Monday, August 25, 2014

G is for Ginger

ABC Wednesday
August 27th, 2014

The letter is G for Ginger

I love ginger - it is my favourite spice.  

I love ginger-ale, ginger beer, ginger tea, gingerbread and ginger cookies, orange and ginger chicken, my ginger headed great grandson, the ginger skin refresher that lives in my bathroom, Ginger Rogers, ginger cats and just any kind of ginger that has that wonderful exhilarating scent and soothing to the stomach quality. 

And candied ginger - my passion!!!

When the children were all home and we were a growing family it was our custom to make dozens and dozens of bottles of ginger beer in the summertime, and everyone took a turn at capping the bottles.  When one batch was finished we made another, and so it went through the summer - everyone nicely gingerized!

When I was a child ginger was a remedy my mother counted on for settling upset tummies, and I still keep it handy to use for that purpose.

Ginger is lovely in the garden.


Blue Torch


Singapore Gardens

Unfortunately as a tropical or sub tropical plant you are not going to be able to carry it
 safely through the winter unless you live in Zones 9, 10, 11 or 12.  

However it is possible to grow ginger in pots and if you are interested here is a good source of information and guidance.  The plant can't tolerate temperatures under 50 degrees F.  It grows best in well drained rich soil, and spots that receive partial or full shade and would be happy
spending the winter indoors, away from sunny windows.

Considering that we are fast approaching September and apple picking time.
 here is a nice gingery pie recipe for you, from the pages of Canadian Living

In a bowl stir a quarter cup of flour with two tablespoons of packed brown sugar, and cut in two tablespoons of butter until crumbly.

Stir in one tablespoon of finely chopped crystalized ginger.  Set aside

On lightly floured surface roll out the pastry to fit a nine inch pie plate.  Sprinkle one and a half teasoons of chopped crystallized ginger over the bottom.  Peel six apples (preferably pie apples) core and cut them into eighths, or thereabouts.  Toss with one third a cup of packed brown sugar and if you are really trying to be classy arrange the wedges upright on ends at 45 degree angle in concentric circles in the shell.  Otherwise you can be more casual about how they lie....

Pour one quarter cup of whipping cream over the apples and sprinkle them with the streusel, which you set aside.

Bake in 425 F oven for 15 minutes, and then reduce heat to 375F.  Bake for one hour or until apples are softened and topping is golden.


Delicious....
This is bound to earn you Brownie Points!


Here is a Ginger that is new to me - Ginger Wildheart, a UK rock guitarist, singer and song writer, and the leader of the band which bears his name, - the Ginger Wildhearts.  This is one of his quieter numbers.....


Tip toe gingerly over to ABC Wednesday and see what else Roger and Denise have
 for you on ABC Wednesday!

18 comments:

Reader Wil said...

I am with you Hildred! I also love ginger, the taste, the colour, the small. the plants and I am also sorry that our climate is too cold for growing gingerflowers in the garden.
Thanks for this excellent post!
Have a great week.
Wil, ABCW Team

Reader Wil said...

I mean the smell....

Rajesh said...

Very true. Ginger plays vital role in our life.

photowannabe said...

I really love ginger ale too.
Some ginger is to strong for me but it definitely reminds me of Fall and the pending holidays.

Roger Owen Green said...

Yes, I like ginger ale, ginger beer too!
ROG, ABCW

The Weaver of Grass said...

Sadly Hildred, not my favourite spice - although i do love chocolate ginger biscuits.

ellen b. said...

When it comes to ginger I see that you don't enjoy it gingerly but with gusto! That pie sounds very interesting...

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Beautiful garden shots!

Photo Cache said...

ginger variety plants produce gorgeous blooms.

ABC WEDNESDAY

ChrisJ said...

I love crystallized ginger and the real ginger beer they have in England especially the home made kind.

Jama said...

I'm not a big fan of ginger but if it's called in the recipe, then I will use it.

Cristina Pop said...

I`m a ginger lover too! Go ginger! :)

LindyLouMac said...

Calling by for ABC Wednesday, I do not like Ginger, but great post.

Indrani said...

Beautiful flowers.
Great photo opportunity.

betty-NZ said...

I never thought much of ginger as plants. Such pretty blossoms.

Lmkazmierczak said...

Wow..lots of good info...would love to try growing ginger as an indoor plant♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/go-right/

lotusleaf said...

Great post. I love ginger too. Fortunately it grows well here- in fact too well!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Love this! Ginger has always been a family remedy for us as well. And as an adult I learned to love it in cooking. But somehow I never gave a thought to how the plant looked (above the roots) . Most interesting post.