2004 Story Set
| Date: 7/4/04 Well --- my little semi-dwarf plum tree exploded. I trimmed - cutting off branches and shaking them into the cement grove on the sidewalk with a hose. Gently running down the gully to keep them cool - it got even - 5 hours in emergency when the pruning shears whacked me upside the head. (Spring-loaded 3' rachet shears sprung.) I'm fine. (Not even a black eye.) Slight overreaction by the children and the doctors. I did not need another 5 hours at Stanford!!! I have seen enough of Stanford! I am so looking to his having that line out and going to clinic in a week? 2? He's doing so well. My mind is now rejecting hospitals and doctors ------ enough already! We are 2 days shy of FOUR YEARS BATTLING CANCER. But all the plums I had picked that morning were not yet in the house ---- a lot of them --- all over the sidewalk. The boys put them into a wastepaper basket ---- lined in a garbage bag. Good thing they lined it. They were trying to save them - I could not open my eye so I was useless. I had done pots and pans (all over the kitchen) earlier - plums everywhere in small stacks. Note that word. In a hurry - they shoved these plums into this bin. Filled it. To the top! Which I just got around to lifting into the kitchen from the hall (7 days later). Since I am making jam - soupy and not hard set - but delicious - jam - 48 jars (2 cup or 12 oz each) jars. I have been fixing jam for days---- or plum soup. We have recipes to use it as a sauce for barbecue. Fabulous! Well ---- I had noticed this bin "settling". I had worried about it. I had made 8 batches of jam so far from the stuff in the pots and pans. I was too exhausted to move any faster. Yes - you can guess - it wasn't plums any more (except on top). It was plum brandy or plum wine ---- it is now a heap dumped in the back yard. Upsetting waste but now it will be compost for the ground that has no grass. I am just waiting for the dog to roll in it. I have trimmed that tree and trimmed that tree and will trim it some more - I have a tiny yard - plums were spiked on the rose bushes! Nestled in lilies! Bunched up under gardenias - which grow so thick I have to use a weed whacker on them, And then they sprout where they lay Of course - a the peach tree and a late-peach tree (different variety) is right behind it and another tree (same kind) will produce next year! Peaches and apples are also coming in on these supposed to be small trees. Those trees are bent over on the ground as well. Bent over! The plum tree branches had actually broken and I really did prune it back this past winter! I have this green thumb and after ignoring the yard for years - stuck some trees and plants in the ground - it is now over-crowded in less than two years! Wish I could move this lock stock and barrel to the fire-denuded property in San Diego! All this and my son cannot have fresh fruit. Everything must be cooked to oblivion. I never have figured out how to "coarsely chop" little ripe plums. - they tend to explode into juice and disintegrate nicely. Like eating M&Ms. Homemade Plum Sauce: 1 cup plum preserves or plum jam 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon minced onions 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes In a small saucepan, bring all the ingredients to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring, until the preserves are melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning to taste. Let cool to room temperature before serving. (Sauce will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.) Plum Sauce: 2 tablespoons peanut oil 1 small onion, coarsely chopped 4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, coarsely chopped 1 Thai chile, coarsely chopped 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1 1/2 pounds red or purple plums, pitted and coarsely chopped 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon granulated sugar Use side burner or grill. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add ginger, chile pepper, cinnamon and cloves and cook for 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook until plums are soft and mixture has thickened. Place mixture in a food processor and mix until smooth. Let cool. |
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