Pick Your Own

Pick Your Own [Corn, Vice President, Fill in the Blank]

                    

by Michele

There are a lot of reasons to love summer, but one of my favorite reasons by far is that it's "pick your own" time at the local farms.  I know, I know -- plenty of people do the "pick your own" thing in their actual own backyard.  They have the time, energy and knowledge to plant a real actual honest-to-goodness vegetable garden.  (The only way I'm getting a vegetable garden is if I make like these lazy locavores and hire some Ph.D. organic farmer type to custom-plant one for me.  Oh, and he'd have to show up and weed, fertilize and water it, too.) These real-life gardener types can just wander out back round about six o'clock, decide what looks ripe that day, and figure out what to make for dinner.  If you're one of those people with a basketload of fresh veggies growing in your own backyard, I'm officially jealous and looking to live vicariously.  C'mon, tell us --  what's in your garden today?

Picking the stuff, on the other hand, I can manage.  It doesn't take very long, or require any special skill except knowing when a berry is ripe.  And if you have a question about that, just pop it into your mouth and do the taste-test.  There are no surveillance cameras out in the strawberry fields, not the last time I checked anyway.

I love spending an hour on a hot day out in a field full of strwberries and coming home with more than I know what to do with.  I eat them with cereal, ice cream, yogurt, you name it.  And I love strawberry shortcake.  The best kind is made on melt-in-your-mouth biscuits -- here's a great recipe from Epicurious -- but in a pinch, Sara Lee pound cake with a squirt of Redi-Whip doesn't suck either.  Blueberries -- now those are for pie!  I go with the good old-fashioned pie recipe in Joy of Cooking.  Well, recipe is a misnomer.  They wrote up the zen of pie-making, applicable to any fruit.  In the fall, you can use the same recipe for apples.  Pie recipes, anyone?

Now, the other pick-your-own I've been indulging in this summer is the Pick Your Own V.P. game on Slate.  I wish I could say it's as much fun as picking strawberries in the hot sun, but unfortunately it just keeps pissing me off.  Why?  Because I try to pick a female VP, and I keep getting no matches.  You know why, right?  There are virtually no women out there who are qualified.  Let's say we rule out Condi because the left hates her, rule out Nancy Pelosi because the right hates her, and rule out Hillary because everybody who works for Obama hates her.  Who's left?  Those consolation-prize mentionees like Sarah Palin and Kathleen Sebelius?  No wonder they don't come up in my search.  I pick the boxes that say "has a friggin clue about Washington" and "I've actually heard of her," and those women are automatically disqualified.  I bet you didn't even recognize Sarah Palin's picture up there next to the strawberries, did you? 

Please Mr. Nominees, do not consolation-prize me!

Here's my recipe for a fun Monday -- let's make our own pick-your-own-V.P. game.  The rules won't be as rigid as the game on Slate.  For instance, no need to pick a politican.  All you need is someone with a brain who's actually accomplished something in his/her life.  (That rules out a lot of politicians right there.)

Let's see -- female, 35-60, reasonably well known, understands the ways of Washington.  Tina Fey for Veep! 

Comments

[Josh]

Um, Monica Lewinsky turned 35 last Wednesday, according to Wikipedia. She fits all of your criteria, but I think that just means you need some more criteria.

[Kathy Sweeney]

Good game!

First name that popped into my head: Oprah Winfrey. The woman runs a billion dollar empire, is a philanthropist, has had the same best friend for decades, and doesn't seem to take much crap from any one.

But wait - Rachel Maddow is fantastic. She's smart, articulate, extraordinarily well-informed, smacks down everyone who needs it, but without guns, and she has a great sense of humor.

In the interest of balance, I will also include my first choice: Stephen Colbert. Genius, great with people, can sing, and is so good at cutting people down to size that they don't even know they're bleeding as they walk away. VP appearances would be ratings blockbusters.

[Ted]

Q&A

1. Which McCain Veep pick is SIMULTANEOUSLY the safest AND boldest?

ANSWER: Sarah Palin

2. How can McCain SIMULTANEOUSLY attract both Hillary AND Bob Barr voters?

ANSWER: Sarah Palin

* * *

This in over the weekend from the Conservative Voice:

“Desperately seeking Sarah
July 26, 2008 10:00 AM EST

By Stephan Andrew Brodhead

Desperately seeking Sarah
Americans need a little Palin Power

Sarah Palin the current Governor of Alaska is John McCain’s ultimate choice for VP. I do believe a woman is next in line for the presidency. All Conservatives like her. She is popular in Alaska. Hillary supporters would relish her. She would solidify a 12 or possibly 16 year Republican executive.

John McCain’s boring campaign is wearing thin. I need a little Palin Power to get me interested again. They would say ‘but she is only a half term Governor!’ And your point is?

That’s all I have to say about that!”

[Cheryl]

Love Madeline Albright, but that foreign born thing would get in the way, plus age and not cuddly-attractive enough for 'merican voters. Woman knows her some foreign policy.

[Nancy martin]

Great game, Michele! Kudos!

I must say the one VP who would trigger my No Interest button is Joe Biden. I saw Carly Fiorina on another list last week---Yikes!

I'm going on the treadmill now to think this over.

[michele]

But Josh, what has Monica ever achieved? Oh, maybe I didn't make this clear enough. "Blow job queen" and "hand bag designer" are not qualifications for VP.

Come to think of it, nobody knows what the qualifications for VP actually are. We need a list. Feel free to suggest your lists of qualifications and non-qualifications, people.

Here's the list so far. Qualifications: "has a friggin clue about Washington" and "I've heard of him/her." On the list of non-qualifcations, we have: "blow job queen" and "designs handbags."

[michele]

So far, of the choices above, I like Stephen Colbert. But whose running mate would he be?

[Annette Dashofy]

Like Kathy, Oprah came to mind first and foremost. She'd be great except she's too damned smart to even WANT the job.

I also think Robert Redford would be excellent. Smart, sexy (even though my husband keeps pointing out that he's OLD...who cares!!!??!! He's still sexy) and he cares about the environment.

[Karen in Ohio]

No, please not Oprah! She's an idiot, when it comes to politics, and she admits to knowing nothing (which actually makes her less of an idiot, I must admit). She would figure out even more ways to profit from being VP than Cheney has. Please, God, no.

I still want Hillary Clinton, and I don't buy the idea that "everyone in the Obama campaign hates her".

[Karen in Ohio]

Oh, and the ultimate strawberry shortcake uses the recipe on the back of every Bisquik box ever printed. There is nothing better, especially when it's warm, and the berries are juicy. Yum.

[michele]

I still want Hillary, too. Who knows, maybe you're right, Karen!

[Elaine Viets]

Hilary for veep. Remember, as the old ads said, the vice-president is a heartbeat away from the presidency. Monica is too scary.

[michele]

Yeah, Hillary for Veep!

Biut where are all the garden tips and pie recipes?

[Becky Hutchison]

I've heard of Hillary, and I think she knows one or two things about politics. So I'll keep my vote in for her too. And while I'm at it, I'll vote for having your own garden...even though I don't. (But I won't vote for berries. Never have, never will. Something about the tartness and texture I can't seem to get past.)

[William Simon]

Only in America could Monica Lewinsky become famous. ONLY in America.

Oprah scares me; one person having that much influence over the public....yes, she scares me.

I'd like to propose The Tart Ticket; all The Tarts hold the office on a rotating basis.

Nah, y'all are too smart to WANT the job....

[Becky Hutchison]

My only garden tip is to make sure you get down to the farmers market early so you can select the best, freshest vegetables.

But I'd love to hear about other real garden tips, since one day I plan to have my own.

[Maryann Mercer]

If not Hilary, then Bill Richardson.
I have a great cobbler recipe my daughter sent( she got it from their CSA farmer). I took it to a pool party last night and didn't bring much back.

Dump Cobbler
3-4 cups mixed berries (or 6 c. rhubarb)
1/4 to 1/2 sugar (optional)
1 lge package lemon jello(sugar free is ok, use strawberry for rhubarb)
1 box yellow or white cake mix
2 c. water
1 stick butter

Spread berries on bottom of 9 by 13 inch glass pan
If using sugar, sprinkle on berries
Pour Jell-o over berries
Pour cake mix over berries; pour water on top of the whole thing.
Cut butter into pats and dot the top.
Bake at 350F for 50 minutes and cool before serving. We ussed Cool Whip for the topping last night, but ice cream or 'real' whipped cream would be good too.

[Maryann Mercer]

That should be 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar=I don't think you need it myself unless your berries are really tart.

[Nancy martin]

My mother's strawberry pie recipe is excellent:

Bake a pre-fab pie crust. (I would include her recipe for the crust, but it's too complicated and includes directions like "knead until it feels right.") Don't forget to put some fork holes in the bottom of the crust before baking.

Wash & clean a quart of strawberries. (A few extra won't hurt, though, and you'll be able to munch on the second quart while you work) Stand half the strawberries upright in the baked crust. Squish them close together. You can toss a few blueberries on top of these berries, if you like. That way, it looks great for the 4th of July.

In a saucepan, toss the rest of the strawberries and mash with a potato masher. Add 3 tablespoons of corn starch and sugar to taste. (Wild berries have more natural sugar, so they don't need as much.) You can get away with as little as 1/3 cup of sugar, y'know--just depends on your preference.

Stir mixture over medium to low heat for a LONG TIME until the mixture is clear. If you quit too early, the pie will taste like raw corn starch. To not to burn the mixture on the bottom of the saucepan, turn the heat down and stir continuously.

Pour mixture over the berries in the crust and refrigerate. Best served with a good vanilla ice cream.

And VP? I can't help it. I'm still a Hillary girl.

[Karen in Ohio]

If Obama would man up and ask Hillary to run with him he would look much better to the more than half of the human race that doesn't have dingle dangles. Sigh.

We used to have a veggie garden, but it got bulldozed when we added onto the house nine years ago. This summer, though, we are building the basics for a garden for next year, out at our farm. We could plow several acres, but the best spot for that is too far from the house (like a half mile), and I know I would never tend it. So even though the soil up by the house is not especially good (clay and rocks, but it gets full sun), that's where the garden is going. We'll have to haul some manure and sand in, and build a raised bed, but I think it will be worth it next year. Wish it could be this summer, but we didn't get to take possession until six weeks ago.

But I want berry bushes, as many kinds as I can grow, and strawberries, too. Lots of antioxidants, dontcha know.

[michele]

I have to say, Bill Richardson really turned me off during this last campaign. Yes, he has the resume, but when you listen to what comes out of his mouth, he's all hot air and naked ambition. I honestly think he put his finger in the air, saw which way the wind was blowing, and stabbed the Clintons in the back because he thought maybe he could end up on the ticket. If I believed it was principle, I might feel differently about him, but the guy is just all about himself.

PS -- any thoughts about the John Edwards Love child scandal? HuffPo is all over it, but I don't trust them. I think they're willing to say things to manipulate the process. They ran an unbelievable piece about Charlie Crist being gay and his marriage being a cover, with absolutely no back-up, which struck me as obviously designed to keep a strong potential Republican VP off the ticket.

[michele]

Thanks for the recipes, gals! Yum -- keep 'em coming.

[Nancy martin]

I was a Richardson fan, too, Michele, until the back-stabbing. Totally changed my opinion.

I have a great rhubarb pie recipe around here somewhere. It uses tapioca instead of cornstarch or jello. Add some raisins---yummy!

[Laura (in PA)]

I'm staying away from the politics side of the discussion, but weighing in on the garden side. We joined a CSA farm for the first time this year, and I'm totally loving it. You get the combination of someone else doing most of the work and much of the picking, while still getting to pick your own of some things. Our share this past Friday consisted of tomatoes, Euro cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash, cantaloupe, onions, and garlic all picked for us, and we got to pick our own pint of blackberries, and all the pickling cucumbers and green and yellow string beans we wanted.

It rocks.

Plus a friend brought me a case of blueberries from New Jersey, most of which I froze, but I kept some out for cereal and eating, and also made banana/blueberry muffins. And I visited the orchard around the corner from my house and got peaches and nectarines. I'm hoping to get more peaches to freeze as well.

[Karen in Ohio]

HuffPo has lost all credibility with me. The "basis" of the Edwards rumor is something from the National Enquirer, for heaven's sake. They were supposed to know hours in advance that he was meeting this woman and his supposed "love child", but the NE didn't have cameras there?

Pull the other one.

[Harley]

I say we lower the voting age to 5, and get Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana on the ticket. Landslide. Some internet site printed her alleged phone number, one digit different from my phone number. It's been an interesting weekend.

My 6-year old planted some pumpkin seeds in a pot and now there are flowers coming out. At least, I think they were pumpkin seeds. Does anyone have tips for replanting them? Can I just exhume them and put them on the hillside, or what?

I am, like Michele, a bit lacking in the gardening dept.

[michele]

Oh, I have questions about CSA, because it sounds very interesting. Can you choose which types of produce you get? And don't you end up with so much stuff that you can't eat it all?

[michele]

We replanted my son's lima bean plant from school just by digging a hole in the backyard, sticking it in there and watering it. It's grown fine but the dern thing is in shreds because the bugs love to eat it. See, that's where I would go wrong. I think I could manage putting seeds in the ground and watering, maybe even weeding once I figured out the diff between the weeds and the plants. But what about the more advanced gardening stuff like termination of garden pests? I'd probably spray the plants with some horrible pesticide and end up killing my family.

[Kathy Sweeney]

No worries - I was kidding about Oprah. But not Maddow.

I am of the "everybody out of the pool" mentality - which means I'm looking for new blood whenever possible.

And I am one of the Obama people that wouldn't object to Hillary as VP - and I certainly don't hate her. Only the Dems could cause such internal strife over an abundance of quality candidates.

As for fruit, there is nothing like shortcake (I use the easy Bisquick recipe) with fresh white New Jersey peaches. Wow. Just cut them up, put them in a bowl with a little sugar in the fridge - they marinate in their own juice. Fantastic.

We looked at a CSA - but didn't make it in time - we are going to split one with someone else next summer because I understand that some weeks you just get too much of one thing for one family to use. It'll also balance out when one family is out of town.

[storyteller Mary]

I nominate Sarah -- intelligence plus recipes -- perfect combination, but you might also be too intelligent to want the job.
Hoorah for the library! -- I have a long list of reserve requests at the library, and they come to me in their own sweet time, sometimes right when needed. As I struggled to pack, Enchanted brought the dream of “Happily ever after.” After landing with waaaay too many boxes cluttering my formerly immaculate space, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium showed the possibilities of creative clutter, if one just believes. Now, pacing myself with the unpacking, needing to lie down and raise up “the incredible swelling left foot,” I’ve enjoyed Sarah Strohmeyer’s Sweet Love. Romance and cooking, family dynamics, workplace politics — this book has it all! Thanks, Sarah, just what I needed. Huzzah for friends! -- My good friend Maria http://www.swordsandroses.com/ got me through this.
My realtor, Chris, even helped me put boxes of "forgotten" items in the car — he is an above-and-beyond person! http://www.stlbesthomes.com/ BTW, Sunday he had an open house at the Richmond Heights home — way beyond my means, but it is eco-to-the-max and beautiful!!
I am settling into life in my quiet little eco-home, after 12 nights. http://[email protected]/ellington.html “My” woods provide a refreshing view (as my cousin said, ideal for my allergies; I can look out the windows and enjoy the outdoors without itching or sneezing). I’ve seen squirrels, raccoons, birds (and heard frogs) . . .but no deer yet.
I told a version of “The Noisy House” at the Gateway meeting Tuesday, “The Noisy Condo, or the Tale of Two Keys,” featuring slamming doors, yapping dog, loud stereo, and cigarette smoke. (I did reduce the smoke problem somewhat by leaving the furnace fan on constantly, creating a positive air pressure). There were many knowing nods from residents of Crown Center. Of course, I had to begin with the original story, and it was great fun “pretending to be children pretending to be . . chickens, dogs, cats, etc.”
Mara helped work out the aches and pains, and told me my trick of wrapping a shawl around my sore ribs was good treatment for sore muscles. \http://www.myofascialrelease.com/
I have a longer compilation of this moving saga, but will only send it on request — this is probably plenty long for most people.

[Josh]

I've been here since just about the beginning, and I think any Tart (and former Tart, btw) would be disqualified in our puritan country, just based on confessions posted over the past several years. In summary: sex, drugs, rock and roll, and that is before they start quoting back bloggers such as, well, me. No national elective office for any of you.

[michele]

Hey, I've carefully never confessed to anything, Josh, and many other Tarts have confessed at most to marital shenanigans. What is more apple pie, I ask you, than a healthy and happy marriage? Besides, you just have to handle it right. Bill Clinton got elected, didn't he? And what about Barack and his drug use? Nobody is batting an eyelash.

[caryn]

Great game Michele!
I like Sarah Palin. That would get me voting red.
I must say, if Hiliary is on the ticket, I'm voting red for sure. I cannot stand the woman.
Caryn in St.Louis

[Laura (in PA)]

Michele, my CSA does not allow you to pick and choose what you get. There are 200 members split between 2 weekly pickups. My assumption is they take what they have and divide it between the members each week. For example, this week I got 3 tomatoes, 1 cantaloupe, and could only pick 1 pint of blackberries (that's not ALL I got, but as an example). There's a blackboard in the little "pick-up shed" that tells you how much you can take of each thing. Plus, there's a certain section in the shed that is stuff you can take as much as you want - largely herbs and greens. If what you are given is more than you can use, or something you don't think your family will eat, they have bins where you put whatever of your share you don't want, and other members can take what they want from the bin.

As far as the you-pick stuff, unless they give you a limit (like the blackberries), you can pick whatever you can use. They just ask that you be reasonable and leave enough for others.

It's very much on the honor system, but it seems to work out fine.

I'm sure different farms have different ways of doing things, but that's how mine works.

[Rita Scott]

I'm against Oprah for VP, she's made some real screw ups over the years and because of her picks for the book club. Tho I'm sure the school system and libraries would get more funding with her in office.
Me, Margie for VP!!!!!!

[Me, Margie]

Hi- it's Me, Margie, checking in from vacation.

I haven't been posting lately - too busy with, you know, fun stuff. Not that this blog isn't fun, but let's just say my vaca fun is more of the active type, rather than the sitting at the keyboard and type.

As for me running for office - NFW. First off, even though most people wish they lived and talked like I do, they'd never admit it. Plus, I have no time to deal with dumb fundraising shit where you have to pretend to eat awful chicken and fake an interest in every moronic thing some wanker wants to talk about. Total living nightmare.

I wouldn't object to some appointment though - like a new cabinet position on how to get people laid more. Seriously. If I could get people to stop stressing on how other people have sex, and who they have it with, I could channel that energy into some variety in their own dismal sex lives. Because if you have time to kvetch about who someone else is having sex with, you are not getting enough yourself, and everybody knows that.

I could be the Secretary of Sex or something - finally, a Cabinet Position that really does some 'positioning.'

[Cheryl]

Our CSA offers a half share option, which is working for us. It does require a bit more creativity, since you get stuff then decide what to make, rather than the opposite.

We also have a major farmer's market addiction. Our favorite has live music, yoga in the park and wading pools and fountains for the kids. It just doesn't get much better than that! Farmer's market eggs will change your whole perception of eggs, the flavor plus color of yolks and shells are amazing. As gross as it sounds, a freshly killed chicken tastes completely different than what is at the supermarket. The stock that we got out of the bones was incredible.

Next year we will have a more comprehensive garden, this year it's just tomatoes, peppers and lots of herbs. I would recommend that any novice try an herb garden, they are basically fragrant weeds that take a minimal amount of effort. Just make sure you put your mint in pots, since it can be invasive.

We also are getting ready to pull the trigger on getting some chickens. In our city you can have up to 4 hens.

Michael Pollans "In Defense of Food" and "Omnivore's Dilemma", changed my husband's relationsip with food. Now he's all about local and minimally processed foods. Winter is going to be a hardship:(

If I had the cash, I would love to do the diva gardener route that was mentioned in the blog. Can't say I enjoy the yard work, but the results are groovy.

[Harley]

If one more person mentions "the Omnivore's Dilemma" I'm going to have to actually read it. I have a sort of rule about hearing about a book for the 3rd or 4th or 5th time. I figure it's a message from God's Book Club (as opposed to Oprah's).

[Nancy martin]

Robert Novak has a brain tumor? That explains the squished pedestrian, maybe.

(That hijack intended to get Her, Margie, off the subject of positions.)

[michele]

Wow, lots of brain stuff going around. Scary.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, folks. I've got a vomiting kid today. Luckily he's settled glassy-eyed under a blanket in front of the tv (at least for now) because it was getting tiring.

I'm definitely looking into CSA for next year. We have the most amazing perfect organic farm near here that does it, the only downside being that it is staggeringly expensive, and yet you can hardly blame them given the perfection of their vegetables.

[Pam aka SisterZip]

I am so grateful to be past the days of vomiting kids! Even though I have volunteered to help out with the grandkidlets (so mom could get some sleep), it was my choice instead of it being forced on me! lol!

Hope he feels better soon. I know it is miserable, especially in this heat.

[Pam aka SisterZip]

My sibs & I were so spoiled growing up. My grandfather had a huge garden with everything in it. Lettuce, brussel sprouts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, you name it. They also had grape arbors, apple trees, rhubarb, apricot & pear trees. My other grandfather was a butcher. So when my dad was laid off or had to support all of us on a 'part time' salary, we at least didn't go hungry. Dad always grew lots of stuff, too, but now that he is in his 80s and not as mobile as he once was, we discourage it! He fell in the back yard yesterday and couldn't get up. Mom is recovering from catarac surgery and didn't realize it had been an hour since she last saw him. She had to call a neighbor to come help get him up. He wasn't hurt at all, just mad that it burnt the hell out of his pork steaks!

[Maryann Mercer]

OK, let me change my position on Richardson...I must have missed some of that stuff, although I don't know how. As for the Edwards "scandal", that must mean he's on the short short list.Frankly, I'd like him on the ticket. I'm just not sure he couldn't do more from another post in the government.

[Kerry, The Martial Tart]

I want CJ Craig for veep. Or at least Donna Moss.

Just sayin' . . .

[Pam aka SisterZip]

Or Dr. Bartlett....

[michele]

The vomitatious one is sleeping finally -- yay!

[michele]

Speaking of Donnas, how about Donna Brazile? I love her.

[Steve]

I'd like to nominate Mary Alice but I have trouble seeing her playing second fiddle to either candidate. She'd rather get something done.

[peach]

I'm here late today, because I was out in the garden picking beans and then of course snapping them. My father and I picked over a bushel. They are on the stove in canners as I write.

Yes we are into gardening in a big way. This is what grows in gardens (There are two.)each year: rhubarb, asparagus, 4-5 varieties of lettuce, green onions, radishes, spinach, sugar pod peas, summer cabbage, fall cabbage, fall cauliflower, broccoli, garlic, walla walla onions, red onions and copra (winter keeper) onions, two varieties of potatoes, lima beans, green beans, purple beans, french beans, strawberries, blueberries, pears, red raspberries, two varieties of sweet corn, beets, carrots, red and yellow bell peppers, hungarian wax peppers, three varieties of summer squash, slicing cukes and pickling cukes, watermelon, cantaloupe, butternut squash, several assorted varieties of tomatoes including 4 heirloom varieties, eggplant, red cabbage, grapes, and assorted herbs.

Unfortunately no peaches. They don't do well in the valley in which we live.

I do have a recipe for you: Peach/Blueberry Pie.
Pie Crust: 2 heaping cups AP flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup shortening, 4-6 tbsp. ice water.
Mix salt and flour together. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until texture is fine. Add ice water beginning with smaller amount. Amount needed varies with humidity. Add just enough so dough comes together but is not sticky. Divide in two. Roll out one half to fit in deep dish pie plate.
Fill with:
9 peaches, peeled and sliced, 1 cup fresh blueberries, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, 1 cup sugar and 7 tbsp. tapioca flour (available at a health food store). Mix together.

Roll out other half of dough. Cut into 1 inch wide strips. Lay out half in one direction on top of pie. Leaving approximately a one inch gap between strips. Pull back every other one and begin laying strips perpendicular to the first strips. Weaving them in one at a time. Roll extra crust up on sides of pie. Crimp to seal edges. sprinkle granulated sugar over the top. Place on top of baking sheet to catch spills in oven. Place in a pre-heated 425 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes. Turn down heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 45 minutes.

I am a recent convert to using Tapioca flour as a thickener for fruit pies. Previously I've used AP flour, cornstarch, or tapioca flakes. All have serious drawbacks in flavor , texture, and or appearance.

[michele]

Peach, I'm in awe of your garden. Wow.

[michele]

Tha latest from the Times indicates Hillary's not in the running.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/us/politics/29dems.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[michele]

And this from the Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802041.html?nav=hcmodule

Who the hell is this Kaine? He flunks both my "has a clue about Washington" and "I've actually heard of him" tests. Why pick somebody who mirrors your own failings? Just makes everybody who has the "experience" question about Obama less likely to support him.

[Pam aka SisterZip]

I have only used tapioca or cornstarch. I found mixing the juice from the, god forbid, can of fruit with the cornstarch it isn't as gummy or thick. With fresh, I have mashed, juiced or totally obliterated the fruit to get enough liquid to add to the cornstarch. I also didn't use the full amount that the recipe called for and it left more of the fruit flavor. I wasn't that crazy about tapioca.

[peach]

Tapioca flour is a whole different kettle of fish than the instant tapioca flakes. None of annoying little flakes showing up for people to say, "Ugh! What are those little things in the pie?". The juice from the fruit combines with the sugar and tapioca to make a thick translucent gel around the fruit. Beautiful looking, the pie slice stays together instead of falling apart and all you taste is the fruit.

[Karen in Ohio]

Wow, Peach, you are a gardener extraordinaire.

Last summer I made a nectarine/raspberry pie. It was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, anywhere.

[sarahS]

This is THE best recipe for blueberry pie as long as you use FRESH blueberries. The blueberries stay perfectly whole, there's less fat and no cooking to break down the antioxidants. Trust me, you will never use another recipe again. Best made the day they're picked or bought at a farmstand. Makes a great breakfast.

1 9-inch pre-baked pie crust
4 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tablespoons each cold water and lemon juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Whipped cream

Sort the blueberries and clean. Put a cup and a half in a pot, mash and simmer on low with the sugar and cinnamon, stirring and mashing until the sugar's dissolved and the blueberry syrup is dark blue. (Does not take long.)In a cup, mix the cornstarch with the water and lemon juice and add to the blueberry mixture. Stir until thickened and beginning to boil. Remove from heat and gently fold in remaining fresh blueberries until coated. Pour into baked pie crust and chill for at least two hours.
Serve with whipped cream. (Some people like to cover the entire open top with it.)

---- sorry I cam so late to the conversation!

[mary alice at mystery lovers bookshop]

Thanks for the VP nomination thought. My favorite slogan "Lead, Follow or get out of the way" Maybe that woukldn't work............but I do still look at that supreme court and worry.

[Terri]

Oooo, methinks you should try to Google Sarah Palin again, my friend! She's done more for my state in the past six months than all the previous wankers did in a decade. She can't be Veep though. Alaska needs her far too much. Maybe in a few years when she cleans up AK, she can move on to the rest of the country. :)