Cilantro Spring

The nights aren't warm enough yet here for me to put out my container cilantro plants, even in my mini-greenhouse. I'm hoping for a warm-up soon because they need to be repotted into larger containers that won't fit on a window sill.

How Devilish Can You Get?

You would think that National Deviled Egg Day would occur on Halloween. But nooooooooooooo! I guess the egg producers wanted a day with no other distractions. Although, placing it on the second of November definitely puts it within shouting distance of All Hallows Eve.

There are many ways to dress up the ordinary nature of eggs and make them devilish. And when one thinks of the devil, the thought of fire most certainly comes to mind. So here is a recipe that uses two garden products that are easily grown in pots(indoors or outside) or in the ground to bring some heat to your delectable,  devilish delights.

Jalapeno Deviled Eggs Recipe

6 large hard-boiled eggs, cooled and peeled
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons fresh, chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white vinegar
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1 fresh sliced jalapeno pepper, for garnish

Halve the eggs lengthwise.  Carefully remove yolks and place in a small bowl; mash yolks with the back of a fork.  Add jalapeno pepper, mayonnaise, cilantro, mustard, pickled jalapeno juice and cayenne pepper.  Season to taste with salt and black pepper.  Spoon mixture into hollowed out egg whites.  Garnish with fresh jalapeno slices.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.  Serves 6.

Cilantro In Ecstascy

While I have more than a little concern that we are only a few weeks away from serious snow here in NWI, it's nice to see my potted cilantro luxuriating in the cooler temperatures of autumn. If my plants are happy, I'm happy. 

Deja Grew

Three seasons ago there was a contamination scare that involved melons. It made me very glad that I was growing my own melons that year. Now I am experiencing the double whammy of a salmonella scare involving cilantro and cucumbers sending shock waves through the produce sections of American food stores.

Fortunately the FDA is right on top of this and has isolated the source of the contamination in each case. And even more fortunately, I can get all the cilantro and lemon cukes I want from my garden.

Food safety isn't the main reason I like to garden, but it is a really great side benefit.

Getting My Green On All Year Round.

I've no need of a calender to tell me that we're much closer to the vernal equinox than we were a few weeks ago. The increasing amount of daylight since the winter solstice has triggered new growth in the cilantro plant I brought in from the garden last fall. Although we had some gray, dismal days during the past three months, there were enough bright, sunny ones to keep this plant alive and vital. Now it's coming out of its low key growth.

I'm still debating whether I'll plant it out or keep it inside. But either way, its flavorful leaves and stems will definitely keep finding their way into my cooking.

Cilantro: The Next Generation

I can't be absolutely sure, but it's quite possible that the cilantro pictured above(which I'm using today in my sofrito) will be my last harvest from outdoors this year. The weather forecasters are predicting early, bone chilling cold that will probably kill off most plants except for evergreens. If this is indeed the end, I can only say that it's been a pretty good year in gardening, despite weather that sometimes seemed to be determined to make it otherwise.

Among this year's garden pleasures was growing cilantro from seeds produced in the garden last year. I was doubtful how viable they would be, but almost every seed planted sprouted. And I had plenty to plant and plenty more are still left. I look forward to learning if the seeds will be as prolific next season.

Herbs In The Window

It's an unfortunate fact of life that at this latitude the winter days aren't long enough or sunny enough to grow fruit bearing plants without the help of additional, artificial light. However, certain herbs can be grown on the ledge of a window with southern exposure. My cilantro plant is coming along very well despite the fact that it hasn't even been a month since the winter solstice. And now that the days are becoming longer, I think I'll plant some chive seeds to have something to add to my baked potatoes.