Find your place at Spring Bird
I survived making Red HOT Chili Pepper Flakes!! Over the course of several seventh grade volleyball games, my Mom has plunged into my arms a couple trays laden with enormous tomatoes that my super-gardener cousin grew. We quickly turned them into pico de gallo salsa. …
I dried some mint for tea this morning! This was my first time doing so, and I am fairly content with my results. We grow mint at several locations not only because it is a yummy herb, but because it spreads easily as a ground …
Okay, Part 2 of the cornelian cherries saga continues with homemade jelly. This jelly, which Patrick made with a hefty amount of lemon juice, is just delicious! It’s tart and bright and lovely on buttermilk biscuits or as a topper on a scoop of vanilla …
Here are some drawings of things that we have been harvesting from our gardens this Summer. We’ve had SO many green beans. It’s been a bean bonanza! Last year there were so many cucumbers and chile peppers. It’s interesting to see what is a boom …
This is cornelian cherry juice. Pat made it by boiling cornelian cherries (with pits) in water for about a half an hour. Then he strained it and heated the juice with sugar until the sugar dissolved. (This is the ratio: 5 kilo cherries – 6 …
There are some seasonal changes that are not necessarily connected to our natural worlds. As Summer starts to fade into Fall (don’t worry, there is still plenty of Summer ahead), two seasonal markers of Fall have shown themselves already. One is “Jean Jacket Weather”! I …
This week, Pat and I began a practice of walking the “boundaries” of the property. In reality, we are trying to touch feet to ground on as many paths as possible without doubling back. Each day, we choose a different route. The main purpose behind …
What an afternoon feast! Yesterday, I made Summer’s favorite soup: Saltibarciai – or Lithuanian cold beet soup. This was the first time I ever made this traditional recipe, because my Mom always keeps me well stocked in this beautiful pink soup. BUT, we had beet …
It’s time for one of my favorite harvests – GARLIC! If you are like me, you double or triple the garlic “suggestion” in any given recipe. Having bundles of fresh garlic hang right outside the kitchen allow me to cook with ease as I know …
STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE Strawberry Shortcake is a Summer staple. It embodies the sweetness of the season celebrating the berries’ sunbaked sugars. Our homegrown strawberries usually don’t make it much beyond the garden. They are eaten immediately, but if you have more restraint than we do – …
What’s your favorite Winter casserole to prepare and share? We like making this Squash Gratin with poblanos and cream from Food and Wine by Julie Robles. It’s rich, delicious, and decadent – which is what I like in a winter casserole. I shared this recipe …
“It’s a good year for bulbs!” Patrick remarked this morning. We seem to have more crocuses than ever – popping up in surprising places – probably planted by squirrels. These bulbs are some of our first plants to surface each Spring, and I like to …
Happy Fall Equinox! This is one of my favorite times of the year! Fall offers us a paradox: We receive the fullness of the harvest just as we begin to let go of growth in preparation for Winter. Both offerings are to be relished and …
As a child I associated green walnuts being hurled at me by my older brother. If I was quick enough, they would hit the side of the fort in a forceful splat. Ever since, I have associated their smell with Summer. As an adult, I …
