Veggies A New Way

You don't need to be vegetarian - or vegan - to appreciate a savory nut spread. This mixture can be thinned for a dipping sauce or spread like peanut butter. Season it as you wish - if you make it once, you'll probably never make it the same way twice.

1 1/2 cups plain, raw cashew nuts
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons dry white wine (or water)
2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or good vinegar
2 cloves garlic, finely minced (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
freshly ground pepper, cayenne, paprika (any or none - to taste)

Directions

1. Place the nuts in a large bowl, cover with cold water, and let stand for 2 hours.
2. Drain the nuts and place them in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Add 1/4 cup water and the rest of the ingredients, and mix until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl every once in a while. Add more water if necessary to process - remember that the spread will thicken as it sits.
3. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and place in a cool cupboard (not the refrigerator) to ripen for 24 hours. Store in the refrigerator.

I have so many spices that are taking up so much room, even though I have a few 3 tier stair stack thing, it is still taking up valuable space in my kitchen.  I found these and they are cheap, going to order 2 sets, but instead of using the screws or their sticky tape, I going to buy that sticky tape that is removable. 3M command adhesive strips.  That is because I rent and don't want to leave them when I move or mark up the cabinets as they are new.

Let these books inspire you to start growing your own veggies.  It is a great way to save money.

I bought "Grow Great Grub" because I got so much out of "You Grow Girl". I really didn't see how the author could come up with that much excellent material again, but she did.

You probably should stop reading and just buy the book. The quality is excellent. Photographs are beautiful. The book is easy to read and doesn't waste time. Well done!

Pictures of what vegetables are supposed to look like always help. I'm always turning to my neighbor and asking, "Did I plant that or is it a weed?" Usually the neighbor says it's a weed, but I'm never sure.

The text covers harvesting, drying, preserving, and storing, only one of which I want to do, harvesting, but the other topics are beautifully covered for those who are ready. I'm pushing my luck just to grow and harvest a plant from seed. Maybe next year I'll preserve and store.

She lists plants that grow well in depleted soil, shady or very hot spots and makes coverage interesting on topics of nutrients, fertilizers, containers, pests, building self-watering planter boxes cheaper than buying, a great idea.

I learned about heat-loving spinach I was already growing, but had no idea what it needed! Lists of recommended varieties of vegetables and those that work well in containers are especially helpful.

Now I know when to harvest vegetables, something that always baffled me, including when to dig up onions, when to stop watering, and hang them to cure, and when my radishes were ready to harvest, unfortunately I didn't learn that in time for the current crop, how radishes can be used as a pest repellent for squash, that carrots are slow to germinate but ready to eat at any size, and when potatoes are ready to harvest. I had been about to pull mine out to check. I'm glad I didn't. I had no idea some gardeners say squash plants produce too much squash! I can't wait to have that problem. She covers spacing and staking squash plants, preferred pot size for these space hogs, when to pluck them for best taste, and how to help pollinate, "to make sure the job gets done."

Sections cover special needs of tomatoes, potatoes, blueberries, cucumbers, squash, and radishes, etc.

My notes include why not to let water splash up on lower leaves of tomato plants and how to give them certain nutrients while making leaves and stems, when to stop so they will produce fruit, and when and what to give them at that point. There are special planting needs, since they have lots of root growth, and companion plants for best use of space. Then she gave the best definition I've heard of the differences between determinate, indeterminate, semi-determinate (new to me), dwarf hybrid tomatoes, and which one is right for me.

There is a section on growing fruit in small pots. Now I think I'll grow some strawberries after all. Blueberries - hedge or containers. I think I'll do both. I learned why nothing grows around my pine tree and why blueberries might, why, what and how to prune out to increase growth and discourage fungal problems, needs of high-bush and low-bush blueberries, which one is right for me, how to get the best crops by promoting cross-pollination, when and when not to pick flowers off so the plant can put its energy into growing healthy roots, why/why not to grow fruit from seed, how to prepare citrus soil for fruit plants, when and when not to water, how much sun and heat they need, and how long it takes for them to grow fruit, I might have given up, and finally, how to plant, elevate, and hand-pollinate.

How did she make all this so interesting and easy to read? I don't know, but I'll be referring to this book often. It's a keeper!