In the Garden ~ Fall Planting

 

               Believe it or not it’s time to start thinking about your fall garden.  I know we are in the thick of summer and it seems like those 90 plus degree days will never end but fall will be here before you know it.  You won’t want to miss out on getting your garden fall ready.

 

               One of our favorite vegetables to plant for the fall is greens.  All the greens, to make big, beautiful, healthy salads.  Plus, we tend to plant hardy greens, that cook well, so that adds versatility to your garden and what you grow.  A few of our favorite greens to plant for the fall garden is spinach, arugula, kale and bok choy. A mix of varieties and flavors makes cooking more fun as well as treating your palette to a variety of flavors for the fall.

              

               Another favorite that could also be considered a green is cabbage.  While cabbage might take little longer to grow, 60-90 days until mature, it will withstand colder temperatures if your area gets an early cold snap.  There are choices to be made when growing cabbage as well.  Are you an all green type of grower or do you like to mix it up with purple cabbage?

 

Time to close up the head

               Broccoli is another great choice for a fall garden.  Broccoli really tends to thrive in cooler temperatures, such as 65-75 degrees but will get started while it’s still a little warmer. Maybe start those seeds inside where the climate is a bit cooler than outside and transfer when you have a strong seedling started.  A little tip I learned is to snip off the first heads as baby broccoli and that should yield to larger heads at the finish.

 

               Along with broccoli, cauliflower is another great fall vegetable to plant.  Now cauliflower tends to be a little more picky about the temperature in which it grows, so plant those a little later when you can be assured of cool temperatures for this temperamental plant.  Afterall, you do not want it to bolt before you produce heads. Once the heads start to grow, if you pull the leaves over top, the heads are protected from the sun and heat, and will grow to a beautiful white color.

 

               If you loved your peas in the spring, bring them back for the fall.  Fall peas taste just as yummy and crisp as those spring peas. Plus, who doesn’t love to just pluck them from the vine and enjoy while picking the rest of the vegetables.

 

               Carrots are another great option to plant in the fall.  Add these into the ground directly among your other plants and they will thrive in the fall.  After all carrots love tomatoes, so sprinkle in around your already growing tomatoes and see what comes up.

 

               A quick growing vegetable is the radish.  Succession plant these every two weeks to have fresh radish for your salad or as a garnish all throughout the fall.  By planting a new set every couple of weeks ensures you have new plants started when harvesting the first batch. 

 

               Beets are probably best known for being grown in the fall garden.  So many wonderful varieties are available for growers that you are bound to discover one you love.  They are even more versatile since you can eat the root and the tops, so nothing goes to waste when you grow beets in your fall garden.  These colorful root vegetables are a great addition to add in nutritious food choices to your daily diet. Beets are hardy after picking, if kept in a cool dry space.

 

               If you have never eaten celery grown fresh from the garden, you are missing out.  The taste is so much better than anything you can buy in the store.  Since celery can be used in so many different ways, you cannot go wrong with adding this to your fall garden.  While it does take a bit longer to mature 90 to 120 days, it will really start to produce when the temperatures drop. 

 

               While there are a myriad of choices and varieties to plant in your garden for the fall, do not let time slip away before you get started.  If you do not have a lot of space find out what goes well together and use the same pot for multiple plants.  Everyone can access fresh, grown produce with a little bit of effort. 

Travel ~ Mineral Wells, Texas and The Magpie Inn

     

   Mineral Wells, Texas boasts the home of Crazy Water.  The story goes that a woman who was suffering from her mind failing, came to Mineral Wells and drank the healing waters and recovered.  Thus, Crazy Water was born.  There are four levels of Crazy water to choose from, based on the mineral content.  One being the lowest amount to four being the highest amount.  No matter where you go in town you are bound to experience Crazy Water.  While I was there, I tried number two and felt that by itself, it had too much mineral flavor but with food, it evened out to have a "regular" water flavor.  When you plan your stay, be sure to check out the Crazy Water to discover your favorite and see if it helps you to feel better mentally.

 

    Of course, during my visit, I had to check out the downtown area of Mineral Wells.  It was a short walk from the Magpie Inn, where I stayed the night.  While making my way downtown I saw quite a few murals on the exterior of the buildings and just loved the different images they portrayed.  Murals are such an easy way to incorporate art into your downtown area that can also be a draw for people to visit.  Hint, hint City of Sulphur Springs. 

 

    I decided to step into one of the shops which ended up leading me to four different shops.  It was pretty cool how they were all connected and just flowed from one to the other.  There was a little eatery in one of spots.  Here you could order sandwiches or salads, along with some fresh meat, pasta and sauces as well.  It was cute little spot to enjoy lunch, grab something you might be missing for dinner, to a souvenir to take home and enjoy later. 

 

    One of the staple shops of Downtown Mineral Wells sports a two-story building that literally has something for everyone.  From olive oil to balsamic vinegars, housewares, kids clothes, and even something for the men in your life.  The Market has a little bit of everything, including a cocktail and coffee bar for guests to enjoy while they shop or just to sit awhile and enjoy. 

 

    I even managed to make my way to the brewery, Rickhouse Brewing, that is located downtown in the same building as the Crazy Water Hotel.  I tried a flight of beers and did not find one that I didn't like.  Each one was unique and with a story that resonated with the brewery, creating a history for why they brew the beer and the name given.  Their brew space is right where guests can see it all and I was really impressed with the quality and quantity of beers that they create in the space allotted to them.  You can regularly find musical groups playing at the brewery and a good conversation if that is what you are looking for.  Be sure to ask about the beer stories while you are there and of course find your favorite.

 

    My favorite part of my visit was staying at The Magpie Inn.  This Chef owned and operated inn is a short walk from the center of downtown and is a lovely getaway for couples.  Select from five rooms and enjoy a group breakfast or an in-room breakfast during your stay.  Be sure to look for Waldo, the tortoise, during your stay.  He is definitely part of the Inn experience.  Each room is designed with your comfort in mind and is welcomed retreat during a visit to Mineral Wells. 

 

    If you are visiting family or just looking for a getaway you can't go wrong with a stop in Mineral Wells.  There is plenty to do and see during your visit, and of course wonderful places to stay, eat and drink.  Explore Clark Gardens or hop on over to the lake or take a tour of local wineries or a history tour.  Don't forget to grab a bottle of Crazy Water and find out which level you like the best. 

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Limoncello Mojito

    

     I don't know about you, we have an abundance of mint.  We have regular spearmint, peppermint and one other variety that I cannot for the life of me remember the name.  Needless to stay, our mint is prolific and oh so yummy.  We use it in a variety of ways, a lot of Asian inspired dishes, garnish for salads and of course mixed drinks.  

    Mint is so versatile and easy to grow that if you have a spot in your yard that needs a good ground cover, add it in and see what happens.  Mint grows really well and spreads better than almost any other ground cover.  So if you do not want your mint to overtake your yard, be sure to plant it in a pot.

    I chose this Limoncello Mojito as our cocktail this month. The use of the mint and lemons, just seem so cheery and summery, that I could not have picked a better option.  Who doesn't like a bit of summer color in your drink?

    This one is easy to mix for your personal drink or as a big group.  Use your multiplication skills to make that big batch cocktail happen.  My secret to a great tasting cocktail this month is the simple syrup.  I didn't just use any old simple syrup.  I snagged some of my son's, lemon simple syrup to mix into this drink.  

    The added citrus flavor of the lemon simple syrup is just too good to pass up.  It really helps to bring the flavors together and make a drink worth sipping on.  

Limoncello Mojito

Serving size 1

6-8 fresh mint leaves

1 ounce white rum

1 ounce Limoncello lemon liqueur

1 TBLS lemon simple syrup

1/2 tsp. lime juice

top of with club soda or sparkling water

First muddle your mint leaves in the bottom of a shaker cup.  Once the oils have released and you can really smell the fresh mint, add in your ice.  Once the ice has been added, pour in your rum, Limoncello, simple syrup, and lime juice.  Give the cup a vigorous shake.  Pour over an ice filled glass and then top of with sparkling water.  Garnish with fresh mint and a slice of lime. 

    This drink is sure to wow all your rum drinkers.  Simple, refreshing and full of summer flavor.  Make a batch today to share with friends.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Cheers!