Goth Garden

I am just in the planning stage of my Goth Garden.  I really want a grotto.  I find them romantic and mystical.  I have been searching on line for ideas.  Mostly they are so grand that I would need a lifetime to make one.  Fortunately many Catholics make these Mary shrines in their yards.  They seem doable.  I found these photos.

This would look pretty in the white garden but one grotto seems hard enough but you never know.

 This one looks so pagan which I think my garden might end up looking like.  We will see.

 This looks like a project I could rope the husband into doing I mean help me to do.

Darn I don't have a tree stump

  I don't really like the shrine but the statue is cool

       I like this one a lot.  A moss covered cross would look awesome!

 Okay this is kinda of tacky but kind of cute at the same time.  I better stop now!

Renaissance Fair and how it led to the making of Pidpenky (Mushrooms)

A few weeks back we went to a Renaissance Fair.  They have this tasty dish of mushrooms and garlic.  They also give you a bread stick to soak up the broth.    So when I was on this  website http://www.learnpysanky.com/  (because I have always  wanted to make Make Ukrainian Easter eggs) they had Urainian recipes and this was one of them.  It sounds just like what they served at the Ren Fair.  My picture is not as good as hers.  I also made sourdough bread sticks to dunk in the broth. 

Pidpenky

INGREDIENTS
approx. 1/2 lb fresh mushrooms 1 large onion, finely chopped 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup beef consommé (I use Campbell's Broth Consommé)		extra couple packets of dried beef broth, or more canned broth 1/4 cup red wine 3 tbsp flour, 2 tbsp melted butter 1 tsp lemon juice

1. Clean mushrooms well, trim and chop.
2. Put mushrooms, onions, garlic and wine in consommé in large pot. Bring to a boil, simmer for about an hour. You may need more liquid, if so, just add some more liquid broth, or water and powdered broth.
3. Add lemon juice, stir.
4. Melt butter in microwave - stir flour in till smooth, then stir slowly into mushrooms and bring to a boil, stirring.
5. And that's it! If keeping warm, keep on low heat and be sure to stir regularly so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Add a touch more liquid if necessary.

 

Sourdough Bread Sticks

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sourdough starter 2 12 tbsps water (needed) 2 12 tbsps olive oil 1 tsp salt Blend together the dry ingredients in mixing bowl; make a well in the center. Pour in sourdough starter and olive oil and mix on low; adding additional water and flour as needed. Knead for approximately 6-8 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Remove from bowl and form into a ball and place in a bowl that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, turning once to coat the top. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 - 2 hours (depending on your starter and the temperature of your kitchen). Turn dough onto floured work surface and gently pull (do not roll) into a rectangle approximately 16 x 8 x 1/2 inches. Using a pizza cutter, cut dough into 10-12 pieces. Place sticks 2 inches apart on pizza peel (or back of pizza pan) covered with parchment paper. Cover with a damp towel and allow to rise until doubled, about 45 minutes(this will vary depending on your sourdough starter and kitchen temperature). Place baking stone in oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Brush tops of dough with olive oil and sprinkle with preferred topping. Bake for 12-15 minutes until bottoms are light brown. Serve warm So this is my version of mushrooms from the Ren Fair

 

I Really like the Pysanky website.  She has other Ukrainian recipes that I want to try and put on this blog.  Sadly I have no one in the area to teach how to make the Easter eggs.  I guess I will just have to splurge and by some already made. 

 

I did bad, bad thing!

I almost did a bad thing.  My husband is the least reckless person in the world except for (marrying me).  He called JULIE that is the utility company.  Not sure what it stands for.  They came out and painted in bright orange where I should not dig and I kinda of sorta maybe went in that area.  I am digging (and not very deep) and come across a white wire.  I panicked and threw the clumps of dirt back in.  Then I thought, okay I know where the wire is so I took the clumps back out very carefully with my hands and put a daisy in the hole and stuck this sunshine lawn decoration thing in it to remind me to leave that spot alone.  Like somebody else who shall remain nameless is also crossing her finger's that responsible husband does not read this blog! 

                                                                               Bad Daisey and (good sweet mint)

                                               Good Daisey, Rose of Sharron and peppermint (not the sweet mint)

Okay I also did  good thing.  One of my new plants is sweet mint.  Its just like the mint my great-grandma use to grow and make tea out of.  I trimmed it and had a few leaves.  I was going to dry the leaves out but a Vodka Mojito was calling my name.  Here is the recipe.  Not sure GG would approve but why start now!

                             Its a beautiful thing!  I want another one but I don't know if I will kill my new plant! 

Vodka Mojito

• 2 1/2 oz vodka
• 3 fresh mint springs (or 5 little ones)
• 2 tbsp sugar (or 1 tried both ways might split the difference next time)
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• ginger ale (or sprite or tonic water)

directions

• 1
  Muddle Mint, sugar, lime & lemon
• 2
  Fill shaker with ice. Add muddled ingredients (or muddle in shaker), ice, vodka & top with ginger ale. Shake.
• 3
  Makes 1 drink.

 recipe with slight changes from http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1285747-Vodka-Mojito?full_recipe=true

More means More!

I am now to the point in the White Garden that no matter what I do, I keep saying I think I need just one or two more of these.  I really want some more daisies and white lavender.  I found these daises at Walmart.  I can't believe they are still in bloom.  I forget the name of them.  It begins with a m.  My Shasta's in another part of the yard have been done for awhile.  I will really like these if they bloom later and are less invasive than the Shasta's.