I finally got a large zucchini to make into zucchini bread. My zucchinis were such a bust this year. So far I've gotten 10 pounds from three plants. The cilantro finally got big enough to pick. So I thinned it all out and froze all those thinnings. Well not all of them. I did keep some for kitchen use. We had stir fried rice last night and I put some in that.
My lettuce has grown and I've finally picked some. I know a lot of people pick it small, but I love the large crunchy leaves.
And my biggest harvest was the chard. I picked over four pounds and froze it all. Some of those leaves are longer than my arm.
I've gotten good a washing it and ripping off the green parts fast. I used to use a knife, but now I just tear it off.
I cooled it off quickly after blanching in the same large washtub that I picked it in. I use spinach and chard rather interchangeably over the winter. I do like spinach a tad more, but spinach takes forever to process and chard is fast. Last year was mostly spinach in the freezer, but this year I have half and half. 20 packets of spinach and 19 of chard. That ought to be enough to get through the winter. I have about 4 months of frozen soil. And this will let me eat it about twice a week during that time and until the overwintered spinach starts producing.
And speaking of winter, I finally made some more wintery fare this week. This is beef stew, made with very little beef and lots of mushrooms, carrots, and onions. Most people in the US would add potatoes to this for the starchy part but I added some dumplings.
Beans 0.14 lbs
Greens 5.21 lbs
Herbs 0.23 lbs
Peas 0.08 lbs
Zucchini 1.29 lbs
Weekly Tally 6.94 lbs
Yearly Tally 365.11 lbs, $679.61
Harvest Monday is a day to show off your harvests, how you are saving your harvest, or how you are using your harvest. If you have a harvest you want to show off, add your name and link to Mr Linky below.
Look at all the Chard! I was hoping to have a good haul for the freezer this year, but the deer have found and nibbled on most of my plants. I am trying to keep them protected with tomato cages. Hopefully they will regrow.
I am envious of your fall greens. My lettuce is still so small. I am glad you got one last nice zucchini for bread. The stew looks good. I love mushrooms in soups and stews.
I have done that in the past, or winter squash. But I haven't harvested them yet, so I don't have any right now. I was going to pick them today, but it looks like we are getting back into the high 70s and low 80s for a bit so I'll hold off for now.
That is some good looking chard. You must have it under row covers to keep the leaves so perfect. It's a shame about the zucchini though. Usually it can be relied on for lots of fruit.
Yes I always keep it under a row cover. We have lots and lots of leaf miners in the neighborhood. It keeps the leaves edible. Though I did have an infestation of earwigs for a while. Sadly the cover won't keep them out.
Look at that--365 lbs of food from your urban garden! You teach us all how to make the best use of the growing season and the space we have. Thanks for sharing how you do it. Susan
We has some winter temperatures out our place this week so we had some winter fare as well. Potato Leek soup and a hearty dutch oven stew!! I may not love the cold this time of year, but I do love the food!!
You sure are good at making good use of your veggies! That beef stew looks so good. I can't believe that I am almost 74 and have never made dumplings that I can remember! Your lettuce and chard are beautiful. I have some of the colored chard growing but it is so big I didn't know if I could still cut and freeze it. What is frozen soil? Nancy
No no it is what kills the bugs in the garden so we don't have as many during the growing season. And downy mildew doesn't live here either, we are too far north. Of course during the season it slowly makes its way up here. We have to look on the bright side up here.
Oh yum~~~the beef dumpling soup looks so good! I've never frozen cilantro before, do you lose the fragrance after it's frozen, I might have to do that this year as I have 2 pots going and they are more than what I can use now.
Your stew with dumplings looks wonderful! Don't feel too bad about your zucchini, I don't think I even got 10 pounds out of twelve plants!! My chard was a bust for the second year in a row too. Great looking harvest!
Your stew looks delicious. I think I'm going to make some this week too! It is great for freezing and have ready to go meals. I add potatoes and turnip. Yum-O
My partner loves dumplings - he would definitely prefer your stew over the traditional. I am super impressed with your coriander - that seems really early to be getting leaves - mine still bolts until late Autumn at least.
You must be the Queen of Swiss Chard! I don't know anyone who grows / uses as much of it as you do. I like it occasionally, but I don't think I would want it too often. The stew and dumplings, though, that's a different story.
Look at all the Chard! I was hoping to have a good haul for the freezer this year, but the deer have found and nibbled on most of my plants. I am trying to keep them protected with tomato cages. Hopefully they will regrow.
ReplyDeleteI am envious of your fall greens. My lettuce is still so small. I am glad you got one last nice zucchini for bread. The stew looks good. I love mushrooms in soups and stews.
Like your idea of adding dumplings to soup instead of potatoes. Have you thought of adding sweet potatoes?
ReplyDeleteI have done that in the past, or winter squash. But I haven't harvested them yet, so I don't have any right now. I was going to pick them today, but it looks like we are getting back into the high 70s and low 80s for a bit so I'll hold off for now.
DeleteThat is some good looking chard. You must have it under row covers to keep the leaves so perfect. It's a shame about the zucchini though. Usually it can be relied on for lots of fruit.
ReplyDeleteYes I always keep it under a row cover. We have lots and lots of leaf miners in the neighborhood. It keeps the leaves edible. Though I did have an infestation of earwigs for a while. Sadly the cover won't keep them out.
DeleteYour stew looks delicious! We made stew last weekend and it was just so nice! It's definitely that time of year!
ReplyDeleteVery nice greens!
ReplyDeleteI love dumplings, especially on a meaty stew - delicious! Nice work on processing all that chard.
ReplyDeleteLook at that--365 lbs of food from your urban garden! You teach us all how to make the best use of the growing season and the space we have. Thanks for sharing how you do it. Susan
ReplyDeleteWe has some winter temperatures out our place this week so we had some winter fare as well. Potato Leek soup and a hearty dutch oven stew!! I may not love the cold this time of year, but I do love the food!!
ReplyDeleteStew looks great, and I seriously <3 dumplings so I'd enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteWe have already harvested our butternuts...I have about 2.5 dozen nice ones in storage. But...I love dumplings too..lol
ReplyDeleteWow Daphne,
ReplyDeleteEverything looks great!
You sure are good at making good use of your veggies! That beef stew looks so good. I can't believe that I am almost 74 and have never made dumplings that I can remember! Your lettuce and chard are beautiful. I have some of the colored chard growing but it is so big I didn't know if I could still cut and freeze it. What is frozen soil? Nancy
ReplyDeleteI think I see now. You have four winter months of frozen soil. I wondered if you put your soil in the freezer! LOL Nancy
ReplyDeleteNo no it is what kills the bugs in the garden so we don't have as many during the growing season. And downy mildew doesn't live here either, we are too far north. Of course during the season it slowly makes its way up here. We have to look on the bright side up here.
DeleteOh yum~~~the beef dumpling soup looks so good!
ReplyDeleteI've never frozen cilantro before, do you lose the fragrance after it's frozen, I might have to do that this year as I have 2 pots going and they are more than what I can use now.
I've found that the flavor is good frozen. It is the only way I've found to preserve the flavor as drying it doesn't do it.
DeleteYour stew with dumplings looks wonderful! Don't feel too bad about your zucchini, I don't think I even got 10 pounds out of twelve plants!! My chard was a bust for the second year in a row too. Great looking harvest!
ReplyDeleteThe stew with dumplings looks delicious. I think the only ingredient you really have to put in beef stew is beef.
ReplyDeleteYour stew looks delicious. I think I'm going to make some this week too! It is great for freezing and have ready to go meals. I add potatoes and turnip. Yum-O
ReplyDeleteYou've made me remember how much I like dumplings.
ReplyDeleteMy partner loves dumplings - he would definitely prefer your stew over the traditional. I am super impressed with your coriander - that seems really early to be getting leaves - mine still bolts until late Autumn at least.
ReplyDeleteYour harvest and stew look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYummy looking stew, perfect for these cooling evenings!
ReplyDeleteDelicious harvest and stew! Thanks for reminding me too that I really should try freezing chard while it's still plentiful.
ReplyDeleteYou must be the Queen of Swiss Chard! I don't know anyone who grows / uses as much of it as you do. I like it occasionally, but I don't think I would want it too often. The stew and dumplings, though, that's a different story.
ReplyDelete