I was tempted to leave the chard in the garden for the winter. It’s mild enough here that chard is considered a winter crop by most people, not a summer crop.
I prefer it in summer when the leaves are more tender. They tend to get thick and a bit tough as the weather cools and the plants get bigger.
I was only slightly tempted.
I don’t want to garden in the winter. I work outside all spring, summer and most of the fall. I don’t want to do it in the winter. I want to do other things…. indoor things…. things I don’t have time to do in the summer.
I pulled it the other day. Well, that’s not quite true, Chard gets amazingly big, deep roots. I had to dig it out.
It’s now feeding the compost.
This was the last of it for the season.
Stir-Fried Turkey & Chard
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 10oz (300gr) turkey cutlets or tenderloin, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 onion, cut into quarters, then sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbs minced ginger substitute 1/2 tsp powdered
- 1 rib celery, sliced
- 1 medium carrot, cut into matchsticks
- 6oz (180gr) chard, sliced thinly
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 tbs tamari substitute soy sauce
- 1/2 cup (4oz, 120ml) chicken stock
- 1/4 cup (2oz, 60ml) sherry
- 2 tbs creamy peanut butter
- 1 tbs cornstarch (Maizena) dissolved in 1 tbs soy sauce plus 1 tbs water
- 1/2 cup (3.3oz, 95gr) Basmati rice
- 1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken stock
Instructions:
- Cook rice in chicken stock until done, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
- Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add onion, celery, carrot to skillet and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
- Add garlic, ginger and stir-fry another 2 minutes.
- Remove vegetables from pan and set aside.
- Add sesame oil, turkey and stir-fry 3 – 5 minutes, until golden.
- Return vegetables to skillet; add chard and tamari. Stir-fry until chard starts to wilt.
- Add chicken stock, sherry, peanut butter and bring to a boil.
- Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in cornstarch mixture until thickened.
- Serve over rice, adding more soy sauce if desired, according to taste.
The last room….
This is where the original access to the upper floor was – a rickety staircase in the barn.
We decided to keep the door for an emergency exit or whatever. Rather than replace it, mon mari just added a door that opens inward and put a latch on it for security, leaving the old door in place.
As to the rest of the room – like the others, the ceiling was a challenge, the floor was a challenge….
And, like the other rooms it eventually all got done. The box on the wall is for all the upstairs electricity.
Work was both faster and slower on this room: faster because it was a smaller room and mon mari had lots of experience; slower because it was the last room and there was no hurry.
But he did get to build a piece of furniture which is his first love.
The window seat turned out very nicely.
The final room…. done.
What’s next?
We’re thinking……
I can’t wait to read about what’s next! Heaven knows, you two won’t just rest on your laurels. ?
I am just so amazed that you could see the possibilities in this place. You’ve really turned it into a wonderful home, something my hubby would never, ever have seen had we looked at something like this. Beautiful.
I love stir-fry. I’ll have to try it with the chard. I usually use spinach. I’m seeing recipe after recipe lately all containing kale though. I’m getting a little tired of the kale craze…
Love your stir fry Katie…and the transformation, like the rest of your lovely home is amazing!
What an interesting and different stir fry you’ve made. It looks like a delicious combination. And, I don’t blame you for not wanting to garden in the winter! Are you doing 12 Weeks of Winter Squash this year?
Looking forward to hearing plans – I am sure you will not sit idle, knowing you two !!!!
Zoomie, I’m not sure I want to know what’s next lol
nightsmusic, we seem to do pretty well with blank slates… I design and he tells me what’s wrong with it… Never had kale – can’t get it here and, frankly, I don’t care 😉
Ina, thanks – on both counts
Amy, can’t wait to see all the squash! As to the stir-fry – clean out the fridge (or garden)
Kate, who knows what’s next…. he was actually looking at one for sale in your neighborhood lol