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I have been seeing lots of things posted that people are fixing while they are snowed in. Also I have several tell me they are quilting. So all in all it is good to have things to do when traveling and being outside is really hard. Larry has been out all morning moving snow. So that will be done soon. It looks like it is snowing a little but the main thing is the temperature and it is cold out. I went out and when I got back in my fingers were cold even with gloves on. Bundle up and stay warm. So I am posting 2 things. One is a lovely recipe if you like taco's. This is really good. The second post is about kale. I have several gardeners that grow this in their gardens. I haven't developed a taste for it but maybe I need to try different ways of fixing it. How do you fix kale?
Prep: 25 min. Bake: 15 min. Makes 4 servings
Ingredients for taco bake
•1 pound ground beef
•1/4 cup chopped onion
•1/4 cup chopped green pepper
•1 envelope taco seasoning
•1/2 cup water
•1 cup crushed tortilla chips
•1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
•1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
•Toppings: Chopped lettuce and tomatoes, sliced ripe olives, sour cream and picante sauce
Directions
•In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Cook and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes; set aside.
• Place chips in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. In a small bowl, stir refried beans; spread over chips. Top with beef mixture and cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, at 375° until heated through, 15-20 minutes. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and olives. Serve with sour cream and picante sauce.
taken from https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/taco-salad-casserole
KALE.....
Kale is a hardy, cool-season green that is part of the cabbage family. It grows best in the spring and fall and can tolerate fall frosts. Here’s how to grow kale in your garden.
Kale can be used in salads or simply as a garnish. Kale has a number of health benefits, as it is rich in minerals and vitamins A and C.
Planting
When to Plant Kale
•In most areas, you can plant kale at any time, from early spring through early summer, and again from late summer to early fall. However, kale’s growth may be affected by hot temperatures, so it’s recommended to avoid growing it during height of summer.
•If you plant kale late in the summer, you can harvest it from fall until the ground freezes in winter. In fact, kale leaves often have a better flavor after a couple frosts.
Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site
•Plant kale in full sun, in well-draining soil.
•Mix 1-½ cups of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 feet of row into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil.
How to Plant Kale
•Plant the seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep into well-drained, light soil.
•After about 2 weeks, thin the seedlings so that they are spaced 8 to 12 inches apart.
Care
How to Grow Kale
•Water the plants regularly, but be sure not to overwater them.
•Mulch the soil heavily after the first hard freeze in the fall; the plants may continue to produce leaves throughout the winter.
Pests/Diseases
•Cabbageworms
•Flea beetles
•Aphids
Harvest/Storage
How to Harvest Kale
•Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
•Pick about one fistful of leaves per harvest. Avoid picking the terminal bud (found at the top center of the plant) because this will help to keep the plant productive.
•Kale will continue growing until it’s 20°F. It tastes even sweeter with a touch of frost. (See local frost dates.)
•If you wish to extend your harvest, shield your kale from the cold with row covers. Or, create a makeshift cover with tarps and old blankets propped up by hay bales. Here are a few more season-extending ideas.
•The small, tender leaves can be eaten uncooked and used in salads.
•Cut and cook the larger leaves like spinach, but be sure to remove the tough ribs before cooking.
How to Store Kale
•You can store kale as you would any other leafy green; put the kale in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. It should last about 1 week.
Recommended Varieties
•‘Vates’, which is a hardy variety and does not yellow in cold weather. It also has curly, blue-green leaves.
•‘Winterbor’, which resembles the ‘Vates’ variety, but is frost tolerant.
•‘Red Russian’, which has red, tender leaves and is an early crop.
Wit & Wisdom
•The chill of a moderate frost or light snow improves the flavor of kale.
•Embrace your leafy greens! Learn more about the health benefits of eating greens and about growing other popular salad greens.
taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/kale
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net
Prep: 25 min. Bake: 15 min. Makes 4 servings
Ingredients for taco bake
•1 pound ground beef
•1/4 cup chopped onion
•1/4 cup chopped green pepper
•1 envelope taco seasoning
•1/2 cup water
•1 cup crushed tortilla chips
•1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
•1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
•Toppings: Chopped lettuce and tomatoes, sliced ripe olives, sour cream and picante sauce
Directions
•In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Cook and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes; set aside.
• Place chips in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. In a small bowl, stir refried beans; spread over chips. Top with beef mixture and cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, at 375° until heated through, 15-20 minutes. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and olives. Serve with sour cream and picante sauce.
taken from https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/taco-salad-casserole
KALE.....
Kale is a hardy, cool-season green that is part of the cabbage family. It grows best in the spring and fall and can tolerate fall frosts. Here’s how to grow kale in your garden.
Kale can be used in salads or simply as a garnish. Kale has a number of health benefits, as it is rich in minerals and vitamins A and C.
Planting
When to Plant Kale
•In most areas, you can plant kale at any time, from early spring through early summer, and again from late summer to early fall. However, kale’s growth may be affected by hot temperatures, so it’s recommended to avoid growing it during height of summer.
•If you plant kale late in the summer, you can harvest it from fall until the ground freezes in winter. In fact, kale leaves often have a better flavor after a couple frosts.
Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site
•Plant kale in full sun, in well-draining soil.
•Mix 1-½ cups of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 feet of row into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil.
How to Plant Kale
•Plant the seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep into well-drained, light soil.
•After about 2 weeks, thin the seedlings so that they are spaced 8 to 12 inches apart.
Care
How to Grow Kale
•Water the plants regularly, but be sure not to overwater them.
•Mulch the soil heavily after the first hard freeze in the fall; the plants may continue to produce leaves throughout the winter.
Pests/Diseases
•Cabbageworms
•Flea beetles
•Aphids
Harvest/Storage
How to Harvest Kale
•Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
•Pick about one fistful of leaves per harvest. Avoid picking the terminal bud (found at the top center of the plant) because this will help to keep the plant productive.
•Kale will continue growing until it’s 20°F. It tastes even sweeter with a touch of frost. (See local frost dates.)
•If you wish to extend your harvest, shield your kale from the cold with row covers. Or, create a makeshift cover with tarps and old blankets propped up by hay bales. Here are a few more season-extending ideas.
•The small, tender leaves can be eaten uncooked and used in salads.
•Cut and cook the larger leaves like spinach, but be sure to remove the tough ribs before cooking.
How to Store Kale
•You can store kale as you would any other leafy green; put the kale in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. It should last about 1 week.
Recommended Varieties
•‘Vates’, which is a hardy variety and does not yellow in cold weather. It also has curly, blue-green leaves.
•‘Winterbor’, which resembles the ‘Vates’ variety, but is frost tolerant.
•‘Red Russian’, which has red, tender leaves and is an early crop.
Wit & Wisdom
•The chill of a moderate frost or light snow improves the flavor of kale.
•Embrace your leafy greens! Learn more about the health benefits of eating greens and about growing other popular salad greens.
taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/kale
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net
