It's really, really cold here.
We went from record highs in October to record lows in about 48 hours. Bonjour, winter coat!
Fortunately, I saw the frosty weather predictions in time to pluck the last 100 or so green tomatoes from the Grandgarden. According to my in-depth internet research, it seems the best way to store them is to wrap each one in paper and then just wait.
Kind of. The article actually said to wrap them in newsprint (don't have any) and store in a dark place (haven't got one). So the green tomatoes have been carefully wrapped in scratch paper from the office, tucked into my basket from Beth and are parked by the window.
That's the best I can do. Hopefully it's the thought that counts and they'll ripen anyway.
In the meantime, we're trying to keep warm. I haven't tried wrapping myself in scratch paper yet, but am wearing tights under jeans, two shirts, a sweatshirt and a scarf. I've been drinking hot coffee and wassail. Oh, and we're taking periodic exercise breaks (sit-ups, jumpingjacks) to get our frozen blood flowing again.
Up for debate: considering our apartment is teeny-tiny, but has very high ceilings, what it the best way to heat it? It's well-insulated. We have gas heat (radiators) and also portable electric heaters. Thoughts? Advice? Thanks!
We went from record highs in October to record lows in about 48 hours. Bonjour, winter coat!
Fortunately, I saw the frosty weather predictions in time to pluck the last 100 or so green tomatoes from the Grandgarden. According to my in-depth internet research, it seems the best way to store them is to wrap each one in paper and then just wait.
Kind of. The article actually said to wrap them in newsprint (don't have any) and store in a dark place (haven't got one). So the green tomatoes have been carefully wrapped in scratch paper from the office, tucked into my basket from Beth and are parked by the window.
That's the best I can do. Hopefully it's the thought that counts and they'll ripen anyway.
In the meantime, we're trying to keep warm. I haven't tried wrapping myself in scratch paper yet, but am wearing tights under jeans, two shirts, a sweatshirt and a scarf. I've been drinking hot coffee and wassail. Oh, and we're taking periodic exercise breaks (sit-ups, jumpingjacks) to get our frozen blood flowing again.
Up for debate: considering our apartment is teeny-tiny, but has very high ceilings, what it the best way to heat it? It's well-insulated. We have gas heat (radiators) and also portable electric heaters. Thoughts? Advice? Thanks!
17 comments:
Do you have any of those corn or bean bags you could heat in the microwave? Then just lay those on your body...even take them to bed with you. Mom used to make those (I think Trey has one of them) and Britt made me one too.
As for the tomatoes, I heard years ago that if you place the green ones in a brown paper bag (no individual wrapping), they will ripen.
Think I may try your apple recipe today, as I am at home.
My dad would pickle green tomatoes with dill, garlic, hot peppers and some sort of pickling brine and can in jars. Later, slice and eat with baguettes, cheese, sausage, onion and butter. I wish I had the recipe, it was very good. Love, Papa
ah, i remember this from my pre-Christmas visit a few years ago. it was super-BRRR in your apartment!
Build a false ceiling to keep the heat from rising too high - you'll be toasty warm!!! I know...good in theory but probably not possible in reality - bummer :(
I'm usually not terribly big on fried foods, but there's nothing like fried green tomatoes. I fry the green ones I pick right the night before the frost and they are yummy.
yes, i was just going to mention how disappointed your southern US friends would be if a couple of those were not fried up, salted and perhaps dipped in a little ranch:)
I second the comment about heated bags. I cut the legs off of old pairs of tights, pour rice in them, knot them, and then stretch the rest of the leg back over the rice lump (so it's covered with a double layer of tights), and then microwave them daily all winter long.
As for heating the apartment, does it help to aim a small fan toward the ceiling? It might move the air enough to help circulate the warm air back down.
Thanks for the blog. I always find myself smiling after I read it!
we also have a small apartment with tall ceilings and lots of windows. in the winter we use space heaters (1 in the living area, 1 in kitchen) and that seems to keep it pretty warm. for extra cold nights i pull out the electric blanket and curl up in it on the couch. as far as at night while sleeping...lots and lots of down comforters.
oh, the life of someone who is too cheap to turn on the heater!
I think Nan's idea of keeping the air [gently] moving by pointing a small fan, or two, towards the ceiling is excellent.
As for the green tomatoes, do you have a closet? I'd put them on the floor in the closet where it's nice and dark but not by the window. Unless of course the apt is so cold they'd freeze if they didn't get some natural warmth (aka sunshine).
The rice or corn or bean bags are wonderful! You can also freeze them for cooling in the hot weather (or treating a bump on the head). Just don't overheat, the grain will burn and that doesn't smell so nice, and it can also burn you.
Stay warm.
Aunt Dee
Your internet research was correct. I just picked my last green tommy-toes this weekend and they are wrapped in newspaper (AJC of course) and in my linen closet. What a suprise to a guest who just wants a towel huh.
There is always plenty of newspaper around our house. The problem is, it's usually ones I want to keep :)
As far as keeping warm, we have a small space heater that works pretty well, but I doubt we've had ceilings as high as yours, so I'm not sure if it would be worth it or not. In the past, we've also turned on the oven and left the door open a bit, but that's probably not too cost-effective. I might also suggest snuggling under a nice heavy blanket, but I'm sure you've already tried that ;)
I read that if you put an apple or two in the box with the tomatoes it helps them ripen. The apples give off ethylene gas, which encourages the tomatoes to ripen faster.
Wow, I think your garden had more tomatoes left at the end of the season than mine produced throughout the whole summer. Just as well, I wouldn't have had the initiative to do anything with a hundred or so tomatoes.
I've heard the same as Dinah: add fruit to the box and the gas promotes ripening. Bananas are one of the best producers of ethylene. Not sure it works if each tomato is wrapped, though.
I don't wrap my produce in paper, but my mother does it almost religiously. She thinks her veggies keep better that way.
You should post a recipe that calls for green tomatoes. I am curious!
For staying warm: http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2008/11/06/candle-room-heater/
We made green tomato pickles last year, and green tomato jam this year. We tried the paper-wrapping method but found we tended to forget to check on them and they rotted that way. :\ The jam turned out good, though!
Why don't you try turning ON the radiators and portable heaters????
What you spend in electricity you will save in doctor bills. I'd rather be warm than go to a doctor.
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