Author Archives: diary of a tomato

12.9.13 Rosette Tatsoi

Posted on December 9, 2013 by diary of a tomato

Tatsoi goes by several names, such as spoon mustard or spinach mustard. It’s only during the colder part of the season and you see the plant in its entirety that the name rosette bok choy makes sense. It’s rumored that … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Sickbed Staycation

Posted on December 5, 2013 by diary of a tomato

A friend calls it the gift of couch time. With a stash of immunity-boosting herbal tea on hand and a fully loaded Kindle, I’m admitting defeat and letting whatever this bug is take its course. We hope to be back … Continue reading →

Posted in interlude | 8 Comments

11.18.13 Planting Garlic

Posted on November 18, 2013 by diary of a tomato

Planting garlic is one of the most hopeful acts in the garden, a commitment to the next season. It’s the last to go in the ground and, when spring returns, the first to come up. We patiently peel back the … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Pear Tart

Posted on November 15, 2013 by diary of a tomato

If you frequent the Portsmouth Farmers’ Market, you’re probably familiar with White Gate Farm. During the season, they’re there every Saturday in their usual corner spot, and it’s always worth stopping by to see what they’ve brought to market. We … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Putting Up: Red Pepper Ristras

Posted on November 13, 2013 by diary of a tomato

We often keep strands of dried peppers, called ristras, hanging in the kitchen, however, it wasn’t until we were faced with a bushel of them that we had the chance to make our own. Beyond the cultural mash-up of making … Continue reading →

Posted in garden, preserving | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

11.11.13 Under Cover

Posted on November 11, 2013 by diary of a tomato

The garden beds are now readied for winter, a sign of quieter days ahead. To the rear, one of the hoop-covered beds holds hardy carrots, celeriac, and leeks. The other one contains kale, chard and salad greens snug under an … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Putting Up: Update on Ball’s BPA-Free Lids

Posted on November 7, 2013 by diary of a tomato

One of the ways of identifying Ball’s BPA-free lids from older versions is by the “Made in USA” printed on the lid. As a reader recently asked, what about their more decorative lids? Ball’s Elite and quilted jelly jars come … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, preserving | Tagged | 11 Comments