My youngest brother lives about 2 hours away, in a slightly milder climate than where I am. Little did we know when he was growing up that he had a green thumb. He has had small yards at all of his houses, but he has some large yields in those small spaces. In the last couple of years, the two of us have found a lot of enjoyment emailing pictures of our gardens back and forth and a week ago, he sent me pics of his very last “crop” of tomatoes that he’d harvested (climate being milder, his garden starts earlier than I do & finishes later). He grows enough tomatoes to be popular with the neighbors who get the overflow & he loves hot peppers - grows habaneros, cayenne (grinds his own cayenne peppers), etc. I think he had some ghost peppers, too.
This year, for Christmas, as a result of taking up canning this summer for the very first time, I am giving all canned goods to family members, except for two. For my gardening brother, I am also including a copy of The Victory Garden Cookbook by Marian Morash. I loved the Victory Garden TV show way back in the good old days & Marian’s cooking segments. This book has all the vegetables in alphabetical order. For each vegetable, there is:
A beautiful picture
Fairly detailed information on growing
Special Information section which typically includes the topics: Yields, Storage & Preserving, Hints, Microwave &
Leftovers
Marketing - where to find, especially if not a common vegetable
Cooking methods for that vegetable: baked, sauteed, steamed, blanched, & anything else that might be used for that vegetable
Recipes - Marian’s recipes for that particular veggie & she has some dandies.
The book new was $29.95 (I bought my own copy new, years ago) - it’s a large size (8.5 x 11) and almost an inch thick. It has a nice appendix which includes ‘growing essential herbs’, batters, sauces, pastry, clarifying broth, mirepoix, & much, much more.
On Amazon, I found a used copy - it has a few age spots on the sides of the pages, but the binding is perfect & the pages are unmarked - a good reading copy. The only “blemish” is somebody’s name was written in it (marked out) with the notation “Chrismas 1995” so the book is 21 year old - amazing that it survived in such excellent condition, obviously not used much if at all. It was a good deal at $9.99. I think my brother will love the book - it will be in the gift bag along with homemade salsa, hot pepper butter, chutney & maybe some wine jelly (still figuring that last item out).
If you are looking for a present for a veggie gardening friend, I can highly recommend this book - one of my very favorites. I’m really excited to give it to my brother & see his reaction because I think he’ll love it & it won’t stay in almost-perfect condition for long after he gets it. :-)
Our family had a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving. I have a new grand niece, born prematurely a few months ago, but doing great with no disabilities. Her smile lights up the room. All the elderly folks (80’s, two in 90’s) are still with us - what a blessing yet again. With the exception of two family members (one by marriage), we are all very grateful for the election result & there were a few quiet toasts. The food was delicious, as always & the family time was the BEST. Hope everyone else had a blessed & happy Thanksgiving as well.
Thank you for that book description! Very detailed and I want one now for myself!
God bless you and that precious family you describe :)
P.S. I make wine jellies if you need tips. I also use my wine jelly recipe and use mint, lemon balm, lavender and whatever to make herb/wine jellies that are extremely popular with family and friends :)
Not sure if you questioned the wine jelly as to whether to give it or a recipe to make it.