CSN Stores Gift Certificate Giveaway

CSN Stores :Hot Days of Summer Giveaway!

The great people at CSN Stores contacted me about a giveaway for my readers.  They have generously donated a one time use $60.00 gift certificate that can be used at any of their 200 online stores. That means  you can find everything from gardening needs to dining room sets, cookware and dog beds!

And it is easy!  Just leave a comment after you visit their site and tell me what is on your wish list for the gift certificate.  I would appreciate also that you tell your friends, facebook, twitter, blog, whatever you can do to help me get at least 50 comments in appreciation for the great gift.

After I pick the winner, (randomly of course), I will send the company representative your information.

BE ABSOLUTELY SURE TO LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, so I can contact you for your mailing info should you win.

Check them out, and I have my fingers crossed for all of you!

Karen

Zucchini Blog Party

What do you do with that ton of zucchini that is now lining your kitchen counter tops?  THROW A PARTY!
I am participating in a blog party with some fellow herb and gardening friends.  Here's how it works.
I am going to post a zucchini recipe and then you head over to the other blogs and check out theirs. Kind of like a progressive dinner!

Lets start off with some Zucchini Pizza. Great for garden parties and afternoon snacks.

Zucchini Pizza:
3 1/2 (about 1 1/4 pound) zucchini, coarsely grated
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
2 c. (8 OZ) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 c. parmesean cheese, grated
1/3 cup flour
1T olive oil
1 c. spaghetti sauce
1 t. dried oregano
1/8 t. dried, crushed red pepper

Press Zucchini between paper towels to remove excess moisture.  Comine zucchini, eggs, 1 cup mozarella cheese, parmesan cheese and flour in a medium bowl.  Stir well.  Spread  in a greased 13 x 9 x 2 pan  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.  Remove from oven, brush surface with oil.  Broil 5 1/2 " from heat for 5 minutes.  Remove from oven, spread spaghetti sauce on top of zucchini mixture.  Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozarella cheese, oregano, and red pepper.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees an additional 20 minutes.  Yields 6 servings.

Serve with salad and French or Italian Bread

Now for more recipes go to these blogs.

http://www.patriciarose-apotpourriof.blogspot.com/
http://birdworms.com/2010/07/21/zucchini-fritters/
http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/2005/07/couple-zucchini-bread-recipes.html
http://sagescript.blogspot.com/2010/07/calibacitas-blog-party.html
http://soapandgarden.blogspot.com/2010/07/yummy-zucchini-brownies.html


Um Um, let's get cooking!
Karen

Tomato Invasion

Nothing is better than a vine ripened tomato. We planted several tomato plants, both Rutgers and Better Boys.  All have done great since we had consistent rain early in the season and lots of sun.  Why is it that they all turn ripe at the same time? Next year I will try a later bearing variety, so that I will have a prolonged ripening schedule. I have cut up some  for the freezer, taken many to work with me, and the chickens have gotten their share of the ones low on the vines. Now it is time to get creative.  I opened our local newspaper today and seems the invasion is rampant in our local gardens since there was four different recipes.  I think you will enjoy this one.

Southern Tomato Pie

4 tomatoes, thickly sliced

8 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 sweet onion, sliced and sauteed until transparent

1 prebaked pie shell (homemade or store bought)

salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar

1 cup mayonnaise

Place sliced tomatoes, basil and onion in pie shell.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired.  Combine cheeses and mayonnaise and spread on top of tomatoes and onions.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 30 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.  Cut into slices and serve warm.

This recipe was provided by Becky Byers to the timesfreepress (http://www.timesfreepress.com/) of Chattanooga, Tennessee

Karen

Organic Gardening Farming Magazine Volume 3

The latest issue of the organic gardening farming magazine is out and my first article is in it! If you have not signed up for this FREE magazine with great articles you are missing out on a wealth of information.

My article is Herbal Weddings and I believe you will enjoy the history of many of our wedding traditions. Did you know todays version of the wedding cake may have evolved from the early Roman tradition of breaking a loaf of bread over the brides head after the ceremony? Or, that many herbs were woven into the garments of the bridal party to represent love, fidelty or protection?

Other articles I know you will enjoy include:
Propagating Herbs
Preserve Your Tomato Harvest with the Sun
Planting by the Moon and Other Lore
Going Native: How Gardening with Native Plants Helps Wildlife

There is no cost for the magazine.  Sign up here: http://www.ogfm.organicgardeningfarming.com/ and receive it monthly. You can also view and download the previous two magazines.

Please let your readers (if you have a blog) know about this great resource.

Karen

Looking for some Killer Plants?

It is Hot, Hot,Hot outside.  Maybe you are looking for some "cool" indoor gardening ideas? I have been inside watching a little too much CSI, because the idea of checking out these "killer" indoor plants came up.
Amy at Growing Plants Indoors will occasionally send me a blog post that she thinks my readers may enjoy and I am only too happy to use them, especially on these days when the heat has melted my brain!

Like the Black Widow spider, the Venus Fly Trap ensnares it’s pray… and then unapologetically devours it. The plant emanates a sweet smell, seducing insects to land in its “mouth”. Almost immediately, the jaws snap shut and a powerful enzyme dissolves the insect into a digestible liquid.





 
 
Check out more of these insect eating plants at
10 Indoor Plants That Can Eat Insects
 
Enjoy, and stay COOL!
Karen

Free PDF Herb Guides at Herb Society

Wow, have you seen the free PDF guides on herbs at Herb Society of America? Check them out here
http://www.herbsociety.org/herbs/profiles-and-guides.html

Dill:  2010 Herb of the Year

Organic Gardening and Farming Magazine: FREE digital magazine

I would like to invite you to subscribe to this FREE online magazine.  I have been asked to write a monthly column and am honored to do so.  This is a new online magazine and I have read the pages cover to cover. Each magazine is about 38 pages with beautiful pictures and gardening information you can use. You will want to download and print out so that you can go back and read and reread.  Everything organic is covered here. Examples of the first magazine include composting, planting an herb garden, starting from scratch in organic gardening, planting a healing garden, organic pest control, and many others.
There is not too many free things available now, and this one is worth more than many available on the magazine stands now. And an added bonus:  No advertising.  Grab your copy now at http://www.organicgardeningfarming.com/

July 4th: Food, Fireworks, and Fun

July has started off pretty good. June consisted of 2 weeks of constant rain followed by 2 weeks of oppressive heat. We had record high temperatures and humidity that would fog up your glasses when you walked out in the early morning. 

The fourth of July offered up a reprieve and low humidity and a slight breeze made it a great day to have everyone over for a cookout.  Picnics aren't just for eating. It is for fun and family, and you have to work off some of those hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled chicken breasts and deserts.

And this is where the fun begins.  I admit, I was never able to play video games. Pacman was over my head, and when my sons were younger, they would grab the game out of my hands due to frustration. Now it is my granddaughters.  Hello Kitty and My Little Pony have replaced car races and war games. 

I vowed to purchase the Wii console after playing some games at a beach getaway with my girlfriends but never got around to it.  Then came the offer a couple of weeks ago from Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment to have me "review" Vacation Isle Beach Party. Released in June, this game is great for the whole family.  My granddaughters are 4 and 7, my sons and daughter in law are in their late twenties and thirty, and my husband and I are....well, anyway, it is fun for the whole family.  Everyone was able to get in on the game since it allows you to select the difficulty setting for each skill level.

Don't worry about getting away for a beach vacation.  This game is set on a fictional island and the realistic and lush scenery will make you break out the suntan lotion. You can pick from eight games, Slalom Skiing, Wake Boarding, Surfing, Stand Up Paddling, Ski Jump, Stunt Park and Hula and Fire Dancing (my favorite).  Next, pick out a character, and you are on your way to earning sand dollars to use for purchasing beach gear and accessories from the "surf shack". 

I was considering buying the Wii Fitness Game, but no need to after playing this game.  The work out you receive is an added bonus to the fun that everyone will have. 

If you have the Wii Balance Board, I understand it will add to the experience, but we had the Wii Remote and Nunchuck and had a great time with that. (The balance board is now on my wish list!)

So, grab your surfboards, waterskis, hula skirts, and those little drinks with umbrellas becauseVacation Isle: Beach Party will bring the party into your living room!

I want to thank Amy for sending me two copies of the game. I kept one of course to review and will donate one to our local shelter for abused women and their children.

Aloha!
Karen