Johnny Cakes

I've heard of Johnny cakes for years and have eaten a few myself.  But, I remember my grandmother calling them hotcakes.  Being from the South, I laid claim to them assuming they were associated with the Civil War. The term hoecake was attributed to slaves, but Johnny Cakes go back farther than that, and many cultures have embraced their origin.

The original Southern version was made with yellow cornmeal, boiling water and bacon grease.







I found this version in a local paper from a restaurant in town and can't wait for fresh local corn to come to the market.  These Johnny Cakes are great for Garden parties and picnics since they hold up well for several hours.

Bacon Johnny Cakes

1 1/2 cups organic cornmeal
1 cup organic all purpose flour
1 1/4 cup fresh buttermilk
1/4 cup butter warm
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
4 strips bacon (small,diced, and crisped in a pan)
1 ear of corn ( shucked and cut off the cob)
Mix together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking soda.  Add to that the whisked eggs, buttermilk, butter, corn, and bacon.

Heat a pan to medium high and add enough oil to cover the bottom.

Add the batter 2 tablespoons at a time to form 3 inch circles.  Don't crowd the pan as they will expand.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes or until they form little air bubbles on the underside before you flip them. Cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Recipe from Elemental www.elementalrestaurant.com
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Photo. Bing photos

Got Milkweed?

According Monarch Watch there are many reasons there has been a decline in the monarch butterfly population.Widespread use of herbicides, developement of subdivisions and shopping centers and the mowing along highways has contributed to the decline of nectar sources.

But there are some things we can do. Why not create a monarch waystation at your home, business, or school?  It can be as large or small as you like.  You need to plant milkweed that are native to your area, so below I have listed a few for your region.



Northeast:  common milkweed, swamp milkweed, butterfly milkweed, poke milkweed

South Central:  antelope horn milkweed,  green antelope horn milkweed, zizotes milkweed

Southeast:  aquatic milkweed, white milkweed, butterfly milkweed

West:  showy milkweed, antelope horn milkweed (only in NV AZ NM CO ID KS, and OK)

Without milkweeds in the spring and summer,which provide breeding areas, the popuation cannot be maintained.  Without nectar from flowers, they cannot make the long migration to Mexico each fall.

You can register your waystation and even purchase a plaque  identify your garden as an official Monarch Waystation.


For more information contact www.MonarchWatch.org
Photo from www.bugmugs.org

Garden Planner Giveaway

And the winner is........Emily Rose.  Thank you to all who entered

I've Been So Busy You Deserve A Give Away!

Wow, I noticed I haven't posted since Easter!   What have I been doing?  Well.....Working, taking advantage of this great weather and working in the yard, participating in the Master Gardener Lawn and Garden Show, keeping up with my booth at a local antique mall, AND redesigning my Gardenchick logo and products.  Oh, did I mention grandchildren?

So, I have decided to do a giveaway of one of these great little Garden Journals from Gooseberry Patch.  I had about 2 dozen of them and am down to my last few.  They area great way to keep track of and plan your garden.  They have little pockets for keeping pictures, notes, or seed packets.   And of course, great garden tips and recipes.

How can you get this little planner?  Each time you do one of the following you get entered into the drawing.

• Go to Gardenchick click on my facebook page and "like me"
• 3 entries if you "pin"this photo on Pinterest
• 2 entries if you share this link on facebook
• 2 entries if you tweet the giveaway
• 1entry for your comment

Drawing May 3rd

Karen

Happy Easter

Happy Spring

http://www.MotherEarthNews.com/Organic-Gardening/What-To-Plant-Now.aspx#axzz20E4fJNM8

Spring is my  favorite season.  Windows come open to smell the first freshly mowed lawn of the season.  Projects are planned and  thoughts turn to the garden.  You know this is just a tease, and in a few days mother nature will reel you back in with the freezing night time temperatures, and cool blustery days.

Don't be tricked into planting too early and loosing plants, time and  money. But
there ARE many plants in all parts of the U.S that can be started indoors and some that can sown directly in the ground.

Mother Earth News has created this map of the U.S. showing you what to plant and
when.  Just click on the link to find out when you can go play in the dirt!

Karen

It must be St. Patrick Day, My Fingernails are Green

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  Temperature in the high 70's and sunny.  After a stint at the soccer field with my granddaughters, I came home to finally work in my garden.  It was long overdue.  Like most of you I work a full time job in addition to trying to resurrect, and grow my business Gardenchick, so my yard often suffers.  So many projects, so little time.  I tend to become overwhelmed when I see all the things I want to do, and have learned over the years to focus on one or two things at a time.  That way I feel like I have gotten something accomplished, when I see at least a couple of finished projects.

Yesterday was my strawberry patch in the raised bed.  It had become overgrown, full of chickweed, pine cones and needles from the nearby pinetree and leaves.  All that was cleaned out, and new mulch put down.  I started this bed last year and its amazing how many baby strawberries there are from 5 plants. 

My chicken pen is not pretty.  I love looking at all the coops on pinterest, and hopefully, can get something a little more fitting for the girls one day.  For now, however, I am trying to add a little interest to the fencing.  On HGTV they call this staging.  LOL


 Not so sure they were talking about chicken pens! I brought in a few junking finds, an old feeder, mop bucket, and a water holder.  All the old dirt was cleaned out, new added, and wood chips placed on the ground underneath.  Since my husband does all the mowing, he complains about all the junk in the yard which he can't move and get up close to.  Of course that never stops me, I just have agreed to be the weed puller and the mulch keeps the weeds down.  Plans are for yellow lantana in the feeder, and red geraniums in the mop bucket.  Yellow and red and the hens favorite colors!

Spring is on the way, so get started with those gardening chores!

Karen