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Day 206/365: Garlic and Parsley New Potatoes

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Garlic New Potatoes
Garlic New Potatoes

Produce Stand Recipe #1 (Nelson Produce Stand, Omaha NE)

I love new potatoes, they are so much more tender and fresh than those Russets that sit in burlap bags and plastic sacks in the store. The skin on new potatoes are clean, tender, and delicious.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Red new potatoes
  • 1- 2 cloves fresh garlic
  • 4 TBSP Butter
  • 1 TBSP dried parsley
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Cut potatoes into 2-4 pieces depending on size
  2. Cover with water in a small sauce pan
  3. Crush 1-2 cloves of garlic into water
  4. Boil until tender. Drain (can save potato water for soup stock)
  5. Add butter to taste, I like butter so I used a lot. Sprinkle with parsley.
  6. Cover and let flavors meld together

 

Day 205/365: Time For Summer Vegetable Gardens and Farm Produce Stands

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I’m so excited! It’s the time of year for my summer vegetable garden and in June I’m super motivated with thoughts of cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and fresh broccoli. Until my harvest, I haunt my Omaha Nelson farm produce stand in the parking lot where I work.

They have the best fresh peaches and produce that is ready way before my own garden zucchini and tomatoes are ready.

Cucumbers
Cucumbers

I’m going to try and like yellow and green “mushy” vegetables like zucchini and squash,I even planted cauliflower this year. Over the years I’m made sweet pickles, jalapeno “cowboy candy” and sweet basil jelly. So far at the beginning of June, we have harvested spinach, lettuce, and radishes. We have had so many leafy greens we have been giving away bags of them to friends and co-workers.

Fresh Garden Spinach
Fresh Garden Spinach

Essential Gardening Tools

Gardening really doesn’t take too many tools or equipment. Some good soil, mulch ( I like to use our lawn clippings), water, and sunlight. The secret is growing plants that are native to your specific area. For instance, growing watermelon in the north isn’t a good idea, not enough heat days. Likewise, blueberries in Nebraska don’t do well. Our soil is too alkaline.

With my bad back, a rolling garden seat is INVALUABLE!! Seriously, I don’t mean to shout, but now as I have passed the big 50, I cant’ bend over for hours picking green beans for an hour. Inside I keep my gardening gloves, small trowel, and bags to pick lettuce. Everything stays dry and this seat has stayed out all season long in the rain.

Rolling Garden Seat with StorageCorona Clipper Diamond Hoe

First Year Vegetable Garden

It’s amazing how big the broccoli can grow and take over the garden, as well as the tomatoes. I have planted potatoes and onions, but it’s not an efficient use of space. They demand a lot of water, mulch, and loose soil. I’d rather grow basil or peppers in their spot and buy my potatoes from the produce stand.

Do you have a garden? What do you like to plant and what is your favorite gardening tip?

Farmers Market Venmo Sign

A Venmo sign is essential to your farmers market display. Many people do bring cash, but once they run out. So then digital wallets like Venmo and Cash App are alternative option. By the way you can create your own customized Venmo sign in my Zazzle shop.

The one below if for my Tea n More tea company, which was an offshoot of our local farmers market.

 

Day 204/365: Thor, The Mythological God of Thunder

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Can you see Thor?
Can you see Thor?

 

Phone rings…

Beth driving home from Lincoln: “Have you seen the sky?”

Me: “No, but let me look, OMG, it’s awesome! I gotta get my camera”

Beth: “The clouds are really scary, be careful”

Me: “I’m looking at the storm clouds over your house, very cool”

“Oh, my, one of your cats is on the roof again.”

Beth: “What color is the cat?”

Me: “Black and white”

Beth: “That makes sense, that Thor, the god of thunder”

Can you see him, he’s to the left of basketball hoop on the front roof, a little white smudge.

Day 202/365: Easy Chocolate Trifle Dessert

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I love food and there is nothing more impressive than a layered trifle dessert when you are trying to impress company. What is great about trifles is they are soooo easy and creative, really can’t go wrong with just about any combination of pudding, cool whip, fruit or candy toppings.

I received a trifle bowl for our wedding and one of my first dessert creations was chocolate pudding, brownies, and heath bars layered with cool whip.

Easy Chocolate Trifle Dessert
Easy Chocolate Trifle

My kids fought over it and said I had to make it again.You expect a recipe maybe? Ok, here it is

Ingredients

  • 1 pan of brownies
  • 1 qt (4 cups) cold milk
  • 2 pkg (4 serving size each) Chocolate Instant Pudding & Pie Filing
  • 1 tub (8 oz) Whipped Topping, thawed
  • 4 pkg (1.4 oz each) Heath Bars (Butterfingers, Snickers, you get the idea)

Directions

Bake brownies. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into 1/2 inch cubes. ADD mild to dry pudding mix in medium bowl. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. LAYER half each of the brownie cubes, pudding, whipped topping and crushed chocolate bars in large glass trifle bowl.

Simple Dessert TriflesArtland Simplicity Trifle Bowl

REPEAT all layers, Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Other trifle Combinations

Layer the following with cool whip

  • Banana pudding, bananas, strawberries, blueberries
  • Vanilla pudding, strawberries, blueberries (red, white, and blue patriotic trifle)
  • Pistachio pudding, chocolate brownies, strawberries, crushed pistachio nuts on top
  • Lemon pudding, angel food cake, blueberries, crushed lemon cookies

Sweet Home: Over 100 Heritage Desserts and Ideas for

Let your creative ideas flow when it comes to trifles and desserts. It’s a great way to end a meal and make an impression. I like to show my guests what we have for dessert before we eat, that way they leave room for dessert after dinner.

More Trifle Dessert Ideas

Easy Chocolate Dessert: Death by Chocolate – Madigan Made

Easy chocolate trifle dessert idea with Butterfinger candy layers. If you wanted more trifle ideas, be sure to check out some of my other recipes (I tend to like mini desserts, too!): Easy trifle dessert ideas. Clockwise from the top …

Mini Strawberry, Lemon and Shortbread Trifle – Madigan Made

layered trifle miniature. I love desserts like this. In reality, trifles are very simple to make… but the layers look so pretty! Oh, and did I mention that they taste good, too?! YUM! mini trifle dessert ideas. Sharing with link parties at:

Foodista | Beautiful Berry and White Chocolate Trifle

Thanks to Foodista member: Nerina Timm for this lovely dessert. For more trifle dessert ideas, check out these, from the Foodista archives: Berry and White Chocolate Trifle · Brownie Trifle · Chocolate Berry Trifle · Chocolate …

Trifle Recipe For An Easy Dessert (PHOTOS)

A trifle recipe is your savior of holiday entertaining. It lets you look impressive, but won’t stress you out. Trifles are like secret weapons that are especially handy during the holiday season when you need easy desserts that can feed a crowd. No …