Growing Garlic

PLANTING GARLIC IN RAISED BED #4

From left to right Bed #1 through #4

For the first time we decided to plant one bed over the winter.  Garlic was the appropriate choice to plant for the fall!  Last week we ordered 2 different types of garlic : German White & Tochilavri.   

"German White" Garlic is supposed to be an easy garlic to grow if its your first time planting garlic.   It is a very strong variety and easy to peel with a sweet flavor.  It grows well in most of the U.S. and loves cold winters in the north. 

"Tochilavri" Garlic also known as "Red Toch" has up to 18 cloves per bulb.  Its a good garlic to start with because each head produces many new plants.  It also matures earlier than other garlics.  It is a soft neck garlic.  

SOWING GARLIC
1. To protect the cloves from fungal diseases you can soak them in a jar of water containing a tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of liquid seaweed for a couple of hours before planting.  

2. Sow the cloves from mid November to December.  Press them 1 1/2" inches deep into the soil about 6-8" apart.   

3. Use about 6 inches of straw or dried grass clippings mixed with leaves as mulch.  You could see shoots growing in 4 to 8 weeks depending on the weather.  Bulbs will stop growing in the winter and start again in the spring.  

Fall Beauty

 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding    

Daniel 2:21 ESV

Fall is my second favorite season of the year.  Everywhere I look the ground and trees are an array leaves in colorful tones of reds, oranges, yellows and brown.   I love that every leaf is unique in the color pattern that it displays.  

As we go through this next season I find that there are many new mountains to climb in my life and I find the same in many of my friends and families lives.  I am thankful that above all else God is faithful for there is a promise that spring will return once again. 

This week there were a couple of items that I finished up in the garden that I wanted to share with you.  We also have decided to try and grow some garlic during this fall and winter.  Read below to find out the details!   

Eggplant Parmigiana

Eggplant is one of those vegetables that people seem to either love, hate or have never tried.  My husband will admit that he had never tasted it before we were married.  The first time he had my Eggplant Parmesan he became a fan.  He compared it to lasagna.  This is recipe I recommend to try Eggplant for the first time!  

1 large eggplant flour, for dusting 1 egg 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese 3 cups milk 1 tablespoon clarified butter 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 jar of marinara sauce 1 cup dry bread crumbs 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Read more at http://www.recipelion.com/Casserole-Recipes/Olive-Garden-Eggplant-Parmigiana/ct/1#qfTDAgcMQZmISZHH.99

1 large eggplant flour, for dusting 1 egg 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese 3 cups milk 1 tablespoon clarified butter 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 jar of marinara sauce 1 cup dry bread crumbs 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Read more at http://www.recipelion.com/Casserole-Recipes/Olive-Garden-Eggplant-Parmigiana/ct/1#qfTDAgcMQZmISZHH.99

1 large eggplant flour, for dusting 1 egg 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese 3 cups milk 1 tablespoon clarified butter 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 jar of marinara sauce 1 cup dry bread crumbs 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Read more at http://www.recipelion.com/Casserole-Recipes/Olive-Garden-Eggplant-Parmigiana/ct/1#qfTDAgcMQZmISZHH.99

1 large eggplant flour, for dusting 1 egg 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese 3 cups milk 1 tablespoon clarified butter 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 jar of marinara sauce 1 cup dry bread crumbs 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Read more at http://www.recipelion.com/Casserole-Recipes/Olive-Garden-Eggplant-Parmigiana/ct/1#qfTDAgcMQZmISZHH.99

1 large eggplant flour, for dusting 1 egg 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese 3 cups milk 1 tablespoon clarified butter 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 jar of marinara sauce 1 cup dry bread crumbs 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Read more at http://www.recipelion.com/Casserole-Recipes/Olive-Garden-Eggplant-Parmigiana/ct/1#qfTDAgcMQZmISZHH.99

1 large eggplant flour, for dusting 1 egg 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese 3 cups milk 1 tablespoon clarified butter 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 jar of marinara sauce 1 cup dry bread crumbs 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Read more at http://www.recipelion.com/Casserole-Recipes/Olive-Garden-Eggplant-Parmigiana/ct/1#qfTDAgcMQZmISZHH.99

1 large eggplant flour, for dusting 1 egg 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese 3 cups milk 1 tablespoon clarified butter 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 jar of marinara sauce 1 cup dry bread crumbs 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Read more at http://www.recipelion.com/Casserole-Recipes/Olive-Garden-Eggplant-Parmigiana/ct/1#qfTDAgcMQZmISZHH.99

Serves: 3 or 4 

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA INGREDIENTS:

3 or 4 small Eggplant OR 1 large Eggplant

Tomato Sauce (I used Prego Spicy Sausage)

3/4 cup Panko Bread Crumbs

5 oz. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (or Italian Blend)

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 Green Pepper (Optional)

1 Egg                         

COOKING STEPS:
 Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

STEP 1: Cut green stem off Eggplant

STEP 2: Peel skin off Eggplant

STEP 3: Cut Eggplant into 1/2" slices

STEP 4: Put Eggplant on cookie sheet and salt first side- wait 15 min- then flip and salt the other side- wait 15 more minutes.  Next rinse and drain the Eggplant. Pat dry and set aside.

(Eggplant can have a bitter taste before you cook it.  I recommend the process of "degorging" the fruit by salting, rinsing and draining it.  This helps to remove any bitterness.)