Growing up in the desert in Arizona rose hips always sounded so exotic but now that I live in the Pacific Northwest I can find these vitamin C rich tasty fruits everywhere. While all bushes make hips, Rosa rugosa is the variety that has the biggest, sweetest fruits. They are ripe now and can be […]
Archive for the ‘Cooking’ Category
Rose Hips
Posted in Cooking, tagged rose hip jam, rose hips on July 5, 2021 | Leave a Comment »
Greenhouse Build
Posted in Cooking on June 23, 2021 | Leave a Comment »
The goats are long gone but the shed remains. It’s now my “she shed” and this year I added on a greenhouse.
Edible Flowers
Posted in Cooking, Crafts, Growing, tagged edible flowers on June 10, 2021 | Leave a Comment »
Many of the flowers that grace our yards are edible. They can be used as accents in a salad or as garnish on a main dish. Here are a few of my favorites: I like to use chive flowers in salads to lend a slightly onion flavor. Here’s a recipe for omelets with chive flowers. Lavender cookies are […]
My family loves Italian style food so we go through a ton of the herb oregano each year. Luckily it’s very easy to grow; you can start it from seed or buy a plant at most local nurseries. It does best in full sun and doesn’t like to be water logged but do be aware […]
Carmelite Water
Posted in Cooking on June 3, 2021 | Leave a Comment »
Here’s a soothing tonic for stressful times. Carmelite Water or Eau de Mélisse, has been used since the Middle Ages to settle nerves. Here’s how to make a simplified version using readily available ingredients: Two cups white wine One cup lemon balm leaves Zest of one lemon 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
What to Do with Lemon Balm
Posted in Cooking on June 3, 2021 | Leave a Comment »
Do you have lemon balm, (Melissa officinalis) coming out your ears this time of year? Mine is ready to take over the entire perennial bed. In addition to tasting great it’s also supposed to decrease stress and increase mental function so it’s time to get cooking! Here are some of my favorite ways to use this abundant […]
Ginger Bug!
Posted in Cooking, tagged ginger beer, ginger bug on June 2, 2021 | 3 Comments »
This zesty fermented drink is the base of a great ginger ale or beer. You can also use it for rhubarb or other flavored sodas. Making it is a easy as chopping up some ginger, putting it in a jar, adding dechlorinated water and some sugar. The recipe calls for two teaspoons of ginger, two cups water and […]
Time to Dry Herbs
Posted in Cooking on May 30, 2021 | 2 Comments »
Drying your own herbs is a great way to spice up your dishes, make nice presents and save money. The fragrant oils are at their peak around mid-morning so this is a great time to harvest. If you need to wash them then give a light spray with the hose first thing in the […]
Pickled Snow Peas
Posted in canning, Cooking, tagged pickles, snow peas on May 29, 2021 | Leave a Comment »
Each summer I start off eating the new pea pods thinking there will never be enough, soon it’s time for succulent stir fries with mushrooms and chicken then before I know it there are snow peas everywhere and I don’t know what to do with them. Last year I tried pickling them and they are […]