Round Squash Fun

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IMG_3911Normally when I start posting about our squash harvest, I would begin with recipes, but this time I’ve decided to start with a bit of fun with my squash.

Since the larger round squash can keep for a few weeks on the counter, I enjoy using them for decorating.
IMG_3943A bit of netting wrapped around a squash and a bit of shiny ribbon makes the squash a bit fancy or a bit slutty. I haven’t decided yet. lol
I think it makes a cheerful and different piece of decor.
IMG_3927In honor of 4th of July coming soon, I set a squash on a mason jar and dressed it as an Uncle Sam character. I drew his eyes and mouth on sticker paper so i could remove them easily from the squash. I put a hat on it and then put a bit of polyfil under each side of the hat for sideburns. I glued some polyfil to a piece of sticker paper and then stuck it on the squash for a beard. The patriotic bow pulls it all together nicely, I think.
IMG_3913I thought I’d go ahead and waste a squash since I have so many. I made a light out of it. It looks really pretty in real life.  I cut out the top of the squash to use as a cap for it.  I hollowed out the squash and drilled holes in it. I put a piece of plastic on the inside on the bottom so the moisture won’t get in the tea light and short it out. I then put a battery operated tea light in the squash and put the cap on it. It looks charming.
To store it when not in use: I remove the tea light from the squash, then wrapped the squash in plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator.  When I’m done with it, after a couple of days, I’ll throw it away.

If you use squash or pumpkins as decor, Be sure to check them every day so you can dispose of them when they go bad.

Why is it with squash, it’s either feast or famine. Just look at the big pile of squash we have picked over the past week and a half.
6-22-2014-weeksharvestWe’ve already given the neighbors so much they won’t take anymore. lol  It’s been a good year for squash so far. Sadly, It could end any day because of weather or pests. So, I’m enjoying them while I can.

Remember to have some fun and play with your food every now and then.

Wishing you all a terrific Tuesday.
🙂


🙂
spgrnbgln

Garden Update – 6-23-2014

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6-22-2014We got our first harvest of green beans yesterday. I can hardly wait to cook them. I’m going to put new potatoes and some herbs in with the beans and let them cook down. Yum! The rest of the beans will be snapped, blanched, vacuum packed and put in the freezer for winter.

We got our first harvest of cucumbers too.  They’ll be sliced and put in a bowl of icy water with just a sprinkle of lite salt.

A few more squash needed picking, so I picked them. We don’t really need them. I have a huge pile of squash on my counter right now. I’ll post a photo of them someday soon.

The leafy vegetable with the bright color leaf stems is Chard. It’s an interesting veggie. The stems has a celery-like taste to them and the green leafy part taste similar to spinach. This year is our first experience with it and we like it a lot.

I dug up a few potatoes to cook in with my beans.
I picked a few onions to have on hand for cooking or if my husband want to eat them raw.

Thankfully this update is a positive one.

I hope your gardening season is a productive one.
gardeningcouple
Here’s a few photos of our garden that show it’s progress.
Our crops are growing well (and so are the weeds. lol)


🙂
spgrnbgln

 

Sundog

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IMG_3416Here’s a sundog that looks a bit sun-angelic to me.
IMG_3414We’ve been having quite a few sundogs here lately.
This one showed up so well in my photo from the
evening of Father’s Day that I decided to share it.

IMG_3472A half hour later the sundog looked somewhat like a rainbow sun-arrow.

It’s fun spotting atmosphere phenomenon and it’s a happy bonus when I have my camera available to ‘try’ and capture it to share with you.

Here’s wishing you all a great weekend.
🙂

spgrnbgln

PineApple Upside-Down Bundt Cake

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IMG_3501PineApple Upside-Down Bundt Cake <– direct link to recipe

To celebrate Father’s Day, I made my first ever Pineapple upside-down cake. I used a recipe by Betty Crocker using a bundt pan. It was really easy to make and turned out well, even though I didn’t have enough pineapple slices. I didn’t realize that the small can only contained 4 slices. But all-in-all I’m quite happy with my 1st effort and I intend to make another someday in the future.

Thankfully, my Husband & Grandson really enjoyed it and that’s what matters most. 🙂

The one thing that I would do differently is:
I would use a large can of pineapple slices.

If you try the recipe, let me know how you like it.

Have a sweet rest of the week.

chef

 

😀
spgrnbgln