Roasting Peanuts

I let the peanuts (I harvested from the garden) dry for a couple of weeks. Now it was time to roast them. I set the oven to 300 degrees F and got started.

First I got out a colander and rinsed the peanuts. To get all the dirt off, I scrubbed them with a vegetable brush. Then I set them on a towel to absorb the water while I got out a baking sheet. I placed them on the baking sheet and popped them into the preheated oven. I set the timer for 20 minutes and watched them like a hawk. I was not about to ruin my first and only batch of peanuts.

My directions said to roast the peanuts for 20 to 25 minutes, but to check one to see if they were done. After 20 minutes, I popped one in my mouth. Chewy, not crisp. Back in they went for another 10 minutes. I tried another and popped them back in the oven. I think the roasting time was closer to 35 to 40 minutes.

Once out of the oven, I let them cool and served them with dinner. Everyone enjoyed the peanuts. To me, they tasted extra fresh. I really enjoyed them. I just wish there were more of them. This planting season, I plan on planting a lot more peanut plants. Watch out Planters!

As Always, Happy Gardening!

P.S. — Check out my earlier peanut posts to see the entire process.

My Take on Rules for Visiting

Book Reviews

My latest read was a book I asked for and received for Christmas, Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane. Rules for Visiting was an easy read. This book will make one think of the way in which they live their life and the role friendship plays.

The novel is about May, a botanist, and how she decides to catch up with old friends, and perhaps find herself, during bonus time off from her work. May is a gardener at the local university. Being granted a months vacation from her job, May decides to take four seperate vacations to visit friends from her childhood through her college days. While May does have friends of her own, she is often intrigued by other peoples relationships with their frineds. Why does her life seem lacking? Will she find what she is looking for?

Kane’s novel is a wonderful read. A book about life that could easily be made into a movie. It also has plant and tree facts sprinkled throughout the book. This helps define the character and may also teach the reader a thing or two about plants. As always, Happy Reading!

Planting Bare Roots in the Spring

gardening

I ordered a bare root Rheinland Astilbe this spring. When I got it, I was a bit tired and put off planting it until the next day. It looked like a dried up root with bean sprouts protruding from the other end. Not too attractive. I read the instructions and put it in the soil and gave it a drink.

The next few days left me worrying about my plant. It didn’t look very happy. The bean sprouts were drooping and I did not think it would make it. However, I kept watering it.

One day, I went out and the bean sprouts had turned to beautiful green leaves! Wow! How did that happen? I won’t ask questions, I’ll just be thankful it is thriving. Now, every day it grows a bit taller and a few more leaves are growing.

I should have taken pictures in the beginning. But anyway…here is what it looks like today…

If all goes well, it will have beautiful pink flowers in early summer. As always, Happy Gardening!

January in So Cal

gardening

It may be winter, but in Southern California the sun still shines. It is mid January and the daffodil bulbs have popped making it look more like spring. The lavender is constantly in bloom as are many flowers. The orchard is a buzz with bees excited by the blossoms. Oranges and lemons are ready to be picked. My husband often brings in some lemons when they are ripe. Is he hoping for a lemon meringue pie? That does sound good!

Botanical Building and Lily Pond – Balboa Park

Travel

The Botanical Building in Balboa Park (San Diego, CA) was built for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition. Inside the building one can see collections of cycads, ferns, orchids, tropical plants and palms. Summer is a great time to visit the Botanical Building as many of the plants will be in full bloom. Outside the building is the beautiful Lily Pond. Koi fish and ducks can be seen swimming among the lily pads. There are usually a musician or two playing outside the building adding to the atmosphere and hoping for a few coins tossed their way. The site in front of the Lily Pond looking at the Botanical Building is one of the most photographed places in the park. One can see why as the splendor of one of the largest lath structures in the world is reflected into the water of the colorful Lily Pond.