Reader Request: Where To Get An Orchard Rack

The other day someone asked me where to get an orchard rack like the one I showed in this post about storing things in my "root cellar".

Years ago, people stored "keeper" crops such as apples, winter squash, onions and potatoes on rustic wooden racks like this one. The drawers are slatted to ensure good air circulation, and they slide out for easy access. For best results, the rack should be located in a cool, dark cellar or shed.

You can get them from

Gardener's Supply Company

as a

6 Drawer Orchard Rack

or a

9 Drawer Orchard Rack

You could also use baskets like these 

from Ikea that attach underneath a shelf:

I like these especially for apples.  Apples need to be stored in shallow layers so that they don't bruise each other plus it makes it easier to check on them this way. That's why I like the above two options, but half bushel baskets and slatted crates work well too.

They like nice cold temperatures, as low as 32 degrees, but can also be kept a little warmer, they just won't last quite as long. So depending on the temperature they're kept at you could possibly have fresh apples clear til spring. Wouldn't that be lovely?

But if they become softer than you'd like for fresh eating you can always serve them as baked apples or applesauce. Mmmm!

P.S.   Don't keep your stored apples near your potatoes. They don't play well together at all!

Root Storage For Winter Fresh Veggies!

So the other day we decided to run out and shoot a video!

I needed to grab a few things to stock my "root cellar"

before the farmer's markets closed for the season

and thought it might be fun to show

a few of the things I like to get.

My "root cellar" is really just a few shelves in
my basement.  It's not an official one dug into the ground. 
I showed pictures of it here with a list of some
of the other things I like to put in it.

These are the kinds of fresh foods
your ancestors used to eat before
there were ginormous grocery stores
bringing you food from near and far
at any time of year!

But making that video was kind of fun!

It was the first official one I have done
and I have a bit of learning to do
to improve the sound and picture quality!

That means I need to practice
and make more videos!

Yippee!

I wonder what my next video should be of! 

 Hmmm....

thinking...thinking...

Any suggestions?

Special thanks to my niece and nephew who helped with filming and editing!

Extending the tomato season

Today it rained.

It is supposed to rain even more 

over the next few days.

But tomorrow, the temperature 

 is supposed to plummet.

Highs of 45 degrees.

Brrr!

Time to hurry and bring in 

the rest of the garden produce

before the first hard frost

and freezing temps.

 

So today I hurried and picked

all the green tomatoes.

 Picking tomatoes in the rain.  My hands froze!

If stored properly

and taken care of,

they will continue to ripen

for quite a while.

This means, I still won't

have to go to the grocery store

for tomatoes for a while!

Hip, hip!!!

So how do you extend the tomato season?

Method 1:

Pick and lay out in a cool place.

Spread them out in shallow layers.

This is not a shallow layer!  

Shallow layers will prevent them from crushing each other

and will allow you to see which ones are ripening faster

than the others.  Be sure to check on them periodically.

Method 2:

Pull the whole plant

and hang upside down from the rafters

{or however you can get them to hang}.
Pick as they ripen.

Whichever method you choose:

Be sure to store in a cool, dry place

like a root cellar, basement or garage.

Some of my tomatoes in various stages of ripeness in  December 2007.

Using methods like these,

I have had tomatoes last clear

into December before.

It's a brilliant way to extend
your garden produce I tell you!

Why I'm On A Spending Freeze

The other day I mentioned I am on a
self-imposed spending freeze.

Why am I doing this?

It's not about lack of funds.

It's about:

Gratitude ~ 
Appreciation for the things I already have.  

and

 It's about spending more mindfully.

Since changing out my wardrobe earlier this year {and ditching my mostly black wardrobe}, I realized that I was getting myself into a frequent spending and shopping habit.  It has been fun finding new pieces for my new wardrobe but I have my core wardrobe now and I realized I was shopping just to shop!  It's time to pull in the reins, break that habit, and finally fine tune and hone in on the pieces I still need to complete my wardrobe.

The only exceptions I have made are to use my Kohl's cash and DSW rewards this month.  It's either use them or lose them and I'd rather use them!  So now I just need to carefully decide what to get!

So I will use this month to create a plan for the items I still need and want.  I will also use the time to refashion a few items in my wardrobe to work better within my new style.  That should keep me busy and away from the stores for a while and hopefully will help me break the mindless shopping habit I was getting into!

via

Sooo Excited!!!

Look what came in the mail!

Plans for my own chicken coop!

Isn't it adorable???

My hens would be sooo stylish!

I love all the detailing!

Even storage space for the feed

was thoughtfully {and stylishly} included in the plan!

I'm still trying to talk The Hubs into it

{I've been trying for about 5 years now!}

But I figured I would go ahead 

and order the plans anyway!

He has looked at the plans though.

I think I even saw him analyzing the yard a bit! 

{with plans in hand!}

Someday I will have chickens!

Mark my words!

{Hopefully sooner rather than later!}

~ ~ ~

You can order these adorable plans from Heather Bullard here!

And for a limited time, you can get free shipping!!!  So hurry!!!

Affordable Produce Options

I got a great variety of things in my Bountiful Basket today!  I have been a Bountiful Basket member for over 2 years now. I was a member when there were only four locations in my state! I am thrilled that they have become so popular! Their unique buying power and volunteer run infrastructure has allowed so many people to be able to get affordable produce at a time when things in the grocery stores seem to be going up and up.

But with their increasing popularity, it has made it increasingly more difficult to get a basket if you don't get your order in within the first hour or so or else all the locations will be filled up in my area.  So I've been checking out my options.

Yes, I know I could volunteer to open up another site in my area, but I really like to support my local farmers and local food systems too.  I think its very important.

I used to belong to Borski Farms, a local CSA {community supported agriculture group} which I used to enjoy.  So I've looked into that again.  I like that everything is grown locally and extremely close to me.  It is not trucked in from who knows how many miles away.  Their farms are right near where I live.  I love living in an area that still has some agricultural roots in it.  I have met the farmer at their farmer stand in the summer and fall ~ he told me once that he really loves what he does!  They are who I patronize when I'm stocking my root cellar in the fall.  

I have also checked out the Soup and Salad Club and met their owner too. 

Here he is with my grandparents.  

This is the one my grandpa has chosen to participate in.

Their farm is organic and sustainably run. They even grow their own bio-diesel fuel for their delivery trucks! How cool is that? Here is the owner, with my grandpa checking out the stats on my grandpa's solar panel and being all cute and excited discussing solar options etc.

Here is my grandpa's solar panel. 

You can also see some of my grandpa's terraced garden beds in the background. It feels very european when everything is in bloom. He has fruit trees along one row, and a beautiful grape arbor {not shown} on the hillside.  They are getting into their mid to late 80's now and gardening is getting harder and harder for them to do.  A CSA or farm share like this is a great option for them to get their fresh produce especially since they are vegetarians  {and they eat a ton of veggies!}.

The owner is so nice, 

and even helped them with their computer!

So I haven't decided which one to participate in yet, but I think I am definitely leaning towards a CSA share again.  I love being locally tied to my food system.  I love knowing where my produce came from.  I love meeting and knowing the farmers who are producing the food.  You do have to pay upfront for the season, but when you break down the number of weeks and figure out your basic price per week, it works out to about the same amount {or less} than the price for a Bountiful Basket.

Hmm...the deadline to join is fast approaching ~ now which one to choose.  Decisions, decisions!

Do you CSA?

Garden?

Do Bountiful Baskets?

Pizza and Calzones

One of my favorite ways to clean up the fridge {and save money} is to make pizza or calzones at the end of the week.  You can throw so many things on those ~ you don't have to eat a standard fare pizza.  Oh no! Feel free to get creative!  Go gourmet and make your own creations!

Check it out!  If you look closely you can see

the steam rising off my calzone!

For a pizza or calzone you will need pizza dough. Making your own dough requires a little bit of forethought, but it really isn't that hard to make.  Plus, it uses fairly inexpensive ingredients to help you save some "dough"!  Ok, I just couldn't resist!  I had to throw that in for you!  

Here is my favorite pizza dough recipe:

Pizza Dough:

2/3 cup lukewarm water

1 pinch sugar

1 1/2 tsp dry yeast

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cups unbleached white flour

1 tsp salt

To make dough:

Stir together 1/3 cup water and sugar in a large bowl.  Sprinkle yeast over the mixture and let stand until foamy {about 10 minutes}.  Stir in the remaining 1/3 cup water, the olive oil, flour and the salt.  Knead the dough by hand on a floured surface for about 10 minutes or in a food processor for about 5 minutes.  Put dough in a deep, oiled bowl and turn to coat it with oil.  Let dough rise, covered with plastic wrap in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.  Punch down the dough and form into four balls.  Each will make a serving size pizza.

Ok, so now you have your dough ready.  Now is the fun part of creating the toppings for your pizza or stuffing for your calzone.  Like I mentioned above, a lot of times I throw on whatever veggies are still hanging around in the fridge.  A little bit of spinach?  Sure!  White bean  puree?  Why not!  I've even been known to throw on some steamed sliced carrots!  But you could always throw on some leftover chicken with barbecue sauce too.

If all this seems a little too adventurous, you can always use your favorite toppings or find some new variations in cookbooks.  But I am going to give you two of my favorite recipes that I was considering giving Adrienne when she asked me for some cost~friendly meal ideas. 

First up ~ a butternut squash pizza!  This is a great recipe to use up some of the root storage vegetables throughout the fall and winter.  Come to think of it, your dough ingredients can all easily be stored in your food storage too!  Score! 

Butternut Squash Pizza

1 cup sliced onion
1/2 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and sliced thinly
1/2 tsp dried rosemary, sage or herbes de provence
salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp olive oil {1 tbsp reserved}
2 tbsp parmesan cheese {ok or more if you feel like it needs it! And um, mine usually does because I um, really love cheese!}
Pizza dough

Preheat oven to 400.  Combine onion through olive oil {except for the reserved tbsp} in a roasting pan and mix well.  Roast for 20 minutes, or until onions are beginning to brown and the squash is tender.  Roll out pizza dough and place on baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal.  Distribute squash mixture evenly and bake at 450 for 10 minutes or until crust is firm.  Take out of oven and sprinkle with parmesan and drizzle with reserved olive oil, then enjoy!

My other favorite recipe is a zucchini-tomato calzone.  It is wonderful in the summertime when the garden is overflowing with fresh home grown tomatoes and zucchini!  But if you are having a hankering for this on the off season, the tomatoes and zucchini aren't too expensive and it still makes quite a tasty meal!

Zucchini Tomato Calzone

2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups sliced onions
1 small zucchini, grated {or about 2 cups}
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 medium tomatoes
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup chopped basil
pizza dough

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium high heat.  Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes or until softened.  Transfer to a plate.

Heat the other 1 tbsp olive oil over high heat and once it is very hot, add the grated zucchini and garlic.  Stir often and make sure it doesn't burn for about 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add the parmesan, salt and pepper.

De-seed the tomatoes by cutting in half crosswise and squeeze the seeds and juice out.  Chop them into a bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Roll out pizza dough and place a layer of onions, followed by tomatoes then zucchini into the middle.  Sprinkle with chopped basil.  Fold dough over and moisten edges with water and press edges together with fingers to seal.  Place on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal and bake at 450 for 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Enjoy!

So there you go!  Those are two of my favorites.  What are some of your favorite pizza/calzone combinations?  Do tell!  I'm always up for trying something new!

Caulichowder Soup Recipe Featured

I was honored when Adrienne over at The Rich Life asked me to give her a vegetarian recipe that was easy on the budget.  Today she featured my recipe along with a few others that look quite tasty!

I'm all about inexpensive meals.  I try real hard to keep things in the budget.  I have a few friends who think that the way I eat is expensive.  Sometimes it is ~ when I'm buying or stocking up on my raw cacao, real maple syrup or strange ingredients like coconut oil etc.  But a lot of times it is off set by not buying as much meat as I used to. 

The Caulichowder Soup I gave Adrienne came out to about $4.88 for the recipe or about $1.22 a person.  This didn't include the salad or the bread though, so it would be a little more once you add those in.

A head of cauliflower isn't that expensive.  Neither is an onion.  If your pantry is stocked with spices then you're good to go.

My recipe {and cost analysis} used store bought vegetable broth, which  I don't feel was very expensive {about $1.47 for about 4 cups worth}, but you could make this meal even more economically by making your own vegetable broth.  I have a container in the freezer that I throw all my veggie ends in that I don't end up using and once it is full I simmer up my own broth.

The only other thing you might have to buy is a can of evaporated milk, which you don't use that much of in the recipe. 

It's a fairly simple recipe which I love exactly for its simplicity!   Good food doesn't have to be expensive to taste good, especially if you start with fresh, quality ingredients!

Thanks for thinking of me Adrienne!  

I hope you enjoy this tasty soup!

Now everybody else...

hop on over and pay her a visit

and get some more tasty ideas for dinner!

~ ~ ~

Here's the recipe for you:

Caulichowder Soup

2 tsp olive oil

1 white onion, chopped

1 head cauliflower, broken in florets

3 cups vegetable broth {or if you want a lighter colored soup and don't want it vegetarian you can use chicken broth}

3/4 cup evaporated milk

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp ground white pepper

salt to taste

Preheat a large nonstick saucepan over medium high heat.  Saute onions in olive oil until tender and translucent.  Add the cauliflower and saute until heated through.  Add the broth and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered until the cauliflower can easily be mashed {about 10 minutes}.

Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree.  Pour back into saucepan and add the milk, nutmeg, pepper and salt. Heat to serving temperature over low heat.  Garnish with sliced green onions.