The Vegas Voice 1-21

By: Pat Alexander / Art of Entertaining
Some years ago, I took a six-month trip
around the United States in a little travel
trailer, going from east to west and north to south,
visiting 47 states. We started out to explore the country and see all its
incredible sights, but it turned out to be an epic eating adventure as
well.
We ate fork-tender steaks in Kansas, sweet blue crabs in Rhode
Island, thick maple syrup in Vermont, spicy Tex-Mex food in Texas,
crisp apples in Washington, cheese everything in Wisconsin, pizza in
Mystic, Connecticut and deli in New York, to name but a few of the foods
we sampled and places we visited.
People we met on our stops were amazing, friendly, interesting and
more than happy to share conversation and food. In one small town in
New Hampshire, we stopped for the night and were invited to a church
supper.
The town’s best cooks were there showing off their prize dishes, a mix
of savory casseroles and desserts that went from glorious to sublime. Of
course, I went away with recipes galore (and a few extra pounds).
In Maine we had lobster - lobster bisque, lobster rolls, lobster omelet,
stuffed lobster, grilled lobster and my favorite, steamed lobster with
butter. More recipes (more pounds).
On Cape Cod, we shopped in a little town where all the stores served
appetizers or beverages during the holidays to encourage foot traffic
26
Adventures in Eating
Planning for 2021
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening
January is a month for both reflecting upon
last season’s successes (and disappointments)
as well as being proactive in taking steps to ensure
better results this Spring.
2020 was a difficult year to maintain an attractive
landscape. The last measurable rainfall took place on
April 20 th and we had 45 straight 100+ degree days
as well! Therefore, plants and trees suffered and died.
Drought and excessive heat affected our soils as
well. Alkali levels increased, causing root systems
to stop absorbing nutrients such as nitrogen,
phosphorous, potassium, and iron needed for growth.
Thinking back to last Spring and Summer; did you
lose any plants? Did the leaves become yellowish or burn? Did your fruit
trees not bear fruit?
Did your vegetable garden dry up and die? These issues may have
been caused by heat stress and/or nutrient deficiencies.
There are some pre-emptive steps you can take to prevent these
things from happening again.
Perhaps you can replace lost plants with more drought and heat
tolerant plants. You might modify your irrigation systems by adding
and/or repositioning drip emitters in areas where you had damage or
January 2021
and spending. And, yes, recipes
yet again (not to mention the
pounds).
I loved that trip and learned
so much about this beautiful
country, the amazing people
who inhabit it, and, of course,
its favorite foods.
This is the recipe I received
from one of the shopkeepers for
her Cape Cod Eggnog which
seems like a perfect drink for
New Year’s Eve. Try it, I think
you’ll like it. Diet next year!
CAPE COD EGGNOG
Beat 12 pasteurized egg
yolks with 2 cups sugar until creamy. Gradually beat in 2 cups brandy
or bourbon and 2 cups dark rum. Stir in 1 pint softened vanilla ice
cream, 1 quart milk and 1 quart heavy cream.
Beat egg whites with ¼ cup sugar until stiff, float on top of the
eggnog. Sprinkle with grated nutmeg. Makes approximately 20 cups.
Pat Alexander writes about all things home. She is well known for
her cooking, parties and interior design, and consults on kitchen
and bath remodels.
loss.
Another way to keep soil both cool and moist during extended heat
and dry periods is to replace rock mulch with organic mulch. Organic
mulch biodegrades adding nutrients to the soil.
In addition, I would recommend applying a sulfur
additive directly into the soil now. This will lower
pH levels by neutralizing high alkali concentration
which will allow roots to absorb the needed nutrients
when the growing season begins.
Did your foliage lack a rich green color last
summer? Iron deficiency (Chlorosis) can be prevalent
when soil has high pH levels.
If this was the case, follow up the sulfur treatment
with an application of a Chelated iron solution
around affected plants. This will accelerate photosynthesis and improve
both growth and color.
Finish up on any remaining pruning except on palms or fruiting
trees. Fronds protect the tree from the cold and fruit trees will have
started budding already.
Have any questions? Contact me at: Theplantwhisperer28@gmail.com
Howard Galin, a/k/a: “The Plant Whisperer” is a retired NYC
school administrator, transplanted in Las Vegas who devotes his
time to communicating with and lecturing about our native
plants.