Schrute Farms

Back in April, we planted some carrot seeds. Throughout the summer, I periodically pulled a couple, but they were always very small. So eventually, I just left them alone. Finally, this fall, I pulled up the rest and here's what we got:

They look a bit more like beets than carrots.

Since the growing season was ending, I was going to pull up the rest of the garden, but then I found this little pumpkin growing.

Hard to believe that little thing was growing in this mess! 

Here's the tomato plant that started growing tomatoes in September after the wind knocked it on it's side.

That pretty much wraps up this year's garden. I transplanted the herbs into containers and brought them inside. We'll have to come up with some new things to grow next year and give it another go.

Fryin' Okra

I’ve never fried anything before. Like, really fried. Sure, I’ve fried an egg and used olive oil to sauté chicken, but I’ve never put a vat of Crisco in a frying pan and fried something. Until now that is. When my friend S and I were at the local farmers market, I saw a basket of okra. I told her that the hubby likes fried okra and she told me how she makes it (so good as to impress her father-in-law). So we split a basket and got out the Crisco.

Chop up the okra; soak it in eggs.

Mix cornmeal and whatever spices you like (I used paprika, garlic powder, and pepper) and add the egg-soaked okra.

Heat Crisco in a frying pan until it is liquid.

Toss okra in the Crisco and fry.

In this particular batch, I didn’t use enough Crisco, but they still turned out okay.

My Southern husband gave me a 6 for my effort. I’d say that’s pretty good for my first attempt at frying!