Pineapples represent one of the best buys of fresh fruit in the grocery store. Unlike melons, they are almost always ripe and juicy. They taste great, they are healthy and they are economical – far less than a melon. In fact, they were $1.99 each at Food Lion this week. I really enjoy pineapples (“apple pines”, my children called them) but whacking off all that grungy part and removing the … [Read more...]
Time to Consider DeerBusters
Many backyard gardeners have simply given up. Why go to all the expense and trouble to plant a garden only to have a few deer wipe out and entire planting in one night. All deer repellants ultimately fail as the deer do what they do best - eat stuff. There are two ways to overcome the deer invasions. One involves a 30.06 cartridge, which is frowned upon in most subdivisions and the other is a … [Read more...]
Beware of the Norovirus
Just got back from a family reunion. There were about 30 of us – kissing, hugging, holding babies, and the like. Everything went well until Mr. Norovirus crashed the party. Sixteen of us and counting, bit the dust. It wiped us out. Norovirus infection causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, and stomach cramps, often striking at the same time. It is nasty stuff and highly contagious. The virus can … [Read more...]
A Ray of Hope for Menhaden
Finaly, finally, there is a ray of hope to save the Chesapeake Bay from the overfishing of menhaden. In the new Virginia budget which kicks off July 1, there is a $2 million appropriation to study the populations and migration of menhaden (bunker) in the Chesapeake Bay. For years, conservationists and fishermen have been calling for such a study, if not an outright ban on menhaden fishing as done … [Read more...]
Triggers at the Bay Bridge
A strong bite of triggerfish is now happening at the CBBT. Triggerfish are largely a tropical species but have been showing up increasingly in Virginia waters on offshore reefs and at the mouth of the bay. Triggers have very small mouths, so small hooks are required. The fish hang in large schools and relate to cover. The average fish runs around 17-inches and weighs 5 pounds. They are strong … [Read more...]
10-4, Good Buddy
America went through some really wacky periods. One was back in the 70’s with the CB (citizen’s band) radio craze. It started during the Oil Embargo years under Jimmy Carter when you never knew when, where or if you could get gasoline. Truckers used their CB radios to advise one another and all of a sudden, average Americans imagined themselves as would be truckers hauling logs in their … [Read more...]
Oven Bag Pot Roast
Oven bags are possibly the most overlooked kitchen tools of all. Sometimes we remember them when we get a turkey, but usually the bags are stuffed to the rear of the drawers and go unwanted. This week, I was going to cook a hen with stuffing and found myself out of all sizes of oven bags. A quick trip to food Lion corrected that faux pas. I generally go to my oven bags only with chicken or … [Read more...]
Wild Carrots: Queen Anne’s Lace
Roadsides across Virginia are now adorned with the splendid beauty of Queen Anne’s Lace. Some are as white as a January snowfall. I have written about Queen Anne’s Lace previously and received many responses from others who also admire this delicate plant. Some advised that the lace-like flowers could be dyed and placed in art frames. Queen Anne’s Lace is often called a wild carrot. It … [Read more...]
Bubba’s is the Best
I asked Nancy what she wanted for her recent birthday. She said she wanted me to book a hotel room in Virginia Beach, drive there, spend the night and eat at Bubba’s Restaurant for lunch the next day. And we did. We drove to Virginia Beach following a friend’s funeral on Saturday, stayed in a waterfront room at the Wyndham Hotel that night, then drove to the north end of Virginia Beach the next … [Read more...]
First ‘Mater Day
It should be a National Holiday, a day of celebration knowing that after 6 months of eating tasteless Roma and Big Boy tomatoes from the grocery store, the first tomato from your garden has turned red-ripe enough to pick. It’s the First ‘Mater Day, and for the Brewer’s it was celebrated on Tuesday of this week. Nancy’s above-ground garden came through with a beautiful tomato. It was perfect, … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 471
- Next Page »