Paella

Paella

My version of this dish can be done in the rice cooker

Chicken (optional – I often use some of the pre-cooked wings they sell at the deli at whole foods)

Carrots or parsnips (2 – 3 medium sized, peeled & sliced into chunks)

Onions (2 medium)

Artichoke hearts (I use a can of water-pack, NOT marinated)

Hearts of palm (optional)

Tomatoes (canned, whole)

Spanish paprika (1 tsp)

Olive oil (a splash to fry the onions & garlic)

Sesame oil (a dash for flavor)

juice of 1 lime

4 cloves garlic, mashed/minced

Clove, ground, ¼ tsp

“Sichuan pepper” (huajiao) ground – a dash

Chicken broth – 1 cup

1 cup rice (use short grain or sushi rice)

Approx. 1 cup water – use less, depending upon desired consistency (thicker or not)

Fresh cilantro – minced, add last.

Throw all of this except the cilantro into the rice cooker, close the lid, and push the button.

Lacking a large rice cooker, you can:

glass the onions and saute the garlic, then add the remainder of the ingredients and simmer over medium to medium-low heat. Should simmer for about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.

Freezes and defrosts just fine.

Strawberry Bread

Strawberry Bread

1 ½ cups flour

¾ cup granulated sugar

2 tbsp canola oil

1 egg

2 tsp baking powder

¼ cup cider, orange juice or rum (cider is best)

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp salt

½ tsp allspice

¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)

1 pkg frozen strawberries

1 pkg frozen raspberries or blackberries

350° oven for ~50 minutes if in a loaf pan, but ~25-35 if in smaller pans.

1st round of seeds, 4/26

Bed # 1:	Variety	Plant date	Projected Germination date	Actual germination date:	1st full leaves date	Flower/fruit date
T&M	sugar peas : pisum sativum	4/26/08	68 days to maturity? So, 7/4?
T&M	sugar peas	4/26/08	68 days to maturity? So, 7/4?
Renee’s Garden	Italian Arugula (2006)	4/26/08	5/3 – 5/10 (7-14 days)
Botanical Interests	Spinach – Bloomsdale (Spinacia oleracea)	4/26/08	5/1-5/6 (5 – 10 days)
Burpee	Black-seeded simpson lettuce	4/26/08	5/3-5/7 and 6/10 (Seedlings in 7-10, harvest in 45)
	French radishes	4/26/08	???
Botanical Interests	Sassy salad Mesclun	4/26/08	5/1-5/6 (5 – 10 days)
Bed #2
Hart’s	Borage (Borago officinalis)	4/26/08	5/10 – 5/14 (14 – 18 days)
Burpee	Bok Choi (“Pak choi”) 白菜	4/26/08	5/6 – 5/17 (10-21 days)
Botanical Interests	Beets “early wonder” Beta vulgaris	4/26/08	“warm soil” 5-10days, “cool soil” 15-20 so… 5/1 – 5/16?
N.E. Seed Co.	Sage – Broadleaf	4/26/08	5/11 – 5/16 (15 – 20 days)
Botanical Interests	Beets “early wonder” Beta vulgaris	4/26/08	“warm soil” 5-10days, “cool soil” 15-20 so… 5/1 – 5/16?
Burpee	Bok Choi (“Pak choi”) 白菜	4/26/08	5/6 – 5/17 (10-21 days)
Hart’s	Borage (Borago officinalis)	4/26/08	5/10 – 5/14 (14 – 18 days)

4/29 update

rained all day

stopped by 6:30pm

garden temps:

soil thermometer: 52F

air (thermometer mounted on storm window/cold frame) 44F

installed two rain gauges

instructions on rain gauges read:

“Each graduation on the English or inch scale represents 1/10th of an inch of rainfall. On the metric scale each graduation represents 2mm of rainfall.”

It also needlessly points out that you should point it up, level, and not allow it to freeze. :/

55°F
Rain, somewhere between gentle and pelting…rained overnight, is still raining in the morning.
Wind: SE at 3 mph
Humidity: 100%

Today

54° | 36°

Wed

56° | 34°

Thu

61° | 40°

Fri

61° | 43°