The Day of Plastic

I found myself stuck in the mud several times as a result of the heavy rain from earlier in the week, which turned the soil into a complete mess. I felt a lot like a cafeteria lady digging my way through the slop and dumping it on the side of the plastic-covered bed. It took five hours to completely seal the 60x100-foot plot where the cucurbits (melons, squash, pumpkins) will be planted by mid-summer.

The long day started at five in the morning, feeding the pigs and preparing a breakfast of eggs, oatmeal, toast and enough coffee for everyone. It was also my turn to prepare lunch, using leftovers to make pasta and fried rice, and ending with an vanilla custard experiment for dessert.

Vanilla Pouring Custard

(Makes 4 1/2 cups)

Separate: 8 eggs

Reserve the whites for another purpose. Whisk the yolks just enough to break them up. Pour into a heavy-bottomed pot: 4 cups milk, 5 tablespoons sugar.

Heat the milk over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. When hot, whisk a little of the milk into the egg yolks and then whisk the yolks into the hot milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens just enough to coat the back of the spoon. Do not let it boil. Remove the heat and quickly strain. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract after the custard has cooled.