Tag Archives: tomatoes

Unboxing: Texas Tomato Cages

March 28, 2021 epicureasian

I’m stepping up my tomato growing game in 2021. I started my Sun Sugar cherry and Sugar Gloss currant tomatoes indoors in late January. They were seedlings by February 2. The vigorous young starts were then up potted in early March.

About the same time, I planned to take 5 of each tomato to raise in grow bags, so I picked up some 15g grow bags off Amazon.

But remembering the last time I raised a single Sun Sugar tomato, I decided to purchase cages from Texas Tomato Cages. On my order are MDC6 6 Medium 20″ Diameter Cages @ 169.99, which are 6 foot cages, coming 6 per pack. I already have 2 collapsible cages from a previous purchase, but from a different source (got them from Calloways), but these Texas cages are definitely quality. Yes, my math didn’t quite match the number of tomato plants I plan to grow, so I may have to get more cages. They are in-state so shipping is fast.

Ye Olde Garden

Seeds and Plants purchases

April 22, 2020 epicureasian

Earlier in April, I mentioned starting some seeds from a purchase I made from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I also visited Painted Flower Farm and North Haven Gardens to pick out some plants for the shade bed. Since then I’ve made additional purchases in attempt to satisfy my plant addiction.

Hostas are the last major addition I’m looking forward to dropping in the shade bed. I chased down a Facebook group that lists a variety of hosta sources. Island Breeze, Hans and Dancing Darling are enroute to me, courtesy of Tims Hosta Farm.

My lemon balm seed starting efforts have been frustrating. It’s the only seed that haven’t germinated. Either this is harder than I thought or the lemon balm seed I have today are probably too old. So I found Hayefield’s shop on Etsy and purchased some All Gold lemon balm, along with Golden Jubilee Agastache and Variegated Prunella.

I am highly nervous that the pineapple sages that I planted in 2018 aren’t going to return, so I’m trying to source either plants or seed. Luckily one of my fave online plant catalogs, Colonial Creek Farm, has them sale. I picked up two Golden Delicious pineapple sages, along with white anouk lavender, curly mint and pineapple mint.

Last are the impulse buys from big box stores and the local Calloway’s: herbs, pepper plants and tomatoes.

Ye Olde Garden

Tools and Plantings

April 18, 2020 epicureasian

More IG gardenspo convinced me to purchase a garden fork, e.g. spade fork…which differs from the 3-tined cultivator which is usually handy in tilled soil. I have to say I’m impressed with the spade fork, which is tackling the clay soil I’m digging up to redo the stone bed borders.

Got melons and berries in the ground this week, but there are plenty more plants waiting in the wings. Like the Giga Silver Scabiosa I picked up from North Haven Gardens last week.

Dining, Recipes

Recipe: Slow Cooker Jalapeno Chili

July 11, 2016 epicureasian

This slow cooked chili ambushed many at a workplace potluck lunch with its heat. The secret is leaving the seeds intact on 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers. Cumin powder lends a distinctive aroma to the chili. Additional heat furnished by chili powder, red pepper and a dash ghost pepper chili added to meat while browning in a pan.

8 oz, Angus Ground Beef Chuck 80%/ 20%
8 oz., Ground Lamb
8 oz, Ground Pork – Fixed
9 oz(s), Onions, raw
56.00 g, Garlic, raw
4.50 oz(s), Peppers, jalapeno, raw
6oz can (10 tbsp ea.), Tomato Paste
14.5oz can (1 4/5 cups ea.), Fire Roasted Diced Garlic Tomato
6 fluid ounce, Water – Municipal
1 tbsp, Spices, chili powder
2 tbsp, Spices, cumin seed
2 tbsp, Spices, paprika
1 tbsp, Spices, cinnamon, ground
0.50 tbsp, Spices, pepper, black
1 tsp, Spices, pepper, red or cayenne
8 oz, Fresh Lean Ground Turkey With Rosemary Extract
dash of ghost pepper chili

Over medium heat, lightly brown the meats in a skillet, season with spices to taste. Add to a preheated slow cooker. Using the fat/grease left over from the cooked meats, saute garlic and onions until aromatic, about 2-3 minutes, then add to the slow cooker. Toss in the remaining ingredients, then cook low and slow for 4 hours. Or cook on high for 2 hours.

Serving suggestion: serve warm over hard boiled eggs or egg bake. For my potluck lunch, it made for a spicy, meaty topping on burgers and hot dogs.

Yields about 78oz of chili.

MPF calculation per 2oz serving:
71 calories
Total Fat 4g
Total Carbohydrate 3 g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugars 1 g
Protein 5 g

Ye Olde Garden

The community garden in early summer

June 19, 2011 epicureasian

Despite searing temps hot enough to cook an egg, the man and I braved the heat to check out the community garden next to Coppell city hall. The garden was awash in summer colors of yellow and orange. The cosmos were in full, rampant bloom, along with zinnias, lantanas, loosestrife, sunflowers and roses. It gave us an opportunity to observe how the vegetable plants fared in this heat. We saw several pepper plants fruiting, in addition to tomatoes, blackberries, squash and melons.