Oh, I understand the fudge aggravations. My grandmother used to make the best cake that had homemade fudge icing on a "from scratch" yellow cake. Oh it was so gooooood! As she got older she lost the knack for making cakes and no one else really learned how to make it. She passed away a couple of years ago. We have the recipe and we have tried several times but it never comes out right. You have to be perfectly timed when you cook the fudge icing on the stove, then beat it with a spoon, then put it on the cake before it hardens. Once when my Mom made it, it hardened up when she was beating it so we basically had smeared chunks of fudge with embedded cake crumbs laying around on layers of yellow cake. Tasty, but ugly! One time when I made it, I must not have cooked it long enough because it was still like caramel. I put the icing on the cake and it didn't look too bad. However, 30 minutes later all the icing had oozed off the cake and puddled up on the cake plate. It looked like giant pancakes and syrup and was a sticky gooey mess. Oh well, I'm sure we'll try again one day because, like I said before, it was so gooooood! :)
Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #45
Sharon, I just don't understand it, I started giving him my jugs a couple of years ago and when he got them he did them the same night and so fast lol Now I can't even get him to do a measly 17 jugs maybe because I have bags of that many in each to follow LOL
Check what those little seedlings look like when they start coming up I may be testing you later on when mine start coming up! I'm really looking forward to those gentians ;P
Terese, I put the holes in the jugs with it so much faster and not as many accidents Ha! Then when it first starts warming up in the spring I go around and put a hole in the top of them looks kind of funny outside with my extension cord and my glue gun going from jug to jug :)
Danita, that's a shame you didn't get the recipe and can't get the icing right bring those duds over here I don't think I would have a problem eating them LOL
You are burning (melting) holes in the jug with the glue Gun???
Do You put holes in the bottom too, for drainage?
Rides, Yep I put about 16 holes in the bottom of the jugs aout four in each quarter :) Makes good drainage and lots of room for all the slugs to crawl in lol Not really I hope I don't have any borders! I put the holes in the bottom then later when it starts to warm up I put one in the top to try and help the heat out but when it gets too warm from the sun I take the whole top half off, if it gets cool at night or goes back to colder temps I can put the top half back on.
Do you use the two liter soda bottles too??
I have a lot of them. More than milk jugs.
I don't use the two liter soda bottles someone else can tell you about those my glue gun won't penitrate the bottom they are so thick. I do use half gal. jugs esp. for tree or shrub seeds.
rrm... yes, you can use 2Ltr too.
thanks Lea... my kid has one. I may have him poke the holes for me.
Lea, I'll try to remember to take a pic when they get a little bigger - they're still teeny. And will try to get those seeds out to you soon. I only went out to put out the garbage today, and it's friiiiigggiiiidd!!!!!!! Almost got frostbite in 2 minutes, so I'm inside til it gets a little more hospitable out there.
I used a lot of the 2 ltr bottles last year and found that it's easy to see the roots through those. Also, FYI, try to use a colored pen on those jugs, because the black just doesn't show up. I used a mint green that I grabbed at Hobby Lobby when they were out of the black ones and found that I prefer it. Just wish I'd gotten an extra fine point! DH drilled holes in the jugs for me with a 1/4 bit.
Oh my, I just listened to the weather and a winter storm is coming in tonight again. And get this, we could get up to 2 inches of SNOW where I am and 5-10 inches in western N.C. Suppose to start after midnight tonight. I been on the computer too much, it sneaked up on me.
This message was edited Dec 17, 2009 5:31 PM
Regarding slugs- put a little DE in with the soil, that will solve the slug issue.
DE= diatomaceous earth. It's organic, not a chemical pesticide. It cuts those crawlers up and they dehydrate and die. I use it in my window boxes every year, and no more red beetles coming in my windows!!
DE comes in a couple forms, get the gardening kind. It's also used in pool filters (you don't want that kind). Believe it or not, a lot of food companies use it in flour to keep the pests away. It's safe for humans. (Kinda freaks me out though...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
g. makinoi pretty never grown any.
my fudge finally hardened enough to be considered fudge. took it all night long. everyone been eating on it now.
wow guess it just took its time
I have a little drill to use making jewelry and
also a regular one for just around the house.
So I can drill holes,I read someone used water that had
Peroxide in it to help their plants from getting damp-off
That is what I have problems with.
geesh get busy and get behind on the threads very quickly! LOL
Ut-oh. Hope my folks in western NC have supplies for a while.
Imzadi, the g. makinoi "Marsha" seems to be a lot more robust than my other gentians. It was its first year in my garden this year, but it grew like crazy and had lots of blooms. It also grows upright rather than creeping along the ground. I highly recommend it. The bees loved it too. I'll try to collect lots of seeds next year, as I now know that they're viable.
Rides, I used hydrogen peroxide on my indoor starts last year and didn't have damping off. I used 1 part of the 3% solution to about 9 or 10 parts water.
herb, I thought that diatomaceous earth wasn't any good after a rain but I supose if it's in the dirt it should be alright, sounds like a plan I'll put it on my list next time I'm in town, I'm always wondering what to do about the slugs I have millions here! The first year I WS I had very few of the jugs coming up when I went to dump the dirt they were all in the bottom of the jug! Right now I have shingles off of people's houses when they were replacing a roof I begged off of them Ha!
Rides, you shouldn't have any problem with your seedlings in your jugs getting damp-off unless maybe you go around watering them all the time just plant and forget them until spring :) I'm wondering abut mine this year they say it's going to be a dry winter but once those jugs are wet it takes them a long time to dry out.
Hemo, that's how big my holes are at the bottom of my jugs at least 1/4" if not more but there are four in each quarter of the bottom sometimes six I make sure I have enough drainage holes lol My drainage hole are at least as big as a pencil is around.
Yes Terese, get that son of yours to working he'll think it's fun, NOT, mine thinks it's too boring that's why I have him doing it lol
Mekos, I was on the computer one afternoon and it was nice outside the wind wasn't blowing that much no dark clouds but sprinkles, I had a knock on the door and then the siren went off for tornadoes! Freaked me out LOL You be careful if you have to get out!
Sharon I'm in no hurry for those seeds it will be a lot later before I plant them.
It's been so darn cold here then I go in town and it's almost decent that's not fair I don't even like going out to the mail box I ask Tony to do it Ha!
I know that feeling, I don't like to get out andI know it is not as cold down here.
I just don't like the idea of winter. I'm a wimp in my old age!!!!☺
Where I am won't get more than 2 inches and will probably turn to rain later and melt it off, but the mountains are looking for a blizzard. I feel for them. I joke about wanting snow all the time but don't like for the other people to get hurt in these bad storms. It's cold and not fun at all with all that much. I'm at the border line between getting some and not getting it. It's always iffy here. We rarely get any at all so this is nice for me.
snow sucks...ice sucks...cold sucks....I want spring!!!!!! LOL
You just want those pretty flowers.LOL
Tis a reason for the Seasons, winter, Spring, Summer and Fall,
It is not for us lowly mortals to CALL>>
I tried to get my son to move to Florida at one time but he wanted nothing to do with it that was before they started getting colder weather, he had never even seen the beach still hasn't been to Florida but loves the beach!
OFFER ME A Place in Florida!?! (tongue hanging out, begging). I'LL go so fast you won't know if it's a cyclone or what.
ME, too!!
Achhh! I can't find my marshmallow creme fudge recipe! It has the peppermint, eggnog etc variations. Any way. I'll keep looking cuz it's time to make it!
Here's the peanut butter fudge recipe...
Pat-in-Pan Peanut Butter Fudge
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 8 oz cream cheese
1 6 oz package peanut butter chips (1 cup)
4 cups powdered sugar
1.Line 13"x9" or larger pan with foil extending over sides. (The larger the pan, the thinner the fudge will be.)
2.In large saucepan, mix peanut butter, cream cheese and chips. Heat just until melted and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly.
3.Remove from heat and add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each cup. Knead if necessary.
4.Press mixture into pan. Let stand at room temperature until set, about 2 hours.
5.Remove fudge by lifting foil and removing foil and fudge from pan. Cut into squares or desired shapes. Decorate as desired.
Store in refrigerator. Makes about 2 lbs.
6.Microwave directions: In 1 1/2 quart bowl, combine first three ingredients. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 to 3 minutes or until mixture is melted. Blend well. (Mixture will be very thick and quite dry looking.) Continue as directed above.
7.Chocolate variation: Substitute 1/2 cup butter for the peanut butter and 3 ounces (3 squares) unsweetened chocolate for the peanut butter chips. Increase powdered sugar to 6 cups. Prepare as directed above except refrigerate to set. Makes about 2 1/2 lbs.
Ok Lea. I'm always in a hurry to get perennials planted - just in case they might bloom the first year, as if I can rush them.
Trina, you might want to edit your post. Not long ago I got a dmail from admin, saying they'd edited one of mine, because I said darn with another letter instead of the r. This is supposed to be family-friendly reading here, they say.
You guys can have Florida to yourselves a lot of the year. I'd take it in winter, but don't go for the hot hot muggies myself.
Am I on the "joy of fudge" thread by accident?
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! This is the receipe I have been looking for for so long. When I was in second grade at school(MANY many moons ago) My teacher was teaching us to make potatoe fudge. We all had to bring a med. size boiled potatoe to school. She brought the big jar of peanut butter and powdered sugar. (We didn't use the chips or cream cheese) And for the life of me I couldn't remember how to do it till now. She rolled out some wax paper on her desk and mixed the potatoes with the peanut butter and powdered sugar and let it sit in the wax paper for a while to set and then cut it into squares. It was so good, but since I grew up no one has ever heard of that and no one could tell me how to do it. I don't remember the exact amounts but now I can remember just what to use. No cooking at all.
Sorry perenniallyme, I just kept looking for personal receipes to see if I could find that one, and here it is. I'll leave you guys alone.
I even thought about mentioning the Recipe forum to post all the Fudge recipes... I thought i had seen one for Fudge and Holiday Cookies... but it must be within a thread ....
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/recipes/all/
I can not ever recall making fudge.... got to admit though.. the PB one sounds wonderful... I've been on such a PB kick lately.
Problem... MIL is allergic ... so we try not to have any nuts when she is in the house.
This message was edited Dec 17, 2009 6:51 PM
Ok, I haven't got time to read all the posts but I did get the idea you all wanted an easy fudge recipe.
1 container frosting (any flavor)
1 12 oz . package chocolate chips or any flavor you want.
Microwave the chips slowly till melted add to frosting, mix together and pour in to foil lined dish. If it needs a little more heat pop it back in the micro for a few seconds. Let set.
Cocoa Fudge (old fashioned)
3 cups sugar
2/3 cups cocoa
1/8 teas. salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter or marg.
1 teas. vanilla.
Butter 8 or 9 inch pan.
Combine sugar cocoa and salt in heavy pan. Add milk and heat on medium stirring constantly till mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Continue to boil without stirring to the softball stage. about 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla DO NOT STIR. Let set until mixture cools down to room temp. Then beat fudge till it loses it's glossy look, then pour into pan and let set up.
Forgot to write down the candy thermometer temps if that's what you use. Soft ball stage is around 234 degrees and room temp should be about 110.
Trina what did you need me to dmail you about,
Lebug-
DE is fine if it gets wet, IF it is in a container. It gets washed away if it used in ground soil, as it can sink into the soil. So for WS, should be perfectly fine. I have used it in window boxes for a few years with great success.
I personally would not use it in anything but a container, as I wouldn't want it to kill the useful earth worms. I don't regularly have earth worms in containers, so no risk in that. I'll be adding DE to my WS containers this year. I was going to use foil pans with the clear plastic lids I have quite a few of those.
Oh your plants that got frozen I have some I could send you...I have a LOT of EE's!
Oh no I have earthworms in my jugs all the time didn't think about those I always figure they fertilize the plants as they grow, I'm bad and don't get them all out of the jug until they are huge lol I wouldn't want to hurt the earthworms!
Lea... how do you get all the slugs and worms in your containers?? I may get a toad in the summer, but that is it.
But then again... mine are not on the ground, but on a paver patio, and usually in boxes.. .though after heavy rains, the boxes are full of worms.
For thos e of you tryign to keep the slugs out of yoru pots, if ya don't want to us e DE you can put roofing paper unde r them, insid e the pot of pot s you cna put crushe d egg shells and also you cna put your Ws contianer s on sand and san din bottom of pots.
The slugs won't travel over anythign that rough. Even putign band s of snadpaper udner them. thos e sand paper squares that abotu a foot by foot help.
You cna also, put things like slug away aroudn them too, but it washe s way easily.
Anythign that real grainy rough to the touch to keep them away. When their bodie s try and crawl across it, it rips them up.
When ya , if ya dump your container s to transplant them , if you wet them down enough to make sur e soil sticks together when ya turn on side, look along the sides of the soil where the soil meets the containers. That wher e you wil find the snail eggs. They a milky white little ball, looks almost like a tiny dew drop. If you use slow releas e fertilizer it looks just a bit smalle r than the nitrogen pellet balls .
If you rais e your container s up a touch too off the ground, put the rough paper s or sand or whatver and also sprinkle salt around, salt kills them too. Don't know if rock salt works or not , but table salt sur e does.
Table salt will melt the slugs away.
It is amazing the way it works.
ALMOST,☺ feel sorry for them.