of corn to put in the freezer and check out the
garden section.
I bought 2 more strawberry plants and a stevia plant.
Also a package of beet seeds.
I know, what is a stevia plant?
This plant is known for it's sweet leaves
and is used as a sugar substitute.
Harvesting: Collect leaves as required, preferably in autumn. They can be dried and powdered.
Here are some notes I took about it:
Culinary Uses: Use dried, powdered leaves as a substitute for sugar. One tablespoon of stevia or less is equivalent to about 1 cup sugar. Some people notice a slight after-taste, while others do not. A liquid sweetener is made by pouring 1 litre boiling water over 1 tablespoon dried leaves and leaving to infuse. Refrigerate and use within a few days or freeze for later. To make a syrup, place 4 teaspoons dried powdered leaves in a saucepan with 2 cups water, simmer slowly for 10-15 minutes. Cool and refrigerate. A teaspoon of Vitamin C powder may be added to act as a preservative. An infusion of fresh or dried leaves can be drunk as a beverage, hot or cold, or added to other herbs as a sweetener. If using fresh leaves to replace dried quantities listed above, multiply the amount 5 times. Approximately 6 large leaves chopped finely is a substitute for 1/2 cup of sugar for baking or in cooked recipes. 1 teaspoon of ground stevia is equal to 1 cup of sugar; 2 drops of liquid essence is equal to 1 teaspoon sugar. An extract can be made by combining 1 cup vodka with 3/4 cup fresh stevia leaves in a jar. Shake every day for 2 weeks, then filter through a coffee filter. Add a drop to beverages.
From my own experience of growing Stevia, I've learned to remove the flowers as they appear - otherwise the plant will die down to nothing. I've also found that it's a cantankerous plant which can often die down to nothing for no apparent reason, even in ideal conditions. But you never give up on it! You can have an empty space or pot for up to a year, and then suddenly the plant will resurrect! Amazing.
1 table spoon dried leave powder is equal to 1 cup of sugar!
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Due to space, I am considering putting the strawberry
plants in hanging baskets off a shepherd
hook and allowing their runners
to come down the sides of the baskets.
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Still trying to decide upon a place to put the
raspberry and blackberry bushes.
I'm thinking maybe the side of the house
in between the houses. Or along side the chain link
fence. The only thing that worries me with that is
the neighbor lets his weeds and crap grow crazy
along that fence to the point it starts coming
in our yard and we have to trim it back.
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11AM
Need to head out to the garden and put the Stevia
plant in the ground and maybe plant a few beet
seed directly in the garden. Tony loves pickled
eggs is why I got those :0)
Then I have 10 ears of corn to shuck and get ready
for the freezer. In the store I usually pull
back some of the husk and puncture a kernel or two
to see how juicy it is. I did that today and got
squirted in my left eye. It is now red and
irritated.
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Here's an idea for today about recycling
satellite dishes. I'm always looking for
ways to reuse things and thought these
ideas were neat...
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With warmer weather coming up I need to find
things to make that are light and cool.
This looked yummy.
Sometimes I can find large tubs of regular
yogurt in Kroger's mark down bin.
Time to stock up and start making smoothies.
They say to keep yogurt longer by
placing it upside down in your fridge.
CREAMY PEACH SMOOTHIES
1 cup sliced frozen peaches
1 container (6 oz) French vanilla yogurt
3/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
1. In blender or food processor, place all ingredients. Cover; blend on high speed about 1 minute or until smooth.
2. Pour into 2 glasses. Serve immediately.
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Got my strawberry plants transplanted into baskets.
Also got the beet seeds , a couple more tomato plants
and three stevia plants planted today.
There were three stevia plants in the pot I bought
so I divided them up.
Gave everything a drink from the water barrels.
I have yet to use city water on the garden.
Stevia plants at the end of the tomato trellis
I put up a double and single shepherd hooks
to hang strawberry plants from in the middle
of the garden.
Strawberries come back every year.
One of the plants I bought last year.
I planted about 40 or so radishes,
in four rows, under the cucumber trellis.
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I had a request today to cut my step-dad's hair.
Instant nervousness came over me.
I already cut 4 other people's hair no problem
but fear that if I cut one hair wrong on
my step dad's head I would never hear the
end of it. So I don't know if I am up
for this job just yet. I always compared
his hair to a Phil Donahue's hair.
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This evening I got 10 ears of corn in the freezer.
Here's step by step of how to freeze corn on the cob.
In a large pot bring water and 2 T. sugar to a
rolling boil.
Place corn in pot and bring to another rolling
boil for another 3 minutes.
While corn is boiling place lots of
ice and cold water in a large bowl.
Set next to stove.
Using tongs plunge corn into ice water
until completely cooled off.
Remove corn and place on a dry towel.
Using another dry towel dry each corn cob off.
Wrap each individual corn cob up with
aluminum foil.
Place in zip freezer bag.
Can be frozen for at least 8 months.
Enjoy fresh like corn during those cold
winter months.
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I just saw on the 10PM news that we are getting a
MENARDS! Always hear about this place but there hasn't
been any around here. Even greater news...
It's going in where Northland Mall used to be!!
So that means like a 5 minute drive to get there!
YEAH!!
I've never been to Menards but after checking
them out online I would compare it to an Andersons store.
