You are probably now checking to see if you clicked on the wrong thing because you were expecting something about quilting. I’ve been writing about somewhat technical topics lately and thought you might enjoy a break. There is, however, a tie to quilting if you just read on.
This time a year my vegetable garden is in its fledgling stage. I am harvesting the winter onions and some salad greens and radishes, but the tomato and pepper plants are still spindly. The herb, corn, beans, cucumber, beets, and squash seeds have just sprouted and mostly I’m still seeing a lot of dirt.
But it is the potatoes that make the garden look legitimate. I plant the seed potatoes in mid March and by now they are full bushes at least 18″ high. Every time I walk in I think “Wow! It looks like a garden! If you have never planted potatoes you should give it a go next year. Many years ago when someone suggested to me that I should plant potatoes, I wondered why would I do that. A potato is a potato, something you can just get at the store. How wrong I was!
Not only is it one of the first vegetables to harvest, but home grown potatoes are delicious. I plant the various varieties in the order in which I harvest them. I have experimented with lots of different kinds and now have my favorites. I start with early red Caribe potatoes, which I will start harvesting in a couple of weeks, as soon as the flowers start dropping. Then along come my favorite, Yukon Gold, and finally the storing potatoes. This year I have Kennebec.
From the first little new potatoes steamed and then tossed in chopped parsley and garlic infused olive oil, to the July 4th potato salad, roasted potatoes, baked potatoes and so much more, I love the potatoes and know that they are organically grown. Below is one of my favorite recipes and I think this is best with Yukon Golds.
So how does all this relate to quilting?
I’ve been eyeing the potato leaves as a possible fabric design.
PS. Did you know that many leaves have golden ratio proportions? If the narrow opening of the Golden Gauge Calipers is placed on the widest part of the potato leaf, the wider opening of the calipers is the height of the leaf.
Smashed Potatoes Recipe
One potato per serving (Yukon Gold are the best for this recipe)
olive oil, salt and pepper
1. Wash the potatoes and wrap each in aluminum foil.
2. Bake at 350 for one hour
3. Remove the foil and place the potatoes on a cookie sheet that has been rubbed with olive oil. Leave plenty of space between potatoes.
4. Rub the bottom of a small skillet (I use a cast iron skillet for the weight) with olive oil and then place it on top of a potato and press down until it squashes to a shape of a thick hamburger patty.
5. Brush the top of each potato with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
6. Bake in a 500 degree oven for about 15 minutes then turn each potato and bake another 15 minutes or so until the potatoes are brown and crispy.
These have the taste of french fries without all the calories.
This brings back so many memories of my parents’ gardening and growing potatoes. They raised Kenebecs, too!
Thank you, Jinny! Very interesting story about the garden. I think what you have there only grow peppers. Be sure to try your recipe potatoes.
I love gardening and have thought about growing potatoes. Maybe I ‘ll try it next year. Thanks Jinny. Love your web site and your fabrics.
I will try that recipe. This year I planted vegetables and herbs with flowers on my deck. Had a strawberry yesterday. (I guess that would be a fruit) Use your book on hand quilting as a reference for a hand piecing class I’m doing at the senior center.
I was pleased to see your comment regarding what goes on travel because as I have gone through the website, etc. I wondered how or if you could get scissors onboard, if the folding scissors covered up the fact that they are scissors… I even thought of some of the small items that might camoflage- can’t seem to spell that word! Oh well, my point, how you succeed in making vertain you have what you need & don’t find yourself replacing your scissors, etc with shop inventory! I was surprised repeatedly as you filled me in on your methods- when I 1st saw price of your folding scissors that while they might be perfect for a trip, at that price, if a strict security Xray person sees it, are you ready to see it drop into their trash!? How do you go about being certain that they’ll be OK? I went through entire website with that as a consideration. Unfortunately, I’d likely want nearly all the items mentioned -not that much room available for my carryon!
Thanks for including that- more on how you check would be great! Bye, S.