Loaded, Baked Potato Soup

 

Ingredients

• 2 lb (uncooked) bacon cut into small pieces
• 3 Tablespoons butter unsalted
• 2 medium yellow onion chopped (about 1.5 cup/200g)
• 7 large garlic cloves minced
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (42g)
• 3 1/3 lbs gold potatoes 
• 4 cups chicken broth (945ml)
• 2 cups milk (475ml)
• ⅔ cup heavy cream (155ml)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder
• ⅔ cup sour cream (160g)
• Shredded cheddar cheese, chives, and additional sour cream and bacon for topping 

Instructions

• Place bacon pieces in a large Dutch Oven or soup pot over medium heat and cook until bacon is crisp and browned.
• Remove bacon pieces and set aside, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Add butter and chopped onion and cook over low heat until onions are tender and browned slightly.
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
• Sprinkle the flour over the ingredients in the pot and stir until smooth (use whisk if needed).


• Add chopped potatoes to the pot along with chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and ancho chili powder. Stir well.
• Cook low until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
• Add sour cream and reserved bacon pieces, stir well.
• Allow soup to cook for 15 for minutes before serving.
• Top with additional sour cream, bacon, cheddar cheese, or chives. Enjoy!

Sweetie Pole Tomato

 Days to Maturity: 65 days from transplanting

Family: Solanaceae

Type: Indeterminate, Low Acid, Cherry Tomato

Native: Andes

Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual

Exposure: Full sun

Plant Dimensions: Vines up to 6' or longer

Variety Info: ¾"–1" round, red tomatoes in large grape-like clusters.

Attributes: Frost Sensitive

When to Sow Outside: For mild climates only: 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 60°F.

When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting. Transplant when air temperature is 45°F or warmer, usually 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 70°–90°F.

Days to Emerge: 5–10 days

Seed Depth: ⅛"

Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 24"–36"

Row Spacing: 36"

Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 24"–36"

Harvesting: Sweetie' tomatoes are at the peak of sun-ripened deliciousness when red, and have a slight give when gently squeezed.

Seed Saving

 Seed Saving Growing your own garden provides a wonderful opportunity to save the seeds your plants may produce. You can replant them next year or gift them to a friend. 

Supplies: 

Heirloom or heritage seeds 

Directions: 

1. Separate or collect seeds from your heirloom plants. For tomatoes, using a ne-mesh sieve, remove as much pulp as possible from seeds. Drain well. 

2. Paperclip a piece of parchment paper to a mesh tray and spread seeds out. 

3. Dry at 95℉ for 3-12 hours. 

4. Test for doneness. Larger seeds will need more drying time. It’s okay to over dry them to be sure all moisture is removed. Seeds should be rm and very dry. 

5. Store in an airtight container until it’s time to plant them again. 

Note: 

Hybrid plants do not produce seeds that will reproduce the same flowers or fruit. Only heritage or heirloom seeds are able to be saved and replanted.