Hi folks,
Ahh, summertime is here, and my tomato plants are growin’ like gangbusters! So I spent a little time this past weekend tending ‘em to make sure they keep on keeping on.
First, I added a 2-inch layer of grass clippings as mulch around the plants. This’ll keep the weeds down and the soil moist, so I can get a longer growing season.
Next, I gave ‘em a midsummer snack by mixing ½ cup of fish emulsion; 2 tbsp. each of whiskey, Epsom salts, and instant tea granules; and 1 tbsp. of baby shampoo in a 20 gallon hose-end sprayer. Apply this tonic to your plants to the point of run-off to turn ‘em into lean, mean growing machines!
I picked a few of the biggest fruits, and boy-oh-boy, were they ever tasty! Just remember: tomatoes are at their lip-smackin’ best when they’re stored at room temperature, but they’ll only keep for a couple of days that way. So I stuff ‘em into the warmest part of my fridge, the butter compartment. This’ll keep ‘em in their prime, at least for a little while!
And here’s a tip for the end of the season: if your tomatoes won’t ripen and Jack Frost is coming, pack ‘em in a paper bag with an apple or a banana. They’ll be ripe and ready for eatin’ in no time at all!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
Grillin' Up a Storm
Happy 4th of July, everyone!
The fireworks have faded, but it’s still prime grillin’ season! So it’s time to talk about everyone’s favorite outdoor cookin’ pastime.
If you had a big 4th of July cookout like I did, you might’ve got a few itchy souvenirs from those darn blood-suckin’ skeeters. If you did, here’s one of my tried and true solutions: Just moisten a tissue with antiseptic mouthwash, hold it on the bite for about 15 seconds, and kiss that itch goodbye.
At your next barbecue, lay out the unwelcome mat for those nasty buggers by tossing a handful of citrus peels onto the coals. You can experiment, but I love adding lemon peels when I’m grillin’ up a fresh summer catch of fish!
And if you’ve got a few charcoal briquettes to spare, use ‘em to freshen up your refrigerator—the charcoal can absorb those less-than-appetizing fridge odors. Just put a few briquettes in a clean, lidless plastic tub, and set the container at the back of a shelf.
If your grillin’ rack is a dirty, greasy mess after a backyard barbecue, let the sun clean it up for you! Just put the rack into a black plastic garbage bag, pour enough ammonia to cover the rack, and tie the bag shut with a twist-tie. Let it bake in the sun for a couple of hours, then flip it over for a couple more. Rinse it off, and presto—your grill’s all set for your next big summer cookout!
The fireworks have faded, but it’s still prime grillin’ season! So it’s time to talk about everyone’s favorite outdoor cookin’ pastime.
If you had a big 4th of July cookout like I did, you might’ve got a few itchy souvenirs from those darn blood-suckin’ skeeters. If you did, here’s one of my tried and true solutions: Just moisten a tissue with antiseptic mouthwash, hold it on the bite for about 15 seconds, and kiss that itch goodbye.
At your next barbecue, lay out the unwelcome mat for those nasty buggers by tossing a handful of citrus peels onto the coals. You can experiment, but I love adding lemon peels when I’m grillin’ up a fresh summer catch of fish!
And if you’ve got a few charcoal briquettes to spare, use ‘em to freshen up your refrigerator—the charcoal can absorb those less-than-appetizing fridge odors. Just put a few briquettes in a clean, lidless plastic tub, and set the container at the back of a shelf.
If your grillin’ rack is a dirty, greasy mess after a backyard barbecue, let the sun clean it up for you! Just put the rack into a black plastic garbage bag, pour enough ammonia to cover the rack, and tie the bag shut with a twist-tie. Let it bake in the sun for a couple of hours, then flip it over for a couple more. Rinse it off, and presto—your grill’s all set for your next big summer cookout!
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