June 08, 2009
This original recipe is supposed to be baked. But, I am trying to not turn on my oven so I will be making this recipe on the stove top. First, I will fry up the potatoes with diced onions in a few tablespoons of olive oil. Next, add a jalapeno, some pressed garlic, a bunch of yellow squash and cubed leftover chicken. Maybe after that I’ll add some basil, spinach and cherry tomatoes for some color. Voila, simple dinner plans!
If I remember to take pictures I’ll post them tonight and tell you how the meal goes over with the family.
P.S. It was good…all my peeps liked it. Yay! Even my potato hater liked the potatoes in it. 
[ 6 Comments ] Posted on 06.08.09 under Recipes, Zucchini & Summer Squash
Farmer Darrell’s June Gardening Tip
June 01, 2009
Summer is here! It’s getting hot and soon your gardens will start showing heat stress. Don’t stress, because that is the cycle of life here in the desert. You can finish harvesting your bounty! I trust that most of you had success with your spring gardens.
The only advice I can give is to keep on watering until your vegetables are gone. You can plant Armenian cucumbers, okra, and some squash with some degree of success now, but you will have to keep an eye on your moisture levels.
June and July is a time to let your garden rest and in August you can start planning for your fall garden. It is a time to reflect on your hobby and life sustenance. I will be traveling to West Virginia where gardening is in full swing. Maybe I can pick up some tips on gardening to give you this fall. The temp. there is around 80 degrees, so anything grows.
I hope you all have a fun summer. Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July. God bless America!!
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 06.01.09 under Farmer Darrell's Tips
Update on Farmer Darrell’s Garden
May 20, 2009
[ 4 Comments ] Posted on 05.20.09 under Farmer Darrell's Tips
Farmer Darrell’s May Garden Tip
May 02, 2009
It is May and summer is bearing down on us. I trust you all got your spring gardens in and now it is time to enjoy once again the fruits of your labor. Soon you will taste the delicious tomatoes that only you can tell the difference of what a REAL tomato tastes like right out of your own garden. There is none like it. Once you taste a real tomato, store bought is not for you…Right??… The only tip that I can bring to the table is this.
Remember to give your plants enough water. It is forecast to go into the 90 degree range and you will have to keep an eye on your plants. Your tomatoes will crack if you suddenly water them after being too dry, so keep them moist. Your squash should be producing by next week and you will have them to enjoy too. Gee, I just love this time of year!!!
If you are through harvesting the last of your winter garden, remember to add some compost and dig it in where your plants were. Also, don’t let that area dry out if you are not planning to replant there until later. If you let it dry out your soil chemistry will stop and you will have to start all over again. If you do want to replant; squash,melons and okra will tolerate the summer heat if you water regularly. Enjoy your gardens, and have a great Memorial Day.
[ 18 Comments ] Posted on 05.02.09 under Farmer Darrell's Tips
Farmer Darrell’s Spring Garden Photos
April 17, 2009
Here are some photos of my spring garden that were taken about 2 weeks ago.
Melons and pole beans
Strawberry patch off to the left, squash, onions, a little of this and a little of that
Tomatoes and herbs
Herb garden
It’s amazing what will fit in a small space!
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 04.17.09 under Farmer Darrell's Tips
Squash planting
April 06, 2009
Planting squash again is sort of like planning on and wanting another kid after having a really terrible delivery filled with pain with the prior child. Because I know that I hate squash at the end of every single spring season and my husband and kids beg me not to bring another zucchini into the house. It’s so painful to keep racking my brain deciding what to do with the 2 foot long zucchini that I had overlooked and I just can’t bring myself to throw another one into the compost pile. Oh, and try giving anymore to the neighbors or your friends and they just look at you with a pained look on their face that says, umm, I really want to say no because the others that you gave me are rotting in my fridge, but you look so excited about zucchini because you grew it yourself that I just might say yes.
So I planted zucchini today and yellow crook neck, yellow scallop and lemon squash.
Has anyone else forgotten the pain from last year?
[ 9 Comments ] Posted on 04.06.09 under From My Garden
Summer Squash Soup with Basil and Parmesan
April 03, 2009
I ran across this recipe today from a book I checked out at the library called Keep It Seasonal by Annie Wayte. The recipes are mostly fancy smancy, simple, yet expensive that just don’t fit with our lifestyle. But then I saw this one and it looked really good, especially because we will have summer squash in abundance pretty soon and anything with cream in it tastes good! So I thought I’d add it here to my recipes before I forget about it.
Summer Squash Soup with Basil and Parmesan (approximate recipe and directions)
3 lbs zucchini, diced (that is approximately 3-5 zucchinis, depending on size)
3 shallots…or 1/2 an onion
1 clove of garlic
3 cups chicken stock (homemade stock is by far better than canned)
1 cup heavy cream
1 bunch fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 bunch fresh mint, chopped
8 T grated parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste
Directions: (paraphrased)
Saute the zucchini in olive oil for 12-15 minutes and then add the garlic and shallots or onion. Saute 5 more minutes.
Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil and then simmer for 5 minutes. Blend part of the mixture and add it back to the pan.
Add the cream, basil, mint, parmesan and salt and pepper to taste.
Sounds simple and yummy!
[ 5 Comments ] Posted on 04.03.09 under Zucchini & Summer Squash
CNN Article
April 01, 2009
My dad, aka Farmer Darrell, sent me this link to a neat article from CNN. Check it out and tell us what you think!
‘Recession gardens’ trim grocery bills, teach lessons - CNN.com*
[ 4 Comments ] Posted on 04.01.09 under Gardening Tips
Farmer Darrell’s April Gardening Tip
April 01, 2009
Well, March is gone and it seems to have been a long month. You all should have gotten your spring garden seeds and transplants in the ground by now. If not, you still have time to do something for the next 2 weeks. After that, well anything goes! Just a word to the wise, the next few days it has been and will be quite windy. Be sure to water your garden thoroughly during these times. The humidity and dew points have been extremely dry. Your plants and soil need to be moist during these days to avoid death or extreme stress to your seedlings and plants. They just might turn into crispy critters and all your hard work will be ruined. So, with that said… be diligent!
Now, another important tip. With your seeds coming up be sure that you thin your plants according to the directions on the packet they came in. If you got your seeds from another source a good rule of thumb is about 6 inches apart for squash and melons. Beans or similar veggies set about 2 inches apart. You want to avoid crowding, otherwise your plants will compete with each other for nutrients and with my trial and error experience one or two always wins out and the others are weak and spindly. So get a head start and thin now for more vigorous growth during this important time. Give transplants 1 square foot apart.
I hope all of you have green thumbs by now, if not hang around your garden more, give it a lot of attention, a little love, and it will reward you with an abundance of food and satisfaction…Happy Easter and good growing.
“
[ 4 Comments ] Posted on 04.01.09 under Farmer Darrell's Tips
Nasturtiums
March 30, 2009
So what do y’all know about nasturtiums? Do you grow them? How many months out of the year do they grow here in the Phoenix area?
I planted some from seed and a few have started to come up, but I was just curious how long they last when it starts heating up.
[ 5 Comments ] Posted on 03.30.09 under From My Garden
