Because I feel much better, thank you. I still have a headache, but it is feeling like a normal headache, not the horrible kind.
So, yesterday we worked on the garden. I wish I had My Peony here to give me advice and show me where I was going wrong. My husband built me one raised bed because that was all I needed so far for all the plants I had that are ready to go out. My neighbor plowed this huge plot of land and the one raised bed is barely a speck on it. I think that is one of the points of raised beds though, less room. I planted the rhubarb and some corn conventionally so I felt like I am utilising some more of the land.
The soil is just dreadful. It is rocky and dry and you hit clay three inches down. That was when I wished I had my Peony. It is also hard to water becaue the hand pump close to it in the horse barn is not working. We are not sure if we are doing something worng, such as not pumping it enough, or if it is broken. Still, even if nothing grows, the kids, hubby and I had a fun afternoon digging in the dirt together. All except Gorbulas who sat himself in the van (doors open) and fell asleep for the event.
In the morning we attended 9 AM Mass in Auriesville. My husband would like to make that the normal Sunday routine since it is actually the closest Church to us. They will only be open until fall, so we should take advantage of it as long as the weather is nice.
We came home and had a late Sunday breakfast, worked in the garden and I made manicotti for dinner. I also spent the day snacking on pepper jack cheese, and roasted red peppers with anchovies. It was a little nicer than the usual Sunday running around. Especially since Gorbulas was so under the weather.
In the meantime here is my Recipe for Manicotti (pronounced mah-nee-gawt).
4 beaten eggs (Egg Beaters work just as well)
1 cup of water
1 cup of all purpose flour
Mix together, it will make a watery batter. Spread about 1/3 a cup of the batter on a hot, small non-stick skillet and flip once like a pancake. The manicotti will be very thin.
For the filling mix 2 pounds of ricotta cheese, 1 egg, salt, pepper and parsley and I like to add some romano cheese if I have it. Fill the manicotti and roll it up. Place in a baking dish (with gravy on the bottom) side by side. Cover with gravy and bake for like 1/2 an hour.Serve with the usual Italian condiments and sides, grated cheese and crushed red pepper, salad and Italian bread. Nummy!
So cool, I should try to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine and maybe drop by to see you? My daughter who went to WYD in Toronto said that the shrine was wonderful - they stopped there for Mass on their way.
I am glad that your headache is better. Right now I am at the point of panic about headaches.
Oh, and thanks for the prayers and for getting the word out.
Add some sand to the soil, it'll help keep any soil you add where you want it to be. I have the same problem here.
Oh yes, we must meet up if you go to the Shrine. It really is a lovely place.
Wow, you actually make the pasta itself from scratch? I "made" lasagna once by putting cheese and stuff into layers of the pre-made pasta and thought that was Real Cooking. Is it a lot more economical or do you just enjoy doing it all from scratch?
I don't know that manicotti is making pasta. I have made pasta in the past, but when we moved from NJ to Albany, not sure what happened to my pasta machine. It was real old. But in all honesty, the cost of purchasing pasta, even the organic whole wheat pasta I buy really does not make making pasta from scratch worth while. I only like to make it when there is something special, like ravioli with squash, or manicotti or something you cannot find or personalise better yourself.
I had ravioli with butternut squash filling at a restaurant in lower Manhattan once when I was trying to be vegetarian. It was pretty yummy, especially considering the junk-accustomed taste buds it was up against.