower stalk. For cold loving plants like Broccoli Raab, warmer temps signal them to bolt and set seeds for the next generation. It’s a Darwinian thing.

It’s easy to save seeds. You simply let your plants complete their life cycle when they’re done producing food. Instead of yanking the spent plants out of your garden, let a few of your favorite ones set flowers, and then set seed pods. These small flowers will attract beneficial insects to your garden, which is a bonus of this process. Allow the seed pods to dry on the plant and then crunch them open. Inside are the seeds for next years crop. I put mine through a mesh strainer to strain away the bigger parts of the chaff. 

Package them up, save some for your next years garden and share the rest. We win!!

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Honey Kale and Cabbage Rolls The kale, dill, carrots, celery, cabbage and shallots were all grown in our spring garden! Yum I love cabbage rolls. This is a good springtime dish because if you drizzle each serving with locally produced honey before serving, the honey helps fight against sneezing and seasonal allergies. And it also makes the whole dish taste fantastically sweet and delicious!  You can make this vegan by eliminating the grass fed beef and cheese. Make a sweet and sour tomato sauce by sauteeing 1 small chopped onion, 2 small chopped shallots and 3-4 smashed garlic in 1 tblsp butter and 2 tblsp olive oil. Cook until fragrant. Add 1 large can of chopped organic tomatoes, 1 cup of chicken or veggie stock, the juice of 1 lemon and 1 tsp turbinado sugar, (or any sugar you have) Season with celery salt and pepper, and a big sprinkle of fresh or dried dill. Simmer and set aside until you are ready to assemble.  For the filling: Saute 1 small sweet onion in olive oil, add 1 lb. grass fed organic ground beef, salt and pepper, cook till browned and crumbly. Once the beef and onion is cooked, drain off the excess fat and add chopped celery, chopped carrots, chopped shallots, and cook until fragrant. Add 1 can of organic beans, rinsed and drained, I used black beans and pinto beans leftover from tacos the other night.. Season with 2-4 crushed garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, juice of 1/2 lemon, and 1 tsp Hungarian paprika, and a bit of dry dill. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Meanwhile, cook some Jasmine or Basmati rice, and start another pot of water to cook and soften the cabbage leaves. Remove core from the cabbage and place it in the boiling water,  let the outer layers soften for a minute or two and loosen the leaves one at a time with tongs, and reserve to a plate. You want them to cook more in the baking part of this recipe. This step is just to soften them so you can roll. Once cooled, cut away the big center part of the stem of each leaf about halfway up. Soften the kale leaves one at a time in the same pot for a few minutes each and cool on the plate. In a casserole, add a few tblsp of the tomato sauce to the bottom layer. Mix the cooked rice with the cooked, seasoned ground beef mixture in a bowl, and roll into the cabbage and kale leaves. I like to place 1 kale leaf on the bottom, add a cabbage leaf over it and roll it all together to have two colors of green on each roll. Place in the casserole , seam side down and continue until the pan is nicely packed together. This packing together assembly also helps the rolls hold together while baking. Top with the remaining tomato sauce. Top with grated cheese if desired. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes until bubbly and a bit browned. Serve with plain yogurt or sour cream and drizzle each serving with honey. YUM!

Honey Kale and Cabbage Rolls

The kale, dill, carrots, celery, cabbage and shallots were all grown in our spring garden! Yum I love cabbage rolls. This is a good springtime dish because if you drizzle each serving with locally produced honey before serving, the honey helps fight against sneezing and seasonal allergies. And it also makes the whole dish taste fantastically sweet and delicious! 

You can make this vegan by eliminating the grass fed beef and cheese.

Make a sweet and sour tomato sauce by sauteeing 1 small chopped onion, 2 small chopped shallots and 3-4 smashed garlic in 1 tblsp butter and 2 tblsp olive oil. Cook until fragrant. Add 1 large can of chopped organic tomatoes, 1 cup of chicken or veggie stock, the juice of 1 lemon and 1 tsp turbinado sugar, (or any sugar you have) Season with celery salt and pepper, and a big sprinkle of fresh or dried dill. Simmer and set aside until you are ready to assemble. 

For the filling: Saute 1 small sweet onion in olive oil, add 1 lb. grass fed organic ground beef, salt and pepper, cook till browned and crumbly. Once the beef and onion is cooked, drain off the excess fat and add chopped celery, chopped carrots, chopped shallots, and cook until fragrant. Add 1 can of organic beans, rinsed and drained, I used black beans and pinto beans leftover from tacos the other night.. Season with 2-4 crushed garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, juice of 1/2 lemon, and 1 tsp Hungarian paprika, and a bit of dry dill. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Meanwhile, cook some Jasmine or Basmati rice, and start another pot of water to cook and soften the cabbage leaves.

Remove core from the cabbage and place it in the boiling water,  let the outer layers soften for a minute or two and loosen the leaves one at a time with tongs, and reserve to a plate. You want them to cook more in the baking part of this recipe. This step is just to soften them so you can roll. Once cooled, cut away the big center part of the stem of each leaf about halfway up. Soften the kale leaves one at a time in the same pot for a few minutes each and cool on the plate.

In a casserole, add a few tblsp of the tomato sauce to the bottom layer.

Mix the cooked rice with the cooked, seasoned ground beef mixture in a bowl, and roll into the cabbage and kale leaves. I like to place 1 kale leaf on the bottom, add a cabbage leaf over it and roll it all together to have two colors of green on each roll. Place in the casserole , seam side down and continue until the pan is nicely packed together. This packing together assembly also helps the rolls hold together while baking. Top with the remaining tomato sauce. Top with grated cheese if desired.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes until bubbly and a bit browned. Serve with plain yogurt or sour cream and drizzle each serving with honey. YUM!

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