Getting the Soil Ready for Organic Gardening
Proper soil preparation is the key to successful organic gardening. The goal is to feed the soil, which in turn will feed your plants. Begin by testing your soil to find out precisely what you’ve got to work with. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service. Most counties and some universities have one; look in the phone book under “Cooperative,” “Extension” or your county name to find out what is required for a soil test. Home test kits are available at garden-supply stores, but their results are not as accurate or complete. A soil test will measure pH, the soil’s acidity or alkalinity. The recommended pH for a vegetable garden is 6.8. The test results should include guidelines for adjusting the pH, for example, how much lime to add to acid soils or how much sulfur to add to alkaline soils. Both are available at gardening centers. The test also should analyze the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and other elements in the soil that are critical for healthy plants. The testing agency may suggest nutriments to balance these elements; when you mail off your sample, be sure to enclose a note stating that you intend to garden organically so the tester does not suggest chemicals.
Some of the nitrogen sources the tester may suggest can be problematic, especially for vegetarians: Bone meal is a slaughterhouse byproduct, fish emulsion is a fish-processing byproduct, cottonseed meal is subject to heavy pesticide use and urea, or crystallized animal urine, is so processed it can no longer be considered even remotely natural. If nitrogen is a problem for your soil, and you are opposed to using animal byproducts, your best bet may be to plant a nitrogen-fixing cover crop this first year and start your vegetables the next. When gardeners speak of a soil, they are referring to earth that looks, feels and smells pleasant. That means fertile soil, with good structure depending on the extent to which the inorganic soil particles; sand, silt, clay, and humus are bound together. No matter what kind of miserable soil you begin with, it can be transformed into the stuff great gardens are made of.
You also should test the soil’s percentage of organic matter, or decomposed plant material. There are different levels of consideration according to your area that will determine if a soil is organic. The best organic matter to fertilize your garden with is compost. As a new gardener, you may not have compost of your own yet, but we’ll help you out with that a little later in the book.
Composting involves recycling of natural matter like vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and egg shells. All of these will provide nutrients to the soil that a successful organic gardener knows are of paramount importance! When you till up your plot, work in some loose topsoil along with natural organic matter into the existing soil. Horse or cow manure will work the best here. Find a local farmer and ask if you can buy some dung from him. If you don’t have any of these available to you, most local garden centers will have some natural additives that you can till into the soil. You can also use leaves or grass clippings.
By tilling this organic matter into the soil, the organic material will form moisture-holding humus in the soil and the loose structure will permit good drainage. Plus, it can provide needed nutrients to your plants and help them thrive as they grow.
You can make your own organic fertilizer as well. We’ll give you a couple of great “recipes” in later sections.
Be careful that you don’t dig up your plot too soon in the season. Cool spring soil holds moisture, and disturbing wet soil will damage its structure. We found one tip online that can help you determine whether or not your soil is ready for tilling.
Jim Crockett, former Public Broadcasting System gardener extraordinaire, suggests that before digging you take “the chocolate cake test”: If the soil has the consistency of moist chocolate cake, it’s safe to dig. If it’s more like fudge, wait until the soil has dried out to cake consistency.
Soil is structured in layers, and it’s best not to disturb those layers. Dig down just far enough to remove clods of grass, weeds and root masses, shaking and pounding out as much dirt as possible back into your garden. Save the grass for composting.
After the dirt is prepared, let the garden rest for a couple of days before planting.
It’s almost time to plant!
Jaden Santon
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/getting-the-soil-ready-for-organic-gardening-736524.html
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Fabulous Chili’s Restaurant Recipes
A few years ago, a new Chili’s restaurant opened near my house. I never ate at Chili’s before they opened near my house, but I decided to check out the new restaurant in town. I am really glad they decided to build a Chili’s near me! The food there is awesome! Sometimes I order off of the weight watchers menu, and many times I’ll order off other sections of the menu.
I recently did a search for Chili’s restaurant recipes online. There are so many Chili’s restaurant recipes available! After going through a few websites, here are some of my favorite recipes from Chili’s!
CHILI’S GRILLED BABY BACK RIBS
4 racks of baby-back pork ribs
SAUCE
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
2/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon hickory flavoring liquid smoke
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
Make the barbecue sauce by combining all of the ingredients for the sauce in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
When it comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer sauce, stirring often, for 45 to 60 minutes or until sauce is thick.
When you’re ready to make the ribs, preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Brush sauce over the entire surface of each rack of ribs.
Wrap each rack tightly in aluminum foil and arrange the packets on a baking sheet with the seam of the foil facing up.
Bake for 2 to 2½ hours or until the meat on the ribs has pulled back from the cut ends of the bones by about ½ inch.
When the ribs are just about done, preheat your barbecue grill to medium heat.
Remove the ribs from the foil (careful not to burn yourself- the liquid inside will be hot!) and grill them on the barbecue for 4 to 8 minutes per side or until the surface of the ribs is beginning to char.
Brush sauce on both sides of the ribs a few minutes before you remove them from the grill.
Just be sure not to brush on the sauce too soon or it could burn.
Serve the ribs with extra sauce on the side and lots of napkins.
CHILI’S BONELESS BUFFALO WINGS
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 chicken breast fillets
4-6 cups vegetable oil
1/4 cup hot sauce (Crystal or Frank’s Louisiana)
1 tablespoon margarine
On the side
bleu cheese salad dressing (for dipping)
celery rib
1. Combine flour, salt, peppers and paprika in a medium bowl.
2. In another small bowl, whisk together egg and milk.
3. Slice each chicken breast into 6 pieces.
4. Preheat 4-6 cups of vegetable oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees.
5. One or two at a time, dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, then into the breading blend; then repeat the process so that each piece of chicken is double-coated.
6. When all chicken pieces have been breaded, arrange them on a plate and chill for 15 minutes.
7. When the chicken is done resting, drop each piece into the hot oil and fry for 5-6 minutes or until each piece is browned.
8. As chicken fries, combine the hot sauce and margarine in a small bowl.
9. Microwave sauce for 20-30 seconds or just until the margarine is melted, then stir to combine.
10. You can also use a small saucepan for this step.
11. Just combine the hot sauce and margarine in the saucepan over low heat and stir until margarine is melted and ingredients are blended.
12. When chicken pieces are done frying, remove them to a plate lined with a couple paper towels.
13. Place the chicken pieces into a covered container such as a large jar with a lid.
14. Pour the sauce over the chicken in the container, cover, and then shake gently until each piece of chicken is coated with sauce.
15. Pour the chicken onto a plate and serve the dish with bleu cheese dressing and sliced celery on the side.
CHILI’S SOUTHWESTERN EGGROLLS
1 chicken breast fillet
1 Tbs vegetable oil
2 Tbs minced red bell pepper
2 Tbs minced green onion
1/3 cup frozen corn
¼ cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
2 Tbs frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 Tbs diced canned jalapeño peppers
½ Tbs minced fresh parsley
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp salt
1 dash cayenne pepper
¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
5 x 7″ flour tortillas
For avocado-ranch dipping sauce
¼ cup mashed fresh avocado
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 Tbs buttermilk
1 ½ tsp white vinegar
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp dried parsley
1/8 tsp onion powder
1 dash dried dill weed
1 dash garlic powder
1 dash freshly-ground black pepper
For garnish :
2 Tbs chopped tomato
1 Tbs chopped onion
1. Preheat barbecue grill to high heat.
2. Rub the chicken breast with some vegetable oil then grill it on the barbecue for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until done. Lightly salt and pepper each side of the chicken while it cooks. Set chicken aside until it cools down enough to handle.
3. Preheat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red pepper and onion to the pan and sauté for a couple minutes until tender.
4. Dice the cooked chicken into small cubes and add it to the pan. Add the corn, black beans, spinach, jalapeño peppers, parsley, cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to the pan. Cook for another 4 minutes. Stir well so that the spinach separates and is incorporated into the mixture.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted.
6. Wrap the tortillas in a moist cloth and microwave on high temperature for 1½ minutes or until hot.
7. Spoon approximately one-fifth of the mixture into the center of a tortilla. Fold in the ends and then roll the tortilla over the mixture. Roll the tortilla very tight, then pierce with a toothpick to hold together. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until you have five eggrolls.
8. Arrange the eggrolls on a plate, cover the plate with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours. Overnight is best.
9. While the eggrolls freeze prepare the Avocado-Ranch Dipping Sauce by combining all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
10. Preheat 4 to 6 cups of oil to 375°F. Deep-fry the eggrolls in the hot oil for 12 to 15 minutes and remove to paper towels or a rack to drain for about 2 minutes.
11. Slice each eggroll diagonally lengthwise and arrange on a plate around a small bowl of the dipping sauce. Garnish the dipping sauce with the chopped tomato and onion.
Jake Kelly
http://www.articlesbase.com/recipes-articles/fabulous-chilis-restaurant-recipes-749340.html
