Laurie's Garden Tour 2

Laurie, I did not believe it took this long, I sowed them in Nov 07. I almost threw them away Good thing I looked inside the jug. The ones I did in the GH are fine, just not sure fo the best spot.

Sorry about the tree, Someone told me in years passed that on a tree that has bark damage, that wrapping it with tape, Like duct will help heal it. I am not sure that really works. But I do know for a fact, that when my juniper which was trimed and cut into a pom pom kinda look got a broken branch. I was so upset, it made the bush look fuuny if I cut it off. So doctor Mom, took electric tape and bound the branch back together. And it healed itself, you can not even find the spot now.

Steve, Happy you are home.

Steve, you can cook at my house any time! I do love a man who cooks!

Hi Laurie,

I'm afraid I'm beyond late to the party, so to speak-it's taken a while to get caught up on these threads, and then try to figure a good spot to jump in, too. Still, I had to say your property is just wonderful!

By the way, how close are you to Batemans, Kipling's property? I just watched a National Trust program about it last week and they did some aerial shots of the house and surrounding countryside. I was so startled to hear it was near Burwash- couldn't help but wonder if I was seeing your property across the valley or something without realizing it.

Oh . . . . I wish I'd seen that. She is close.

Steve after you cook for Pix head South on I-5 for 15 minutes and you can cook at my house as well! Sounds like you had a very fulfilling day.

I would have never used saurkraut in Salmon but with a bit of sweetener the kraut was great. Tomorrow we will have baked Sable fish and red potatoes. Oh yes and fresh corn bread and honey. The joys of working in AK. I have half of a freezer full of fish. Being a diabetic the fish I eat allows me a snack for desert. IE corn bread and honey. Tonight was fresh baked toll house cookies with walnuts added. Then I finished mounting the two winches on my newly varnished work bench. Tomorrow I install a chair so I can sit in my MAN CAVE and plan man meals.
Boy do I need a melt so I can go sailing and work in the yard! The sun has been wonderful the last 3 days. But with 2 feet of snow it takes a while to dissapear.

Wow Steve....you are an adventurous cook. Kraut with Salmon and Mandarin orange???? That's one that I'll have to ponder for a while......if, for no other reason, it's not a combination that sounds too promising to me. I think I'll take your word on it.

Now, new vices on the workbench, that's something I can get into. Especially, BIG ones...Woo Hoo!

You should try it James, I've never done kraut with Salmon, but I've made it with pork chops. The Mandarin cuts the sour in the kraut. It is really good.

Steve....what's Sable fish, haven't heard of that one. And after your done at rr's.......I could really use a break.

How exactly did you do the salmon, if I may ask? That is not a combo I would even contemplate. Or when you finish your run fixing dinners elsewhere you could take a side trip to NJ. Howsaboutit? Sound like a plan? hee-hee. I've never heard of sable fish either.

Sable fish is the best food I have ever eaten. It is a veeerrrrry tender white fish that is caught at about 6000 ft below sealevel off the coast of Alaska. It is a cod (Black cod) that is very oily and takes on any flavor you put with it. Tonight it will be baked with Garam Masala (Indian group of spices). It is also great smoked. You will not find it at any store. It is only found in AK or on plates of expensive restaurants. All of the fish go to Japan for big bucks.
My favorite way to cook salmon so everyone eats it is very simple. I place the salmon on foil and place 1 to 2 tablespoons of orange concentrate (frozen) and an equal amount of brown sugar sprinkled over top. Then I put about a teaspoon of liquid smoke over and cover and seal foil. Barbeque or bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve this way or baste with liquid butter and brown sugar under a broiler to carmalize the surface. Then serve lightly sprinkled with lemon pepper.
James the work bench has been reinforced with a 3/4" oak ply bolted into a gorilla stand. It then has a 3.5" vice on one end and a 5" on the other. Then I have developed a corner of the garage with a recliner chair and a small cooler for the beer. Surrounding the chair is a Harmen Kardon stereo with surround sound speakers. All allowing me to park my truck in the garage or my canoe that I am currently working on. Arrrrrggggghhh.

Thanks, Sofer. I don't usually cook fish, but we love salmon.

Man Cave is right. Sounds ideal for you.

I love to cook myself but the vacuuming thing really caught my eye so swing by Portland and clean my house!

I am going to try your salmon recipe this weekend. Yum

Kathy, I don't think the Trust programs are brand-new. I'd bet they're available on disk. I checked Netflix and didn't find it, but that doesn't mean it's not out there- even Netflix can't have everything.

Steve, that salmon recipe sounds interesting. DH wants to know-does it taste smoked or sweet? I'd never heard of sable fish either. Wonder if someone who's not much of a fish fan would like it?

My DW would be jealous if I vaccumed anyone elses home. Our relationship is based heavily on house cleaning fidelity. She would never forgive me Portland. Sorry but even though I am tempted I must refuse.

Anyone would like sablefish. It is like eating butter with any flavor you add.
The Salmon tastes lightly smoked and quite sweet. Very moist also.

Well a man who so judiciously doles out his vacuuming is a real star in my book. I admire your loyalty to your wife. I will add vacuuming to my wish list for 'the perfect man' - the list is long indeed! Some requirements on the list are no gold chains, no pinkie rings, must be able to read grownup books, and now - vacuuming!

Wait - cooking for someone else can be a very sensual thing but vacuuming???

Hmm, My DH is a vacuumer, too... I suspect it's due to a mutation/enhancement of the lawn-mowing gene, but I think it's potentially evolutionarily advantageous for the male of the species..... ;)

Steve, that sable fish sounds incredible-you're right, I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't like that (except maybe vegans?) DH isn't so sure about sweet salmon, but I think it sounds really good, so I think we may give it a try. (He does like the sound of your garage setup, though!)

Thanks, Sue - when I do rent a DVD, I usually just go to my little Safeway store out here. But I'll check the library and see if maybe they don't have the Trust programs. Thanks for the tip.

All - I have used a recipe similar to Steve's and found it to be a real crowd pleaser. I recommend it.

I'm sorry, but this thing of putting sugary flavours with savoury foods just doesn't quite get me going. Why do you put sugar with salmon? And honey in cornbread? (For that, why in the world does anyone drink coca cola, let alone buy a litre of the stuff?) No, Steve, this is not a meal for me, and I like sauerkraut.

Susy. Bateman's is 3 field's away from us (about a 20 min walk). Its in our nearest village. I'm really pleased that they showed it on american tv. It is a stunning house, and one of the most marvellous walled vegetable gardens.

Laurie that is why our nation always stays on the side of the Brits. We would never be able to suffer in a war and you guys love to suffer even in peace. To many of us the flavor of salmon is not favorable. I have aquired it and now love it but many of my salmon eating guests (and DW) do not like it so I have to be creative on how to do the flavor thing to change it. Now King salmon fresh anyone can eat and is wonderful. Especially sushi (fatty salmon) Unfortunately most of our salmon is salmon farming and that is tasteless. "Eat Wild Salmon" every bumper in AK has that one. Here in Montana a new bumper sticker is unfortunatly quite popular. "Smoke a pack a day!" and beside it is a Xd off wolf. How sad.

Sounds like there soon will be no old men or wolves in Montana. Your cooking sounds very good. I just dust my stove. I don't cook. I can but I don't want to do it.
Would love to see the tv show. If it's available let me know?

Three fields away! Oh, that whole area is so beautiful, and to be that close! I'll have to see if it's showing again and see if I can see your house. (I did mention that I loved your house, didn't I?)

Batemans was stunning, but as it was more about the house they didn't go into a lot of detail about the garden, except for the pond area. Still, every bit they showed was wonderful.

I'm seeing the National Trust programs on the HDNet channel through the Directv satellite system, in case anyone else wants to try to catch them, too. It's pretty cool-they show the show straight through without interruption in gorgeous HD. We just stumbled across them, but now we've programmed our DVR to record every episode. We're really enjoying the series. Unfortunately, we don't have the space to save them after we watch them. I've seen a couple of the National Trust Garden series, too. I'm really, really hoping that they repeat that series again.

No wonder the english are great gardeners, they are inspired with every bit of their country.

This message was edited Mar 5, 2009 3:53 PM

Laurie - you are missing out on some very tasty food combinations, like pork with fruit. Mmmmm. I eat a lot of salmon (wild) and love it but also like sweet stuff so sweet salmon sounds good to me!
Sushi - now I'm craving sushi and will have to indulge for dinner.

Sofer what does Xd off wolf mean? I'm confused.

I think the idea is that "smoke a pack a day" means "kill a pack of wolves a day" and the picture is one of a wolf with a red 'X' across its face.

Yes.

Oh, I missed the part about the wolves. That is very sad. :(

the use of a sweetener with fish, or any meat, is actually quite traditional. The effect is similar to the use of salt on protein in that it enhances the flavour. Mind you, very little is used, and when finished under the broiler, caramelizes a bit.
I have never been a fan of Sauerkraut, but I promise to try it Steve - cooked your way. Would you be so kind to share your recipe?

Last night I put the salmon in a 9x9 pan and placed rinsed sauerkraut on each side. Then I put a teaspoon of liquid smoke on each side in the kraut. Followed with a couple of teaspoons of brown sugar sprinkled over all of it. I then garnished it with a 1/3 to 1/2 can of mandarin oranges covering all of the meat and kraut. I used the juice of the mandarin freely to soak the baking salmon. After about 30 minutes at 325 F I took it out and turned on the broiler draining all of the juices out of the mix. Then I mixed up butter 2 tbsp with equal amount of brown sugar under microwave melted it and proceeded to broil the 9x9 pan and baste the fish and kraut for about 20 minutes or until you see the mandarin oranges starting to darken. I remove it from the oven and cut carefully to keep the carmelized surface intact and lift the kraut out with a spatula to keep its surface crispy. Of course you can add any carb you want but I like cornbread and honey to make my seafood perfect. It clears your pallet. Then I would follow with a rich desert full of calories becaus the only ones above is the butter and brown sugar. You need to feel full after such a lean meal.

oooooh sounds very tasty until the feel full part.
I like to eat just enough so that I could outrun a "Bad guy", if necessary.
Cornbread, Salmon & a nice salad with fruit/nuts/cheese is one of my fave meals.
Steve, I make my cornbread with honey & butter; it needs nothing on it - very moist.

Yes cornbread is great without any additions. I just need the calories to match my insulin injection. Salad with fruits and nuts sounds awfull busy. I try to hang out with nice people to have salad.

Try some nice butter lettuce, thinly-sliced shallots, sliced pears/apples, toasted pecans & a sprinkling of goat cheese, or a mellow Stilton, all lightly dressed with an Olive oil/Balsamic vinegar/cracked pepper mix. The nuts tend to balance out the fruit. LOL - that's the west coast for you!

Kayte I love salads with fruit. Strawberries, grapes, pears, lettuce, goat cheese, walnuts, and dressing made with juice from a blood orange. Mmmmmm.

Now I'm hungry. No salad mixins in the house I guess I will have to eat spinach. I yam what I yam.

Steve, maybe you could have it with a chardonnay.....





(sorry....)

I was thinking more like "Olive Oil".

You 'Go Popeye'
Love it

Geez! Now we're talking about food? Sofer, you are the star of the grill and the mancave as well. Plus you vacuum? Is there anything you will not do?
Sweet and savory combinations: just another rule that Americans decided to break, I guess! I absolutely love salad with fruit and a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts. I get the bag of them from costco, spread a thin layer on a baking sheet and turn on the broiler. Then I shake the pan until they wiggle around and get nice and toasty. YUM!! Fresh spinach, a little goat cheese, some dried cranberries, and toasted pine nuts with raspberry vinaigrette! It's hard to beat with a stick!

I couldn't believe how much difference it made to add a little toasted almonds, or pine nuts, etc to a salad. Don't make them anyother way now.

Thanks for the recipes Steve! Properly filed under Steve's Recipes in a word file. LOL Sable fish sounds like something I would really like, too bad it isn't available here. I have a friend who always brings me some smoked wild Salmon that he orders, it's melt in your mouth good, but very expensive.