Monthly Archives: August 2017

And the rain still comes …

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Slow Cooked Apple Butter

I have been watching the coverage of the Texas storm almost non-stop (I don’t sleep much) and then our own rains started. They were all day, though gentle without wind, it helped sustain the sympatico with those affected by Harvey. So, I thought of things that are great to cook during cool, wet weather, and I put a chicken in to slow roast and started a small batch of apple butter, made from really tart local apples, apple cider vinegar, a cinnamon stick, black strap molasses and stevia (I don’t like to use a lot of sugar).

The aromas emanating from my kitchen all day have been HEAVENLY! And I wish I could share them with all the Harvey refugees. But I will do what I can to help online. Hope you will too!

A gem of a corn!

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Glass Gem Corn

This is my first year growing Glass Gem Corn — a triple use maize that is absolutely stunning! You can harvest fresh for use as a popcorn or parching/roasting corn or dry for popcorn or grinding up as meal corn.

A brilliant open-pollinated variety from Oklahoma, created by successive and stabilized crosses of several Native American (Osage and Pawnee) varieties. The result is appropriately named for its translucent rainbow of colors. Stalks grow 6′ to 8′ and produce an abundance of 7″ to 8″ ears. Corn is easily grown in blocks, especially in home gardens where they will get the attention they need to be successful. I grew mine in a spare 4 x 4 raised bed with a flexilble fence around it to keep out my chicks. It was amazingly vigorous and strong — never leaned or toppled despite some truly incredible storms this year. It required little except occasional watering and addition of organic fertilizer. I think growing it closely in blocks aids in the fertilization.

So give it a try next year in your home garden!

Glass Gem Corn July 2017

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