Magic Touch & Her Meatloaf

Roasted Meatloaf w/roasted potatoes, carrots and onion.

Here is a healthier version of one of my favorites. Using multi-colored fingerling potatoes and Rainbow Carrots ramp the nourishment even more…and who wouldn’t enjoy some color on their plate…and it is good for you…You can have it in the oven in about 20 minutes.

Here is the list of ingredients:

2 lbs organic, grass fed beef

2 organic eggs

1/2 c organic rolled oats

2 tbl organic Ketchup

2 tbl dehydrated onion, or 1  diced fresh

2 tbl dried parsley

Salt, I use Pink

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Mix together to form a loaf.

 

If using fingerlings and rainbow carrots, wash potatoes and place in roaster around the loaf. Add one onion quartered.

If using regular potatoes and carrots you will need 6 of each, pealed and cut in quarters.

Add one cup of water to pan.

Seal with lid, or foil.

Bake @ 350º for 1 1/2 hours,

or 325º for 2 hours…

 

*You could also add diced yellow, red ,or orange peppers if you would like. Or green….

Make it your own!

Important Message from Re-Establishing Roots

Knowing Jamie Oliver is under fire for joining forces with Bill Gates, his message is one that needs to be heard. Maybe he will have the ability to get through to the likes of Bill Gates, along with others, and teach him a thing or two about the direction we need to travel. Here is a video done in 2010…

Please watch…

 

Re-Establishing Roots, Let’s get Started

My Intention is to turn Re-Establishing Roots, Inc into a Non-Profit. And I am getting tired of waiting! Let’s get Started…The rest will fall into place…

First up is my Donation Page. I just posted yesterday, November 1, Keep checking to see how I am doing. Fingers crossed.

Click the above image to go to the page. It gives details on our immediate needs. Donate, Share, Explore….

My Followers are few, but Friends are many…I do not know about you, but I am getting tired of waiting.

Let’s get this thing started.

Everything else will fall into place.

This is the first Draft for the first post for Re-Establishing Roots. It will fit nicely into one of our planned projects. We are all about the fix.

In order to find the fix, you need to identify the cause….

We are all about the cause.

Our Cause: Re-Establishing Roots for a Healthful Community through Gardening.

I am currently working on Planting Seeds to Sprout a few Community Gardens for Spring of 2015.

This is Betsy & Me, disheveled at best…

Betsy heads up the Patton Project. A Garden Project in Patton Middle School. I had a personal tour, and I was Wowed! With the mission of Community Gardens in Perkiomen Valley, I will be presenting the idea within days of this post. At the very least, I am hoping for permission to start a Community Garden on school property. Hopefully we can rally support.

To view pictures of my visit click my nose, or anywhere else on the image.

I will continue to prepare for the launch of Re-Establishing Roots, asking for your support every now and then. Jump in where you can.

I am so excited!

Roasted Chicken Soup: Just in time for the cooler weather

Roasted Chicken Soup to warm the soul…

 Magic Touch & Her Winter Comforts

At this point you can serve, freeze, or can. I keep Roasted Chicken Soup in my freezer year round. After thawing I heat it and add Spinach instead of Pasta. You could also add Rice, Beans, or Lentils. A clean version packed with Nourishment.

September Surprises

Wow! The Summer is coming to a close…again. My September Surprises are a nice treat for those who love Gardening from all angles

Come walk with me.

The Harvest Moon arrived on Sept 8th. It was the last of the three Super Moons of 2014.

With the Winter we had our Gardens were a little off. This is the Crape Myrtle in September.

A Clematis Bloom? And such a gorgeous color. Purple is still my favorite…

Sometimes the “weeds” surprise you. This bucket full of  Nicotiana mutabilis ‘Marshmallow’ self-seeded. in the perfect spot. These plants love wet feet, and this bucket did the job…

Closeup of the  Nicotiana mutabilis ‘Marshmallow’ flower. A favorite of Hummingbirds.

These berries are Honeysuckle. I love the color…

There are even Dinner-plate Hibiscus in bloom.

This was an amazing find. Blue-eyed Grass. Planted by the birds…Thank you. I found Blue-eyed Grass growing in my Garden right after Frank Sinatra passed. When I discovered what it was named, it brought a smile to my face…I have since bought flat after flat to plant, with no success. Fingers crossed it is here to stay. Blue-eyed Grass is a miniature Iris.

Lavender in bloom.

Mixed Border Garden. Planted along the edge of the road. This is my first year planting Zinnias…

Planting Zinnias proved to be rewarding. Not only do they add color, they are a Butterfly Magnet.

Indian Summer Rudbeckia did well this Summer. This Border Garden doubles as a Cutting Garden.

The Petunias spill out towards the road.

These Zinnias are in the Island Garden.

Turtlehead is a Host plant for the Baltimore Butterflies. Although I have never seen one, I hold out hope…Here is a link to an article about  Turtlehead Chelone glabra.

This is what became of a Moss Purse I had sitting on the front steps. Japanese Painted Fern self-seeded, as the purse collapsed. It is my Woodland Fairy Garden…

Purple Asters are in bloom…on schedule.

Our Winter took its toll. This planter, which was fully exposed on the picnic table, survived. The Licorice Plant is not even hardy to here. And notice the Tennis Ball…Yup, that would be Chase…No matter what I am doing, the ball ends up in the picture…

Here’s to the end of another growing season. Big plans for next Spring…Can’t wait…

Roasting Corn Barefoot Style…

Roasting Corn Barefoot Style…with a few extras thrown in…

One of my favorites is White Corn from a Local Produce Stand. This corn used came from Barry Davis Produce Stand

Clean corn by removing outer husks. Trim top and bottom off. Run water into the top end.

Roast @ 400º for 30 minutes.

Cut off end, hold it by the top and see if you can get the ear to fall out. My son can do it, me, not so much. I end up peeling it from the bottom.Roasted corn is much easier to husk than raw, Make sure you protect your hands from the heat.

Looks like I started without you…

While the oven is hot, I like to roast as many thing as I can fit in the oven. Here are Grape Tomatoes fresh from The Barefoot Garden. Place them in an ovenproof glass dish, and drizzle with Organic Olive Oil…

Roast @ 400º for 30 minutes. If you want to caramelize them more, add 10 extra minutes…

 I also found room for 2 Sweet potatoes. Roasted @ 400º for 45 minutes.

I then place the Roasted Sweet Potatoes in the refrigerator and slice them cold…Tastes just like Pumpkin Pie. Try it…You will be pleasantly surprised.

 I was also able to Roast Fresh from The Barefoot Garden Beets. And I made Pickled Eggs Barefoot Style…Check out my easy to follow directions here…

Roasted Beets, Barefoot Style…

The Barefoot Garden is doing well…

We managed to get 4 Beets this weekend. Here is what I did with them.

 Just picked Beets from The Barefoot Garden, cleaned, roasted, and pickled.

Just picked.

Beets from The Barefoot Garden
Cleaned and ready for roasting. Wrap them in Aluminum Foil.

Roasted @400º for 40 minutes.

In the meantime I bring eggs to a boil, put the lid on, turn off heat, and let sit for 25 minutes. Then I drain the water and chill them in an ice bath. I believe it makes them easier to peel. Fresh eggs are tough no matter what you do…

Peeled eggs, 4 small roasted Beets, fresh from the Garden, sliced, 1/2 Water and 1/2 White Vinegar. In my Gallon Ball Jar. Perfect jar for Pickled Eggs. Thank you Delphi Supply!

Local Businesses of the Perkiomen Valley Fundraisers

 

Local Businesses of the Perkiomen Valley

Fundraising at its finest.

Forno Antico Pizza opens its doors on Monday evenings to Welcome our Community.

Ciro and his Staff graciously invite you to come Dine with them, in turn donating 10% to our cause. People come from far & wide to enjoy a wonderful meal at a reasonable price. We set up a Raffle Table and we are good to go. Allow me to share.

Our first Fundraiser was held on June 2nd.

Our second was held July 22

 Next up is August 25th

Compost Area @ The Barefoot Garden

While waiting on the tomatoes, it was time to clean up the Compost Area.

My daunting task, make the Compost Area blend in with The Barefoot Garden.

Remember the pile of sod I had removed from the planting area?

This is the Compost Area at its, worst.

So I planted Watermelon…One way to keep the weeds down…

After laying the cardboard covered in straw, I moved the Mushroom Soil to the pile of sod.

An old Galvanized Can is used for kitchen scraps. With the holes punched in the sides and lid, it allows airflow and moisture to aid in the decomposition of the waste. Turning veggie scraps it into Black Gold.

At the base of my Kitchen Scrap Bin Creeping Charlie was thriving.

The leaf in the center is “normal” compared to the one behind it. The larger leaf was positioned to receive the run off from the kitchen scraps. Nourishment at its finest. Imagine what those fruits and veggies do for you. What I learned from my Creeping Charlie…

Look how nice.

I almost forgot, Look what we have…A baby Sugar Baby Watermelon…

 

Antidote, A Lesson in Nature

Antidote~

Origin:  1400–50; late Middle English  (< Middle French )

< Latin antidotum  <Greek antídoton  something given against (i.e., for counteracting),

equivalent to anti- anti- + dotón  neuter of dotós  given, verbid ofdidónai  to give; akin to datum

From Dictionary.com

Break time! Need to fix this…

  Bees have taken up residence in a bucket in the Garden. While weeding today I received four stings. Not to panic, I have my trusty Plantain Salve. For everything Nature has to offer, there is an antidote. Nature’s Chemicals. Plantian contains Nature’s Anti-venom.

Magic Touch & Her Weeds, Plantain and why you want to grow it…

Learn more…I wouldn’t Garden without it!