It’s that time of the year when my sweet basil needs to be harvested for none other than Pesto and Basil Vinaigrette. For over a month I have been pinching my basil plants so they will become bushier and produce more leaves. I don’t want them to flower because I want all of the plants … Continue reading
Spring always means grilling season here in Michigan and many have been enjoying those outdoor barbecues for the past few months. This recipe is all inclusive and all you need is a fruit or green salad on the side. Perfectly cooked in foil packets, juicy and very flavorful. If you are looking for something easy … Continue reading
This lovely Black Swallowtail Butterfly has been flying around my deck all day long – especially the parsley. This is a female as she has a band of iridescent blue on her hindwings while males have a band of yellow. See how the lower part of her body is curved in as she lays her … Continue reading
Some know I moved from my 1 acre home with lots of flower/veggie/herb beds, trees and shrubs. I am now gardening in containers on my small deck attached to my condo which is not quite the same but still enjoyable. One thing for sure there is a lot less work! My garden so far includes … Continue reading
Doesn’t this combination sound good? These latkes are both savory and sweet and served with a tangy buttermilk sauce, creamy sriracha sauce or a horseradish cocktail sauce. When I was growing up my Dad made potato pancakes out of a box (would you believe) to go with Sauerbraten and all the fixins’. Now, I not … Continue reading
I frequently see recipes I want to make and I will print the recipe and put it in a file to make later. However, there are a few times when I run across a recipe that I want to make right now. Chef Ronit’s lavender loaf cake is one of those recipes. See ronitpenso.wordpress.com/2017/10/15/lavender-pistachio-and-lime-cake/ Funny … Continue reading
Basil season is over here in Michigan and what better way to use this flavorful herb than in a vinaigrette. Saying goodbye to summer… I served this salad with a Paradiso Reserve, Caramelized Onion and Prosciutto Pizza…
This is a special dessert which I made “way back when” I first became interested in using flowers in cooking. I also was not concerned about calories as you can tell by the ingredients. This is a delicious custard cream topped with some fresh berries – simple but oh so good. This was the beginning … Continue reading
Honeybees are hard at work today enjoying all the sweet nectar of my lavender flowers. They are fun to watch as they flit back and forth to flowers but sometimes hard to capture in a photo. Many attempts later and I am proud to share some photos of these hard working bees who are so valuable in … Continue reading
I just love my bees… I have all kinds of bees visiting my lavender right now which is one of their favorite plants. I did not harvest any flowers this year and my 12 plants are loaded with tons of beautiful blooms. This bumblebee has been working hard all day and has gathered lots of pollen … Continue reading