myskinnygarden's Profile

Display Name: myskinnygarden
Personal URL: http://www.myskinnygarden.blogspot.com
Member Since: 5/12/10

Latest Comments...

mini sandwiches! I make homemade pimento cheese then buy the prepackaged hawaiian rolls (the pull apart ones), remove the bread from the package, slice the entire thing making one big top and one big bottom, spread the pimento cheese on it, put the top back on, put it back in the white form then cut it into small sandwiches along the grooves in the bread. I use pimento cheese but the lady who told me about this idea years ago always made ham sandwiches. You could obviously use this technique for any sandwiches. I bring pimento cheese because although it's eaten a lot in the south where I'm from, most people in Chicago don't know about it so it's a treat for them. The best thing is that when you're done building it you just put it back in the same bag and it's light and easy to carry on the train etc.


What Should I Make for the Office Christmas Potluck?
Good Questions
12/13/11 4:49 PM

Years ago I had a very traumatic experience with the squash vine borer and have not grown it since. It's about the most disgusting thing I've ever seen as far as what it does to the plant! It was funny I had posted a picture on my blog like "look at this cute bug" and everybody started commenting like crazy KILL IT! IT'S A SQUASH VINE BORER! But by then it had already laid eggs.

I read last year that the squash vine borer bugs have usually come and gone by July 4th in the Chicagoland area where I garden and that one way you can combat them is to plant your squash AFTER that date. They grow really fast so it's not like you'll miss much of the harvest. I'm planning on trying that this year. I'll let you know how it works!


Combatting Garden Foes: The Squash Vine Borer
6/2/11 7:01 PM

Expect to make mistakes, kill plants and be frustrated. Also, when I started gardening, I discovered garden blogs and learned a ton from reading them and even asked the gardeners/bloggers specific questions via their blogs. Later I started my own garden blog and I truely believe getting involved in the garden blogging community has made me a better gardener.


What Advice Would You Give a Beginner Gardener?
Reader Intelligence Report
5/3/11 1:21 PM

Boy, I really needed to read this! By far, lemons have got to be the most disgusting smelling rotting food on the planet. A few times I've forgotten them in the fridge and you can smell them as soon as you enter the house. My husband would prefer I never buy them again because this keeps happening.


One Easy Tip to Keep Your Lemons Fresh For a Month
4/18/11 11:56 AM

Am I the only one with a full set of these things? My grandmother bought my silverware in Tennessee when I was about 20. Now, over 20 years later I'm living in Chicago and have been shopping few new silverware only to find tea spoons aren't even sold with sets here. Shock. Thankfully, I still have plenty from the set I'm trying to replace.


5 Ways to Put a Long-Handled Iced Tea Spoon to Good Use
3/26/11 12:32 AM

I love the IDEA of them. But they stink! When you have to hold your nose while preparing a meal, it sort of ruins it...


What Do You Think of Tofu Shirataki Noodles?
Good Questions
1/10/11 1:35 PM

This looks amazing! I'm definitely making this for next week's lunch! Although baking fresh bread at my house is a good way to get me an extra couple of pounds of body fat. ha

For the person who mentioned vegetarians and chicken broth, I normally substitute the "No Chicken Broth" available at Whole Foods when a recipe calls for chicken broth. I find the flavor of the soup is very different when I use that versus the vegetable broth for recipes that recommend chicken.


Soup Recipe: Tuscan Bread & Tomato Soup (Ribollita)
1/7/11 8:57 AM

I'm excited about soup week! I've been trying to make a pot of soup each week so that I can bring it to lunch every day to help with my weight loss efforts. This week I made a soup with collard greens and black eyed peas (both of which I always cook on new year's day for good luck) and it is amazing!

To the person who asked about bringing soup to work, the best thing I've found so far is reusing my ball canning jars. I make the soup and immediately fill the jars and refridgerate them. They are a little heavier to carry in my lunch bag but all I need to do is take the lid off and heat the jar of soup in the microwave. Working great for me and I'm happy to get some use out of all those canning jars I don't normally use during winter months.


Welcome to Soup Week at The Kitchn!
1/3/11 12:45 PM

I love metal metro shelving in the kitchen. It would look great with your counter height table in the picture, too. I bought my shelving at home depot for $99 but it is probably larger than what you would need. Costco has more sizes, all for around $100. Units from both places are very sturdy.


Kitchen Pantry Shelving Suggestions?
Good Questions
10/19/10 8:16 AM

I'm horrified! I found a huge ass box of instant mashed potatoes that had fallen off the shelf of the lazy susan corner cabinet. It expired August 10, 2005. 2005!! I believe we bought this when we first got our Sam's Club membership and for some reason, it seemed appropriate to buy an insititution sized box of mashed potatoes for two people. This is the reason I hate that corner lazy susan cabinet!

I have filled 3 large garbage bags so far and several bags of small appliances (toaster, single sandwich maker...) I'm donating. I completed the pantry and 5 cabinets so far. I emptied them all, cleaned and sanitized then returned food I'm keeping. I have not even gotten to the fridge/freezer, yet. I'll be doing that this Wednesday when I have the day off for my birtday. This is hard work!


Kitchen Cure Check-In Week 1: Is Your Fridge Clean Yet?
Fall 2010 Kitchen Cure
10/18/10 2:07 PM

@eiilonwy The discussion board seems to be broken. Each time I'd try to comment there it would tell me I needed a title yet there is no place for a title.

Thanks for the suggestion on the corner cabinet. Maybe I'll gain more clarity when I can bring myself to get in there and see what I'm actually working with. I just bought two heavy glass canisters for flour and sugar last night. I stood there for nearly 30 minutes debating plastic stackable versus heavy glass. Now that I've got them home, I'm wondering if I made the right decision.

In general, the biggest problem I'm having with this kitchen cure is that I can't focus on cleaning and purging because I'm fixated on reorganizing everything. Frustrating!


Kitchen Cure Week 1: Clean Fridge, Freezer & Pantry
Fall 2010 Kitchen Cure
10/17/10 1:00 PM

I tried to post this comment on the Discussion Board but it would not allow it so I'm trying here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26193604@N04/5088478526/in/pool-706870@N23/

Anybody have any suggestions on the best use for this corner cabinet with two lazy susans? I've always kept baking stuff down there but it is very disorganized and seems like a huge waste of the space. I've seen others who store pots/pans down there. The other space I have for pots/pans is two deep drawers and a lower cabinet.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to use this space better. Thanks! Gina


Kitchen Cure Week 1: Clean Fridge, Freezer & Pantry
Fall 2010 Kitchen Cure
10/17/10 12:16 AM

A couple of weeks ago I entered a tasty tomato contest and won second place with my Sungold cherry tomatoes (looks like the ones you have pictured). First place was also Sungold and third place was a Persimmon tomato (yellow/orange in color.) Out of 36 tomatoes, not a single red one even placed in the contest. I was shocked.

This is my first year growing the Sungold cherry tomato. It is the best tomato I have ever tasted in my life, hands-down. My two favorite ways to eat them this year (besides in regular green salads) is to cut them in half and add them to chucks of cucumber with salt and pepper and diluted vinegar, or to use them to make tomato bread salad. I wish I had enough to can some pasta sauce. It would be divine.


Bright Color, Big Flavor: Orange and Yellow Tomatoes
9/7/10 8:44 PM

Makes about 1 quart of Marinara sauce

Tomatoes 2 lbs
Olive Oil 1/4 cup (most of the time I use 2 tablespoons instead)
Fresh Basil 4 leaves
Oregano (dried) 1/2 teaspoon
Garlic 2 cloves (if you can find fresh heirloom garlic it really makes a difference)
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Pepper 1/2 teaspoon

Blanch and Peel Tomatoes and then coarsely chop.

Sauté garlic in olive oil until soft.

Add chopped tomatoes, bring to a simmer.

Add all remaining ingredients and let simmer for 10 minutes. The longer you simmer the thicker and better tasting it gets. I sometimes add 1/2 a chopped onion to this sauce. I grow my own tomatoes so I tend to use different varieties in each batch depending on what is ripe when I make it. But, if you're buying them, get Roma or San Marzano tomatoes. They have less juice and a richer flavor. Also, be sure to taste along the way. Depending on how acidic your tomatoes are, you may need to add a little sugar. Start with 1 teaspoon then add more if you need to. I use this same recipe for canning but I add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice for the canning process. Good luck!


Can I Make Marinara Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes?
Good Questions
9/7/10 1:51 PM

This looks really great! Where did you get your tomato cages? I'm always looking for good ones.


Look! Refreshing the Garden for the New Season | Apartment Therapy New York
6/3/10 3:09 PM

These are great picks! I'm a fan of Flatbush and A Way To Garden, myself.


Best New York Gardening Blogs Roundup | Apartment Therapy New York
6/3/10 2:17 PM

I'd say hire a lawn service to do one big clean up job for you, then take it on yourself. A lawn service will mow, edge, define any existing planting beds etc. After that, managing it yourself will be much easier.

Do you like to garden? Start replacing some of that grass with plants! The more plants, the less mowing.

I think that yard may be a little much for a manual mower to handle. If you can swing it, invest in an electric one. There is no need to add another pollution producing gas mower to the environment.


Your Best Yard Taming Advice | Apartment Therapy Los Angeles
5/12/10 11:54 AM