Category Archives: Weather

The Last Harvest

Posted on October 14, 2013 by AnnieRie

Of the garden. And of the computer. I mentioned last week that my PC seized up and told me my Operating System was corrupted.

My husband did manage to retrieve all the 59 Gbytes of pictures, finally. And, another 50 Gbytes of scans, downloads, pdfs, tax files, and pst files from Outlook.

Now I am putting together a new PC. But, currently, using his laptop for my blogging.

Today I also went out there and made the last garden harvest. Made a three basil pesto with the Thai, African blue and Genovese basils in the garden.

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Almost two cups of basil. I was really surprised to see that much still growing in the yard, and in the pots by the back door.

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Each basil is unique. The Thai, very spicy, the African, very peppery, and the Genovese, lemony.

I got an 8 ounce jar to put in the freezer, and about 3 ounces to use on Naan with dinner later this week.

I also harvested the Thelma Sanders squash. The lone squash.

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I think this squash will be decorative. It never really got big enough. I will harvest the seeds and try again next year. Much reading to do this winter to see what I did wrong.

I will be planting garlic this week. And harvesting the last rosemary to dry, and the sage. Oh, there is still some ruby chard out there. Maybe another frittata, with chard and herbs.

Last summer was really challenging. I have to re-think where I plant next spring.

As for dinner, I did roast some cauliflower, and also made another spaghetti omelet.

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Cauliflower with Indian spice. Omelet with feta. Not bad for a Monday night.

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Enough Already!

Posted on October 11, 2013 by AnnieRie

OK, we needed rain but not this deluge. We have a lake in the back yard and I can’t get into one of the cars in the driveway without wading through puddles 4-5 inches deep.

I can’t get to the garden to check on the heirloom pumpkin squash and I am crossing my fingers that it will survive being drenched and laying in standing water.

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If the reports are correct, we should have erased the rain deficit for the year. They say six inches have fallen at the airport.

Last week I took the last tomatoes off the vines. They have been slowly ripening in a paper bag, and on the windowsill once they start to turn from green.

Most lunches have included one or two of the small pineapple heirloom tomatoes. This year they were much later ripening, and are pretty much all that is left.

Fall is definitely here. I have been doing crockpot cooking almost everyday. Chili yesterday. Lamb stew today, and there will be chicken soup Sunday.

So, rain, rain go away. You made your point and the trees should be in better shape.

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Release Party at RdV

Posted on October 5, 2013 by AnnieRie

What a picture perfect day!

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RdV Vineyards held their 2010 release party for their “ambassadors” today. A little different than a case club. You can become an ambassador by subscribing to buying at least a 3-pack of their vintage red blends, yearly.

According to their staff, there are at least 700 ambassadors. 300 or more of them came down today to pick up the new release, and to savor tasty tapas prepared by Jaleo.

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Figs and Serrano. Wedges of Manchego. A classic tortilla. Marcona almonds. Bowls of olives. All complimenting a big beautiful 2010 vintage. They were pouring Rendezvous. If you wanted Lost Mountain, you could buy a bottle, but no tastes of that today.

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These wines are luscious. There are no other words for them. You can not believe they come from Virginia. Seriously. Big, bold, beautiful, and this isn’t even their flagship blend. Worth every penny to buy a few.

They only made 500 cases of Lost Mountain and 1000 of Rendezvous. The roughly 700 ambassadors will make a large dent in that. The rest will make its way mostly into restaurants around DC.

Add to that, what they use in their winery events, and it will mean again that they sell out of most of their wines.

Today was even more interesting as they were sorting grapes below us, while we were up in the lobby having our party.

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Rutger was working most of the day. He did pop in, but you could see him out with his picking team as they were bringing in grapes, taking advantage of this lovely weather.

If you love big, classic Bordeaux styled wines, these are exquisite.

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Debating whose birthday will be the occasion to pop open this bottle.

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Nothing like ripe red grapes, heavy on the vines, to make our Saturday special. If you love good wine, take the time to make an appointment and visit. Only 2 hours by the back roads, and about an hour and a half using I-66. You would think you went to France.

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A Mess of Mustard Greens

Posted on October 2, 2013 by AnnieRie

I wanted something fairly easy for dinner tonight. Like store bought chicken. Picked up after my morning stint with an elementary field trip out at the Conservancy.

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I was on “Owl Observation” duty.

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Describing habitats and running back and forth from meadow to forest. It was a fun exhausting 4 hours, from arrival and set up to clean up. Still a great deal of fun. But I didn’t want to do much cooking when I came home at 2 pm and collapsed with a huge glass of iced water. It is still warm out there, even if it is October.

CSA veggies to the rescue. I had leftover spaghetti squash, chicken from Harris Teeter, and it was simple to cook up a mess of mustard greens. Like ten minutes simple.

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The layering of the flavors first. Start with any sort of fat. Butter, chicken fat, olive oil, whatever makes you happy, and that is hanging around. Add onions and/or scallions. I had both in the fridge. Add some “porky” flavor. For me, that last 3-4 ounces of Italian sausage from Breezy Willow. The other day, I roasted all the sweet and hot peppers from the CSA. They are in the fridge too. Three of them went in the pan. Three cloves of my roasted garlic (always in the fridge too). Let it all get soft and simmering. Add some grated ginger, some cayenne flakes, some salt. Maybe if you have it, some sesame oil. A bit more liquid, like a few tablespoons of olive oil, then pour in a mess of greens.

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I forgot to do the after picture, once all the greens cooked down, but it surely tasted great. I never used to eat mustard greens when I was younger. Now, I am loving them.

Easy dinner, earlier than normal, but I will be propping up my sore feet and having a glass of wine while watching TV.

Here’s to many more easy meals, after sunny days running around outdoors.

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Villa Appalaccia

Posted on September 28, 2013 by AnnieRie

A week ago today, we headed out on the Blue Ridge Parkway with fog so thick you couldn’t see 100 feet in front of you.

We were on a quest to visit a winery that specializes in Italian varietals. A small place with almost no signs to find it. Signs are prohibited on the Parkway.

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Add to that, the GPS won’t take you to their address. You have to download their directions and wander down some dirt road and when you do, you will be rewarded with excellent wines made with Corvina, Vermentino, Sangiovese, Malvaxia and Primitivo grapes.

Not a bad wine in the tasting. This stop was requested by my husband, who wanted to sample the Italian grapes. We don’t have the experience in drinking Italian style reds, and this marries our locavore/locapour tendencies with our love of discovery in our hobby.

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The day was really dreary so the pictures don’t do it justice. We will have to return.

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We bought a few bottles, and in upcoming weeks, I will be making lamb, venison and pork dishes, to pair with these wines. Tasting notes will be added for each of these local dinners.

I have to admit, this was a very pleasant addition to our itinerary last weekend, and I only wish we could have sat out there admiring the view and sipping a glass of wine with their local cheeses, salumi and a loaf of crusty bread.

Another trip down the Parkway will come in the next few months. This winery is on our list to visit again, maybe when all the spring trees and flowers are blooming.

If you get down towards Roanoke, take the detour over to Floyd (drive the Crooked Road), look for the tiny road just past mile marker 170. You won’t regret it.

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Bocce anyone?

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Seventies and Sunny

Posted on September 27, 2013 by AnnieRie

About four days ago, it was the forecast from Bob Turk, my favorite local weatherman. For days on end, it was to be in the seventies and sunny or partly sunny. Every day. It looks like this weather pattern will go on for almost the entire week ahead of us also.

It does mean I have to water the remaining plants in the garden, but that’s OK. It means lots of nights grilling. Lots of dining on the patio, watching the deer.

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It means, because of the continued lack of rain, that our trees are starting to turn color early.

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It also means I will be heading out to Larriland this weekend to get a few things. Like some crisp fall apples. Some tiny greenish tomatoes, to make my “famous” green tomato pesto pasta (recipe courtesy of Mario Batali). I don’t have any small tomatoes left. Just a handful of large slicing tomatoes out there.

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This was my recipe post for that pasta. I love it, early in the fall with the last of the tomatoes.

I found a great recipe for green tomato chili, thanks to Kirsten. My leftover tomatoes will go into that chili (well, once the weather cools down). It doesn’t seem like chili weather yet.

By the way, pumpkin picking is all over the county. Larriland acquired a new farm just for picking pumpkins. They also have tons of activities on the weekend for the little ones.

So, tomorrow morning, visit to Breezy Willow to get a few dairy items, and some ground beef for the chili, followed by a trip out to Larriland for apples and green(ish) tomatoes. Need to remember to pack the cooler, or to go to Larriland first, followed by Breezy Willow. Their farm store is open, 10-2 on Saturdays.

The weather will be lovely, that’s for sure.

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The Fourth Quarter

Posted on September 26, 2013 by AnnieRie

Of the CSA. This is week 19 of 24. The final six deliveries of the summer CSA.

I can’t believe how summer just flew by. We are now getting quite a bit of fall veggies in the box.

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This is what we got.

1 Spaghetti Squash – Elm Tree Organics
1 bag White Sweet Potatoes – Sunrise Ridge Organics
1 bag Red Potatoes – Rodale Institute
1 bunch Leeks – Rodale Institute
1 bag Hungarian Hot Wax Peppers – Healthy Choices Organics
1 bag Garlic – Friends Road Organics
1 bag Baby Sweet Stuffing Peppers – Organic Willow Acres
1 bunch Blue Radishes – Millwood Springs Organics
1 bunch Lacinato Kale – Farmdale Organics
1 bag Baby Mixed Mustard Greens – Organic Willow Acres
2 heads Green Leaf Lettuce – Green Valley Organics
1 bunch Curly Parsley – Noble Herbs

I thought it was interesting that Rodale is now part of our non profit cooperative. They are in Kutztown, not far from most of our Amish suppliers. They do massive amounts of research. It is where I researched spelt. One of our ancient local grains.

This week I love those baby sweet peppers.

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I am considering stuffing them with goat cheese, and some habanero jelly, and grilling them. Tonight, though, we just grilled them with a Breezy Willow sausage and the rest of the okra from last week.

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I am seriously enjoying that grilled okra. Love it all charred and smoky.

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Working on some good recipes for the weekend. The weather will be lovely. Time to really utilize the grill.

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The Fall Wine Trip

Posted on September 22, 2013 by AnnieRie

Every few years we take a winery hopping trip somewhere in the US. We just came home from an extended weekend in Southwestern Virginia, where we visited three new wineries, one old favorite, and stopped today to break up our drive home, at Linden.

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The new wineries. Early Mountain, Villa Appalachia and Valhalla. I will be writing individual posts about each visit. The old favorite, Barboursville. More on them later this week, too.

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We now limit ourselves to two wineries a day, max, in order to enjoy the visits, and not feel like we are rushing from place to place. Lunch on a terrace, like the one at Early Mountain, for example.

We also have become selective about what we buy, as we now aren’t buying to age wine, but to sample a few interesting new varietals, or to pick up some for family functions.

Everyone who reads my blog know that I am a locavour. Most also know that I fully support the wineries in MD and VA, as they are becoming better, and a few are pushing the local industry into making very good wine. Wine that can stand up to the established vinicultural areas in the US, and even beyond.

We had debated driving to Long Island to sample their wines, but decided not to tempt fate. This time last year they were preparing for Hurricane Sandy. We didn’t want to make plans too far in advance, in case we were all hunkering down to protect ourselves in this QUOTE prolific UNQUOTE hurricane season. Obviously, the forecasts were off. We have seen a calmer year than any of the past couple of years.

We just figure that a trip to the North Fork will happen in a different season, like maybe spring or early summer.

So, we headed off to VA, spending one night outside of Charlottesville and one outside of Roanoke. Of course, both places were awash in football fans. I really need to plan trips around home games. At least UVA and VATech both won, making for happy fans during our travels.

We may have to drive a bit more than we did when visiting Napa and Sonoma, and when we went to the Finger Lakes a few years back, but we can find some real gems in the VA mountains.

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I wish the weather had cooperated this weekend so we could have enjoyed the outdoors more, but all in all, a good trip. Now, I need to put away those wines we purchased.

They will be featured in some of my winter locavore dinners. Tomorrow, I will have a long review of Early Mountain, with many pictures we took there. It was a great beginning to the weekend.

Anyone living in the Mid Atlantic should consider putting together a short trip using the Blue Ridge Parkway, and/or Skyline Drive, down to the gorgeous mountains, for the views, the food, and the wine.

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Garden Transitions

Posted on September 21, 2013 by AnnieRie

The garden is moving into its fall mode. My lone Thelma Sanders squash is getting bigger, but it hasn’t been joined by any others.

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There are blossoms all around it, but no other squash. Could be a real bust.

I have a few dozen green tomatoes left out there.

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Since it will still be warm for a while, I am hoping they ripen. Otherwise, green tomato pesto pasta, or maybe that green tomato bacon jam.

The basil has continued to flourish, even as I keep cutting it.

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The African blue basil is putting out new growth.

The fall greens have started to spread in their boxes. I have chard and arugula out there.

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This is the ruby chard. I may mix it with the French sorrel from the CSA box and make a quiche. It may be getting close to October but there is quite a bit left to harvest, on these lovely crisp days. We do need rain, though. I have been watering things again.

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Don’t Forget the Twilight Hike

Posted on September 20, 2013 by AnnieRie

Sunday the 22nd. At the Howard County Conservancy.

It is the fall equinox this weekend. And, a harvest moon to boot.

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There will be two hikes down to the campfires, taking advantage of the light of the moon. Cross your fingers that the weather cooperates.

From 5-7 pm, there is a family hike. Stories and songs, roasting marshmallows for s’mores over the fire, and hiking back in time to watch the sunset at 7:05pm.

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For the adults, from 7:30-9:30pm, there will be a hike down to the campfire where volunteers will lead songs, tell some stories about the autumnal equinox, and you can also indulge in marshmallows and s’mores. Bring an acoustic instrument if you have one. Impromptu music making.

The cost of this event is $5/person or $10/family. The registration online closes 24 hours before the event.

Last year’s first twilight hike was a huge success, so preregister to guarantee a spot. Check the web site Sunday for an update if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

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