Low Carb Garden 2006!

[not2late]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

Grapevine leaves: Yep, they're edible. In the Mediterranean, they have a dish called "stuffed grape leaves". However, they stuff them with a mix of rice and ground meat (typically lamb) or a mix rice and fruit/nuts. I've tried them using a meat loaf type mix instead, and they are fine.

You need to pick the younger leaves.The older leaves are tough and fibrous.

In terms of taste....let's see, they taste sort of like Chard or Kale, but they have a slightly acidic taste rather than bitter. The acidity isn't unpleasant or bad.

Non-low carb recipe for stuffed grape leaves:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Veget...rapeLeaves.htm

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

The bigger ones are tough as heck Megs, you got that right. I bought some that came in a jar one time and they were so tough you couldn't even bite thru them~!

[boonie stomper]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

Thanks, not2late. I'm going to try them ASAP! Yet another way to avenge my garden from the weeds taking over.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

Sorry MOG I thought those were your ripe ones and you had a new variety like the green scotch bonnets. must be all the water they are getting at your place. mine are already orange and deeply grooved from the lack of rain this yr but i started my plants indoors last Feb. I have had them get 3-4 inches long in good rain yrs

Garlic in the south gets planted one clove at a time in early Sept. it will grow all winter even in snow and cold. It they get frosted they will come back so don't worry about having to cover them. They don't like real wet soil though so mix some sand or other soil component you use to allow them to drain. they "die" in the summer heat and the staks turn brown so you know it is time to harvest in June or july. depending if you have soft or hard neck you can eat the little bulb like pods that will grown on the stalk like spring onions too. they look like tiny garlic cloves and have great flavor while you are waiting for the bulbs to mature. After you harvest let them dry a few days and set aside a good looking one for next falls planting.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

Thanks for the garlic growing tips! I am definatley planting some this year! I've been wanting to forever but had no idea when to plant!

Have you ever tried growing Elephant Garlic?

[2big4mysize]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

nope I'm still trying to figure out soft neck and hard neck. got hold of some flowering for the first time and saw the edible flower all my garlic growing buddies were raving about eating.

I got purple variety this yr too but they are not braidable.

doesn't elephant have no flavor? it should have the same season in the south.

[boonie stomper]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

Elephant garlic tastes to garlic like vidalia onion to onion, it is much milder. I tried growing some in NC but it never matured - either it rotted after it got about a foot tall or something attacked it underground. It would be nice to try again. I've got lots of leeks blooming now - their bluish flowers, stalks and leaves are all good, and they come back again (I only take some of the leaves off each plant).

[not2late]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

I'm not sure if this will apply to you all. But I live in Maryland and an old-timer neighbor of mine told me that the only time he has been able to grow garlic successfully, was when he planted them in late summer for a fall harvest. Otherwise, if you plant it in the spring, you'll get alot of green, but no heads of garlic.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

Elephant garlic has a wonderful flavor, like boonie said its much milder. I don't like the elephant garlic I bought here at the grocery store. But my mom and dad go to a garlic festival in VA and mom always brings me back a head from there and it is wonderful! I used to always bake it and then use it to spread on bread..delicious.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

MOG have you roasted regular garlic? it loses most of the strong garlic flavor too and can be spread like toothpaste right from the skin of the clove.

[not2late]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

I can't get Heidi's scarlet runner beans off my mind, lol.

Here's some links about them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runner_bean
http://www.humeseeds.com/beansr.htm
http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/book/chap4/scarlet.html
http://www.cyberforest.net/flowersee...nner_beans.htm


I'll have to try them.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Low Carb Garden 2006!

MOG have you roasted regular garlic? it loses most of the strong garlic flavor too and can be spread like toothpaste right from the skin of the clove.

Yes, I love roasted garlic of all kinds. And yes it does loose most of the strong garlicky flavor and gets kind of nutty tasting IMO.

[jroche5998]

Reaping what I have sown

Up here in the northeast we have a very short growing season, and I started my seeds late. Not expecting any harvest for at least another month, (surprise!)last night we had some fresh from the garden green beans that were delicious. That might be all we get for the next month(beans only, that is), but nothing is fresher than 10 minutes from pick to eat.

[boonie stomper]

Re: Reaping what I have sown

OMG, you are so right - right from the vine & hot off the stove is sooo satisfying! Had fresh beans, too, last night, with bacon grease for seasoning.

[cristina sloane]

Re: Reaping what I have sown

I took out some hamberger for dinner does anyone have a recipe for like a cabbage wrap I was thinking too brown some meat with onion add some cubed cheese and spices then wrap them in pre boiled cabbage and stick in the oven with like some soy sause on top any other plans I could try I just made that one up and am not sure if it will work help dinner before 4pm