by Paula D.
on July 22, 2023 9:27 am in Gardening
At the beginning of the garden season, I noticed more aphids and white fly larvae than normal but didn’t think much of it. Three weeks later my Stella Doro daylilies were decimated. I was so angry with myself, I should know better. I had to cut the plants completely back. I thought perhaps the greenery would at least regrow but it did not. The life of a gardener…
Garden friends in the neighborhood were also expressing their frustration over the pests. It’s been so bad, even the NY Post is writing about how New Yorkers are bugged out over the bugs.
So why has this happened? Freezing temperatures destroy overwintered eggs. It’s a natural occurrence to keep ecosystems in balance. A rainy spring creates the perfect aphid nursery as they thrive in moist conditions. Therefore, the combination of a mild winter and damp spring this past year electrified the ideal breeding ground for the massive aphid outbreak.
What can we do this season to manage the problem:
- “Powerwash” your plants. A strong, hard burst of water directly on the infected plants will clear away some pests.
- Neem oil – a naturally occurring pesticide found in seeds from the neem tree works very well. Follow the directions for this product. You can buy bottles with a hose connector to combat large areas. Note: Neem oil can irritate your skin and eyes, use it carefully.
- 3 parts water, 1 part dish soap, and a splash of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle is a magic home remedy. All of these ingredients you already have under the kitchen sink. This is my quick, go-to method for indoor and outdoor plant pest problems.
- Dispose of infected garden debris: This is so very important. All leaves, flowers, roots, and other organic matter infected by aphids, white flies, spider mites, etc. must be disposed of in the garbage. Do not include this material in your compost piles or NYC organic brown bins. The eggs will overwinter and you’ll perpetuate the problem next season.
- Ladybugs and/or Lacewing larvae Buy both online. Ladybugs are often found at your local garden center too.
I’d like to elaborate on the last remedy. Ladybugs are well-known among gardeners as a natural pest control solution. Ladybugs naturally found the aphids in my front garden this season. It was pretty neat to see the different stages of their development evolve. But ladybugs have an agenda and once they reach adulthood, they migrate to breed. And so, while they are effective aphid eaters, they’re not infallible.
I learned of the Lacewing larva from the NY Post article (I know, I know). I continued reading online about this little fly and discovered Lacewings are the best predator known to consume massive quantities of garden pests including aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, scales, thrips, and white flies. These little bugs attack its prey by injecting a paralyzing venom that draws out the body fluids of their powerless victims. They feed from 1-3 weeks during their own larvae stage. Do not release them in the heat of mid-day. You may need to follow up with a second batch of Lacewing larvae if the aphid situation persists. But two “doses” will do the trick.
Good luck throughout the rest of the season! And remember, these challenges help us learn and grow into better keepers of our gardens!
Follow me in the garden on for more on Instagram: @theglorifiedtomato.
My friend Magara invited a few of us over for dinner and served homemade oat milk shots for dessert. How creative, right? I couldn’t believe the warm, oat-y taste! The oat milk was rich and creamy with the perfect balance of sweetness. I enjoyed it so much (and can’t stop talking about it) that Magara gifted me a nut milk bag so I can start making my own oat milk.
One challenge with oat milk is a potentially gluey texture. It’s the starch in oats that can cause this because starch is not soluble in water. But do not fret–follow Magara’s pro tips and all will go smoothly: Use ice-cold water. Don’t soak the oats. Don’t over-blend. Don’t over-strain the oat milk in the muslin bag.
Here’s the recipe:
DIY Oat Milk
Equipment:
Blender
Nut milk bag
Jar with lid
Ingredients:
1 cup whole rolled oats
3-4 cups ice cold water (3 cups will make for thicker milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or other organic sweetener (experiment with the amount based on your sweetness preference)
¼ tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon coconut oil (Magara’s secret ingredient…not anymore, whoops)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse for 30-45 seconds. Over a large mixing bowl with a pouring spout, carefully pour the mixture into the nut milk bag to separate the pulp. Gently squeeze the liquid through. Transfer the oat milk from the bowl into a jar and lid tightly. Refrigerate and store for up to five days. Note: separation is totally normal with oat and other plant-based milks, shake before use. Clean the nut milk bag with light dish soap right away to prevent the cloth from plugging up.
My oat milk didn’t taste as creamy and delicious as Magara’s. I worked with four cups, and next go-around I will try three cups to create more thickness. I will say, though, I’m very happy with my first attempt, and I’m all in to keep practicing.
Making homemade oat milk is much more affordable than store-bought. And it’s fun to make – experiment with different sweeteners such as nutmeg, chocolate, honey, or maple syrup. Be cute and gift jars with ribbons to your friends. Serve in a fun way like dessert shots topped with cinnamon. Make healthy smoothies. Use with granola cereal, serve with coffee at brunch, or straight up!
Magara Holton is not only an expert oat milk-maker, she is the first place winner of the 2022 best pie competition sponsored by The Rockaway Hotel.
Follow me for the everyday in the kitchen on Instagram: @theglorifiedtomato.
by Paula D.
on July 10, 2023 9:11 am in Drinks
“All the Italians in the old neighborhood drank them,” my friend Keith said. He remembers his father sitting on the stoop at their home in East New York, 30 years ago. Mr. Vittore would crack open an ice-cold Manhattan Special, gulping the caffeine boost down, during those sultry, dog-days of summer.
The Manhattan Special is the world’s most delicious pure espresso coffee soda, says the company’s website… and me… and every Italian man in New York over the age of 65.
The icon design has not altered much in the 128 years the beverage has been on the market.
The ingredients are simple: hand-brewed espresso, seltzer, and pure sugar cane. The flavor of this forgotten Italian bev is akin to a smoky-sweet, coffee-creamed soda. The precise carbonation component is what elevates this soda to “world’s best.” Chill it in the freezer for 10 minutes and enjoy the drink ice cold. Don’t put it over ice though! Doing so will zap out the special fizz. Make it dessert-y by adding cream or amaretto. The caffeine numbers are a mystery. Those stats are not labeled on the bottle and I couldn’t find the count online. But from personal experience, lemme tell ya, it’s mad strong.
Keith Vittore knocking back a cold Manhattan Special.
The transplants in Williamsburg blindly walk by the bottling factory on the corner of Manhattan Avenue (its namesake) and Skillman, day after day, unaware of the history they pass and the memories held inside. The Manhattan Special bottling plant has been in operation since 1895. Somehow the 4th generation, the family-owned business managed to keep its foothold throughout Williamsburg’s transformation. The company is owned by the Passaro family, Italian immigrants who found the American dream in a little glass bottle.
Speaking of the metal-capped bottle, its label is exemplary. It awakens old New York. The gold and black classy design features a 1920s-era couple embracing. They gaze into each other’s eyes. In the foreground, an espresso pot and a cup filled with caffè is illustrated. It seems the depiction has not altered much in the 128 years the beverage has been on the market, underscoring its authenticity.
by Paula D.
on June 22, 2023 6:29 am in Community
I texted my father right away when I saw the Child of Prague appeared at the far end of the path in my garden. He said, “Paula, this is a gift from God!” I said, “Dad, it is actually a gift from my friend Teresa.”
Tony’s on Knickerbocker Avenue* is Teresa Farrell’s favorite pizza joint in the city. She wears an Italian horn around her neck, so obviously she knows what the deal is. Above the dough-making counter sits a precious, 17 inch, flamboyantly dressed Child of Prague statue. Sometimes, Teresa and I interchange the figure’s given name with “The Child of Pizza.”
After Teresa took me to Tony’s a couple of months ago, she generously gave me a one inch Infant Child of Prague to commemorate our evening. He lives in my kitchen, just like the one at Tony’s. For that reason, when the “larger” statue appeared in my garden, I had a premonition that it was set forth by Teresa, not God… Six of one?
My Father called me shortly after I shared the exciting news about the sanctified presence. He said receiving this statue is a very special blessing, especially since it was found in my garden. The Irish place the Child of Prague outside a brides home before her wedding, to ensure a sunny day. I’m not sure how this applies to me, but I like sunshine, and the sun makes tomato plants pop, so there’s that.
The physical significance of the King Child’s smallness reminds us of the fragility of humanity. It calls us to be humble; to practice humility and through our days, express sincerity to our neighbors.
I asked my father if I should leave the Infant Child in the garden even though he is made of plaster and he’s wearing satin. I feel the garden is where Teresa and God wants him to be. Dad became alarmed! He said, “Bring the delicate child inside!” In an effort to convince me, he continued, “Jesus’ red cloak will match your kitchen. He’ll look nice on top of your refrigerator.” I can’t decide what to do. As of now, he lives outside in the garden but I take him inside when it rains.
People around town, in the know, know about the holy dumpster. The container in Rockaway Beach was filled with hundreds of Catholic relics. The treasure trove is a mystery, and so, the chosen ones, recognized the dumpster as a divine community gift, filled with miracles. This is where my Child of Prague emerged from. The significance of its dumpster origin is mind-blowing actually.
Why? In the 17th century, during the Thirty Years’ War, after the Saxon’s left Prague in plundered, the holy statue – said to have belonged to the Spanish mystic Teresa of Ávila – was rediscovered in the monastery by monks, in a pile of trash. The figure’s hand was broken. Today, it is very common and accepted that The Child of Prague is displayed with broken parts, as mine lives.
Pray to the Blessed Child of Prague when you feel shattered. Offer prayers for children who are victims of violence or abuse and for broken families and relationships. Seek hope from the Infant Jesus for people struggling financially and for those who are emotionally or spiritually impoverished and for people who suffer social injustices.
January 14 is the Feast of the Infant Jesus of Prague which celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation.
*There are two Tony’s on Knickerbocker Ave. (So New York) Go to the one on the corner, with the blessed pizza.
