Open Face Onion Sandwich

We have onions drying for the winter monthes...but it is hard not to use a few each week. I hope we have enough left for the winter monthes. I love making open face onion sandwiches.....just thought I would share the recipe.


Open Face Onion Sandwich

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip

4 slices of fresh bread remove the crusts (you can also use store bought)

1 very nice sweet onion cut into 4 very thin slices

Preheat the broiler

In a small bowl, mix together cheese and Mayo. Spread evenly on bread slices. Place onion in the middle of the square.

Broil 4-5 inches from heat until light brown. Serve immediately.

I sometimes add a slice of tomato too! Yum!


The garden is still doing pretty good....can't wait to plant our fall veggies.


Happy Gardening..

Lynn

How To Store Onions...

Well it is time to start getting my onions ready to be stored through the winter months. The easiest way to store onions is by hanging them and letting them dry.

On a nice warm sunny day after my onion tops have died all the way to the ground..I then lift them up out of the ground and let them dry for a week or two it is good to have them lay on something so you can bring them out of the rain. Placing them on a wood board or plastic seed tray work great!

When your onions have dried you can place them on a strong string (or cord)...I take four onions and tie the stalks together..I then tie the knotted stalks to a piece of string (or cord).... then I add more onions by tying the stalks around the piece of string (or cord) just slide them down to meet the others. After I have a few on a string (or cord)... I keep them hanging in my basement so air can get to all sides and I keep them away from moisture.

Freezing Onions?

I place small onions in freezer bags. I always peel them and make sure they are clean.

I cut onions into small pieces and place in freezer when they are rock hard. I then place them in freezer bags. I use them in sauces and they taste fresh all winter long!


Happy Gardening....

Lynn

What to use as mulch in your gardening beds?

I had a friend ask if she could use anything else but regular hardwood mulch to mulch her garden and I said Yes! Here are the few suggestions I gave her.....

hay

straw

leaves

grass clippings ( always make sure you use grass clippings that have not been sprayed with a chemical weed killer)

saw dust

ground corn cobs and stalks ( you can place these in a chipper shredder)

coffee grounds

pebbles

partly finished compost

newspaper ( I do not use any that have color)

shredded paper (old mail through a paper shredder works great)

Spanish moss ( you can get this at a garden supply store)

pine needles (blue berries love them)

But..... what about black plastic?

I just don't like the look of black plastic but I have seen people roll it out and place dirt over the top and that looks pretty good.


One thing about black plastic it really heats up the soil to several degrees and that could make a big difference on your planting time.

I have been asked what you should use as mulch on onions and garlic? Grass clippings applied right after you plant should help with this problem. ****(always make sure you use grass clipping that have not been sprayed with any chemical weed killer)

I always recommend that if you use a natural mulch on your garden beds such as hay, grass clippings ect... remove these in the fall. I really think that helps prevent diseases to grow through the winter monthes...you can always plant and replace in the spring.

Happy Gardening....

Lynn

Strange but Good....

We have been able to dig up many of our onions and this is one of my favorite recipes.....I hope you enjoy it!!!

Vegetable-Stuffed Baked Onions

8-10 medium onions peeled

4 strips bacon

3/4 cups carrots

1/2 cup sweet red pepper chopped finely

1-1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

1/3 cup minced fresh parsley

3 tablespoons butter melted

1-1/2 teaspoons salt (less if you like)

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3/4 beef broth


Cut 1/2 inch off top of onion and trim bottom to be able to sit flat...scoop out center leaving 1/2 in shell of onion. (Chop up rest of middle of onion to add to your stuffing mix)

Place onion shells in a square pan and cover with water..bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 8-10 minutes.

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp...place bacon on paper towel and save 1 teaspoon drippings

In the bacon drippings saute onion, carrots, red pepper until tender...remove from heat stir in bread crumbs, parsley , butter, salt, pepper, and bacon.

Drain onion shells and fill with mixture...place in ungreased shallow baking dish. Pour beef broth over onions. Cover and baked at 350 for 45-50 minutes

Happy Gardening.....

Lynn

Companion Planting Part 1

Companion planting is very important you can use other plants to keep bugs away...Here are a few of my favorites.

Mint: is a companion to cabbage and tomatoes and keeps white cabbage moths away.

Rue: companion to roses and raspberries keeps Japanese beetles away. It doesn't like to be near sweet basil

Wormwood: You can plant this as a border to keep small animals aways. Rabbits, mice etc..

Sage: Plant with rosemary, cabbage, and carrots. This does not like to be planted near cucumbers. It will keep carrot fly and the cabbage moth away.

Petunia: Companion to all beans.

Marigolds: Companion to tomatoes.. keeps tomato worm , and asparagus beetles away.

Happy Gardening...

Lynn

When should I plant?

I have little reminders on when I plant my garden here are a few.....

I plant my tomatoes, melons and eggplant when the peonies flower and when the black locust bloom.

I plant my pole beans and cucumbers when the apple blossoms drop.

I plant my potatoes when the white oak leaves are as big as a cats ear.

I plant my spinach, beets and onions when the daffodils bloom.

I plant my broccoli and cabbage after the dog-woods have dropped their flowers.


Happy Gardening...

Lynn