BRIDGTON
BLUES, NEWS & BEYOND |
Country Kitchen
by Mary Emma Allen
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? With snow still nearly two feet deep around our home in April, and the garden area buried beneath, it’s difficult to imagine that planning time approaches. Although the planting will come later, gardeners like to think about the vegetables and flowers they anticipate growing. Seed and sapling catalogs arrive in the mail. I remember these from childhood…the excitement, the expectation of spring, as well as the memories of long hours planting and weeding fields and kitchen garden plot on the farm. Garden Design Some people plant their gardens in a rather hit and miss fashion. Others mark straight rows, as Father did, while a few design gardens as they do their homes, with intricate paths, stone figures, bird baths, benches and patches of fruit, vegetables and florals. You may want to attract hummingbirds and helpful insects or find ways to keep rodents out. I’ve always enjoyed visiting gardens, like those at colonial homes, where much planning went into the layout or landscaping of the gardens. There may be benches where you can stop and ponder…or take a rest midst the weeding. Perhaps there’s a fountain with its musical flow of water. Many structures lend themselves as planters and interesting design. I recently saw a picture of petunias blooming in the sagging seat of an old wooden chair. It already was worn and weathered, so couldn’t come to harm in the garden, providing a resting place for flowers, birds and bees. Perhaps someone in your family makes ornamental iron structures (or you can purchase them) to add decoration. Many old gardening, planting, and harvesting tools provide eye appeal to the garden design. For instance, an old plow (the type pulled behind a horse and held upright by human hands) often serves as a place for vines to climb. The Victory Tub When I was growing up, during World War II, Americans were encouraged to plant gardens and grow their own food. These were referred to as “victory gardens.” Since my family always planted a garden and raised much of our food, the urging to garden made little difference in our lives. However, Mother painted a large wooden tub, about two feet high and three feet in diameter in patriotic colors – red and blue with a large white V on either side. She set this in the middle of the small rose garden in the yard before our farm house. I have a photo somewhere of my sister and me, dressed in our Sunday best…complete with bonnets, standing in front of the victory tub. Spring Planting Foods What foods come to mind as we begin our garden preparations? To me it’s barbecues, green salads, crisp bread, and light lemon flavored desserts with fruit. HOT ROLLS – Scald 1 ½ cups milk but don’t boil; add ½ cup margarine or shortening and cool. Dissolve 2 cakes yeast in small amount of warm water. Add 2 beaten eggs, 5 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons salt. Stir in 6 cups flour that has been sifted 3 times, making a soft dough. Do not knead. Let rise until doubled in bulk. Roll out. Spread with melted butter. Then cut rolls with circular cookie cutter (my aunt often used a drinking glass). Fold in half. Put into muffin tins coated with butter spray. Let rise until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Mary Emma Allen has been writing cooking columns for 40 years. She and her family compiled a cookbook to preserve their food heritage. She teaches workshops to show others how to do this, along with scrapbooking their family recipes. Visit her web site: http//homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea or email her at: me.allen@juno.com Copyright © 2008, Mary Emma Allen
Mary Emma Allen's books, available by contacting the author/illustrator at me.allen@juno.com or visiting her web site where you'll find further description and an order form: http//homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea 1. Tales of Adventure & Discovery, a collection of children's stories previously appearing in magazines, written/illustrated by Mary Emma Allen; published by MEA Productions; $9.95 plus postage. 2. Tales of Adventure & Discovery Coloring Book, containing illustrations and excerpts from the anthology, by Mary Emma Allen, published by MEA Productions; $1.95 plus postage, or $1.00 when purchased with the anthology. 3. When We Become the Parent to Our Parents, the chronicle of her mother's journey through Alzheimer's, written/illustrated by Mary Emma Allen, MEA Productions; $9.95 plus postage. 4. Writing in Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont, a resource book for writers, publishers, librarians, and teachers, written by Mary Emma Allen, published by Writer's World Press. Regularly $16.95 plus postage, now $9.95 plus postage. (The publisher is celebrating their 10th anniversary and offering specials on their books.) 5. The Magic of Patchwork, the story of quiltmaking with directions for beginners' projects, written/illustrated by Mary Emma Allen, published by MEA Productions; $8.00 plus postage. 6. Manuals for Writers, written by Mary Emma Allen, $5.95 each plus
postage: 7. Posters - autographed enlargements of the illustrations from Tales
of Adventure & Discovery or the coloring book. Books in Progress: Workshops: Mary Emma teaches workshops for adult and young writers. She also presents children's programs in schools and libraries
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Mary
Emma Allen has been a columnist since 1964 and has written many columns
for newspapers and magazines. These include cooking, history, book reviews,
restaurant reviews, gardening, quiltmaking, consumer topics, children's
stories and activities, homespun philosophy, travel, and marriage. Currently
she writes "Country Kitchen" for newspapers in New Hampshire
and Utah, "Refunder's Hotline" for a New Hampshire newspaper,
and a marriage column for The Oasis, an online Christian publication.
Mary Emma Allen also is a book author and newsletter editor/publisher.
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