Garden Gumption ~ Post #2

~* Garden Gumption *~

(Post #2)

There's Some Growing Going On!!

So, it's been a few weeks since I started planting my seeds in my indoor garden "green houses". My lettuce really took off, along with some pea plants, cabbage, beaf steak tomato plants, and  corn. After verifying that the weather would be staying above 50 degrees for a while, there was only one thing left to do:
finishing the outside garden area and prepping it so that some of the plants could be transplanted!! Very exciting!

Our garden area is in a nice sunny spot for most of the day. I attacked the soil with our garden claw and let it "air out" for a day. Then, I added a layer of some Miracle Grow garden soil mix. Even though our soil is made mostly of clay and has some ashes mixed in with it (we found a huge section of our yard to be made of packed down ashes dumped there by the previous owners in an attempt to be rid of their coal stove ashes), I wanted to add the Miracle Grow garden soil mix in order to provide more nutrients for our plants. Using a dirt rake and my garden claw again, I mixed the Miracle Grow mix with the already existing soil. After all of the mixing was complete, then came the water!! I broke out our garden hose and sprayed the water onto our nutrient-filled soil.  

The next day, meant time to plant!! I selected some of the stronger looking lettuce, pea, and tomato plants to be transplanted into the outdoor garden. I made sure to put each group of plants into a square foot section, placing each plant a few inches away from it's neighbor in every direction. The lettuce and pea plants could be planted a little closer together. The tomato plants, since they will grow to be rather large in comparison to the others, were planted one in every six inch space. By keeping the plants spaced out and in square foot sections, I am able to leave enough space  between plants so that their roots have plenty of room to grow, AND I can make the most of my garden space! After all of my 2-inch sprouts were planted, I again sprayed the garden with water so that the roots could get a good "drink"!

So that's basically where my garden is at right now. Every morning and every evening I spray some water on my little vegetable plants, unless of course it rains or the soil doesn't need it -- don't want to drown them!!

While we wait for my little seeds and sprouts to grow, my husband and I are tackling another section of our yard and making it into another "garden area". Once we get rid of an old, decaying tree stump that is blocking our progress, we will create another "garden box" similar to the one we already have so that it can house some potato, garlic, and onion plants. I'm excited for our potential harvest this year!! I'll have more updates on that section at a later date.

Well, there you have it -- that's how my gardening has been going over the past few weeks!  Look for an update next Friday, along with some more gardening tips and ideas!  Happy Gardening!!

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(In the picture to the right, note: at the bottom of the stairs and to the right you can see the lstained andscaping timbers. Within this area you will find my main garden area where most of my plants are growing. The mound of dirt along the other side of the sidewalk houses the horribly large and rotted old tree stump that my husband is determined to get rid of!  The other 2 lonely landscaping timbers at the back of the yard is where our 2nd garden area will be located. Look for more pictures in upcoming posts!!)

~* Recipe of the Week *~

~* Homemade Pierogies *~

This is truly one of those recipes "made from scratch", passed down to me from my grandmother, and from her mother before her, and so on. This delicious recipe makes about 11 pierogies with a potato, cheese and onion filling.  Make sure to read the entire recipe before you get started that way you can manage your cooking tasks efficiently and effectively! (My grandmother wrote the recipe herself -- it's one of those recipes that were passed down to her and learned by watching and doing, it wasn't written down.) I always admired my grandmother for how she could have countless pots and pans cooking at once while prepping other parts of the recipe. I think it's an art that's slowly being lost in our fast-paced world. So, tie on an apron, and as you make this delicious homemade pierogi recipe "the way Grandma used to", take the time to remember some of the "traditional" and "old-fashioned" things your mom or grandmother used to do. Enjoy!

Part 1: Dough

Ingredients--
1 cup flour
1 egg
4 tbsp margarine
1/4 tsp salt

Preparation:
1.) Put egg in a liquid measuring cup and add water to make it a little over 1/4 of a cup. Beat with a whisk.
2.) In a mixing bowl, add salt to flour, "cut in" margarine and work it with fingers to look like cornmeal.
3.) Add egg mixture, mix together. Add a little more flour if needed and, using fingers, make it into dough.
4.) Let dough rest for 5 minutes. Then knead it with hands until it's smooth and elastic.

5.) Roll out dough.

6.) Cut out circles. (She uses a 1 lb. empty coffee can.)
7.) Roll out circles to make bigger and fill with filling in center of dough. Wet edges of dough, then fold in half and press close (makes a half circle shape). Take fork dipped in flour and press fork all around edge of peirogi to make a better seal.


Part 2: Potato, Onion and Cheese Filling
Ingredients:
2-3 slices each of Cooper, Sharp and American Cheese
4 potatoes, or as much as you'd like depending on how much filling you'd like to have
Pinch of salt
1 small onion
1 stick of margarine or butter
Pinch of white pepper

Preparation:
1.) Cut potatoes in quarters.
2.) Cook in a pot of water until done, with a little salt.
3.) Mash potatoes when done. Then put in a few slices of the cheeses over top of potatoes.
4.) Put lid back on pot and let cheese melt a little.
5.) Mash again with a small chopped onion that has been sauteed in margarine or butter.
6.) Mash smooth. Add a little white pepper to it for added flavor.

*You can also use instant potatoes. Make potatoes as directed on box. Put diced dried onions from jar (ex. McCormick Minced Onions) in the milk and water mixture. Put potatoes in as directed. After the 5 minutes, add cheese to it. Put lid on an dlet melt and then mix altogether. Add a little white pepper.

Part 3: Cooking the Pierogies

Preparation:
1.) Have a roasting pan on stove filled with water. Sprinkle salt in water and a little olive oil in it.
2.) Bring to boil, then put about 11-12 pierogies in.
3.) When it boils again, turn down heat to a slow rolling boil.
4.) Cook about 15 minutes on low boil.
5.) Keep turning the pierogies over with a wooden spoon.
6.) When pierogies are done, put in a colander. Run cold water over them slowly and hard. Let drain, then put on a cookie sheet.
7.) Pour melted butter over top. Let cool.
8.) Then pan fry the pierogies in butter and onions if desired.

And there you have it. A delicious, old-fashioned pierogi recipe "the way Grandma used to make it". I know I enjoy teaching my son how to make them so that our family recipe may be passed on to another generation and hopefully many more to come! Enjoy this wonderful Polish recipe!!