After a lifetime spent playing other people, Drew Barrymorehas created a new career—and a home line—based on being herself.
21.07.2023 - 22:20 / awaytogarden.com
THE MEDIA’S WHIPPING UP panicky headlines this week, faster than you can turn cream to pie topping. One outlet after another is warning that Libby’s, the leading canner of “pumpkin” pie filling found on the supermarket shelves, lost as much as a third of its crop to heavy rains, after the Associated Press reported it on October 6.Since then, it’s all about: Stock up or be left pumpkin-less! (Haven’t I heard this before? It’s nearly the same story as this one from the “Los Angeles Times” in 2009, even quoting the same Libby’s spokesman.)
How about this D.I.Y. remedy: Go buy a couple of ‘Butternut’ squash at the farmers’ market (or the supermarket, even) and make filling, putting extra batches of cooked, pureed “pumpkin” in the freezer while you’re at it to satisfy subsequent craving–or for use in soup or bread or gnocchi.
A Hubbard type (warts and all) will work, too, or a ‘Buttercup,’ a ‘Kabocha,’ or even an ‘Acorn,’ in a pinch. I’ve made pies from many an oddball homegrown heirloom over the years, after inspecting the innards for suitability. Basically what you want is a sweet, dry, fine-grained squash—not some insipid, stringy old sloppy thing.Meaning: Don’t try it with a pumpkin, as in Jack-o-lantern-shaped squash (unless perhaps you grow it yourself, and it’s the 1893 favorite ‘Winter Luxury,’ which squash expert Amy Goldman gives her top rating for pie-making). The word pumpkin has culinary significance, but is basically meaningless botanically speaking. They’re all squash.
Halve your chosen variety, scoop out the seeds and bake it, face-down, until it softens. Placing parchment paper between the flesh and the pan surface will make cleanup easier. I like to use big Pyrex pans, and add a little water at the start. Once
After a lifetime spent playing other people, Drew Barrymorehas created a new career—and a home line—based on being herself.
Peter Estersohn
A cherry plum, sweet, thin-skinned and very prolific (you’ll also find it sold under ‘Red Grape Sugar Plum’). It was in the top three of our recent taste test and everyone liked it for its strong tomato flavour that’s sweet but not overly so, and its firm not mushy texture. It has a slight acidity running through it which all sweet tomatoes need. It ripens quite late compared to ‘Sungold’ and produces for a long period of time. It’s lovely in a mixed salad with the larger varieties.
Welcome to the wild ride known as parenting teens! If you’ve ever found yourself caught between eye-rolling moments and heartwarming instances of wisdom, these quotes about parenting teenagers will definitely hit the spot.
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Just because our attention is focused on keeping things steady (ahem, alive) in the garden this deep into the summer, it doesn’t mean we should neglect our leafy loved ones who live indoors—especially if you have travel plans! Houseplants have special needs every season, but summer heat and time away come with their own set of challenges.
The cast in order of appearance: Cactus Dahlia; Rosa Rugosa; Lenten Rose Helleborus orientalis; Moth Orchid Phalaenopsis; Water Lily Nymphaea alba; etc.
No other plant native to South Carolina has such fragrant and beautiful spring blooms and stunning fall color as the witch-alders. Fothergilla was named after Dr. John Fothergill, an English physician and gardener who funded the travels of John Bartram through the Carolinas in the 1700’s. These beautiful shrubs have been planted in both American and English gardens for over 200 years, including gardens of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Who would have thought that a little green beetle – not even an inch long – would cause billions of dollars in damage and lead to the death of millions of trees? The emerald ash borer (EAB for short, Fig. 1) was first discovered in 2002 (but probably arrived in the late 1990s) near Detroit, MI, and is now present in most of eastern North America (current distribution map from APHIS: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/emerald-ash-borer The larvae (young) of this beetle feed on the phloem of ash trees (genus Fraxinus), and their feeding nearly always results in tree death. Oh, and not just one type of ash tree – all of them: white, green, blue, pumpkin…if it’s a Fraxinus species, it’s susceptible to EAB.
Are you frustrated because there are dandelions and other weeds in your lawn? Did you know that dandelion flowers provide one of the first springtime sources of pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects?
With all those mums and pumpkins at garden centers and farmers markets, how can we select the best and make them last?
I don’t know about you, but I love a product that can be used in a variety of ways and has staying power, especially in the home and kitchen. I recently discovered fall/winter squash and the varieties and versatility that they provide. I knew about the typical winter squash that you see in the grocery store like Acorn, Butternut, Spaghetti, Pumpkins, and decorative gourds, but have been introduced to other varieties like Honey Nut, Kabocha, Carnival, Turban, Banana, Red Kuri, Sweet Dumpling, and Buttercup.