The first little sprouts

The first babies of the season have shown up. Of course, the Basil was the first to show it's little face just two days after sowing. The second to sprout was the Summer Savory.

Basil with first set of true leaves.

Two of the three varieties of lettuce are sprouting. They are the oldest lettuce seeds that I have. I will ditch the other variety if it doesn't sprout in another week. The spinach is also starting to come up.

The Rosemary is germinating!! I also have Winter Savory peaking through the soil. No signs of the parsley & mint yet.



Little Garden Helper's Birthday

My "Little Garden Helper" is growing up so fast! Yesterday was his 3rd Birthday. My niece takes him to CC (you know the place with the big mouse) and that is where he wanted to have his Birthday party. I'm not going to post the 100+ pictures that I took...just a couple.

He had a great time playing lots of games, riding rides, climbing around and he had me jumping through an entire song!! That was a good work out ...to get ready for all that upcoming garden work!

And then there was some Birthday Cake....not as good as Nana's...but, it was chocolate!

Bay Laurel Tree

I finally gave the Bay Laurel Tree a much needed trim! I have been putting it off for about a year now. I bought the tree in the spring of 2005. She was a tiny little thing measuring about 4-5" tall at the most. This morning I measured her and she was 42" high.

I did some research on how to propagate a cutting. You are supposed to trim about a 6" piece to root. The easiest way to try to propagate a piece is by using root hormone. I really hate that stuff and hide it so my "Little Garden Helper" or the cats won't get in to it. Have you ever read the label on it?? It's deadly and it really scares me to use it.

Due to the fact that I had really let her go so long without a trim, I had to cut longer pieces then you are supposed to for propagation.

Here she is before the trimming.

Here she is after her long over due haircut.

Now she is 27" tall. I am hoping that she will branch out quite a bit.

Now we have two baby Bay Laurel Trees in pots.

They are supposed to take a few months to develop roots...so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Now all they need are names....all 3 of them!!

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Punxsutawney Phil just announced the news

He did NOT see his shadow!!!

We are going to have an early Spring!!

Fresh Baked Bread & Winter Tarragon Tomato Soup

With all of the cooking, canning and baking that I do. There is one thing that I have never made.....BREAD!! It's true,  I have never ever made a loaf of bread! I have been promising "The Italian" for a couple of years now that I would start baking it. Although I really love good bread, I try not to eat a lot of it since it is one food that makes me gain weight. So, maybe psychologically I have been putting it off afraid that I would eat loaf after loaf once I mastered it or trying to do so...sounds like a good excuse to me!!  Well, Sunday after reading "Da Garden O Eatin's" post, I remembered that he had made a wonderful easy "No Knead" bread a while back and I thought that I would give it a try.

TaDa!! My first load of Bread!!

The bread was Wonderful!! We like a crusty rustic type bread and you can't make anything easier then this! It had a nice crispy crust and was not heavy. Guess what I did before I went to bed???? Yep, started another loaf. Since "The Italian" has been eating sandwiches everyday for lunch, I guess I will be making several loaves a week.

I haven't made this soup so far this winter and it seemed like the perfect combination. I found this recipe several years ago in a cook book that I purchased in the late 70's or early 80's, "The American Gable" by Ronald Johnson. It is a book containing over 400 classic American regional cooking recipes. This is the perfect easy recipe for those who preserve their harvest....two main ingredients Tomatoes & Onions!

Winter Tarragon Tomato Soup

• 1 1/2 Cups Chopped Onion
• 1/2 Cup Butter
• 1 Quart Canned Tomatoes
• 1/2 Cup Dry White Wine or Vermouth
• 1 Tbsp Sugar (I use less)
• 1 tsp. Dried Tarragon
• Salt if desired
• Sour Cream to top

1. In large saucepan melt butter and saute onions for about 15 minutes
2. Add Tomatoes juice and all and mash with potato masher
3. Add Wine, Sugar and Tarragon, turn heat down and simmer for 45 minutes
4. Puree with immersion blender and add salt if desired
5. Serve with a dollop of Sour Cream

Enjoy!!