Preparing my Garden for 2012 With leaf mulch and Worms

Here is a picture of my ornamental cherry tree in bloom the end of March which I have 5 of  my bird houses on this beautiful tree, plus the birds have already found mates picked out their home and started to collect nesting material. 

Pink flowers

Ornamental Cherry Tree in Bloom

I have already prepared my garden early March down by the New Jersey Shore. I ordered 20 cubic yards of leaf mulch and spread it all over my lawn and into my Garden.  The leaf mulch helps to place nutrients into the soil and our town delivers the mulch for free.

Today I received in the mail Garden Worms called red wigglers over 1,000 which I ordered online and put them into my garden. I place coffee grinds and potato peels into the garden for them to feed on. Red Wigglers feed the garden with nutrients and they also aerates the soil.


Here's How The Worms Do It

1.  They make burrows and tunnels that let water and nutrients reach plants root systems. Red Worms are best at this for lawns and gardens because they work close to the surface. Whereas, night crawlers may go down five feet or more to find a home. This burrowing loosens the soil and aerates it.
2. Worms eat and digest their body weight every day, producing a 100% natural fertilizer know as worm castings or worm poop.
3. Worms castings are:
1. Times Richer In Nitrogen
2. Times Richer In Phosphates
3. 11 Times Richer In Potash than the average top soil

I do this every year and I can not wait to get started planting my Veggie Garden.

My Package

1,000 Red Wiggler Worms

Wiggle Wiggle

Released in my Garden

And Again

The Leaf Mulch that was delivered



.

Be Creative

Enjoy

My Garden Yard March 2012

Daffodil Beauties in Bloom 

Daffodil Flowers in Bloom March

Magnolia Tree in Bloom

Beautiful Sweet Smelling Flowers

One of three baby  trees planted  2 year old Cleveland Pear Trees in Bloom

It has been a beautiful winter at the Jersey Shore we had only one snow falling about 2 inches and then a small snow shower. The weather has been above average and I really think the plants and trees are confused.

So in early March my Magnolia Tree has bloomed and my daffodils are in bloom. My Bradford Pear Tree is in bloom and so are my three 2 year old Cleveland Pear Trees are also blooming.

My Bradford Pear Tree in Bloom March


I did not pull out my parsley curled and  Italian flat leaf parsley and wanted to see if they would survive the winter and they did.

Flat leaf Italian Parsley

Curled Leaf Parsley

Curled  and Italian flat leaf Parsley both came back so do not weed them out of your Garden they do come back and this year I am going to plant more.

 Remember experiment and enjoy Gardening and Wild Life which is relaxing so.  

Be Creative

Enjoy

Artisan Lettuce, Bean, Macaroni Soup

Artisan Lettuce

Soup boiling in soup pot

Artisan Lettuce bean macaroni soup

Today I am making up my own type of soup which I called Artisan Lettuce, Bean and Pasta Soup.

Artisan Lettuce comes in a pack of beautiful petite varieties of whole head red and green Tango, Oak and Gem Artisan Lettuce.

Great for salads, sandwiches, wraps and more. Make your dish a masterpiece which I am using this lettuce in my soup.

Dice tiny 1/2 red pepper, 1 peeled apple, 2 sticks of celery 1/2 onion. Place in a soup stock pot with 2 tablespoons of olive oil then lightly saute.

Add 6-7 cups of water and chop up 3 hands full of Artisan Lettuce add to the pot with 1 table spoon of minced garlic (store made is what I use)  and bring to a boil. Then add 1 cup of Ditalini macaroni into the pot and lower to a simmer (keep on stirring the macaroni/pasta until tender)

Add 1 can of white kidney cannellini beans do not drain and 1 small can of tomato sauce.
You can use any beans of your choice and any tomato sauce, paste, pasta sauce, diced tomatoes.

Spices, sprinkle parsley, dill, onion salt, table or sea salt and Mrs. Dash. Add  two or three packs of Goya pollo chicken seasoning.

You can be creative and add anything you like with the spices and beans. Plus you can add spinach or any other type of vegetable you like into your soup.

My kids like to sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top of their soup and if you prefer it a little hot and spicy add a little crushed red pepper spice to your bowl. Remember everything you make is up to your taste.

Be Creative
Enjoy

Carrot Tomatoes and Bean Pasta Soup

Carrot Tomatoes and Bean Pasta Soup is a new creation for me (I just make it up as I go along)

Ingredients 

Barilla Tomatoes and Carrots Pasta Bows
Piccolini means tiny 

Dice tiny 1 slice onion, 1 slice red onion 2 celery sticks 6 baby peeled carrots 1 peeled apple.

Place in a stove top soup pot add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir frequently until veggies are tender. 

Add 10 cups of cold water to your soup pot with the tenderly fried veggies bring to a boil.

Now the fun begins and take your time adding the extra ingredients. Play some of your favorite music as you cook and relax. 

After the stock is at its boil point add 1 table spoon of minced garlic (store made makes this step easy)

Then add 2 chicken bouillon cubes and 1 half box of Barilla Piccolini Tomatoes and carrots mini farfalle bows. 

Stir until pasta is tender then add 1 can chicken broth, 1 can of small white beans Habichuelas Blancas, 1 can Petite diced tomatoes. Do not drain the juice from both cans and add 1 small can of tomato paste. 

Add spices sprinkle a little salt, 2 tables spoons parsley, 1 table spoon dill, sprinkle onion salt and Mrs. Dash and 2 packages of Goya pollo chicken broth. 

You can be creative and add fresh tomatoes, spinach, mixed lettuce, yellow squash, pear anything you enjoy and desire.

Be Creative 

Enjoy

16 Bean Soup

Ingredients

Stove Pot stock fry veggies

Goya 16 Beans Soup Mix

Yummy soothing Bean Soup

Today we are making Bean Soup with 1 lb package of Goya 16 bean soup mix.

Parsley, Dill, Mrs dash, minced garlic,  onion salt,  1 can chicken broth,  2 or 3 packs of Goya chicken broth,  1 half onion,  1 half red pepper,  2 celery sticks and celery top leaves, 10 small peeled carrots, 1 apple and the Goya 16 bean soup mix.

Soak the beans in cold water for about 1 hour and set aside.

Prepare and dice very small the veggies celery sticks and top leaves, carrots, red pepper, onions and 1 small apple.

In the stock stove pot add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and frequently stir the veggies until tender.

Drain the beans add into the veggie stock pot with 10 cups of water and boil reduce heat until beans are tender.

Add 2 table spoons of parsley, 1 teaspoon of dill, shake onion salt (1/2 teaspoon) Mrs. Dash (1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon)

I loved the taste of this bean soup and you can add 1 can of tomato sauce or a can of diced tomatoes plus you can add to the veggies a small sweet potato, white potato, yellow squash diced tiny into your stove pot and fry with my veggies above. You can even add a hand full of small pasta shells, bow ties any type of pasta you enjoy.

If you need to add later more fluid later when your soup sets you can add more chicken broth, water with pollo to flavor. 

Remember everything you make is up to your very own taste add change or delete.

Be Creative
Enjoy

Strawberry and Banana Shake

Strawberry Banana Shake is Quick and Easy.
In a blender add 1 banana, 1 and 1/2 cups of milk, a squirt of strawberry syrup, sprinkle of wheat germ or a tablespoon and blend together.

You can add any kind of fruits you like or even mix and match different fruits together.

Be Creative
Enjoy

Lentil Soup

Sort 1lb bag of Lentils place them in cold water rinse often. 


Chop a few celery leaves tops and place into the stock pot.
Dice very tiny your veggies, baby carrots, celery, red pepper and onions 3/4 cups of each.


In your stock pot fry them lightly in 2 table spoons of olive oil until a little tender stir frequently do not over fry them add the washed Lentils and 10 cups of water to the fry veggie stock bring to a boil add a little salt if desired. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender.


Add 2 packs of Goya chicken pollo,1 can chicken broth, 1 table spoon of minced garlic 
(Store bought Spice World ready to use minced garlic) 
1 small can of tomato sauce, sprinkle dill, parsley, Mrs. Dash and onion salt.


You can add diced sweet potato, apple, yellow squash and fry with the above veggies. Also add small pasta a hand full if you desire.


Be Creative
Enjoy