I'm back! I neglected the garden for the past several days in favor of school shopping and spending time at the beach with the boys, but now the day of reckoning has arrived - for the jalapenos, that is!
I'll cover the easy things first. Ignore the damn peppers, LOL..... look at my CORN! "SUN CORN"! Yeah, the sun does make a difference. Unfortunately the tips of the ears had worms, but what I am impressed with is the fact that they were fully pollinated with full ears. So apparently I can grow it, but would have to spray or something. Now that the challenge is over, I will say that I won't grow it again because it took up a whole bed with not a lot of reward. Maybe 2 dinners worth. So next time I'll devote this space to growing more (wait for it)..... yard beans of course!
Speaking of beans...
They are still coming in, but the bush green beans are lumpy in spots, skinny in others and kind of looking less than stellar, so I think it's time to rip them out. The yard beans are producing like mad still, and since they are so easy to pick and preserve they are welcome here for as long as they want to stay.blanching and freezing beans all morning - someone asked if I cut the yard beans, no I do not - after blanching I coil them and put into baggies as seen below so they are long and lovely for my winter stir-fries.
I managed to get rid of about 6 lbs of jalapenos at the local Army National Guard Unit here this morning, strange, I know - but I was there anyways and I have taken to bringing my basket of peppers everywhere, kind of like you might grab your purse or keys before walking out the door! I have no idea what they are going to do with them, not my problem anymore!
I've got 3 gallon bags of whole peppers in the freezer for making stuffed peppers for parties, and this is what's left to pickle:
OK, watch my back.... I'm goin' in!
The beans are truly lovely. We picked up a jar of Candied Jalepenos on Friday at our SantaCaliGon festival. Had never seen them before. Took them to the lake and mixed them with cream cheese and some shredded cheddar cheese as a dip. They were a HUGE hit. No recipe, but the ingredients on the jar are Japs, sugar, Vinegar and salt.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Erin, I can totally picture you carrying a basket of jalapenos everywhere you go. That is great that they Army National Guard Unit were able to use them! :)
ReplyDeleteNext year I am pickling Jalapenos...yummo! Sorry about your corn :( It does take up alot of space and we always plant it last. That we if we don't have room we just don't have room!
ReplyDeleteOh, Erin, I LOVE your sense of humor! (But then isn't that a requirement in order to be a gardener and stay sane??)
ReplyDeleteI am chuckling over the set-up, so necessary though.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the flavor like on those yard longs, they sure do look yummy!
I'm so growing the yard beans next year. THey look like so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteMust try those yard beans next year!
ReplyDeleteLove the goggles and gloves, yet so very true.
Sunday my son's hands were burning from cutting jalapeno's before I could stop or warn him.
Gloves from here on out.
Oh my gosh, I finished them! I have been putting it off all summer! I am swamped with tons of other stuff but I just can't believe I got those darn peppers done - I feel like collapsing today :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Kelly, the beans are beans! They're not wierd or anything, taste like regular old pole beans :)
ReplyDeleteErin, great post and your beans are absolutely amazing. I did the same yesterday, blanched and froze beans and broccoli. Today I canned yellow Hungarian hot wax peppers.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on not taking the space for corn; another reason happens to be the raccoons around here who raid it. I'd rather eat beans. ;)
Erin, I would have thrown those peppers into the compost. You get a big Gold Star for going the extra mile to use everything you grow. You're my hero. (I mean heroine.)
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that yard long beans are not more popular in this country. They have a great crunch are are not quick to turn mushy. The only disadvantage is that they are much quicker to spoil in the fridge than green beans. How do they freeze?
ReplyDeleteThe jalepenos are hilarious! I've only ever had that many hot peppers when I planted habaneros. Oh boy, was that a mistake!
ReplyDeleteWhen I grow corn, I make sure that there is something that sprawls growing nearby, so the space has a double use. Usually, I aim the melon vines toward the corn patch, but I think sending squash vines into the corn patch is more traditional.