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!