EARLY HARVEST

Sometimes my husband is right when he is also wrong.  We went to Rivers Plant and Garden Center some months ago and spent about $80.00 for plants and potato sets.  He insisted that we were wasting our time and money and could buy the same harvest from the local market for far less.  I insisted that it was the thrill of growing it that made it worth the money.  And, nothing is as good as really fresh home grown.  Now that we have eaten the $12.00 worth of broccoli in one 9 inch pie (and may I say it was absolutely yummy) I am having second thoughts.  There will be a second smaller crop, but this definitely was not a good investment.  We will have to spend more wisely next year.  Mississippi just gets too hot, too quickly for that type of cool weather crop.  Even worse luck with the cauliflower.  None of that next year either.   Although, in years back we have had some very good crops, but the conditions must have been just right.

So here I am pondering the merits of planting potatoes.  This morning I dug around in the tub of potato plants and found five little new potatoes which I am going to cook in some peas for supper.  I think they'll be absolutely yummy and much better than those "new" ones you get at the local supermarket which were dug probably over a month ago.   I'm sure they'll be worth the $8.00 we spent on the little bag which planted 12 hills.  God willing, we'll probably be able to dig enough for maybe 6-8 meals worth and maybe a good many more.  Sounds like a good investment to me.

Not overly attractive, but they seem to like the big buckets.  My theory is that they produce more if you dig a few along and loosen the soil so they can produce more little spuds.

While pondering broccoli, I thought I would share the recipe for my incredible broccoli pie.  It is very easy and heats up well, if you are lucky enough to have any left over.

           Impossible Broccoli Pie

2 c. chopped broccoli, steamed to just tender and drain
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 1/2 c. milk
3/4 c. self-rising flour
1/4 c. shortening
1/4 t. pepper
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
3 eggs
1 t. salt

Prepare broccoli and set aside.  Blend shortening, and flour.  Add eggs and milk to the flour mixture.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease pie plate.  Mix broccoli, onion and cheese and pour into pie plate.  Mix all other together and pour over broccoli.  Bake til golden brown, about 40 minutes and firm set.  Let stand 5 minutes.  Serve in pie wedges.


CARE PACKAGE FROM PAIGE

May is the gift month for me - Mother's Day and birthday.  So, being overseas and the "always on time" daughter, Paige's package for me arrived Saturday, just after she called and threatened me with bodily harm if I opened either gift early.  She knows me all too well, but she also knows the box might get here in one week or six weeks depending on the headwinds blowing the "slow boat from China" this way.  So, here they sit early and looking like they need to be opened right now.  One is curiously shaped and cushy feeling.  I have no idea at all what it possibly could be.  The other is in a box and makes no noise and again I have no earthly idea.  The difficult thing is that they could be something typically German or Turkish.  Paige and family just got back from a trip to Istanbul, Turkey and live in Germany.  They  know I love anything, so I will be thrilled no matter what the gifts are.  I even loved the sales paper and magazines she included with the gifts.  There were some weird snack treats she bought in Turkey. 

The red and white box contained the strangest little pillow looking things and when we pulled them apart they were like really strange stringy cotton candy.  Reallllllly sweet and definitely not my fav.  I'm more interested in going overseas and trying some of the great looking ice cream deserts shown on the sales paper.  Delish looking.  I'll have to say those German folks tend to use just a bit too much liquer, rum and stuff like that.  Interesting to try, but not always as yummy as it looks.  Now Milka chocolate is always a winner.  

We'll try something different for snack tonight and shake my gifts again.  This is better than an Easter egg hunt for adults.