Dilly Bean - Pickles

We have a good crop of beans and a good crop of dill right now. You put the two together and you have "dilly beans".

This recipe is for pickling the beans so you can use a simple water bath canner.

Here we go...

Easy Dill Pickles

Making pickles is not difficult no matter what you choose. Dill pickles are especially easy.

The key to good pickles is fresh crisp cucumbers from your local farmers market. They don't have to be pickling cucumbers. Small slicing cucumbers will do just fine.

Here is the recipe...

Dill and Lemon Flavored Butter

Dill tops the list of flavored butters. This one goes good with fish and baby potatoes. Also try with sweet corn.

Ingredients:

1 stick of butter (whipped butter works good for spreading)
1 tablespoon of minced sweet onions with green tops
1/2 teaspoon of fresh dill weed (can also use dried)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon white pepper, ground

Directions:

Process in food processor until smooth. Refrigerate until served.

Arugula and New Baby Potato Salad

Potato salad is one of the staples of of the summer time menu. Small new baby potatoes are the most flavorful and beat the socks off the storage varieties in the stores. Our arugula is also way more flavorful than store bought arugula. I think it is the minerals in our soil that punch up the flavor. These two vegetables are dynamite in the traditional potato salad with a little kick!

One of the keys to a good potato salad is to mix the dressing and the potatoes before the potatoes cool so the dressing is soaked up by the cooling potatoes.

Ingredients:

1. 2 lbs new potatoes, baby red or Yukon gold
2. 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
3. 1/4 cup mayonnaise (you can make your own fresh if you'd like)
4. 3 small sweet onions like Walla Walla or Alisa Craig
5. 2 cups of arugula leaves, baby sized or roughly chop bigger leaves
6. 1 small bunch fresh dill, chop dill weed finely

Directions:

Fill a 5 quart pot 3/4 full of water. Bring to a boil and add potatoes. Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until you can pierce the potatoes easily with a knife or fork. Drain potatoes and put them back in the pot. Slice warm potatoes into quarters. Add to a large mixing bowl.

Mix.together the yogurt and mayonnaise. Toss the potatoes with the dressing, then toss with the onions, arugula and dill. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Let rest in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.

How to Plant Jenna's Herbs

How to plant herbs is not a one size fits all so let me break it down into families of similar plant types.

Basil and Mint

Believe it or not these are close cousins. They can be started from root cuttings and are very easy to grow from our large from our large transplants. Typically plant at the level that they were in the pots, though they will tolerate being planted a little deeper. Fertilize with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer. If you are potting to a larger pot use our organic potting mix or mix in some worm castings to your favorite mix.

Thyme - English, Lemon, Silver, Winter

Easy to grow and should be planted at the same level as grown. Will tolerate a little deeper and will root from any stem that touches the ground. Fertilize with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer. If you are potting to a larger pot use our organic potting mix or mix in some worm castings to your favorite mix.

Cilantro

Transplant to the garden at the same height and clip regularly. Fertilize with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer. If you are potting to a larger pot use our organic potting mix or mix in some worm castings to your favorite mix.

Parsley - Curly, Triple Curled, Italian Flat Leaf

Can be left in the pots they were grown in or transplanted to the garden. Do not plant deeper than they were in the pot. They will not root from the stem. Fertilize with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer. If you are potting to a larger pot use our organic potting mix or mix in some worm castings to your favorite mix.

Rosemary

The woody stem will root if buried a little deeper than grown. Let the plants get about 12 inches tall and then pinch the growing tip. The side shoots will then start to grow and you can harvest them readily. Grows great in pots or in the garden. Is not perennial in Minnesota.

Dill

Plant in the garden for maximum harvest. The plants will get quite tall and become root bound quickly in pots. If you do leave them in pots, water daily. Plant several times for continuous harvest.

Fennel

Separate plants when small and plant in the garden at the level it was grown at in the pots. Fertilize with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer. 

Hyssop

Plant at the level the plant was grown at. A nice herb and beautiful flower later in the season. The bees love this Fertilize with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer. If you are potting to a larger pot use our organic potting mix or mix in some worm castings to your favorite mix.. 

Curry

Plant at the level the plant was grown at. Great aroma and flavor. Fertilize with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer. If you are potting to a larger pot use our organic potting mix or mix in some worm castings to your favorite mix.

Cumin

Plant at the level the plant was grown at. Nice spice and great flavor. Fertilize with fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer. If you are potting to a larger pot use our organic potting mix or mix in some worm castings to your favorite mix.