Re: [gardeners] Persian
Shirley,George (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 08 Feb 2001 12:28:40 -0600
When you cook Persian or Middle Eastern foods you need to be aware that rice is
a mainstay for those folks. They tend to eat lots and lots of it, almost as much
as SE Asians.
George, who likes rice but can't eat that much anymore
Ron Hay wrote:
>
> Hello, Penny,
>
> Thanks for the information about Shamshiri.
>
> I just wanted to let you know I finally got around to making the rice
> and chicken last night. The rice would feed a family of 12! It is a bit
> fussy, but glorious.
>
> The two suggestions I made to Mary-Anne are the following: soak the
> barberries for at least an hour; and spread the barberry-onion-sugar
> mixture between the layers of rice before you give it the long steaming.
> That way, the barberries and onions are nice and soft (Vivian hates
> crunchy onions!).
>
> Well, summer was short lived! From 87 on Sunday, with an overnight low
> of 58, we went to 39 last night with a high of 60 yesterday. Our poor
> plants don't know what to do.
>
> The pomegranate is the first of the dormant fruit trees to bud out, and
> it appears it will be in full leaf within about 3-4 weeks. The lovely
> red/orange blossoms are one of the glories of our garden.
>
> The roses which were seriously whacked back are now budding/leafing out,
> too.
>
> Stella d'oros are popping up, as are Madonna lillies, Turkish crocuses
> and ranunculi and gladiolii.
>
> The African daylillies, both the established colony, and the 2 y.o.
> seedliings are about to bloom, as well, along with the bearded irises,
> which have never really stopped blooming since the fall.
>
> Oh, and the white calla lillies! They are a joy to behold, as they come
> out in increasing numbers. I think I will take a bunch to our dinner
> hostess on Saturday night as a little day-brightener.
>
> In the back yard, believe it or not, Sungold tomaotes are still trucking
> along. I had not been in the yard for several days and was surprised to
> find about a half dozen ripe tomatoes on the ground.
>
> This weekend, we will remove the last of the spent asparagus ferns, if
> it isn't raining, and fertilize the patch with manure.
>
> We will also cultivate and fertilize the artichoke army, which is just
> plain burgeoning, but with no buds yet, as it has been too cool and the
> days too short.
>
> We managed to fertilize the citrus right before the last major rain, and
> the goodies goe thoroughly watered in. Now, very shortly, we will begin
> to see new growth on the Mandarin and blood orange, with the navel and
> Bearss limes coming along somewhat later.
>
> The Fuyus' buds are swelling, as are those on the nectarine and the
> apricot. I had better take advantage of the daylight and dry weather
> this afternoon to give them a good spray of dormant spray.
>
> Well, there certainly is enough to keep the two of us busy for quite
> some time, both out front and back, especially since we let our
> "gardener" go, since we really don't have that much lawn to mow, and he
> does not understand the needs of the more exotic plants we have, which
> is not helped by the fact that his English is extremely limited.
>
> Have a good one and stay warm!
>
> Ron
>
> p.s. Hello to all of my other gardening buddies!