Every spring the Joneses of West Seattle put on a planting party

Every spring the Joneses of West Seattle put on a planting party

Combine whipping cream and sherry in an 8- to 10-inch frying pan; boil rapidly until reduced to 3/4 cup; keep warm. Cut pie between birds into 8 pieces. Spoon sherry sauce over portions. Serves 8.Wash spinach, discarding roots and yellow leaves. Put damp spinach in a 12- to 14-inch frying pan on medium-high heat; cover and cook, stirring once, until spinach wilts. When cool, squeeze excess moisture from spinach with your hands.1 box (17 oz.) frozen puff pastryThe Joneses' plot plan makes coordinating the party simple. If you plan your vegetable plot now, you can duplicate their planting party next month. In the Northwest, you can plant seedings of cool-season crops out then, but wait until May to plant out summer vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. Gardeners in warmer climates can plant out seeds of summer vegetables.Seeds of cool-season crops are started in the greenhouse in February, timed to be ready for planting out in mid-April. A month before the party, Mr. Jones spreads 2 cubic yards of well-aged chicken manure over the plot.Arrange chops and mushrooms on a platter; keep hot. Stir cornstarch into yogurt and add to pan. Stir over high heat until sauce boils and thickens, about 5 minutes. Pour into a serving bowl and serve with meat. Garnish with orange slices. Serves 4.1 tablespoon all-purpose flour1 pound small onions (1 1/2-in. size), peeledPhoto: Seedings started in pressed peat pots are ready to plant. Among cool-season crops in garden cart are lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbagePhoto: Billowy puff pastry conceals birds in a pie. Cut pastry into individual portions, then spoon squab and vegetable filling alongsideBake the pie, uncovered, in a 400| oven until the crust is richly browned, 30 to 35 minutes.Work well underway, the Joneses and helpers pause to enjoy lunch in the garden; a table near the vegetable plot is set up buffet-style.Port shoulder chops or pork steaks become fork-tender and succulent when they're cooked by this method.The Joneses usually grow about 10 kinds of corn, 18 or so varieties of tomatoes, 6 to 8 kinds of onions, plus other favorite vegetables. Each year, they evaluate what they have grown for flavor, yield, vigor, and ability to grow in their climate. They eliminate varieties that don't measure up and try new varieties ordered from seed catalogs.When you serve either pie, supply guests with plenty of napkins and suggest the option of eating the birds by hand. Complete the meal with a robust red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignor or Merlot, a salad of mixed greens with a mustard dressing, and a cool, rich dessert such as chocolate mousse or gelato (Italian ice cream).8 quail (about 3 oz. each), rinsed2 tablespoons butter or margarineOnce the ground is prepared and rows are marked off, seedlings of these crops are planted: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, garlic sets, lettuce, onions, and potatoes. These seeds are also planted: beets, carrots, dill, parsnips, and spinach. Space is reserved for warm-season crops that will go into the ground later.

Photo: Buffet lunch is served near the garden. Blooming tree behind is a grafted cherry that produces "Bing', "Royal Ann', and black "Republican' cherries in late June