Fast Pickled Banana Peppers

So I've got many banana peppers coming off the two plants I have now and GMF has been begging me to pickle some, so a couple days ago I finally did.  This is my first pickling experience but I think there will be many more to come this summer and fall.  I am really looking forward to pickling beets  (I LOVE pickled beets - even as a kid when I was the pickiest eater ever pickled beets was always a safe bet with me, I know weird eh?).  This pickling technique is just for keeping in the fridge it is not properly canned for storing in a pantry.  Will work on that technique later when I have bigger batches (then I have to find room to store stuff, we don't have a pantry!  thats going to be interesting!)  This jar will last several weeks in the fridge.  Which is fine because we'll eat it in that time.  

Grill-A-Snacks

Grill-A-Snacks have a long history in our family.  I grew up making these at the campfire at our family trailer in Muskoka in the summers.  For several years we hosted an annual Grill-A-Snack competition, were things got very interesting.  Perhaps some others can send me your favourite Grill-A-Snack recipe and pictures for me to post.Tonight I made a dessert snack.  With Caramilk, peanut butter, marshmallow and I dusting of  sugar, chocolate and cinnamon on top when done using a PC spice grinder.

Montreal Spiced Chicken and Chili Lime Grilled Veg!

Tonight I made a simple BBQ'd chicken and veg dish.  When GMF came home it was ready on the patio table!  I love eating dinner outside.  We even had a guest show up at dinner time.  A little wee bunny.  Unfortunately I didn't have my phone near by to take a picture and when I went to get one I got a splinter in my big toe (ouchie!).  Anyways splinter came out and bunny hung out with us for a while as we enjoyed our dinner.

Today's harvest = Dinner

Today we harvested our first cucumber. It was so delicious.

Also harvested were two beets but they didn't make the picture because they were already roasting in the oven to go on top of the salad with some sweet potatoes (the only thing in our dinner that we didn't grow).

Today's Harvest

Today's harvest includes 2 beets one large one normal sized,  2 grape tomatoes, my first ever head of broccoli, 2 celery stocks, some romaine lettuce and some red leaf lettuce.  I'm going to make a nice salad for lunch.  For dinner I'll make a nice veggie stir fry, yum.

Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Yesterday I went to a potluck BBQ and pool party.  I decided to make my grilled pineapple salsa.  It is a sweet summery salsa with a touch of heat which is great in this summer weather.  Everyone at the pot luck loved it and I even had one person wanting to buy some.  So I decided to post the recipe for you all.  It's super easy :)

Garden Update July 20th

Well it was crazy hot this week and I needed to water a lot!  But the garden is doing fantastic.  I've got 2 new planters for more herbs.  I have been growing clippings from the original herbs and will plant them there.  The clippings are in spice jars on the kitchen sink window sill.  They are rooting well.  The mint especially.I have also been rooting a tomato clipping.  I pulled off a large sucker the other day and decided to try and keep it and see what happens.

Garden Update - In photos

This post is finally up to date: pictures taken today July 8th - This is 4 weeks since planting.

Nastursuims flowering.

3 Weeks Since Planting Side By Side Comparison!

This post is from June 28th

I'm excited about all the change that has occurred in such a short period of time.  Its amazing to see the difference in the plants compared to when I planted them.  The root veg all planted from seed have sprouted.  We saw the first signs of parsnips this week.  The carrot greens are growing well.  The radishes and beets have all been thinned out.  I've been enjoying salads with the baby greens from the thinnings :)  Yum.

Bolting Pak Choi :( and More Positive Progress

This post is from July 20th

This was our first year growing pak choi after my brother recommended it saying it was a very easy veggie to grow.  Unfortunately things did not go as planned, before the plant developed hearty stalks I noticed small yellow flowers and before I new it, the plants had fully bolted.  After doing some research I have learned that it does not like the heat.  I didn't think it had been that warm here but perhaps it was too hot in the green house where the seedlings were grown.  I will probably try these again next year from seed.  You can also see the progress on the broccoli and brussel sprouts in this picture.  The broccoli is growing very rapidly with large leaves.  There is one brussel spout plant which is growing much faster than the other three.  I don't think I'll be able to keep all four so I am ok with this.

Pak Choi, Broccoli and Seedlings Progressing

This post is from July 15th - 1 Week after planting

After just one week since planting the garden is progressing nicely.  The Pak Choi has probably seen the most growth.  Pak Choi is similar to bak choi and is supposed to be an early producer.  GMF loves this in stir fries so we are excited to grow some of our own.  The brussel sprouts behind are also growing nicely.  

Early Progress

This post is from June 12th - 4 days after planting.

I can't believe there is progress in the garden already.  It is this type of constant change that makes gardening exciting.  Just 4 days after planting from starter plants we have our first cherry bomb pepper! This is our first time trying Cherry bombs.  We have one plant of this type. They are a hybridized semi-compact plant which produces high yields of 2.5x1.5 in cherry-shaped fruit.  The peppers have thick walls which I am hoping to stuff with some goodness and grill. There heat rating is 2500-5000 Scoville units (similar to a jalepeno).

Planting Time

After a trip to the local nursery we arrived home with a trunk full of seedlings.  

New Raised Beds

Sorry I've been neglecting my blog so far this summer but I've been busy and I'll work on catching you up this week.  This post is from work completed May 19th& 20th.  

Left: Old Raised Beds with poor soil and overrun with weeds.  Right New larger raised beds!