Saturday, June 14, 2008

In the Garden Braving the Mosquitoes with Some Tequila Help and an Absolutely Incredible Hot Fudge Sauce

"Yes, I`m going in for a few sniffs and nibbles. Isn`t that why it`s here?" I`ve added 3 more plants so far.

I decided to go with flowers in the pots this year. Chose some African Daisies and they looked very bare so I dug up some sweet woodruff and also bought a couple of spikes for the middle. In the samll pots are some Thai Basil and Lavender

I had two of these boxwood on either side of the arch but one never made it. I decided to dig the surviving one out and had slapped it in this pot until I could find somewhere to plant it.

To the far left is where I`ve pulled out the surviving Boxwood and planted another Mallow to match the other side. I`m going to have to do some heavy duty transplanting eventually because the small perrenial plants aren`t going to fit once they start to grow alongside the big ones.

I swear every year that this is dead.

But, the Trumpet Vine has again amazingly come to life.

Teds ventures out into the weed filled garden. Some of the bits are luckily only from the tree and can be swept away.

He ventures into the herb patch. I`ve only planted perennials here this year except for the arugula. Notice all the bits that have fallen from the tree. Thankfully they`re not weeds too.

I miss Saint Francis in front of the back door but Elvis was using the space here to get onto the lawn and flattening my plants so he`s been moved over a bit.

I put the annual herbs in pots this year. Purple Basil, Regular Basil and Rosemary.
I`m going to bring them in after summer and see what survives for cooking.

Teddy as well as the other two just love walking on the bricks. I still need to dig most of them in yet. For now they`re just sitting on top of the dirt.

It will eventually look nice once I get my butt out there and start digging.

Shocking mess, all the weeds, but Angus doesn`t seem to mind....

"Let me in"

Time to get serious and at least partially weed the garden.
First off, some Margarita fortification. Forget bringing out the proper glass, I wanted a nice big one, mind you, I`ve half drank it already. Goes down very well even on a not so hot day.

Out came the mosquito jacket for the bloody mosquitoes that are out on this overcast day. It only takes one bite near my eye and it swells closed.

Some areas have seedlings still sprouting so I don`t dare touch them yet, although the weeds are a mess.


DARK CHOCOLATE HOT FUDGE SAUCE



This is so good! Beware though because it`s very enticing to just eat it by the spoonful!

Dark Chocolate Hot Fudge

from The Gourmet Cookbook

1/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

2/3 cup heavy cream

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 ounces good bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), finely chopped

2 Tablespoon unsalted butter, cup into 1/2 Tablespoons

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir together cocoa powder, brown sugar, corn syrup, cream, salt and half of the chopped chocolate in a 2-quart heavy saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until chocolate is melted. Cook mixture at a low boil, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until it thickens. Keep refrigerated and re-heat for sauce or eat by the spoonful cold and fudgey from the fridge :)

I`m going to serve it tonight for the boys over vanilla ice cream after our BBQ of hot Italian Sausages and sliced potatoes done up in tin foil with onions, mushrooms, corn and butter.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your sauce poured over icecream sounds delicious. Your pots are looking great and your cat seems to be enjoying the catnip!
Sara from farmingfriends

Acornmoon said...

I love your garden especially the pots. I have a Ted in my garden also, he's my little dog.

Unknown said...

You have very nice garden. When I live alone I want one too. However I would have flowers which has no pollen. Your grass is excellent, like a football pitch. We had bad grass at the moment. We have problems with the soil and we are lazy to replace it.

Unknown said...

Tea, your pots and garden are coming along. I hear ya on the weeding and mosquitos girl! I've got bites everywhere, and one on my neck that's driving me batty! I love being in my garden, but the sqeeters are ruining it for me!! Oh how I hate them!! I'm still looking for a good natural repellent. I hate to use those chemical ones! I may have to get one of those jackets!! hehe!
I make that fudge sauce and put in the same jar!! Wow! Sometimes I feel like I'm reading my own blog when I look at yours!

Sandra Evertson said...

A simply Heavenly garden! An sweet little kitties too!
Sandra Evertson

Rosie said...

All your plants look wonderful; as does the chocolate fudge sauce!
Glad the frog escaped unharmed :)

Christine Boles said...

Your garden looks healthy and vibrant!
The recipe sounds soooo gooooood!

Rowan said...

The italian sausage and sliced potatoes sounds really good - not as good as the hot fudge sauce though!! Think I'll try both once DH can eat normal food again(he's on low fat, low calcium foods until after the surgery).

Carol said...

It has been lovely having a little trip around your lovely garden Tea..I love the pots...I saw a pot which had been potted up with two Basil's and a Margarita ! it was gorgeous.
carol x

Diana LaMarre said...

Hi Tea,
It looks like you are well underway with your garden. I see the mosquitoes did make it to your yard. ;)

Nice herb pots. Did you grow them from seed? I didn't buy any herbs this year, but I found an old pack of basil seeds and planted them about two weeks ago. So far I don't see anything coming up. I was wondering if you knew how long basil seed takes to come up. My seed may have been too old.

Your chocolate sauce sounds devine!

Bob said...

Hi Tea, Vicki suffers very badly from insect bites too. I think you need to feed Elvis some more then he wouldn't fit through that gap in the fence LOL! I guess your Rosemary won't survive your winters outside. Here they will live out all year round. Your plants are looking nice, don't worry to much about the weeds, just enjoy the nice parts and do the weeds when you feel like it. Bob.

Deana said...

Your plants look awesome. I swear my clemitis is dead every year and then they just fill back out. I want a trumpet vine when I get my shelter built at our dock. I think that would look so pretty going up one of the posts in a corner with a hammock nearby.

Julie said...

Your garden looks wonderful, even in its unfinished state. Look for an extra little book along with your prize book, just because I know you love the subject.

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

Great pictures! Sorry I haven't visited in so long. We were on vacation and finally got back last weekend. Just wanted to stop in and say hello, though. Love your mosquito jacket thingy, by the way. Wouldn't mind having one of those to wear around here! lol

Kari

Tea N. Crumpet said...

This year I did well to stick my plants in the ground. Next year I will do better!

Your garden is amazingly beautiful!

Judypatooote said...

Just stopped by to say your kitties are naughty....and Elvis is special....LOL.....hope your well....everytime I stop by your blog, I want to go have a margarita.....but it's only 5:30 in the morning, so have to pass again....darn.....have a great weekend.....judy