A big thank you to the self contained box garden forum!

I started reading your posts about growing veggies in EB, Ebuckects and HEB back in early April. You guys inspired me to try it. Here's a picture taken today (7/4/09) of my popcorn. I started it in peat pots and transplanted the scrawny little things to the HEB about 5/10. We left on a 3 week trip 4 days later. When we got home (our son came over every day to check on all my veggie starts and the HEBs) the corn was about 18 inches high. I learned alot reading your posts, plus their pretty entertaining too. Next year I'm trying coir. Thanks so much

Marilyn

Dear Marilyn,
Thank for for showing us your 4th of July popcorn! However, I think you need a better tape measure. I measure your popcorn to be about 4-6 ft. tall! That's some mighty big popcorn! You gonna need a lotta syrup to make popcorn balls!

Happy 4th!

Linda

We've been home a month today. I swear the corn has grown 4-5 inches some days. Your eggplant pictures were great! Next year I'm planting some of the small round purple and white eggplants in my Ebuckets. Right now I have giant pumpkins in them. Thought it was worth a try.

Marilyn,
Thanks for your kind words about my eggplants. I'm sitting here with a huge bowl of 10 eggplants I cut just yesterday. Dinner tomorrow!

Linda

Gymgirl: I just cut up some fairy tale eggplants tonight and have them weeping until tomorrow when I make eggplant parm.
joy

Marilyn, congratulations! This is a one stop shop indeed. I love the entertainment sections as well, LOL.

Great looking corn! It still amazes me how well corn does in EBs/HEBs (and the like). Don't forget, when harvesting, put all the earworms you find in a pile, like so....

Then, put on your best dancin' shoes and make them the dance floor....

Thought I was gonna have to clean up the mess but the ants took care of that for me :)

PETA has an arrest warrant out for you, Ray.

Good thing I don't have a queasy stomach, seeing as I haven't eaten dinner yet! Joy, I need an eggplant parmesan recipe. And please explain "weeping". I know it has something 2 do with drawing out some of the moisture. Just 'cause I grow em don't mean I know how 2 cook em! ^_^ Linda

Ewww............... That's gross! Do you think the ground squirrels will leave my bulbs if they see me dancing on the worms? Probably die laughing at me.

LOL....if they flipped out from Obama swatting a fly. I'm sure they would want me in jail for life from the genocide I have committed on aphids, whiteflies and earworms.


Gymgirl, here's almost the exact way I make my Eggplant Parm. It turns out great. The only thing I do differently is I generally peel the skin off and use flavored Panko breadcrumbs. They're crispier than regular breadcrumbs. I can't wait until my eggplants start producing. I've never made the recipe with homegrown ingredients. It should be even better. http://startcooking.com/blog/383/How-to-Make-Eggplant-Parmesan

What do you all make with Eggplant beside Eggplant Parm? I need some ideas....


myezek - The squished worms pic is pretty gross looking. LOL I didn't think the pic would have turned out so clear. As far as dancing and squirrels....just make sure you don't dance too good. Squirrels have a tendency to talk to each other and before you know it, you'll have all of them in the area showing up expecting a daily show. :)

Ray_Der_Phan = American code name

"Dances with Worms" = Native American name

Slice the eggplant, let sit for several hours to 'weep', brush with basalmic vinegar and grill.

Marilyn

PS not my recipe, it's my husband's. He's the cook around here. Plus chief hole digger

Dances With Worms, LOL.

Chief Hole Digger...

First PETA, now we do not want to offend more people.

I thought there was salt involved in the weeping process?

Oops, I forgot to mention to sprinkle it with garlic salt and then let it sit for several hours.

M

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah, I see, Grasshopper! "Man without complete recipe, eats soup with no spoon!"

It's NOT "Dances with Worms" it's Dances ON Worms, LOL!

Gymgirl: Peel the eggplant, then slice it, then get out the colander, put a dish under the colander to catch excess moisture, sprinkle eggplant slices with salt, put eggplant slices in colander, put paper toweling on top of eggplant and then set a heavy bowl with fruit in it or something heavy on top of papertoweling for about a day. The excess water will come out of the eggplant.

Next day, get two bowls, mix 2 eggs in one, bread crumbs in the other, have a heated skillet with olive oil in it. Put your eggplant slices in the egg mixture, then the bread crumbs then fry them up in the olive oil, then move them to another plate with paper toweling to drain. Take a Pyrex baking dish and layer, with marinara sauce, eggplant, mozarella and parmesan cheese until there is no more eggplant and the pyrex baking dish is full. Heat oven to 350 degrees and cook for about half an hour.

joy

Ya'll my SOUP is dribbling through my hands!

Is the eggplant "weeping" on my counter, in my fridge, in a hyperbaric chamber??!! ^_^

Gymgirl: You can let it weep in a colander in a plate in the sink if you like, doesn't matter. The fridge would have a tendency to help it hold the water so I don't put mine in it.
joy

Thanks, Joy. Do I need to keep the eggplant in the fridge or let it sit out? And, are we using store bought marinara sauce?

Thanks, Again. Now I have to go to bed, so I can get up and go to my day job in a few hours!

LOL.....Dances with/on Worms

This seems appropriate ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjNhyeje0g0

You all are too funny!! I have to stop by here more often. Love the dance! I'd be in jail for sure with PETA for Japanese Beetle abuse. I'm either drowning them, smashing them or snipping them in half. They have skeletonized all the leaves on a couple of my Rose Mallows. Sometimes one just can't live and let live. :0)

Juanita