Gluten free Heartland Pasta is a very tasty alternative to Wheat Pasta!

Heartland Gluten Free Pasta

TASTE

I discovered the Heartland brand of gluten free pasta at Wal-mart. The pasta is available in spaghetti and fusilli styles. It's a combination of rice and corn which gives it a nice taste and texture.

PREPARATION

I found it necessary to add 2 minutes to the maximum cook time for both pastas.

Recap:

• Gluten free pasta
• Inexpensive at Walmart
• A corn and rice blend

Growing Asparagus

We love eating asparagus, and have always wanted to try our hand at growing it. We've heard that it takes many years to harvest, but,when we came across some inexpensive crowns at Walmart, we decided to plant asparagus for the first time.

Guidelines came with the crowns, and the video below was helpful.

Dig a trench, add composted material, and place the crowns on top of furrows about a foot from each other. Cover with 2-3 inches of soil. Once the plants start emerging, cover again, and repeat this process until the trench is filled.

Here's a 2 minute video on preparing an asparagus bed.

If you are viewing on an iPad or iPhone the video can be accessed here.

An update on the asparagus garden is available here.

The Great Backyard Birdcount 2014 is on!!

This year's bird count started on February 14 and ends February 17. Here's a video of my counting adventure today.

More information on the GBBC can be found at this link.

This video was created with Animoto using photos and videos. I learned about this program in a social media class.
 
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Ronzoni Gluten Free Pasta

This gluten free, rice and corn pasta is delicious. I boiled until tender (taste test) which was about 3 minutes beyond the recommended cook time. As instructed, I rinsed the pasta with warm water before seasoning with margarine and cheese. The kids liked it, and preferred it to the all corn variety. 

Other gluten free posts:

Gluten free Brownies
Gluten free Workshop

Gluten Free Brownies by Betty Crocker

I've written previously about a Gluten Free workshop. There are a lot of new products and I've decided to review the products as I use them.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownies are easy to make. I've substituted olive oil for the butter with excellent results. When using a 11" x 7" glass dish to bake the brownies, I found they needed 10-15 minutes extra baking time. In general, most gluten free products seem to take 10 minutes longer to cook than the printed instructions.

The results are a chewy chocolaty brownie. Delicious! No complaints from the kids.

Brownie Batter in Pan 

Raccoon Raids Compost Bin (Link to Video)

This compost bin has ventilation holes on the side. Over the years, a creature has pulled bin contents through those holes. Thanks to a motion-activated camera, the identity of the compost bin-raiding creature is now known.

I had trouble uploading the video, so here's a link to the You-tube location:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YojLHOh9qLQ

What to do with all these leaves?

Fall is here and leaves are everywhere. The variety of shapes and colors is amazing. There’s an inspiring children’s book called Look What I Did with a Leaf by Morteza Sohi. The book describes how to make pictures with a variety of leaves. 

I used old books to flatten my leaves and mounted them on card stock. Below are photos of my leaf artwork.

A leaf project could be used to teach art as well as leaf identification.  I found working with leaves very relaxing. 

The cow is one of my favorites.  The head is made from a Tulip Poplar leaf. (I optimized the photo for quicker web page loading, and lost some color depth in the image.)

The narrow leaves on the butterfly are from a Willow Oak. The dark dots were punched from a leaf.

This aquarium scene has an oak leaf representing seaweed in the bottom right. Remember that White Oaks have rounded lobes and Red Oaks are pointed.

This parrot is perched on a branch made with fern leaves.

The body of the owl is a Birch leaf.

A Ginkgo leaf makes a nice tail on this fish. I laminated the scene on a small piece of card stock and hung it as part of a mobile.

NC State Fair Entry

The theme of the 2013 graphic contest is "A Healthy Forest is a Happy Forest." Below is my entry.

Ghoulish encounter between mole and snake (video)

Just in time for Halloween scariness, I spotted a small snake writhing in the yard. Upon closer inspection, I found a mole attacking the snake. The mole must have thought he had stumbled across the biggest “earthworm” ever!

I've loaded two videos showing the struggle.

Great Information at Gluten-free Workshop

Did you know that body lotion can contain gluten? That’s one of many interesting facts I learned at the “Learn to live gluten free” workshop at Novant Health Franklin Medical Center in Louisburg, N.C.

Some people have celiac disease which causes an immune response to gluten, and breaks down the microvilli in their stomach lining. If you have stomach discomfort and suspect you could have celiac disease, it is best to be tested before eliminating gluten. The tests are unreliable once gluten has been removed from your diet. It is estimated that 97% of Americans with celiac disease are not diagnosed.

Gluten is found in a class of grains that includes wheat, barley, and rye. Grains like oats are often contaminated with the gluten protein during processing so they need to be avoided as well.

Less obvious gluten sources found on ingredient labels are malt, modified food starch (unless corn is specified), caramel coloring (soft drinks), and citric acid (the imports have gluten). When “natural flavor” is listed, gluten cannot be ruled out.

Some lesser known gluten-containing foods are taco seasoning mix, coated French fries, couscous, and turkey (some are basted with gluten containing solution).

Fruits and vegetables are good sources of gluten-free nutrition. I have previous posts with gluten-free peach cobbler and eggplant recipes.

Interesting gluten-free websites:

www.glutenfreely.com

www.gluten.net

http://www.celiac.org/

Thanks to the organizers and presenters of the gluten free workshop: Julie Kephart, Lori Peele MD, Sasha Dunbar, and Susan White. Thanks also to Chef Bobby for preparing the delicious gluten free luncheon.

Russeting of Tomatoes

About 10% of my tomatoes have hard, brown patches on the surface. This is called russeting, and is caused by a number of factors. It is a well-known problem with greenhouse-grown tomatoes.

An expert has told me there are many factors that can cause russeting. I've been unable to find a list, but will update the post when more information is available.

In the meantime, know that if you have tomatoes that look like this,the problem can be identified as russeting.

Gluten Free Eggplant with Garlic Sauce (Includes Video)

Eggplant

This is a delicious way to prepare eggplant. We grow our own, and eggplant prepared this way can be frozen and eaten later.

Ingredients:

Olive oil
about 8 small eggplants
2/3 cup gluten-free soy sauce
2-3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons minced garlic

Directions:

Peel eggplant and cube. 

Diced Eggplant

Cover bottom of large non-stick saucepan with olive oil.

Use medium heat to warm oil. When test piece of eggplant starts cooking, add the diced eggplant.

Sprinkle with salt and cover. Stir frequently. If pan seems dry, add more olive oil.

When eggplant becomes soft, add soy sauce and sugar.

Stir and continue cooking. Leave lid off now to reduce the sauce. Add minced garlic to taste.

This is delicious served with rice or by itself. You can garnish with sesame seeds or green onions.

Eggplant in Garlic Sauce

Below is an 8 minute video demonstrating this recipe. Enjoy!

Camellias

             

Camellia sasanqua

            Camellias are perfect for filling in the gap between late summer and early spring flowers.  Starting in October, Camellia sasanqua begins a delightful show of rose-like flowers.  Blooming continues through January. Later in the winter season, Camellia japonica starts its show and blooms as late as April. Under ideal conditions, camellias can bloom 6-8 weeks and survive for generations.
       

     Most plantings in my yard were experimental. 19 years after they were planted, my camellias are a success story. I planted 3 Camellia sasanquas in different locations around the house. Due to varying microclimates, each camellia blooms at a different time. This allows us to enjoy each bush individually in its glory. Microclimates are caused by location-related variables that affect plant growth.  Examples are sun and wind exposure, warmth or protection from a brick wall, rain off a gutter, and soil drainage or slope conditions.

     Camellias are available in white and various shades of pink and red.  Select the healthiest plants from reputable suppliers.  New cultivars and hybrids with double blooms and increased winter hardiness may be available.  Alternatively, camellias can self-seed near a mother plant.  Check with your gardener friends to obtain a free plant.

     Camellias are perennial evergreen bushes. Each year the number of flowers increases with the size of the bush.  Keep the future tree-like proportions of a camellia in mind when choosing the planting site.  Like azaleas, camellias prefer acidic soil of 5.5-6.5 and partial shade. Many area soils are naturally acidic, but you can have your soil tested through your county extension office. 

     I have found camellias to be low-maintenance plants.  There is little deer or insect predation.  They grow big enough to offer cover for birds visiting a bird feeder. Place the feeder far enough from the camellia so it can’t be used as a launching pad for squirrels.  Prune wayward branches and unwanted growth after blooming in late winter or early spring.

     If you’re already a camellia owner, take the time to appreciate this winter color, and, if you’re not, plan on obtaining one soon.

This article is an update to one I published in the Franklin Times on January 6, 2012.

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Stunning White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar

White-marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar

     This colorful caterpillar feeds on a wide-variety of trees. Severe defoliation of trees can sometimes be attributed to this species. An allergic reaction may result from touching the hairs.

There are several caterpillars with "tussock" in the name. This refers to tufts of hair. Their appearance features tufts of hair rather than a uniform covering of hair.

     The White-marked Tussock Moth is related to the Gypsy Moth so a fungus introduced to control the Gypsy may affect the Tussock.

Ipad viewers: see video on you tube.



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Saddleback Caterpillar: Beautiful Camouflage and Painful Sting

The Saddleback caterpillar has a striking appearance with a bright green body and a brown saddle. Horns point upward on either end. Spines on the horns and other hairs secrete painful venom.

I’ve brushed my leg against a Saddleback and can attest to the discomfort. Upon stinging, the spines can become lodged in the skin which causes more venom to be released and additional irritation. Loose spines can be left on surfaces or be inhaled posing further hazards.

I photographed this specimen on a Japanese maple tree. The caterpillar’s movements were slow, but deliberate. It's about 1 inch long. The Saddleback’s host plant list is lengthy.

This caterpillar is classified as a slug caterpillar because it does not have prolegs and moves in a sluglike manner. [Prolegs are fleshy protuberances that aid with motion in other caterpillars.] It is the larvae of a brown moth called the Saddleback Caterpillar Moth.

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My Favorite North Carolina Wildflowers

Asiatic Dayflower

The bloom on the Asiatic Dayflower is only 1/2 inch long. Upon close inspection, it's a beautiful royal blue flower resembling an orchid. The foliage consists of healthy green leaves that tend to be invasive. My crop appears in clusters along my gravel driveway.The name alludes to the fact that blooms appear only during the day .

White Yarrow

I seldom see the blooming on my White Yarrow, but the feathery, fern-like greenery is a favorite of mine. I had a cluster start along my garden gate, and transplanted some of it to other areas. I've heard it described as invasive, but that hasn't been my experience. One of my reference books calls this plant Common Yarrow.

MYSTERY PLANT-CAN YOU IDENTIFY?

This plant has small delicate lavender flowers mounted on top of a triad of fuzzy leaves. It is blooming now (August in North Carolina).

At the base, large leaves lie flat on the ground. A stalk grows about a foot tall and holds the flower stems.

This image shows a group of the flowers clustered among my azaleas.

I have checked my reference materials, and have been unable to identify this plant. It may be in the Plantain family. Please comment on this blog if you know the name. 

White-tailed Deer Fawns in North Carolina

We have observed four fawns on three separate occasions in our yard this summer. In all cases, the fawns were alone. I was guilty of having a fantasy idea of deer parentage where the mother stays close to her offspring. This is very far from the truth.

For the survival of the fawn, the mother deer spends very little time with it. Does hide their fawns, return to feed them quickly and leave them alone. This helps the fawns remain scentless-the way they are born, reducing the chance a predator will sniff them out. Once the fawn is strong enough to keep up with the mother, they will forage together.

Sometimes fawns will bleat for their mother. The sound reminds me of a toy car beeping. One year, I heard the beeping sound for a couple of days before spotting the fawn. I thought the young children next door had a new toy.

Many people think a lone fawn is abandoned when this is normal deer behavior. The best response is to stay away from the fawn, allowing the mother to return on her schedule. Try also to keep any dogs from upsetting the fawn.

Other interesting facts:

White-tailed deer have 1-3 young

Twins are often hidden in separate places

Fawns are weaned after 8-10 weeks

Female young stay with the mother for 2 years

Male young leave after 1 year

If you are interested in hearing the fawn’s call, this video has 3 bleats recorded. Sorry for the shakiness and background talking.

Rabbits exhibit the same behavior towards their young. They leave them alone in the nest except to nurse so they remain unscented.

Auburn University has a good publication on fawns.

Leaffooted Bugs: Bugs all over my Yucca Plant

Their movements were in slow motion so I almost didn't notice the brown and red shapes on the yucca pods adjacent to my deck.

Leaffooted Bugs - the red ones are nymphs

In the enlarged photo above, the leaf shape of the hind leg is visible. These bugs are known for emitting a foul smell when disturbed. They suck plant juices. 

The activity on the yucca pod resembled more of a family reunion than a feeding frenzy. If the individuals moved at all, it was very slow.

Reference:

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/ag295/html/stink_bugs_and_leaffooted_bugs.htm

More birdwatching while on vacation in North Carolina

This year we vacationed between Emerald Isle and Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. We were entertained by some amazing birds.

Barn Swallow

Barn swallows are stunning little birds with forked tails. This one flitted around and under the dock we were standing on, and  posed on a nearby pylon. I've observed barn swallows around lakes as they swoop up insects, and my neighbor has a colony in his old barn. They build mud nests under bridges and in barns. This is the first time, a barn swallow has been still enough for me to photograph. Interestingly, barn swallows migrate to South America for the winter. 

Willet

Small groups of Willets worked the shore looking for tiny crabs. This bird is native to the Eastern Coast of the United States.

Least Tern

Like many other tern species, the Least Tern migrates from South America. They are endangered in many North American locations. We observed this feisty little bird diving into the water after small fish. 

Laughing Gull

The Laughing Gull has a completely black head. They constantly call to each other which I suppose explains the laughing reference.