Manicotti

I made manicotti for the first time last week, using a super simple recipe I found via Pintrest :]
http://www.alidaskitchen.com/2012/08/easy-meatless-manicotti.html?m=1

I follow the recipe except I couldn't figure out how to fit all 14 noodles from the box into the pan, I will have to rethink it next time.

Here are my tips to help

1. Make the cheese mix in a ziploc bag. Put the bag in a bowl or large measuring cup to help it retain a shape while you add ingredients, then close and mash around the mix up. then cut a VERY SMALL piece of one of the corners and use it like a piping bag. You can make this ahead.

2. Insert the tip of the ziploc bag at least an inch into the manicotti noodle then squeeze gently and slowly and the whole noodle will fill up with cheese mix

3. I used ricotta cheese- I love it so much with lasagna

4. I ended up uncovering the manicotti and adding more mozzarella then baking another 10 min for the cheesy bubbly top I desired

5. Measure out the amount of water to add, eyeballing it might end up in a soggy dish

6. Don't be afraid to pump up the flavor in the cheese mix with different spices, S&P, etc

7. I thawed the spinach via microwave (2-3 min or so), initially drained in a colander and pressed out liquid, then wrapped in paper towels to finish pressing out the liquid

enjoy!

Herb Window/Deck Garden

I recently made an herb planter for my amazing mother in law for mother's day, I realized how great of a gift this was! Many home improvement stores sell small kits to grow from seed, which is great, but the way I did it was simple and pretty cheap and has larger plants


1. Buy 24" deck box and tray. I prefer the less expensive variety if giving as a gift, since you never know if they will re use it or even like the color.

2. Be sure to find one with drainage, if needed GENTLY punch out drainage holes

3. Put a small layer of rock in the bottom to assist drainage

3. fill with a few inches of quality potting soil

4. add 3-4 herb plants of choice that you purchase at your local store, if the root bulb is tight, gently work loose with your fingers

5. places the plants equidistance apart, adding soil to the bottom as needed so the top of the plant's soil is 1/2-1" below the top of the planter

6. fill in with potting soil, packing it down slightly as you go

7. put labels into the soil, and water well

8. water as needed to keep the soil moist but not soaking wet, and enjoy harvesting your herbs

Incredibly simple and easy pasta salad

Here is my super easy go to pasta salad for a quick dish for the summer and/or potlucks and picnics

Pasta Salad (large batch)

2 boxes garden rotini (the multi color ones)
1-2 green bell peppers
1-2 yellow bell peppers
1-2 red bell peppers
1-2 orange bell peppers
1 cucumber
green onions
cherry tomatoes
1-2 bottle zesty italian dressing


Boil water then cook pasta. Be VERY careful to NOT over cook it, you want it just al dente for a few reasons: 1) it will continue to cook as you toss it with the other ingredients while it is still warm, 2) over done pasta falls apart and doesn't retain it's nice big pieces

While pasta is cooking, dice up all your vegetables.

Bell peppers: chop both ends off, make a slice down the side, then slide your knife along the inside to de-seed and de-rib the pepper, wash off then cut into strips, dice strips into small pieces

Cucumber: score skin with fork while washing under cold water (or peel_, cut in half, then cut each half in half again (for quarters), holding the 2 halves of each half together, slice to desired size

Green onions: wash, then using kitchen sheers cut green part into ribbons. if you like more onion flavor, include the white bulb (I usually omit this if going to a party)

Tomatoes: cherry or grape tomatoes work the best, halve small ones, quarter larger ones

Drain pasta well but do not run water over it

In a very large bowl, add pasta and 1 bottle of dressing and toss well with a spoon

Add vegetables and toss further.
Refrigerate until event (I prefer overnight)

Taste before serving, and if needed add more dressing to taste.

voila. super simple and easy pasta salad.

don't be afraid to mix up the ingredients either!

Potato planting

This morning, I got a little gardening fix by planting my potatoes

I have already sowed my early spring seeds (http://kasialucia.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-garden-started.html) and now that the infamous mothers day weekend has arrived, it is time to plant potatoes. 

It is best to plant potatoes 2-3 weeks before the last frost in your area. 

This year we purchased seed potatoes from Phelan Gardens, a local nursery (http://www.phelangardens.com/). We thought burpee would not ship us the potatoes, but we were mistaken and ended up giving those ones away. In future years, we will stick with the local nursery, the cost and variety was much better. 

In my rather small garden, I used 2 seed potatoes of both russet and red, cut the, in half for a total of 4 plants.

It is best to leave at least 2 good eyes or sprouts on each piece of potato that you are going to plant. 

My wise mother reminded me to cut my seed potatoes a week or two in advance to allow the cut side to "scar over" and dry up a little to reduce the risk of the potato rotting after planting. 

After cutting, I just put them in a bowl on top of my refrigerator to dry out until planting time. 


I pre planned my garden before planting this year, so I already knew right where I was going to plant my potatoes.

I have1 row of each with 4 potatoes in each row, spacing them evenly, about 1 foot apart. They need lots of space underground for all the tubers to grow!

I like to set out my eyes (or any plant) in the rows to eyeball it before I start digging and planting.

Then I just use my trowel (since I am really not planting very many) and dig a hole about 3" deep .

Place the potato in the whole eye side up, then cover with 3-4" of dirt, packing firmly. 

Repeat until finished. 

And as always, don't forget to immediately water after planting, and to keep your garden moist. 


On a side note, I am happy to report that I have sprouts of garlic, pak choy/bok choi, radish, and some spinich emerging after the great rain we had the last 3 days. 

some of my favorite garden helpers