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July 4th picnic ideas from the garden
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Planning on having an Independence Day picnic this year? Several foods are available in the backyard (or front yard!) garden. Many fruits and vegetables are ready for harvest in our area right now. New potatoes, peas, kohlrabi, rhubarb, strawberries, lettuce and onions are a few. Many herbs are also available to harvest for use in dips or marinades to compliment summer foods.
New potatoes are potatoes which are not full-grown but available now. New potatoes are harvested simply by digging around any potato plant to dig out small potatoes. If these potatoes are left in the ground, they will grow to full maturity. If new potatoes are harvested, the plant will not be harmed and will continue to produce potatoes as long as some potatoes are left in the ground when harvesting the new potatoes. The recommended amount of new potatoes to be harvested is about a third of the potatoes available from the plant and no more. New potatoes are arguably the best potatoes to use in potato salad. Wash them, boil, trim the skin off if desired, and mix with mayonnaise, peas, eggs, onions and chives for a quick and delicious side item.
Peas are ripe and ready to be picked. English or garden peas can be picked, shelled, and put into potato salad or eaten plain, cooked or raw. Sugar snap peas should be picked when the pods are long and thin- do not allow the pods to become too plump for the length. Sugar snap peas can be eaten pod and all. Sugar snap peas are good for fresh eating, either plain or accompanied with a dip made of cream cheese, sour cream and garden herbs such as lemon balm, mint, basil, chives, oregano, sage, or any combination of these.
Kohlrabi can be picked right now, if desired. Kohlrabi should be two to three inches across in order to be picked, but it is not recommended to leave kohlrabi to grow bigger than four inches across, as it takes on a woody texture which is not as desirable. Kohlrabi can be cut and served with sugar snap peas with the garden herb dip described above. Kohlrabi is best suited to a refreshing, tangy dip made with herbs such as lemon balm and sage, for example.
Rhubarb can be used to make a variety of desserts and can be used independently or along with strawberries. Rhubarb can be made into pies, muffins, tortes, and a multitude of other baked goods. Strawberries can also be used independently in baked goods or eaten fresh, either alone, with a dip, or dipped in chocolate.
Add some meat for grilling, if desired, and the garden can produce a July fourth picnic feast!
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