Still not much action in the garden as yet. Transplanted the hardened off broccoli, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, lettuce and collard green. Was hoping to sow my carrots and beets seeds may be this week.
There will surely be a flurry of activities in the garden the next 2 weeks trying to catch up.
Did harvest the overwintered leeks and parsnips, also harvested some garlic green. Shall continue to harvest (thin out) the garlic green as needed. The season is very short so I am enjoying every bite.
Top: Overwintered Leeks
Bottom: Garlic Greens
After cleaning the leeks got quite skinny, the garlic greens were nice and plump
∞ ∞ ∞
Used the garlic green in a stir-fry (Sorry no recipe, and really no recipe is needed for this stir-fry, just do your own thing.)
Pork, Tofu & Garlic Green Stir-fry
For a vegetarian version omit the pork and use all tofu
Still without a fully functional kitchen so I just used whatever sauce and seasoning I could easily locate. Also kept it simple to allow the delicate garlic green flavor to shine.
Resulting dish was good but when I make it again I would add more, a lot more, garlic greens.
Here is what I did:
∗ Thinly sliced (across the grain) lean pork (beef, chicken, veal and lamb can be substituted) tossed with soy sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch and ginger
∗ Sliced tofu (had some in the fridge, use all tofu for a vegetarian dish)
∗ Sliced garlic green on the bias, white and green parts
∗ A few carrot slices for color (optional)
1. Heat a tablespoon of oil in wok/frying pan, add pork and stir-fry until just cooked. Remove to clean plate.
2. Add tofu and a bit of salt (additional oil if needed), stir-fry until tofu is heated through, remove and add to pork.
3. Add garlic green and carrot (additional oil if needed), stir-fry until garlic greens turn bright green.
4. Stir in pork and tofu. Add broth for gravy. Bring to a boil, adjust taste. Serve. (Needed salt, had shiro (white) miso in the fridge, added 1 tablespoon instead of salt.)
∞ ∞ ∞
Asian Pear Flowers
May not get any pears this year as I had to cut down the other Asian pear tree. The result is this remaining tree does not have a pollinator.
However, some Asian pears are self-fertile and I am hoping mine is, or perhaps it is partially self-fertile and I will get 15% of the possible crop yield and that would be OK with me as this tree has been a heavy producer and needed to be thinned to get good size fruits. A very, very tedious job.
Asian Pear Flowers
Wondering how many of the flower will set fruits?????
∞ ∞ ∞
P.S. Having problem leaving comments on some blogs, don’t know what the problem is, kids coming to visit so will have them figure it out for me.
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Copyright © by Norma Chang. All Rights Reserved. Do not use/repost any photos and/or articles without permission.
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Garden to Wok 
I have to thin out the fruit on my fruit trees too. It is a long and tedious job. But oh so worth it. I hope you get some fruit on your pears. I never planted one, but my neighbor has two just over my back fence and they are just lovely right now.
Hello Daphne,
I hope so, will be happy with 15%.
LOVE your flowering trees! and that garlic and leeks look so yummy.
Hello Jenny,
Thanks, the flowers are just gorgeous.
That stir fry looks delicious! Leeks are really the only veggie we can reliably overwinter here in New England.
I planted two Asian pear trees this year. Now we wait.
Hello Thomas,
Thanks, the stir-fry was delicious. You could probably overwinter parsnips if mulched heavily.
The garlic greens look good, and the dish is delicious, I didn’t plant garlic this year.
Hello Mac,
Thanks. No garlic this year? Did you miss planting due to your busy traveling schedule?
I just planted an orange tree in the backyard. I always wanted to plant an Asian pear tree but I’m not sure if it will even grow at my place. I love Asian pears. Have a good week Norma! 🙂
Hello Ray,
I would love to have an orange tree in my backyard. Check out the web, there may be a variety of Asian pear that will grow in your area. A good week to you too.
Love those garlic greens. My mom loves to make a pork tenderloin stir-fry with them.
Hello Angie,
Pork and garlic greens go very well together, one of those classic dishes.
The stir fry looks delicious, I’m going to have to try that with some of the green garlic that I’m harvesting now.
Hello Michelle,
Do let me know how you liked the stir-fried garlic greens.
Your stir-fry looks vibrant! I’m sure it was delicious. I hate thinning things — I always think if my plants have made it this far they deserve to live, but perhaps I’ll grow more hard-hearted with time: I’m putting off thinning basil and lettuce.
Hello Sharyn,
Thanks, it was delicious. I have problem with thinning out my Asian pears resulting in many small fruits, so if 15% is what I get then my problem with thinning is solved.
Norma, the flowers are stunning! I love the dusky pink and green stamens. Leeks and garlic looking very good – would have been wonderful in a stir fry!
Hello Celia,
Thanks. Asian pear flowers are very stunning and I cannot help but stop whatever I am doing and admire over and over when I am in the garden.
That’s quite a lovely dish for not having your full kitchen yet! Those green onions sure look great!
Hello Sandra,
Thanks, hoping by the end of next month my kitchen and house will be back to order.
Such a vibrant and tasty stir fry, love this 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hello Uru,
Thanks, it was tasty, going to make it again but with more garlic greens.
Hi Norma:)
This sure has been an odd year hasn’t it. I haven’t been able to put in any veggies yet. I’m not even sure the next couple of weeks will be any better. The nights are just too darn cold!
Your Asian Pear flowers are gorgeous! I have heard that some Asian pears are self-fertile. Hopefully yours will come through. I guess you can hope for a lot of bees too, lol…I had no idea that Asian Pears were hardy enough in the north east. I will need to do a bit of research and see if I can plant them here in PA! How cool would that be. lol…
I rarely use a recipe for Stir Fry. It just seems to come together when I “play” with ingredients in stir fry. Of course, garlic is a must! Yours looks yummy:)
Thank you so much for sharing, Norma…I really enjoyed my visit:)
Hello Edible C,
There is another freeze warning for tonight in our area, but temps are going to get better I am sure.
Will find out shortly whether my Asian pear tree is self-fertile, keeping fingers crossed. I believe you can grow Asian pears in your area, check with your local nursery person and cooperative extension.
Glad you enjoy your visit to my blog.
I get my kids to figure things out for me too! I love the pear flowers and I do hope your remaining tree is self-pollinating. The stir-fry with those gorgeous greens looks wonderful. Sorry to hear you still don’t have a fully functioning kitchen! xx
Hello Charlie,
Aren’t kids wonderful and helpful! Wish mine lived closer. If garlic greens are available in your area give it a try you will like it and I can see you creating all kinds of wonderful dishes with them.
What a beautiful pear tree, Norma! I can’t believe you’re overwintering veggies and still able to enjoy the freshest stir-fry I can imagine! Beautiful vibrant greens and the flavor must be fantastic. I hope your pear tree bears just enough fruit to enjoy and not too much to make it difficult to harvest them all! xx
Hello Barbara,
Thanks, keeping my fingers crossed, will find out soon whether I will get pears or not.
Pork, tofu and garlic is perfect combination. We often eat them. I’ll try to cook this. 😀
Hello Cocomino,
Yes, those 3 items make great combination, are garlic greens available where you are?
Still no kitchen? You must be so frustrated. You must be going through your freezer stash. Your Asian pear flowers are gorgeous, fingers crossed that they will bear fruit. We’re a few weeks behind you in weather, but they’re saying +20C by Friday!
Hello Eva,
Hopefully by the end of June my kitchen and house will be in order and back to normal.
Freeze warning again for tonight and my fig tree is outdoor, can’t bring it into the garage as the wheels have been removed, hope it does not suffer.
Would you wrap it in burlap?
Hello Eva,
I was going to be away and not around to unwrap the next morning so had to take a chance. Returned home yesterday and fig tree is in good condition, whew.
I’m going to have to try and find some garlic greens, they must be great in a stir fry. I’ve been having problems leaving comments too…mostly with people who use blogspot.
Hello Karen,
I am pretty sure you can grow garlic where you are.
Now that you mention it, yes it is mostly with people who use BlogSpot.
Oh wow, your pear flowers are exquisite! I bet they have the most wonderful fragrance.
I have been craving a stir fry for a while now, think I will be changing my menu for this evening. Hope Pete doesn’t mind.
Have a wonderful day Norma.
🙂 Mandy xo
Hello Mandy,
Hope Pete liked your stir-fry. A wonderful day to you too.
Though the pear blossoms are beautiful, I’d hate to see them not bear fruit for you, Norma. I hope you’re right and they are self-pollinating. Wouldn’t that be nice? Your stir-fry looks so fresh and I bet it was delicious, too. I have to pay more attention to your stir-fries, Norma. You make some wonderful meals.
Hello John,
Thanks for the compliments. Stir frying is a quick and easy way to get meals to the table, especially when one is short on time.
I should find out soon if I am going to get any Asian pears this year.
Your overwintered leek looks good must be sweet.
Needs a lot of patience growing them in the tropics.
Hello Diana,
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. Yes, the overwinter leeks were very sweet, did not know growing leeks in the tropics is a challenge, what if you grow them in partial shade?
Hard to tell that the dish needed more garlic greens because it’s beautiful and that Asian pear and all its blossoms is heavenly.
Hello Maureen,
I like more veggies than meat on my plate. Yes, the Asian pear blossoms are gorgeous, though short lived.
Oh Norma…what a delicious looking dish…my kind of food!
The flowers of the Asian pear are so beautiful…thank you for sharing it.
Hope you are having a lovely week 😀
Hello Juliana,
Thanks, am always happy to share. Simple stir-fries are my kind of food also.
Are you having this warm weather too Norma? Quite a change from a few weeks ago! Your Asian pear tree flowers remind me of our front tree’s flowers. I forget that it’s a flowering tree and every year it’s like a nice little surprise. Have you made the leeks yet? I saw a leek pizza the other day. I’m thinking I might have to replicate it at home. It sounded very good.
Hello Kristy,
No we are not having warm weather, but starting tomorrow we should be, hope so. Used some of the leeks in a soup and am saving the rest for another recipe. So glad they keep well.
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