Did you know that tomatoes are the most commonly grown vegetable in the United States? OK, it’s really a fruit, a berry, according to it’s technical structure, but tomatoes are tasty treats with very versatile uses. And they are essential to any organic garden. They are good for you, too! Researchers have found that organic tomatoes have almost double the concentration of two types of flavonoids – quercetin and kaempferol – which are considered to be healthful plant compounds with potent antioxidant activity in comparison to conventionally grown tomatoes.
Space is an important consideration when planting tomatoes. “Determinates” that grow to a determined point and stop are bushier and more compact. In most cases, they ripen earlier. “Indeterminates” tend to ripen later. They grow longer vines and take up more space. They’ll need to be supported, too. Tomato cages are popular, but other methods like trellising or bamboo tripods might look nicer. When planting, try to keep tomatoes about 2 to 3 feet away from each other. If you plant in rows, it’s recommended that you plant each row 3 feet apart, with the plants in the rows separated by a foot or so. Planting should wait until temperatures rise above 50 degrees on a consistent basis. The tomato fruit won’t begin to show until overnight temperatures average above 55 degrees.
It’s hard to believe that when the tomato was discovered in Europe, it was considered poisonous! In fact, Europeans didn’t even eat tomatoes until nearly 100 years after we started dining on them in the United States.
Here’s a traditional Irish recipe for St. Patrick’s Day, or any day for that matter. This tasty Irish “wheaten” bread or “soda bread”, as it’s called, is especially good with salads or soups. It’s a bit flat, so it doesn’t work well as a sandwich bread but it does hold spreads well. Irish soda bread is easy to fix, a classic quick bread, and it doesn’t require kneading or a mixer. This recipe makes one 8 to 10 inch round loaf.
Ingredients:
2 ¾ cups Organic Whole Wheat Flour, plus sprinkling
½ teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 ¼ cups Organic Milk
1 tablespoon White Wine Vinegar
1 large cage-free, Organic Egg
2 tablespoons Honey
Directions:
* Preheat oven to 375°F.
* Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
* In a large bowl combine flour, salt, and baking soda.
* In a medium bowl whisk together milk, vinegar, egg and honey.
* Make a well in the flour mixture and pour milk mixture all at once.
* Stir with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until everything is moist and combined. Do not over-mix. Dough will be very sticky.
* Sprinkle flour on top of dough and lift out with hands onto prepared baking sheet.
* Plop dough on center of sheet. It will settle in a mound (and you’ll think this will never work). Try to round as best as possible.
* Bake in oven for 20 – 25 minutes, or until nicely browned and makes a hollow sound underneath.
* Cool on a rack for 10 minutes before slicing.
NOTE: Because this dough has no yeast it will not rise very high as a typical loaf. However the ugly looking mound of dough on the baking sheet will turn into a lovely and delicious free form round loaf.
I made a suggestion yesterday to give a potted plant instead of cut flowers for Valentine’s Day. Today I thought I’d suggest something specifically “garden” related. It’s The Gourmet Gardener Gift Tote of Tools and Treats, available on Amazon.com. It’s made with the windowsill gardener in mind. The gift set includes practical items like 5 mini-tools (a trowel, 2 shovels, 2 shears). There’s also some ‘goodies’ including Appalachian Trail Snack Mix, Chipotle Almonds, a tin of Mixed Fruit Candy, Zesty Cheddar Thins, individually-wrapped Chocolate Caramels, Fairway Blend Coffee, Cinnamon Cookies, Green Tea, Key Lime Smoothie Mix, and Sparkling Apple Cider. The baskets are assembled by hand, tied in ribbons and include a personalized gift message from you to convey your best wishes. Even if you have your Valentine’s gift already picked out, keep this basket in mind for other occasions, too.
Valentine’s Day is this coming Sunday. Got your gift ready yet? Or, in some cases, have you dropped your “hints” yet? Here’s a suggestion on behalf of those of us who encourage the use and development of ‘live’ plants. Cut and trimmed roses might be the traditional floral gift for Valentine’s Day, but how about something ‘organically’ different this year? A gift of a potted plant is truly the best natural choice. And it’s a gift that will last and bloom again if taken care of. There are several potted, blooming flowers you can choose from. Blossoming hydrangeas, gardenias, orchids and yes, even roses are available in a potted form. You want the love to last. Why not the flowers, too? Happy Valentine’s Day!
The White House Garden will be getting some major publicity this weekend with all us “foodies” who “Iron Chef America”. The episode will air on Jan. 3, 2010 at 8 p.m. on the Food Network. First Lady Michelle Obama will make a cameo appearance on the show, which was filmed at the White House. She’ll reveal that the ‘secret ingredient’ for the competition is anything grown in the White House garden. The chefs will harvest ingredients from the 1,100-square-foot garden before facing off in Kitchen Stadium. The challenge will be a cook-off between two teams. Iron Chef Bobby Flay will team up with White House Chef Cristeta Comerford in the battle against Iron Chef Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse. Celebrity judges for the event will be Jane Seymour, Nigella Lawson and Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin.
According to the New York Times, the White House approached the Food Network about filming “Iron Chef America” at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. as a way to reach those people who haven’t heard yet about the first lady’s efforts to curb childhood obesity through healthy eating and exercise.
They are good for you, too! Researchers have found that organic tomatoes have almost double the concentration of two types of flavonoids – quercetin and kaempferol – which are considered to be healthful plant compounds with potent antioxidant activity in comparison to conventionally grown tomatoes.
and lives in Sausalito, California.
