Hi Everyone,
NOTES:
**When was the last time you changed the batteries in your smoke detectors? I was visiting my son out of state last week and the detector in my room went off about 3:30 and woke the entire house! When MY detector batteries get low, they just make small intermittent beeps – more annoying than blaring.
**Also a good time to check the batteries in your flashlights. You should have one in every bedroom, the kitchen, the garage, and in each car.
GARDEN HAPPENINGS
Are you ready??? I’m starting this month. Already.
This weekend I’m planting my celery inside, and next week I’ll be planting my tomatoes. I haven’t ordered any seeds yet. I bought 6-7 packets of vegetables at the local Agricultural store. In addition, I’ll be planting onions this month. Probably carrots. It’s a race for me to get the plants in the ground and get a harvest BEFORE the summer heat!!!
Each year I get pickier about what I plant. I’ve eliminated all the foods that I can’t preserve. And although I love cauliflower, it takes so long to grow, and takes up room, so that’s out this year as well. When you’re gardening in suburbia, space is at a premium.
My celery from last year is still producing, but I’m planting new plants anyway. AND, I had such good results planting marigolds from seed that I’ll be doing that again. They grew 3-4 feet tall and produced flowers all through the summer.
This planting guide is for my zone: 9B You can find many planting guides online for your zone. Find YOUR zone here: Home | My Grow Zone
​THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: peanut butter – 1 or 2 extra jars to have on hand.
Peanut butter offers protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Of course, it’s better for you if you get the kind without sugar of hydrogenated oils.
Regular peanut butter is better for spreading, but peanut butter powder is best when used in smoothies. Peanut butter powder has significantly fewer calories and fat (only 60 calories per serving compared with 190 for regular). But it also loses some Vitamin E and healthy fats from processing.
MISC. PURCHASE: seeds
Grow something!!! A few flowers, one or two vegetables, something! It’s good practice. And garden food tastes SOOO much better! Don’t like to garden? Plant a fruit tree, or some fruit vines that will produce each year.
You won’t find seeds at the grocery store this time of year. Google “vegetable seeds” and a number of sites will pop up. You can request a seed catalog, and you can browse at your leisure. OR you can check with garden centers or Home Depot – they will probably have seeds available.
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FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:
My son cannot eat chocolate, so his wife makes these:
Peanut Butter Bars
1 c. butter
1 c. peanut butter – mix together
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
Cream together
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Cream together
2 c. flour – add and mix
2 c. oats
1 package chocolate chips (she uses peanut butter chips)
Fold in the oats and chips
Press in a greased cookie sheet.
Bake 350Ëš for 15 min.
NOTE: Last time I made them I ended up adding an extra 1/4 c. flour because they were just too sticky.
Peanut Butter, Krispy Balls
2 c. peanut butter
2 c. powdered sugar
3 c. Rice Krispies
If it’s too dry, just add in a few pats of butter
Roll in balls and refrigerate. Dip in melted chocolate if desired.
These are SOO good!
Chocolate Peanut Clusters
32 oz. chocolate chips
3 TB shortening
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
Melt in microwave, in 30 sec. intervals until smooth
4 c peanuts – add in and stir until all the nuts are coated. Drop by small spoonfuls onto parchment or into mini cupcake holders.
Marti Shelley
