I planted both red and yellow onions in the spring and the intention was they would be eaten as scallions. However, I didn't use enough of them so they grew into "regular" sized onions.
This is my first experience with mature onions, and it seems somewhere in my memory bank I see onions hanging in a cool dry place to cure before storage. I could have easily enough looked up how to dig/store onions but I was impatient.
I went ahead and washed them, removed the outer skins and have now stored them in the refrigerator. I believe they must not be washed if they are cured for long term use.
However, I use lots of onions in my cooking, so these will be gone in no time. I may even chop and freeze some of them for later use.
In my short experience with food gardening, I find that -- other than tomatoes -- few things are worth my time to grow except onions and garlic. I dug garlic last week, and did learn that it must be cured 6-8 weeks before storage, or even eating for that matter. I had a "bumper" crop and its curing in safe spot.
One of my favorite expressions about kitchen staples is, "give me an onion, a few potatoes, eggs, cheese and butter and we can eat well."
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| Frittata uses potatoes, onion, eggs garlic and cheese. A favorite Saturday or Sunday lunch at our house |
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| Deviled eggs |
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| Baked tomatoes with garlic, onion, Parmesan cheese and basil |
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| Chicken salad with just a touch of onion. Sweet pickle relish, dried cranberries, celery and lots of mayonnaise are my additions. One of my very favorite things to eat. |
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| Salsa variation: White beans, corn, onion, black olives, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and chopped parsley. |
Maybe soon I'll venture into growing potatoes, but chickens for eggs? It's an intriguing idea, and a few years back my HB consented to getting a coop and a few chickens. But his fever for that passed (the dogs would chase/kill them).
Yesterday he saw the neighbors chickens pecking around in my mother's backyard and he thought they were the cutest things. But no, he said, better not get chickens. The cats would get them. He did say we might could have a large coop inside which they would stay. I don't know about chickens. I have about as many mounts to feed around here as I can manage.
One thing is certain: Chickens would be for the eggs, because as he said, how could you kill one of those cute things for the table when you have watched it grow and become attached to it, just as you would a pet?
Maybe I'll just stick with growing gardenias
Inpatients and creeping jenny
A double orange day lily (from Aunt Marge)
Petunias in the window box
And Blushing Bride hydrangea (white with a tinge of blue)
Happy Monday, or Tuesday depending where you are!
Your onion crop is wonderful. I agree about freezing them - onions do the best of any vegetable when I'm freezing. Your Frittata is beautiful and I must think about dried cranberries when I make chicken salad next.
ReplyDeleteWe love frittatas and the leftovers are as good as first time around. I sometimes use white grapes instead of cranberries; both are wonderful.
DeleteAll except the dish with chicken sound delicious. Might even try some of them myself.
ReplyDeleteMy oh my - all the white flowers for the delight .
All those dishes are pretty simple, esp. the tomatoes. White flowers are my love!
DeleteYou are making me hungry, Sanda! I love onions, and eat onion every day in some form. Maybe I should try to grow them too.
ReplyDeleteThe white flowers are quite heavenly, and love Aunt Marge's orange lily. I rescued one of those from my mother's old garden this year, and planted it here. Fingers crossed we'll get flowers some time in Spring.
Onions are supposed to be very good health-wise. My mother-in-law told me how her mother kept a pan of onions simmering on the stove during winter and gave her children a spoon full for cold/flu symptoms. She said it cured coughs, fever and the like.
DeleteHello Sanda
ReplyDeleteI think your cooking rival Nigella's. When is your cooking show commencing? I love all the dishes. I did grow potatoes and it is very rewarding. Our first crop when ready, with my hands I plucked some and the water was boiling already, we boiled them and ate them with butter. You have no idea how delicious they are when young and newly harvested.
Try it
Helen xx
Oh wow; don't think I'm in Nigella's league but thanks for the compliment! I have heard the wonders of the taste of freshly dug potatoes. I must try growing some soon.
DeleteFun to see your crop and the many ways you are using it. DH sometimes grows potatoes. Like Helen said, the little new potatoes and delicious. Digging for them is fun, like finding buried treasure.
ReplyDeleteYour garden, both flowers and veg. is looking great.
Darla
Another potato grower! They should grow well for me. Not sure why I've never tried them. That's cute: digging for buried treasure!
Deletei recently ordered chicken salad at a little cafe, and it had dried cranberries in it. wonderful idea! i'll be adding them to my recipe from now on. your gardenias are lovely, and daylilies are one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteis it my imagination, or have the hydrangeas been especially striking this year?
I agree that the hydrangeas seem to have put on a special show this year. Somewhere recently I read a recipe for spreading apricot preserves on the bread for chicken salad sandwiches. Now that sounds very good to me and I shall try it soon.
DeleteAll the meals (minus garlic/chicken) are packed with good,healthy foods,especially the Salsa/bean salad.Love the bowl of Impatients.
ReplyDeleteI've read of the health benefits of garlic too! The smell may be bad but I love the taste of garlic. Use it extensively in my cooking. Love any dish made with beans or other legumes. So healthy and so easy!
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