Green Tomatoes!
Frying Green Tomatoes, Tonight!
This week, temperatures are falling drastically here in Central Arkansas, zone 7. Chances are, if like me, you grew tomatoes this summer, you still have plenty of green, underripe tomatoes growing.
Do you leave the green tomatoes behind or pick them?
We pick them!! Fried green tomatoes are an autumn favorite of ours!
~Amber Hamilton Henson
(Check back later, this blog post is a work in progress, as I update with links to Bonnie Plants’ Mr. Stripey and Troybilt! …and maybe a few photos of the fried ‘maters! Yummmmmm!!”)
EASY RECIPE:
4-5 green tomatoes, med size, sliced 1/4 -1/2 inch thick
Mix 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 Tbsp salt, 1/2 Tbsp pepper, 1 tsp cayenne.
Coat the tomatoes in the dry mix.
In small bowl whisk 1/2 cup buttermilk and 3 eggs.
Coat the tomatoes.
Fry until golden!
(Fry over Med-high heat. Must have high heat to prevent soggy batter! Light and Crispy is the goal!)
Season with sea salt as they cool on paper towels! 🙂 Enjoy!
*The tomatoes shown are Mr. Stripey heirloom tomatoes. I bought 3 small, starter Bonnie Plants this spring and have had GREAT results! We’ve had loads of orange to red tomatoes to enjoy all summer. It’s October 16th and the plants are still flowering and growing strongly! This is a really sweet variety of tomato. Temperatures are dropping rapidly in Arkansas this week, so I wasn’t sure these last of the season would reach ripeness before the cold sets in. They are PERFECT for frying green! With a well seasoned batter, these Mr. Stripey tomatoes offer just the right of tang when fried while they’re still a dense green! Read more about these tomatoes on Bonnie Plant’s site:
http://bonnieplants.com/products/vegetables/tomato-varieties/all-tomatoes/mr-stripey-heirloom-tomato
*The pruners shown are Troy Bilt professional bypass pruners. With sharp blades and comfortable no-slip grips, harvesting in my garden is FANTASTIC. Troy Bilt gardening tools are really well constructed. I highly recommend them! You can find this pair of pruners and more to buy directly from Troy Bilt on their site:
http://www.troybilt.com/equipment/troybilt/garden-tools
See you around the blogosphere!
Your Friend,
~Amber Hamilton Henson
PS. This blog post will continue to link with other blogs everyday this week! Visit the blog parties, via these links:
SavvySouthernStyle’s Wow Us Wednesday
HandyManCraftyWoman’s Wicked Awesome Wednesday
NiftyThriftyThings’ Nifty Thrifty Sunday
ArkansasWomenBloggers’ Sunday Link Up
ImAddictedToRecipes’ Scrumptious Sunday Link Party
ElizabethAndCo’s Be Inspired Link Party #92
ConfessionOfAPlateAddict’s The Scoop #89
Cocoa CocaCola Poke Cake
If you have a sweet tooth, a craving for something REALLY sweet, this cake will hit the spot! It’s ooey, gooey, super sweet. A spongy cake with soft icing melted into the cake that almost crystallizes on top. Make it in a few easy steps:
– 1 stick (cup) of salted butter
– 1 cup of Coca-Cola
– 2.5 Tbsp Hershey’s cocoa
– 5oz. Marshmallows (for the brand I buy, it’s half a bag)
In saucepan, over medium heat, combine. Stir until marshmallows are melted, then pour into medium mixing bowl.
– 2 cups all purpose flour
– 2 cups sugar
In your mixing bowl, add in two cups of flour and two cups of sugar and mix thoroughly.
– 2 eggs
– 0.5 cup buttermilk
– 1 tsp. vanilla
– 1 tsp. baking soda
In a small bowl, whisk these ^4 ingredients^ together, then slowly add into your mixing bowl, incorporating thoroughly.
This is your cake batter. It’s thin, but bakes up wonderfully!
Use a greased 9″ x 12″ glass baking dish.
Bake at 350 Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
While its baking, make the icing. It’s easy!
– 1 stick butter
– 3 Tbsp cocoa
– 12 Tbsp CocaCola
– 2 lbs of confectioners powdered sugar
Melt your butter over low heat, add cocoa, whisk. Add CocaCola; Whisk. Slowly add the confectioners sugar, whisking constantly.
When your cake comes out of the oven, immediately poke holes in the cake with a fork, and pour icing. Allow to sit for 1-2 hours before serving.
Your Friend,
~Amber Hamilton Henson
This post is also published in the internationally distributed HAT TRICK MAGAZINE. To read the online version of the magazine, please click on the magazine cover below this text.
Third BELT Chair
I made another BELT CHAIR! This is actually my third. We already have a full size belt chair and an elementary size belt chair that I made last year, and now we have a new toddler size chair for our youngest daughter (age 2).
The process of putting it together was really simple. First, using a knife, I cut away the old, broken, woven rush seat, and I cleaned the chair with an abrasive, soapy sponge. Then, I just wove the belts onto the chair, doing all of the side-to-side belts first and buckling them on the underside of the seat. For the front-to-back direction, I alternated going over or under the side-to-side belts. I used a hole punch tool in order to get the belts to buckle at the proper (smaller) size on the underside of the woven seat. Last, in order to keep the “tails” of the belts from hanging down, just use a zip-tie to hold them in place!
Easy Process:
1) Clean.
2) Weave.
3) Punch holes.
4) Buckle.
5) Zip tie.
6) Sit.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
Isn’t our youngest daughter cute? 🙂 Bare feet, cookie crumbs, and wiggling around while I try to take a picture…such is the way with a two year old! I love, love, love her! 🙂
Want to see the other two bigger, more detailed belt chairs I’ve made,? Click here.
I love repurposing items in unusual ways!! You?
Laters!
Your Friend,
~Amber Hamilton Henson
This belt chair post will link to the best blog parties!
The link parties:
TheBrambleberryCottage’s Time Travel Thursday #169
StoneGable’s Tutorials, Tips, & Tidbits Thursday #68
iGottaCreate’s Wildly Original Link Party
ArkansasWomenBloggers’ Sunday Link Up
Fritters!! Fried Batter coating Pickles and Onions!
Who doesn’t love a good, easy fried fritter? Y’all, I’m southern to my core. I’ll fry anything, and there are few savory fried bits of yumminess that I enjoy more than good ole fried onions and fried pickles. Putting the two together in batter and calling it a FRITTER , is pure southern brilliance.
Healthy to eat everyday? Of course not! However, they suit us just fine as an occasional indulgent snack!
The batter is so good and plenty salty that you won’t even need a dip, but if you want, grab some ranch or ketchup or thousand island! Lots of options work well! First, the easy instructions, then a few photos:
2 cups vegetable oil
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 cups (small jar) of dill pickle round slices*
(* drained and patted dry with paper towels)
1 small yellow onion, diced small
1 large egg
1/4 cup buttermilk
STEP 1
In a large, heavy skillet, heat oil over medium to med-high. In a medium bowl, combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add pickles and onion and toss to coat. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and buttermilk. Add to pickle mixture and stir just until combined. Note: It’ll be a consistency of glue/paste, but don’t “over stir” or you’ll release too much moisture from the pickles.
STEP 2
In two batches, drop batter in 2-tablespoonful mounds into oil. With a small spatula or butter knife, gently flatten each mound and fry until golden, about 4 minutes per side, flipping once (adjust heat if browning too quickly). Drain on paper towels. Makes about 10.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)
Later, ‘Gators! Afterwhile, Crocodiles!
Your Friend,
~Amber Hamilton Henson
Update:
This post was Mentioned by Michael Roberts of Arkansas Times’ Eat Arkansas! See the news article: http://www.arktimes.com/EatArkansas/archives/2013/11/11/november-food-blogger-round-up
Linking to other blogs! Check out the blog parties:
Arkansas Women Bloggers’ Sunday Link Up
AlderBerryHill’s Make The Scene Monday #95
DIYShowoff’s Sunday Showoff
ElizabethAndCo’s Be Inspired Link Party #90
ConfessionsOfAPlateAddict’s The Scoop #87
SavvySouthernStyle’s Wow Us Wednesdays #139
StoneGable’s Tutorials, Tips, & Tidbits Thursday #68
iGottaCreate’s Wildly Original Link Party
NotYourOrdinaryRecipes’ Foodtastic Friday
RattlebridgeFarm’s Foodie Friday
Woo Pig Sooie! Razorbacks! #wps
Woo Pig Sooie! Razorbacks! #wps
So, I’m a fan. Wooooo PIG Soooooooie!! We call the hogs!
I was born to parents that were college students at the University of Arkansas. Both graduated as Razorbacks. Even though I graduated from U.A.L.R., I’ll always be a Razorback fan. How could I not; after all, half of the baby and toddler photos of me are of me wearing Razorback gear. Really. 🙂
Now, as my oldest daughter is in middle school, uniform code allows her to wear collegiate apparel on Fridays. She has lots of Razorback T-shirts and hoodies, so we decided to make some Hog accessories! Cute, right? LOVE!
We bought artisan glass lampwork beads at Argenta Bead Company and online via eBay. She arranged them onto a bead design board, then she threaded them with memory wire; I added the clasp for her! I don’t mind spending a bit extra for these neat glass beads, since we’ll both make good use of the accessories. Her: at school on Fridays; me: on Saturdays watching the game. Love.
Enough with talking, here are the photos: (click on photos to enlarge them)
You already knew I make LOTS of jewelry, right?
If not check out these two posts:
NEAT LAMPWORK BRACELETS
CRAZY STATEMENT NECKLACES
Laters!
Your Friend,
~Amber Hamilton
PS
I’m Linking to other blogs! Check out the blog parties:
Arkansas Women Bloggers’ Sunday Link Up
AlderBerryHill’s Make The Scene Minday #95
DIYShowoff’s Sunday Showoff
ElizabethAndCo’s Be Inspired Link Party #90
ConfessionsOfAPlateAddict’s The Scoop #87
WeMadeThat’s Linky #59
SavvySouthernStyle’s Wow Us Wednesdays #139
StoneGable’s Tutorials, Tips, & Tidbits Thursday #68
iGottaCreate’s Wildly Original Link Party
And, this post was FEATURED! Yay!! Thanks!
Click on button image to see the feature and next linky party! 🙂 🙂
Recentness:
At home:
Glitch:
Working the concession stand:
Jogging:
Frying food for Mitch:
Yep; I deactivated my fb. It’s probably temporary, but for now, I enjoy the deactivation. I’ll write again, soon. I’ve actually completed several interesting projects recently that are awaiting my writing and found a cool product I’m loving. Just ask W-H-Y, and I’ll tell you what I’ve discovered!
Later Gators’
~Amber
TroyBilt Tools!
I won! I won! AND I received additional free gifts!
On August 12th, 2013, the twitter chat forum, #gardenchat, was hosted by @TroyBilt and there were a few easy rules to follow for a chance to win. I heard via other tweeters that the prize being offered was a pair of pruners and loppers! Needing a new pair of pruners and loppers and having always heard great things about TroyBilt products, I was eager to participate!
The question that began the #gardenchat and entered participants for a chance to win: “What do you love most about summer gardening?” Me: “I love the garden to table experience!” Then, there were several questions that focused on specific topics, one of which was about deadheading flowers, to which I responded, “A4: I never deadhead flowers from my Rosemary hedge, here in zone 7, and it thrives as an evergreen. I prune for kabob skewers!” It is a true answer. You’ve seen my post about Chicken Kabobs on Rosemary Branches? Love!
The next day, I was notified that I’d been chosen at random as the winner by Bren of BGgarden.com and @BG_Garden, the admin and number1 fan of #gardenchat and @TheGardenChat.
A few days later, I received two big boxes! TroyBilt sent the fabulous pair of bypass pruners and bypass loppers from the contest, and to my total surprise, they also sent additional tools, including: weeding knife, hand cultivator, flower trowel, planting trowel, and weeding blade!
I cannot say enough good things about the tools I received! They are wonderful!! Beyond having sharp blades and sturdy construction, they are so comfortable to use and look great! The grips on the tools feel great in my hand, and the angle of the handles is just perfect! I’ve been working in my garden everyday since receiving the new tools!
Here, (^), you can see that my apple tree has suffered some branch breakage due to the weight of its apples that are ripening. Those splintered, broken branches certainly weren’t healthy for the little tree, but my new TroyBilt bypass loppers made nice, clean cuts for me that are much better for the tree! With such great leverage, sharp blades, and comfortable grips, I swear it was as easy as cutting softened butter!! I will no longer look at pruning my fruit trees the same! 🙂
Here, (^), you can see how happy my roses are after deadheading with my new TroyBilt bypass pruners! I wish I’d of thought to get a “before” photo of the roses, but I’ll certainly show you how it will have a new flush of blooms, later, as they continue to perform!
As I’ve become more familiar with Twitter, I’ve discovered just how wonderful and supportive the #gardenchat community is with eachother It is such a great group of gardeners! . . . so eager to share eachothers’ pretty pictures and bounce around ideas! You’ll definitely see my new TroyBilt tools continue to appear in my photos and gardening posts!
In this new age, word of mouth marketing matters when you trust the source, and I assure you, I am SO PLEASED with my TroyBilt tools! I highly recommend TroyBilt to help you meet your gardening needs!
To order your TroyBilt Tools directly from TroyBilt, visit:
TroyBilt.com
I believe you’ll appreciate the quality as much as I do!! Love!!
Later ‘gators and afterwhile crocodiles!
Your Friend,
~Amber Hamilton Henson
The post will link to other blogs; you can find the links:
Arkansas Women Bloggers’ Sunday Link Up
Seed Storage
I like themes. I like organization. So, when I recently found this primitively painted garden theme wood cabinet at a thrift store, I knew I had to have it, and I knew exactly what I would store inside the decoratively painted cabinet: SEEDS!
(You can click on photos to enlarge them into a new window.)
Isn’t it something?! It’s quite colorful, isn’t it?!
The top drawer holds all of my seed packets that I’ve yet to plant, and the doors hide away tags from plants and seeds that I gather (save) each season for re-planting. Speaking of seed saving, do you see my University of Arkansas (UA) soybeans? I didn’t make space soon enough to plant them this year, but I will next May, hopefully? Did you know that the UA is now the nation’s leading traditional soybean breeder? There are non-GMO, traditionally bred UA Kirksey Edamame (young, green) soybean seeds in my drawer, here! Yes, that’s right! UA is breeding varieties of soybeans that compete with the biotechs in that UA seeds have the huge advantage of allowing farmers to save their seed for re-planting without having to pay annual royalties for saving the seeds to re-plant, I hear! Awesome, right?! 🙂 🙂 You can find links and a lot more information about these and a wide variety of other soybean industry links at the Arkansas’ Soybean Promotion Board’s site, TheMiracleBean.com and on their Facebook Page, Arkansas Soybeans.
This painted cabinet also holds my seeds and findings for seed jewelry. Yes, jewelry. I’ll show you my seed saver necklace in another post, sometime! Remember, I assemble lots of jewelry; you can see it here and here.
Want to see the rest of my library? If so, see it here, and here is a photo of some of my absolute favorite gardening books and P. Allen Smith cards on one of the library shelves:
Do you keep seeds?
If so, where?
I’d love to see your organization solution in the blogosphere!
Your Friend,
~Amber Hamilton Henson
Self photo of the day:
This article was also published within international Hat Trick Magazine! To read an online copy of the magazine, just click on the magazine cover below this text!
Sunday Stroll 1
. . . just enjoying a leisurely walk in the neighborhood this afternoon. “Sunday Stroll” ~Amber
Linking to:
Arkansas Women Bloggers’ “Sunday Link Up”
Wordless Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday 1
(My garden, me, and a statue in front of a painting by me; edited on iPhone with picblender app and picframe app.) ~Amber
what AMBER loves 